Sunglass Hut has reported another successful year of expansion in the travel retail channel, with 31 new openings in 2014. This takes the tally to over 140 standalone stores and kiosks in airports worldwide.
Of the new airport outlets, eight were opened in partnership with travel retailers, including Dufry at Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate, LS travel retail at Rome Fiumicino and World Duty Free Group at Dusseldorf Airport. In total, airports in six new markets were entered: Italy, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and Bahrain.
The year 2014 also marked the opening of a 76.5sq m travel retail flagship store at London Heathrow’s new Terminal 2, featuring over 720 SKUs from 32 brands and new in-store technology.
The concept was said to be so well received that Sunglass Hut was placed first-in-flow after passengers passed through security, and it has become one of the top airport doors for the brand.
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Click to view an interview with Heathrow Airport Retail Director Jonathan Coen |
Luxottica Head of Global Channels Francis Gros commented: “2014 was an active year for expansion of the Sunglass Hut brand in this channel, with new airport openings averaging every 12 days. Our ambitious expansion strategy is really starting to gain momentum, and our flexible, partnership approach is reaping rewards for all members of the Trinity.”
Gros continued: “Sunglass Hut is proven best-in-class at maximising sunglasses sales at airports in the specialist standalone format and consistently delivers some of the most productive retail space per square metre. Crucially, we know that this does not cannibalise sales from our category in the main duty free shop, and grows the total category pie.”
Luxottica said that it is targeting additional travel retail expansion in new markets and locations for Sunglass Hut in 2015, in both directly operated and partnership models.
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Sunglass Hut’s airport presence now spans 140 standalone stores and kiosks worldwide |
