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FDFA Convention 2011 Wrap Up and Thank You

The FDFA is extremely thankful to all of our members who recently attended the FDFA's 26th Anniversary Convention this past November 2011 at the Hilton Hotel in Niagara Falls. As most of our members are aware, this year marked the first year of a three year convention contract with the Hilton Niagara. We were extremely pleased with the attendance record for the 2011 show, which exceeded our supplier numbers from our 25th anniversary.

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New Land Border Duty Free Store Member of the FDFA – Carway Duty Free

On November 21st, 2011, Janice Beagle was awarded by CBSA the license for Carway Duty Free Store in Alberta. Many do not realize but Carway Duty Free has been a longstanding duty free store, but was not a member of the association, and considered an independent store. It previously operated as a small gift store/duty free operation providing basic duty free product lines for its customer base.

Janice who operates the Altan Duty Free Store, is extremely excited about taking over this store's ownership/operations and has a many wonderful plans and business objectives she hopes to meet in 2012 and beyond.

Where is Carway Duty Free?
Carway is located on Hwy 2 – 20 minutes south of Cardston, Alberta and is a main crossing for many Albertans who are going to Montana. The main US location when you cross this border is Whitefish, Montana, which is a popular ski resort and summer cottage area.

http://www.explorewhitefish.com

Explore Whitefish, Montana

What are the plans for the store?
Janice and her team are in the process of revamping the interior of the store to reflect all of the key duty free products and much more. She has already brought in new displays, new traffic billboards, new outer signage that is being developed, etc. Janice has plans to expand the marketing and advertising of this store.

"It has been a major transition in the opening of the Carway Duty Free. We have made many changes to the new store which has been met with very positive feedback from our customers. We have many more changes to make and are very excited about the future growth of Carway Duty Free." Janice Beagle

Carway is now an official operator member of the FDFA, and will be soon featured on our national website and FDFA site. When Janice and Denise Gamble attend this year's upcoming convention, they will be looking for products not only for Altan but also for Carway.

Join us in welcoming Carway Duty Free to the Frontier Duty Free Association!

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FDFA Committee Expressions of Interest 2012

Each year, the FDFA reaches out to our operator and/or supplier members requesting your expressions of interest to participate on a FDFA Committee. The FDFA Committee's are comprised of: Convention Committee, Supplier Committee/Advisory Group, Business & Professional Development Committee and Gold Standards Committee. The Operator only committee's consist of the National Marketing, Ethics Committee and Government Relations Committee.

Supplier Members: If you are interested in participating in one of the 2012 FDFA Committee's – such as the Convention Committee, Supplier Committee, Business & Professional Development or Gold Standards Committee, please call or email Laurie Karson at lkarson@fdfa.ca to put your name forward. It is the discretion of the FDFA board to determine and approve all final committees.

For more information on the committee mandates, please refer to our Committee 2012 Mandates document.

click here to open the PDF

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FDFA's Government Relations Actions Remain:

As communicated by the FDFA to our members throughout 2011, the FDFA continues with its dialogue with CBSA regarding the Strategic Review. We were hopeful that our discussions with CBSA regarding the Strategic Review would be concluded at the end of 2011, but given recent discussions/presentations by CBSA, we have more in depth dialogue to continue with government. It is the objective of the FDFA to ensure that while government wants to streamline and ensure each government department is efficient, the FDFA has been working diligently to ensure our industry pillars remain intact. Thus far, communications with government officials have been positive.

As most of our members are aware, the number one member benefit we provide to our industry is that of government relations. It is the continued efforts of the FDFA's advocacy work that continues to allow our industry to exist. For those who are not aware of the Strategic Review, pls. note the following:

What is the Strategic Review? All government programs are reviewed on a regular cycle to ensure they are effective and efficient, that they respond to the priorities of Canadians and that they are in line with core federal responsibilities. This ensures that funding is allocated to programs that are a high priority for Canadians and that these programs produce results.

Our goal within this process is to ensure that our industry pillars remain intact and that decisions made in relation to streamlining of the duty free shop program are done in a manner to create greater efficiencies and less administrative oversight that do not unduly impact our store's operational activities.

We will continue to apprise our members of our continued efforts and discussions with CBSA officials.

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Semi-Annual Meeting 2012

Each year the FDFA owner/operators meet for a one day meeting to discuss business, government relations and other key topics that are relevant to the land border duty free industry. In the last several years, the FDFA was meeting in Ottawa, in order to tie in government relations presentations/receptions with the semi-annual meeting. The 2011/2012 board decided that while hosting government relations receptions, etc. is still important, the semi-annual can be located as a separate and distinct meeting.

