By Linda Stern | NEWSWEEK
Jun 2, 2008 Issue
Original Article
Lost luggage, security checks, extra-bag fees and spilled shampoo make suitcase stress one of the worst parts of traveling, but Flylite thinks it has the solution. The two-year-old Massachusetts company is a clothing butler for frequent business travelers. New customers pay an initial $500 fee and pack their bags. Flylite workers then clean, press and store the clothes, polish shoes and scan everything into a virtual "iCloset." Each trip, travelers can virtually "pack" their suitcases by dragging and dropping clothing icons, after which Flylite delivers the bags to any U.S. destination. After each stay, Flylite picks up the bags, cleans the clothes and stores everything for the next trip. With two days' notice, it costs $100 to get the bag packed and sent anywhere within 25 miles of a major airport. Typical customers are road warriors who travel three to five times a month and store a dozen suits and assorted shirts, ties, recreational wear and golf clubs, says marketing VP John Walsh. "Time is a luxury to them," he says. The company, which says it's already profitable, isn't yet set up for travel outside the United States, but has many foreign clients who travel here. It plans iClosets in London and Dubai, and will soon start selling shirts and shoes to clients who are so busy jet-setting that they can't take time to go shopping. The new clothes will simply show up in their suitcases on the next trip—along with a bill.
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First of all the word "Dubai" caught my eyes. Yes, indeed Dubai is becoming a target for business these days. For all the effort they have made, they are finally getting a reward fro their hard work. Anyways, back to the point. The company who started this Flylight business is just a rookie to the business, it is only 2 years old. However their innovative idea is definatley scraping up some money. The key target customers are the "road warriors" who travel frequently, and for whom the time is a luxury to them. Even for me, sometimes I plan to go off somewhere but discourage myself due to packing my luggage. But if there was someone to pack for me? I would definately pay them. Only if it wasn't for $100, I would be their #1 customer. Keeping that in mind, for some people who are busier than I am, a $100 could be worth the time they spend for packing. But we must be careful now, just because you are lazy (though you have sufficeint amount of time to pack), and you have the money, I stronly urge them NOT to be so inclined with this news, These are really for the people who need the time to do something valuable rather than to pack.
However, this business would have a bright future, as increasing number of people fly more than 20 times a month, this is what they probably need.
20700775 Article Entry #15
