Welcome to our press room.
We collaborate with Travel Retail’s leading trade press and media.
Video Interview: “Digitalisation and AI will fundamentally reshape travel retail” says Blueprint
During the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes (30 September to 3 October), Blueprint Partners’ Karl Walter, Thomas Kaneko Henningsen and Sonja Soskic joined The Moodie Davitt Report Senior Reporter Ameesha Raizada for an exclusive interview.
The trio highlighted Blueprint’s collaborative approach to helping airports, operators and brands navigate market shifts, as well as the importance of understanding new consumer groups such as Gen Z and Alpha.
Why experiential retail matters more than ever
The travelling consumer has changed significantly since the pandemic and duty free operators need to adapt to significantly different buying habits and demands. Among the latter is a growing thirst for immersive experiences, especially among Gen Z.
Sign-ups gather pace for experiential retail workshop in Cannes
Blueprint and m1nd-set have reported that seats are selling fast for the EX.CEL Experiential Retail Workshop in Cannes, reinforcing the ‘significance of experiential retail and the drive to better understand its impact on shopper behaviour is strongly resonating with the global travel retail industry’.
Blueprint says TR industry finding innovative strategies to engage Gen Z
The travel retail industry is actively experimenting with approaches to effectively engage Gen Z travelers, with several industry stakeholders at the forefront of adopting innovative strategies to cater to Gen Z’s evolving demands and preferences, according to Blueprint Partners Thomas Kaneko Henningsen and Karl Walter.
How are digitalisation and artificial intelligence impacting the travel retail customer journey?
In this new series of features in collaboration with Blueprint, company partner, Thomas Kaneko Henningsen details how the use of AI is rapidly increasing in domestic markets, but travel retail is still catching up
Food For Thought: What’s next for customer loyalty in travel retail?
Norwegian technology company Fast Travel has teamed up with travel retail business development agency Blueprint to introduce a taxi booking platform designed to simplify the traveller experience.
Fast Travel to expand taxi booking platform to more locations after successful launch at Oslo Airport
Norwegian technology company Fast Travel has teamed up with travel retail business development agency Blueprint to introduce a taxi booking platform designed to simplify the traveller experience.
Spend a workday with… Blueprint’s Thomas Kaneko Henningsen
Thomas Kaneko Henningsen joined the travel retail industry in 2000 and today is Partner at business development consultancy Blueprint. Here, he gives us a glimpse of a typical workday, from client deliverables to lunchtime runs on the beach…
Doppler joins Blueprint’s brand portfolio to extend travel retail footprint
Austrian umbrella manufacturer Doppler, represented by Hanse Distribution in travel retail, has teamed up with Blueprint to bolster its global presence.
The company has seen its travel retail business grow since it started its distribution partnership with the Hamburg-based company in 2018.
The latest collaboration with progressive business development consultancy Blueprint will see the partnership work on a go-to-market strategy to further expand Doppler’s business.
Blueprint and m1nd-set launch new experiential, best-practice retail workshop series
Blueprint, an independent business development consultancy specializing in travel retail, and leading travel retail research agency m1nd-set are joining forces to introduce a new workshop series focused on experiential retail in the global duty free and travel retail sector.
The new series, called “EX.CEL: Experiential Retail Workshop,” will analyze the impact of experiential retail on consumer engagement across the global duty free and travel retail industry. The first edition is scheduled to take place in Cannes on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at the Majestic Hotel from 14:30 to 17:30, ahead of the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference.
True Gum introduces dates collection to travel retail in partnership with Blueprint
Eco-friendly Copenhagen confectionery brand True Gum, distributed by Blueprint in travel retail, has expanded its offer with a healthy alternative called True Dates.
True Gum is intent on disrupting the healthy confectionery category by eyeing the snacking segment with these coated dates.
IAADFS to host dedicated GenZ RedY workshop with m1nd-set & Blueprint
The IAADFS will team up with m1nd-set and Blueprint to provide insights into the habits and behaviours of GenZ shoppers in a dedicated webinar later this month.
The GenZ RedY workshop will take place at 10am EST on 29 May and features insights on the trend among younger shoppers in North America, including data on attitudes and behaviours, travel and booking habits, performance indicators and barriers to both footfall and conversion.
IAADFS President and CEO Michael Payne said: “We believe it is essential for our industry to remain ahead of the curve, especially with these younger generations whose behaviour is so different to that of other generations, even Millennials.
Moodie Davitt: “Babor partners with Blueprint to extend travel retail footprint”
German skincare brand Babor has partnered with Copenhagen business development consultancy Blueprint to bolster its travel retail presence.
The 68-year-old research-driven beauty brand continues to step up its focus in the channel through successful listings with Gebr. Heinemann’s airport duty-free stores, including the most recent one at Copenhagen Airport. It is also now listed with the travel retailer’s duty-free shops in Norway, Germany, Austria, Türkiye and the Baltics, as well as inflight and onboard cruises.
