WiTR, the Women in Travel Retail networking group which is now connecting more than 500 women in the duty free and travel retail industry, has launched its own dedicated website and is inviting all women in the industry to become members.
The organization has come a long way since it initially started some ten years ago when a small group of women met to form a female-only social network within the industry.
Over that period, WiTR has held networking sessions at most of the industry’s key events. These gatherings brought together women working in travel retail all over the world to exchange ideas, learn from the success of others and access opportunities through new contacts. In addition, with generous contributions from many companies and individuals, the group has raised close to £250,000 for children’s charities nominated by women from the industry.
The new website is a direct response to WiTR’s growth, combined with increasing interest in the opportunities and challenges for women in the duty free and travel retail industry.
The WiTR network extends across the globe and ranges from those entering the industry to those at the top. Due to its growth, there will now be a membership fee of £25 to join, with the money going to cover annual administrative costs.
The modest fee reflects WiTR’s desire to make membership affordable for all. The website also offers advertising and branding opportunities. The organization plans to donate any surplus income to WiTR’s chosen charity each year.
The website was developed by the founding group of women working with PR agency FILTR, which generously sponsored its development.
The website address is: http://www.womenintr.com.
Members are encouraged to contribute to enriching its content, making the site a real reflection of issues and interests of the women in the industry.
Those joining WiTR will need a PayPal account, which can easily be set up during the registration process if you do not already have one.
Desigual charity calendar
One of the first new initiatives of WiTR since the launch of the website is a 2018 Calendar created by Desigual, who partnered with WiTR to raise money for WiTR’s 2018 charity.
Continuing on from its hugely popular interviews with key women in the duty free and travel retail industry that ran on The MoodieDavitt Report last year, the Spanish fashion house invited women from the WiTR network to be featured in the calendar, which is now available through the website for £15, (payments by PayPal only please).
The list of “models” featured in the calendar includes women from a variety of sectors in the industry, on different continents and at varying stages of their careers.
The photoshoot took place on Desigual’s stand during TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes in October.
Aurore Rezzoagli, Global Travel Retail Marketing Manager, Desigual comments: “Desigual is delighted to partner with Women in Travel Retail for the first-of-its-kind WiTR desktop calendar. As one of the leading female-focused fashion brands in the industry, we pursue a mission to ‘Make Women in Travel Retail Happy’; be that travelers or industry executives. Working on this project with so many dynamic and inspiring women of the industry was amazing fun and the energy, passion and commitment of the models is truly reflected in the end product. The 2018 calendar is for a great cause, so I’d encourage as many people – women or men – to purchase a calendar for themselves or as a gift, and help support WiTR’s 2018 selected charity.“
“Sales of this calendar will give a brilliant kick start to WiTR’s fundraising activities in 2018. We are very grateful to Desigual for its continuing support of the WiTR network,” says Gerry Munday (Furla), WiTR’s Vice Chair.
For more details, or to join WITR, please visit www.womenintr.com
