New Ideas in Retail

PHL Welcomes Brooks Brothers, CNBC

Philadelphia International Airport welcomes Brooks Brothers and the first of ten new CNBC Philadelphia News Stores to its retail offerings. The remaining CNBC Philadelphia News Stores will open during the course of this year.

The Brooks Brothers store is 2,200 square feet and located in Terminal B/C and is known for its clothing for men and women, as well as its array of accessories. The CNBC Philadelphia News stores will display the CNBC name on the storefront and have plasma screens continuously streaming the current news from CNBC Business Day Programming. Each store sells a range of newspapers, magazines, books, and sundries.

The food and retail program at Philadelphia International is developed and managed through a partnership of MarketPlace Redwood, L.P. and the City of Philadelphia. The airport features more than 100 in-line stores, restaurants, and services, plus some 25 specialty retail units; www.phl.org.

Manicures Fly at CVG

A new passenger personal service concept, 10 Minute Manicure, recently opened at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). The first location in the company’s plan to open stores and kiosks at airports and busy commercial centers nationally offers travelers its signature ten-minute manicure, as well as other manicure services and products.

Located in CVG’s Terminal B, post-security, 10 Minute Manicure is designed specifically for traveling customers. Special features include secure luggage storage, seating with a view of the terminal, a clean air/aromatherapy environment, and retail cosmetic products geared toward travelers.

The Miami-based company was founded by CEO Lorraine Brennan O’Neil, COO Vivian Jimenez, and executive VP of marketing Karen M. Janson; www.10minmanicure.com.

Hudson Group’s Latest Offering

According to Hudson Group’s senior vice president, food and beverage, Tom Kornacki, one of the latest trends in concessions offerings is regionalizing the cafe concept — using local vendors whose brand concept is familiar to the airport, its employees, and travelers.

Most recently, Hudson Group partnered with FM Burch and Associates, Inc. and won the bid for a food concession in Portland International Airport by partnering with the Beaverton Bakery, a popular bakery in the Portland market. The new concept will marry the local bakery with Hudson’s award-winning Euro Cafe, which provides gourmet coffee, tea, cappuccino, and espresso along with a selection of magazines, books, and newspapers.

The decor reflects the architecture of the Portland airport and the Beaverton Bakery, with its red and white striped awnings and landmark clock. The menu offers products from the Portland area, including Tillamook cheese and local produce, in addition to the Euro Cafe coffees; www.hudsongroup.com.

Business Center Sells Naming Rights

Charlotte/Douglas International Airport in fall 2005 opened a business center, complete with Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) access, copiers, phones, fax machines, and conference rooms. Wi-Fi is offered free of charge, but private booths are available for a fee for those who wish to have more privacy.

While a business center offers a passenger convenience, it’s not always the most economical and revenue-generating use of space; Charlotte/Douglas officials have found a way to make bring in some money. Charlotte-based Bank of America Corporation is sponsoring the center under a two-year agreement that pays the city, which owns and operates the airport, $425,000 each year in exchange for naming rights to the business center, two ATMs at the entrance of it, and a kiosk to sell bank products. The Airport Business Center sponsored by Bank Of America is managed by the airport and staffed by HMSHost; www.charlotteairport.com.