Thursday 28 July 2016

Heinemann successfully tests new product category

INVU Easyfit are smartly designed sunglasses that fit over prescription glasses. A recent test at Heinemann Duty Free at the Oslo Gardemoen airport resulted in such outstanding sales figures, that the category was immediately added in the stores in Stavanger and Trondheim. The success behind this category is very simple; people often forget to take their prescription sunglasses along when they travel. When they see a stylish solution, comfortably priced in the impulse price segment from 51 Euro at the airport, the purchase becomes a no-brainer.  “The exceptional retail success of this new category within the sunglass segment demonstrates that INVU Easyfit is a perfect additional for travel retail stores around the globe” says Jan Richter, Purchasing Director Fashion & Accessories of Heinemann.

Thursday 21 July 2016

House of Hazelwood Range wins multiple top awards at the International Spirits Challenge and Scotch Whisky Masters 2016

One Master & 5 Gold Medals for the newly launched range from ISC Distiller of the Year, William Grant & Sons

July 2016, London: William Grant & Sons’ House of Hazelwood Range of premium 18, 21 and 25 year old Scotch whiskies has started as it means to go on, scooping 6 top awards from the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) and Scotch Whisky Masters 2016 in its first 6 months since launch. The 18 year old, 21 year and 25 year old expressions were each awarded a Gold medal at the ISC awards this month and at the Scotch Whisky Masters the 18 year old won the coveted Masters award while the 21 year old and 25 year old were both awarded Gold medals.



Both awards are highly anticipated and two of the most respected and influential competitions in the world. They are both founded on a rigorous and independent judging process, with the best of the industry’s brands and innovations hoping for wins.

 “I am delighted that House of Hazelwood has been awarded such esteemed honours.” said Kirsten Grant-Meikle, Director of Prestige, William Grant & Sons UK and Grant Family member. “It is a wonderful recognition and a very fitting tribute to our great aunt, Janet Sheed Roberts, in whose honour the range was created. Having been involved in the conception and development of House of Hazelwood I am very excited about its potential and disruptive role within the super premium Blended Scotch category and I predict a great future for the range.”

“We are so proud of what House of Hazelwood has achieved in such a short space of time”, commented Karen Murphy, Global Innovation Marketing Manager, William Grant & Sons. “Winning top honours at these prestigious awards makes us even more confident that we have built a brand that will go from strength to strength in the future.” 

Says William Grant & Sons Managing Director GTR Ed Cottrell: “The passion behind creating this stand-out collection is a reflection of the commitment that William Grant & Sons has to global travel retail and to offering passengers truly unique and exclusive expressions. The fact that House of Hazelwood has received these accolades from both the ISC and the Global Scotch Whisky Masters is testament to the importance that is now placed on travel retail as a channel of distribution and to the quality of product that is found within it. Congratulations to everyone who played a part in the creation, design and execution of this wonderful collection. Janet Sheed Roberts would be very proud of that I am sure.”

House of Hazelwood is an elegant and vivacious new blended Scotch whisky inspired by family luminary Janet Sheed Roberts (1901 to 2012) and expressed through the spirit of the great Art Deco cities that influenced the world in her heyday. House of Hazelwood is composed of three exquisite expressions, each blended to perfection, with its own inimitable story to tell, each of which is inspired by the golden age of the 1920s.

House of Hazelwood was launched exclusively in Global Travel Retail in February 2016 and will launch in Domestic markets from 2017. It has an ABV of 40%, available in a 50cl art-deco decanter style bottle and a suggest retail price in GTR of £50 for 18YO; £75 for 21YO and £115 for 25YO.

House of Hazelwood 25 Year Old

House of Hazelwood 25 Year Old was inspired by the classic elegance of Shanghai, a city which stood at the centre of Cathay elegance in the 1920s. This release represents the Master Blenders’ most prized expression. Each rare single malt earned its place in Kinsman’s final selection, and the blend was then married in American oak, allowing sufficient time for the complex and diverse flavours to infuse and mellow. The resultant majestic whisky is unique, rare and very special.

