Just before GW Report: Survey on Stressful "Luggage" for Travelers! Survey conducted on "luggage" that causes travel stress! The key to countermeasures is to "reduce the amount of luggage ～Trend toward lighter luggage for travel as seen through the year-end and New Year's experiences

Marvin Trading Co. (Head office: Owari-Asahi City, Aichi Prefecture; President: Kunitoshi Momota), which sells the "Clothes Drying Balloon" Kotsukan Aeroduct, which reduces the amount of clothes to be changed, conducted a survey on measures to reduce stress for the anticipated GW rush, based on the results of a survey conducted in January on "what stressors people felt during the rush to go home. Based on the results of a survey conducted in January on stress caused by the rush to return home, we conducted a questionnaire survey on measures to reduce stress in preparation for the expected GW rush. As a result, the current situation of planning measures to reduce luggage, which is a major source of stress, emerged.

Luggage reduction measures to be devised for the 2025GW trip

We also surveyed the situation of "laundry at the destination," which is indispensable for implementing luggage reduction measures.

The survey also revealed differences in awareness and behavior by gender.

Survey on Stress Factors Related to Luggage Experienced during the Year-End and New Year Rush (by scene)

Survey report just before GW 2025 Improvement awareness based on year-end and New Year rush to return home

■Survey Results Summary

(1) More than half (50.8%) of the respondents (26.0%) felt stressed by the amount and weight of their luggage and the act of carrying it (24.8%) in the lead-up to departure.

(2) A high percentage of respondents (34.8% in total) felt stressed by the items related to packing (preparing what to bring (18.0%), preparing a change of clothes (8.0%), and packing efficiently (8.7%)).

It can be seen that most of the stressors in the departure phase occur between packing and leaving home.

(3) In the process from station/airport to destination/return home, the most stressful item is cleaning up after returning home, including laundry (22.4%)

(4) Next most stressful is not having enough space to put things (16.5%)

(5) A total of 28.5% said the time spent waiting (13.6% to leave luggage and 14.9% to pick it up) was stressful because luggage was a factor. If the time spent waiting in line for a cab due to large baggage is included, 31.1% of the respondents said that the time spent waiting in line for a cab due to large baggage was also stressful.

Stress factors can be divided into the following major categories

(1) Quantity and weight of baggage itself and its transportation (50.8% in total)

(2) 41% of the respondents were concerned about the time consumed due to baggage procedures and the amount of baggage they had to carry.

3. preparation and packing before departure, washing/cleaning up after returning home, and repacking of the same type (9.9%), resulting in the highest percentage of 67% for preparation and cleanup.

■Survey Summary

Institution ： Marvin Trading Corporation (Cooperated by CrowdWorks)

Date ： March 17, 2025

Target ： Men and women in their 18s to 60s nationwide (Male: 155, Female: 145)

Survey Method ： Attitude survey via the Internet

CrowdWorks URL: https://crowdworks.jp

Number of people surveyed: 300

Sampling Method ： Random sampling from Internet survey personnel

Respondents by sex and age

Respondents by sex and age

Purpose of going out during GW

Purpose of going out during GW

■Do you do laundry during your stay in Japan? (All respondents)

How do you do laundry at your destination? (All respondents)

Summary of Survey Results1】 1.

1. use laundromat

2. wash and dry clothes by hand in the room

3. use laundry service

The above percentages were about the same, but there were some differences by gender.

How do you do your laundry at your place of stay? (by gender)

How do you do your laundry at your place of stay? (Male and female respondents)

Summary of survey results 2】】Men are more likely to use laundromats than women.

While 40.6% of men use laundromats, 41.4% of women wash their clothes by hand in their rooms. The result is particularly prominent among the 36-48 age group.

What do you feel troublesome or uneasy about washing clothes at your place of stay? (by gender)

What do you feel troublesome or anxious about doing laundry at your destination? (Male/Female)

Summary

This survey was conducted based on the results of a survey conducted on January 7, 2025 for those who returned home or traveled during the year-end and New Year rush hours, to determine the stress they felt at that time and the improvements needed for the next time.

Among the items cited as needing improvement, the respondents said that they need to improve their own luggage, while they also mentioned the improvement of facilities and the improvement of the environment and equipment in terms of systems and services.

In this survey, we focused on what stage and what stresses them about their luggage, and obtained the following results.

The top most stressful thing for travelers is "preparing and putting things away" (67%). 26% think about and arrange their belongings, 18.6% check and pack. After returning home, 22.4% wash and put away by type. The time and effort spent on this task seems to be highly stressful.

The next most stressful factor is the amount and weight of material goods and the great physical burden of carrying them. This is the main part that causes "fatigue."

Lastly, the length of time it takes to check in, pick up, and carry these baggages. Specifically, they cited the time spent waiting in line at the baggage check-in counter, waiting to retrieve checked-in items, searching for temporary storage or coin lockers, waiting in line at cab stands, and so on. Waiting in line for long periods of time is another source of stress.

All of these stress reductions can be achieved by packing less and going lighter. Survey respondents also focused on reducing clothing, which makes up the majority of their luggage. They reduce the amount of clothing themselves by carefully selecting the clothes they wear, and utilize a list of belongings so that they do not get lost in the need-to-have list. This accounts for more than half of the respondents.

Since they are reducing their clothing, it is essential to wash and dry their clothes at the place where they are staying. As a result of the survey on the actual state of laundry at the place of stay, it is worrisome that many respondents feel troublesome and anxious in this area.

It seems that the key to reducing luggage will be the ability to wash and dry clothes at the destination without stress in the future.

It is hoped that the wave of luggage reduction among travelers will spread and reduce the congestion of consecutive holidays as much as possible.

■What is Kotsukan Aeroduct, a "clothes-drying balloon" that reduces the number of changes of clothes?

The "Clothes Drying Balloon" is a compact, B5 size, 165g, yet can dry a Y-shirt, socks, underwear, and handkerchief simultaneously in a hotel room using a hair dryer in 10 minutes. This reduces the number of changes of clothes and luggage. It also contributes to lighter travel and improved fuel efficiency in transportation, thereby reducing CO2 emissions and contributing to decarbonization.

December 3, 2024 OMOTENASHI Selection Gold Award for three consecutive years

KOTSUKAN AERODUCT

KOTSUKAN AERODUCT THE Long

Portable clothes drying balloon that reduces the number of changes of clothes Product Outline

Product name ： KOTSUKAN AERODUCT THE Long

Weight ： 165g

Size ： Compact size that can be stored in a B5 pouch

Sales Method ： Amazon

　　　　　 https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0BGDRCG9B

　　　　　 In-house EC site

　　　　　 https://marvin.co.jp/product/index.html

Capable of drying multiple garments in as little as 10 minutes using a hair dryer or futon dryer in a hotel or home. Has a wrinkle-removing effect.

≪About Marvin Trading Co.

Established in 1959 as an export trading company of western tableware and tiles.

Through many difficult environmental changes such as oil shocks, yen appreciation, and the Lehman Shock, the company has changed to its current business model of wholesale of general merchandise and daily necessities. Currently, we are focusing on direct sales of our own original products, which are greatly affected by the record-breaking depreciation of the yen, soaring raw material prices, and rising transportation costs.

■Company Profile

Company name: Marvin Trading Co.

Location: 6113-3 Mitsuike, Shiroyamacho, Owari-Asahi, Aichi, Japan

Representative: Kunitoshi Momota, President

Establishment: February 1959

URL ： https://marvin.co.jp

Business description: Import and domestic wholesale of interior goods, daily necessities, interior materials, etc.