Following the launch of a multi-brand strategy which saw the introduction of two new brands within the 2012/13 period, Tyko Travel Retail has reported its strongest first quarter in three years – the second most successful in the company’s history – with 36% growth in Q1, compared to that of 2012/13, and a ‘very encouraging’ 80% YOY growth.

 

Attributing their success to the expansion of their portfolio – now boasting Breo, Hippie Chic and One Tribe watches and sunglasses – along with a significant rise in inflight and on the ground listings, Director Global Travel Retail, Martin Lovatt describes the growth as ‘organic’ saying, “Our Breo and Hippie Chic watches are continuing to sell exceptionally well inflight and we are really making inroads into airport, border and ferry listings now. This strategy is clearly paying off.”

 

Inflight remains the company’s core business and this year’s launch of brands to the Americas market via agency WorldClassBrands is already paying dividends, according to Lovatt.

 

“We have secured a number of key listings including LAN Chile and United, where sales have been exceptional, further supporting Tyko’s belief that our brands are the ideal impulse purchase onboard.”

 

 

He adds that growth outside the core airline business has been spurred by the introduction of the Breo Free Standing Display Unit earlier this year which enables retailers to sell a variety of watch models and sunglasses from an attractive, compact and easy to manage floor unit.

 

“In the Americas, through WorldClassBrands, we’ve now got a total of 13 FSDUs in place, two with independent border store operators PacCan and 1000 Island and 11 with DFA – seven on the southern US/Mexican border, three on the northern US/Canadian border and one at Miami International Airport,” continues Lovatt.

 

“The PacCan outlet alone gives us fantastic passenger potential with 1.5m customers travelling through the location in peak months from April to September,” he says.

 

In the UK and Europe, Tyko is seeing positive sales figures through its partnership with Nuance. The retailer added an FSDU in its Manchester T2 (Temptation) store at the end of May 2014 and, says Lovatt, YOY sales are already up 125%.

 

In addition, a Counter Spinner introduced in Nuance’s latest offering at Manchester Airport T2 (Attitude store), has exceeded sales expectations since its launch earlier this summer, leading to a similar unit going into its Cardiff Airport DFStore at the beginning of June.

 

 

“During the month of June 259 units were sold at Cardiff which was an incredible result,” exclaims Lovatt. Several of Nuance’s locations in Europe, including the Zurich walk-through L2, Arlanda, Lisbon, Geneva and Toulouse are said to have also performed very well following the introduction of pedestal based BREO units.

 

Paul Donaldson Nuance’s General Manager UK commented: “The BREO brand fits very well with our passenger and Center Parcs guest profile. Young, colourful and on trend, the product offers great quality and value for money.

 

“The sustained growth of the brand over the summer period allows us to further develop our partnership and we look forward to continued expansion in 2015.”

 

Looking ahead to this year’s TFWA World Exhibition, Lovatt claims that Tyko has never been in such a healthy position: “We’re introducing a number of strong, very exciting new brands in Cannes this year which are really different, innovative and which capitalize on current trends.

 

“We’ve got a new stand, a dedicated and very knowledgeable team and, as a company, are looking at different ways to serve our customers better, including new proposal forms designed to help buyers and make their selection process easier. Tyko is fast becoming a key player in the watch and accessory market in travel retail and, through working smarter and staying ahead of the competition, we’re looking forward to one of our most successful years ever.”