US. DFS this month opened a new duty free store in Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Terminal 7, where the retailer unveiled its new iGate shopping application.
iGate is a proprietary application developed by DFS that initially lets international travellers use their iPads to shop for duty free merchandise that is carried in other terminals at LAX.
When fully implemented later this year, iGate will enable travellers to independently access, order and arrange delivery at their boarding gates for DFS’ most popular products.
In addition to the convenience that iGate provides shoppers at LAX, the system is also expected to increase the revenue that Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) receives per square foot of duty free concession space.
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DFS’ new Terminal 7 store in LAX features the iGate application (as seen above on the extreme right), which allows international travellers to use their iPads to shop for duty free merchandise that is carried in the airport’s other terminals |
“Shop space at airports is scarce and, without iGate, shoppers at our smaller locations were limited in their merchandise choices,” said DFS North America Managing Director Polly Nelson.
“Now, with iGate, shoppers at any of our stores can access a much wider assortment of goods. Our smallest last chance stores will offer a broad range of product choices comparable to our largest full‐service stores and all purchases will be delivered directly to the customer’s departure gate.”
In addition to iGate, DFS is also launching a new point of sale (POS) system in its T2 and T7 stores. This system is designed to expedite sales transactions through technology, including hand‐held mobile POS devices that let shoppers place orders and pay for purchases anywhere in the stores. iGate and the new POS system will eventually be rolled out to all of DFS’ duty free shops at LAX.
“The introduction of this exciting 21st century technology is just one more example of how DFS works continually to enhance the duty free shopping experience at LAX, while maximising the bottom line for LAWA,” Nelson said.
As reported, DFS is currrently defending its long-held duty free incumbency at LAX after an open tender contested by many of the world’s leading travel retailers. Bidding closed on 2 April.
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