Nuance-Watson (HK) and Bally open new-look Hong Kong International Airport boutique – 18/08/09

HONG KONG. Nuance-Watson (Hong Kong) and Bally today jointly unveiled the newly refurbished Bally boutique at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) Terminal 1 East Hall.

The new 84sq m store was officially opened by Nuance-Watson (HK) Regional Managing Director, North Asia Alessandra Piovesana; Bally Global Travel Retail Director Mimmo Mariottini; Airport Authority Hong Kong General Manager, Retail & Advertising Business, Marketing & Business Development Eva Tsang; and Nuance-Watson (HK) General Manager, Operations Clarice Au.

Other distinguished guests at the opening included Bally Asia Pacific Chief Executive Officer Rolf Kambli and Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong Assistant Trade Commissioner Chan Wing Kai.

The grand opening kicked off with a fashion show offering a sneak preview of Bally’s Autumn/Winter 2009 collection.

Speaking in both English and Cantonese, Nuance-Watson (HK) Marketing Manager Angelina Lau welcomes guests as the grand opening event kicks off with a fashion show offering a sneak preview of Bally’s Autumn/Winter 2009 collection


Piovesana paid tribute to the long and fruitful working relationship between Nuance-Watson (HK) and Bally, which dates back to the premiere of the brand at HKIA in 1998.

She said: “We take pride to have established Bally as one of the all-time best-selling mainstream luxury labels at HKIA and met customers’ desires since we brought in the brand in 1998.

“The winning of the new luxury boutique concession among severe competition reflected the commercial success of the brand, and it was the best reward of the past ten years of our hard work and dedication to growing the brand at HKIA with the support of Bally and the Airport Authority. We are committed to continue to satisfy customers in partnership with Bally and ascertain the best exposure and return for the brand at our airport.”

Over the past decade the travel retailer has achieved a remarkable sales performance for the brand, with the HKIA boutique ranking number one in sales among all Bally travel retail stores worldwide.

The trinity comes together as retailer, brand and airport authority express their pleasure with the Bally boutique opening


Mariottini underlined both companies’ commitment to growing the business at HKIA and surpassing travellers’ expectations of an airport shopping environment. “We’re very happy to continue this partnership with Nuance-Watson and with Airport Authority Hong Kong, and we look forward to many more years of successful partnership,” he enthused.

Eva Tsang, representing Airport Authority Hong Kong, said: “With the dedication of the Nuance-Watson team and the strong support from Bally, we have witnessed an outstanding growth of the brand ever since its opening. Now Bally is undoubtedly one of the best-loved brands at our airport. We have full confidence that the airport boutique will continue to enjoy success and maintain its number one sales status among all Bally travel retail stores worldwide. Congratulations to all.”

Bally officially opens: (L-R) Airport Authority HK General Manager, Retail & Advertising Business, Marketing & Business Development Eva Tsang; Bally Global Travel Retail Director Mimmo Mariottini; Nuance-Watson (HK) Regional Managing Director, North Asia Alessandra Piovesana; and Nuance-Watson (HK) General Manager, Operations Clarice Au


The celebratory toast: (L-R) Bally model; Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong Assistant Trade Commissioner Chan Wing Kai; Bally Asia Pacific Chief Executive Officer Rolf Kambli; Airport Authority HK General Manager, Retail & Advertising Business, Marketing & Business Development Eva Tsang; Bally Global Travel Retail Director Mimmo Mariottini; Nuance-Watson (HK) Regional Managing Director, North Asia Alessandra Piovesana; Bally Travel Retail & Duty Free Regional Manager Jacqlyne Li; Nuance-Watson (HK) General Manager, Operations Clarice Au; and Bally model


THE STORE

Located at Shop 6E156 in the restricted area, Departures East (Level 6), the new-look Bally boutique offers the full range of men’s and women’s shoes, bags and ready-to-wear. The collections are all designed by Bally Creative Director Brian Atwood, known for updating Bally’s heritage with stylish, modern allure.

To celebrate the reopening of this boutique, a special exhibition of Bally’s 19th century archive shoes is running in-store until mid-September. The shoes were specially flown in from Switzerland, offering airport customers the rare opportunity to savour a piece of Bally’s history for the first time in any airport in Asia. To coincide with the archive shoe exhibition, Bally has also put up a special heritage ‘wall’ along the store entrance where customers can view advertising visuals of Bally through the years.

The new-look 84sq m Bally boutique offers the full range of men’s and women’s shoes, bags and ready-to-wear


The store concept supports “the principle of creating effortlessly elegant spaces that evoke a sense of sophisticated calm”, the brand company said.

The natural colour palette of the Bally store plays with the contrast of light and dark surfaces and textures. Brushed bronze displays, featuring smoked mirror backdrops are punctuated with flint suede shelves and platforms.

Natural oak hardwood floors are enhanced by brown velvet rugs with leather trim. Soft natural boucle fabric sofas, low leather tables with and small square table lamps are used to create a welcoming setting.

Guests get a first view of the exhibition of Bally’s 19th century archive shoes, on display until mid-September


Specially flown in from Switzerland, the Bally archive shoes are being exhibited for the first time at any airport in Asia


A heritage wall by the store entrance offers airport customers a look at advertising visuals of Bally through the years


BALLY AUTUMN/WINTER COLLECTION 2009

Describing his inspiration for the men’s Autumn/Winter 2009 collection, Bally Creative Director Brian Atwood said: “From head to toe I wanted this collection to capture the tangible energy and creativity of city life. Originally I was concentrating on interpreting a classic tailored look, when I saw an amazing shot of [American actor] Steve McQueen working on his motorcycle; instantly the collection came together: clean, modern and simply urban.”

The urban theme continues in the women’s collection. “Looking at Helmut Newton’s iconic portraits of Charlotte Rampling and Bianca Jagger, I am constantly mesmerized by his ability to create luxury out of simplicity. Taking this inspiration as a starting point, I wanted to create a collection that captures the excitement, energy and creativity of urban life,” Atwood mused.

The result is a collection rich in textures, with a colour palette of slate, granite, bamboo, chestnut, cherry, purple, black, and espresso.

The season’s ad campaign was photographed by Mario Sorrenti, and features supermodel Christy Turlington and male model Oriol Elcacho.

Bally’s Fall/Winter 2009 ad campaign features supermodel Christy Turlington with Oriol Elcacho


ABOUT BALLY

Bally was founded in Switzerland in 1851. Known for its shoes and accessories, the collections combine sophisticated style with high quality craftsmanship and finest materials. In 2007, Brian Atwood was appointed as the Creative Director to steer the brand to the next level, working with the company’s heritage and introducing modern creativity to the designs.

In 2008 the brand was acquired by the LABELUX Group and Bally bought back its business in China and Japan, now directly operating in these crucial markets.

For more information, visit www.bally.com.

MORE STORIES ON NUANCE-WATSON (HK) AND BALLY

Nuance-Watson (HK) launches “˜Mobile Discovery’ RFID station at Hong Kong International Airport – 16/07/09

Nuance-Watson (HK) and Longchamp team up to open Hong Kong International Airport store – 13/07/09

Bally to debut exclusive products for DFS – 22/04/09

Bally launches into e-commerce for Spring – 22/01/09

[comments]

Food & Beverage The Magazine eZine