Harding+

Tomorrow is International Women's Day 2025, and to mark the occasion, DFNI interviewed our Marketing Director Katie Floyd to talk about her career in the travel retail sector. We also hosted a special panel event in our Bristol office, which ended up being one of the most engaging, well-attended internal events we've ever run, filled with insightful, challenging discourse. We're incredibly proud to have so many incredible women at Harding+, both on land and at sea, and we wish a very happy IWD to all of them and women everywhere. #Hardingretail #Hardingplus #Internationalwomensday #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction #travelretail #womenintravelretail #cruiseretail #cruise https://lnkd.in/emC_tXHB

We are excited to announce that Simon Luscombe will be joining Harding+ as our new Chief Financial Officer. A retail finance expert with leadership experience at Homebase and Hobbs, Simon joins to accelerate our financial strategy and customer transformation programme. Our CEO Chris Matthews shares, "Simon's expertise in financial strategy, efficiency, and innovation aligns perfectly with our vision for sustained, profitable growth." Simon replaces Bill Showalter, who has played a key role throughout his time at Harding+. With a strong leadership team in place, we are set to continue shaping the future of cruise retail. #Leadership #RetailGrowth #CruiseRetail

We recently launched an exciting sales incentive for our watch specialists onboard, with two lucky winners receiving a TAG Heuer Formula 1 watch, courtesy of Harding+.    The first winner, Savio Fernandes from Marella Explorer, attributed his success to encouraging guests to physically try on the watches. He found that once guests experienced the look and feel of the timepieces on their wrists, they were far more engaged and likely to make a purchase. By creating an interactive and personalized shopping experience, Savio was able to build confidence in the product, enhance customer interest, and ultimately drive higher sales.   Our second winner, Kunaldeep Thapa from Marella Discovery 1, said he loves showing guests the craftsmanship, innovation, and passionate stories behind each timepiece. He encourages every guest to purchase a TAG Heuer watch to be part of this amazing journey.   Congratulations to our winners!

We shared at the end of last year that we had been shortlisted for two Retail Week Awards, one of which is the Specialty Retailer Award - recognising retailers that are leading the way in innovation, transformation, and customer experience. As the only 100% dedicated cruise retailer, we are redefining shopping at sea, creating immersive retail experiences that turn shopping into a highlight of the cruise journey. Over the past 12 months, we’ve continued to push the boundaries of cruise retail delivering curated luxury and design-led originality. We have also strengthened industry collaboration with our first Supplier Conference and enhanced guest experience through a new onboard learning programme. Cruise retail offers a unique opportunity to engage guests in ways no other retail channel can, and our focus on innovation, insight, and strategic partnerships continues to set the standard for the industry. A huge thank you to our incredible team for helping us make every cruise better. #CruiseRetail #RetailWeekAwards #SpecialtyRetail #AwardNomination

Cruise retail delivers ‘sense of place’ like no other - seamlessly tailoring ranges to each itinerary and creating deeper guest memories along the way.    It’s no surprise, then, that personalisation and exclusives are on the rise, with brands looking to create lasting connections to the journey. Independent research shows that almost half of cruise guests shop on impulse, actively seeking one-of-a-kind products they can’t find elsewhere.    From cruise line-branded clothing to bespoke jewellery inspired by destinations, exclusivity is making waves. Personalising and engraving premium spirits bottles for one brand drove a 200% sales increase for the featured product, and a 120% uplift across their wider brand portfolio.    It’s an exciting time to think creatively and deliver something truly unique -because onboard retail should never be ordinary.    Want to see our latest ‘trends for the year’ insights? Check the link in the comments.

We’re proud to announce that Patrick Molloy, our U.S. Senior Vice President, has been appointed to the IAADFS Board of Directors - a well-deserved recognition of his leadership and nearly three decades of expertise in global travel retail. As a representative of the cruise retail sector, Pat brings valuable expertise and perspective to the board, ensuring that the unique opportunities and challenges within cruise retail are well represented in industry discussions. Pat’s appointment comes just ahead of the Summit of the Americas in early March where industry leaders will come together to connect, exchange insights, and shape the future of travel retail. Congratulations, Pat!    #CruiseRetail #TravelRetail #IAADFS #SummitOfTheAmericas #Leadership #CruiseIndustry

Fantastic day visiting three stunning cruise ships! A huge thank you to the incredible store teams on board for taking the time to guide us round. So many great ideas to elevate the guest experience even further—exciting times ahead! Linzi Walker Jason Archibald Claire Mclennan Clare Wetz Joanne Cooke Katie Floyd Thomas Savage Stewart McMillan Daniel Jackson #CruiseRetail #GuestExperience #Teamwork

Super Bowl fever hit the high seas.....to celebrate the big game and engage with our American football fans onboard, we challenged guests across seven of our Carnival Cruise Line ships to join our "We Bet You Can Win Too" competition. With every transaction made, guests had the chance to predict the winning team before the game then joined us to celebrate at a post-game party in the Liquor store. Three lucky winners from the winning team’s box were selected and surprised with a range of exciting prizes.    It’s another way we’re delivering interactive and fun moments for our guests onboard. By offering engaging retail activations and exclusive offers, we’re committed to making every cruise better.

We are thrilled to be part of the Retail Days at this year’s Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami this April. The Retail Days programme is returning, highlighting the fast-growing importance of retail and its vital role in enhancing the guest experience. This event promises an action-packed few days filled with industry insights, innovations, and thought-provoking guest speakers. With cruise retail evolving rapidly, we’re excited to be part of the conversation. #SeatradeCruiseGlobal #CruiseRetail #TravelRetail #Networking #CruiseIndustry

Does Travel Retail Really know it's customers? In Cruise, we absolutely do. Last week’s debate at the European Travel Retail Confederation (ETRC) Business Forum questioned whether travel retail truly understands "who is coming through the door"—but in cruise retail, and at Harding+, we know exactly who our guests are today, tomorrow, and even six months from now. Cruise retail is data-rich. We see a diverse mix of frequent and first-time cruisers, with over 75% of trips spanning multiple generations and a steadily declining average guest age. This depth of insight allows us to buy, plan, and market with precision—aligning the “who” with the “what,” “when,” and “how” of shopping on board. No retail environment offers a clearer view of guest behaviour and trends than cruise. That’s why we also challenge the notion that travel retail isn’t trend-setting. The more we understand our guests, the better we anticipate and shape future demand. Airport retail faces different challenges, and we respect the push for change discussed in the forum. But for brands looking to truly connect with their audience and innovate, cruise retail is where investment and attention in travel retail should grow. #CruiseRetail #GuestInsight #TravelRetail #RetailInnovation