Tasting notes
Nose: Caramelized brown sugar leads, accompanied by vanilla, maple, soft spice and hints of fresh sawn wood.  Citrus notes and orange blossom linger in the background.
Taste: An elegant combination of vibrant spice and vanilla sweetness on the palate.  A long dry finish from the new oak.
Key Notes: Caramelized sugar, and Soft spice.

House of Hazelwood 21 Year Old

House of Hazelwood 21 Year Old is inspired by the sultry beauty of Mumbai in the 1920s. This release represents a bolder, somewhat spicier and more robust whisky balanced to perfection by the ageing of some of its malts for 21 years in sherry casks made of European oak.

Tasting Notes
Nose: Dried fruits and spice dominate, alongside a sticky sweetness reminiscent of rich fruit cake.  A splash of water alters the balance and adds complexity with a subtle hint of tobacco leaf.
Taste: Cinnamon, cloves and woody spice, with a dry finish.  Water accentuates the sherry cask influence, bringing out the sweet oiliness of treacle, dates and polished leather.
Key Notes: Spice, Molasses, and Resin.

House of Hazelwood 18 Year Old

House of Hazelwood 18 Year Old is inspired by the classic elegance of Paris in the 1920s. This release reveals an elegant and classic whisky, perhaps the purest expression of Kininvie and Girvan spirits in the range, and married in tuns of Portuguese oak.

Tasting Notes
Nose: Vibrant vanilla sweetness dominates the nose.  Delicate oak adds complexity. 
Taste: Creamy toffee enhanced by soft oak undertones.  A long and elegant finish.  Approachable, yet refined by age.
Key Notes: Vanilla, Creamy toffee, Soft oak.


About Janet Sheed Roberts

Janet Sheed Roberts possessed a fine mind, known for her strength of character, passion and determination. Across the 1920ss she lived a vibrant life, witnessed the heyday of Scotch whisky and lived the golden age of theatre, fashion and design.

Janet Sheed Roberts revelled in learning and progress; she was awarded a Master of Arts and continued with a degree in law — being one of only two women in her graduating year. 

She spent considerable time after her studies travelling the world.  She can recount stories of seeing the first aeroplane and the stagecoach ride from Geneva to Lausanne and remember the tunes played on the fiddle during a halt to water the horses. After she married, she continued her adventures with her husband Eric, meeting distributors and customers, and attending functions and award ceremonies. Her travels knew no bounds, and even her Australia trip featured on the itinerary with 12 stops, including one or two on remote islands in the middle of the ocean.

Janet Sheed Roberts’ passion for adventure did not end there. She also had a great love for the arts and fashion.  She saw all the legendary actors and actresses of the time in the best shows – including Greto Garbo.  She developed an extraordinary taste for shoes and handbags, with her favourite being Ferragamo. Indeed, she always travelled with her “campaigners” – a pristine pair of Ferragamo lace-up walking shoes with a fashionable heel.

In fact, it was a trip to a casino in Monaco that her elegant string of pearls broke, dropping all the fine pearls to the ground. Like a scene out of a Hollywood movie, all the men stopped in their tracks, got down to their knees and help Janet Sheed Roberts find all her pearls.

About William Grant & Sons
House of Hazelwood is made by William Grant & Sons, Ltd. an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the global premium spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distils some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world’s most awarded single malt Glenfiddich®, The Balvenie® range of handcrafted single malts and the world’s third largest blended Scotch, Grant’s®, as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick’s® Gin, Sailor Jerry ® Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W.® Irish Whiskey, Monkey Shoulder® Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Drambuie® Scotch Liqueur. In 2016, William Grant & Sons was named Distiller of the Year and Scotch Producer of the Year at the International Spirits Challenge Awards.

Click on www.williamgrant.com for more information on the Company and its brands




Monday 18 July 2016

INVU EXPANDS INFLIGHT BUSINESS INTO AFRICA WITH TOURVEST

Swiss Eyewear Group has expanded its inflight business into Africa with listings onboard both South African Airways and Kenya Airways for INVU ultra polarized sunglasses. Both are through Tourvest Inflight Retail Services for INVU’s B1612a model, a classic rimless aviator style in matt gunmetal with green gradient lenses. Listed onboard since April 2016, sales on both airlines are said to be “significantly above expectations” at double the original forecasts.

