iscover
Brisbane Airport has saved 25 jobs by launching a new online store selling 200 heavily discounted items such as iPads, laptops and beauty products.
The new BNE Marketplace will launch on 16 April and aims to address the 96 per cent reduction in footfall caused by the coronavirus crisis.
General manager Martin Ryan said, “If necessity is the mother of invention, COVID-19 is its father. The BAC team has gone from concept to full e-commerce site in just 16 days.”
Lotte Duty Free, the airport’s biggest retail outlet, is the first to offer products online, with more set to follow if the project is a success. Alcohol, perfume and chocolates will be added to the store in the next few weeks, with a possible click and collect service being considered.
It will initially operate as an order online and delivery model in collaboration with logistics support business Shippit.
“Importantly, this project has kept 25 people in jobs during this challenging time, while supporting the local logistics and freight companies and boosting partner employment through the need for people to ‘pick and pack’ items,” Ryan said.
Rob Hango-Zada, Shippit’s co-founder, said, “We are proud to support this initiative and play some role in enabling airport retailers to continue to flourish in a 100 per cent online world.
“We have been blown away by the number of businesses pivoting their operations in uncertain times to not just survive but thrive during this challenging time.”
Rich
says:So we going to address the elephant in the room? Where’s the magazines at?? No distribution any more????