Ian Hill reports.
Last week saw the relaunch of the oldest name in airport shopping – Shannon Duty Free, heralding not only the inauguration of a newly reinvigorated approach to Shannon Airport’s retail operations, but the start of a partnership with duty free supplier Gebr. Heinemann, which will now supply to its stores. Over 280 people attended the re-launch event, which had a 1940s theme recalling the origination of duty free at the airport, and the presidents and film stars who passed through Shannon in those glory days. The partnership with Heinemann will enable a greater range of brands to be sold at the airport, and the German retailer and distributor will bring its expertise to areas such as merchandising, category management and shop design.
As well as breathing new life into Shannon Airport’s approach to its travel retail operations, the relaunch of Shannon Duty Free heralded the start of a new partnership between the oldest duty free shop in the world and the oldest duty free supplier in the world. “We very much hope that our pioneering histories form the foundation of a great future together,” Gunnar Heinemann, Co-owner, Gebr. Heinemann said.
Shannon Airport pioneered the concept of duty free shopping when a Ms Kitty Downes set up the first shop at the terminal almost 70 years ago selling locally produced products. Today Shannon Airport offers a range of services for its customers. This includes a ‘Shop and Collect’ service for its Europe-bound passengers, which allows them to shop for duty free items and collect them on their return to Shannon Airport. “Today’s relaunch of Shannon Duty Free won’t just be a starting point for a new era of high quality shopping at the airport; it will be a celebration of all that’s gone before,” Neil Pakey, CEO, Shannon Group, commented. “We are so proud to say we invented duty free shopping and we’re excited to relaunch and celebrate this existence and what we believe is an exciting future for Shannon Duty Free. We believe in stocking local products and supporting local industry. That includes Waterford and Galway crystal, Connemara marble, but also other local and national food companies who are here with us displaying their wares tonight. They include Butlers Irish chocolate, Burren Smokehouse salmon, Clonakilty black pudding and Cratloe Hills sheep’s cheese.”
In the revival of both its airport shopping emphasis and the name that originally was hung over the world’s first duty free store – opened at the airport by Kitty Downes in 1947 – Shannon Duty Free will highlight Irish companies and regional suppliers.
While international brands play an important role, it’s Irish companies and regional suppliers that will help give Shannon Duty Free its sense of place, and will become more of a focus in the future. Glenaran, with stores all over Ireland, selling Aran knitwear, jewellery, crystal and china, along with the highly successful Newbridge jewellery collections, have concessions at Shannon. “Then of course there’s the top selling items here in 1947 including Limerick lace, hand-fashioned Irish souvenirs and objects in Connemara marble that are still popular items today.” added Pakey.
“Today’s relaunch of Shannon Duty Free won’t just be a starting point for a new era of high quality shopping at the airport; it will be a celebration of all that’s gone before,” Neil Pakey, CEO, Shannon Group, said. “We are so proud to say we invented duty free shopping and we’re excited to relaunch and celebrate this existence and what we believe is an exciting future for Shannon Duty Free.”
Rose Hynes, Shannon Group Chairman, said: “We will be using duty free to showcase and promote local and regional products and – I am also delighted to see so many local and regional artisans here who will have their products on sale in the Shannon Duty Free shop.” Airport turnover was €39.1 million last year, similar to 2012 despite weakening passenger numbers in the first five months of the year. Aeronautical revenues meanwhile increased 4.8% in 2013, though this was “offset by reductions in non-aeronautical revenue” reported Pakey, who is now looking to the retail revamp to reverse this trend. “We have reversed the five-year decline in passenger numbers and are back in growth in 2014. We just announced 28% growth in October, which is pretty astounding. We will consolidate now, ensure that all the new routes we have added are used and that we bring in new tourists to the region from the USA and other continents.”
Over 280 people attended the Shannon Duty Free re-launch event, which had a 1940s theme recalling the origination of duty free at the airport, and the presidents and film stars who passed through Shannon in those glory days.
Gunnar Heinemann, Co-owner of Gebr. Heinemann, added: “As the oldest duty free supplier in the world we believe our partnership with Shannon Duty Free, the world’s first duty free shop, is both unique and exciting. It is a very important milestone for us in our efforts to further grow our footprint. We very much hope that our pioneering histories form the foundation of a great future together.”
