Aelia gets interactive with cigar offer

French travel retailer Aelia has pioneered a new use of technology to give its cigar customers instant access to a broad range of product information. The interactive station, which has been installed at the company’s 90sq m (968sq ft) Cave à Cigares outlet at Paris Charles de Gaulle S3, displays product information on a flat screen once passengers have scanned the product’s bar code into the machine.

Over 200 cigars are featured in the machine’s database, including descriptions of their taste, size, origin and a rating out of five. Thje company described the concept’s introduction as “an instant success” with passengers.

Aelia head tobacco buyer Henri Colineau said: “Our aim was to create a tool that was both informative and fun, allowing the customer to access detailed descriptions of the cigars on offer. The cigar category is not only one of our fastest growing areas of business, but also a sector that enhances the image of the entire retail offer. We believe we are the only travel retailer to offer this new service, which underlines our commitment to quality cigar retailing.”