This article is from page 14 of the 2011-12-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
THE global birthplace of duty free in Shannon has received a € 1m upgrade. The investment at The Loop at Shannon will be completed next month.
This is due to a redevelopment of the Shannon Airport retail facility by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA).
The development on the site where Dr Brendan O’Regan founded the world’s first duty free experience in 1947 includes an upgraded perfume and cosmetics area, a new dedicated Irish whiskey store, an Irish Memories souvenir outlet, a new concession giftware store from Glenaran and an area devoted to selling Irish food, including a range of artisan products.
“This investment will radically improve the retail offer at Shannon,” said DAA Retail Director, Paul Nee- son. “Shannon Airport was the birthplace of international duty free and we are delighted to be improving the spiritual home of airport shopping. Following this significant investment, the new retail area in Shannon is much brighter and offers our customers a much more pleasant shopping environment.
Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) Chairman Brian O’Connell welcomed the investment.
“From its earliest days, Shannon Airport has always prided itself in providing a uniquely memorable visitor experience for air travellers. Customer satisfaction is the be all and end all of our daily business and this € 1m investment by the DAA will ensure Shannon’s traditional welcome in our attractive new retail facilities will continue into the future,” he said.
The new 900 square metre Shannon retail area is being delivered in three phases. Work started on the revamp in September and the project will be fully completed early next month.
Shannon’s new perfume and cosmetics area will offer consumers the leading international brands at significant discounts to downtown prices, while Glenaran Irish Market stocks a range of Irish crafts including handmade sweaters, fashion items, crystal and jewellery.
One of the features of the new development at The Loop in Shannon is the opening of the new Irish Whiskey Collection outlet, a sister shop to the award-winning version at Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport that has already boosted whiskey sales there by 30 percent.
“The Irish Whiskey Collection is designed to be a living shrine to Irish whiskey, which is one of this country’s greatest exports,” said Mr Neeson. The new outlet in Shannon will carry a wide range of whiskey brands and is designed to cater for both the whiskey enthusiast and the casual shopper.