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Q2 marks the transition into the summer travel season, but it’s Q3 that really represents the peak of Summer and the annual leisure travel. Passenger volumes increase significantly, but perhaps more importantly, the composition of those passengers changes markedly compared to those spring months. So, what do we expect to see from a traveller profile […]
Next week, we will be launching the new Indian Duty Free Shopper 2026 Study!! The Indian traveller currently sits as one of the most important growth audiences in Travel Retail and offers one of the single most significant opportunities for our industry going forward. The new report will provide a real deep dive look into […]
As we get fully underway with the analysis of the new Global Shopper Database, one of the clearest themes emerging is how purchase planning continues to soften within the Duty Free industry, with just 40% of shoppers now actively planning their purchase before entering the store. And this brings us back to one of the […]
What really differentiates shopper behaviour across the various Duty Free channels?” is a question we’re asked time and time again. At Pi Insight, the only research we conduct is Travel Retail-specific, but this extends far beyond just the airport environment. Each channel attracts a distinct shopper mentality, and understanding those nuances is critical to unlocking […]
Segmentation studies are one of marketing’s most trusted tools, but in Travel Retail, they’re both incredibly valuable but notoriously difficult to action. At their best, segmentation brings clarity to complexity. It helps us move beyond “all travellers” and identify distinct groups with shared needs, whether that’s luxury shoppers, impulse buyers, or deal seekers. It sharpens […]
According to the new findings from our 2026 edition of the Global Shopper Database, once a traveller passes through airport security, they typically have around 1 hour and 10 minutes in departures. This sounds like quite a bit of time, but this time includes getting their bearings in an unfamiliar place, locating their gate, organising […]
As we reach the final stages of fieldwork for our 2026 edition of the Global Shopper Database (which consists of approximately 14,000 interviews across 14 key travelling and Duty Free shopping nationalities), one key trend continues to stand out: ‘how’ people shop in Duty Free is constantly evolving but ‘why’ they choose a product remains remarkably […]
Following on from our Q1 update, where travel is traditionally led by a more focused mix of business, family, and winter sun travellers, the travel retail landscape now begins to shift as we move into Q2. Generally speaking, Q2 represents a clear transition point, with passenger volumes building, traveller intent evolving, and a broader, more […]
In Travel Retail we often think about purchases in two ways: buying for yourself or buying a gift. However, between these two occasions, there is also another major dynamic – the ‘share occasion’, which embodies elements of both self-indulgence and gifting. For example, the share occasion retains many of the defining elements of self-purchase, particularly around […]
