JCB and Bicester expand boost luxury shopping for Asian tourists

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Today, JCB International Co, Ltd, the global arm of JCB Co, Ltd, alongside Value Retail, the entity behind The Bicester Collection, have proudly declared the continuation of their collaborative efforts for an additional two years, building upon the fruitful initial three-year alliance. This enhanced collaboration will span eight premier shopping locations throughout Europe, bolstered by the surge in international tourism, thus unlocking further avenues for growth.

Since its inception in April 2019, this partnership has been instrumental in broadening the acceptance of JCB Cards across Europe, marking significant milestones in development. The journey began with welcoming JCB Cards in select boutiques within Bicester Village in London and La Vallée Village in Paris, eventually broadening its reach to more Villages across the continent. As of June 2023, this venture has seen a remarkable 51% annual growth in expenditures by JCB Cardholders at The Bicester Collection venues. Additionally, the network has grown to include a new location, Maasmechelen Village in Brussels.

This ongoing partnership not only facilitates increased card usage but also introduces enhanced promotional offers and savings exclusive to JCB Cardholders. This initiative is set to benefit the luxury Villages and their brand affiliates by attracting increased spending from JCB Cardmembers, particularly those hailing from high-spending regions in the Asia-Pacific area, including Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and South Korea. Furthermore, the emerging markets such as India, Vietnam, Laos, and Bahrain, showing significant spending growth, offer lucrative opportunities for brands looking to tap into new revenue sources. Thus, this partnership acts as a strategic platform for brands to connect with the affluent JCB Cardholder demographic, fostering a symbiotic relationship.

Ray Shinzawa, Managing Director, JCB International (Europe) Ltd, said: “Our partnership with The Bicester Collection has been a great success over several years and we are thrilled to extend it for another two years. This expansion allows us to continue to offer our valuable cardmembers exclusive benefits and increased spending opportunities at luxury shopping destinations across Europe.”

Graham Stanford, Director of Partnerships, B2B, The Bicester Collection said: “We are delighted to support our brand partners further through the expansion of our partnership with JCB and its 156 million cardmembers. At The Bicester Collection we are committed to providing magical experiences for our guests, numbering 46 million in 2023 and whom we welcome from all corners of the world. As international travel grows, we look forward to serving more JCB Cardmembers and to creating ever-more memorable experiences for them on their travels in Europe.”

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