Comments Rebecca Harwood Lincoln, Swiss Eyewear Group director travel retail international markets:  “We’re delighted to have expanded our inflight business through Tourvest this year; they’re a fantastic partner to work with and we look forward to working together for the long term.”

Adds Tourvest’s Carole Clarke “We’re always looking for product lines which offer great quality, are on trend, and represent fantastic value for our customers. Sunglasses are one of the most buoyant categories in travel retail currently and brands such as INVU bridge the gap between high-cost designer frames and budget brands that do not always offer the sun protection which customers expect.

“We’re very happy to be working with Swiss Eyewear Group; the company is proving to be very flexible to our requirements and efficient to deal with.”

All INVU sunglasses are engineered in Switzerland, equipped with the ultra polarized lens technology from Swiss Eyewear Group and retail on the high street at a consumer friendly price from 50 Euros.

Tuesday 12 July 2016

elit® USHUAÏA activation sees immediate sales increases through World Duty Free

Activations for the limited edition elit® USHUAÏA edition taking place since May in partnership with World Duty Free at key airports in the UK and Ibiza have proven the value of targeted promotions with sales up 80% from the same period last year.









elit® Vodka from the House of Stoli®, the world’s first ultra-luxury vodka launched the second in a series of three  limited editions in partnership with the USHUAÏA Ibiza Beach Hotel just ahead of party season in Ibiza, the unofficial party capital of the world. An exclusive travel retail distribution agreement with Dufry-owned World Duty Free included a busy schedule of brand activations throughout the summer.

Dedicated elit® Vodka / USHUAÏA branded areas – destination bars and tastings units hosted by brand ambassadors –  in Heathrow T2, Heathrow T5, Stansted, and  Gatwick South enabled passengers to experience and engage with the ultra-luxury vodka from May 25 to June 28. Passengers were invited to try elit® Vodka neat or in a special cocktail called ‘The Refresher.’ The UK promotion moved to Manchester airport on June 29 and will run until July 30.  The same promotion began at Ibiza airport on May 1 and is running through September 30, featuring 70cl and 175cl bottles of elit® Ushuaia.

Meanwhile, in Scotland, a permanent brand ambassador at Edinburgh Airport continues to interact with passengers introducing them to the Stoli® and elit® offers, while at Glasgow Airport passengers enjoyed Stoli® Lemonade cocktails from May 25-June 28 to bring their attention to the various SKUs on offer including the elit® USHUAÏA 2016 Limited Edition.

“We believe brand activation is key in order to reward our current consumers and convince new ones to try both Stoli® and elit® by The House of Stoli®,” commented Stoli Group Global Duty Free & Travel Retail Director Jean-Philippe Aucher.  “In May and the first five days of June alone, we sold more bottles of elit® USHUAIA at Ibiza airport than in the whole of 2015, including a pleasing number of 175cl sizes. With most of the busy summer period still ahead, this is really encouraging for us.”

Meanwhile, in the first two weeks of the promotion at the London trio of airports, elit® Vodka sales have seen an increase of almost 80% year-to-date as compared to 2015.

Adds Aucher: “The elit® USHUAÏA 2016 Limited Edition is not exclusive to travel retail but the channel is playing a vital role in the brand’s marketing strategy. World Duty Free have – as always – proven to be the perfect partners in assisting us to ensure that passengers travelling through all key UK and Ibiza airports cannot miss the opportunity to experience and engage with the ultra-luxury vodka, elit®.”

The USHUAÏA edition comes in a frosted version of the elit® bottle, which is modeled after the vodka’s unique freeze-filtration process and unrivalled precision. The USHUAÏA logo – the hummingbird – is printed in matte black ink positioned to interact with the elit® branding and wrapping round the USHUAÏA Ibiza Beach Hotel text.

The USHUAÏA edition is on sale at UK airports for £43.99 (70cl) and In Ibiza for Euros 40.90 (70cl) and Euros 99.95 (1.75l).

About Stoli Group
Stoli Group (headquartered in Luxembourg) was established in 2013 as the division that is responsible for the production, management and distribution of SPI Group's global spirit portfolio - the iconic Stolichnaya® Premium vodka range, elit® Vodka and Moskovskaya® . With operational business units across 3 continents and distribution in 167 countries, the group is led by a multi-national management team with key office locations in Europe, USA and China.

