During this time of great uncertainty and unprecedented circumstances for the travel retail industry as well as the entire global population, the Directors and staff at TRBusiness would like remind you that we stand in solidarity with our readers and their families, and hope to provide support in any way we are able to.

 

Some of you, like TRBusiness owner and joint Managing Director, Nigel Hardy are able to recall the impacts of previous global disasters over nearly three decades of working in this industry.

 

Hardy and his contemporaries will no doubt recall the challenges and losses felt during the first Gulf War, 9-11, second Gulf war, SARS, 2008-9 global economic crisis, H1-N1, MERS and the Ejafjallajökull volcanic eruption.

 

Coronavirus/Covid-19 presents the most severe threat in travel retail’s 73-year history and whilst a recovery will happen, we are all acutely aware it will not come as quickly as we would wish.

 

TWENTY-TWO YEARS OF SERVICE

We also know how critical our up-to-date, unbiased, accurate and thought-provoking news and commentary, is to you at this time, helping you to make informed decisions for the day-to-day running of your business. We would like to assure you that TRBusiness will continue providing you with this service, whilst developing new concepts and platforms to keep you fully engaged, as it has done for the last 22 years.

 

In addition to our magazine and e-zine, website, 90 second video news update, twice weekly e-newsletters and Breaking News emails, last week we introduced the ‘Adapt and Survive’, Skype video interview series prompted by requests from our readers to provide a visual communication platform for the travel retail community in the absence of trade exhibitions and imposed travel restrictions.

 

Response to the first three interviews has been overwhelmingly positive and we are so pleased to hear how valuable you believe this new platform is.

 

At the end of last week, TRBusiness was delighted to deliver some much-needed positive news for the finalists of the 2020 Travel Retail Awards, which were announced on TRBusiness.com.

 

A HUGE THANK YOU FROM TRBUSINESS

The ONLY industry awards voted by genuine consumers, thanks to our partnership with acclaimed specialist market research company, m1nd-set, will once again give suppliers and airports the opportunity to display the ‘Voted by Shoppers’ logo on products, sales merchandising materials, advertising and marketing materials.

 

Research has shown that consumers are 22% more likely to buy or use a service that displays the finalist logo. Winners of the 2020 Travel Retail Awards will be announced at the TFWA conference and exhibition in Cannes later this year.

 

As an independently owned business we are especially aware of the immense strain being felt by all businesses – small, medium and multi-national organisations – at this time and wish to reiterate that we remain committed to our mission statement of ‘Helping the industry grow’. We are all in this together.

 

We feel it is especially important to thank the many loyal partners that continue in their unwavering support of TRBusiness. Without you, we would not be able to serve the industry as a crucial news and information source that you require.

 

TRBusiness has been here for the travel retail industry for the past 22 years, we are here for you now, and we will continue to be here for you in the future. Thank you. Stay safe.