Uprising Glassware, a small Tasmanian brand and first-time exhibitor at this year’s Australian Airports Association (AAA) Retail and Commercial Forum in Melbourne, is looking to expand its reach into travel retail, both locally and abroad.
A ‘graduate’ of the Travel Retail Bootcamp – a programme conceived and delivered by The Mercurius Group – Uprising Glassware’s mission is to protect the planet, “one beautiful glass at a time”.
| Organised by a partnership between the AAA, The Mercurius Group and The Moodie Davitt Report, the Australian Airports Association (AAA) Retail and Commercial Forum on 22-24 July brought together all the key players in the non-aeronautical industry, including airports from Australia and New Zealand, duty-free operators, speciality retail operators, food & beverage (F&B) operators, foreign-exchange operators, advertising concessionaires, ground-transport providers and various advisers and suppliers. To learn more about the next AAA Retail & Commercial Forum contact Ivor Favotto at ifavotto@themercuriusgroup.com |
According to the brand, every glass in its collection is “a piece of a larger story based on Australia’s breathtaking beauty”. The Uprising Glassware product line-up includes crafted glasses celebrating the environments of Cradle Mountain, Wineglass Bay and Bay of Fires.
Kurt Menzies, Uprising Glassware Owner and the creative force behind the brand, is a self-confessed ‘nature nerd’. He donates 5% of the sale price of all products to nature conservation, collaborating with Tasmanian Land Conservancy, to ensure the brand walks the walk when it comes to supporting the environment.
Menzies also underlined a commitment to ensuring the company’s products become “authentic, timeless keepsakes of the landscapes they pay homage to”.
According to The Mercurius Group Managing Director Ivo Favotto, “It’s a dedication which is resonating with airports and travel retailers looking for greater local brand representation within their retail offer.”
He added: “Uprising Glassware attracted a lot of positive attention at the Forum, exposure that should help with its entry into the travel retail channel.”
“The Travel Retail Bootcamp programme has been instrumental in transforming Uprising Glassware from a local Tasmanian brand into a serious contender in the travel retail sector,” Menzies said.
“Each step – from the intro session to the full-day bootcamp and, finally, exhibiting at the RACF – built on the last, setting the stage for our success. The introductory session laid a solid foundation, equipping me with crucial insights and expectations. The bootcamp deepened this knowledge and, more importantly, provided invaluable access to decision-makers across both airport and concessionaire sectors.”
Menzies said he reconnected with key players at the Forum, showcasing the potential of Uprising Glassware and leading to ongoing discussions and promising opportunities. Without making any formal announcement, Menzies said travellers should expect to see Uprising Glassware on international airport shelves before the end of the year.
He noted how the Forum also opened the door to collaborations with other brands. “Exhibiting alongside Callington Mill, a renowned Tasmanian whisky brand, highlighted the synergy between our products. We’re now exploring collaboration opportunities both locally and in the travel retail sector, further amplifying our reach.
“I’m deeply grateful to Ivo and The Mercurius Group team for their support and encouragement, as well as Hobart Airport who were the platinum sponsors of the Bootcamp. The Bootcamp programme has accelerated our entry into travel retail, and I’m thrilled about the opportunities ahead.”
Hobart Airport Head of Commercial Belinda Bresnehan commented: “It was wonderful to see Uprising Glassware exhibit at the AAA Retail and Commercial Forum. Kurt was one of the attendees at The Mercurius Group’s Tasmanian Travel Retail Bootcamp (sponsored by Hobart Airport), and it’s exciting to see one of our local brands progressing in their travel retail journey.
“They’re a great example of the talented producers we have in Tasmania, and hopefully this exposure to the wider industry was a valuable next step for them.”
Auckland International Airport Head of Retail Lucy Thomas said: “Uprising Glassware was a new concept to me; I was impressed with Kurt and the brand display at the AAA Airport Retail & Commercial Forum in July.
“The concept feels modern and speaks to both a local and international audience. It immediately resonated as a great example of how local businesses can bring authentic sense of place to an airport and travel retailer’s offer. I hope to see their products embrace New Zealand’s unique landscape and culture and be available at Auckland Airport soon.”
The Journey: Bootcamp to AAA Retail and Commercial Forum
Favotto believes the journey from Bootcamp to the AAA Retail and Commercial Forum is the “perfect launchpad for brands entering the travel retail market”.
“For a lot of small, local brands entering travel retail is a daunting prospect, yet an appealing one,” he said. “On the other side of the coin, airports and travel retailers want to increase their support of local brands (and the authenticity this adds to their sense of place), but often struggle to do so due to the time it takes.
“Ultimately what we’re trying to do with our bootcamps is bring these players together, building connections and empowering collaboration.”
Favotto shared his vision of a local brand travel retail eco-system where the Bootcamp and AAA RACF can play a role in helping local brands.
“We first educate them on what it takes to enter and thrive in the channel through our Bootcamp programme,” he said. “From there, they graduate into events like the AAA RACF where they build exposure and connections with the decision makers in travel retail at a national level.
“Following this, to gain regional exposure the next step would be exhibiting at TFWA Singapore, and for international exposure, TFWA Cannes. We’re thrilled to see Uprising Glassware doing so well on their travel retail journey and have no doubt they are going to achieve great things within the channel.
“As airports and travel retailers work to add greater sense of place and localisation within the retail offer, the need to connect with local brands who are ready to enter the channel is of growing importance,” Favotto added.
“Uprising Glassware is a great example of how brands can embark on their travel retail journey with a little help. It’s certainly a story worth raising a glass to.” ✈
