Swiss Eyewear Group has expanded its inflight business into Africa with listings onboard South African Airways and Kenya Airways for INVU ultra polarised sunglasses.
The group has also secured new listings for INVU Easyfit sunglasses in selected Norwegian airports.
Easyfit styles, which retail from €51, are designed to fit over prescription glasses. Following a ‘test’ period at Heinemann Duty Free at Oslo Airport, positive sales figures resulted in the line being added to stores in Stavanger and Trondheim airports.
Heinemann Purchasing Director Fashion & Accessories Jan Richter said: “The exceptional retail success of this new category within the sunglass segment demonstrates that INVU Easyfit is a perfect additional for travel retail stores around the globe.”
In Africa, an INVU classic rimless aviator style, in matt gunmetal with green gradient lenses, features in new inflight listings through Tourvest Inflight Retail Services. According to Swiss Eyewear Group, sales onboard both South African Airways and Kenya Airways are “significantly above expectations”, at double the original forecasts.
Swiss Eyewear Group Director Travel Retail International Markets Rebecca Harwood Lincoln commented: “We’re delighted to have expanded our inflight business through Tourvest this year; they’re a fantastic partner to work with and we look forward to working together for the long term.”
Tourvest Inflight Retail Services Buyer Carole Clarke said: “We’re always looking for product lines which offer great quality, are on trend, and represent fantastic value for our customers. Sunglasses are one of the most buoyant categories in travel retail currently and brands such as INVU bridge the gap between high-cost designer frames and budget brands that do not always offer the sun protection which customers expect.
“We’re very happy to be working with Swiss Eyewear Group; the company is proving to be very flexible to our requirements and efficient to deal with.”
