One obvious feature of the businesses taking stand space at the event, which runs from 4 to 6 October, is the diversity of services and solutions they offer for the duty free and travel retail industry. Customer relationship management and loyalty have been transformed by digital technology, hence the presence of companies like China Smiling, which helps brands market to Chinese travellers through social media. Part&Ma on the other hand provides in-store and promotional solutions with a special focus on airports. Digital agency Ignis works at airports but also in domestic markets and across a wide range of product sectors and media.
With the inflight market under pressure in duty free and travel retail, brand owners that target travellers in the air will be glad to see several TFWA Digital Village exhibitors who operate in this space. SKYdeals gives passengers a tailored shopping experience for branded products or services using the onboard entertainment system. Flash sales, offers linked to the zone which the plane is flying over and group discounts are all possible. “Currently SKYdeals is running on low-cost, long-haul carrier French Blue with sales limited to services at the destination, but we’re working to deploy a broader offer and add other airlines”, says Julien Sivan, the company’s CEO. Inflight Media Digital lets brands advertise to travellers throughout their journey. Managing Director Jean-Marc Chevassus explains: “We can reach travellers via their personal devices at every stage of the journey, targeting them by route, demographics, social-media profile or seat type.” IMD’s service is relatively new and most advertisers use it to top-up existing campaigns, but Chevassus says his digital options are strong enough to work on their own.
Whether seeking help with customer engagement, in-store solutions or the latest hardware, visitors to TFWA Digital Village can look forward to a productive time.
TFWA Digital Village is a new initiative to showcase creative digital solutions and services to the 12,000 duty free and travel retail professionals attending TFWA World Exhibition & Conference 2017 (1-6 October in Cannes). Occupying 840m2 of prime floor space for three full days, around 30 exhibitors will have the chance to meet and do business with the leading decision-makers and senior executives of a dynamic, premium sector keen to embrace new technology.