subject: Buy Duty Free : International Adventures Meet Great Value [print this page] An quintessential aspect of all international holidays is the typical visit to the duty free store, whether in destination or in transition at many of the worlds airport lounges. The first dutyfree shop was opened by Dr Brendan ORegan at the Shannon Airport in Ireland in 1947. Since its inception, the decision to buy duty free products has become a rite of passage for international travel.
Recent research illustrates that the popularity of duty free shopping is increasing. According to the Visa Travel Report, 58% of respondents indicating that they expected to buy duty free. According to the research, approximately 19% anticipated spending up to $70 with an equal proportion expecting to spend between $75 and $150. The remainder of the research group stated that they would spend in between $150 and $2,000 on buying duty free products.
It is apparent that this trend is growing and the demand to buy duty free will continue to increase for a number of reasons. Firstly, the value for money that duty free represents is surmountable. This is due to the fact that when buying duty free products they are exempt from customs duties and taxes, and this is applicable to a wide range of luxury goods from electronics to perfume. The reason for this is that the goods are intended for consumption outside the country of purchase so the local government chooses not to impose tax on these products. Additionally, larger dutyfree stores and chains also benefit from the economies of scale only found in organisations with large buying power. This results in a wide range of dutyfree goods that are not only reduced in price from a tax perspective, but in retail price, which represents real value when buying duty free. Many dutyfree stores hold in store promotions, so keep an eye out for a real bargain.
When buying duty-free, it is prudent to note that not only do dutyfree stores stock all your favourite brands, but also many products lines are not available domestically, such as fragrance and cosmetics packs. You can stand out in the crowd with a unique and exclusive product when returning home. Most offer thousands of products in a diverse range of categories, which will appeal to everyones desires.
Leading dutyfree stores are committed to making your experience of buying duty free as convenient and stress free as possible. Innovations to ensure this is a reality include ready for collection services, which allow an individual to peruse and purchase online and then collect them at your nominated airport. This is also in response to the increasing trend for consumers to not only review product lines, but purchase online, sit back, relax and avoid the crowds while buying duty free from the comfort of your home or hotel room on your next international adventure.
