2014-2015

Media Kit World Class Luxury Shopping Tax Free!

QUICK FACTS/SNAP SHOT

How it Works

TaxFree Shopping offers ONE STOP, Quick and Easy processing of your Texas sales tax refund. Processing

Step 1: Shop at any of our 5,000+ participating stores.

Step 2: Process your refund at one of our 13 locations. (U.S. Citizens may only process at airport locations on day of departure.) Bring: Purchased Merchandise for inspection, Original Receipts*, Passport, I-94/ Entry Stamp/ESTA, Visa, IFE, Flight or Transportation Information. *$10 in sales tax required per physical store location.

Step 3: Receive your refund, less our processing fee, by Cash, Check or PayPal.

Pre-Registration

Pre-Registration is available to make your Texas sales tax refund experience even quicker.

Simply fill out the form at https://taxfreetexas.herokuapp.com/, and your information will

instantly be available at all TaxFree Shopping refund centers enabling a quicker refund

experience.

Locations

With 13 locations across the state of Texas, TaxFree Shopping is the largest customs broker in

the state. TFS is constantly expanding due to the popularity of the service and is expected to

add 3 locations within the next year.

Current locations include: Dallas:

DFW International Airport - Terminal D Near American Airlines Check In*

Dallas Galleria - 3rd Floor near Old Navy*

Grand Prairie Premium Outlets - Near Customer Service*

NorthPark Center: Management Office Near Dillard’s Houston:

George Bush Intercontinental Airport - Terminals D & E (IAH)

Houston Galleria - Luxury Row on Rink Level next to Post Office*

Houston Galleria - Macy’s 2nd Floor*

Best Buy Galleria

El Paso:

The Outlet Shoppes at El Paso inside Food Court* McAllen:

La Plaza Mall - Macy‘s 2nd Floor* San Antonio:

North Star Mall - Macy’s 3rd Floor* San Marcos:

Tanger Outlet near Reebok* * Instant Cash Refund Locations

Participating Stores

TaxFree Shopping has more than 5,000 participating stores across Texas. From stores like

Macy’s, Dillard’s and Neiman Marcus to brands like Burberry, Hermes and Tiffany & Co.;

TaxFree Shopping offers an array of brands for their clients.

Becoming a Participating Retailer

TaxFree Shopping has developed a simple form (Merchant Listing) that must be filled out by a

retailers’ corporate office. This listing ensures that that the retailer is aware of the process.

Upon receiving the Merchant Listing, TaxFree Shopping provides a complimentary listing on

TaxFreeShopping.com and distributes brochures to select Texas locations and offers

educational sessions for sales associates and managers to understand how to utilize and offer

TaxFree Shopping services to their clients.

Retailer Training

TaxFree Shopping offers free educational sessions to retailers to ensure they know how the

program works for them as well as for their clients. A TaxFree Shopping employee may present

information at mornings meeting, manager meetings or just hand out informational flyers; we

will help in whatever way we can.

Record Growth

International tourism in Texas has been vastly growing throughout the years as tourist from

around the world are interested in learning more about the United States and finding more

adventures in Texas that they have yet to experience. With more shopping per capita than any

other state, Texas is home to some of the best shopping centers, outlets, and lifestyle shopping

areas in the world. The Mexico market is constantly showing their support of shopping tax free

in Texas by growing 20 percent to 25 percent per year.

Chinese Market: The Chinese market has skyrocketed into the #1 country by spend, ahead of

Mexico. This is the first time a country aside from Mexico has held the #1 position for TaxFree

Shopping spend and/or clients processed.

Air China: In July 2013, for the first time in 30 years, Air China expanded their routes

with a direct flight from Beijing to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport

(IAH). The inaugural flight was met with a reception in Houston, attended by Houston

Mayor, TaxFree Shopping, and Yao Ming, former Rocket’s Basketball player, as Air

China’s Honorary Goodwill Ambassador. Air China is increasing the frequency of this

route from four times a week to daily in March 2014.

Brazilian Market: The Brazilian market is now #3 for clients processed. This demographic has

grown over the past few years and is interested in strictly shopping when they arrive in Texas.

Expanding Services

More user-friendly than any other customs broker

o Simple and short process

o No more going back-and-forth to retailers to receive your refund

o Great customer service representatives

o Free Wi-Fi available at select locations

Language Services

o Multilingual Customer Service Representatives

o Fully translated brochures

o Shopping Tours

o Concierge Services

Shopping Tours: TaxFree Shopping is partnering with EEM Custom Tours to provide

exclusive shopping tours including:

o Premium hotels

o Concierge services

o Language services

o Transportation

o Exclusive Shopping offers

Tourism

TaxFree Shopping entices tourists from around the world to visit and stay in Texas longer.

