Shop like a VIP

Bags To Go is hoping to hit pay dirt selling and renting bags to harried Black Friday shoppers.

Companies: Bags To Go

Headquarters: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Bags To Go is hoping to bag plenty of business the day after Thanksgiving.
The company already has expertise in airport baggage handling, storage and delivery in busy destinations, such as Miami, Las Vegas and Fort Lauderdale. Now for the first time, it has decided to extend that know-how to the shopping arena.
"This is the first Black Friday that we'll be offering our service to shoppers," said Keith Wiater, president and COO of Bags To Go. The company launched its "bags-free" shopping service at the 350-store Sawgrass Mills Mall in Fort Lauderdale in August this year. "It's already taking off pretty quickly," said Wiater.
Here's how it works: Shoppers can buy a specially designed large bag for $14.99, or rent one for $10 at three Bags To Go locations in the mall. People shop, load up the bags with different purchases and then drop them off at one of the company's stations. "We'll seal it and keep it for you until you're ready to have it delivered to your car," said Wiater.
And consumers don't have to worry about their bags getting lost or mixed up. "We have a special tracker for each bag," Wiater said. On Black Friday, the company will be well-stocked with thousands of bags at the Sawgrass Mills, he said. "It will be busy and I'll make sure I'm there, too," he said.
Given all the interest it's already generating, Bags To Go plans to expand the service to 20 malls next year and offer shoppers the option of delivering bags to their homes, said Wiater.