Airport Retailer Wins National Award

To boot, the company was runner-up in three categories, including Small Retailer with the Highest Regard for Customer Service, Best Airport Retail Store Design for a small retailer and Best Airport Retailer. "Laptop Lane has done a great job of establishing an 'airport' brand," commented one of the judges. Another noted, "Their service focus and pricing have made this concept viable."

Laptop Lane, a wholly owned by San Francisco-based SoftNet Systems Inc., provides travelers a private office at the airport where they access their corporate networks, make and receive phone calls, send faxes, or put the finishing touches on a business presentation. Indeed, a customer can work on a document at one location and have it printed, collated and ready for pick-up at any of the 25 other airport locations in the Laptop Lane chain.

Many Laptop Lane locations also have conference rooms, which can accommodate from six to 10 individuals convening from different locations. Each conference room is equipped with a computer, Internet connection, fax and printer, as well as a speakerphone and LCD projector.

The cost for a single cubicle is $5.00 for the first five minutes and 65 cents for each additional minute. Conference rooms can be rented for $60 per hour or $400 per day. Pricing includes use of all the equipment, including Internet connection time, domestic long distance calling, and unlimited self-service printing and faxing. Services provided by the cyber-concierge--including color photocopies, collating, overnight shipping, etc.--are additional.

The first Laptop Lane opened in 1998 at Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport. Today, the company says it serves more than 25,000 travelers a month at 26 Laptop Lane and Aerzone Business Center locations at 18 airports across North America, including Sea-Tac.