Price is a central part of travel retail – and it is about to get more important
By Marco Passoni It feels ridiculous to have to point out that price counts in travel retail. A price advantage is one of the foundations of the duty-free sector. It has been around since the start of the industry and, despite the attempts of many to sideline it to help resolve their margins and/or price […]
How to stand out when ‘special’ is becoming the norm
By Marco Passoni “You are unique. But so is everyone else.” This adage applies to many of the brands working in both the luxury and travel retail sectors today – and it is, for me, at the heart of a problem which is blighting both industries. As you look at the luxury and travel retail […]
Why newness matters more than ever for travel retail
By Marco Passoni There was much talk in the wake of the pandemic about how we have moved into a “new normal”, but as I look around the travel retail sector today, I find myself asking the same question: How much ‘new’ is there? How much has our retail offer really changed following the seismic […]
Fashion accessories brand NAU! plans travel retail expansion with 2.0 & Partners
Pioneering fashion accessories brand NAU! is set to expand its presence in the travel retail sector, bringing its carefully crafted Italian style to more travelling shoppers around the world. Nau! is a brand of craftsmen. Born from the ancient Italian traditions of eyewear manufacture and grown to be pioneers in the market, the brand now […]
Time to break the rules: How to put sustainability first
By Marco Passoni I read a recent interview with Patagonia Founder Yvon Chouinard, the man who has set the bar for delivering true sustainability in business. He is someone worth listening to in the current market as he has blazed a trail with a forward thinking approach which truly has sustainability at its heart. In […]
Acetaia Malpighi wins new travel retail listings with Gebr Heinemann
By Fabio Bernardini Historic balsamic vinegar brand Acetaia Malpighi has secured new travel retail listings with world-renowned retailer Gebr Heinemann. The family-owned brand, which can trace its history back almost 200 years, is now listed in Heinemann stores at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport, bringing a true taste of Italian excellence, and real “natural vinegar”, to […]
Moncler marks a travel retail milestone with new Heathrow Airport store
The opening of the new Moncler store at London Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 is a milestone launch for the Italian luxury brand, which has been making waves worldwide with its striking and engaging experiential offer. In recent months, Moncler’s has made headlines with landmark collaborations, including partnerships with Mercedes, Pharrell Williams and Roc Nation, as […]
The UK Government’s failure to bring back tax-free shopping is not just foolish, it is bad business
By Marco Passoni The arrival of the latest budget from the UK Chancellor last week brought me a glimmer of hope: Maybe the latest UK Government would see the stupidity of removing tax-free shopping and overhaul the ridiculous decision which was taken as Brexit came into effect more than a year ago. Make no mistake, […]
Creating Culture: Why products are just the tip of the iceberg for luxury
By Marco Passoni The announcement earlier this month that Pharrell Williams will become the new Creative Director of menswear for Louis Vuitton, succeeding the late Virgil Abloh, made headlines around the world. For me, and for many in the industry, it is an inspired choice. It demonstrates LVMH’s dedication to much more than simply creating […]
How to create the perfect experience for travelling shoppers
By Marco Passoni Creating the perfect impression and experience for travelling shoppers is more important than it has ever been. At 2.0 & Partners, our international team spends every day airside to ensure we understand every part of the customer experience, and how it impacts our partners’ business. Nowhere is this clearer than in our […]
