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 Welcome to the retail division's web site. The retail division has grown
substantially over the past few years and is poised for further growth over
the next few. Having secured a strong UK market share the business has
developed an expertise in the buying habits of US passengers through the
successful launch of the Queen Mary 2 and the luxury fleets of Seabourn
Yachts and Silver Seas Cruise lines.
Our retail team has been strengthened considerably during the recent past.
We have appointed as Chairman Barry Gibson, one of the biggest names in duty
free retailing as a former retail director of BAA plc. Following Barry's
appointment we have appointed as Director of Buying Alyson Reilly, former
Buying Director for World Duty Free. Alyson has now reduced her role to that of Consultant and her day to day responsibilities have been taken on by a new appointee, Brian Smith. We have also strengthened the Area
Manager resource of the company with the appointment of Mark Birnie as Retail Operations Manager who
spent much time at sea managing very large Royal Caribbean vessels and two
of our own managers Jason Archibald and Nathalie Belunza. Nathalie has also
taken on the role of retail training manager at our newly opened Academy in
Southampton.
Alyson and Brian have reorganized the buying function and Dave Whitmey a veteran of
many years at Hardings has assumed a merchandising role. Brian now has a
team of six reporting to him with between them many years experience either
at sea or in land based retail operations. Brian's appointment was
primarily aimed at fulfilling our retail strategy - to make the range we
offer in any retail outlet relevant to ship, cruise line, passenger,
itinerary and season. Given the replenishment seasonal buying cycle
challenges this was a big task, one that the team are tackling with a great
deal of enthusiasm and energy. The results are also showing through.
The interaction between the buying and area manager teams has also been
assisted by them moving into new shared premises in Avonmouth which will keep communication lines short.
We have seen the successful launch of a number of new ranges over the past
year, some of which have never operated at sea before and whom we have
worked together with to overcome the operational difficulties. Often the
cruise lines themselves have been integrally involved in these negotiations
and the three way partnership has served to overcome the difficulties very
well. The end result is great exposure for the brands, a broader and more
interesting passenger offering whilst fitting in to the economic models
within which we and the cruise lines operate. Examples of this have been
Hermes, Chopard, Racing Green and Bijoux Terner to name but a few.
Company History
The Harding Brothers group of companies was founded over sixty years ago and has traditionally offered a range of goods and services to the Shipping Industry.
From its inception as a ships' business, the group has successfully expanded into a number of related activities and today comprises three main areas of activity:
- The provision of on-board health and beauty spa services
- The operation of on board tax- and duty-free retail environments
- Ships' chandlers
 Click here to visit our Corporate web site for more information
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