Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • Deliveroo Plus Service Launched in Hong Kong

    Deliveroo Plus Service Launched in Hong Kong

    Food-delivery service Deliveroo has launched a subscription model in Hong Kong, dubbed Deliveroo Plus.

    For HK$98 a month, customers can get unlimited free delivery on meals ordered throughout the day. The service is being launched with a two-week free trial.

    Deliveroo Plus is being rolled out internationally after a successful launch in the UK. Deliveroo says that during their first two months of signing up to the pilot, half of the UK customers saved nearly £25 ($260), whilst one in 10 saved more than £75 (HK$770).

    Brian Lo, Deliveroo Hong Kong GM, said Deliveroo Plus aims to reward frequent customers by offering better value for money.

    “This new subscription service provides a more affordable option to the frequent users while the earnings of riders is expected to rise with the increasing demand for food delivery.”

    By its nature, the service will also likely make customers commit to one platform rather than shopping across rival services.

    Customers throughout Hong Kong wishing to subscribe to Deliveroo Plus will see the option to sign up to the service on their basket at checkout and in the ‘account’ section of the app and website.

    Deliveroo operates in more than 500 towns and cities across 14 markets: Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, UAE, Kuwait and the UK.

  • Ecco Store opening at Changi Airport Singapore

    Ecco Store opening at Changi Airport Singapore

    Ecco Singapore is opening its newest store in Southeast Asia at Jewel Changi this Wednesday.

    With a design different to other stores in the Ecco Singapore network, the new outlet was inspired by the brand’s philosophy of ‘natural motion’ as well as the greenery and waterfall environment unique to the Jewel Changi space.

    The shop carries a curated collection of the latest Ecco shoes and accessories for both women and men.

    “Since entering the Singapore market more than a decade ago, we have been blessed with tremendous support from our loyal customers who have come to know Ecco for our craftsmanship and premium quality footwear and leather goods,” said David To, GM for Ecco Shoes Singapore and Malaysia.

    “Ecco’s design philosophy is very much inspired by nature and thereby the natural organic features of Jewel is a perfect fit for us. That is why we have chosen this fresh expression of the Ecco brand for this new store to share a new experience with our local customers and Singapore visitors,” he added.

    Founded in 1963, Ecco now has more than 2200 owned shops and 14,000 sales points in 90 countries. The company achieved record sales of US$1.49 billion last year, and posted the highest profit in its 55-year history.

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  • McLaren Took 260 Hours To Paint This 720S Spider

    McLaren Took 260 Hours To Paint This 720S Spider

    McLarens are always special, aren’t they? All of them look dramatically beautiful and of course, all of them are fast. But when you know that McLaren has taken 260 hours to paint one, its special quotient reaches another level. The Paint Job on the McLaren 720S Spider was done by McLaren Special Operations which is one of their internal divisions that makes special and customised models for its customers.

    The gorgeous deep blue paint is brand new and was designed by mixing three colours- Cerulean Blue, Burton Blue and Abyss Black. McLaren is calling the new colour- Coriolis. The paint was applied as an addition to the Metroite Grey body. The base colour is yet another special shade designed by McLaren Special Operations for special cars and special customers.

    The process involves expert painters and artists who very diligently and precisely apply the paint in such a way that the fade effects would mimic the way the car moves. The effect is subtle but instantly catches your attention. The McLaren 720S Spider is powered by a 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 motor which churns out 710 bhp and 770 Nm of peak torque. It can go to 200 kmph from standstill is just 7.9 seconds and can clock a top speed of 341 kmph.

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  • Vietjet launches new service to Indonesia with Ho Chi Minh City-Bali route

    Vietjet launches new service to Indonesia with Ho Chi Minh City-Bali route

    New-age airline Vietjet is giving people more reason to travel with the announcement and addition of its newest international route connecting the biggest city of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City with Bali (Indonesia). The first and only airline to operate this service, the Ho Chi Minh City – Bali route will serve as a crucial link between the two cultural centers, meeting the increasing travel demands of locals and tourists as well as boost regional trade and integration.

    The Ho Chi Minh City – Bali route will operate five return flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays starting 29 May 2019. The flight duration is approximately four hours per leg. The flight will depart from Ho Chi Minh City at 08:05 and arrive in Bali at 13:05. The return flight takes off from Bali at 14:05 and lands in Ho Chi Minh City at 17:05 (All in local time).

    Vietjet Vice President Nguyen Thanh Son said: “Vietjet has the advantage of an ever-expanding flight network and professional aviation services; therefore, I believe not only does this new route create ease and increased opportunities for both locals and tourists to travel conveniently by safe, modern air transportation, it will also contribute to promoting tourism and economic integration in the region, all while introducing the beauty of Vietnam to the world.”

    Ticket sales for the new route are now open and available on all channels. Those hungry for promotional deals should be sure to check out Vietjet’s daily golden hour promotion which runs from 1.00pm to 3.00pm (Malaysian time) on the airline’s website.

    Vietjet operates its domestic and international routes with a dynamic and friendly flight crew, serving its passengers with fresh and hot meals, while its aircraft is equipped with comfortable leather seats with a technical reliability rate of 99.64% — the highest rate in the Asia Pacific region. As a fully-fledged member of International Air Transport Association (IATA), Vietjet has obtained the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate and has been awarded a 7-star ranking, the world’s highest rate for safety, by AirlineRatings.

  • Samsung sends out patch that improves the performance

    Samsung sends out patch that improves the performance

    Owners of the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ might have recently noticed an improvement to the in-display fingerprint scanner found on both devices. Reddit posters shared information recently about a 6.9MB update sent out to both models. The update is a biometrics security patch designed to improve the performance of the in-display ultrasonic fingerprint scanner used on the two handsets.

