MCIA boosts retail section with walk-thru watch store

CEBU, Philippines - The Mactan International Airport further expands its retail component, particularly for signature brands through the recent opening of the 31-square meter last minute shopping store called Watch and Fly.

This walk-through store located at the International Pre-departure area adds to the choices of fashionable brand name timepieces available within the airport.

Among the luxury and fashionable brand watches sold include Emporio Armani, Michael Kors, Police, Fossil, DKNY, Anne Klein, Skagen, Guess and Adidas. The prices of the watch pieces range from $70 to $700 each.

“Our Watch and Fly store at MCIA offers the widest selection of affordable fashion watch brands. We find the location very ideal and we are confident of growing the business given the growing passenger traffic at the Mactan-Cebu International airport,” said Beverly Campos, Bling Philippines Inc. general manager.

 In a statement, Liezel Villarino, Watch and Fly-MCIA operations officer announced that among the top brands sold within a few weeks of operations are Anne Klein, Guess, Michael Kors, and Emporio Armani, which are bought mainly by Koreans, Taiwanese and Japanese travelers.

“Most of the buyers are delighted to see that the items sold here are affordable and the designs are up-to-date,” added Villarino.

 For instance, she said that a set of Ann Klein watch complete with bracelets retail for only P7,000 compared to P9,000 when bought inside the mall.

 Watch and Fly features several promotional offers, which are: a free Michael Kors pouch for a single receipt purchase of a Michael Kors watch worth $500 and above; free Fossil pouch for every purchase of two Fossil watches; a free earphone for a single purchase of a Police watch and a free notebook when buying any Skagen watch.

 Villarino reported that the store noted an increase in sales owing to the increasing traffic at the airport.

 She also attributed the improvement to the support of the GMR-MEGAWIDE Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) management and the bustling passenger traffic of international travelers.

GMCAC has since been aggressive in expanding its retail component since its started its operation two years ago.

GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) announced yesterday its plan to start the development of a six-hectare mixed-use property across MCIA’s new passenger terminal building or Terminal 2.

“We are now looking to tap a third party company to develop the property, " said GMCAC President Louie Ferrer.

 Ferrer said that the mixed-use development will possibly include hotels, mall complex, and gaming activities including casino completing the offering of MCIA travel and lifestyle destination in Cebu.

 This project will help reinforce the company's plan to position the airport as one of the country’s next travel and lifestyle destination pouring more investments for commercial and retail projects.

“The F&B and retail segments in the airport play a significant role in the airport’s brand image, which is firmly tied to Cebu’s global reputation as a resort destination,” added Ferrer. (FREEMAN)