Travel retail networking/charity group Women in Travel Retail has reached a stage in its development where the group will formally organize, and will be launching a dedicated website in September created by Singapore based agency FILTR.
Since its inception in 2006 WiTR has raised over €100,000 for charities globally. With a network now in excess of 500 industry women, WiTR has now been registered as a formal entity with Companies House, UK.
“When we started this group ten years ago, we never for one minute thought it would grow to this size and have been responsible for changing so many lives through its fund raising,” says founder Sarah Branquinho. “It’s come to the point now where we really feel it’s necessary to put WiTR on a formal basis in order to enable us to expand WiTR to a wider audience and deliver a live forum for information, discussion, ideas and debate through the new website.”
In order to cover the running costs of the company and website, WiTR membership will be based on a modest annual membership fee.
“We’re very grateful to FILTR for putting the website together for us,” said Branquinho. “Before it goes live in September, we are inviting the current WiTR network to give us input via a survey link on the format and content of the web-site which will have a members-only section; we have a very en-
thusiastic networking group already and welcome feedback on the sort of information that women in travel retail would like to see included.
“It’s a really exciting time for WiTR and we’ll be making further announcements regarding the structure and officers in due course,” says Gerry Munday of Furla, who has worked with Branquinho to bring the group to this level.
The next WiTR meeting will take place in Singapore on May 8, at the TFWA Asia Pacific Bar immediately after the opening conference finishes.
Last year, WiTR raised funds for classrooms at the Sunrise Siem Reap Learning Centre in Cambodia, and has designated the charity for more fundraising this year.
