Beginnings

In 1960, American entrepreneurs Charles Feeney^[7] and Robert Warren Miller^[8] founded Tourists International, which later became Duty Free Shoppers (DFS), in Hong Kong. Minority owners included Alan Parker with a 20% stake,^[9] and Anthony M. Pilaro who held 2.5%.^[9] The entrepreneurs anticipated the growing spending power of military servicemen as well as the rise of international travelers from Asia, following vast improvements in international air travel after World War II. In 1962, two DFS stores were opened at the international airports in Hong Kong and Honolulu, the first duty-free shop in the United States.^[10]

Expansion and re-branding

In the 1960s and 1970s DFS Group significantly expanded their operation in Eurasia and North America. DFS capitalized on the rising wave of Asian tourists who began to travel further overseas, opening stores in international airports and later in downtown locations where travelers have their purchases delivered before departure.^[11] In 1968, DFS opened its first downtown duty-free store in Kowloon, Hong Kong, followed shortly thereafter by Honolulu and eventually expanding to 14 locations all over the world.^[12] In 2005, branded halls opened in Okinawa, Japan, launching a new shop-in-shop concept for DFS Gallerias.^[13] In 2010, "DFS University" was established for its sales associates.

In 2013 DFS reached 420 locations worldwide and undertook a major branding initiative setting the stage for the next generation of expansion. It re-branded its downtown Galleria Stores “T Galleria” and moved to a strategy of localization for airports, working with local suppliers to increase its mix of “destination” products.^[14][3] In 2015 DFS opened its first transformational wines and spirits duplex store at Singapore Changi Airport, including a Long Bar by Raffles.^[15] In the same year, it also launched T Galleria Beauty by DFS, a standalone beauty concept store in Hong Kong and Macau.^[16]

In 2016 DFS expanded its operations, opening T Galleria Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia, a significantly extended space at T Galleria by DFS, City of Dreams in Macau,^[17][18] and its first European store, T Fondaco dei Tedeschi in Venice, Italy.^[19] In 2017 it announced plans to open in Paris in 2020 within the renovated La Samaritaine complex.^[20]

In January 2021, Benjamin Vuchot returned to DFS as chairman and CEO after three years as President of Sephora Asia.^[21] Both DFS and Sephora are businesses under LVMH's Selective Retailing division.^[22]

In January 2021, DFS opened its first downtown duty-free store in Hainan Island, China, in partnership with Shenzhen Duty Free Group.^[23]

Within a few months, DFS also announced that it would open two new Galleria stores in Oceania by the end of 2022: one in Brisbane, Australia,^[24] and another in Queenstown, New Zealand.^[25]

In June 2021, despite the tourism downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, DFS opened its most significant and ambitious store to date, Samaritaine Paris Pont-Neuf in the heart of the French capital.^[26] The 150-year-old building, which was meticulously restored over 16 years, was inaugurated on June 21 by French President Emmanuel Macron and LVMH Group head Bernard Arnault.^[27]