Page 22 - TFWA World Exhibit 2022 Special Edition

INSIDER

DFA opened a Macallan Boutique at JFK Terminal 7 last year, one of only four in the world.

One on One with Jerome Falic, Duty Free Americas CEO
Diversified geographic and business models help DFA recovery

Despite the difficulties of the past taking out others,” says Falic.
few years, Duty Free Americas performed DFA this month started construction
strongly due in large part to its different on a 3,000 square foot extension to the
trading models and the variety of the store, which will expand the retail area by
geographic locations in which it operates. another 25%.
According to published rankings, the “The expansion will enable us to
Florida-based company had sales above house many more beauty brands, most of
US$1.6 billion in 2021. The Moodie Davitt which will be niche brands. We are going
Report on Top Travel Retailers positions to be introducing many new fragrance
the company as #10, an impressive brands, which are really taking off in
achievement among global giants and China. And we have several brands that we
Asian super stars. were able to sign exclusively.
“Business has come back quite a bit, “In the next few weeks we will be
in almost every area,” confirms Jerome Jerome Falic, DFA CEO installing the newest Gucci counter with
Falic, DFA CEO, speaking with TMI cosmetics and fragrance. We just brought
recently. The company operates about 200 completely. We were closed for most of the in anther brand from Shiseido, called Ipsa.
shops across all its locations, including in month of July. But we have now re-opened In October, we expect to receive the new
some of the key airports in the U.S., along and are doing quite well again. August was Valentino cosmetics and fragrance counter
major borders in North and South America, a very good month. Business came back
as well as in the Chinese resort of Macau, strong. This is all due to Chinese The DFA Macau store is now 100% dedicated to beauty.
which was a bright spot through most of traffic.”
the pandemic. The company expects this
momentum to continue. DFA’s
DFA in Asia Macau store is now 100%
“We had a very strong 2020 and 2021 dedicated to beauty, and the
through DFA Macau in the Venetian Hotel company has introduced many
in Asia. We were very fortunate,” confirms exclusive, niche brands in this
Falic, who said the store was closed for store.
just a few weeks during the height of the “Throughout 2020, 2021 and
pandemic. as recently as this past month, we
“But surprisingly, we have gone a have been bringing in new brands.
little backwards in Macau in 2022. The We are continually fine-tuning the
year started off strong but then dropped off selection, bringing in some brands,

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