<p>Globally, duty-free shopping business in airports is driven by departure passengers. Bucking this trend, the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) Duty Free Zone banked on arrival passengers for 55 per cent of its revenue over the last five years.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Expanding this uniqueness to a new design based on local flavour and a fresh rebranding, the Zone is set for a total makeover by November-end. The curtains will go up with BIA’s expanded Terminal-1 relaunch just round the corner.<br /><br />Original Chettinad pillars sourced from Kalaikudi adorning a revamped fashion section, a ceiling inspired by the traditional Kolam, the floor bedecked with distinct Rangoli patterns... The new stores design will definitely taste local. Bangalore-based interiors firm, 3-Fold Design had a clear brief on this by the Duty-Free Zone operators, Nuance Group.<br /><br />The generic stores are being reworked by the London-based Design Solutions.<br />“These outlets will stock perfumes and cosmetics, liquor, tobacco, confectionaries and electronics,” Nuance Group Country-head, Anirban Dutta Chowdhury told Deccan <br />Herald.<br /><br />When the Group—with presence in 72 airports across 17 countries, took over the duty-free operations in 2008, it chose to include the existing book store and a souvenir shop. These will be out of the new duty-free zone, and the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) is likely to issue separate tenders for the two services. In its current avatar, the duty-free zone earned its biggest revenue from liquor sales.<br /><br />“We anticipate that this trend will continue even in our new zone. The new store will feature an exclusive Connoisseur’s Choice section packed with very premium and luxury brands,” Chowdhury added. However, the variety of perfume brands will be rationalised based on demand. <br /><br />But with a 1,000 sqft area, Fashion and Electronics will pack a punch in the new zone. “Before the ban on duty-free television imports, TV sales used to do very well. Now, we find the DSLR cameras are selling very well. They are flying off the shelves. Mobile accessories, binoculars and other equipment are also doing well, thanks to our competitive pricing vis-a-vis Singapore and Dubai. We will soon be introducing electronic medical equipment as well in our stores,” he said.<br /><br />Express Store<br /><br />As part of the new design, the zone will also put up an Express Store at the gates. This is to cater to passengers in a hurry.<br /><br />This store will stock the top 15 items in every category. Another new concept to be introduced is “Pick on Arrival.” Outbound passengers could book a product while departing and collect the same on their return. <br /><br />The big proportion of business travellers at BIA is attributed to the larger share of arrival passengers shopping in the duty-free zone.<br /><br />Explained a zone official, “Business travellers pick up stuff only after they return from a trip abroad. The share of leisure travellers, whose shopping trend is different, is relatively less.” In the Departure Terminal, 65 per cent of the duty-free purchases are by foreign passport-holders. Indian passport-holders contribute to 85 per cent of the duty-free transactions in the Arrival Terminal.<br /></p>
<p>Globally, duty-free shopping business in airports is driven by departure passengers. Bucking this trend, the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) Duty Free Zone banked on arrival passengers for 55 per cent of its revenue over the last five years.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Expanding this uniqueness to a new design based on local flavour and a fresh rebranding, the Zone is set for a total makeover by November-end. The curtains will go up with BIA’s expanded Terminal-1 relaunch just round the corner.<br /><br />Original Chettinad pillars sourced from Kalaikudi adorning a revamped fashion section, a ceiling inspired by the traditional Kolam, the floor bedecked with distinct Rangoli patterns... The new stores design will definitely taste local. Bangalore-based interiors firm, 3-Fold Design had a clear brief on this by the Duty-Free Zone operators, Nuance Group.<br /><br />The generic stores are being reworked by the London-based Design Solutions.<br />“These outlets will stock perfumes and cosmetics, liquor, tobacco, confectionaries and electronics,” Nuance Group Country-head, Anirban Dutta Chowdhury told Deccan <br />Herald.<br /><br />When the Group—with presence in 72 airports across 17 countries, took over the duty-free operations in 2008, it chose to include the existing book store and a souvenir shop. These will be out of the new duty-free zone, and the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) is likely to issue separate tenders for the two services. In its current avatar, the duty-free zone earned its biggest revenue from liquor sales.<br /><br />“We anticipate that this trend will continue even in our new zone. The new store will feature an exclusive Connoisseur’s Choice section packed with very premium and luxury brands,” Chowdhury added. However, the variety of perfume brands will be rationalised based on demand. <br /><br />But with a 1,000 sqft area, Fashion and Electronics will pack a punch in the new zone. “Before the ban on duty-free television imports, TV sales used to do very well. Now, we find the DSLR cameras are selling very well. They are flying off the shelves. Mobile accessories, binoculars and other equipment are also doing well, thanks to our competitive pricing vis-a-vis Singapore and Dubai. We will soon be introducing electronic medical equipment as well in our stores,” he said.<br /><br />Express Store<br /><br />As part of the new design, the zone will also put up an Express Store at the gates. This is to cater to passengers in a hurry.<br /><br />This store will stock the top 15 items in every category. Another new concept to be introduced is “Pick on Arrival.” Outbound passengers could book a product while departing and collect the same on their return. <br /><br />The big proportion of business travellers at BIA is attributed to the larger share of arrival passengers shopping in the duty-free zone.<br /><br />Explained a zone official, “Business travellers pick up stuff only after they return from a trip abroad. The share of leisure travellers, whose shopping trend is different, is relatively less.” In the Departure Terminal, 65 per cent of the duty-free purchases are by foreign passport-holders. Indian passport-holders contribute to 85 per cent of the duty-free transactions in the Arrival Terminal.<br /></p>
