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Ambassador’s website is neat and well laid-out. Fonts and colours are easy on the eye, and images are used to showcase products |
Website of the week: Ambassador Duty Free
Ambassador Duty Free is located on the US-Canada border in the Canadian plaza at the base of the Ambassador Bridge linking Windsor, Ontario with Detroit, Michigan. The Ambassador Bridge is North America’s top international border crossing and the duty free store is open for business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Style
Ambassador’s website is neat and well laid-out. The design is easy on the eye, and images are used to showcase products. It could be made more lively with enhanced use of colour on some pages, which would bring the good content into sharp relief.
Content and usability
The homepage sets out the two major options for you: Shop Duty Free and Products, which stick out from the giant logo in the centre of the page. Beneath this sits a thin black bar carrying secondary options Specials, services, map, feedback and links. Right at the top of the page, in red font blare the words “˜Save 10% on your order when you bring in your wedding invitation. Click here to find out more!‘ Intrigued? We are.
The Shop Duty Free page gives you a round-up of the company and its services. It is a text-heavy page but nonetheless provides some useful information on Services, Concepts and explains the company’s background. Goods and Services gives an overview of product categories.
Shop Duty Free is a bit like a homepage with options arranged across the top (Specials, services, map, feedback and links) and a menu down the left-hand side of the page which comprises Home, What we offer, Site index and Products.
What we offer includes a bullet-point summary of duty free and how shopping at Ambassador will benefit you.
Specials features the special offers of the month, and at the time of reviewing, included 20 items. For instance, Absolut Vodka (all flavours) retails at C$18.75 or three for C$50, Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch whisky is C$42.25 or three for C$120 and Dumaurier cigarettes are C$40.95 or two for C$77.
Services comprises a host of handy information such as duty free allowances into Canada (including exceptions and different circumstances).
Products encompasses a range of product categories including cigarettes, liquor, women’s fragrances, men’s fragrances, gifts and collectibles, jewellery and fashion accessories, speciality foods and miscellaneous. All products are listed with price in Canadian Dollars, a brief description and an enlargeable image.
Cigarettes include brand names such as Camel (Regular and Lights) retailing at C$43.50 and Winston at C$43.50.
Liquor offers premium names such as Bacardi White rum priced at C$15.25 and Baileys Irish Cream liqueur at C$29.
Brands such as Calvin Klein cK One (C$50.95), Davidoff Cool Water for women (C$59.95) and Chanel Mademoiselle (C$84.95) are included in Women’s fragrances.
Men’s fragrances showcase top brand names such as Ralph Lauren Polo (C$68.95) and Hugo Boss (C$69).
Unique gifts and collectibles and Jewellery and fashion accessories both offer items like Swarovski and Baccarat crystal ornaments and jewellery respectively (prices not included).
Speciality foods feature a range of interesting products such as Smoked Sockeye Salmon, Swiss Delice chocolates and Turkey Hill Maple syrup (prices not included).
Miscellaneous includes Roots luggage and tote bags, souvenir lighters (with signature maple leaf) and assorted souvenir keychains (prices not included).
Ambassador’s 10% off promotion includes a downloadable pdf voucher which entitles you to a discount with your wedding invitation.
Navigation is a breeze thanks to good sign-posting and a simple layout. The site map is also useful.
What we like:
Good product showcase – especially destination merchandise
Easy navigation
Incentives to shop such as special offers
What we think needs improving/adding:
Image revamp
Include price for items listed under Unique gifts and collectibles, Jewellery and fashion accessories, Speciality foods and Miscellaneous.
Visit Ambassador Duty Free.
COMING SOON: The Moodie Report Travel Retail Worldwide Web Awards.
Sponsored by P&G Prestige Products
Which websites offer the best service to consumers? Which are most user-friendly? Which are the most stylish? And which, crucially, offer the greatest incentive to shop?
Every year we will judge, through a combination of industry polling, consumer opinion and specialist judges, who is doing most to wow travellers on the web. International and regional awards.
The main award – Travel Retail Website of the Year – will be unveiled at this year’s ‘Oscars’ of the industry: the Frontier Awards in Cannes. We’ll announce our shortlist next week – and the winner on the big night.
MORE WEBSITES OF THE WEEK
Website of the Week: British Airways Highlife Shop – 12/10/06
Website of the Week: Duty Free Brasif – 05/10/06
