RegStaer group of companies has opened a new walkthrough duty paid store in the domestic departures hall at Pulkovo International Airport in Saint Petersburg.

The 1,000sq m store, which is open 24-hours-a-day is located along the way from security to the gates. Passengers can purchase perfumes and cosmetics, bags, suitcases, sunglasses, watches, accessories, toys, drinks, sweets, chocolate and travel goods.

RegStaer also offers a pre-order service (www.regstaer.ru). This allows passengers to purchase before flights with a 10% discount and to collect items at the new duty paid store.

The new shop has become the anchor store of the domestic departures hall and kicked-off an extensive renovation. The revamp will ultimately increase commercial space at Pulkovo Airport. Currently, the commercial offer comprises 50 stores and 25 restaurants.

STRONG SINGLE-DIGIT PASSENGER INCREASE

Pulkovo Airport is the fourth-largest airport in Russia in terms of passenger traffic. In January-August 2019, the airport welcomed 13.2 million passengers, an increase of +8.6% compared to the same period in 2018.

RegStaer, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in December 2018, operates more than 50 stores at Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Platov and Mineralnye Vody Airports located in Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, and Mineralnye Vody.

It also opened the first two arrivals shops in Russia at Vnukovo and Platov International Airports this year after retailers finally received the green light in January to operate arrivals duty free shops in Russia. This was based on an order from the Russian government issued on 12 December 2018, as first reported by TRBusiness.

Speaking to TRBusiness as part of a wide ranging interview, split between our website and the October edition of the magazine, Vadim Sagiev, Commercial Director, RegStaer group of companies said: “We are trying to follow up the new trends in the travel retail industry including the new shop concepts and digital technology application.

“We rely on the extensive experience of our partner, Dufry to successfully implement new technologies, formats and concepts in the travel retail business, alongside our own long-term experience of operating in the Russian market.”

RegStaer works with landlords in the same way as its partners, according to Sagiev, who explained: “Airports are equally interested in providing the best conditions for shopping as we are, because they receive concession rent payments dependent on the sales volume.

“We always inform the airport about our proposals, whether they are technical issues (temperature cycle in the shopping area) or commercial issues. The latter could concern the approval of a new range of products, changes in shop concepts to meet passengers’ demands, promotional activities and advertising placement.”

He concluded: “Together, we cooperate and collaborate to ensure passengers form the most positive impression from visiting our shops, which also reflects on the airport in general.”