One year after taking over as Executive Director of the Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA), Barbara Barrett tells TMI that the Canadian land border duty free association is prioritizing the return of the Visitor Rebate Program. In 2007, Canada became the first country in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to cancel its […]
FDFA
Sault Ste. Marie Duty Free: Fishing for partners in the North
In TMI’s continuing series on the Gold Standard winners of the Frontier Duty Free Association for 2018, Sault Ste. Marie Duty Free Store nabbed the top Marketing award by taking partnership marketing to a new level in order to increase its day to day customer base. Located on the Canadian side of the International Bridge […]
FDFA 2018 General Operators Meeting opening session: FDFA President Abe Taqtaq reviews past year with pride and optimism
FDFA President Abe Taqtaq, of Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Duty Free Shop, opened the 2018 Operator General meeting with a very upbeat welcome. “This year I am more excited and optimistic to open our meeting knowing what is in store for the FDFA future,” he said, discussing the enthusiasm and accomplishments of the current Board of Directors, which was elected two […]
IGL Duty Free wins FDFA’s Best New Idea Award with WeChat/Alipay options
Montreal-based Importations Guay Ltee. (IGL) won the Best New Idea Award at the Frontier Duty Free Association’s Gold Standard Awards at its annual convention in Toronto last week by introducing payment options for its growing base of Chinese customers. IGL, which has seen an influx of Chinese visitors over the past several years with […]
New FDFA Executive Director spells out programs and goals
Barbara Barrett, the FDFA’s new Executive Director, enthusiastically greeted the association’s operator members, before updating them on Communications, Stakeholder Relations, Member Outreach and Government Relations. “Your board has accomplished so much; it is a thrill to work with this board. And I am really looking forward to work with the rest of you (the members) and get to […]
FDFA Convention welcomes new format and director
The 2018 Frontier Duty Free Convention, which took place Nov. 3-7 in Toronto, was a watershed event for Canada’s duty free association. It ushered in a new format in a new venue as well as welcoming a new Executive Director and a highly-respected public affairs agency. The new format is a process, explained FDFA vice president […]
FDFA’s new Executive Director discusses Advocacy and Future for TR industry in Canada
One on One with Barbara Barrett, FDFA Executive Director The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) announced a new strategic direction for its land border duty free association in August when it appointed Barbara Barrett as the association’s new Executive Director and appointed advocacy firm Impact Public Affairs to be a proactive advocacy voice in Ottawa. […]
FDFA announces “new strategic direction” with appointment of advocacy firm and executive director
The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) Board of Directors has appointed Barbara Barrett to serve as the association’s new executive director. She replaces Laurie Karson, who left the role last September after 12 years at the helm of the industry association. Barrett brings over 20 years of high level public affairs expertise to FDFA. She […]
FDFA’s new convention format to tap into supplier expertise to build brands
According to FDFA vice president Tania Lee, one of the owners of the award winning Blue Water Bridge Duty Free Shop in Ontario, Canada, the new format of the Canadian Association’s annual convention will focus on newness and innovation, and will tap into their suppliers’ expertise to deliver these objectives. Lee says that a great […]
FDFA: Changing direction and starting with a clean slate
Canada’s Frontier Duty Free Association is in transition. The Board’s decision to eliminate the role of executive director last September is just one facet of the new direction being taken by the Association, which hosted its 32nd annual convention in November. For the foreseeable future, the FDFA has streamlined its operations and will be focusing […]
FDFA announces management change: Executive Director Laurie Karson leaves Canadian Association
The Board of Directors of the Frontier Duty Free Association has announced the departure of Executive Director, Laurie Karson, in September. Karson joined FDFA in April 2005. The FDFA will continue to move forward in a positive direction and will organize a successful FDFA Convention in Montreal in November 2017, says the official announcement. In […]
FDFA will continue own stand-alone convention, announces three year run in Toronto
The Frontier Duty Free Association (FDFA) has announced it will continue to run its own stand-alone convention for the next three years at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto, while pledging to update the format to add more value. Next March the IAADFS and ASUTIL will integrate their two annual events into one joint Summit […]
Canadian duty free sales up in 2016
Canada’s duty free sales were up in both airport and land border stores in 2016, according to the latest figures from the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA). Airport duty free sales were $407 million in 2016, rising approximately 8% versus 2015 sales. December sales increased 15%. Perfume, Cosmetics, Skincare, the number one category in Canada’s […]
Canada July duty free sales up
Canada’s duty free sales were up at both airport and land border stores in July 2016, according to the latest numbers from the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA). Airport sales were $39 million for the month, rising 19% versus July 2015. Through the first seven months airport sales are $220 million, an increase of 6.9%. […]
Canadian land border sales up, airport falls in June 2016
Canada’s land border duty free sales rose 6% in June 2016, while the country’s airport duty fee sales reversed a long-term trend and fell 5% for the month, according to the latest figures from the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA). However, the airport sales are being compared to highly successful June 2015, when sales were up […]
