Page 48 - TFWA World Exhibit 2024 Special Edition

INSIDER

Buoyant sales growth on the border for Neutral

After a buoyant 2023 with sales he says. programs help tremendously and we are
growth reaching just short of 40%, long Montico says that customer service always looking at designing tailor made
established Uruguay border shop operator and special promotions, along with good promotions for all of our customers.”
Neutral has enjoyed an excellent start to pricing have been key to Neutral’s growth. Neutral is also using some of the most
2024 with sales up just over 20% for the “We continue to look after our up-to-date technology to track sales and
first six months of the year. customers in all of our stores, giving them provide service, says Montico.
Officially known as Free Shop Neutral the very best shopping experience and we “Technology is becoming more
By Luryx, the operator is the leading duty aim to innovate with promotional activity important for retailers. It allows us to better
free retailer on the Uruguayan side of throughout the year. We will always tie understand the needs and the behavior of
the border between Brazil and Uruguay, activity into special events for major our customers – if we can meet the needs
with eight stores in Aceguá, Artigas, Bella holidays like Carnival, Easter, Mother’s of a more discerning and demanding
Unión, Chuy, Rio Branco and Rivera. Day, Father’s Day and Christmas. We customer base, we will be more successful
“In spite of the worst flooding in 80 continuously get very positive feedback and sales will increase.
years in Rio Grande do Sul and a small from our customers for all of our “We continuously evaluate what
currency devaluation of the Brazilian Real promotional activities.” happens in store and analyze purchasing
against the USD, sales remained strong Most Neutral customers are looking to patterns. Last year, we started using
during the first half of the year,” Neutral save compared to the local market in Brazil Artificial Intelligence for a variety of
General Manager Marcelo Montico tells and the operator aims to accommodate things like monitoring social networks and
TMI. them. internet platforms in Brazil that are used
While both factors slightly affected “We strive to have the very best prices by our target audience and this allows us
the company’s growth for the first half of in perfumes and liquor, the two biggest identify new trends and preferences more
the year, Montico reports that they are more categories on the border. All travelers are quickly. AI helps our team with stock
than happy with results so far in 2024. looking to get the best value from their management and demand planning. It will
“Our target for the year it to increase $500 allowance and we are always looking never replace our commercial team but it
by +25% and are hoping for a tranquil last at ways to give them the best experience in will decision making easier.”
six months to help us reach this objective,” every one of our stores. Our promotional JG

Air traffic booming in Mexico

Mexico recorded 13.83 million tourist up on the same period last year and 12.4% visitors arrived by air between January
arrivals by plane in the first seven months ahead of 2019. and July, an increase of 5.8% on the same
of 2024, according to Tourism Secretary Cancun was the leading airport with period last year and up 34.2% on 2019.
Miguel Torruco Marqués. This was 3.7% 6.24m international arrivals, Mexico City Minister Torruco Marques stressed
more than the same period in 2023 and held the number 2 spot with 2.49 million that air connectivity is essential for the
an impressive 17.4% more than in 2019, passengers and Los Cabos reached third development of tourism in Mexico.
the last full year before the COVID-19 place with 1.45 million. “During the Lopez Obrador
pandemic. The top three countries of origin were government we have been able to establish
The top three airports were Cancun, USA, Canada and Colombia with a total of 496 new international routes which have
Benito Juarez in Mexico City and Los 10.98 million tourists, up 5.6% on last year. helped to promote economic development
Cabos – together the three leading Visitors from the USA have long held throughout the country,” he said.
international airports accounted for 10.18 the number 1 position on the arrivals list JG
million travelers. The total figure was 0.3% in Mexico. This year, 8.92 million U.S.

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