DFS Group

DFS Group
Subsidiary of LVMH
Industry Travel retail
Founded 7 November 1960 (1960-11-07) in Hong Kong
Founders
Headquarters 8/F, Chinachem Golden Plaza, 77 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
  • Philippe Schaus
    (Chairman and CEO)
  • Sibylle Scherer
    (President, Merchandising and Consumer Marketing)
  • Mark James
    (Chief Financial Officer)
  • Tim Delessio
    (President, Store Operations)
  • Andrew Webster
    (EVP, Human Resources)
Products Consumer goods
Number of employees
 9000+
Website www.dfsgroup.com
www.dfs.com
www.tgalleria.com

DFS ("DFS Group") is a Hong Kong based travel retailer of luxury products. Established in 1960, its network consists of duty-free stores stores located in 17 major airports and 18 downtown Galleria stores,[1][2] as well as resort locations worldwide. It is privately held and majority owned by the luxury conglomerate Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), alongside DFS co-founder and shareholder Robert Miller. As of January 11, 1997, DFS Group operates as a subsidiary of LVMH.[3]

It is headquartered in Tsim Sha Tsui East, Hong Kong and has offices in Hawaii, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. DFS Group employs over 9,000 people, operating in 14 countries worldwide. As of 2016, over 200 million travellers visited DFS stores.[4]

History

Beginnings

In 1960, American entrepreneurs Charles Feeney[5] and Robert Miller[6] founded Tourists International, which later became Duty Free Shoppers (DFS), in Hong Kong. The entrepreneurs anticipated the growing spending power of military servicemen as well as the rise of international travelers from Asia, following vast improvements in international air travel after World War II. In 1962, two DFS stores were opened at the international airports in Hong Kong and Honolulu, the first duty-free shop in the United States.[7] In 1966, Alan M. Parker and Anthony M. Pilaro joined the DFS as partners.

Expansion and re-branding

In the 1960s and 1970s DFS Group significantly expanded their operation in Asia and North America. DFS capitalized on the rising wave of Asian tourists who began to travel further overseas, opening stores in international airports and later in downtown locations where travelers could shop and have their purchases delivered before departure.[8] In 1968, DFS opened its first downtown duty-free store in Kowloon, Hong Kong, followed shortly thereafter by Honolulu and eventually expanding to 14 locations all over the world.[9] In 2005, branded halls opened in Okinawa, Japan launching a new shop-in-shop concept for DFS Gallerias.[10] In 2010, DFS University was established for enhancing expertise of the employees .

In 2013 DFS reached 420 locations worldwide and undertook a major branding initiative setting the stage for the next generation of expansion. It re-branded its downtown Galleria Stores “T Galleria”[11] and moved to a strategy of localization for airports, working with local suppliers to increase its mix of “destination” products. In 2015 DFS opened its first transformational wines and spirits duplex store at Singapore Changi Airport, including a raffles long bar.[12] In the year, It also launched T Galleria Beauty by DFS, a standalone beauty concept store in Hong Kong and Macau.[13]

In 2016 DFS expanded its operation opening T Galleria Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia and shoe hall at the T Galleria by DFS, City of Dreams in Macau.,[14][15] also announced its plan to hit Europe opening its first T Galleria shop at Fondaco dei Tedeschi in Venice, Italy.[16]

Philippe Schaus serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DFS Group, and a member of the LVMH Executive Committee.[17][18] He joined DFS in 2011 as Group President, Merchandising and Marketing, and was appointed to his current role in 2012.[19]

Acquisition

In 1996, LVMH acquired the majority share of DFS Group,[20] buying out Feeney, Parker, and Pilaro and setting a new focus on the combined elements of travel and luxury.[21] It developed a merchandising strategy based around three core “pillars” - Beauty, Fragrances and Well-being ; Fashion, Watches, Jewelry and Accessories; Fashion and Spirits, Wine, Tobacco, Food and Gifts – and a new tagline, “The Traveler’s Luxury Department Store”. It also created an annual “Masters Series”, showcasing the best products across all its categories that convene leading brand representatives, top customers, media and industry analysts in a celebration of luxury. In 2004, the company moved its headquarter to Hong Kong from San Francisco, California as part of a corporate restructure.

