Hamburg travel retail distributor SKYlink has revealed a new team and extended brand portfolio, with a focus on increasing its network in airport and at-sea stores.
According to the company, its brand and product line-up “reflects the needs and desires of the post-COVID traveller, including the rapidly growing Gen Z consumer”.
SKYlink aims to double its business over the next five years to “become the ‘go-to’ industry distributor for fashion, accessories, watches and jewellery, not just in its established inflight sector, but across all distribution channels globally”.
SKYlink Co-founder and Managing Director Barry Fitzpatrick said: “During the last three years we have taken the time to take stock, refine our range, invest in securing our supply chain, discover new brands and research the market as it began to recover.
“We’ve now got a fabulous team of young people who really understand the importance of issues such as sustainable credentials, digital/social engagement, inclusivity and responsibility. We’ve created a whole new set of KPIs [key performance indicators] to work towards and the result is a much more focused portfolio that’s far more reflective of the SKYlink ethos,” he added.
Inflight continues to be an important focus for SKYlink through collaborations with major airline. The company is exclusive inflight distributor for selected brands including Fossil Group, Coccinelle and Kering Eyewear.
However, SKYlink noted an exponential increase in ground and at-sea business. Key partners include Dufry, Gebr. Heinemann, ARI, Harding Retail, Mumbai Duty Free and Munich Eurotrade.
SKYlink’s brand partners include Mulberry, Linda Farrow eyewear, Karl Lagerfeld (in all categories) and Luminox timepieces, while its in-house Haus of Dietrich line has “gone from strength to strength”.
“We are in a rapidly evolving marketplace and we’ve got to move with it,” Fitzpatrick said. “To this end we have added a ‘sister’ brand, Marlay by Haus of Dietrich, to target a younger audience with fun, playful designs at a more appealing price point.”
SKYlink launched amor – a German jewellery brand which has proven popular on the domestic market – into travel retail with ARI in September.
Amor features gold and sterling silver jewellery for men, women and children at “impulse-purchase prices”. SKYlink said it has worked closely with ARI to create a self-service concept and travel retail-exclusive collection.
Fitpatrick also underlined SKYlink’s focus on niche brands and products. “Design has become a strategic asset in brand equity, differentiation and product quality for many companies and the travelling public yearns to uncover new things. So many niche brands out there are waiting to be discovered and introduced and we’ve got the right team in place to bring them to market,” he said.
“If we’ve learned anything it’s that challenging times also bring opportunities. You can let the bad times define or destroy you, or you can let them strengthen you. That’s what we’ve done at SKYlink and we’re facing the future with optimism and positivity.” 
