Event: 2019 Phocuswright Conference
Product: Pack Up + Go
Category: Emerging Company
HQ: Pittsburgh, PA U.S.
Principal(s): Lillian Rafson, Founder & CEO; Jordan Tobe & Corinne Hogge
Funding: We are entirely unfunded and cash-flow positive. We are not currently fundraising.
Product Description: We plan three-day getaways around the United States. The catch? Your destination is a surprise until the day you depart! Pack Up + Go is a surprise travel agency that books travel and accommodations and provides curated itineraries for our mystery getaways. Since 2016, we've sent 15,000+ adventurous travelers to 90+ destinations nationwide. We are committed to encouraging open-mindedness and building community through travel. Our travelers seek to explore the country with spontaneity, ease and adventure.
Business Model: Sources of revenue: 15% service fee, commission on hotels/tours, commission on travel insurance, interest on deposits for future trips/gift cards
Competitors: Potential for Airbnb/airlines to expand into surprise travel offerings.
Competitive Edge: We were first to market for domestic surprise travel. With high production in our destinations, we have leverage to form strong partnerships with hotels and tour operators, as well as expert insight into our travelers' itineraries. Our long-weekend trips and price points are accessible and low-risk.
Market Opportunity: Our average traveler age is 36 - and the most common traveler age is 30 - but our customers range from families to retirees, empty nesters to college graduates. Because the leisure travel market is a multi-billion-dollar industry, our market opportunity is huge. 10% of our travelers are repeat customers and an additional 20% are direct referrals from past travelers, so our network of customers keeps growing. Exposure and marketing to our target audience are our biggest opportunities for growth.
Early Customers: One month after launching, Business Insider wrote about us and we received 100+ orders. Six months later, NBC Nightly News featured us.
Contact: Lillian Rafson, Founder & CEO; lillian@packupgo.com
