'DSF is our main promotional activity of the year"

1.1651882-4059732756 — Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman, Dubai Duty Free Image Credit: Gulf News Archives

Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman, Dubai Duty Free

“DSF is definitely one of the biggest shopping events that people from all over the world look forward to and it certainly adds substantial value to all segments specially the retail sectors.

"Dubai Duty Free is the first and last place that DSF visitors have a chance to purchase from and our job is to ensure that we sell to at least 50 per cent of all travelers, so with the increase in DSF passengers, our sales should increase and this is the case.

“There have been a lot of changes in passengers’ spending habits over the many years during DSF.

"Earlier, people used to buy mostly the duty free staples such as perfumes. Now passengers have a very high expectation of travel retail and expect to be able to buy almost everything you could think of – such as gold, jewellery, high end fashion etc.

"The purchase of electronic goods has also risen dramatically and we find that travelers expect to find the latest products on our shelves even if they are not yet launched in the local market."

Burhan Al Hashemi, Managing Director of ENOC Retail

“DSF is particularly special to us, as it helps us get a fast start to the year, driving continuous strong sales growth year on year.

“The Nissan and Infiniti Raffles are very popular amongst consumers. We usually also see an increase in sales across our fresh-offer Pronto and ‘on-the-go’ food and beverages.

"During DSF, we generally see a 10 per cent to 15 per cent increase in visitors to our petrol stations, which is a substantial number, taking into account the large consumer base that we have.

“DSF is our main promotional activity of the year. Most of the regional customers taking part in our activities during DSF come from the GCC, the Asian Subcontinent and Eastern Europe.

"Traditionally, as many of the visitors from Saudi Arabia and Oman drive their own vehicles, they become customers of our service stations and are thus exposed to our DSF offers.”

Sarvesh Sarup, Global Head of Retail Banking, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

“The Dubai Festivals mobile app, powered by ADIB, will allow visitors to find the best DSF offers on the go. ADIB customers who subscribe via the Dubai Festivals Mobile app can receive up to 10 per cent cashback on the ADIB Visa Cashback cards spend during the festival, in addition to other benefits.

“ADIB is focused on enhancing its customer’s banking experience and as our customers increasingly utilise mobile technology, we believe the new app will improve the customer’s ability to take advantage of the various promotions that will be offered throughout the month for them.

“We expect to see a continuation of the increasing trend of card payments as opposed to cash [during the DSF]. Consumers will choose cards based on their rewards programmes, miles programmes and payment parameters in order to maximise their value."

Vishesh Bhatia, CEO, Jumbo Group

“As one of the most anticipated retail events in the world since its inception, DSF has played an instrumental role in raising Dubai’s profile globally as a city that is home to the best brands, outlets, malls, and entertainment.

"We are proud to once again be part of the season this year and providing Jumbo with a strong platform for growth.

“DSF 2015 brought about a sales increase of 15 per cent for Jumbo, and an increase of 10 per cent in comparison to the average sales month. In the 2016 edition of DSF, we are anticipating a similar growth pattern.”

Fuad Mansoor Sharaf, Senior Director – Property Development, Shopping Malls for Majid Al Futtaim

“As a strategic partner of the Dubai Shopping Festival for more than two decades, Majid Al Futtaim sees DSF as a platform for innovation that enables us to exceed our visitors’ expectations in delivering first looks at new fashion collections, compelling entertainment, and dynamic family and winning experiences.

“DSF is a crucial part of how we continue to deliver great moments for everyone, every day in our destinations after more than twenty years of partnership with the festival.

"[Each of our malls] will each host unrivalled experiences that will excite and reward customers, whether they are frequent visitors or tourists from the wider region as well as emerging markets.”