With almost 1 bottle of Stolichnaya® Premium vodka sold every second, each one defines the benchmark for quality with a meticulously crafted liquid that meets the highest alcohol standards - Alpha Spirit. Stoli’s exceptional purity is achieved by controlling the process from grain to bottle, using only the highest quality ingredients and processes in the Group’s own, ultra-modern raw alcohol distillery in Tambov. The spirit then travels to Latvijas Balzams where it is blended with artesian water, quadruple filtered and bottled to become Stolichnaya® - as it has since 1938.

For more information visit www.stoli-group.com and www.stoli.com. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/stoli and on Twitter @Stoli

About Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel:
Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel is a luxurious 417-room hotel comprised of two buildings: The Ushuaïa Club, featuring an amazing poolside stage, and The Ushuaïa Tower, offering breathtaking views of the
Mediterranean. Ushuaïa is dedicated to providing the best outdoor entertainment venue coupled with a modern, cutting-edge hotel experience. Designed for the discerning traveller seeking the fun and entertainment associated with Ibiza, Ushuaïa continuously raises the bar –from Swim-Up room options, daytime parties hosted by celebrated DJs, to “chromotherapy,” the ability to set the mood to their rooms with LED lights, ensuring that the party never stops.  Its collection of dining options is unrivalled, from Ibiza’s first premier steakhouse Montauk and Minami serving sushi and other Japanese delicacies, to The Oyster and Caviar Bar beside the pool and the relaxed Ushuaïa Beach Club providing the perfect fuel for Ibiza party-goers.

Visit www.ushuaiabeachhotel.com
 
About Palladium Hotel Group:
Palladium Hotel Group is a Spanish hotel chain with over forty years of experience. The chain has 50 hotels in six countries: Spain, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Sicily (Italy) and Brazil and operates four brands: Palladium Hotels & Resorts‒with four sub brands: The Royal Suites by Palladium, Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts, Palladium Hotels and Palladium Boutique Hotels‒, Fiesta Hotels & Resorts, Ushuaïa Unexpected Hotels and Ayre Hoteles‒with sub brand Only YOU Hotel & Lounge‒, as well as licensed brand Hard Rock Hotels.
The Palladium Hotel Group hotels are characterized by their philosophy of offering customers a high standard of quality in its products and services and excellent value.  Palladium Hotel Group is owned by Grupo Empresas Matutes (GEM).
Visit www.palladiumhotelgroup.com

Aurora World brings Dinosaurs back to life

Aurora World is delighted to welcome a herd of prehistoric critters to its portfolio of plush toys: Dinosaurs.




The Dinosaurs are available in 7 different styles which include a Parasaurolophus, Spinosaurus, T-Rex, Triceratops, Pteranodon, Brachiosaurus, and Stegosaurus - all come in 2 different sizes, 30cm and 40cm and retail at $19 and $29.

Says Garry Stoner, Aurora’s Travel Retail Sales Manager: “Dinosaurs are extremely popular with kids of all ages at the moment, thanks to recent films such as Jurassic World and The Good Dinosaur boosting children’s interests in the subject. We expect these cute, cuddly, colourful Dinosaurs to sell like hotcakes, and may even be a hit with adults as well, Dinosaur’s are not just for kids!”

Monday 11 July 2016

New Furla corner comes to Changi

Furla is pleased to report the opening of a new 3m2 generic corner in Changi International Airport T2.



The store was opened in partnership with Lagardère on the 29th of June with Furla’s SS16 collection.

Says Gerry Munday, Furla’s Global Travel Retail Director: “We are thrilled to have another Furla store in Changi, it really is a fabulous location. I thank Lagardère for their help with this opening, it is always a pleasure to work with them.”

Friday 8 July 2016

elit® Vodka and Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel Announce Opening of Private Club, THE elit® Backstage

Private club will host world’s most renowned DJ’s, high-powered celebrities and exclusive guests,
located within Ibiza’s top-rated open-air dance club and beach hotel

 
Luxembourg (6 July 2016) – elit® Vodka, announced today the opening of Ibiza’s most exclusive private club, THE elit® Backstage, in partnership with the Palladium Hotel Group and Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel. The first of its kind, THE elit® Backstage is a private club nestled inside the Ushuaïa Club and will be host to world-famous DJ’s, celebrities and select guests.








