Souvenir supplier Next 88 has launched in the Australian travel retail market.
The new company said it provides souvenirs different to those available and reflective of particular destinations.
Next 88 Chairman Ivo Favotto, a columnist for The Moodie Davitt Report and a travel retail expert, said: “In all my years in travel retail, the constant feedback I have received from consumers is that they want something different. But travel retail has become so homogenised. That’s why I was happy to lend my support to Next 88.
“While the market for standard souvenirs is saturated, our goal is to turn everyday duty free categories into souvenirs.”
The first Next 88 product to launch – Australian-made shortbread cookies – has been listed by Australian retailer awpl at Sydney Airport’s international terminal. The cookies are housed in a collectible tin inspired by the road signs warning of the country’s fauna, such as kangaroos, koalas, emus, echidnas and crocodiles.
Next 88 will launch products in the wine, spirits and fragrance categories “imminently”, Favotto said.
“Each region has so much unique product – you just have to go out there and find it and package it in a way that appeals to the travel retail market,” he said. “It’s more work than just stocking the typical big brands but can be very rewarding in driving passenger spend rates.”
Next 88 said it was particularly targeting the Chinese market. On the shortbread tin it has changed the Australian road sign message from ‘Next 10km’ to ‘Next 88km’. “We recognise the importance of the Chinese consumer in Australian travel retail. The number 8 is auspicious for Chinese consumers and so we aim to appeal to these important customers,” Favotto explained.
Awpl Managing Director Costa Kouros commented: “Awpl is always looking to partner with exciting and innovative new suppliers and we are very happy to be Next 88’s launch customer.”
