AUSTRALIA. The Nuance Group yesterday officially opened its new duty free retail stores at Perth Airport, which feature a revamped store layout, an enhanced product range and new branding.
The new name, F1RST Tax and Duty Free, replaces the Downtown Duty Free branding and coincides with major improvements to the store layout and product range. Nuance’s City Centre store at 709 Hay Street has also been rebranded to F1RST.
 |  |
(Left) Speaking at Monday’s opening, The Nuance Group, Australia and New Zealand CEO Jann Fisch said: “F1RST is a new brand for Australian duty free to complement a new generation of stores and a re-energising of the customer offer”; (Right) Jann Fisch, Nuance General Manager – Western Australia Marcus Little (centre) and Perth Airport CEO Brad Geatches (right) at the store opening | |
The new expanded Departures store brings all tax and duty free products together in a single, cohesive outlet that has been designed to be easy to navigate and shop. Striking green and white store colours make for a “vibrant and crisp environment” said Nuance, with the broadened product range easy to see.
New store areas include the latest in consumer technology from cameras to iPods and gaming consoles, an extensive range of liquor, wine, fragrances and cosmetics and a prestige watch area featuring Cartier, Tag Heuer and Longines.
 |  |
(Left) The power of the new branding draws the consumer in; (Right) A great mid-store panorama image | |
 |  |
(Left) Pricing is always key – and keen – in Australian airports, and note the store’s tremendous sense of space; (Right) Chanel, Christian Dior and Estée Lauder lead a big-name beauty contingent | |
 |  |
(Left) Champagne adds sparkle to the spacious design (note Piper Heidsieck’s new Viktor & Rolf Rosé Sauvage); (Right) Upscale watches such as Cartier, Gucci, Tag Heuer and Longines, are presented with the right ambience | |
Speaking at the opening, Perth Airport CEO Brad Geatches said the new F1RST Tax and Duty Free store would offer the best in tax and duty free shopping to all international travellers at Perth Airport as passenger numbers continue to increase.
“This new store is comparable with the best in the world and is fitting for the fastest-growing Australian international airport“ |
JANN FISCH, CEO, THE NUANCE GROUP AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND |
“I congratulate Nuance on the new F1RST store and brand,” he said. “Duty and tax free shopping is one key experience associated with travel. The new F1RST store will provide a much improved facility to make this experience more enjoyable for West Australian travellers and all our international visitors.”
The Nuance Group, Australia and New Zealand CEO Jann Fisch added: “We will offer F1RST rate value with F1RST class service. This new store is comparable with the best in the world and is fitting for the fastest-growing Australian international airport in the nation’s most dynamic state.”
Fisch praised the efforts of Perth Airport, Nuance’s supplier partners and the local Nuance team for the speed of the redevelopment. He also lauded their collective ability to grow sales through the period of disruption while maintaining customer service excellence.
“From initiation to completion, this has been a rapid development and it goes to show what the teams from Perth Airport and Nuance are able to achieve when working together in partnership.”
Fisch also emphasised the importance and relevance of the new brand, noting: “F1RST is a new brand for Australian duty free to complement a new generation of stores and a re-energising of the customer offer. It’s appropriate for Perth Airport to have a vibrant new store given the exceptional rate of growth you have achieved.”
Pointing out some of the key features of the new store, he said: “Like the brand, this store is contemporary and welcoming. The store has been designed to make shopping easy and engaging with the product range expanded. All the tax and duty free products are brought together in a single cohesive store that is spacious, engaging and easy to navigate. The customer offer has been improved across the store to ensure the latest in technology, beauty products, watches and fashion accessories are available alongside the classic duty free brands.
“Most importantly, the initial feedback from customers has been extremely positive. Regular travellers have noticed the expanded product offer. Most comment on how easy the store is to shop and how many great deals there are throughout the store.”
ABOUT THE NUANCE GROUP IN AUSTRALIA
The Nuance Group also operates as “˜SYD Airport Tax and Duty Free’ in Sydney, “˜F1RST Tax and Duty Free’ in Melbourne and “˜Downtown Duty Free’ in Brisbane Airport and Cairns Airport.
The Nuance Group operates 320 shops across 58 airports and 16 countries around the globe. In addition to its duty and tax free operation, it runs a large number of specialist shops as well as food & beverage operations, inflight services and other shops in travel retail channels.
MORE STORIES ON THE NUANCE GROUP IN AUSTRALASIA
Jann Fisch named CEO of The Nuance Group Australia & New Zealand – 01/10/07
Nuance-owned Regency Tax & Duty Free to close downtown Auckland store – 25/09/07
Nuance-owned Regency prepares to open new store at Wellington Airport – 15/08/07