The backstage area will be opened for around  80 hand-selected Ushuaïa VIPs each evening, and features a stunning designed interior, elit® DJ booth and bar for which guests can enjoy signature elit Vodka cocktails and bottle service.

A focal point within THE elit® Backstage are the elit Vodka lockers.  These set of lockers will be reserved and customized for six of the evening’s most notable guests.  Hand-selected by Ushuaïa’s CEO & Artistic Director Yann Pissenem, these lockers will have a personalized name plate on them and include the highly sought after elit® Ushuaïa Limited Edition bottle for them to enjoy throughout the night.

“The elit® Ushuaïa Limited Edition bottle we launched this April was met with worldwide success, and we are thrilled to add another ultra-luxury element to Ushuaïa,” said Piet-Hein Schnellen, elit® Global Marketing Manager. “The DJ’s will be working hard to entertain Ibiza’s world class party scene this summer. We’re thrilled to be able to provide them with a premium reprieve where they can relax and enjoy elit® Vodka.”

“We are continually looking to raise the bar on the ultimate luxury experience, particularly for our internationally famous DJ lineup,” said Danny Gómez Korf, Brand Ambassador and PR & Sponsorship Manager at Palladium Hotel Group. “Ushuaïa and elit® Vodka have a distinct sense of style, and we want our most important guests to experience that in THE elit Backstage. Everything from the décor to the drinks is unique; you won’t find this type of experience anywhere else in Ibiza or the world.”

About Stoli Group
Stoli Group (headquartered in Luxembourg) was established in 2013 as the division that is responsible for the production, management and distribution of SPI Group's global spirit portfolio - the iconic Stolichnaya® Premium vodka range, elit® Vodka and Moskovskaya®. With operational business units across 3 continents and distribution in more than 170 countries, the group is led by a multi-national management team with key office locations in Europe, USA and China.

With almost 1 bottle of Stolichnaya® Premium vodka sold every second, each one defines the benchmark for quality with a meticulously crafted liquid that meets the highest alcohol standards - Alpha Spirit. Stoli’s exceptional purity is achieved by controlling the process from grain to bottle, using only the highest quality ingredients and processes in the Group’s own, ultra-modern raw alcohol distillery in Tambov. The spirit then travels to Latvijas Balzams where it is blended with artesian water, quadruple filtered and bottled to become Stolichnaya® - as it has since 1938.

For more information follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/elitbystoli and on Twitter and Instagram at @elitbyStoli.

About Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel:
Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel is a luxurious 417-room hotel comprised of two buildings: The Ushuaïa Club, featuring an amazing poolside stage, and The Ushuaïa Tower, offering breathtaking views of the Mediterranean. Ushuaïa is dedicated to providing the best outdoor entertainment venue coupled with a modern, cutting-edge hotel experience. Designed for the discerning traveller seeking the fun and entertainment associated with Ibiza, Ushuaïa continuously raises the bar –from Swim-Up room options, daytime parties hosted by celebrated DJs, to “chromotherapy,” the ability to set the mood to their rooms with LED lights, ensuring that the party never stops.  Its collection of dining options is unrivalled, from Ibiza’s first premier steakhouse Montauk and Minami serving sushi and other Japanese delicacies, to The Oyster and Caviar Bar beside the pool and the relaxed Ushuaïa Beach Club providing the perfect fuel for Ibiza party-goers.
 Visit www.ushuaiabeachhotel.com
 
About Palladium Hotel Group:
Palladium Hotel Group is a Spanish hotel chain with over forty years of experience. The chain has 50 hotels in six countries: Spain, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Sicily (Italy) and Brazil and operates four brands: Palladium Hotels & Resorts‒with four sub brands: The Royal Suites by Palladium, Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts, Palladium Hotels and Palladium Boutique Hotels‒, Fiesta Hotels & Resorts, Ushuaïa Unexpected Hotels and Ayre Hoteles‒with sub brand Only YOU Hotel & Lounge‒,as well as  licensed brand Hard Rock Hotels. The Palladium Hotel Group hotels are characterized by their philosophy of offering customers a high standard of quality in its products and services and excellent value.  Palladium Hotel Group is owned by Grupo Empresas Matutes (GEM).
Visit www.palladiumhotelgroup.com



Drink with care. elit® Vodka. 40% Alc/Vol. Distilled from grain. © 2016. All rights reserved.® - registered trademarks, depending on the country, of ZHS IP Americas Sàrl, ZHS IP Europe Sàrl, ZHS IP Worldwide Sàrl, Spirits International B.V., or Spirits Product International Intellectual Property B.V.

