Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) has created a new ecommerce platform, BNE Marketplace, to help generate business for its retail partners during one of the most challenging periods in the travel industry’s history.

 

‘Finding opportunity in adversity’, BAC launched the website on Thursday 16 April, calling it an online airport retail store which offers consumers access to ‘sought after’ products, some of which are ‘heavily’ discounted.

 

Passenger traffic at Brisbane Airport has fallen 96% since 29 March due to travel restrictions, motivating the BAC team to find unique ways to support its retail business partners holding millions of dollars of stock.

 

Martin Ryan, Executive General Manager Consumer, said: “If necessity is the mother of invention, Covid-19 is its father.

 

TECH, BEAUTY AND WATCHES ALREADY ONLINE

“The BAC team has gone from concept to full ecommerce site in just 16 days.

“At launch the site will feature nearly 200 highly sought-after tech items as well as watches and beauty products, with other products being added each week.

 

“Importantly, this project has kept 25 people in jobs during this challenging time, while supporting the local logistics and freight companies and boosting partner employment through the need for people to ‘pick and pack’ items.”

 

Lotte Duty Free, BNE’s biggest retail outlet, is the first retailer to offer products online via the new Marketplace, with the goal of more retailers coming online if the project proves successful.

BNE Marketplace will initially operate as an order online and delivery model with local outfit Shippit providing logistics support to Australian residences only.

 

NOT JUST SURVIVING, BUT ‘THRIVING’

Rob Hango-Zada, Shippit’s Joint-CEO and Co-Founder said: “We are proud to support this initiative and play some role in enabling airport retailers to continue to flourish in a 100% online world.

 

“We have been blown away by the number of businesses pivoting their operations in uncertain times to not just survive but thrive during this challenging time.

 

“The BNE Marketplace has turned the world of airport retailing on its head, our mission is to revolutionise how businesses ship anything to anyone anywhere in the world and this presents a great opportunity to collaborate with Brisbane Airport on just that.”

 

BNE Marketplace launch deals include: Apple iPhone 11 Pro 512GB for $2135.00 (‘saving $214’); Sennheiser HD 4.30 headphones for $69 (‘saving $109’); Apple 16″ MacBook Pro for $3448 (‘saving $351’); Samsung s20 Ultra 5G for $1815 (‘saving $184’).

 

Liquor, perfume, chocolates and other products will be added to the online store in the coming weeks, with a possible ‘click and collect’ service being considered.

 

Consumers can learn about specials on offer by signing up to the dedicated BNE Marketplace newsletter at www.bne.com.au/marketplace.