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Charlie Clifford, co-founder of Tumi Luggage and a current director and co-founder of ROAM Luggage, is no newbie to the travel industry.
After all, ever since he created Tumi in the 1970s, he’s spent his days thinking about the business of travel — and what products we, as travelers, need to do it well.
Although he’s no longer at Tumi, Clifford hasn’t left the world of luggage. But his latest venture, ROAM, is decidedly different from its predecessor; rather than featuring the “black-on-black" luggage trend that Tumi is famous for, ROAM puts an emphasis on bright colors, made-in-the-U.S.A. manufacturing and full suitcase customization, even down to the trim, zippers and wheels.
Travelers can customize their own suitcase designs with Roam.
Credit: 2022 RoamIn this episode of Humans of Travel, Clifford details his early life, from his upbringing in rural New Jersey to his first international adventure — a two-year term in the Peace Corps in Peru that opened his eyes to the wider world, and eventually sparked the idea for Tumi Luggage.
He'll also give listeners an inside look at the struggles of building a business from the ground up, and how he overcame the challenges in the travel industry (economic recessions, 9/11 and the like) along the way.
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Credit: 2022 TravelAge WestInside This Episode
01:00 Meet Charlie Clifford, the co-founder of Tumi and CEO of ROAM Luggage
02:05: Clifford tells listeners about his childhood in suburban New Jersey
5:00 Clifford details his time in the Midwest, where he attended college at Indiana University.
09:00: Clifford reflects on his two-year term in Peru while in the Peace Corps, his first international adventure and the period in his life where his eyes were opened to the wider world.
18:00: Clifford has the idea for a luggage company, which he calls Tumi.
25:00: Tumi finds quick success, but Clifford also faced challenges to the business.
29:45: Clifford speaks about where he was on 9/11, and how the tragedy affected the business.
38:15: Clifford shares what listeners need to know about ROAM Luggage, his latest venture.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
ROAM Luggage
ROAM Luggage on Instagram: @roamluggage
About Your Host
Emma Weissmann is Digital Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print and online magazine for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly.
TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum.
About the Show
TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human.
