Lagardère Travel Retal brings Official All Blacks Store to Christchurch Airport
Travel retailer Lagardère Travel Retail is delighted to announce the opening of the Official All Blacks Store in Christchurch Airport.
Located in the centre of the main Landside Terminal, and available to both domestic and international departing passengers, the 120 sqm store is the second Official All Blacks store in New Zealand to be opened by Lagardère Travel Retail. The store offers a truly experiential retail proposition for both the retailer and airport.
Showcasing the champions of rugby, the strong partnership between Lagardère Travel Retail, Christchurch Airport and NZ Rugby provides a truly unique retail experience where customers can fully immerse themselves into this champion teams’ story.
Przemyslaw Lesniak, CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail in the Pacific, comments on the partnerships “we are proud to work together with our leading partners to bring such an iconic offering as the All Blacks store to the retail space in the terminal, creating a true sense of place and an unforgettable experience – one we are all very proud of”
Opening to coincide with the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the new store offers a wide range of licensed merchandise, including apparel, jerseys, caps, rugby balls, beanies and various gift items, as well as the latest world cup merchandise.
With a captivating store design inspired by a traditional locker room, it features two eye-catching LED archway entrances inviting shoppers into the store, an experiential area featuring the Haka 360 experience, digital highlights reel showing iconic All Blacks’ moments, the Wall of Champions, and a roof adorned with a super-sized silver fern all designed to replicate the excitement and atmosphere experienced by the current world cup - a truly captivating retail experience.
The airport’s Chief Aeronautical and Commercial Officer, Justin Watson, says the new store is an exciting and aspirational addition to the terminal. “The new store is opening at the same time the Rugby World Cup is about to open and at the centre of a lot of conversation across the city and country,” he says. “The store offers new experiences, new merchandise and new ways to support the All Blacks. We are always proud to see our rugby heroes and their fans travel through Christchurch Airport, and are sure they will be drawn to the spectacular new store.”
NZR Chief Commercial Officer, Richard Thomas, said expanding the retail concept to a second location reflected the popularity of the All Blacks brand. “We ventured into the retail sector in 2018 with the launch of the first Official All Blacks Store in a move to diversify our income streams – and it’s been well received. We’re excited to launch a second store in Christchurch,” he says.
With a notable global following, local and international sports fans travelling through Christchurch Airport will enjoy in-store appearances from the All Blacks and NZR players to reinforce the story of champions.
This new Christchurch store was also a collaboration with Lagardère Travel Retail’s local New Zealand design partner Taylors, and construction team, The Accent Group.
Lagardère Travel Retail opened the first Official All Blacks store in Auckland Airport in 2018, and operate 38 stores across Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, Nelson, Rotorua and Palmerston North Airports.
