Gifts, gadgets and toys retailer Wizz’s first European store at Dublin Airports is performing above target according to Dubai-based parent company Retail Concepts, which now hopes for a permanent position at the gateway.

 

Wizz – started in 2002 and with shops at most airports in the Middle East – broke into the European market last November with an 80sq m trial unit at Dublin’s Terminal 1 with Aer Rianta International, Ireland (pictured below). The store offers a full range of toys and gizmos for children and adults of all ages.

 

Gerry Crawford, Head of Retail Strategy & Concessions at ARI Ireland, says: “Wizz performed a remarkable turnaround in setting up the operation so quickly. This allowed us to capture the important Christmas trade. The unit has received a lot of interest from passengers and airport staff alike and initial results have been very promising.”

 

Retail Concepts Managing Director Nigel Caddick (below right) adds: “Once we received the go-ahead to open we moved very quickly; we were up and trading in less than a month after the initial contact. To date, sales have exceeded expectations of both ourselves and the Dublin Airport Authority, so we’re delighted.”

 

The shop benefits from Dublin Airport’s ‘shop and collect’ service, enabling travellers to buy goods when they leave the airport and collect them on their return. “This works well for Wizz as it allows us to sell very large products that we wouldn’t normally be able to sell in an airport environment,” says Caddick.”We’re obviously now hoping that the trial results justify a permanent presence.”

 

As well as locations at Dubai, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Sharjah airports, Wizz has standalone stores at high profile downtown locations in Dubai, including a new unit in Dubai Mall which opened last year. The company is actively seeking to break into new markets and this Christmas opened three pop-up stores in the UK domestic market.