UK. London City Airport has opened a new WHSmith store as part of the airport’s extensive departures lounge refurbishment.
The store, which complements the recent opening by WHSmith sister brand InMotion, offers travel essentials including news, books, food and drink and souvenirs.
The news comes after London City Airport announced a major investment in the departures area to enhance the customer experience and celebrate London businesses and brands.
The WHSmith store offers a sense of place for passengers travelling through the airport, taking inspiration in the store design from East London locations and architecture.
The LED digital fascia frames the store front, enticing customers with strong WHSmith branding and details of the latest products and promotions.
WHSmith Travel Business Development Director Spencer Sheen said: “We are incredibly proud to have delivered these two new store openings for London City Airport as part of the airport’s refurbishment investment.
“Our brand new WHSmith store offers a tailored range of products and a truly experiential shopping space in London for customers travelling through the airport.
“The opening follows the launch of our new store from our world-leading technology retailer, InMotion, in the terminal earlier this year, which has received great feedback from customers. We look forward to welcoming more customers to these fantastic new stores over the coming months.”
Customers at the InMotion store can shop from a wide range of brands, including Apple, Samsung, Bose, and Sony, and own-brand InMotion products.
With clear in-store navigation, live product demonstrations, and digital screens providing product information, the store has been designed to help customers find the products they need quickly before their onward journey.
London City Airport Chief Executive Officer Robert Sinclair said: “As part of London City Airport’s £12 million (US$14.5 million) departure lounge investment, we’re thrilled to see WHSmith’s new store open today.
“WHSmith’s delivery includes a new ‘Brand London’ and expanded product range, as the airport’s one-stop-shop with more food & drink options, books, magazines, health & beauty products and souvenirs, and is further bolstered by their InMotion store’s offer of technology travel essentials in the terminal.”
Note: Click here for an extensive interview by Mark Lane with WHSmith Travel Managing Director Andrew Harrison on elevating the customer experience for the consumer electronics category in UK airports.
