TRC launches new modern logo and website

The UK’s Travel Retail Consortium is looking forward to 2012 with a new modern logo and website. The website launched this month (January) and aims to give an overall guide to the TRC and its objectives as well as including details of members, photographic reviews of events held and press coverage. The url is www.travelretailconsortium.co.uk, but the site can also be accessed via www.travelretailconsortium.com.

Originally conceived in the late 1960s and formalised in 1971 to further the interests and development of the Travel Retail industry within the UK through the member companies, the TRC currently has 15 members covering wine, spirit and beer; fragrances & cosmetics; fashion and accessories; tobacco; food and confectionery; and gifts.

Its objectives are to raise standards of business within the Travel Retail industry; promote members products and services; discuss industry issues; and provide social and networking opportunities for key travel retail customers at annual events. The TRC is also active in raising funds for charities such as The Royal Marsden Hospital and the Smile Train.

Meetings are held bi-monthly at members’ or customer company locations covering industry issues, new operators/services, business opportunities etc .

‘We hope that suppliers who are considering joining the TRC will find the website a useful guide to the Consortium - who we are and what we do,’ says Rebecca Harwood Lincoln, PR and Communications Officer for the Travel Retail Consortium. ‘Having just celebrated our 40^th Anniversary, we also felt that this was the perfect time to upgrade the TRC’s logo and bring it into the 21^st Century!’

Membership enquiries should be made to: Chairman - Wayne Morgan Tel: +44 7891038719 wayne.morgan@remy-cointreau.com

Current TRC Members: Accolade Wines; Boddingtons Bitter; Coty Prestige; Guinness; Imperial Tobacco International; JA Associates (JCI Jewelry, Morgan & Oates); Mars; Paramount Imagination; Polaroid Eyewear; Remy Cointreau ; Retail in Motion; Royal Grolsch International; Champagne Taittinger; TRT Limited; Twinings

Press Enquiries: Row Holland, Essential Communications.  Email: row@essentialcommunications.org

January 2012

BE MY SWEETHEART - MCM CELEBRATES VALENTINE’S DAY WITH SWEET VISETOS COLLECTION

To celebrate the month of love, German luxury brand MCM reveals the Sweet Visetos Collection. A witty interpretation of the term ‘sweetheart’, Sweet Visetos symbolizes blooming love with a heart-shaped cherry. A joyful mix of colour and pattern gives the product a kitsch edge, echoing the belief of the brand – love passionately and never be ordinary in doing so.

The new collection presents an adorable size Boston bag, the ever-beloved tambourine bag and long zip-around wallets in two cheerful colours: beige and pink. A perfect gift item for those seeking a sense of romance, the collection is ready to play Cupid.

The message is clear: Be my sweetheart.

These special editions are available from February 2012 exclusively in MCM flagship boutiques worldwide.

About MCM

Born during the heydays of Munich, MCM embodies the rebellious yet sophisticated, and culturally rich spirit of the city. A long-time favourite of international royalty, celebrities and VIPs, MCM draws on its tradition of prestige and quality. The brand has inherited the notion of revolutionized travel that stems from the 1900s, thus the logo symbolizes 1900 in Roman numerals.

MCM continues to be the pioneer of the market by continuously evolving with clever designs, durable materials, and delivering versatile styles to suit every need. Bag styles run from classic black and tan to statement-making models in strong colours. The brand offers sophisticated handbags, practical and stylish luggage, functional business bags and trendy small leather goods, all crafted from materials such as leather, fabric and exotic skins.

MCM has boutiques in major cities such as Athens, Berlin, Düsseldorf, London, New York, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Seoul. The brand is also sold by prestigious retailers in key markets including the US, the UK, Dubai, Italy, and Russia. 

