Tech-travel Acquisition: Bags

Tech-travel case manufacturer Skooba Design has been acquired by Norazza, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of a wide variety of accessories through the consumer electronics, office supply and mass market channels. Buffalo, NY - based Norazza chose Skooba for its complementary products, and to increase its own design, branding, and online marketing capabilities.

“We've had our eye on the Skooba business for several years,” remarks Norazza CEO Thomas Sperazza. "Our own bag business has been growing dramatically, and the addition of Skooba’s high level of creativity, design talent and industry experience will help take the category to new levels and new markets for us." Sperazza adds that Skooba’s custom design division – which develops and manufactures turnkey carrying case solutions for corporate and industrial clients – brings a significant new growth channel to the business.

Norazza was founded in 2002 as a small distribution business, and has since grown to a leading multi-brand supplier servicing tens of thousands of retail outlets through a broad distribution network. Its products include Ape Case photo/electronic bags, Endust for Electronics cleaning products, and Enspire Field Shower Packs. With the acquisition, Norazza will add Skooba's branded line of laptop bags and accessories, its custom design and manufacturing service business, as well as its recently-introduced Hotdog Yoga bag line, which Sperazza says is the first step in the company's big push into the fitness and outdoor markets.

Skooba Design founder Michael Hess says, "We're thrilled to have Skooba join this fast-growing family of brands. We've always been known as a 'boutique' line, selling primarily through specialty outlets; under Norazza's roof, Skooba and Hotdog have overnight access to an enormous new dealer base and variety of markets." Hess says he was impressed when, less than a week after the acquisition, Norazza had secured commitments to get the Skooba line into two of the largest distributors in the world: "This is a company that knows how to execute on a large scale."

Skooba's design team will join Norazza, and will be working on all products and marketing across the company's brand portfolio.

For more information, visit www.norazza.com, www.skoobadesign.com and www.hotdogyoga.com