Editing Samsonite

{{Short description|American luggage manufacturer}}
{{About|the luggage company|the silver mineral|Samsonite (mineral)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Samsonite International S.A.
| former_names = SAMSONITE<br />(1910–66)
| logo = Samsonite Logo.svg
| logo_size = 
| image = HK TST K11 mall 42 shop Samsonite leather bags.JPG
| image_caption = Samsonite store in Hong Kong
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{SEHK|1910}}
| founder = [[Jesse Shwayder]]
| founded = {{Start date and years ago|df=yes|1910|03|10}}
| owner = [[CVC Capital Partners]]
| hq_location = 
| hq_location_city = [[Luxembourg City]]
| hq_location_country = {{ubl|Luxembourg<br><small>(incorporated)</small>|[[Tsim Sha Tsui]], [[Kowloon]], [[Hong Kong]]<br><small>(financial)</small>|[[Mansfield, Massachusetts]], United States<br><small>(corporate)</small>}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mapquest.com/us/massachusetts/samsonite-corp-291009996|title=Samsonite Corp 575 West St Mansfield, MA Manufacturers - MapQuest|website=www.mapquest.com}}</ref>
| key_people = {{ubl|Timothy Charles Parker (chairman)|Kyle Francis Gendreau (CEO)<ref name="wapo">{{cite news |last1=Seigel |first1=Rachel |title=Samsonite CEO resigns after falsely claiming he had a PhD in business administration |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/06/01/samsonite-ceo-resigns-after-falsely-claiming-he-had-a-phd-in-business-administration/ |access-date=June 2, 2018 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=June 1, 2018}}</ref>}}
| num_employees = 14,500<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/SAMSONITE-INTERNATIONAL-S-8175240/company/|title = SAMSONITE INTERNATIONAL S.A. : Shareholders Board Members Managers and Company Profile &#124; LU0633102719 &#124; MarketScreener}}</ref>
| brands = {{ubl|[[American Tourister]]|[[Tumi Inc.]]|[[Hartmann]]|[[eBags]]}}
| homepage = {{URL|samsonite.com}}
}}

'''Samsonite International S.A.''' is an American<ref>{{cite web | url=https://corporate.samsonite.com/en/contact-us.html | title=Samsonite: Investor Relations - Contact Us }}</ref> [[Baggage|luggage]] manufacturer and retailer, with products ranging from large [[suitcase]]s to small toiletries bags and [[briefcase]]s. The company was founded in 1910 in [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]], [[Colorado]], United States.
 
Its [[registered office]] is in [[Luxembourg]] and it is listed on the [[Hong Kong Stock Exchange]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2011 Annual Report |url=http://hub2.samsonite.com/investors/_investordocs/20120424044355_E%20-%202011%20Annual%20Report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303070351/http://hub2.samsonite.com/investors/_investordocs/20120424044355_E%20-%202011%20Annual%20Report.pdf |publisher=Samsonite International S.A. |archive-date=March 3, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:I do want Samsonite, 1953.jpg|thumb|left|upright|A 1953 ad for Samsonite]]

The company was founded in [[Denver, Colorado]], on March 10, 1910, by [[Black Hawk, Colorado]]-born luggage salesman [[Jesse Shwayder]] (1882–1970) as the '''Shwayder Trunk Manufacturing Company'''.<ref name="IPO">{{cite news |title=Samsonite HK IPO bags $1.25 billion after pricing at bottom |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-samsonite-idUSTRE7590PS20110610 |publisher= [[Reuters]] |first= Elzio |last= Barreto | date= June 10, 2011 | access-date = 2012-03-04}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Diamond |first=Madline |date=2021-08-31 |title=The Evolution of Luggage: A Timeline |url=https://www.travelandleisure.com/style/evolution-of-luggage |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=Travel + Leisure |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Machajewski |first=Sarah |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_yFhDwAAQBAJ |title=Colorado's Changing Cities: Then and Now |date=2015-12-15 |publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc |isbn=978-1-4994-1504-9 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> A religious man, Shwayder named one of his initial cases [[Samson]], after the [[Bible|Biblical]] strongman, and began using the trademark ''Samsonite'' in 1941 for its tapered [[Vulcanized fibre|vulcanized fiber]] suitcase, introduced in 1939.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/samsonite-corp-history/|title=Samsonite Corp. History|work=International Directory of Company Histories|publisher=St. James Press|year=1996|volume=13}}</ref> In 1965, after the Samsonite suitcase became its best-selling product, the company changed its name to SAMSONITE. For many years the subsidiary SAMSONITE Furniture Co. made [[folding chair]]s and [[card table]]s in [[Murfreesboro, Tennessee]].

