Sky Connection has recently more than doubled the size of its Hong Kong International Airport north side shop from 350 to 850sq m, following a decision by the Airport Authority of Hong Kong (AAHK) to

convert architectural voids on Level 6 and Level 7 to shopping space.

Following earlier consultations, AAHK decided that the voids were larger than needed and it has built decking at both ends to increase the floor area on both levels to create new retail floor space.

Sky Connection has been allocated 450 to 500sqm at one end of the void on Level 6, while perfume and cosmetics concessionaire Nuance Watson has been allocated an extra 350sq m at the opposite end.

Sky Connection completed its shop expansion in mid-January 2009 in time for Chinese New Year. The company has utilised 95% of the additional space as shop floor sales area and is using the rest for storage.

‘We worked with all our brands to put in this extension. We have done a lot with this space and a better job with presentation,’ said Ceo Bakker Salleh.

‘We have done a revamp of the whole store. We did the new area first and then the old area section by section. We took over the new space on December 1, 2008, and had four weeks to do the new area. We have worked with AAHK for close to a year, so there was plenty of preparation time to do it.’

The north side shop serves passengers mostly flying with European and Chinese airlines and Salleh says that the large increase in shop floor space has allowed Sky Connection to develop new liquor and tobacco retailing ideas and expand the range of premium items on offer in its airport shops.

‘It's not a pure 'wow' factor that we were after as the shop physically is limited because floor to ceiling is only two metres high,’ Salleh explained.

‘We wanted to create an icon for liquor in the airport; to create a flagship store. The ambience is a high-end liquor boutique with the emphasis on brands and colour. Also, a good level of lighting and gondolas that really are orientated by brand.’

Two types of gondolas have been used with standard low level gondolas allowing customers to see across the shop floor, plus floor-to-ceiling fixtures to create specific retail areas for particular brands or categories.

‘We have a very unique version of floor to ceiling gondolas for most brands scattered in this area. The emphasis is on spirits, but we have expanded the wine section in the shop,’ said Salleh, who added that Sky has also installed special climate controlled wine units to store and display high end wines.