Accra metal trunk sellers face losses as students prefer suitcases

Traders in Accra are reporting significant financial losses as senior high school (SHS) students increasingly favor wheeled suitcases over traditional metal trunks. Local sellers, some with decades of experience, note a sharp decline in demand; one trader reported selling only 20 trunks this season compared to over 50 in previous years.

Traders attribute this shift to changing consumer preferences, with students viewing metal trunks as ‘old-fashioned’ and preferring the modern look and mobility of suitcases. Sellers also point to school prospectuses that now list suitcases alongside or instead of trunks, as well as the increasing availability of school supplies directly on school campuses, which bypasses local market traders.

While institutions like Achimota School and Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School (PRESEC) still accept trunks, the decline in sales is impacting local manufacturing, particularly in Accra’s Bukom area. Some traders argue that trunks are more durable than suitcases and suggest that parents could save money by reusing trunks for younger siblings rather than purchasing new luggage for every child.