Platinum Sponsor:

FDFA Website – Members Only Site - Supplier Opportunity

In 2009, the FDFA launched its FDFA Members Only Website via the FDFA website www.dutyfreecanada.com. We are extremely pleased by the response from all members and the level of activity on the site thus far. The objective of this site is to create a central portal of information for all content information relating to the Canadian Duty Free Industry. This site will be managed to ensure information that is populating the site is current and refreshed on an ongoing basis.

What information can you find on the Members Only Site? When you log in, you will find on the left hand side of the page, information regarding key statistics, membership application forms, FDFA bylaws, FDFA Code of Ethics document, Gold Standard winners information and photos, Convention Updates, MP listings for all of the duty free ridings, Member Contact list, Members Buyer’s Guide, Professional Development Information and Supplier Company Information.

The FDFA is planning for 2010 a re-design of the entire FDFA website to create a more contemporary, streamlined and more user-friendly website.

New Professional Development Link Added to Members Only Site – as of December 2009

In November 2009, the FDFA posted the resource documentation from the recent Professional Development Workshop that was held at our semi-annual meeting – Youthography which examined 19 to 34 years olds duty free shopping habits. While this demographic is not our core customer base, this particular group will be emerging through the years as a key market to understand. The FDFA contracted Youthography out of Toronto to conduct a pre-survey to both U.S. and Canadians in this demographic to truly understand products that are of interest, their level of understanding with duty free, etc.

To learn more about this workshop and the survey results, simply go to: the FDFA Members Only Site, under Professional Development – and you will see a sub-link entitled Youthography.

Additionally, we have another sub-link entitled Retail Council of Canada. The FDFA is a national member of the RCC, and as such, they have key resources that the FDFA feels are of value to our duty free members. On the FDFA Members Only Site – RCC sub-link, one will find the following documents:

• RCC – Human Resources: An Analysis of HR trends in Retailing. (this document provides industry wage & benefit benchmarks in retailing, turnover rates, training and education trends in retailing, perceptions of retail careers and more)
• The Independent Retailer – This is the RCC newsletter – Fall 2009 edition
• Credit & Debit Card lobbying documentation

For Supplier Members: What is the Supplier Information Link?

New FDFA Members Benefit – If your company has a new product launch, existing or new product training video’s, product training documentation, or product images that you would like to inform our operator/owners about, please consider informing the FDFA in order that we post on the FDFA website.

Click here to read full story

Back to Top

FDFA Initiatives for 2010

Government Relations Committee:

The Government Relations Committee is working on several key duty free issues at this time, which includes WHO issues (tobacco & alcohol), submitting to Health Canada Bill C-32 regulatory wording change, increase in the Allowances, WHTI awareness communications, and new duty free product/supply opportunities. 

WHO Issues:
As per recent FDFA communications to our members, the World Health Organization has cited the worldwide duty free industry in both tobacco (calling for an end to duty free tobacco as a linkage to illicit tobacco) and alcohol – thus eliminating duty free alcohol.

Click here to read full story

Meeting with National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco

In November 2009, the FDFA met with the National Coalition against Contraband Tobacco to discuss their key objectives and current initiatives. As a member of the Coalition, the FDFA is monitoring and following these activities closely.

Click here to read full story

Back to Top

China – Canadian Approved Destination Status (ADS)

As reported by the FDFA recently, Canada has been granted by the Chinese Government Approved Destination Status. This means that Chinese tour groups will now be able to travel to Canada. As noted previously, the Chinese traveler is expected to be the largest outbound market by 2020.

Many of our members have contacted the FDFA asking if there will be any further information on best in class service information regarding this specific demographic. We have been informed by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, the Canadian Ministry of Tourism and the Canadian Tourism Commission that more documentation to the travel industry will be available in the next six to eight months. While the Chinese government did verbally grant Prime Minister Harper with ADS, the Canadian government is still set to have the documentation signed off.

Click here to read full story

Back to Top

September 2009 Canadian Tourism Snapshot

Please be advised that the Canadian Tourism Commission has just released the September 2009 Tourism Snapshot, statistical data for the tourism industry.

The Tourism Snapshot provides a monthly and year-to-date update on key CTC market visits to and from Canada performance of competitors, and other tourism related statistics.

