Tappoo to refurbish Nadi departures store

Fijian retailer Tappoo Group has revealed a slow start to 2009 in terms of sales, but is looking forward to the refurbishment of its departures store in the second half of the year.

 

The retailer operates a 2,500sq ft (232sq m) arrivals store, a 12,000sq ft (1,115sq m) two-level departures shop, an airside café plus two speciality airside stores (a Beach Culture surfwear shop and a Fiji Market destination outlet), an arrivals café and two landside outlets (News agency, Bon Voyage gift and news store) at Nadi International airport, where it has a 10-year contract. The stores offer a wide range of traditional duty-free product categories including liquor, tobacco, fragrances, cosmetics, jewellery, watches, electronics, confectionery, sunglasses, sports goods and Fiji destination merchandise.

 

Executive director Kaushal Tappoo told DFNIonline: “At present visitor arrivals to Fiji are falling as a result of the floods in January and the global economic downturn, but we are still doing well in a difficult market. We now expect business to pick up because, traditionally, this is our busiest period. It is winter in Australia and New Zealand, which are our key source markets, and our busiest period for tourism.”

 

Despite forecasts of doom and gloom for 2009 the company has much to look forward to, according to Tappoo. “We are eagerly anticipating the refurbishment of our Nadi airport departures store later in the year. Following superior returns per square foot to the airport authority, ee will gain about 4,000sq ft of extra retail space, which we will use for the personalisation of liquor and cosmetics brands.”

 

The company will also open its flagship Tappoo City Suva shopping complex—a six-storey complex in the heart of Suva city—in the middle of the year. Tappoo said: “There will be three levels of Tappoo department stores, one of speciality shops and international brand name food outlets and two of offices.”

 

Last year 500,000 international passengers passed through Nadi International airport and while the Fiji Visitors Bureau predicts a similar number to last year in 2009, the company is already planning ahead. “Our main aim for the rest of the year is to renovate and prepare our stores to cater for the expected growth in years to come.”