TheMoodieReport.com

TheMoodieReport.com: BAA picks WH Smith for Heathrow T5 news stores; T5 to be landmark development - 12/10/06
Source: The Moodie Report
By Mary Jane Pittilla
Email Print

BAA Retail Managing Director Colin Hargrave: "Terminal 5 is set to surprise travellers through its fresh approach to retail"
UK. WH Smith will be the primary news retailer at London Heathrow Terminal 5, BAA Retail announced today. "WH Smith will offer travellers a unique and exciting experience that is markedly different from their current store format," BAA said in a statement.

WH Smith has been awarded the concession to operate six units at T5, totalling over 12,000sq ft. Promising to embrace innovation and to exceed expectation, WH Smith aims to provide outstanding customer service through significant investment in technology, people and store design, according to BAA.

A commitment has been made to minimise queuing time in-store through the deployment of the most effective till and queue management systems and the introduction of passenger greeters and service managers. WH Smith will also be investing in staff development, working closely with BAA and the Heathrow Retail Academy.

The in-store design aims to provide a stylish, contemporary feel ensuring that high volumes of products can be merchandised in a practical and attractive way.

To ensure all customers’ needs are met, specialised zones for children’s products and travel essentials will be positioned throughout the store supported by new signage and marketing messages to improve customer navigation.

BAA Retail Managing Director Colin Hargrave said: “Terminal 5 is set to surprise travellers through its fresh approach to retail.

“To be part of Terminal 5, brands need to offer something materially different from the norm so that together we can enhance the passenger experience. Terminal 5 is made up of original and inspiring concepts blended with tempting offers to create an accessible retail experience designed around customer needs and desires. We are delighted to welcome WHSmith onboard and believe that they will help provide this experience and work with BAA to position Terminal 5 as a landmark development for London and global travel.”

WH Smith Chief Executive Kate Swann commented: "We are delighted to have won the contract with BAA to operate six new WH Smith stores at Heathrow Terminal 5. We are looking forward to welcoming and serving our customers flying in and out of Heathrow Terminal 5 and offering them an innovative and market leading retail proposition.”

About London Heathrow T5

BAA’s Heathrow T5 is due to open in March 2008. The £4.3 billion development - one of Europe’s largest construction projects and a new landmark for London - will cater for around 30 million passengers annually.

T5 is working with a range of local and globally strong brands to create a new and exciting retail environment, with each store concept fulfilling the key criteria of being surprising, tempting and experience-enhancing. And whether consumers are after stimulation or relaxation, T5 will set new standards in retail and dining experiences with 144 different stores and restaurants from which to choose, said BAA.

The first contract signing, enabling Gordon Ramsay to operate the fine dining restaurant wihtin the terminal, was announced in May 2006.

T5 will incorporate 20,066sq m of retail space, focused onto two floors of the structure, predominantly in the airside environment. The development will increase the size of Heathrow’s retail portfolio by +50%. About 420 media sites will also be built into the fabric of the building.

From a traveller perspective, the audience demographic is expected to be 92% ABC1 in profile, and the terminal will be used exclusively by British Airways – Domestic, European and International destinations.

T5 will host 65 aircraft stands, a 4,000-space multi-storey car park, and a new 600-bed hotel. It also benefits from a new spur road from the M25 and extensions to both the Heathrow Express and Piccadilly Line services.

The Heathrow Retail Academy brings together BAA and airport retailers. It works with JobCentre Plus and local training organisations to help people in local communities secure retail jobs at the airport and gain qualifications once they are employed.