CHINA. Hainan Development Holdings-owned Global Premium Duty Free (GDF) Plaza posted a +120% year-on-year rise in sales for the second quarter of 2022.
The number of shoppers rose by nearly +10% over the same period in 2021 while the number of duty free items purchased grew by +155% year-on-year.
Despite facing serious challenges related to the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has simultaneously hit the domestic and global tourism market since March, GDF Plaza said that it has made encouraging progress.
This momentum has been driven by a series of innovative promotions including digital coupons and pop-up stores featuring renowned international brand names and launches.
In Q2, GDF Plaza has opened Lancôme, Burberry, Armani, Jo Malone, Maison Margiela and Lancaster pop-up stores. These poo-ups attracted many young consumers to take photos, share and interact with their friends on social media platforms.
Xiao He, a college student at Hainan University, who is about to return to his hometown of Henan Province, said, “The pop-up stores not only display the products of the brand in a better way, but also provide interactive experiences via online games and VR devices. The designs of these new and modern shopping scenes are very attractive for young people, so I took a lot of photos with my friends here and bought my favourite duty free products.”
The first Hainan Offshore Duty Free Shopping Festival
GDF Plaza is currently celebrating Hainan’s first Offshore Duty Free Shopping Festival, which kicked off on 28 June. The programme is designed to stimulate the island province’s all-important duty free shopping sector.
As part of its support for the festival, GDF Plaza partnered with Coty Travel Retail Asia Pacific to officially unveil ‘Around the World’ – a new multi-brand fragrance pop-up store featuring Chloé, Miu Miu, and Marc Jacobs.
The fragrance pop-up store ran from 10 to 30 June and drove a +94% growth for Coty brands at GDF Plaza in Q2 compared with the first quarter.
During the first Hainan Offshore Duty Free Shopping Festival — which will run until year-end — GDF Plaza will launch a series of events and promotions, according to a spokesperson. These include the GDF Summer Holiday Shopping Carnival, GDF Fun Shopping Carnival, GDF Fever Shopping Carnival and GDF Beauty Festival, to let consumers fully enjoy offshore duty free shopping in the island.
All set for the second China International Consumer Products Expo
The second China International Consumer Products Expo will be held in Haikou, Hainan from 26 to 30 July. GDF Plaza will make its debut as an exhibitor this year supported by many well-known global brands. The retailer will display a wide array of products across perfumes & cosmetics, wines & spirits and other categories. Many will be showcased at the Expo for the first time.
At the Expo, GDF Plaza said that it will make full use of technology to launch an online smart retail exhibition area, a Metaverse exhibition area, a livestreaming room and other special exhibition areas. Visitors can enjoy an immersive shopping experience at GDF Plaza via 3D equipment to experience real-time interaction online and offline.
In terms of its offline exhibition area, GDF Plaza will create a special wine zone, featuring several wine tastings.
In other news, Swedish wellbeing and beauty tech brand Foreo will make its debut on the GDF Plaza stand while L’OCCITANE, DECORTÉ, Sekkisei and other brands will also appear.