Thursday 7 July 2016

Furla opens new store in Siem Reap Galleria

Furla is delighted to announce the opening of a new store in the Siem Reap Galleria, in partnership with DFS.



The 20sqm generic store was officially opened in May with Furla’s SS16 collection.

“DFS are always a pleasure to work with and I thank them very much for their continued support and belief in the brand,” says Furla’s Global Travel Retail Director, Gerry Munday. “The Siem Reap Galleria is a stunning location and it is an honor to have Furla present there.”

Wednesday 6 July 2016

Aurora’s new winter collection provides perfect opportunity for incremental sales

Aurora World has introduced a new range of cute and cuddly plush for the 2016-17 winter season that is ideal for travel retail gifting and impulse purchase sale.





Designed to appeal to all ages, collections feature both animals associated with winter climates and fun characters guaranteed to attract travelling consumers.

Penguins are a main focus with two-tone grey whimsical Pom Pom Penguins from 6in to 16in with different characters including options with bright pink, blue, brown and purple ‘fur coats’ or winter hats, and realistic Frosty Penguin from 11in to 29in. Retailing from £10 to £40, these super-soft plush collections make a lovely gift for all ages.

Aurora’s recently added range of Gnomes is given a winter look with colourful, sparkling hats in various colours; while the ever popular YooHoo brand includes Pammee with holly and ivy head decorations and party dresses.

For point of sale, Aurora’s counter display of YooHoo winter friends is perfect to encourage last minute impulse purchases, adding to the average basket size.

Aurora’s Travel Retail Sales Manager, Garry Stoner comments: “Seasonal plush is a must for travel retail, perfect for gifting and impulse purchase. Aurora's offer is perfect for the category as retailers seek to maximise the additional sales potential at seasonal and celebratory times of the year.”

Stoner emphasises that now is the time to be planning the winter plush offer. “The buying season for plush is similar to fashion, with deliveries from the end of September,” he says. “It’s important to get stocks in place in good time; Christmas is the number one gift-giving season for plush, but the selling opportunities for winter plush extend from November through to the end of February offering operators  significant opportunities for incremental sales.”

Stoner states that themed plush in particular is a sure-fire means of increasing average spend per head and conversion levels; “Introducing themed promotion areas for seasonal events can both act as a draw into the retail space and boost impulse sales.”


About Aurora
Korean-owned, Aurora is a global company recognised for quality, soft, huggable toy designs. With over 30 years of experience in research and development, manufacturing and customer service, Aurora strives to deliver new and wide-ranging handcrafted gifts to give many years of pleasure and enjoyment… delivering its message of 'Gifts of Smiles.'


William Grant partners with Lagardère travel retail to launch Glenfiddich distillery tour at BUY PARIS DUTY FREE

Stunning new experience takes visitors from all over the world into the heart and home of Glenfiddich

William Grant & Sons has partnered with Lagardère Travel Retail to open a pop up shop for Glenfiddich – the world’s most awarded single Scotch malt whisky -  at Paris Charles de Gaulle, Terminal E, Gate L throughout June. This experiential shop enables travellers to take a distillery tour with a difference - whisky enthusiasts can now visit the famous Glenfiddich Dufftown distillery using ground breaking virtual reality (VR) technology.




The 29 sq m pop-up shop combines French and English language and imagery to attract visitors into the area, highlighting the opportunity to “Journey into the Mind of the Malt Master”, along with the availability of Travel Retail Exclusives and “Rare and Exquisite Whiskies”.

The Virtual Reality experience is an ambitious project that takes viewers from Paris directly into the heart and soul of the Glenfiddich distillery, highlighting the mastery and craft of single malt whisky production. Users are taken on a 360° journey, soaring above the Speyside countryside and from there are plunged into the distillery. They are given a unique perspective from inside a mash tun, steaming copper pot stills slide past, fermenters drop down and thousands of casks in the warehouse build up around them. Hosted by a charming Scottish guide, the iconic Glenfiddich stag makes a memorable appearance or two.

