The Nuance Group has opened four new shops at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, bringing the total number to nine stores across 1,150sq m of retail space in both passenger terminals.

The retailer says that this development ‘reaffirms the company’s commitment and confidence in its Toulouse operations and signifies the completion of the airport’s extensive refurbishment programme to improve and connect all passenger airside areas’.

Andrea Belardini, Ceo Europe, The Nuance Group, explained: “Our expansion at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport very much reflects and supports the airport’s own ambitious growth plans, and ensures we have an outstanding retail experience in place across all of our stores to meet the needs of the increasing numbers of travellers using this airport. 

“Having made our debut here just a year ago, we are pleased to be building our business further, and are proud to be an integral part of the improved airport terminal infrastructure,” he said.

MORE REGIONAL PRODUCTS
In direct response to positive customer feedback, Nuance reports that it has expanded its Spirit of Toulouse concept, and incorporated an even wider range of regional products within its 200sq m of floor space, such as local food specialities and a selection of over 90 different varieties of wines at all price points from the south-west of France. 

The store has also launched the world’s first Airbus shop-in-shop concept to travellers, featuring souvenirs and mementos of the city’s iconic export. The former location of the temporary Spirit of Toulouse store in the adjacent Terminal D has now been replaced by a children’s fashion and toy shop, a new concept that has been introduced to cater to the growing numbers of families using the airport.

Nuance has also opened two further stores situated in the newly-refurbished original terminal, with a spacious 160sq m Attitude designer fashion and accessories shop, and a new Sound & Vision concept offering a range of electrical goods and accessories, featuring popular brands such as Apple and Sony. 

MARKING A NEW STAGE…
“Opening stores in the Hall C illustrates our will to extend our offer of service to passengers,” explains Jean-Michel Vernhes, chairman of the Toulouse-Blagnac Airport board of directors. “The growing importance of this commercial area, in addition to the one created in 2010 in the Hall D, also marks a new stage in our long-term collaboration with Nuance. 

“Nuance’s offer in the Hall C meets the expectations of all categories of passengers, with ranges of products that are broader than the core business (regional products, electronics, fashion, etc). This quality approach is enhanced by the architectural quality of the stores’ design, of which is a remarkable success.”

This latest development builds on the company’s presence at the Southern French airport, where Nuance began operations last March. In addition to the latest stores, the company also operates a range of core and specialty shops in Terminal D, grouped around the central ‘La Place’ waiting area, including a 200sq m area dedicated to liquor, tobacco and fine food. 

Opposite, there is 300sq m of shop floor dedicated to beauty, including an entire shop-in-shop devoted to L’Occitane. In addition to these two main stores, Nuance also operates a Tentation concept featuring sunglasses, jewellery and watches, as well as an Express gate shop offering a selection of best sellers.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
The Nuance Group currently operates more than 230 stores in 39 airports across Europe, with plans to expand its operations further this year. In Switzerland, the company will add 3,000sq m of shop floor at Zurich Airport, including new ‘state-of-the-art’ walk-through concepts for its existing Tax Free stores, as well as two new Arrival Duty Free stores. 

It will also open a spacious 500sq m Arrival Shop in Geneva this summer. Work is also underway to boost the current offering in Antalya, where Nuance will introduce seven new specialty shops in Terminal 1 this spring, unveiling core category retail concepts that it says ‘will set a new standard for the company’s developments’.