Tintamar Targets Asia

How well-represented is Tintamar in the travel retail channel in the Asia Pacific?
Tintamar is quite well-represented in travel retail in the Asia Pacific region, as Asia has always been a very important and strategic market for the brand from the beginning. Tintamar is available on-board almost all major Asian airlines including Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Asiana, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, EVA, Thai Airways, Qantas and others. The brand is also distributed in duty free shops at Hong Kong, Macau, Haneda, Bangkok and Manila airports as well as at the Shilla Duty Free in downtown Seoul and KingPower in downtown Bangkok.

What percentage of the brand’s business is derived from the region?
About 45 per cent of Tintamar‘s travel retail business comes from Asia. It is our biggest market and the strategy is to strengthen the brand’s presence and increase its sales in the region.

Do you plan to secure any new listings in the Asia Pacific this year?
Our goal is to be listed on the few remaining major airlines where we are not yet present, such as Korean Air and Japan Airlines. We also aim to be distributed in more duty free shops in airports and downtown stores. For instance, we are in discussions with Singapore Changi Airport and Lotte Duty Free in Seoul. The launch of the brand in the mainland Chinese market is also
part of our strategy and goal for the coming months.

Which are your bestselling products in travel retail in the region?
The Very Intelligente Pocket (VIP) is our bestseller in the region. It is a pouch in various sizes that holds all the precious items you transfer from bag to bag like keys, passport, USB, wallet, pens, make-up and so on. It comes in a fabulous palette of colours and patterns and in a range of materials such as nylon, soft leather, patent and even velvet for special occasions so it is very versatile, lightweight and practical but also very attractive.
The Easy Travel Vanity, with its three transparent zipped compartments that keep all your toiletries clean, dry and easy to find, is proving very popular. It makes a great gift for anyone who travels on business or holiday and this year, we have refined the design a bit and introduced more colours.
The Jewel Bag is also beginning to get the attention it deserves as a very practical and secure way to carry your necklaces, bracelets and other pieces, without them getting tangled or lost.
The Bag&Roll foldaway tote is also a perfect item for the travel retail channel — it’s light and strong and can be tucked away in your handbag or suitcase when not required — and it is selling very well.

What are the buying patterns of the Asian consumer? How do they vary with consumers from the rest of the world?
There are actually distinct colour preferences in certain countries. For instance, in Thailand they like red and in China, fuchsia pink and plum colours are popular.
The Tintamar VIP remains a universal product which appeals to women in all Asian countries and, indeed, worldwide.
It is also popular with men who use it to hold wallet, tickets, keys, cables and chargers inside their holdall or laptop bag. These unisex products really do have a universal appeal because they make life easier in a functional yet attractive way.

Are you introducing any new collections at the TFWA Asia Pacific exhibition
in Singapore?
In addition to our new seasonal colours, Tintamar is bringing out an exclusive line for travel retail that includes an innovative bag concept — it’s far more than just a bag. We invite you to come and discover just how exciting this new concept is at our stand H10 in Singapore.
 

With Tintamar’s collections focusing heavily on user-friendliness, how do you strike a balance between fashion and functionality?
That is the ‘savoir-faire’ — the essence — of Tintamar. It is the DNA of our brand, marrying functionality and style through careful attention to the choice of materials, the accessories like buckles, zips and straps, the linings and so on.
 

You can be on your travels and still be on trend. What are the latest trends in travel bags?
The trend is more and more towards lightweight materials and a wide selection of colours from the vibrant to the more subtle natural shades. Buyers are also drawn to limited editions and Tintamar will be presenting at the show two beautiful limited edition collections on Savannah and Leopard themes for the new season.
 

How did the brand perform in the region in 2011?
Tintamar had a highly satisfactory year in 2011, and 2012 has started quite well.

What are your forecasts for 2012?
We have lots of new products in production and a new palette of colours for our successful lines, which will add zest to our collection so we anticipate very positive sales results this year.

Do you have any promotions planned for travel retail for the year?
Tintamar will be offering gift-with-purchase (GWP) promotions in strategic duty free shops, which are intended to create a buzz around the launch of our portfolio of new products.

What are your expansion plans for the year for the Asia Pacific region?
We will be consolidating our distribution network, bringing the new collection to our existing customer base and seeking to extend our distribution to more airports and airlines.