Airports Are One Place E-Commerce Can’t Touch

Since e-commerce took off, all but the best stores have watched the number of shoppers slow to a trickle. Foot traffic continues to drop at suburban malls in the US and on UK high streets, while even historically frenzied shopping days such as Black Friday have quieted down as more consumers do their buying online. One segment that’s flourished by drawing record numbers of shoppers into physical stores, however, is airport retail. Because air travel is more accessible than ever to the average person, hordes of tourists are commuting through airports with time to kill and money to spend before flights. For international travelers, the option of shopping duty free is an added bonus, one that’s been particularly beneficial to luxury companies. Read more at Quartz.