World Duty Free Group CEO, Jose Maria Palencia has launched ‘Thinking Scotland’ in Edinburgh, the travel retailer’s most recent interpretation of their ‘Thinking’ retail concept. This specialist souvenir store has taken its influence from the ‘Thinking’ stores located in Spain and Canada, where quality souvenirs and gift items are offered alongside regional foods, confectionery and liquor.

A ‘sense of place’ is one of the key elements of the ‘Thinking’ proposition and involves introducing design details and a product mix to the store, which are reflective of the locality or region. In the case of ‘Thinking Scotland’, iconic Scottish features have been used within the store fixtures, such as aged whisky barrels and an interpretation of the stonework used in many of Edinburgh’s distinctive buildings. This is the first of the UK ‘sense of place’ stores to also offer spirits and customers can browse the significant range of malt whiskies that are available.  Many new souvenir and gift brands have been introduced, with the emphasis on Scottish and locally produced products.