Instead of only concentrating on the international tourists who are already in Texas, TaxFree

Shopping prides itself on attracting and capturing new and growing markets from around the

world and educating them on the shopping possibilities in Texas. TaxFree Shopping does this by

traveling to international trade shows and sales missions targeting top tour operators.

Travel

TaxFree Shopping is the only customs broker that travels with the state of Texas to promote the

opportunities Texas shopping offers to international clients. From some of the largest national

and international trade shows attended by thousands of people, to national and international

sales missions targeting only the best tour operators; TFS educates and influences the

gatekeepers of international tourists.

Top Countries

By Clients Processed

1. Mexico

2. China

3. Brazil

4. United Kingdom

5. Russia

6. Australia, Canada, Columbia, Korea, Taiwan, Turkey and Venezuela

By Average $ Spent

1. China

2. Brazil

3. United Kingdom

4. Korea

5. Mexico

Benefits

Retailers Data collected by TaxFree Shopping shows for every $1 of Texas sales tax refunded,

shoppers spend $12.64 in additional purchases at retailers.

Up-sell opportunities for sales associates and stores.

Increase in retail sales creates jobs

Easy sign-up for retailers who wish to participate with TaxFree Shopping.

o Retailers are immediately part of TaxFree Shopping’s domestic and international

“Shopping Tourism” marketing program

o Retailers receive a free listing in our award winning brochure and website

TaxFree Shopping distributes 150,000 award winning brochures per year around the world.

Retailers gain marketing opportunities at 2013 Tour & Travel Shows and Sales Missions with

Texas Tourism, USA Travel Association and Brand USA in major international markets

including: Mexico, South and Central America, including Brazil; United Kingdom, Germany,

China, Korea, and Australia.

TaxFree Shopping participates in Partnership Marketing Programs with airlines, the State of

Texas, statewide Convention & Visitors Bureaus, Texas shopping centers, Macy’s and Best

Buy, as well as Shop America Tours and Shop America Alliance, and more.

TaxFree Shopping is influential in destination and retailer choice for international shoppers’

visits.

Shoppers

TaxFree Shopping offers all clients high level of customer service and care.

Fast, easy processing throughout the state at all of our 13 TaxFree Shopping refund

locations.

Refund locations are conveniently located in shopping centers and international airports.

Clients do not have to go back to retailers to claim sales tax, TaxFree Shopping handles

entire process in refund locations.

Sales tax refunds payable in: instant cash, check or PayPal.

Clients receive exclusive offers and discounts through TaxFree Shopping.

Community International tourists pay taxes in ALL other activities during their visit (hotels, restaurants,

attractions, banking, etc.) bringing tourism dollars and revenue to our Texas cities.

TaxFree Shopping creates more jobs in our communities.

For every $1 of sales tax return, shoppers will spend an additional $11.92 in other taxable

tourism-related areas.

State of Texas

Tax Free Shopping’s Instant Cash program records data of 100% of sales tax refunds spent in

our state. This represents a new track-able revenue source for the state of Texas!

Approximately 67% of instant cash is spent in additional retail sales and the remaining 33%

is spent in local restaurants, attractions and clubs.

Approximately 30% of international travelers are coming to Texas to shop Tax Free and stay

longer.

For every $1 in sales tax refund, the shopper will spend an additional: $12.64 in Retail Sales

or $11.92 on other Tourism-related expenditures.

TaxFree Shopping offers detailed tracking systems of where clients are coming from.

TaxFree Shopping data is crucial in Texas Tourism’s sales mission plans and enables them to

foresee the international tourism forecast.

Sales Tax Refunds Supports 25,802 jobs in Texas.

Sales tax refunds boost the Texas’ economy.

Accolades

SASSI-ONE Awards: “SASI-ONE Awards (SASI = Shop America Salutes Innovation) recognize

prominent leaders in the tourism industry for their vision and commitment to developing

shopping and cultural tourism. We are pleased to recognize industry leaders such as Carolyn

and applaud her remarkable achievements.” - Rosemary McCormick President of Shop America

Alliance and co-producer of the ONE Travel Conference.

2010 SASSI Award: “The Power of Advertising to the International Shopper” introduces the

effects of advertising directly to international shoppers around the world and what a large

impact it can have on bringing shopping tourism to Texas.

2012 SASSI Gold Award: “Data is Delightful” encompasses pertinent information for shopping

tourism that has since been scarce. This information was collected from TaxFree Shopping’s

refund locations around Texas through the past few years.

