RUSSIA. Sheremetyevo Duty Free – the joint venture between Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport, Gebr Heinemann and Greenway – has opened a new ‘luxury marketplace’ at the airport’s recently opened Terminal C.
As reported, last month the partners unveiled a 3,000sq m walk-through shop plus a 500sqm arrivals shop in the new terminal.
The ‘luxury marketplace’ features two multi-brand stores across fashion & accessories and watches & jewellery. The offer will be expanded during the year with the addition of five mono-brand boutiques representing Hermès, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta and Bvlgari. Once all stores are open, the new luxury zone will have a sales area of around 1,160sq m.
“We are proud of this new and exciting concept, with which we cater to discerning passengers from Russia and Asia,” said Sheremetyevo Duty Free Deputy Director General for Commercial Affairs Denis Gusev.
“It is a spectacular flagship location for Sheremetyevo Duty Free and underlines our aim to offer customers an outstanding and differentiating shopping experience,” added Oleg Zhytomyrsky, Director Sales Eastern Europe Central Asia at Gebr Heinemann.
Debuts for Chloé and Alexander McQueen
The first of the multi-brand stores combines four branded boutiques plus a generic shopping space with sunglasses, watches and jewellery as well as leathergoods. Chloé, Ferragamo and Montblanc feature in their own three-wall mono-brand boutiques. These will be followed by the opening of an Alexander McQueen boutique later this year – which is, along with Chloé, a first for the airport.
“Sheremetyevo Airport is an important hub for passengers from Asia, the Middle East and Europe and the biggest airport in Russia,” said Gebr Heinemann Director Purchasing Fashion & Accessories Jan Richter. He added: “There are a lot of customers here willing to spend on luxury brands. We have created a luxury marketplace for them that is one of a kind in Russian travel retail.”
“A gem in travel retail”
The second multi-brand shop houses luxury timepieces and jewellery in a 150sq m space. Cartier, Omega, Officine Panerai, IWC, Hublot and Longines are among the brands highlighted.
Gebr Heinemann Director Purchasing Watches & Jewellery Olaf Benjamin said: “We are very proud of the fantastic variety of brands that we are able to display here with our high-quality ‘Luxury Times Pieces’ concept. This is a gem in travel retail and we’re thrilled to offer passengers not only a multitude of choice, but an excellent service and impressive shopping experience.”
Inspired by the shape of a watch or ring, the shop creates “a fluent transition” between the customised back walls of the individual brands, said Heinemann. The brand furnishings are neatly integrated into the architectural framework, noted the retailer.
The department store concept that Heinemann introduced at Sheremetyevo Terminal E has been translated to the Terminal C environment, in partnership with Berlin design firm Plajer + Franz, said Heinemann. The design features materials such as white oiled oak, brass and white marble.
As reported, total retail space (including core category travel retail) managed by Sheremetyevo Duty Free will reach around 5,500sq m at the new Terminal C later in the year.
