Rodenstock is ready for the power of Asia Pacific travel retail to continue in 2022 – DFNIonline.com
in Fashion & Leathergoods, Latest News, Product News, Retail News January 3, 2022 0
Rodenstock, Travel Retail and Online Account Manager Monika Lukic speaks to DFNI for the 2021 Suppliers’ Survey
The hoped-for return of long-haul travellers will not dull the importance of Asia Pacifuc and China for the travel retail sector, according to Rodenstock, Travel Retail and Online Account Manager Monika Lukic
Speaking to DFNI, she explains: “Asia Pacific, and Hainan in particular, have been the driving force for the past year and we expect that to continue. We have recognised the importance of the Asia Pacific market for many years.”
How well has your travel retail business recovered in 2021, and how confident are you that 2020 will see a further recovery in 2022?
We have continued to create and innovate during the past year; in fact, we never stopped. We have worked hard in collaboration with our retailer partners, such as CDFG, to continue bringing new products to shoppers both online and in stores as they reopen. As recovery continues, we expect to see the sunglasses sector play a vital role due to the category’s inherent link to the travel experience.
Which travel retail markets and channels are best positioned to grow in 2022, and which do you think are going to remain challenging?
Asia Pacific, and Hainan in particular, have been the driving force for the past year and we expect that to continue. We have recognised the importance of the Asia Pacific market for many years; over the past 18 months, we have released new collections across CDFG’s online platforms, as well as debuting new lines in store and this summer we ran a new promotion with CDFG at Sanya Duty Free International Shopping Complex, Hainan. Elsewhere, it is good to see recovery in markets such as the US, Europe and the Middle East and hopefully travel restrictions will continue to ease and allow the return of long-haul and more international travel.
What digital solutions do you plan to use to boost sales and in-store penetration in the off-line world of duty-free stores in 2022?
Online engagement will continue to be a very important part of engaging shoppers before they travel and we are working with retail partners to ensure our products are available to help inspire shoppers on their digital platforms. Our recent promotion with Porsche Design in Beirut was supported by a 360-degree online and offline campaign, with social media outreach featuring brand ambassador Patrick Dempsey engaging shoppers before they arrived at the airport.
What shopping trends do you expect to see in the first half of 2022? Do you think ATV will continue to outperform/we will see more leisure vs business travellers etc?
While some shoppers are keen to return to shopping, others will be more hesitant, so it is going to be vital to ensure everyone feels safe and comfortable. Online will play a big part in this and in the market going forward. Shoppers’ spending is high at the moment and some travellers will be keen to treat themselves when they take a trip, but we also expect to see more people seeking out better deals in stores as well.
What new products or packaging are you going to either launch or promote in travel retail in the first half of 2022?
Next year is a really exciting year for us as we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the brand. As a result we have some very exciting projects and releases in the pipeline. You will see a fantastic range of products, all crafted using state of the art technology. For now, I can just say wait and see – it will be worth the wait.
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