Alpha Future to sell Indian art at airports

Kolkata: Alpha Future, the 50:50 joint venture between Alpha Airports of the UK and the Future Group, is planning standalone stores at airports — ranging from 500 sq ft to 1,000 sq ft — to showcase Indian art and culture.
According to industry sources, the overall market in “destination merchandise” among the top five airports in the country could amount to Rs 100-150 crore and it being an unexplored area, Alpha Future sees immense opportunities in this space. When contacted by DNA Money, Future Group officials were tight-lipped about this.
Sources indicated that though the modalities are yet to be in place, Alpha Future is looking to sell the concept to airport operators as standalone stores, which will mainly sell shawls, carpets, Indian jewellery, paintings, wood-carved artefacts, etc.
Departure lounges are the likely target areas for destination merchandise since travellers generally want to carry Indian artifacts when they leave the country.
31/01/07 Madhumita Mookerji/Daily News & Analysis

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