Welcome to ARC 2008

Second Annual Airline Retail Conference in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom (near uten Airport). We note this July 21-23 Conference for two reasons. In-flight Duty Free and Sales will be even more important as an airline revenue source in the years to come and because they have seat-back IFE sales and Passenger Communication items in their agenda

Agenda Details

• Retail Innovation
  • Is in-flight retail a real opportunity for brands?
  • How would a High street retailer approach the in-flight opportunity?
  • Do the airlines simply offer an attractive show case to the world or do they provide a profitable business model.
  • Return on investment? How can this be improved – is it too expensive to be listed onboard an airline?

• Environment & Sustainability
  • What are the big brands doing to protect the environment?
  • How many airlines are off setting the carbon footprint & how?
  • Ethical trading – airline buyers should ensure that all products purchased for sale on board have met a specific criteria to protect and support 3rd world countries. Eliminate child labour etc.
  • Ethical trading – what should suppliers adhere to – can airlines draw up a white paper?

• Supply management
  • Bonded stores – How can this be improved – better communications, systems, what investment is required and support from suppliers etc
  • Is the traditional bond operation dead?
  • What about the real experts providing services – DHL, TNT, FEDEX? Could they work in this environment?
  • Concessionaires – What value can the concessionaires bring, in terms of logistics, economies of scale?
  • Is it better for a bond to deal with one client who represents multiple airlines?
  • Central Distribution – Should concessionaires become the bond if they have the volume?
  • Airlines – Information – what do they give and receive from a bond.
  • Is it better for an airline to work directly with the bond or to outsource to a logistics expert?

• HOENew media and marketing opportunities
  • Development and opportunities: New digital communications – Seat Back (In-flight shopping – mail order/pre-order), Mobile, Internet, TXT.
  • Loyalty cards – Creating new retail partnerships and increasing revenues.
  • Pre-order, mail order – e-commerce and direct mail.
  • Pre-Flight communications – Engage passengers before they fly – pre-order before they fly via web, WAP, mobile.
  • In-flight communications – Use the onboard IFE to promote and generate in-flight retail and ancillary revenue
  • Travel Retail Integrated promotions – How to promote brands in one seamless journey – before, during and after the flight.
  • New partnerships – Case Study of Mobile Virtual Store – Guestlogix & Sky Mall