DFS Group has built up a strong presence in the New Zealand travel retail market.

In September 2018, the world’s leading travel retailer unveiled its upscale T Galleria store in the heritage-listed Customs House building in Auckland. The opening was anchored by  major beauty event – Open Up Your Horizons – featuring leading prestige brands such as Lancôme and La Mer. 

New Zealand experienced one of the toughest lockdowns in the world during the Covid-19 pandemic. But since the beginning of this year, tourist numbers have been climbing steadily, notably from Australia. 

Queenstown is a key holiday hotspot year-round and DFS Group is debuting a new 1800 square metre store in the South Island destination on October 29th. 

Offering more than 120 brands, the launch marks the introduction of DFS Group’s Resort Galleria concept in New Zealand, which is currently being rolled out worldwide. The store will also include 40 brands exclusively available in the Queenstown store.

Housed in the renovated O’Connells shopping complex, the new store will showcase such prestige beauty brands as Christian Dior and La Mer and home-grown skincare and wellness brands including Antipodes and Welmark. 

DFS claims that its new outlet will be “the first and only department store in Queenstown”. 

In addition to leading beauty and wellness brands, travellers can also browse through luxe fashions, accessories, wines, watches and jewellery. 

“We are very excited to introduce, for the first time in Queenstown, a carefully curated selection of the best in luxury retail and the finest local products, further enhancing the reputation and appeal of this beautiful destination”, added Prashant Mahboobani, Vice President of Retail Operations Oceania, DFS Group.