Dubai Duty Free has recorded sales of $1.14 billion from January to the end of September, marking a 10 per cent increase over the same period last year and placing the operation on track for year-end sales of an estimated $1.64 billion.

Perfumes, liquor and gold continue to be the top three selling categories at Dubai Duty Free with sales of perfumes reaching Dh633 million ($173 million), representing an increase of 15 per cent over last year.

With perfume sales accounting for 15 per cent of total Dubai Duty Free sales, the operation plans to open a second perfumes and cosmetics (P&C) retail area in Concourse B at Terminal 3. Covering some 240 sq m, the new shop will be located in the West side of the Concourse, and is scheduled to open by the end of the year.

Colm McLoughlin, executive vice chairman of Dubai Duty Free said: “We are constantly looking at our retail offer at Dubai International and are constantly looking at enhancing it.”

“In the case of perfumes and cosmetics (P&C), which are core categories, we have had several developments this year including the opening of a Jo Malone retail area in Concourse B, the opening of a second Kiehl’s area, this time in Concourse C in Terminal 1 and the installation of a new Tom Ford unit also in Concourse C.

“The opening of a second P&C area in Concourse B later this year will enable us to extend our existing product range and to introduce some new brands that we have not formerly been able to do due to space constraints in the existing shops,” he added.

Meanwhile, the second and third rated categories, liquor and gold, achieved year to date sales of Dh612 million ($168 million) and Dh415 million ($114 million) respectively for the first nine months of the year. Sales of Cosmetics rose by 16 per cent to Dh265 million ($73 million) while Confectionery grew by 17 per cent to Dh333 million ($91 million) accounting for 8 per cent of total revenue.

Sales grew across all three Terminals with Terminal 1 sales growing by 9 per cent, while sales in Terminal 2 rose by 15 per cent and Terminal 3 was up by 10 per cent respectively over the same period last year.  Overall departure sales have grown by 10 per cent while overall arrivals duty free sales have risen by 14 per cent.

Looking ahead to the remainder of the year, Dubai Duty Free will celebrate its 29th anniversary on December 20th this year and the operation has plans in place to make this a memorable occasion.

For starters, the anniversary day will be marked by a 25 per cent discount on a wide range of merchandise, for what has become an annual celebration for all passengers using the airport on that day.

“We started this promotion when we celebrated our 20th anniversary in 2003 and it has become a popular day with travelers, some of whom book their flights in order to shop on that day,” said McLoughlin.

“Last year, the operation achieved magnificent sales figures of Dh86.75 million ($24 million) or $1 million per hour on the anniversary day, and we are looking forward to trying to break that record.”

In readiness for the opening of Concourse A in the first quarter of 2013, Dubai Duty Free has recruited 1,053 new staff so far this year and will end the year with around 5,000 employees in total. Of the original 100 staff recruited in 1983, 47 remain in active service. – TradeArabia News Service