Alongside the VR experience, anyone purchasing a bottle of Glenfiddich is offered a specially designed gift card for extra personalisation and uniqueness.

William Grant & Sons’ regional marketing manager Emma Humphreys said: “At William Grant & Sons we’re continually looking at new ways to introduce consumer engagement and theatre within the airport retail environment; in a way that reflects the DNA of the brand in question. This virtual distillery tour continues the rich vein of innovation that Glenfiddich is known for, using cutting edge technology to take travellers into the heart of the brand’s family-based, craft-orientated heritage.”

Adds Lagardère Travel retail Product Management Director – Liquor, Tobacco, Food, Electronics, Toys,  Francoise Flament: “We work regularly with William Grant & Sons to bring activations into the airport that really have a positive effect on the relationship we have with our customers. Once again, they have exceeded our expectations with the Glenfiddich pop up shop and distillery tour. Using cutting edge VR technology allows passengers to be truly in the Glenfiddich story and its Dufftown home, creating both memorable experiences and showcasing the Scotch whisky brand. This reflects well on the category as a whole, raising interest and improving traffic flow in the total retail area.”

Journey into the Mind of the Malt Master is being premiered at Buy Paris Duty Free and will be showcased at other key airport locations globally throughout this year. The film will also be available live online, across the brand’s social channels and maximising the recently updated VR functionality on YouTube and Facebook.

Aurora World creates merchandising unit for travel retail

Specialist plush toy company, Aurora World has created a merchandise unit specifically for travel retail that combines maximum display ability on minimum floor space.  Designed to capitalize on the impulse nature of plush, the unit is ideal for spot placing throughout the retail environment – not just the children’s/toy area.



Aurora Travel Retail Sales Manager Garry Stoner says “The availability of plush is a sure-fire means of increasing average spend per head and conversion levels, but it is generally not a pre-planned purchase. This attractive, three-sided merchandise unit enables up to 160 pieces from the Aurora range to be displayed on just 0.650sqm of floor space. Branded Aurora, when full of bright and colourful plush, the unit is a beacon for passengers of all ages.”

Stoner suggests that the merchandising unit could be used throughout the store along with satellite retail areas. “Encouraging incremental sales is what it’s all about and this unit is the perfect way to do that. We have selected our top 20 “best selling items” retailing for key pick up price points between $10 and $20. The merchandising unit is available from June 2016; already operators Dufry, Aerrianta International and Setur have listed for selected locations.”

INVU ultra polarized expands its Travel Retail footprint with prestigious listing on Virgin Atlantic Airways

Swiss Eyewear Group and DFASS are expanding their successful partnership by listing Swiss Eyewear Group’s innovative INVU ultra polarized sunglasses on board of Virgin Atlantic Airways modern fleet of 38 planes. Two brand new INVU ultra polarized summer 2016 fashion styles for men and women will be available. As a special introductory offer, a limited edition hand-made acetate sunglass bracelet will be offered to customers, complimentary with the purchase of a pair of INVU sunglasses.




As part of Swiss Eyewear Group’s outstanding customer service, the Virgin Atlantic Airways flight crews have been trained by Swiss Eyewear Group. Crew members have learned about INVU’s proprietary ultra polarized lens technology, the outstanding UV protection these sunglasses offer and the meticulous Swiss design and engineering process of Swiss Eyewear Group.

For further information about INVU sunglasses in Travel Retail, please contact martyn@newthing.uk.com

Taoyuan sees arrival of new Furla store

Furla is pleased to announce the opening of a new 15sqm personalized corner in Taoyuan International Airport, T2 North.



Officially opened on the 22nd of June in partnership with Tasa Meng, the store carries Furla’s stunning SS16 collection.

Says Gerry Munday, Furla’s Global Travel Retail Director: “This was our first time working in partnership with Tasa Meng, and I thank them for their support and look forward to working with them again in the future. Furla is really on a high in Asia, and our team have been working tirelessly to open new stores across the continent and will continue to do so throughout the remainder of the year.”