NEWS/ANALYSIS: PHILIPPINES


Regent lays down $30m sales marker at new Luxe Duty Free


Regent Travel Retail Group in the Philippines is targeting first-year sales of $30m across perfumes, cosmetics and fashion goods at the new Luxe Duty Free downtown store, as David Hayes reports exclusively.


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cheduled to soft open in May, Luxe Duty Free marks the dawn of a new era for the


Philippines’ duty free industry. Currently under construction,


it will introduce a luxury brand shopping experience for the first time, targeting foreign visitors and high-spending Filipino customers. “We have a $30m target for the


first 12 months,” reveals Regent Travel Retail Group Chairman and CEO Jose Maria ‘Chim’ Esteban III in an exclusive interview with TRBusiness. The firm is the merchandise supply


and management concessionaire for beauty and fashion goods at Luxe Duty Free. “Traditionally, beauty is the


biggest category, but we will have a big fashion presence, so P&C and fashion revenue will be about equal,” says Esteban. “Our plan is for 90% of the retail


space to be for perfume, cosmetics and fashion. There will be 30 to 35 boutiques for fashion and P&C.” Established under state-run Duty


Free Philippines, Luxe Duty Free is situated in Manila’s fast growing SM Mall of Asia entertainment and leisure district near Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport. It is set to offer 3,000 sq m of retail space spread over two floors. In addition to 2,000 sq m of


ground floor retail displaying fashion and luxury goods along with liquor, tobacco and upmarket confectionery, Luxe Duty Free will feature a 1,000 sq m mezzanine floor area showcasing a large collection of international perfume and cosmetic brands. “We have agreements with the


top-three beauty brands; we will have about 20 cosmetics boutiques,”


FEBRUARY 2018


reveals Esteban. “The beauty area will have


personalised skincare displays. Round the walls will be major cosmetics brand boutiques about 15 to 30 sq m in size. “The focus will be international


brands plus a new concepts area for South Korean cosmetics. There will also be some luxury make-up and traditional skincare brands. “In the central mezzanine area


there will be multi-brand fragrances in a department store layout.” Customers will enter through


the ground floor reception area and travel up by escalator to the mezzanine level, passing through the beauty zone before returning to the ground floor fashion and luxury goods area. White marble floor tiles and black marble floor tiles will feature on the ground and mezzanine levels, respectively. Meanwhile, brass inserts are


being used to define pathways on the marble floor for ease of wayfinding, while a neutral ceiling colour has been selected to focus shoppers’ attention at eye level in the


beauty area. “Brands have been impressed by the overall environment,” notes Esteban. “We are planning the Luxe Duty


Free store layout with brands now. There will be one entrance, but a separate registration centre for coach tour-groups. “There will be a two-storey


atrium entrance area with paintings, sculptures and architectural lighting fixtures – it has an international feel.”


Brand contracts signed Luxe’s ground floor retail space features an open-plan central display area with mono-brand


“Our plan is for 90% of the retail space to be for perfume, cosmetics and fashion. There will be 30 to 35 boutiques for fashion and P&C.”


Jose Maria ‘Chim’ Esteban III, Chairman and CEO, Regent Travel Retail Group


Above: Landmark Management P&C Ltd operates P&C outlets for Duty Free Philippines in Fiesta Mall.


TRBUSINESS 19


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