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How Airport Retail Is Changing for Good

For the owners of Gatwick Airport, the U.K.’s second biggest airport, April 2022 was a significant moment: for the first time since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Express train route from central London to the terminal reopened. It’s a sign, Gatwick hopes, that some normalcy is returning to the travel sector. Still, that word “some” is doing a great deal of heavy lifting, airport bosses concede—they fear their industry will never be the same again.

For the retailers that inhabit the world’s airports—and particularly the luxury marques selling more expensive goods—such concerns raise some difficult questions. Will they again ever be able to rely on passengers passing through airports buying goods in segments such as fashion, beauty, consumer electronics, and food and drink?

Prior to COVID-19, airports represented a rare bright spot in the battle between physical retail and e-commerce; passengers passing through airports may have deserted high street stores, but they were still spending large sums when on their travels. The pandemic saw airports close and passenger numbers plummet as travel restrictions limited demand for flights, but retailers had hoped to see a resurgence as the world reopened.

Airport RetailSource: Forbes

Air travel is bouncing back

The good …

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When you have a fantastic product, you are nothing short of excited to get it into consumers’ hands. But it’s a wide road between an idea and a finished product. And sometimes an even seemingly wider road between finished product and store shelf. Trying to navigate that road can be challenging, but like the millions of products that have gone before you, it’s totally doable.

So, to help you drive that road to store shelf domination, we’ve put together a checklist of things you’ll want to think about when bringing your brand to market. Read on to find out more.

Product knowledge? Check.

If someone were to ask you, “How well do you know your brand?”  You’d probably answer, “It’s my brand. I know it well.” And you’re probably right; you probably do know your brand well.

But you can—and should—know it better.

Having detailed knowledge about every aspect of your brand is critical for suppliers to successfully bring a product to market. You’ve no doubt collected market research data (and if you haven’t, then stop reading now and get thee some market data for other brands like yours!), and studied over it, extracting insights left and right. Are you …

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Non-alcoholic Drinks Are Coming Into Their Own

It comes as a shock to no one more than myself that for the past two years I have, for the most part, been avoiding alcohol. But I have to admit, drinking soda as an alternative doesn’t really appeal to me.  Happily, there are other options afoot, from companies that have thought through every aspect of the beverage crafting process to create something non-alcoholic, yet upscale, that feels like a treat.

Elevated drinking

Graham Wasilition’s company, Tennyson, has produced Black Ginger, made with botanicals but no alcohol. His goal, he says, was to provide an option for consumers looking for a high-end, elegant beverage they could sip, while not feeling out of place or short-changed.

“We created a bold, sophisticated, layered beverage that you drink in two-ounce increments, over the rocks or make a cocktail out of,” he says, adding that due to botanicals like dandelion, bergamot, and gentian root, his products are all better-for-you, too. 

The product is largely designed for Millennials and Gen Z who, “think about everything they put on and in their body,” Wasilition says. 

But, he expects this to appeal to everyone, from those choosing not to consume alcohol because it’s mid-week to abstainers. “It’s …

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AAPI Small Business Spotlight With Qurate Retail Group

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we are spotlighting Qurate Retail Group’s efforts to highlight AAPI-owned businesses as part of their ongoing Small Business Spotlight initiative. This program supports entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups with national on-air and digital exposure, along with various other in-kind services, sourced through RangeMe.

Qurate Retail Group’s Small Business Spotlight gives these businesses the opportunity to showcase their products to a national audience through their leading retail brands including QVC, HSN, and Zulily. QVC and HSN reach a combined total of more than 90 million homes via five television networks and reach millions more via multiple streaming services, social pages, mobile apps, and websites. In the online retail space, Zulily serves millions of Moms everywhere by offering a fun, personalized shopping experience. 

Read through the stories and experiences of four of the AAPI-owned businesses selected by Qurate Retail Group below.

M2Ü NYC

Born and raised in Taiwan, Amy Granger’s first makeup experience was in her mid 20’s after coming to the U.S. to attend graduate school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Getting a beauty makeover at a major department store left her feeling unrecognizable, and not in a good …

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Celebrating Diversity in May: AAPI- and Haitian-Owned Brands Make Strides

The month of May is full of heritage celebrations, highlighting the present-day importance and historical impact of diversity within the United States. Celebrated in May, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month recognizes the challenges faced by Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians and their vital contributions to American history. As an expansion to the annual Haitian Flag day, Haitian Heritage Month is also celebrated in May every year. It is a time to celebrate the vibrant culture, distinct art, unique cuisine, and origin of Haitian people.

In honor of these heritage celebrations, we asked AANHPI- and Haitian-owned brands on RangeMe about the stories behind their culture and the obstacles they have faced within the retail world.

AANHPI-owned brands on RangeMe

Nona Lim

Nona LimFounder, Nona Lim Nona Lim Nona Lim Nona Lim Nona Lim

Nona Lim grew up in Singapore, the tiny island known as a melting pot of Asian cultures, full of outdoor markets and street food vendors offering signature dishes perfected over decades. After leaving Singapore for a consulting job in London, Lim eventually moved to San Francisco’s Bay Area to follow her passion for competitive fencing. As an athlete, she realized the importance of fueling the body with clean foods, leading her to become …

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Supermarkets See Superinflation in 2022

Inflation is on the rise all around the world. In the United States, the inflation rate hit 7.5% in January, the fastest pace in 40 years, but other major economies are suffering similar problems. U.K. inflation rose to 5.5% in January and is expected to reach 8% in the Spring. In the Eurozone, inflation stands above 5%—higher than at any time since the launch of the single currency. On the other side of the globe, prices are increasing more rapidly in both Australia and New Zealand.

Policymakers are hopeful some of this inflation will prove to be short-lived. They believe this bout is partly explained by disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, with the world now struggling to cope with a surge in demand following the reopening of so many economies. That is driving the price of raw materials and energy higher. Logistics costs add to the pressure, with the world’s shipping and freight companies also trying to re-orient themselves in the wake of the pandemic.

However, not all economists are convinced by these arguments—and central banks such as the Bank of England are already conceding that inflation may last longer than initially expected. The war in Ukraine has the potential …

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