Away (luggage)

Stephanie Korey and Jennifer Rubio met in 2011 as former colleagues on the early executive team at Warby Parker. They founded Away in 2015.[12][13][14] By November, the company had raised $2.5 million in seed funding from investors Accel Partners and Forerunner Ventures.[15] The company created a book of travel stories to sell with a gift card for the company's first product, "The Carry-On", which became available to ship in February 2016.[16][17] In September 2016, the company raised an additional $8.5 million in Series A funding for expansion.

In its first fiscal year (2016), the company sold US$12 million in luggage.[18] The next year, Away had grown to 66 employees and projected more than $50 million in sales.[19] The company raised $20 million in Series B funding led by Global Founders Capital, Forerunner Ventures, Comcast Ventures, and Accel Partners in May 2017.[20][21] As of May 2018, Away had more than 150 employees and announced plans to expand jobs across the company, including a relocation of its headquarters in New York City.[22] In May 2019, the company secured $100 million of investment and reach total valuation of $1.4 billion. The funding round was led by Wellington Management, as well as Baillie Gifford, Lone Pine Capital and Global Founders Capital. The money will go for building brick-and-mortar stores and expanding travel gear.[23]

Away expanded into editorial content with the launch of a podcast called Airplane Mode in May 2017, and in July 2017, a print and digital travel magazine, Here, which includes city guides, travel essays, and photo journals.[24]

The company was named a "Breakthrough Brand with Ingenious Marketing" by Adweek. Fast Company recognized Away as one of the "2018 Top 10 Most Innovative Companies", and the company was a recipient of Surface Travel Awards.[25]

On December 5, 2019, a report from The Verge described a toxic workplace and "culture of intimidation and constant surveillance" at Away in which employee communications channels were restricted while executives used Slack as an internal megaphone to publicly humiliate employees.[26] Employees reported expectations to work long hours, on holidays, at night and late into the evening, and without paid time off.[27] In an apology, CEO Korey said that she was "appalled" to read her own messages and listed steps taken to improve the company's work culture in the last year.[28] Korey initially resigned as CEO on December 9, and the company announced that she was to be succeeded by Stuart Haselden, former COO of Lululemon.[29]

Korey renounced her resignation on January 13, 2020, and stated that she and Haselden will be co-CEOs of Away. In an interview with The New York Times, Korey said that The Verge's reporting was "inaccurate" and that it was "not right" for her to resign. The Verge replied, "Steph Korey responding to our reporting by saying her behavior and comments were 'wrong, plain and simple' and then choosing to step down as C.E.O. speaks for itself."[2]

Carry-On from the top

Away produces and markets a variety of travel accessories, using a direct-to-consumer business model.[30] The company's most well-known products are suitcases.[31][32][1][33]

The Carry-On was developed based on the focus group and survey responses from hundreds of travelers.[34] Vogue announced the creation of the luggage in November 2015, labeling it "The Perfect Carry-On."[1] By October 2016, it had launched three additional sizes: The Bigger Carry-On; The Medium; and The Large. The Bigger Carry-On was an honoree in the 2017 Fast Company Innovation By Design Awards.[35]

In 2017, Away collaborated with Rashida Jones,[36] Madewell,[37] Pop & Suki,[38][39][40] Gray Malin[41], NBA,[42] Star Wars[43] and the Hotel Amastan Paris to release limited edition colorways of their signature cases.[44]

Due to the brand's celebrity appeal, People dubbed the luggage "the little black dress of luggage" in August 2017.[45]

• Warby Parker
• Harry's
• Outdoor Voices