September 2009 Tourism Snapshot

Back to Top

FDFA Business & Professional Development Committee

2010 is set to be an exciting year for FDFA members, especially in light of new and exciting initiatives that have been proposed and communicated to the FDFA Operator members at the recent semi-annual meeting:

National Bus Awareness Initiative:

One of the key customer groups to many of our land border duty free shops is that of bus tour groups that come to the stores. Over the last five years, most of our stores have seen a decline in bus groups as a result of the economic downturn and other factors i.e. WHTI identification requirements and exchange rates. With the recent China ADS announcement for group tours and with the FDFA mandate to increase our duty free presence, a new initiative has been established to increase the awareness of the Canadian duty free industry to both Bus and Tour Groups:

Click here to read full story

Professional Development Workshops in 2010:

For the upcoming May Semi-Annual meeting, there most likely will not be a professional development workshop slated for all FDFA members. However, for the 2010 convention in Niagara Falls, there will be a professional workshop available for all members to attend. Again, the Committee working with the Supplier Committee and FDFA Board are seeking a substantive workshop that provides useful and unique information to assist our members in their business development. We recognize that most of our members are well versed in many areas of business such as marketing, advertising, etc. Therefore, the Committee is tasked with identifying topics that are current, practical, but provides new information that can be easily applied.

FDFA Collaborative Marketing Initiative:

The FDFA Board is pleased to announce that we have retained Beakbane Retail Connections to assess existing land border duty free industry branding, and the marketing tactics currently being used by FDFA members. Beakbane will also develop a proposed plan including budgets and new tactics for consideration – with the objective being to promote our stores and industry more effectively in today’s challenging business environment.

Beakbane has extensive experience in brand building and in the design and development of marketing tactics both on and off the internet. Their client list is long and impressive including such companies as Expedia, Labatt’s, Lindt, Duracell, Kokanee, Centrum Vitamins, Kokanee Beer, Sheridan College, Hallmark, Canadian Tire, Coca Cola, Sleeman, Swiss Chalet, IBM and others. For more information you can view their website at www.beakbane.com.

The overall project objective is to have duty free marketing tactics available to all of our FDFA land border duty free stores before the busy summer season in 2010.

Back to Top

Canadian Land Border Duty Free Store Updates

BHT de Philipsburg & Other Store Renovations Update:

On a recent FDFA store tour that Laurie Karson conducted of BHT de Philipsburg, she would like to inform our members that BHT de Philipsburg is planning on a re-design of their store starting in December to March 2010. The key objective of this store re-design is to accommodate more high fashion items and other innovative product lines that they are currently carrying such as kitchen products, crystal and leather goods. BHT de Philipsburg will still be focusing on their core products, but continuously working on improving their store image and customer service.

During Laurie’s visit, she was extremely impressed at BHT de Philipsburg’s store layout and format. During the store meeting with the FDFA, alongside the management team of BHT de Highwater, they reviewed such topics as marketing, FDFA communications, SAQ relationships with the Quebec duty free stores, and CBSA related issues.

We have also been informed that Tobacco Plains, Windsor Detroit and Peace Arch Duty Free are also planning future renovations.

North Portal Duty Free Store – Guess Who Was Married Recently?:

Many of you are probably not aware, but Gene and Cathie Davis had a wonderful celebration in their family this past October – their daughter was married.

Leslie Davis and Warren Smith were married on Oct. 3, 2009 in Regina, Saskatchewan.  On behalf of everyone at the Frontier Duty Free Association, we wish Leslie and Warren all of our best wishes. Leslie – you certainly were a beautiful bride!!

FDFA travels to Cannes, France for TFWA Meeting

In October, Laurie Karson travelled to Cannes to attend the 25th Anniversary TFWA Convention. In recognition of TFWA’s 25th Anniversary milestone, Laurie presented on behalf of the FDFA, a jade bear statue to the TFWA Board of Directors. During the TFWA meeting, the FDFA also attended the world duty free executive meeting, and supplier meetings.

The convention was an outstanding event, and the FDFA is truly appreciative of TFWA’s long standing support of the FDFA at our Annual Convention.

Laurie Karson presenting TFWA Board of Directors their gift on behalf of the FDFA	Cannes Opening Cocktail Reception: Peter Raju, Usha Raju, Justin Guay and Lauren Guay (Justin’s sister)

IGL – Justin Guay

Congratulations to Justin Guay of IGL, who recently ran the Las Vegas Marathon on December 6th, 2009.

