| |
| |
Platinum Sponsor:
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
A Conversation with the President of the Frontier Duty Free Association
 In November 2010, Abe Taqtaq of Windsor Tunnel Duty Free was elected as President of the Frontier Duty Free Association for a two-year term. The FDFA asked Abe to provide to our members some of his insights and perspectives of key issues and opportunities facing the duty free industry.
· Since you were elected President of the FDFA last November 2010, how have you been enjoying your new role and responsibilities?
I have been enjoying the role a great deal. The role of president of the FDFA has been one of many challenges and at the same time a learning experience for me. In my capacity as President I have come to appreciate the complexities of our industry and the difficulty of representing and managing the different opinions at the same time keeping the big picture in mind of strengthening and improving our industry well into the future. I look forward to another year serving the industry and the FDFA.
· What do you see as the largest opportunity for the Canadian Land Border Duty Free Industry in the next few years?
The opportunities for the Land Border Duty Free Industry are endless. There is one key factor to create and make these opportunities available to us – working together as one voice within a unified industry. Significant portions of our businesses have common elements, whether it be administrative in nature, procurement of supplies, purchasing items for sale or services we all require. The economies of scale are available to us all if that one aspect of "working together" is achieved. The largest benefactors of such an idea will be the industry itself and protecting its viability into the future.
· What do you see as the biggest challenge for the industry at this current time?
The FDFA executive and board have only one challenge the short term. The number one priority of the industry is to see a satisfactory end to the Strategic Review process that will maintain the integrity of the Canadian Land Border Duty Free Industry and to respect the investment put in place by its principals. There is nothing that has or will deviate us from this goal.
I see 2 long term challenges – maintaining the benefit of Duty Free shopping to the general public and the thickening of the border between the US and Canada. Whether it be market trends, exchange rates, selection of products for sale or services – I don't believe that as an industry we can take for granted that our market will always recognize the benefits of Duty Free shopping. The fact of our business is that all sales must be exported and if the border continues to be a deterrent and more difficult to use, then our market will be severely impacted and diverted. Our customers will find alternatives and with unfavourable exchange rates and lower duty and excise rates, the savings are put into question and our customers will find other options. The FDFA board and executive have been keeping a close eye on any developments relating to any discussions with the US on the perimeter border file in addition to a submission by the FDFA that was referenced in the final findings by the joint committee. As an industry, we have been in favour of any measures that will ease the burden on travellers between the US and Canada. Also, education through a coherent marketing effort by the entire industry will keep duty free top of mind when our potential customers do cross the border.
· What do you feel is the biggest member benefit that the FDFA provides to its members and why?
Without a doubt – government relations. The FDFA represents 28 land border stores with the majority being small rural stores that rely on the FDFA to represent and voice their concerns in Ottawa and CBSA. An individual store cannot expect the same dialogue with government representatives when only speaking for one store. The unity of the FDFA is critical to maintain the industry as we know it. It will be much easier to implement changes to our industry by outside decision makers if we are all representing ourselves as individual stores.
· How would you like to improve the working relationships between our supplier and operator members in the future? i.e. better communication methods, more collaborative initiatives?
The suppliers are essential to the success of our stores and therefore essential for a strong FDFA. Communication and joint decisions can be utilized more often. Supplier opinions should play an integral part of our ongoing marketing efforts and hope that as an industry the dialogue and initiatives will be thought out together to improve sales and exposure of the duty free industry. As president, an open dialogue with suppliers should be held in a more formal setting where the ideas of the group can be discussed and where merited we can implement positive change.
· With the new national marketing program in place, how do you envision this initiative being a positive step for the industry?
Information and messaging is key in any organization, especially business. The marketing initiative is still in its infancy and will most definitely mature over the years to come. We can already see that happening with the evolution of the site with increased traffic and other communication methods such as Twitter, blogs and Facebook. For the nominal cost that each store is contributing for a unified message to the outside world where we all know has no clue as to what Duty Free is this is an essential component to our businesses and the FDFA. In the future, the marketing program will continue to be a core program and funded through regular membership dues and benefiting all members. I also look forward to more interaction with our suppliers to take the program to the next level.
Back to Top
<-- <-- back to main page |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
For comments and/or questions contact:
Laurie Karson – Executive Director
lkarson@fdfa.ca
www.fdfa.ca www.dutyfreecanada.com |
|
|
