Life at Lug® with Kirill Adarych

Introducing Kirill Adarych!  As Director of Finance, Kirill keeps everyone in check (literally!!!).  Starting his career with Lug® in October 2009, he’s an expert in many areas of the company and is always willing to share his knowledge with the team.

Every day starts with a big cup of coffee (cream only on a daily basis and Caramel Macchiato’s for those extra special days!!) and from there it could go in any direction – meetings, number crunching, reporting, analysis – you know, the “finance” stuff - and trade shows, conferences, meetings, musical festivals – the “fun” stuff!!!  You name it, Kirill is involved in it!!!

Lunchtime is Kirill’s favorite time of day – whether he goes out for lunch or brings in wholesome home-cooked meals, Kirill enjoys his food.  We call him our resident "Snack Inspector" because if you leave anything yummy in the kitchen, Kirill will gobble it up in seconds!

What does Kirill love about his job?  “People that I work with is one of the many reasons I love my job. We have a very diverse selection of people in the office so you learn something new every day!”

When he’s not in the office, Kirill enjoys lots of outdoor activities: traveling, camping, skiing, hiking and biking.  “I love to travel, explore new places and meet new people.”  Spending time with his equally handsome nephews is also on his top priorities.

Kirill’s absolute favorite Lug® product is the new Boxer Overnight/Gym Duffel from our latest Orange Label Collection.  It keeps him extremely organized, as there is a pocket for everything.  “The fun part is coming up with alternative and creative ways to use certain features.”

In addition to the Boxer, Kirill practically owns the full Lug® collection – Moped, Freight Box Lunch Cube, Shuttle Bus, Air Bus, Sidekick, Wings, Caddy, Outfielder (which he wears to work everyday, by the way!), Delta, Bento Box, Cargo 5pc Packing Kit, Clearview Envelopes – you name, he owns it!

We asked Kirill how he lives life in color – “I like to put a big smile on my face, it makes me happy and spreads positive energy all around.”

Check out his smile – it’s contagious!!!

Autumn 2013 - a palette of many moods

Fall is here!!!  Behold the changing leaves, enjoy the crisp breeze, and let your eyes take in the bursts of color.  Yes, we know, this officially means shorter days and cool weather are up ahead but that's the perfect reason to brighten it up by adding brilliant fall colors into your everyday routine. Take a look at the Fall 2013 PANTONE® Fashion Color Report previewing the most prominent hues of the season – a palette of many moods.

Go green and pack your lunch in Lug®’s smart, modern lunch tote – the Pedals.  The insulated interior keeps food cool, while the exterior pocket stores useful utensils and keeps condensation from soaking your napkin.  Check it out in Fog Gray, Lug®’s sister hue to Turbulence (PANTONE19-4215), a dark mercurial gray.

Commuting with your laptop?  The Slider 15, designed to hold a 15” computer, has additional storage in a large, zippered front pocket for your essentials – think pens, cords, headphones, cell phone, etc.  You’ll love its top handle and adjustable, removable shoulder strap, plus, it even converts into a mini backpack for those hands-free moments.  Pretty in pink?  Definitely!  Consider Rose Pink, similar to Vivacious (PANTONE 19-2045), an unruly and wildly deep fuchsia.

Hitting the gym before work?  Looking good on the go just got easier, thanks to the Clipper Flat Iron Case.  No more wasting time while your hot styling tools cool.  That’s right!  Whether your flat iron is piping hot or not, just slide it into the sleeve, cinch the cord, and you’re off.  Offered in 9 colors and 4 orchard print colors.  Why not try Grass Green, Lug®’s sister hue to Linden Green (PANTONE 15-0533), a naturally lush shade of green.

For short trips around town or out-of-town, carry your iPad®/tablet/e-reader in Lug®’s perfect little pouch, the Slingshot.  Not only does it safely secure your valuable in a padded, soft-lined compartment but it also has a front zip pocket for those miscellaneous items you just can’t live without – headphones, small notebook and pen, cell phone, etc.  How about Plum Purple, similar to Acai (PANTONE 19-3628), an elegant shade of purple.

How many colors will you accessorize with this fall season?

Life at Lug® with Vana Amanatidis!

Vana’s adventure at Lug® started in September 2012.  As the Director of Communications, not only is she one of the first to arrive to the office every morning, her enthusiastic personality gets everyone ready for their day!  What does Vana enjoy most about being part of the Lug® team?  “The travel opportunities and all the special events we participate in, AND, of course, all the great people here!”

Vana’s typical day includes reviewing her “to-do’s” on Lug®’s project management software - she loves working off a checklist and the sense of accomplishment as each task is completed.  Who doesn’t love checking off their to-do’s???  One of her daily must-do’s is a walk around to say hello to everyone in the office and ensure that the coffee is made to keep everyone working at full force.  Imagine the grumpies in the office when Vana is on vacation!!!

