USA. DutyFreeZone.com has opened early registration for vendors, premium brands and suppliers ahead of the launch of its online duty-free ecommerce platform.
Positioned as what it claims will be the ‘world’s first true global online duty-free marketplace’, the website is currently under construction and is scheduled to go live this autumn.
Founded by Florida-based entrepreneur Reynald Grattagliano, the platform was originally established in 1998, and is now undergoing a major upgrade.
The company noted that duty-free retail has long been concentrated in airports, cruise ports and border crossings, where access to premium tax-free pricing has depended on travel, geography and passenger traffic.
Against this backdrop, the revamped site will allow customers to purchase premium products at duty-free or duty-free-equivalent prices from a range of vendors, with delivery available to their home countries where permitted, the company claimed.
The company added that global brands are increasingly seeking innovative sales channels, as traditional retail models come under pressure from evolving consumer behaviour, global uncertainty and shifting travel patterns.
DutyFreeZone.com is described by its creators as a more resilient, digital-first model that is borderless, always accessible and open 24/7, allowing it to be reachable anywhere in the world. By reducing its reliance on airport foot traffic, the platform is designed to operate beyond the constraints of traditional travel retail, the company noted.
DutyFreeZone.com aims to combine the visual style of leading luxury marketplaces with the pricing advantages of duty-free retail.
It will feature key categories, including fashion & accessories, leathergoods, fragrances, watches & jewellery, beauty, spirits, non-alcoholic drinks, food & confectionery, travel essentials and lifestyle products.
Early participating brands may benefit from preferred category placement, first-mover visibility, launch campaign exposure, global customer reach, long-term strategic positioning, direct-to-consumer opportunities, and new cross-border sales channels.
As reported, DutyFreeZone.com was founded in 1998, based on the Caribbean island of Curaçao. At that time, Grattagliano claimed he was buying inventory from thousands of vendors and shipping 5,000 orders daily to consumers all over the world.
By 2014, annual turnover had reached US$200 million. However, with competition from ecommerce giants such as Amazon, Grattagliano said that he was left with too much unsold merchandise and the business became unprofitable.
Grattagliano outlined revamp plans in 2020, targeting the COVID-19-hit travel retail sector through an alternative sales channel. He envisioned the platform as an intermediary marketplace, enabling brands and operators to operate their own virtual stores while handling customs clearance and logistics, and the platform would earn a 15% commission on sales.
The company said, “DutyFreeZone.com was born from one simple question: why should duty-free shopping be limited to travellers in airports?
“We believe the future belongs to a smarter, more accessible model where consumers everywhere can enjoy premium brands, better pricing, and global convenience. We are building that future now.”