The Shwayder family sold the company to [[Beatrice Foods]] in 1973. In 1974, the company released the brand's first wheeled suitcase.<ref name=":1" /> 

[[File:Samsonite Streamlite Flee! 1960.jpg|thumb|left|upright|A 1960 ad for Samsonite]]

Samsonite operated with relative independence within Beatrice until 1986, when Samsonite was sold to [[Kohlberg Kravis Roberts]]. Subsequently, in the 1980s and into the 1990s, Samsonite went through multiple ownership changes. [[Forbes Magazine]] states that "the company spent most of the 1980s and 1990s in turmoil amidst multiple handoffs."<ref name="Forbes" /> First, Samsonite was spun off from KKR as part of [[E-II]], which came under the control of [[Fortune Brands (1969–2011)|Fortune Brands]].<ref name=":0" /> E-II went through bankruptcy and was renamed [[Astrum International]]. In 1993, Astrum purchased [[American Tourister]] luggage, complementing Samsonite.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/26/business/wall-street-new-name-new-life-for-astrum.html|title=Wall Street; New Name, New Life, for Astrum|last=Strom|first=Stephanie|date=1993-09-26|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-11-27|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 1995, Astrum split, and an independent Samsonite (now including American Tourister) was once again headquartered in Denver.<ref name=":0" /> The Denver factory, which employed 4,000 people at its peak, closed in May 2001.  

After a change of ownership in May 2005, Samsonite's headquarters moved from Denver to [[Mansfield, Massachusetts]].  Effective September 1, 2005, Samsonite then moved its U.S. marketing and sales offices from [[Warren, Rhode Island]], to Mansfield, Massachusetts.

In 2005, the company was acquired by Marcello Bottoli, former CEO of [[Louis Vuitton]], to pull it out of a long slump.<ref name = Forbes>{{cite news| first =Robyn | last = Meredith |url=https://www.forbes.com/global/2005/0620/036.html |title=Sleeker Samsonite |work=Forbes | date = June 20, 2005|access-date=2010-09-30}}</ref> Bottoli left the company in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://people.forbes.com/profile/marcello-bottoli/44675 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414050323/http://people.forbes.com/profile/marcello-bottoli/44675 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 14, 2009 | type = profile | title= People | work= Forbes}}</ref>

[[File:TSA Lock.JPG|thumb|Luggage lock]]
[[File:Sam53450-1776slv-2.jpg|thumb|Samsonite Cosmolite suitcase in silver]]

In July 2007, private equity firm [[CVC Capital Partners]] took over Samsonite for $1.7 billion.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sivaraman|first=Aarthi| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/business/cvc-to-acquire-samsonite-for-17-billion-idUSN05240952/ | title=CVC to acquire Samsonite for $1.7 billion|date=July 5, 2007|access-date=March 20, 2025|publisher=Reuters}}</ref> CVC Capital Partners Ltd. became Samsonite's fifth owner in 21 years.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clothier|first=Mark|title=Samsonite Sold to Buyout Firm|date=July 5, 2007|url=http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_6305363|via=Denver Post|publisher=Bloomberg News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804074532/http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_6305363|archive-date=August 4, 2009|access-date=March 20, 2025|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Clothier|first=Mark|title=Luggage Maker Packs up Sale Deal|date=July 6, 2007|url=http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_6308095|newspaper=Denver Post|publisher=Bloomberg News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091216075656/http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_6308095|archive-date=December 16, 2009|access-date=March 20, 2025|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On September 2, 2009, '''Samsonite Company Store LLC''' (U.S. retail division), formally known as '''Samsonite Company Stores Inc.''', filed for [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Samsonite Chapter 11 Petition|url=https://www.pacermonitor.com/view/SY5M2EI/Samsonite_Company_Stores,_LLC__debke-09-13102__0001.0.pdf|website=PacerMonitor|access-date=6 June 2016}}</ref> It planned to close up to 50% of its stores and discontinue the "Black Label" brand in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.samsonitecompanystores.com/reorg/pressrelease.do |title=Samsonite |publisher=Samsonite company stores |date=September 2, 2009 |access-date=2010-09-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100810151146/http://www.samsonitecompanystores.com/reorg/pressrelease.do |archive-date=August 10, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0253269920090902 |title= Samsonite retail unit files for bankruptcy |publisher=Reuters |date= September 2, 2009|access-date=2010-09-30}}</ref>

In June 2011, Samsonite raised $1.25 billion in an [[initial public offering]] in Hong Kong.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/06/10/samsonite-i-p-o-raises-1-25-billion/ |title=Samsonite I.P.O. Raises $1.25 Billion| work = The New York Times |date=June 10, 2011|access-date=2012-03-03}}</ref>

In August 2012, Samsonite paid $35 million in cash to buy the high-end luggage brand [[Hartmann Luggage|Hartmann]], which was founded in 1877.

