Case Study: Swypes finds success at WTCE
Swypes packaging
Revolutionary plastic-free, biodegradable body wipes brand, Swypes, will be returning to exhibit at the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) in 2025 following a hugely successful debut last year.
Founded by Cayden Mostran and Travis Kerry and designed for people on the move, Swypes' body wipes stand out for their premium quality and sustainable design. They were developed to meet a "constant need to freshen up on the go" and are now transforming passengers’ onboard experience as a unique time-saving and sweat-removing inflight solution.
The founders merged their talents to disrupt a saturated market, breaking into the onboard category at WTCE 2024, where their vision found a global stage to connect with airlines' procurers and onboard decision-makers.
A Swypes body wipe
Swypes gained its first international distributor at WTCE, carving a new opening in the personal care category for multiple industries in the travel sector including airlines, cruise lines and airport lounges. The team also left its first WTCE with more than 100 leads, many of which came from simple intrigue when passing by the stand, with names including Air India, National Geographic Expeditions and Gulf Air. They were able to connect with hundreds of airline executives and buyers in just hours, something that would otherwise have taken months. Within a year, Swypes is already in advanced talks for a large-scale international airline order, as well as amenity kit suppliers, proving the show’s incredible return on investment.
Reflecting on WTCE’s impact, Mostran says, “The main thing we found was the huge opportunity to be in front of hundreds of airline executives in just a matter of hours. It’s an experience you can’t replicate elsewhere.”
Kerry adds, “Our success story came from us walking around and networking.”
Exhibiting at WTCE skyrocketed Swypes' presence in the travel sector, securing its international distribution and sparking significant conversations with major airlines. The team achieved its goal of securing one partnership and left the event with far more prospects than anticipated. The brand is now poised for exponential growth, proving the power of WTCE in fostering connections and creating opportunities.
Top tips from Swypes founders:
- Maximize WTCE tools: Talk with as many people as possible and get as much as you can from the experience... also make sure that you scan the [badge QR] codes because it is so easy to talk and then forget.
- Come prepared with products: Providing product samples is crucial for generating interest. Make sure you have enough on hand to supply and get into as many people’s hands as you can.
- Be adaptable: You never know what a client will ask. Prep as much as you can and what we didn't know, we’d find out and follow up.
- Stand out from the crowd: We knew we needed to make something eye-catching. So, we made sure we had a big, backed LED light wall which already presented so much light in a space where no one was doing that, and we kept cohesive colour all the way around.
Following last year's success, Swypes will be returning to WTCE 2025. The event takes place from April 8 to 10 at the Hamburg Messe, Hamburg, Germany.
For more information or to register interest in the event, visit: https://www.worldtravelcateringexpo.com/en-gb.html
