We've always got our eyes out for great new products for travel. You aren't surprised?! We're bag and gadget people, I admit it. I've got a great new luggage line that takes care of your worries about theft - Lock-A-Bye. It's a family-owned business (brava!) that produces high-quality, slash-resistant bags for beach, travel, or anything in between. We were lucky enough to talk with one of the founders of Lock-A-Bye, Kathleen Parisi. She filled us in on the history, products, design inspirations, and more.

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GIVEAWAY!

Wandering Educators and Lock-A-Bye are giving away three! $25 gift certificates to Lock-A-Bye, courtesy of Lock-A-Bye. Please see the end of this article for details. 

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WE: Please tell us about Lock-A-Bye...

KP: The Lock-A-Bye is a beautifully crafted, fully secured Tote Bag that’s great for the workplace, great to take on vacation, great to take anywhere! The Lock-A-Bye is truly unique in that it allows you to secure your personal possessions while you work, exercise, enjoy surf, sun, or other activities. Wherever you may go or whatever you do, the Lock-A-Bye provides peace of mind and protection.

The Lock-A-Bye is a slash-resistant Tote Bag that has a key operated, patented dual locking mechanism that allows you to lock the zipper. For added security, the Lock-A-Bye also has a cable sewn throughout the bag and within the shoulder strap. The handle is designed to release from the locking mechanism allowing the bag to be secured to any stationary object.  It effectively makes both the contents of the bag and the bag itself, theft resistant! In addition to all its security features, the Lock-A-Bye is also water and stain resistant.

The Lock-A-Bye combines security with the highest quality and style. Our Tote Bag comes in four fashion designs and basic black, and will surely deliver happiness!

WE: What was the genesis of your family business?

KP: My family and I vacation together yearly, and enjoy swimming, snorkeling and other beach activities but found ourselves always facing the same dilemma... Somebody always had to stay behind and watch "the bags"!  We noticed that everyone from honeymooners to families shared the same problem. So like most inventions, our idea was conceived by necessity. We created the Lock-A-Bye, a fashionable Tote Bag that we could secure and lock to our beach chairs, allowing us to enjoy activities together. We are finally able to lock and leave our personal belongings behind, not our loved ones!

WE: Why is it important to use a secure bag?

KP: Everyone carries high price electronics with them that if lost, can be replaced, but the information sometimes cannot be. Whether you carry a cell phone, ipad, ipod, blackberry or similar, cash, credit cards, etc. you have the added peace of mind that your belongings are secure. There have been so many news stories and articles written about theft from malls, restaurants, banquets, networking events, hotel rooms, cruise lines, etc, some who have had their bag stolen, some who have had items stolen from their bag and some who had one credit card stolen...just think of how many headaches an individual person must endure if any personal property gets stolen...why not secure it?

WE: How can travelers best utilize Lock-A-Bye bags?

KP: Whether your travels take you by cruise, or to an island, hotel room or camping, how do you secure your items? Many people lounge by the pool deck or on the beach with their electronic equipment with them, most have cash, some even have their passports. For example, while swimming in the ocean relax knowing that someone is not rifling through your bag or stealing your bag or feel more comfortable leaving some of your higher-priced jewelry or gifts purchased in your hotel room, knowing that no one else has the key to your bag!

WE: What inspired your designs?

KP: We utilized a young hip NY designer to design the Tote Bag line and with our pattern and color input - she put together some fantastic combinations.

WE: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

KP:Our advice for other inventors/entrepreneurs would be to not give up! No matter how many road blocks are thrown your way, stay positive and determined and believe in yourself and your product! The goal on the forefront of our organization is: Branding, branding, branding.  Getting our name out there is hard enough but coupled with a brand new invention never seen before in the market place is a challenge. We have a high quality product, great technology and it solves a problem for so many people.

WE: Thanks so much, Kathy! I am very impressed with Lock-A-Bye bags and highly recommend them to our Wandering Educators.

For more information, please see:

http://www.lockabye.com/

Gift Card Giveaway

Lock-A-Bye has generously donated three $25 gift certicates to Lock-A-Bye, to be awarded to randomly chosen commenters on this article - lucky readers!

To comment, you must be a member of Wandering Educators (free). Please fill out the membership application form - don't forget to share about yourself! Drawing is world-wide.

The contest will run from April 3, 2011, until 11:59pm, April 15, 2011. Any comments left on this article within that time are eligible for the drawing.