
Galiano Gifts after transformation
TRANSFORMATION RESULTS
Total gift category sales went up 30% the following year. $96,255 to be exact.
Gift sales per enplaned passenger went up to $2.15 in 2009 from $1.86 the year prior, then continued to increase to $2.81 in 2010.
LOCATION AND SIZE
Vancouver International Airport
South Terminal, Richmond, BC
620 SQ. FT.
GOALS
- Increase sales of higher margin goods to increase store profits
- Create a selling space that invited passengers to shop, and in the process encourage repeat visits for passengers who often fly out of South Terminal
CHALLENGES
- Carefully curate merchandise categories to fit passenger shopping behaviour and preferences
- Create an updated space where appeal will extend to gift items rather than low margin lottery goods

Galiano Gifts before transformation (as Skyway Gifts and News
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Back wall before transformation
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Cash desk before transformation
After operating in the Vancouver International Airport for 10 years, Skyway Gifts & News needed a new image and direction. We called upon Natalie for help and were immediately impressed by her professionalism and expertise.
During the initial consultation, Natalie told us what worked and what didn’t. She convinced us that we needed to rebrand our company in order to capitalize on new target markets. Natalie designed a new company logo along with corresponding colour schemes. She also reorganized the flow of the store and created a new fixture plan. Overnight, our business transformed from a standard sundries store into a specialty gifts boutique.
After renovations were completed, Natalie and her Retail Excellence team came in and merchandised the entire store. Plus, Natalie created a merchandising manual to help with the maintenance of the new store image. The cohesiveness of the new store (Galiano Gifts) along with new signage has created a shopping experience where customers love to spend time in the store and explore all the store has to offer. Customers commented on how inviting Galiano Gifts looked and that it put them in a shopping mood. Customer spending shifted to higher margin/higher priced products and multi item purchases. We have even built up a loyal customer following!
I highly recommend Natalie Tan to any new or existing retail business. Her ability to know what customers want and transform that want/need into a physical space with the “right mood” is what makes her an expert in her field.
– Melina Yu, Owner Operator, Skyway, Vancouver International Airport
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Left wall after transformation
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Right wall after transformation

Galiano Gifts front display