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National Marketing – A New Year and a New Outlook

At the recent FDFA Convention, during the FDFA Operator's meeting, the operator members agreed that the national marketing program would become a core priority for the association, since the completion of the pilot project was complete. With internet marketing being so critical in today's business and consumer environment, and to address the consumer misconceptions of the Canadian duty free industry – the operator's agreed that now is the time to evolve and generate more awareness of who we are as an industry on an ongoing basis. For those who have not seen the new website, please do go to www.dutyfreecanada.com.

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Annual Membership Invoice Distribution

2012 Membership Dues invoices along with the FDFA Member Benefits documents are currently being mailed to all FDFA Members. Please note - the FDFA does not accept credit cards as payment for membership dues, only company cheques or wire transfers.

If you have any questions or wish to cancel your FDFA membership, please contact Allison Boucher at 613-688-9788.

click here to open the Supplier Member Benefits PDF

click here to open the Operator Member Benefits PDF

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New Members of the FDFA

Please see below our newest FDFA Supplier Members since September 2011. Many of our owners/operators have met with these new suppliers at the recent convention, however, on behalf of the FDFA we wish all of our newest members the very best in their business opportunities for 2012.

New Member: Aliments Krispy Kernels Inc.

Tasty seasonings and perfectly roasted nuts and peanuts: it's all about you and your taste buds. After 65 years, our promise to use only premium quality ingredients is still our mission. Take a yummy moment for yourself and find out more about us, our products, our partners and how to be a healthier snacker.

Aliments Krispy Kernels Inc.
Located: Quebec
Primary Contact: Robert Boucher
Tel: 613-371-9094
Email: rboucher@krispykernels.com
www.krispykernels.com

New Member: Biodelices Inc.

Biodélices organic maple syrup comes exclusively from our family sugarbush located in the mountainous valleys of St-Adrien-d'Irlande.

Biodelices products have been selected as official gifts of the Government of Canada and Quebec.

Company Contacts:
Biodelices Inc.
Located: Quebec
Tel: 418-423-1143
Email: serge.dubois@biodelices.ca
Primary Contact: Serge Dubois
www.biodelices.ca

New Member: L'Occitane Americas

L'Occitane produces luxury fragrances, body and skincare products from the region of Provence in the South of France. Theses products are designed to inspire a lifestyle of natural beauty and well-being, using authentic ingredients and preserving the traditions of Mediterranean land and people.

L'Occitane Americas
Located: Florida
Primary Contact: Anna Miller – Area Manager, North America
Tel: 305-722-2282
Email: amiller@loccitane.com
www.loccitane.com

New Member: Underberg Sales Corp.

The 5th and 6th generations of the Underberg Family celebrated 165 years in business last year and also 150 years in North America.

The Underberg group prides itself in developing and marketing top quality speciality European wines and spirits and now has distribution in over 100 countries around the world.

Underberg, its founding brand, is an unique product and concept. This all natural herbal digestive provides a prompt and efficient effect on the digestive process – especially after heavy meals.

Underberg, our classical Asbach Uralt brandy and Schlumberger,  and our Viennese Méthode Traditionnelle are all available in Canada for the Duty Free market.

Underberg Sales Corp
Primary Contact: Martyn Bignell – Sales Director – North Americas
Tel: 603-279-6356
Email: Underberg@earthlink.net
www.underberg.com

New Member: L'Oreal Consumer Products Division

L'Oreal Consumer Products Division is based out of Miami and represents L'Oreal Paris, The Body Shop, Roger & Gallet, and Maybelline lines for the duty free market.

L'OREAL Consumer Products Division
Located: Florida
Primary Contact: Edouard Mariotti
Tel: 305-260-1154
Email: emariotti@us.loreal.com

New Member: Clear Image Marketing and Promotions

Welcome to Clear Image Marketing and Promotions – Importers and distributors of Go Travel Accessories, Air Canada Luggage, SPIbelt, Bug Zip, Shelves to Go and Go Outdoor products. Their goal is to maintain market leadership in the travel industry with products that combine innovation, quality and style.

From electrical adaptors to TSA locks, pillows to tags, mosquito relief to bed bug products, Clear Image Marketing and Promotions provide their customers with the most advanced, high quality travel products available in the industry.The quality, comfort and peace of mind their products offer the traveling consumer will, in turn, serve to enhance the consumer's perception of your travel store. The loyal customer base Clear Image Marketing and Promotions enjoys, that only comes with 40 years of experience in the industry, has made them the number one travel accessory supplier in Canada. This was achieved by exceeding expectations when it comes to product knowledge, inventory availability and quick order turn around.

When you carry Clear Image products, the consumer will have a clear image of you!

Clear Image Marketing and Promotions
Located: Ontario
Primary Contact: Joe Iannuzzi – President and CEO
Tel: 905.689.3123
Email: joe@clearimagemarketing.ca

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Future FDFA Communiqué Dates to Remember for 2012:

April 2012
September 2012
December 2012

Gold Sponsors:

For comments and/or questions contact:

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