In June 2014, Samsonite agreed to buy technical outdoor backpack brand [[Gregory Mountain Products]] from [[Black Diamond Equipment|Black Diamond, Inc.]], for $85 million in cash.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.snewsnet.com/news/black-diamond-sells-gregory-to-samsonite/ |title=Black Diamond sells Gregory to Samsonite| work = SNews |date=June 19, 2014|access-date=2018-11-07}}</ref>

In March 2016, Samsonite agreed to buy luxury baggage maker [[Tumi Inc.]] for $1.8 billion in its largest ever acquisition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Dan |title=Samsonite to buy Tumi for $1.8 billion in its largest deal since 2011 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/03/samsonite-to-buy-tumi-for-18-billion-in-its-largest-deal-since-2011.html |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=CNBC |date=March 4, 2016 |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2017, Samsonite agreed to acquire [[eBags.com]] for $105 million in cash.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2017/04/07/samsonite-buys-ebags-105-million/ |title=Black Samsonite buys eBags for $105 million| work = digitalcommerce360 |date=April 7, 2017|access-date=2020-09-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://seekingalpha.com/news/3256135-samsonite-acquires-ebags |title=Black Samsonite Acquires eBags| work = Seeking Alpha |date=April 7, 2017|access-date=2020-09-17}}</ref>

In 2023, Samsonite was rated the best overall luggage for travelers by [[Good Housekeeping Magazine]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-05 |title=Travel Experts Reveal The Best Luggage Brands for Every Budget |url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/travel-products/g26898407/best-luggage-brands/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Good Housekeeping |language=en-US}}</ref>

In September 2023, [[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] reported that Samsonite was exploring the possibility of a second listing in the U.S. as the luggage maker looked to broaden its investor base.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-16 |title=Samsonite Is Exploring Possibility of Second Listing in US |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-16/samsonite-is-said-to-study-possibility-of-second-listing-in-us |access-date=2023-09-27}}</ref>

== Toy manufacture ==
Beginning in 1961, Samsonite manufactured and distributed [[Lego]] building toys for the North American market under [[license]] from the [[Lego Group]]. A licensing dispute ended the arrangement in the U.S. in 1972, but Samsonite remained the distributor in Canada until 1986. Albert H. Reckler, then head of military and export sales for the luggage division, brought the idea of manufacturing and selling Lego in the U.S. to Samsonite.  He and Stan A. Clamage were instrumental in establishing the Lego brand in the United States. This was part of an overall company expansion into toy manufacturing<ref>{{Citation | url = https://www.flickr.com/photos/daddytypes/sets/72157602249911061/ | publisher = Samsonite | year = 1972 | title = Toys catalogue | format = photo gallery}}.</ref> in the 1960s that was abandoned in the 1970s.

== Production ==
[[File:Samsonite Hungaria factory, Keselyusi Road, 2016 Szekszard.jpg|thumb|Samsonite factory in [[Szekszard]], Hungary, in 2016]]

In 2008, 40% of all Samsonite [[hard luggage]] was manufactured at its plant in [[Nashik]], India.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/09/18/stories/2008091851560500.htm |title=After shoes, Samsonite plans watches, eyewear |work=The Hindu Business Line |date=September 18, 2008 |access-date=2010-09-30}}</ref> 

Samsonite has two assembly plants in Hungary.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bbj.hu/business/tech/telco/samsonite-opens-second-factory-in-hungary/ |title=Samsonite opens second factory in Hungary |access-date=2024-08-02|date=2017-09-21}}</ref>

In 2022, Samsonite announced plans to move production to Japan.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Exploring The Reasons Behind Samsonite's Production Move To Japan {{!}} Parklandmfg |url=https://parklandmfg.com/exploring-the-reasons-behind-samsonites-production-move-to-japan/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |language=en-US}}</ref> 

In April 2023, Samsonite announced plans to expand its manufacturing in Nashik as the demand for travel has increased.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-02 |title=Samsonite to invest ₹160 cr to expand manufacturing capacity |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/samsonite-to-invest-160-cr-to-expand-manufacturing-capacity/article66690924.ece |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=www.thehindubusinessline.com |language=en}}</ref> Samsonite India plans to invest ₹1,100,000,000 –1,150,000,000 to enhance its hard luggage manufacturing capacity from 500,000 pieces a month to 750,000 pieces by the end of the following year. The expansion will include 180,000 square feet of land for the plant to expand on.<ref name=":3" />

==Brands==
{{div col}}
* [[American Tourister]]
* [[eBags]]
* Gregory Mountain Product
* [[Hartmann Luggage]]
* [[High Sierra Sport Company|High Sierra]]
* Kamiliant
* Lipault
* Samsonite
* [[Tumi Inc.]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www4.samsonite.com/_investordocs/20160304085432_E_Samsonite%20to%20acquire%20Tumi%20Press%20Release%20(Final%20-%202016-03-04).pdf|title=Samsonite to acquire Tumi for US$26.75 per share to create a leading global travel lifestyle company|access-date=March 6, 2016|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124090335/http://www4.samsonite.com/_investordocs/20160304085432_E_Samsonite|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==Competitors==
* [[Delsey]]
* [[Red Oxx Manufacturing]]
* [[VIP Industries]]
{{portal|Companies|United States|Colorado}}
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
*{{Official website|http://www.samsonite.com}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Samsonite| ]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Luggage brands]]
[[Category:Companies based in Bristol County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:companies based in Luxembourg City]]
[[Category:Mansfield, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1910]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1992]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009]]
[[Category:1910 establishments in Colorado]]
[[Category:Luggage manufacturers]]
[[Category:2011 initial public offerings]]
[[Category:CVC Capital Partners companies]]