US. Fashion brand Vera Bradley has opened its first store at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Terminal 1.
The store is owned and operated by Skyview Concessions Founder and CEO Apryl Stewart in collaboration with Los Angeles World Airport (LAWA). Skyview Concessions is a 100% Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACBDE) operator.
Vera Bradley is Stewart’s first independently-owned and operated boutique. It currently employs seven staff members at the LAX location.
Vera Bradley is located in a prime location in Terminal 1, home to Southwest Airlines. It houses a variety of Vera Bradley fashion and accessories including colourful quilted cotton luggage, handbags and backpacks. It also offers hand-crafted jewellery from Pura Vida.
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Airports (URW) Director of Advance Network Initiative Director Chris Adkins said: “We are thrilled to see Apryl open her first independently-owned store here at LAX.
“This is a great example of how a minority woman who has worked her way up in the business has evolved to the next level of owning and operating her own unit. We are lowering the barriers of entry and are seeing great success with many new businesses in our programmes.”
Stewart started her travel retail career more than 20 years ago as a sales manager for DFS Group. Afterwards, she worked as Merchandise Buyer and Assistant Manager at LAX Tom Bradley International Terminal, before her appointment as Director of Retail for Concourse Concessions. Stewart is currently a member of the Airport Minority Advisory Council.
During her time at DFS, Stewart noticed a plaque that said the store was owned in a joint venture with the retailer. She asked the retailer about partnership opportunities and was introduced to the Airport Minority Advisory Council, where she then represented DFS Group in various conferences. Her experience with women and minority-owned businesses led to the creation of Skyview Concessions and helped her realise her own dream of owning a boutique.
In addition to DFS Group, Stewart has partnered with several leading operators such as Lagardère Travel Retail, Hudson Group and Areas to run speciality concept stores and F&B concepts at Los Angeles and San Francisco International airports.
Stewart is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Programme and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
