Hudson announces plans for new airport shopping experience

Travel retail experience company Hudson has announced its plans for a new airport experience store. Evolve by Hudson will be the new shop-in-shop store holding a range of travel essential products for an on-the-go shopping experience.

The store will incorporate brands from Hudson’s and Dufry’s extensive portfolio, with products inline with the concept of the one-stop, travel essential concept. Colourful sock company Happy Socks will be one of the featured brands, next to underwear and apparel company Bread & Boxers and leather gift manufacturer Royce New York. Sunglass Hut will also provide a range of quality sunglasses brands, such as Oakley and Ray-Ban.

Hudson, part of the Dufry travel retail group, runs over 1,000 stores in airports, commuter hubs and tourist destinations around the US. The move to launch the new travel retail store shows the company moving towards a larger integrated store concept.

Brian Quinn, EVP and deputy chief executive officer, said in a statement: “The strategy we’ve executed over the years has positioned the Hudson brand as an iconic and trusted anchor of the airport experience for travelers and landlords alike. Now, as we’re witnessing the dynamic transformation of the retail space, we’re taking the opportunity to further leverage what makes it successful: convenience and brand recognition.”

Evolve will be developed for the every-day traveller, with specially curated products that are tailored to each specific shopping location. The first store is set to open at Nashville International Airport later this summer, and will be followed by several more locations including Dallas Love Field Airport and Las Vegas McCarran International Airport.

“Our new Evolve store will transform larger retail footprints, with the existing Hudson convenience model in mind, to curate a multi-brand concept that will allow Hudson to continuously innovate for the modern travel retail environment now and into the future,” Quinn said of the new Evolve concept.