Aeroboutique Inflight Retail launches B2B website

Print Article E-Mail Article

Aelia Group subsidiary Aeroboutique Inflight Retail (AIR) has announced the launch of its new website: www.aeroboutique-inflight.com

The site displays some corporate pages but has been primarily designed for the benefit of AIR's suppliers. Using a login and a password, business partners can access a "suppliers" section in which they will able to remotely check the sales of their products listed on board some of the airlines operated by AIR.

Sales are divided by product and by airlines. For large airlines, such as Air France, sales are also divided by geographical areas. Registered suppliers can access the sales database from their desk using a web-connected PC.

AIR said the expected benefits for suppliers are:

• no need to wait until mid-month to receive sales-through for the last month
• possibility to run queries on any period they want, from one week of sales to one year of sales

Within a few days of listing a product onboard, suppliers will be in a position to track sales performance and compare the market reaction on different route sectors. The sales database that suppliers access is refreshed weekly. After analysing suppliers' feedback and support for this initiative AIR said bi-weekly or daily refreshment could be implemented.

Access to statistics is currently restricted to the French airlines operated by AIR: Air France and Star Airlines. This facility could be soon extended to other airlines operated by AIR, Virgin Atlantic Airways and Royal Air Maroc, if these airlines agree.

Over past years, AIR said it has witnessed frustration rising among airline duty-free suppliers about the growing gap between demanding sales terms and poor sales reporting or marketing tools. "Although we do not share the now well established pessimism about onboard retail, we thought it was time to take action," said AIR in a statement.

"This is a first step. No retail business can be successful unless suppliers and operators co-operate. Suppliers have ideas and resources, but they lack visibility. By enabling them to have a quick access to sales through, we hope to reinvigorate their creativity for the mutual benefit of themselves and the airlines."