2012 SASSI Gold Award: “Shopping Tourism for the 21st Century” Through a new and innovative

company in the UK, Online Travel Training (OTT), which provides online training courses to tour

operators and travel industry professionals, TaxFree Shopping introduced shopping as the

newest form of tourism to 60,000 travel industry professionals.

2013 SASSI Award: “Hooray for Shopping Tourism!” TaxFree Shopping has developed an

international marketing program that encompasses online, print, and face-to-face interaction

to showcase fantastic shopping and sales tax refund opportunities in Texas. With initiatives

devised to educate potential clients and tour operators in selected markets, TaxFree Shopping

predicts major growth in the future.

TESTIMONIALS

Retailers

We make sure that every international client in our store knows we participate with

TaxFree Shopping; it normally allows them to purchase items that wouldn’t have been in

their budget otherwise. –Tiffany & Co.

Having someone from TaxFree Shopping come to explain how the program works has

been a great help with our international customers. -Bloomingdale’s The Outlet

[TaxFree Shopping is] staffed by knowledgeable, multilingual representatives eager to

help make your visit the most enjoyable! –Macy’s

Shopping Centers

Galleria Dallas is proud to host hundreds of thousands of international visitors each

year; we are excited to add TaxFree Shopping to the portfolio of services we can offer to

these important guests. -Jim Anderson, Director of Marketing for Galleria Dallas

Shoppers

I have used TaxFree Shopping for years now. The staff is always very helpful and they

make sure the process is quick. I love shopping for myself and for my family knowing I

will get money back! -Hilda Sotelo Tapia, Mexico

It was great to have someone that spoke Chinese to help my mom with her refund. They

were all really nice and made sure she understood what was going on. –Kim Lee, China

In the News

Texas is becoming a shopping destination for tourists from around the world.

-The Dallas Morning News

Texas wins big because they [have] a program in place that economically benefits the

state… The program improves Texas’ reputation in foreign countries as a shopping

destination even if many shoppers don’t bother filing for a rebate. –Texas Boarder

Coalition

NEW PARTICIPATING STORES FROM 2013

Alexander McQueen

Apex

Bath & Body Works

Belk

Bloomingdale’s The Outlet

Cache

C|H Carolina Herrera

Carlo Pazolini

Dao Chloe Dao

Dior

Escada

Five and Ten

Frederick Fekkai

Hartstrings

ILORI

Jimmy Choo

Judith Ripka

Karen Millen

Mezlan

Michael Kors

Naartje Kids

Number One

Occhiali Da Sole

Paradise Pen Company

Rag & Bone

Tous

Trina Turk

Select Jewelers

Sunglass Hut

Wilson’s Leather

OVERVIEW

One-Stop Refund

TaxFree Shopping is one of a kind. At no other customs broker can you process and receive

money for your entire refund in one location. TFS has eliminated the need for clients to return

to stores at which they purchased items to receive their sales tax refund on. With advanced

software developed by TaxFree Shopping, TFS is able to expedite the process, making the

experience easier and more simplified for our clients as well as our participating retailers by

simplifying the billing process.

Locations

Dallas/Fort Worth

The Dallas/Fort Worth area is the _ largest metropolitan area in the United States. Home to _

major shopping centers including outlets, shopping malls, luxury life-style shopping as well as

boutiques, this area offers endless shopping possibilities.

Dallas/Fort Worth TaxFree Shopping locations include:

Dallas Fort Worth Airport, International Terminal D near American Airlines check in and Starbucks. DFW International Airport is America’s largest hub with a landmass of roughly 18,000 acres (larger than the island of Manhattan); 200 shops and 120 beverage and dining options to choose from. 3200 East Airfield Drive, DFW Airport, TX 75261. Galleria Dallas, 3rd level near Old Navy. Galleria Dallas is North Texas’ largest mixed-use

complex with 3.7 million square feet, and 1.8 million square feet devoted to retail

therapy. You can easily spend an entire day discovering treasures from more than 200

exceptional shops, anchored by a flagship Nordstrom, Macy’s, a flagship Gap, Inc.

concept store including Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy, and the newest addition, a

flagship Belk opening spring 2014. 13350 Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX 75244.

Grand Prairie Premium Outlets near Customer Service. With 110 outlet stores including

Banana Republic, Bloomingdale’s The Outlet, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Tommy Hilfiger,

Cole Haan and more, you will be able to shop great brands at amazing prices. Centrally

located between Dallas and Fort Worth, you are never too far from a shopping spree at

Grand Prairie Premium Outlets. 2950 W. Interstate 20, Grand Prairie, TX 75052.

