Following a successful launch in travel retail at the IAADFS Show in Orlando and TFWA Asia Pacific, Singapore, and their recent acquisition of writing instruments brand Sheaffer, Cross leather accessories has declared its intention to increase investment ‘exponentially’ within the TR sector in 2015 – 16.

The longest established writing instrument manufacturer in the US, Cross boasts #1 brand awareness in its home country and is among the top #3 brands in fine writing instruments, across more than 30 nations, including the UK, Japan, Europe, India and China.

The leather accessories range is now selling well on more than 20 airlines, including Korean Air, Asiana, United Airlines, LAN, TAM, Air Arabia, Aero Mexico, Air Asia and Air India. The brand also includes 15 shop-in-shops among its extensive TR presence, with several self-serve fixtures set to open in the early part of 2015.

Cross attributes part of its success in the channel to its high quality leather goods offered at accessible price points. The collection, crafted in 100% top grain Spanish leather, has gone down well with retailers, operators and consumers alike.

Similarly, through its takeover on 11 November 2014 of Sheaffer, the company has positioned itself as a world leader in the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of premium, high quality writing instruments.

“Cross is set to take travel retail by storm,” says Yashovardhan Gupta, the Director and CEO of Torero Corporation, the Exclusive Global Licensee of Cross Leather Accessories.

“Travel retail is a powerful and visible channel and one in which we are keen to invest in aggressively. We are keen to triple our investment in travel retail for FY 2015-16, in a bid to dominate the accessible luxury price point, across top quality leather accessories, globally.”