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Furla Head of Travel Retail with her team at the 2012 TFWA World Exhibition |
On the eve of the 2012 TFWA World Exhibition last month, premium Italian leathergoods brand Furla announced further expansion in European travel retail with new openings and a shop-in-shop refit.
At Geneva Airport, Furla partnered with Aelia in October to open a new 22sq m shop-in-shop, while at Luxembourg Airport a 20sq m personalised corner began trading through Buy Bye. This follows a refit of the 19sq m shop-in-shop at Moscow Sheremetyvo Airport with Dufry.
During a press conference at the TFWA World Exhibition, where the Spring/Summer 2013 collection was showcased, Head of Travel Retail Gerry Munday updated the media with news of further expansion.
She was joined by her team, including Giulia Agnoli, Travel Retail Manager, Europe South, Middle East & Major Accounts; Javy Wong, Travel Retail Manager Asia Pacific; Grace Kim, General Manager, South Korea; and a new team member who will be officially joining from the brand’s wholesale division in January 2013, Hester Linthorst, who will be responsible for Europe North & In-Flight.
Speaking at the Furla stand in Bay Village, Munday told journalists: “The growth this year – especially given the economic situation in some parts of the world – has been incredible.
“We’ve seen a +30% increase in travel retail turnover for 2012 last year and we’re forecasting a further +70% increase for the next three years to 2014. So, I can’t retire just yet!
“What this does show is the growing importance of travel retail to Furla. The company sees the channel as a fundamental asset, rather than just simply a showcase for the brand.
“As a result, the company is putting together a multi-year development plan for this business. I think that’s a fabulous testament to just how influential travel retail can be to a brand.
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Left: Furla Candy handbag in lime; Right: Venus bag in onyx | |
Furla growing in Europe, Middle East and Asia
“Currently Furla is present through travel retail in 31 countries via boutiques, personalised corners, shop-in-shops and multi-brand corners. The number of doors has recorded an impressive and steady growth, increasing from 34 for the Autumn/Winter collection in 2011 to 112 in 2012, of which 78 are in the EMEA area and 25 in Asia.
“You’ve seen just how steadily we have been improving our distribution – and there’s more to come this year.
“I have to say most of the growth is coming from the Middle East and Asia, but as you’ve seen recently, Europe is also still expanding for us and this month we’ve opened in Luxembourg and Geneva airports and we will be opening at Frankfurt Airport with Gebr Heinemann in due course.
“The rest of the year sees openings with Dufry at Sharjah International Airport, two corners with DFS at Hong Kong International Airport along with a renovated SIS in Hainan at Haikou Airport (2013); a new 13.5sq m personalised corner opening with Lotte at Changi Terminal 1; and a new 22sq m shop-in-shop with Ever Rich at its new Taipei flagship downtown store.
“Meanwhile in Japan we are really looking forward to opening 12sq m generic positions in Kansai with JAT in November this year and in Nagoya with Centrair in January 2013. This is in addition to opening a personalised corner with DFS-JAL at Narita T1 South.
“We’re also still actively developing in the US and are pleased to announce that we opened in Dallas Fort Worth this month and we’ll be opening at in New York Newark, both with DFASS, next summer. And there’s a lot more in the pipeline.
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Diamante has been reworked with new colours and materials |
Exclusive inflight collection takes off
Munday continued: “What I am really thrilled about is the progress we’ve made with our inflight business. We were predicting achieving listings with 24 airlines in three years – we’re already on 21. This includes major carriers such as China Airlines, British Airways, Alitalia, Aeroflot, American Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa with some taking multiple pieces. Aeroflot, for example, has taken six different pieces while BA and Singapore Airlines have both taken three.
“I must just thank our distribution partners who have done such an amazing job: Hanse Distribution, Heinemann, DFASS US and Asia, ISG and Doras Enterprises.”
The exclusive inflight collection, first shown at the 2012 TFWA Asia Pacific fair in May, comprises seven items with products for women, men and unisex. In addition to the listings Munday mentioned above, Furla, working directly, has secured listings with Qatar Airways and Thai Airways through King Power International.
Handling the inflight collection for Furla are:
DFASS Asia, Singapore (Air Asia, Air Asia X, Air Asia Japan, Peach Int, Singapore Airlines, Silk Air); DFASS USA, Miami, USA (Delta Airlines, American Airlines, US Airways); Hanse Distribution, Hamburg, Germany (Alitalia, British Airways, Czech Airlines, Aeroflot); Gebr Heinemann, Hamburg, Germany (Swiss, Lufthansa); Inflight Sales Group (ISG), Hong Kong (Philippine Airlines, ANA); St Doras Enterprises, Taiwan (China Airlines).
Munday noted that the most popular items carried onboard had been the clutch/purse in black or cherry red saffiano leather; the travel wallet and men’s wallet, both in black Saffiano leather; and the scarves in cherry red, grey and black.
For details, contact Gerry Munday, Head of Travel Retail, tel: +34 609 173 706 or e-mail gerry.munday@furla.com Visit www.furla.com