NorthPark Center in the Management Office near Dillards. The 2.3 million-square-foot

NorthPark Center is a destination for 26 million visitors annually with more than 235

stores and restaurants. Including luxury designer and trendsetting boutiques like

Burberry, Henri Bendel Gucci and David Yurman; all the best American brands, and top-

tier anchors- Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy's, Dillard's and AMC NorthPark 15.

Guests also enjoy exceptional restaurants, a world-class art collection, award-winning

architecture and non-stop special events. 8687 North Central Expressway, Dallas, Texas

75225.

Houston Area Locations:

George Bush Intercontinental Airport offers 2 TaxFree Shopping locations: Internatioanl Terminal D & E PRE CHECK-IN. Spanning more than 11,000 acres, IAH currently ranks 5th in the United States among U.S. airports with scheduled non-stop domestic and international service (over 170 destinations). Nearly 40 million passengers traveled through IAH in 2012 which is expected to drastically grow with the expanding Chinese market. 2800 North Terminal Road, Houston, TX 77032

The Galleria in Houston offers 3 TaxFree Shopping Locations: Luxury Row, Rink Level

near the Post Office; Macy’s 2nd level; Best Buy. More than 26 million visitors each year

seek the dynamic & fine shopping environment uniquely offered by The Galleria, Texas’

largest shopping center and fourth largest domain nationally. Spanning 2.4 million

square feet of space, housing 400 fine stores and restaurants, two high-rise hotels, and

three office towers, The Galleria is Houston’s most popular retail and tourist

destination, meeting every style and taste. 5085 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77056.

San Antonio Location:

North Star Mall located in Macy’s on the 3rd level. San Antonio's internationally

acclaimed shopping destination boasts over 200 specialty stores and restaurants,

including Saks Fifth Avenue, Apple, Armani Exchange, Michael Kors, GUESS by Marciano

and Montblanc and The Cheesecake Factory. Home to the largest cowboy boots in the

world. They stand 40 feet high and 20 feet long! 7400 San Pedro, San Antonio, Texas

78216.

San Marcos Location:

Tanger Outlets located near Reebok. Tanger Outlet at San Marcos feature over 100

name brands like Calvin Klein, Tourneau, Tommy Hilfiger and LOFT Outlet offering 30-

70% off! Conveniently located between Austin and San Antonio, Tanger Outlet in San

Marcos is the perfect side-trip where you can make find fashionable and frugal

shopping! 4015 I-35 South San Marcos, TX 78666

El Paso Location:

The Outlet Shoppes at El Paso located in the Food Court. As El Paso’s premier outdoor

shopping center, The Outlet Shoppes is the place to bag a bargain. With over 90 famous

name-brand stores, including Van Heusen, Brooks Brothers, Ann Taylor, Banana

Republic, Kenneth Cole, and Nine West just to name a few, this outlet mall’s vast

selection of retailers offer a wide array of merchandise at 20% to 70% off department

store prices.7051 S. Desert Blvd, Canutillo, Texas 79835.

McAllen Location:

La Plaza Mall located inside Macy’s on the 2nd level. La Plaza Mall is the premier

shopping destination in the Rio Grande Valley and features over 1,200,000 square feet

of upscale and mainstream retail space with retailers that include Marciano, Michael

Kors and Kay Jewelers, as well as retailers like Gap, Victoria’s Secret and Sunglass Hut.

2200 S 10th St, McAllen, TX 78503

Brief History

TaxFree Shopping, ltd. is a licensed customs broker in the state of Texas. Starting small in 2001,

there was only one location in NorthPark Center where only a few international clients would

pass through per week. Upon the addition of Carolyn Petty as Marketing Director (current

President) in 2006, the company showed a significant increase of clients due to her initiative to

market the company internationally. In six months she was able to double the amount of

clients; in 2005, 900 clients were processed, and now, thousands of clients are processed per

week.

Throughout the years, the company has expanded due to demand into six cities with 13

locations, including two of the largest international airports in the United States. Through

intense international marketing at trade shows and sales missions around the world, TaxFree

Shopping has made an impact on bringing shopping tourism to the state of Texas.

TaxFree Shopping prides itself on being ahead of the tourism curve by utilizing the data

cultivated by its clients and morphing its software and practices into exactly what the

international client wants. By transforming the sales tax refund process into three easy steps, it

is now the only customs broker in the world to enable clients to process and receive their

refund in one location without having to go back to the retails to retrieve their refund.

Once a client visits a TaxFree Shopping location with their purchased merchandise and

necessary travel documents, a Customer Service Representative fills out the necessary

paperwork, inspects the merchandise and process the clients refund with an option of cash,

check or PayPal payment.