Travel agency Hudson announces renovated physical stores and the launch of a mobile application in 2020.
In the bustling world of air travel, passengers often find themselves with some spare time between security checks and boarding calls. According to recent statistics, these moments of respite are proving to be a lucrative opportunity for retailers, with air travelers on the rise and spending more than $1.7 billion at airports' newsstands and travel convenience stores in 2017 alone.
One such retailer is Hudson, a company with a rich history in the airport retail business, dating back more than 30 years. Hudson has over 1,000 stores in airports, commuter hubs, landmarks, and tourist spots across North America. The company's success is evident in its latest financial reports, with year-to-date turnover and operating profit both on the rise.
Hudson's third-quarter financials show a positive trend. The operating profit increased nearly 28% to $56.7 million, while the costs decreased. However, organic net sales for the quarter fell by 1% due to a decline in the overall number of transactions, a trend that has been observed industry-wide.
In an effort to further boost sales and enhance the customer experience, Hudson is launching a new consumer-facing mobile app, Hudson Blue, next year. The app is designed to connect customers to Hudson stores, providing them with information about products, promotions, and more. The app will also offer features to ease the stress of travel outside their stores.
Hudson is also revamping its store design. Next year, passengers can expect to see digital displays geared toward local content and modular walls for quickly changing out retail offerings. The company is also planning to bring self-checkout to its next-generation stores.
The future looks bright for airport retailers like Hudson. GlobalData predicts that spending in airports will reach a global total of $49 billion by 2021, a 27% increase over 2016 numbers. This growth is attributed to shifts in airport layouts, which have created opportunities for retailers to offer a wider range of products and services to passengers.
Hudson's origins can be traced back to the Weitnauer group, founded in Basel in 1865 by Johann Ad. Weitnauer. The company entered the duty-free retail market in 1948 and opened the first Duty-Free shop in 1952 at Paris Le Bourget airport. Hudson was later acquired by Dufry in 2008.
As air travel continues to grow, it seems that the airport retail industry is poised for significant expansion. With innovative strategies like the Hudson Blue app and store revamps, Hudson is well-positioned to capitalise on this growth.
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