Justin placed 4066th out of 28,000 runners and was 329th in his age division. Those who know Justin, are very aware of Justin’s dedication to fitness and his love of running. For 2010, Justin, has plans to run in the upcoming Miami (January 31st, alongside Francois Van Aal from Remy Cointreau) and the Paris marathons (April 11th).

We wish Justin all the best!!!

Peace Arch Duty Free – Reginald Raju Representing Canada for the Olympics

On December 3rd, 2009, Reginald Raju (son of Peter & Usha Raju) was given the honour of representing Omega Watches as one of the Olympic torch runners. He ran in Quebec City at approx. 5:15pm and noted “It was an amazing experience and the memory will last a lifetime”

Back to Top

New Members – Amrams & Jimmy Zee’s

Amrams

Amram's is a subsidiary of The Russ Companies, Inc., and has been a leader in the gift industry for more than 45 years. In addition to generic styles many of their items have been developed under their licenses from John Deere, Harley Davidson, Thomas Kinkade and Disney. Their extended lines include a wide range of plush and gift products in both Seasonal and Everyday. Amram’s is located in Brampton, Ontario and are currently selling to West Coast Duty Free, Importations Guay, Aldergrove Duty Free and Huntingdon Duty Free and hope to expand through out Canada.

For more information, please contact Mr. Jeff Cooper at 1-800-268-4717 or jcooper@russberrie.com. Their website is: www.russberrie.com

Jimmy Zee’s Distributors Inc.
Jimmy Zee’s Distributors Inc. sells licensed gift & novelty items including NHL, Harley Davidson, UFC, John Deer and Jack Daniels. They are currently selling to Thousand Islands Duty Free and plan to expand to other duty free stores across the country.

To contact this supplier member, please feel free to call Mr. Jimmy Zee at 604-939-7321. Their website is www.jimmyzees.com and they are located in Port Moody, British Columbia.

Back to Top

FDFA Updates & Dates to Remember

Membership Renewal Notices

The FDFA membership renewal notices has been sent to all FDFA members the week of December 7th, 2009. On behalf of the FDFA, we would like to thank all of our members for their continued support to the Canadian Duty Free Industry. If you have any questions pertaining to the membership renewal notification, do not hesitate to contact Allison Boucher at the FDFA.

Semi-Annual Registration – May 2010

The operator registration forms for the upcoming May 2010 Las Vegas Semi-Annual registration will be sent out in late January 2010.

25th Anniversary Annual Convention Registration for November 2010 -  at the Sheraton on the Falls in Niagara Falls will be sent to all FDFA members in May 2010. Please ensure to mark your calendars for November 14th to 17th, 2010.

Plastic & Eco Bag Order Forms

These order forms will be sent earlier this year, in order to be available for the Spring/Summer high season. Therefore, previously this would have been sent out in late March, but the objective this year is to have the order forms out to the operator members by Mid-February 2010

FDFA Fiscal Year End

The FDFA is preparing its annual budget process and fiscal year end auditing process for our December 31st, 2009 year end timeline.

FDFA Holiday Vacation Schedule

Please note that the FDFA office will be closed the week of December, 21st, 2009 for the holiday season. Both Allison Boucher and Laurie Karson will be back in the office on December 28th, 2009 preparing the FDFA audit. If you have an urgent matter, do not hesitate to contact Laurie Karson on her cell phone at 613-868-6369.

Back to Top

Happy Holidays

The FDFA wishes all of our FDFA members a wonderful and safe holiday season. We also wish you a terrific and prosperous New Year. The FDFA is looking forward to a terrific year ahead.

To all our members, thank you for your ongoing support of the Canadian Duty Free Industry.

Back to Top

Future FDFA Communiqué Dates

Upcoming FDFA Communiqué Release dates for 2010 are:

March 17th, 2010
June 16th, 2010
September 8th, 2010

If you have an idea for an article, or would like to tell us about something of interest to all duty free FDFA members, please contact Laurie Karson at lkarson@fdfa.ca. Your feedback is important.

Back to Top

Gold Sponsors:

For comments and/or questions contact:

Laurie Karson – Executive Director
lkarson@fdfa.ca
www.dutyfreecanada.com