AUSTRALIA. Heinemann Australia yesterday (7 March) officially inaugurated its new store in Gold Coast Airport’s domestic terminal.
The occasion was commemorated by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and launch event attended by senior partners, stakeholders and local media.
The event was graced by Heinemann Asia Pacific Chief Operating Officer Johannes Sammann, Heinemann Australia Managing Director George Tsoukalas and Queensland Airports Limited CEO Amelia Evans and Chief Commercial Officer Adam Rowe.
The landmark store, which soft opened last November, is expected to benefit from the busy upcoming Easter travel period.
The store, a first for the domestic terminal, forms part of an extensive upgrading of the precinct. The “world-class luxury shopping experience” includes a full beauty, fashion and accessories offer, exclusive to Heinemann.
A powerful beauty line-up includes renowned brands such as Tom Ford, Jo Malone London, Clinique, Gucci, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and Versace, mirroring Heinemann’s international offering.
More than 20,000 passengers transit Gold Coast Airport each day, traffic having recovered strongly since the reopening of state and international borders. The airport served over 6.2 million passengers in 2023, an increase of half a million over 2022.
Since the store’s soft opening last November and over the course of the summer season, sales have ramped up considerably, recording an average +42% increase month-on-month.
As part of its service, Heinemann now offers home delivery nationwide, meaning passengers can shop without worrying about carrying their purchases inflight.
This service is in addition to the retailer’s established Click & Collect programme, which allows passengers to shop online and pick up in-store at their convenience. The related Shop and Collect service enables travellers to shop in-store upon departure and pick up their purchases once they return.
“We are delighted to bring the best that Heinemann has to offer to domestic travellers as well as international duty-free,” Tsoukalas commented.
“We are all about the customer journey and we are excited that we can now serve passengers whether they are travelling domestically, internationally or transiting.”
Queensland Airports Limited Chief Commercial Officer Adam Rowe commented: “Heinemann’s new store has really elevated and helped create a consistent experience across our airport.
“We’re also investing significantly in upgrading the domestic departure lounge so we’re excited to see this all come together.”
In addition to the domestic terminal store, Heinemann Australia has operated the Gold Coast Airport duty-free concession since 2018.
Its duty-free arrivals and departure stores in the international terminal now span 1,324sq m and offer a full range of wines and spirits, beauty, confectionery, watches and sunglasses from Australian and global brands. ✈
