A great example of this is Naturally Inspired at Orlando International Airport. Retail owner and operator, Debbie Strisko, approached Westfield with an idea for a new business that features handcrafted wares from artisans around the globe, with an emphasis on those that practice fair trade, give back and recycle, reclaim and reuse. Naturally Inspired started as an RMU in 2011, and became a temporary store, finally evolving into a permanent inline store in 2016. In addition to LAX, Westfield’s airport division operates
in Boston’s Logan Airport, Newark Liberty Airport, Orlando, Chicago O’Hare and Miami International. With a whole array of exciting new concepts and
news and gifts, fine dining and luxury retail. In the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX, travelers have more time to spend and according to Messina are apt to sit down for fine dining or shop in stores like Emporio Armani, Fred Segal and Hugo Boss. The terminal also has a curated local mix that delivers an L.A. feel, recreating Sunset Boulevard. From Downtown L.A. to the beach, the new terminal offers a sense of place in a fun, engaging way. “We introduced local brands like Point the Way Café from Golden Road Brewing—a local craft brewery—Osteria by Fabio Viviani, Earthbar and
M.Fredric. These brands provide a sense of place to LAX, and travelers even look forward to coming back,” she said. At Chicago O’Hare’s Terminal 5, Westfield has blended
luxury retail brands with local favorites like I Love Chicago, which sells goods from local artisans and Vosges Haut- Chocolate, a local chocolatier. Specialty retail, RMUs, pop-ups and flex spaces are opportunities to surprise and delight travelers. In November, in partnership with American Airlines, Westfield opened a pop-up activation at JFK International Airport Terminal 8. The activation is part of a virtual reality roadshow that will bring an immersive experience to the public. The unique experience is free and will offer an introduction to virtual reality. For Westfield, the common area shopping experience
is always evolving. With a focus on immersive retail using local, regional and national brands, they too have blurred the lines between entertainment, retail, and dining. Gate areas and hold rooms now deliver a more holistic experience.
experiences it is clear that airport retail continues to soar, catering to busy travelers with products they need, might enjoy and even welcome. Borrowing seamlessly from shopping centers, airport specialty retail is fast delivering on its promise of becoming a hot new venue for both local and national retailers. Look for more fun specialty retail concepts to land at an airport near you.
Duffy C. Weir is the contributing Trends Editor for Specialty Retail Report. She’s been a trend spotter for the magazine for over a decade and has more than 30 years experience as a director of specialty retail. She is now an independent retail marketing and sponsorship consultant. Weir travels the world searching for what she says “makes marketplaces tick.” She can be reached at
Duffyllc@comcast.net.
SpecialtyRetail.com Winter 2017 n Specialty Retail Report 73
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84