Travel retail business development agency Blueprint has introduced a new two-year project called Transformation.
The Copenhagen company described this investment entity as an “exciting step-change” that focuses on industry-level insights and trends as a mission-critical driver.
Blueprint Partner Thomas Kaneko Henningsen said: “We are passionate about supporting airports, retailers, brands and distributors with 360-degree business development capabilities.
“From go-to-market strategies, insight workshops to vetting commercial planning, supporting tenders and elevating shopping experiences, Blueprint’s wide range of capabilities allows us to specialise on demand.”
The project follows the launch of its travel retail investment venture, Blueprint Seed Capital, last October.
The company reported a +42% year-on-year revenue increase in 2023, attributing the growth to the capabilities it introduced last year, which delivered more clients and strategic collaborations.
Blueprint Partner Sonja Soskic, who heads the company’s financing, said: “We are a relatively young consultancy, founded in 2016, with 2023 topline growth of +42% (year-on-year). This means that Blueprint continues its streak of double-digit year-on-year growth since 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic first took hold.
“Our results are positively impacted by the travel retail channel bouncing back in terms of air traffic, industry sales and appetite for moving forward.”
Supporting more than 50 companies since 2016
Blueprint is planning to build on the strong momentum this year as it embarks on a new phase of development.
Blueprint Partner Karl Walter said: “We’ve had another strong year of welcoming new clients and business opportunities. Today, we service a wider range of industry stakeholders including airports, retailers, brands and distributors, helping them accelerate their travel retail businesses.”
He added: “The last couple of years, we are also very much about getting under the skin of travel retail and exploring how critical trends personalisation, experience-driven retail, sustainability and digitalisation are shaping the channel. Post-pandemic is vital as the market is evolving significantly different now to pre-COVID.”
Last year, the company expanded its client portfolio, bringing in globally renowned lifestyle brands including Lacoste, Pandora and LeSportsac. It also welcomed dynamic brands such as Summerbird Organic, MessyWeekend and Rebels 0.0%, among others.
Since 2016, the consultancy has assisted in the development of more than 50 companies.
Expanding strategic collaborations
Blueprint noted that it continues to elevate its partnership with Hanse Distribution, one of the largest distributors in global travel retail, opening up even more options for the consultancy’s brand clients.
Hanse Distribution Business Development Director Dennis Holst said: “Blueprint is a very important business partner in travel retail. Their strategic consultancy serves as a valuable roadmap, aligning seamlessly with ours in this dynamic industry.”
The company has also expanded its consulting capabilities through its strategic collaboration with research agency m1nd-set. The partners led travel retail’s first workshop programme titled GenZ RedY and dedicated to the Gen Z consumer segment.
The two companies have been working together since October, organising workshops and presentations in Cannes, London, Paris and Tallinn. They are planning more bespoke and public sessions throughout 2024.
Blueprint noted that the GenZ RedY programme attracts all industry stakeholders and has been attended by more than 200 managers so far.
m1nd-set Owner & CEO Dr Peter Mohn said: “The m1nd-set team has been collaborating with the Blueprint team on the successful GenZ RedY workshops in 2023, with more and new exciting workshops coming up in 2024. We are impressed by the professionalism and inspiring work of the Blueprint team, and are very much looking forward to our mutual projects in the future.”
Blueprint has been invited to speak at conferences and events such as ACI’s The Future of Airport Retail & Commerce, ACI Commercial Forum, and Nordic Travel Retail Group, among others. These events focus on industry-level trends over the next five years. ✈
