Utah-based baggage company Ogio projects revenue increases in 2015 following two years of steady growth in 2013 and 2014.
Founded in 1987 and specializing in the design and manufacturing of active lifestyle bags, Ogio said it expects a 50 percent revenue increase this year, especially in light of its transition out of focused niche sports and into a broader product and customer base that incorporates style-meets-sport offerings.
“Ogio is a lifestyle brand that has always offered unique adrenaline-raising styles that match our active and sports brand DNA,” said Ogio VP of Lifestyle Dan Jelenik, who is largely credited for the expansion efforts at the company.
The brand began as a sports-centric lifestyle brand, but today, new product innovations reach not only active individuals but business professionals, travel enthusiasts and those with a passion for urban aesthetics blended into performance designs.
Jelenik said in an exclusive interview with SGB, “We definitely are seeing more of the traditional outdoor brands offering new styles, color options and prints. In fact, Ogio has experienced rapid growth in the pack and travel segment because we have been able to apply our intelligent design approach across multiple consumer demographics.”
The company’s robust assortment of baggage lines covers everything from Golf-focused products to Endurance, Powersports, Lifestyle, Urban, Active, Fashion Tech, Professional and Travel.
Jelenik came on board five years ago from Easton to transform Ogio’s product and position the company in the marketplace to expand a previously narrow product assortment. Jelenik said, “Diversification allows OGIO to be relevant in multiple retail channels…where other brands are typically sold in one segment.”
The approach? Introduce a challenge. “We challenge our design team to bring innovative ideas. We call them ‘intelligent designs,’ focused on providing the ultimate combination of protection, comfort and organization,” said Jelenik. As of this year, the biggest Ogio innovation is the Silencer Golf Bag. “Silencer combines aggressive styling with a club protection system that locks your clubs in place to avoid the annoying sound of clubs clanking and the related head damage,” Jelenik added.
Since introducing a focus on modern detail, and creating style and use crossovers, Ogio has experienced nothing but consistent growth. In 2013, revenue increased 30 percent, followed by a 42 percent rise in 2014.
Ogio asserts that despite expansion, they remain dedicated to exceptional quality products. “Our goal is to create collections that are relevant to each sport or activity. They are specialized and not meant to be a large rolodex of styles,” said Jelenik. “We are designing for people that aspire to live the ‘World of Ogio,’ in other words, they are sports-minded, high-adrenaline people that know style, appreciate quality and the innovative features that we design into our bags.
The brand’s Endurance, Powersports and Active lines are also beginning to reflect more sports-centric designs, as designers emphasize the importance of having gear that is smart, light, fast and durable, while still looking cutting-edge.
Ogio’s top products, as rated by customers on their website, include: the All Elements Pack, made for cyclists, motorists and outdoor sports enthusiasts, with shoulder straps for maximum rider comfort, an adjustable sternum strap to ensure security and waterproof construction; the 9.0 Athletic Bag with two water bottle compartments, hideaway stretch mesh helmet storage, crush-resistant lockable armored pocket and a roomy main compartment for bulky equipment; and the Tarmac 20, what Ogio calls the “ultimate travel companion.” Ogio’s ethos of integrating style into durable sports designs sets these bags apart from many competitors.
