News Release (29/04/10)
Music and makeovers mark the start of a new shopping experience for South West passengers
Bristol Airport’s new World Duty Free store was officially launched today (29 April), providing a state-of-the-art shopping experience to passengers.
Since being selected to operate the store last August, tax and duty free specialist, WDF, has worked in close partnership with Bristol Airport to redesign the existing facility creating a new ‘walk through’ format and increasing its retail space to 10,000 sq ft. The new store also offers a more extensive range of products across all categories including liquor, beauty, accessories and confectionery.
To mark the official launch of the new store, Bristol Airport’s Chief Executive Officer, Robert Sinclair, made the first purchase – some locally sourced chocolates from the ‘Best of the West’ range which features products from around the South West region.
Singer-songwriter and University of Bristol alumnus, Ben Montague, provided the soundtrack, performing live in the store throughout the morning to demonstrate WDF’s ‘Contentainment’ concept – a combination of live performance and the latest in audio-visual digital technology to give a unique in-store experience. Customers also enjoyed samples of Brugal Rum, Mars Celebrations and demonstrations of ghd hair styling products.
Many new brands have also been introduced, including Biotherm, Lanvin and Van Clefs & Arpels in the beauty and fragrance categories. Luxury is also a key category for the store and a number of new brands have been introduced including Super Dry watches, TOY Watch and Pandora bracelets. In sunglasses, more extensive ranges from Rayban, Oakley and Radley are also available.
Robert Sinclair, Chief Executive of Bristol Airport, said:
“This exciting development gives people flying from Bristol Airport access to great products at attractive prices, all in an exciting retail environment. Whether stocking up for the family holiday or picking up presents after a business trip, the new World Duty Free store has something for all our passengers.”
Mark Riches, CEO at WDF added, “Within our organisation, the customer is at the heart of everything we do and Bristol Airport very much share this focus as well. We really enjoyed working in close partnership with such an entrepreneurial airport as Bristol, to help them achieve their vision of giving customers a fantastic retail experience. As well as creating a superb new main store, we also introduced a stand-alone accessories store; COLLECTION, which began trading in December 2009. We are extremely proud to be able to bring the World Duty Free brand to the airport, as well as our specialist store expertise and deliver a first class shopping experience to customers”.
Work continues on other significant improvements at Bristol Airport, including a 450m long walkway linking the terminal to aircraft stands on the western apron. The walkway will reduce the need for buses to transfer passengers between the terminal building and arriving and departing planes.
A new fleet of buses will also shortly begin operating an improved Flyer service between Bristol and the airport.
The airport celebrates its 80th anniversary in May and last month Bristol Airport marked the tenth anniversary of its terminal building by unveiling a new brand identity to guide its business over the next decade. The new brand represents ‘people’, ‘place’ and ‘region’ – the three pillars on which the airport’s success rests – and promises ‘Amazing Journeys Start Here’.