EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.,
Aug. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As part
of the program to enhance the shopping experience at Lambert-St.
Louis International Airport (STL), HG-St. Louis JV is delighted to
announce that it has been approved by the St. Louis Airport
Commission for the award of a 10-year contract to operate the
retail concessions program in the airport.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20060705/NYW034LOGO )
HG-St. Louis JV is a joint venture comprised of Hudson Group
(HG) Retail, LLC; Final Phase Marketing, Inc., based in
St. Louis; OHM Concession Group,
LLC of St. Ann, Missouri; and
Newburns Management Group, LLC, an experienced ACDBE operator.
Upon final approval of the contract by the City of St Louis, HG-St. Louis JV will deliver
14 new stores, including three distinct newsstand brands –
Hudson, Ebony News and CNN Newsstand – St. Louis.
Hudson: The future of newsstands is here, with our latest
generation "Hudson" shop. Hudson takes the best of our
Hudson News shops and enhances them with a new, fresh look.
We've reorganized and refined our layout and product mix to better
match the latest trends in traveler demands. Just as Hudson News
has set the standard for magazines and books (through our
proprietary Hudson Booksellers) and travelers' necessities for the
past 25 years, our new Hudson store sets the new standard for the
coming decade, with its streamlined look and accent on technology,
healthy snacks and highly efficient "shopability."
Ebony News: On the outside, this newsstand is branded
with the leading publication catering to African-Americans,
Ebony magazine. Founded in 1945 by the late John Johnson, head of Johnson Publishing,
Ebony burst onto the publishing scene. From its earliest
days, through its latest issues, this revered and respected
magazine has set new standards in covering news of interest to the
black community, inspiring instant loyalty and recognition. In
cities across the United States,
Ebony was the first publication on the scene to chronicle events
important to civil rights.
Inside, the store is 100% Hudson, with the same high standards
of quality, operation and service that Hudson has delivered in
newsstands across North America
and around the world.
CNN Newsstand – St.
Louis: The most trusted name in international news teams
with nationally branded Hudson to provide travelers with travelers'
necessities and convenience items, plus live news feeds in the
stimulating setting reminiscent of a real television newsroom. CNN
is recognized around the world and CNN Newsstands are an exclusive
concept that only HG-St. Louis JV can bring to STL.
One of the Hudson newsstands features a special section devoted
entirely to the delectable indulgence of confectionery bliss from
Natalie's Candy Jar, a successful candy concept with
extensive experience catering to airport customers.
Another Hudson newsstand features Natalie's plus a section
called St. Louis Sports. Here
employees and travelers of STL can obtain licensed merchandise from
local college and professional sports teams, as well as mementos of
famous St. Louis sports figures
from Yogi Berra and Jerome Bettis to
Sam Bradford and Carlos Beltran, presented in an appealing
ballpark setting.
A third Hudson store features a wide range of U.S. Post
Office products and services.
The HG-St. Louis JV team will also deliver a range of specialty
retail brands with local, national and international personality,
along with the latest trends in retailing, to the concessions
program of STL:
Discover St. Louis:
This eclectic and ever changing boutique will feature
souvenirs and mementos from all the leading cultural institutions
in the city, including all the attractions at the Jefferson
National Parks (including The Gateway Arch), Peabody Opera, St.
Louis Art Museum, as well as entertainment attractions like the St.
Louis Zoo, St. Louis Blues and Washington
University of St.
Louis.
Eddie Bauer: Classic
outerwear, legendary down and casual denim, khakis, other apparel
and accessories and footwear – Eddie
Bauer offers a full range of styles to complete the casual
wardrobe for both men and women. Lewis & Clark would have loved
this store, with its high-tech gear and outfits to face down any
kind of weather conditions.
Spectacles: The most well-known classical, fashion and
sport sunglasses available anywhere are featured in two sleek and
modern shops. It's all here: the world's most complete portfolio of
premium sunglass brands including the latest designs from Oakley,
Versace, Prada, Bulgari, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan,
Ray Ban, Burberry, Ralph Lauren, and many more in an ever-changing
array of colors and styles.
Bliss: This lotions and potions store doesn't take itself
too seriously. But it is serious about connecting travelers to
personal grooming products to make their trip more comfortable.
Bliss is an island of calm in the busy airport, the ideal place to
find spa products and get information from experts who can help
anyone feel and look their best, while reliving the stress that
travel can bring.
Kids Works: For families traveling through the airport
together, or for adults looking for the ideal gift for the
youngsters in their lives, Kids Works is the answer. This is a fun,
well-organized space, where youngsters are encouraged to try before
they buy. Kids Works offers only quality, brand name items, sorted
by age groups: interesting and exciting educational toys, crafts,
travels games, plush, dolls, the latest fads, children's books and
licensed apparel.
Said Joe DiDomizio, President
& CEO of Hudson Group: "Our expert team of designers,
merchandisers, marketers, concessions operators and developers
canvassed the airport and the City to produce this proposal for
innovative concessions at STL. We are proud to say that we have
developed for the airport a concessions program that will exceed
the core convenience needs of Lambert-St. Louis International
Airport's employees and travelers. Our 14 stores will offer a wide
selection of fun, compelling and up-to-date retail brands and
concepts -- local, regional, national and international names that
will appeal both to residents and visitors to St. Louis, as called for in the
solicitation."
All the shops will be operated according to the highest
standards of each brand. That means that associates are trained by
brand personnel of Eddie Bauer,
Bliss, and Natalie's and as well as proprietary brands -- to ensure
that they are well-versed in all aspects of the products,
merchandising and marketing. Training goes on throughout the year,
with frequent rewards to those associates who demonstrate the
highest levels of sales and customer satisfaction.
About Hudson Group: Hudson Group, the largest
duty-paid travel retailer in North
America, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of international
duty-free travel retailer Dufry AG (DUFN) of Basel, Switzerland. The company operates some
650 Hudson News, Hudson Booksellers, cafes, specialty retail
and duty free shops in 70 airports and transportation terminals in
the United States and Canada, and additional newsstands in 12 more
countries around the world. The combined Dufry/Hudson entity
oversees over 1,160 stores in 46 countries and 160 airports and
terminals.
For more information, please visit www.hudsongroup.com and
www.dufry.com.
SOURCE Hudson Group
