Bollywood-Pollywood actor and comedian Gurpreet Ghuggi, while inaugurating the store owned by Vivek Jolly, says luggage is like family, a friend and constant companion
In Mohali to inaugurate an exclusive VIP Luggage Store, the largest in the Mohali cluster, on the Airport Road in Sector 79, Bollywood-Pollywood actor and comedian Gurpreet Ghuggi was asked how much luggage means to a celebrity constantly on the move. His reply did not surprise us, “My luggage means everything to me. It is my family member, my friend and my constant companion. Can you imagine life without luggage!”
With more and more upwardly mobile Indians taking to travel, both domestically and internationally, luggage is increasingly taking centre stage in our lives. More perhaps than safety, utility and durability, modern travellers are increasingly placing emphasis on aesthetics because for them luggage has become a fashion accessory and statement.
Your own news portal LifeInChandigarh.com visited the exclusive VIP Luggage Store on its inaugural to check out the company’s VIP, Skybags and Carlton brand collections from this standpoint. Sure enough, we came out rather impressed with the wide range of styles and colours of luggage, backpacks and handbags displayed on the shelves in the spacious store.
Owner of the store Vivek Jolly informed us that at least 50 different styles in the three VIP brands – VIP, Skybags and Carlton – are on display in the store.
In an exclusive conversation, Amol Kulkarni, Channel Manager, Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and J&K, VIP Industries, which besides its flagship brand VIP, also encompasses in its portfolio brands like Skybags, Carlton, Aristocrat, Alfa and the latest one Caprese, dedicated to the urban woman, shared: “If VIP has not only survived but also thrived, growing from strength to strength these past more than five decades, it is largely because it is constantly innovating and reinventing itself and enhancing the overall experience of travellers.
“The company is deeply focussed on introducing new designs, styles and colours, to bring more vibrancy to the luggage, while at the same time putting its luggage through a series of stringent tests to ensure high quality and durability. Constant innovations ensure that tailormade solutions are found for specific requirements of customers and for specific occasions while enhancing the element of convenience of storage and use, as well as security of locking mechanisms,” he added.
With access to more destinations becoming faster and easier, thanks to be massive expansions happening in highways, railways and airport infrastructure across the country, travel and tourism has become a 24×7 activity all 365 days a year; And, cashing in on this trend, the luggage industry, dominated largely by VIP, Samsonite and Safari in the organised sector in India, is growing rapidly.
According to industry insiders, the luggage industry is also gaining immensely from gifting of luggage units by corporates and industries. Marriage season has already been a flush season for the industry and with marriages becoming grander, premium luggage is also finding more customers.
According to information available, VIP Industries (estd. 1968), one of the world’s leading manufacturers and retailers of luggage, sells upwards of one crore luggage units annually in 15,000+ retail points across 40-plus countries, including India.
In a media preview of Thursday, a day after the monthlong paid show begins (on August 2), LifeInChandigarh.com was given a feel of the immersive experience that has turned the walls and floors of a temporary exhibition space, erected in the courtyard of the most happening mall of the region, into a kind of technicolour van Gogh dream world.
In bringing this immersive experience to a smaller town like Chandigarh, after sellout shows in Chennai and Hyderabad, Nikhil has collaborated with The Silly Fellows. “This isn’t just about art; it’s a bold move to redefine cultural experiences in our own backyard, giving every doorstep a front-row seat to the avant-garde of today’s creative narrative,” shares The Silly Fellow’s co-founder Sharan John.
Considered to be one of the most influential figures in the history of Western art, Dutch Post-Impressionist master Vincent van Gogh is also a popular choice for modern, immersive exhibitions.
According to the organisers, the content for this captivating showcase was meticulously crafted over a span of nine months, ensuring a rich and engaging experience for visitors. The 60-minute journey through the exhibition unfolds across four carefully curated spaces, each designed to offer a distinct facet of the artist’s work.
In the three-day festival, branded FIESTA 2024, which was kickstarted by school principal Ms Renu Puri on Wednesday, students will participate in competitions, wherein they will present and explain concepts in various subjects like English, History, Science, Business, etc in simple to understand dramatic and innovative ways in exhibitions and on stage.
On the remaining two days, among other activities, there will be speaking skill opportunities for students with English debate, Persuasive Speaking and Dramatic Interpretation competitions, along with the heated display of wits at the proceedings of a MOOT Court competition.
Principal Ms. Renu Puri says, “The event will be an extraordinary display of creativity, knowledge and enthusiasm, including various competitions designed to engage and inspire students.”
With a focus on elevating the dining experiences of guests, Pizzeria-Café CP-67 has laid emphasis on beautifully designed interiors, featuring vibrant pops of colour, captivating artwork, wooden flooring, and wall panelling to create a sense of warmth and comfort. To add a touch of entertainment, expert Pizzaiolos donning their iconic striped t-shirts skillfully toss and flair pizza dough in an open kitchen.