For further information contact:

Press Enquiries: Rowena Holland, Essential Communications.  Email: row@essentialcommunications.org            

FEBRUARY OPENINGS FOR FURLA AS NEW LOCATION AGREEMENTS CONTINUE

FEBRUARY 2012 sees the first Furla locations opening with CNSC in China. Both 15sq m areas are within the generic leather goods stores at the downtown gallerias in Beijing and Harbin. ‘These are the first two locations within a very active travel retail program with CNSC for Furla in China this year,’ says Head of Travel Retail Gerry Munday. ‘We’ll be opening with the new Spring Summer 2012 Collection at both stores and are very excited and confident of the reaction from customers. China holds huge potential for the brand and we’re absolutely delighted at the response from retailers to date.’  In addition, Furla’s location at Sunrise’s T3 store at Beijing International Airport is being refurbished this month creating a new 20sq m personalised space for the brand.

Next month also sees an 8sq m space for Furla opening within the fashion store at Cairo International Airport, again featuring the SS12 collection.

December 27 saw the opening of a 3m x 2.5m wall bay with Ever Rich DFS at the fully renovated Taipei Song Shan (Songsang) International Airport, Taiwan.  Located within the new Fashion Avenue, Furla sits alongside other leading brands such as Adidas, Nike, La Coste, Kipling, Piquadro, Swiss Military Hanowa & Samsonite. Initially opening with the Autumn Winter 2011 collection, Spring Summer 12 will be on offer early in the New Year.  ‘This is a fabulous location for Furla,’ continues Munday. ‘ With over 30 daily flights to Japan Haneda airport and various airports in China including Shanghai Hongqiao, Pudong, Wuhan, Fuzhou, Hangzhou, Tianjin, Xiamen, Chengdu and Chongqing, this is another great opportunity for us to develop our business with visitors to and from China.’ 

Meanwhile, with the Orlando show just around the corner – where Furla is exhibiting for the first time (booth 2021) – Gerry Munday is delighted to announce two summer openings at Las Vegas Airport in T3 with The Nuance Group for a 15 sq m shop in shop, and a 12 sq m zone at the Senses Duty Free downtown Galleria in San Domingo, Dominican Republic.

 ‘We are delighted to be going to the IAADFS show as a first time exhibitor with listings in the Americas already confirmed,’ says Munday. ‘We are very confident of the potential for Furla in The Americas travel retail and this new business makes us even more upbeat about the brand’s future. In Orlando we will be introducing the Autumn Winter 12 Collection which really is fantastic, and look forward to welcoming buyers to our booth during the show. ‘

Press enquiries: Rowena Holland, Essential Communications. Email: row@essentialcommunications.org                         January 2012

CIR commences research into Chinese Shoppers

Counter Intelligence Retail have launched their 2012 Research Program with the exciting Chinese Shopper Study. 

Fieldwork has commenced at terminals in Los Angeles, London Heathrow and Guangzhou, before rolling out to Middle East and further Asia locations later in the month, capturing the perceptions, attitudes and motivations the Chinese traveller has towards airport’s retail offer across all core categories. 

With responses from more than 8,000 inbound and outbound passenger interviews, from a total of eight airport locations including key locations in China, the study will deliver insight into the expectations and behaviours of this fast-growing passenger group; with an insatiable urge for high end luxury brands, status purchasing and the importance of image.

Press enquiries: Rowena Holland, Essential Communications.

Email: row@essentialcommunications.org.                                                 

December 2011

Imperial Tobacco smoker’s lounge was a hit with MEDFA delegates

Imperial Tobacco is pleased to announce that the smoker’s lounge we sponsored at the recent MEDFA (Middle East Duty Free Association) conference was a huge success.

Held at the Al Murooj Rotana Hotel, Dubai, on November 21-22, this was the 10^th MEDFA conference and the second at which Imperial Tobacco was a platinum sponsor. It was attended by a record breaking 468 delegates of the world wide Duty Free business.

The lounge offered the delegates the opportunity to recharge and discover its premium Davidoff brand in a relaxing outdoor environment. Whilst there, they could take part in the Davidoff quiz – answering a series of questions on the brand and about their favourite place to travel to- via two large touch screens.

