The National Luggage Dealers Association (NLDA) was formed more than 85 years ago, by a forward thinking group of individual and independent luggage dealers. The purpose of the organization was to improve the buying power of the many stores it represented, giving the individual store owners the ability to compete with larger companies and department stores. Many of the founding members continue to be represented today by successive generations of family members.

The NLDA operated as a volunteer buying organization. The owners felt that they knew best what merchandise was appropriate for their stores. Committees were formed with members from different parts of the country, to create as diverse a group as possible. Each used their particular expertise in contributing to the committees. It has been reaffirmed year after year and continues to operate in that manner.

As this was a volunteer organization made up of full time business owners, a support organization was formed. An Executive Director and staff were hired to meet the needs of the NLDA. The business office operated out of New York until 1996, when it moved to Glenview, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. In 2010 many former members of The American Luggage Dealers Association joined the NLDA. Today the NLDA is made up of a diverse group of members with individual interests, talents and leadership skills.