Away Bets on Brick-and-Mortar Expansion for Revenue Growth — Retail Bum

Travel luggage company Away is resuming its brick-and-mortar expansion effort with the planned opening of a new store in San Jose, California, later this week — the first of many the company has planned for the year.

The San Jose store is set to officially open on April 28, 2023, followed by a grand opening event on May 6, 2023. During the event, all sales proceeds from the store will be donated to Global Glimpse, a non-profit organization that provides international travel opportunities to high school students from diverse backgrounds.

The company plans to open its next store in Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood later this summer and to open additional stores later.

The company expects its current retail footprint to contribute 20% of revenue this year, with each new location expected to generate at least $3 million in additional revenue.

“Retail is a super important part of our overall business, not just for the revenue that it provides itself, but also for the immense lift that it gives to the entire business,” Away President Catherine Dunleavy said in an interview. She added that anytime Away opens a retail store, its eCommerce business experiences a 150% lift in that market.