Tax Free World Association (TFWA) has appointed Portland Design to unearth ‘major shifts and trends in physical and digital retail and assess their impact on, and potential for the travel retail sector’.

 

The retail strategy and design agency will deliver bi-annual reports containing industry benchmarks, case studies and ‘early warning’ systems that forecast the demands and expectations of travellers in a shifting retail environment.

 

The move comes as TFWA accelerates its research programmes to help its 500+ members better understand and adapt to the challenges facing the sector.

 

REPORT ONE: ROBOTS, AI AND NEW TECHNOLOGY

A look at how new technologies, robots, AI and automation are contributing towards the ‘fourth industrial revolution’ in retail will be the focus of the first report.

 

Terna Jibo, head of Portland’s Strategic Insights Unit, praised the partnership with TFWA as helping to ‘fuel the travel retail industry with the most salient insights and trends’.

 

“With this research, we will be able to distil shifts in the duty free landscape and give strategic guidance and pointers to how brands can future-proof, be creative and visionary – and ultimately more profitable.”

 

TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen added: “We look forward to working with Portland and these bi-annual trend reports. Our partnership with Portland will help give our members a clearer vision of new developments in the retail market and in consumer trends, and a better understanding of their impact on the duty free and travel retail industry.”

As reported, Portland Design set up its own strategic insights unit last year to provide tailored consumer trends research for the retail and travel industries.