Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority Selects Hudson Group and Partners To Revamp BNA's News/Gift and Retail Concessions
East Rutherford, NJ - September 20, 2006 - Travel retailer Hudson Group and its partners have been selected to upgrade the news/gift and specialty retail concession program at Nashville International Airport (BNA).
As part of a long-awaited terminal renovation, the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) had requested proposals to enhance the airport's retail shopping amenities. The available spaces were grouped into two separate packages. Following a competitive bidding process, the authority awarded both packages - all the available retail space - to Hudson and its partners - J&B Enterprises, CBR, Inc. and Olympic Supply, Inc. The MNAA's Board of Commissioners announced its decision to award the 10-year contract to Hudson on Sept. 20.
Raul Regalado, President & CEO of the MNAA, said, "The Authority is eager to provide a full range of exciting shops and services for airport travelers and employees. Hudson Group has a proven track record for creating award-winning store designs, high levels of customer service, and appealing merchandise selections. Their proposal was successful because it was created in response to customer input regarding the concepts and merchandise travelers want most."
Joseph DiDomizio, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Hudson Group said: "We are delighted to be coming to Nashville. This is a new market for us, which we expect will generate additional revenues of some $200 million over the life of the contract.
"Hudson Group has a unique understanding of the products and services that the traveling public enjoys and expects, a fact that has been proven over and over again by our consistent record of enhancing the sales of previous operators. We are confident that we will do the same in Nashville," he added.
Hudson's winning proposal is a targeted mix of newsstands, bookstores and specialty retail concepts that are specifically designed to meet the airport's requirements while capturing the distinctive sounds, flavors and spirit of Nashville.
The lineup of stores includes:
- Seven Hudson News newsstands (with various themes, i.e., patriotic, music, mountain and museum)
- Two Rhythm Shine shoeshine stands (operated by J&B Enterprises)
- Two Hudson Booksellers/Papyrus locations
- A gourmet sweet shop (Godiva and Leon's Pralines)
- A golf apparel and memorabilia store (In Celebration of Golf)
- A combination toy and lifestyle store for kids and adults (Discovery Channel Airport Store and Kids Works)
- Designer sunglasses (Sunglass Hut)
- Upscale Native American jewelry, and trendy apparel for women and children (Spirit of the Red Horse, Radio Road and Fly Babies, operated by CBR, Inc.)
- Nashville Star (including Nashville Kitchen, Christmas in Nashville and Discover Nashville Music City boutiques)
- CMT (Country Music Television)
- Sony BMG (Music of every genre)
All of the stores have been custom designed with a décor that reflects the flavor, feel and culture of Nashville. Customers will immediately know that they are in Nashville and that the merchandise they want is easily available.
About Hudson Group: Hudson Group is a privately held corporation that operates more than 500 newsstands, bookstores and premier specialty retail shops in 66 airports and transportation terminals throughout North America. The company's flagship concept, Hudson News, is North America's only national newsstand brand. Under the familiar blue sign can be found the most complete selection of magazines in the aviation industry, along with newspapers and a wide variety of travelers' necessities, snacks and bottled soft drinks. Hudson Group specialty retail shops include such proprietary brands as Hudson Booksellers, Kids Works, Euro Cafe, $10/$15 Boutique, and more. Other national brands partnering with Hudson Group include Discovery Channel, CNN, Crabtree & Evelyn, Godiva Chocolatier, Roots, House of Blues, Sunglass Hut, Quiznos and Life Is good.
About Olympic Supply: Olympic Supply, Inc. has partnered with Hudson Group to run the Nashville concession program as the AMS-Olympic Nashville JV in both concession packages. The Joint Venture (JV) will operate all stores, with the exception of CBR, Inc.'s and Rhythm Shine's. The responsibilities of Olympic include management, administration, merchandising, recruiting and marketing. Additionally, Olympic is responsible for financing its proportionate share of the capital investment required of the JV to fund, develop, construct and operate the entire concession program.
Olympic has been operating multiple Olympic News news, gift, book and specialty retail concessions in BWI as a JV partner of Hudson since 2004. It has operated a wholesale business since 1991, distributing medical, janitorial and industrial supplies and equipment to hospitals, the US military as well as other governmental and institutional clients. The principals of Olympic, Terri and Sandy Roberts, bring a wealth of experience in sales, marketing and leadership to the joint venture program. Olympic is a Tennessee-certified DBE.
About CBR: CBR, Inc. has over 30 years of successful experience designing, developing and operating airport retail stores. Carol Howe, President and CEO, started the company. She opened her first store in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in the mid-1970's. Today, CBR operates over 60 stores in large hub airports across the United States. As a subtenant of Hudson, CBR, Inc. will be bringing three of their successful retail concepts that have won accolades across the country - Spirit of the Red Horse, Radio Road and Fly Babies. Spirit of the Red Horse is an award-winning and nationally known brand that is recognized as a premier source of Native America jewelry, gifts, apparel and souvenirs. Radio Road is a women's apparel store that specializes in trend-setting, fashionable and packable clothing and accessories for women travelers. Fly Babies features colorful and comfortable clothing for the smallest airline travelers, babies and toddlers. CBR, Inc. is a 100% DBE owned and operated company and they partner with the communities they serve
About J&B Enterprises: J&B Enterprises will be operating Rhythm Shine, a shoeshine stand located within Hudson News newsstands. J&B Enterprises has been an incumbent operator for over 25 years at Nashville International Airport. James Druett, President of J&B, has almost 50 years of business experience. As a subtenant in the Hudson News operations, Rhythm Shine will provide a valuable component of customer service to both airport passengers and employees.
About MNAA: The MNAA was established in 1970 and owns and operates the Nashville International and John C. Tune General Aviation Airports.