UK. WHSmith company InMotion will open eight stores across Heathrow terminals later this year, following a tender. The consumer technology retailer will replace Dixons Travel, whose contract was due to come to an end later this year, and which has also signalled its intention to exit all airport retail.
Heathrow Director of Retail and Property Fraser Brown said: “We’re absolutely delighted that our passengers will shortly be able to shop at InMotion – part of the WHSmith Group – across Heathrow’s terminals.
“This new partnership will ensure our passengers have access to the latest technology on offer, from one of the world’s leading tech retailers just as international travel takes off again. We are pleased that this commitment by InMotion has been taken, despite the extremely disappointing decision from the UK government to remove tax free shopping. This is testament to the confidence that international travel will recover and it is great news for our airport and passengers.”
As reported, in May WHSmith Group Chief Executive Carl Cowling said that Dixons Travel’s exit from the UK market represented an opportunity to expand its presence in consumer electronics, notably through its InMotion brand.
WHSmith Trading Update
In a trading update today, WHSmith Travel said that it had recently won contracts for a total of 18 new technology and accessories stores under the InMotion name across UK airports. Alongside London Heathrow (see above), these include London Stansted, Manchester, London Luton, Birmingham and East Midlands.
WHSmith said: “In a fully recovered travel environment, we anticipate that these stores will deliver sales of c.£60 million per year. We expect these new wins will incur capex and working capital investment of c.£15 million which will be incurred in the financial year ending 31 August 2022.”
In its trading update, the retailer said despite low levels of passenger traffic, it is seeing a gradual sales recovery. In the 18 weeks to 3 July 2021, UK Travel total revenue was 32% of 2019 levels. By channel in the UK, air was 10%, hospitals were 80% and rail was 34% compared to 2019 levels. In the week to 3 July, total UK Travel revenue was 38% compared to 2019.
The North America business has continued its “encouraging recovery” with total revenue during the 18-week period at 74% of 2019 levels with more recent sales, in June, at 88% of 2019 levels. The company added: “In addition, our resorts channel, primarily based in Las Vegas, has seen a significant improvement in recent weeks. Visitors to Las Vegas continue to recover and in May 2021 were 22% down versus May 2019, with all Covid related restrictions being lifted in Las Vegas from 1 June 2021. As a result, our North America business is trading ahead of our expectations.”
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