Babor Beauty Group is regarded as one of the top professional skincare brands in Europe, with sales reaching €265 million (US$282.2 million) in 2023. The company offers consumers the Babor Trinity of performance – luxury, experience and sustainability.
TRBusiness: “Blueprint & Hanse help Messyweekend secure trio of inflight retail listings”
Accessible eyewear brand Messyweekend has secured inflight retail listings with Eurowings, Discover Airlines and Marabu Airlines, aided by its travel retail partners Blueprint and Hanse Distribution.
The Danish handcrafted eyewear house, established in Copenhagen, has major plans for travel retail in 2024 as it seeks to establish itself as the go-to brand for accessibly priced lifestyle eyewear.
“We are thrilled that Messyweekend has been listed onboard Eurowings, Discover Airlines and Marabu Airlines,” said Hanse Distribution’s Sales Director Inflight Jakob Barthe.
This was followed by QAEZ International and on-board Lufthansa last year, with the help of German partner Hanse Distribution.
The brand now has further inflight listings in the pipeline and is also targeting airports and cruise ships, with Southeast Asia, Canada, Mexico and Brazil on the hit list.
Moodie Davitt : “Blueprint reveals travel retail investment project Transformation”
Travel retail business development agency Blueprint has introduced a new two-year project called Transformation. The Copenhagen company described this investment entity as an “exciting step-change” that focuses on industry-level insights and trends as a mission-critical driver. Blueprint Partner Thomas Kaneko Henningsen said: “We are passionate about supporting airports, retailers, brands and distributors with 360-degree business development capabilities. Blueprint noted that it continues to elevate its partnership with Hanse Distribution, one of the largest distributors in global travel retail, opening up even more options for the consultancy’s brand clients. The company has also expanded its consulting capabilities through its strategic collaboration with research agency m1nd-set. The partners led travel retail’s first workshop programme titled GenZ RedY and dedicated to the Gen Z consumer segment.
Moodie Davitt : “Rebels 0.0% joins Blueprint portfolio to strengthen travel retail presence”
INTERNATIONAL. On 29 August, American lifestyle brand LeSportsac confirmed its partnership with travel retail business development agency Blueprint. LeSportsac, part of the Japanese ITOCHU Corporation, already has a strong foothold in Asia Pacific travel retail with listings in airports, airlines and duty free stores across Japan, Taiwan, Korea and China. The partnership announcement comes as LeSportsac gears up for its 50th anniversary celebrations, and just after GQ magazine recognised the brand’s contemporary relevance.
TRBusiness: “How Messy Weekend is to clean up in TR”
known for its affordable Scandinavian designed eyewear, Copenhagen born MessyWeekend has earned a dedicated following for its designs, and the company's work in caring for the community and the planet. The brand launched in global travel retail in October 2022 in Gebr. Heinemann's main duty-free store at Copenhagen Airport (CPH), and has since gone on to achieve listings with Hanse Distribution and Amsterdam-based Qaez International. This is in addition to an exclusive collaboration with Norwegian, exhibiting at the 2023 TR Consumer Forum in Vienna (via the Blueprint stand), and its ocean cleaning efforts so far contributing towards removing 250 tonnes of plastic from the deep blue. Looking ahead, MessyWeekend, and its business development agency partner Blueprint, sees great potential for the brand in the channel.
Moodie Davitt : “LeSportsac joins forces with Blueprint to amplify its travel retail footprint”
INTERNATIONAL. On 29 August, American lifestyle brand LeSportsac confirmed its partnership with travel retail business development agency Blueprint. LeSportsac, part of the Japanese ITOCHU Corporation, already has a strong foothold in Asia Pacific travel retail with listings in airports, airlines and duty free stores across Japan, Taiwan, Korea and China. The partnership announcement comes as LeSportsac gears up for its 50th anniversary celebrations, and just after GQ magazine recognised the brand’s contemporary relevance.
Moodie Davitt : “ITS brings innovative smart baggage trolleys with ‘click-on’ technology to Munich Airport”
Munich Airport has rolled out smart baggage trolleys developed by Danish development company Intelligent Track Systems (ITS). The trolleys, equipped with the company’s ‘click-on’ technology, are designed to innovate the airside customer experience and boost retail spending. The introduction includes the installation of ITS-programmed tablets to existing trolleys at the airport. The company’s ‘click-on’ solution is described as a world first. In travel retail, ITS is marketed and distributed by Copenhagen business development agency Blueprint.
Moodie Davitt : “Blueprint launches travel retail investment venture Blueprint Seed Capital”
DENMARK/INTERNATIONAL. Travel retail business development agency Blueprint has launched an investment entity named Blueprint Seed Capital. The company will invest in “promising and scalable” businesses with potential for entry into the travel retail sector. Blueprint Seed Capital will identify developable businesses, acquire equity, accelerate route-to-market in travel retail and help clients to build market presence in the channel.
Let’s connect