Armani Group reveals travel-retail ambitions

Lorna Strickland

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The Armani Group will open new travel-retail outlets in London, Guam and Tokyo next year

The Armani Group is to intensify its travel-retail activity over the coming year and in 2006 will open two stores at London Heathrow airport. A 77sq m (829sq ft) Emporio Armani store will open in terminal three and a 20sq m (215sq ft) shop-in-shop will open in T1. The outlets will stock accessories including leathergoods, accessories, eyewear, jewellery and watches.

In February 2006 the group will open an Emporio Armani free-standing 150sq m (1,614sq ft) store inside DFS Galleria's Guam store and later that year will open a 90sq m (969sq ft) boutique in Tokyo Narita airport's new South Wing.

Giorgio Armani group commercial director John Hooks said: "The Armani Group is perhaps a late entrant into this marketplace. However our retail strategy is consistent in that we will only open stores when the overall retail environment is appropriate for our brands and when we are able to find a premium location within that environment.

"Based on the initial results from our Rome and Zürich stores, we are optimistic about the potential of this expansion plan."