In her spare time, Vana enjoys going for bike rides during the summer months and spending time with her family, especially her vibrant sister who lives next door (how very convenient!!!).  She also checks in on her daughter Christine who currently resides in Australia as well as her son Jonathan.  Keeping connected with far away friends through social media such as Facebook is super important to Vana!!

Vana has collected many Lug® pieces including the Cartwheel, Shimmy, Clipper, Flipper, Slider 15, Cable Car, Gondola, Snuz Sac...what can we say, the list is endless!!  But her absolute favorite Lug® product is her latest purchase, the Paddle BoatOvernight/Gym Duffel in Plum Purple!  It’s the perfect size for travel as a carry on, overnight getaways, and going to the gym!  Her favorite features – the ring holder for stowing her jewelry during a workout and the ventilated shoe compartment to stash her shoes after wards.  Inside her Paddle Boat you will find Vana’s very colorful running shoes, a change of clothes, and lots of this and that tucked in each and every special pocket (I mean really – what woman do you know that will reveal exactly what’s in her bag???).

How does Vana live life in color?  “I am an optimist and try to spread my positive energy to those around me!”  In other words, Vana naturally spreads the Lug® cheer – something so very important to Lug®!

Lug® + Packing Apps: The Perfect Pair

Ahh...the art of packing.  We understand packing is second nature for frequent travellers but when you’re travelling to a new place, or taking your first family vacation, it’s easy to forget essential items.

Lug® provides some of the coolest gear that can get you packed and organized such as our colorful luggage belts and tags to smart storage solutions like the Cargo 5pc Packing Kit and Clearview Envelopes to travel savvy toiletry and cosmetic cases – Lug® has got you covered!

But with great packing gear you still need your checklists of what to bring on your trip.  We strolled the web to find the most useful packing apps that will perfectly pair with your Lug® gear.  Who doesn't want a more organized approach to travel?

Check out these useful apps that make packing simple!

The Stow app – the modern packing list!  Stow makes packing lists easy by letting you choose between a great set of templates to give you a starting point. You can even make your own templates for types of trips you take regularly.  Stow lists are intelligent and can auto adjust to your trip dates and the people you’re packing for.  If you're going on a long trip and plan to do laundry, you can also set the number of days worth of clothes you want to bring.  And if the meteorologist predicts it will be hot, cold, rainy, or snowy, Stow's "pack for weather" feature makes it easy to figure out just what you'll need for the conditions.

The Packing Pro app – never forget to pack anything again!  For less than the cost of a (forgotten) toothbrush or pair of socks – not to mention the time and hassle of buying a replacement on your trip – this app can be your very own personal packing assistant.  If you desire better syncing and sharing options, display customization, a super-sized catalog, twice as many sample lists, and additional, built-in Expert assistance, then Packing Pro is the way to go.

The Mammut Packing List app – plan some unforgettable outdoor adventures with your friends!  Compile your packing list, share it with your friends, and start packing. The team works together to gather all the necessary equipment, making sure that nothing is forgotten. Once you've ticked off all the items on the list, the tour can begin!

So now that you know what to pack, take a peek at our wheelie bags or weekender bags – snap one up for your next trip and you’ll cruise through airports with ease.  For long hauls, don’t forget your Nap Sac or Snuz Sac to make catching zzz a breeze!!

Dream Traveler Magazine Reviews the Sprout

You know how all our bags have all kinds of outstanding features and details? The kind of features you could talk about for, oh, I don't know, EVER! Well, we found a review online that has just about done that for our Sprout Carry-All, and it's so awesome, we just had to share it. Check it out here, at Dream Traveler Magazine.

Flip-Top Makes Chatelaine's "15 Top-Notch Travel Bags"

Woohoo! Our Flip-Top is famous! It was just chosen in Chatelaine Magazine's list of the "15 top-notch travel bags we love!" How cool is that? (A: Very, very.) The editors love how this toiletry case is really a two-for—you know, two bags in one. You can carry each compartment separately, or cinch them together for double the toiletry-stashing capacity. Check out the story here to see the other 14 bags, then go here to see all the details that make the Flip-Top awesome!

Ami Gets enRoute!

Check it out, y'all! Ami is featured in the latest issue of enRoute, Air Canada's in-flight travel magazine. She dishes on what she's listening to right now (a lot of country music, duh!), where to grab a great lunch in Vegas, and her business mantra (Abe Lincoln's quote, "Whatever you are, be a good one.") See the rest of the story here, or, better yet, take an impromptu vacation via Air Canada, and pick up the magazine in your seat back!

Go, Ami, go!