Imperial Tobacco is pleased to announce that the winner is Mr Rahib Sfeila from Gulf News who won a trip for two to a destination of his choice. 

“The smokers lounge proved to be a real success and delegates had fun participating in the travel quiz,” says Gotje Rogall, Imperial Tobacco Premium Brand Manager – Global Duty Free. “It was an excellent opportunity for us to show our business partners how we engage with our consumer. We turned one delegate into a lucky traveller!”  The lounge was a venue to network and to get feedback from Imperial’s customers about latest brands news. 

Press enquiries Rowena Holland, Essential Communications.  Email: row@essentialcommunications.org 

December 2011

FURLA ADDS EXTRA FUN, EXTRA COLOUR FOR TRAVEL RETAIL WITH SS12 CRUISE COLLECTION

Furla is delighted to announce the launch of its Spring/Summer 2012 Cruise collection into travel retail.  An interim collection to add further interest to the main SS12 collection, this line introduces additional fun and colour to the best-selling lines and also adds new pieces for both small and large leather goods.

The Cruise collection renews the Mediterranean atmosphere central to the main SS12 offer by using Navy Blue, White and Red colours, while Marine tones are used in a graphic way to recall the ‘pop’ culture. Spotted and striped canvas play with different material and colours, to create a playful and unusual effect.

Added to the successful Amazzone line is the Amazzone S Shopper available in Pink, White Cotton, Color Argento or Onyx colourways. Made from Saffiano Calf leather, this gorgeous bag retails at €198. Also new is a larger Amazzone M Shopper in  Soft Calf available in Toni Geranio and Toni Anice options.

To complement the bags, Furla has also added a range of brightly coloured Amazzone scarves made from Tessuto Jersey. Colours include Fuchsia, Geranio, Pink and Viola, and Turquoise and Fuschia, all retailing at €80.

Candy is one of Furla’s best selling designs, loved by the young and young-at-heart.  Now added to the SS12 collection is the new Candy S Bauletto  in Anice and Geranio or Opaline and Anice colourways. Retailing at €175, these bags are very in-trend.

Furla is also extending the popular Bon Bon line with an XL Shopper made from an unusual combination of  Gomma Gel + Canvas Stampa Righe, available in Geranio and Toni Anice or Anice and Toni Geranio colourways. Again, very hot on the fashion scene, this bag will retail at €220.

The Divide-It line rings the changes and introduces an unusual look with the S Shopper MC and the M Shopper MC, patterned with a polka dot front and a striped back. They are available in Vitello Stampa Righe and Vitello Stampa Pois in Toni Geranio and Toni Anice or Vitello Stampa Alce in Latte and Geranio colours.

To complete the offer, the new Joy line of bags is the Tracolla shape, available in small and extra small sizes – perfect for evening use. Available in Vitello Stampa Alce and Vitello Stampa Cocco Schiena Real in Latte and Curacao or Geranio and Curacao, or Vitello Stampa Alce and Vitello Stampa Pitone in Latte and Roccia and Light Taupe and Miele. Retail prices are €165 for the extra small, €270 for the small.

To perfectly complement the bags, there are colour-co-ordinated scarves, made from Seta Craponne. These retail at €80.

Additional small leathergoods are also introduced, including the Lollipop Mini-bag in Cerniera. Available in Toni Onyx or Toni Geranio colour options  at €250.

Says Furla Head of Travel Retail Gerry Munday: ‘We had an absolutely brilliant response to the Spring Summer 12 collection at TFWA World Exhibition in September, since then we have confirmed more than 40 new locations for the brand. This supplementary Cruise collection adds even more excitement and uniqueness to the offer and I know that our retail customers will be delighted with the additional choice they now have. It’s a joy to be working with such a forward thinking and dynamic company.’

Press enquiries: Rowena Holland, Essential Communications.  Email: row@essentialcommunications.org

December 2011