One-stop shop: How Delhi Duty Free Services is changing the face of travel retail
Delhi Duty Free Services opened its new duty-free shops after renovation at Delhi International Airport's Terminal 3.
By ET Bureau |
BCCL
Delhi Duty Free senior management team (from left) Parveen Gupta, head of legal, Rajiv Madan, chief financial officer, Ashish Chopra, chief operating officer, Philip Eckles, CEO, Ray Hernan, ARI CEO, Abhijit Das, head of marketing, and Siddhartha Jain, head of HR
Delhi Duty Free Services is ready to wow passengers with its premium shopping experience. With the renovated duty-free shops open for business, CEO Philip Eckles shares the motivation for the makeover and what travellers can look forward to.
How is the travel retail business doing? The market is growing and is linked to trends in air traffic. In 2018, passenger growth reached seven per cent. However, Delhi Duty Free Services (DDFS) experienced higher doubledigit growth because of more number of affluent Indian travellers and the return from our investment in new facilities. DDFS has witnessed significant business growth with the launch of our new stores.
Why did DDFS invest so much in the recent store refurbishments?
DDFS commenced operations in July 2010. In the early years, our performance mirrored the projections, but we expected more given the growth of the Indian economy. In 2017, we started to redevelop both stores. The new arrival shop became operational a few months ago. Now, the departure shop is opening. We have invested ?65 crore in store developments in the past 24 months.
What’s in store for travellers? DDFS has led a paradigm change in travel retail in the ISC with its new stores. They mark a change in the quality, ambience, range and assortment as well as staff capability. We also created ‘The Whisky Collection’ area with some of the best whiskies in India. Our fragrance and cosmetic area brings together the world’s leading beauty brands into India’s premier beauty boutique. With the renovated duty-free shops open for business, CEO Philip Eckles shares the motivation for the makeover and what travellers can look forward to. What’s key to the success of the new stores? Creating 100 per cent walkthrough stores has been instrumental in improving the passenger experience and in bringing our customers closer to the duty-free products.
ADVERTISEMENT
We’ve introduced enhanced digital marketing and equipped the stores with 93 UHD digital screens. Like any world class duty-free store, we have a fantastic range of luxury products to tempt our international travellers.
Most importantly, we invest in staff training and development programmes to ensure an outstanding customer experience every time.
What’s the concept of trinity approach in travel retail? It’s a conceptual partnership model for the Airport Travel Retail industry that encourages world-class retail standards and is driven by the needs, desires and expectations of the consumer. This is achieved through airport leadership, which encourages investment in retail environments and customer service, and ensures maximised returns for all parties — airports, retailers and suppliers (the trinity). This approach recognises that all parties are stakeholders in the business, sharing risk and reward.
ADVERTISEMENT
DDFS and DIAL, along with our brand partners, have created a fantastic example of the trinity approach at Delhi Duty Free and our continued success is an example of this approach.
Louisville Airport Renamed on Muhammad Ali's 77th Birth Anniversary: More About The Boxer
1/6
Ali, who was born as Cassius Clay, started boxing from the age of 12 when he trained with a Kentucky policeman after having lodged a complaint regarding his stolen bicycle. There he met policeman Joe Martin who took him under his wings and told him that Ali must learn to fight. That is something that stayed with the boxer for life. And, as they say Ali won hands-down in his first bout.
(Image: Twitter/Muhammad Ali)
Ali, who was born as Cassius Clay, started boxing from the age of 12 when he trained with a Kentucky policeman after having lodged a complaint regarding his stolen bicycle. There he met policeman Joe..
Read More
Clay won his professional boxing debut on October 29, 1960. His style in the ring was all about overwhelming the opponent. He combined moves with quick, powerful jabs and foot speed. He was winning big already by the time he turned 18, with two national Golden Gloves titles, two Amateur Athletic Union national titles and a total of 100 victories against eight losses.
Clay won his professional boxing debut on October 29, 1960. His style in the ring was all about overwhelming the opponent. He combined moves with quick, powerful jabs and foot speed. He was winning b..
Read More
This is one of the most famous quotes by the legendary boxer. At 22, Clay received his first title shot against reigning heavy weight champion, Sonny Liston on February 25, 1964. Apparently, Ali was sarcastic towards Liston before the fight, promising to “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” and predicting a knockout. And, as they say the rest is history. Liston failed to answer the bell at the beginning of the 7th round, Ali became the heavyweight champion of the world. (In Pic: In this May 25, 1965, file photo, heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali stands over fallen challenger Sonny Liston shortly after dropping him with a short hard right to the jaw in Lewiston, Maine.)
This is one of the most famous quotes by the legendary boxer. At 22, Clay received his first title shot against reigning heavy weight champion, Sonny Liston on February 25, 1964. Apparently, Ali was ..
Read More
In 1964, Clay denounced his name and rechristened himself as Muhammad Ali. He converted to Islam and associated himself with Nation of Islam (NOI). Ali's spiritual and political mentor was Malcolm X, who was a prominent name of the movement. Ali had referred to himself as Cassius X after Malcolm X, before he was renamed Muhammad Ali.
(Image: Twitter/Muhammad Ali)
In 1964, Clay denounced his name and rechristened himself as Muhammad Ali. He converted to Islam and associated himself with Nation of Islam (NOI). Ali's spiritual and political mentor was Malcolm X,..
Read More
When Ali refused to fight the Vietnamese in the war raged bu US, he was criticised. He was not just criticised, the star champion was stripped of his championship title and suspended his licence to box in New York. He was only 25 then, and chose to stick to his beliefs, rather than follow the rules of the land. In his own words, he chose to follow the rules of Allah over those of the land. Ali was banned for three years. As Ali spoke at campuses, spreading a word about humanity, public sentiments turned against war. In 1970, the New York Supreme Court reinstated his boxing license.
(Image: Twitter/Muhammad Ali)
When Ali refused to fight the Vietnamese in the war raged bu US, he was criticised. He was not just criticised, the star champion was stripped of his championship title and suspended his licence to b..
Read More
Ali came back to the ring with a bang in 1970 and knocked out Jerry Quarry in the third round. However, a big blow was waiting for Ali in 1971, when he was defeated by Joe Frazier in what was called the 'Fight of the Century'. Ali went on to win for his next 10 bouts, managing to defend his title. The 39-year-old Ali retired for good in 1981 with a career record of 56 wins, five losses and 37 knockouts. The legendary fighter passed away at the age of 74 on June 3, 2016, after fighting Parkinson's for 30 years.
(Image: Twitter/Muhammad Ali)
Ali came back to the ring with a bang in 1970 and knocked out Jerry Quarry in the third round. However, a big blow was waiting for Ali in 1971, when he was defeated by Joe Frazier in what was called ..
