Swedish lifestyle and earphone specialist Sudio plans to extend its distribution network in global travel retail.
The company, founded in 2012, has strong sales in Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong. In travel retail it cooperates with Inflight Service and SAS Group and will partner with Heinemann Asia Pacific in Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) later this year.
Representatives from Sudio will attend this year’s TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes and are in the process of finalising meetings with key distributors.
Sudio Business Developer Nils-Fredrik Mörner said: “Our target area is global but our strongest footprint today is in Asia so we believe that is a natural stepping stone for us within travel retail.”
Sudio was named after the Phil Collins song ‘Sussudio’ after one of the brand’s founders bumped into the singer in New York as he was trying to untangle his headphones. Sudio earphones use flat wires to avoid that problem, the brand stated.
Mörner said Sudio aims to offer a “wearable accessory with studio quality sound”.
He continued: “Our vision is to create earphones that actually enhance your look and to make the earphone into something more than an audio device; it can also be a fashion accessory.
“As the electronics category in travel retail is growing, I would say we are a very good choice for the fusion between fashion and electronics for the traditional operators as we try to appeal to the more fashion-aware consumer,” Mörner added.
Sudio earphones are available in four models; colours include black, white, orange, brown, pink, blue, rose gold black and rose gold white. Three new models will be launched by the end of this year.
Vasa Blå, said to combine elegant design and eight hours of wireless freedom, is compatible with all Bluetooth devices. Vasa features a three-button remote and microphone for Android and iOS while Klang has a remote designed for iOS and a stay-in-ear feature with one cord longer than the other.
TVÅ, described as an Apple EarPod upsell, is a lightweight earphone with a 14.2mm driver.