Locations

DFS Group has been operating around 420 duty-free stores at 17 international airports, 18 downtown Galleria stores, as well as resort locations in 14 countries around the world. The DFS stores locations[22][23] are as follows;

Asia and Pacific Islands

Middle East

North America

Europe

Australia and New Zealand

Awards and recognition

In 2012, DFS won the Hong Kong International Airport retail concession in all three core categories.[26] In 2015 DFS Group was awarded "Best Technology Platform" under the Best Treasury and Finance Strategies in Asia Pacific category at The Corporate Treasurer Awards.[27] In 2016 it received the 19th Duty-Free News International (DFNI) Asia/Pacific Awards for Travel-Retail Excellence.[28]

References

  1. ↑ "DFS Group launches "T Galleria", its new store concept for international travellers". 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  2. ↑ "Shop DFS - Premium Tax Free". Retrieved 2016-09-28.
  3. ↑ "History of DFS Group Ltd. – FundingUniverse". www.fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  4. ↑ CNN, By Dave Johnston, for. "20 best franchises for travelers - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  5. ↑ Bertoni, Steven. "Chuck Feeney: The Billionaire Who Is Trying To Go Broke". Forbes. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  6. ↑ "Robert Miller Profile | Hong Kong Tatler". Hong Kong Tatler. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  7. ↑ "DFS History | Robert Miller | Charles Feeney | DFS Group Ltd". www.dfsgroup.com. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  8. ↑ "History of DFS Group Ltd.". Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Philippe Schaus of DFS on Tapping the Growing Travel Retail Market". The Business of Fashion. December 12, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  10. ↑ "DFS extends T Galleria roll-out to Okinawa". DFNI. April 23, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  11. ↑ "LVMH-Owned DFS Group Unveils T Galleria Hong Kong | Jing Daily". 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  12. ↑ "DFS Group announces ground-breaking move into Europe in historic Venice". Moodie Davitt Report. September 14, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  13. ↑ "DFS Group goes experiential with beauty". September 18, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  14. ↑ "DFS opens T Galleria in historical Angkor Wat". DFNI. March 22, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  15. ↑ "City of Dreams and DFS Group Present the Most Unique, Eye-Opening Luxury Retail Experience in Macau". Yahoo Finance. June 24, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  16. ↑ "'Interaction, engagement, experience': DFS Group unveils second Singapore Changi Airport Wines and Spirits Duplex". Moodie Davitt Report. July 27, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Philippe Schaus - DFS Group – LVMH". Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Philippe Schaus set to speak at Trinity Forum". TR Business. August 21, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Overcoming the Hierarchical Silences". The New York Times. February 18, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  20. ↑ Strom, Stephanie (1996-10-30). "LVMH to Buy Duty-Free Empire for $2.47 Billion". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  21. ↑ Nordheimer, Jon (March 12, 1997). "Millions of Dollars Couldn't Keep DFS Group Together". The New York Times. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  22. ↑ "T Galleria | DFS Galleria | DFS Group Ltd". www.dfsgroup.com. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  23. ↑ "DFS Airport | DFS Group Ltd". www.dfsgroup.com. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  24. ↑ "Furla teams up with DFS to open store at Siem Reap T Galleria - The Moodie Davitt Report". 2016-07-07. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  25. ↑ Chan, Vinicy. "LVMH's DFS Group Plans To Open First Europe Shop in 2016". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2016-07-08.
  26. ↑ "DFS Awarded Three Concessions at Hong Kong International Airport". June 19, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Thomson Reuters and DFS Group Recognized at Corporate Treasurer Awards 2015". March 16, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  28. ↑ "DFS Group awarded top prizes at DFNI Asia-Pacific Awards". May 11, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2016.

External links

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