    Some of those who installed the update claim that the fingerprint scanner now works “instantly” to unlock their phone. Samsung didn’t include a changelog with the update, so we really don’t know how the fingerprint scanner has been improved. Those who do notice a difference say that they did not have to re-scan their fingers after the update was installed. However, if you load the update and don’t notice a change, you might want to consider rescanning your fingers.

    The Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ both use an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint reader. This is a more accurate and faster technology than the capacitive readers used on most devices. The ultrasonic technology uses sound to produce a 3D map of a user’s fingerprints. As we pointed out last week, the ultrasonic fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ can still be tricked into unlocking either phone. The capacitive readers feature circuits that capture unique information about a user’s fingerprint. The “more affordable” Samsung Galaxy S10e features a capacitive fingerprint scanner mounted on the right side of the device.

    Keep in mind that this is not a system update. Instead, it is an update to the fingerprint module in the Galaxy Store. There is no way to trigger it, so it is just a matter of being patient. Eventually, the notification will arrive to let you know that the update is ready to be installed.

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  • 5G to drive backhaul revenue growth through 2028

    5G to drive backhaul revenue growth through 2028

    The global satellite backhaul market is expected to reach over $32 billion in revenue by 2028, with 5G supporting one third of the overall market, according a new report released from NSR.

    According to the report, mobile wireless backhaul is the largest opportunity in this space, as satcom becomes a mainstream solution and 5G opens opportunities for satellite to seamlessly integrate with the global telecom ecosystem.

    Trunking also appears to be re-born via lower capacity costs and slowdown in fiber expansion, while hybrid networks represent a long-term play for emerging OTT content distribution models, the research firm said.

    The direct impact of 5G in satcom won’t be seen before mid-2020s, but growth will be sizable, generating one of every three new dollars for backhaul capacity revenues through 2028.

    The ground segment has a key role to play in the integration of satcom into 5G, by responding to new performance requirements and making the solution transparent and easy to adopt for mobile operators.

    “The combination of competitively priced capacity with advanced ground segment makes satcom a relevant solution for mobile network operators continually seeking new sources of revenue and who are increasingly capex-conscious and risk-averse,” stated Lluc Palerm, NSR senior analyst and report author.

    “The transition to broadband is accelerating in areas like Latin America, where for the first time in 2018, 4G generated the highest share of traffic over satellite versus 2G and 3G.”

    Satcom can also find the upside of OTT in hybrid networks.

    NSR said satellite is still king for content broadcasting, and as content moves to the edge to support the explosion on IP Video and new formats like UHD and eventually VR/AR proliferate, satcom will emerge as a key tool in the ecosystem.

    Business models are evolving quickly, resulting in the increased demand for managed services.

    “With MNOs focusing on core services and minimizing capex exposure, managed services are the perfect match between satcom’s streamlined operations for remote areas and the MNO need to continue expanding coverage profitably,” the research firm noted.

    “New technologies like small cells expand the addressable market into the most ARPU-constrained and remote locations, where revenue-sharing schemes are gaining traction.”

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  • Honda NeoWing Trike Patent Granted

    Honda NeoWing Trike Patent Granted

    Quite a few Japanese two-wheeler manufacturers are exploring the idea of making motorcycles with three wheels. Technically, a trike is a vehicle which has two wheels at the rear and a single wheel up front. But, the likes of Yamaha Niken and now the Honda NeoWing concept could be called as reverse trike. The patent document that carandbike accessed said that the patent was filed back in 2016 and it was finally granted and published on March 20, 2019.

    The patent document also reveals that the NeoWing may be powered by either a two-cylinder or a six-cylinder engine and the layout could either be a V-twin or a transverse layout. Of course, if it is the latter engine option, then Honda will use the same engine as the one on the Gold Wing, which makes 126 bhp and 170 Nm.

    Honda could also use an electric motor on the production model of the NeoWing concept, which could power either the front wheels or the rear wheel. At present, there is no confirmation on when Honda will officially unveil the production model of the NeoWing but with the patent granted, we believe it will be sooner than later. At present, the only leaning three-wheeler which is under production is the Yamaha Niken! The Niken is powered by an 847 cc, in-line three cylinder engine making, 111.8 bhp and 87.5 Nm of peak torque which is the same as the one on the Yamaha MT-09.

  • Deliveroo Supports 2K+ Jobs and Adds HK$1.3 Billion Revenue to Hong Kong Economy

    Deliveroo Supports 2K+ Jobs and Adds HK$1.3 Billion Revenue to Hong Kong Economy

    Showcasing its positive influence on the Hong Kong economy, Deliveroo today published a new report assessing its impact on partner restaurants and the wider market. Amongst other findings, the research indicates that Deliveroo supports 2,100 jobs in Hong Kong and adds HK$1.3 billion in revenue.*

    The major, independent study was commissioned by Deliveroo and conducted by leading independent economic consultants Capital Economics. It shows the full, positive economic impact of Deliveroo’s activities in Hong Kong and globally, examining increased revenues received by restaurants and their suppliers as a result of partnering with Deliveroo; the impact of spending of Deliveroo riders and employees; the impact of spending by Deliveroo on suppliers; and the tax generated by Deliveroo’s operations.

    The report reveals that in Hong Kong:

    • Deliveroo supports approximately 2,100 jobs across the Hong Kong economy. This is on top of the approximately 2,500 riders and walkers in Hong Kong to whom Deliveroo currently offers flexible, well-paid work delivering meals.
    • Deliveroo supports 1,700 additional jobs in the Hong Kong restaurant sector, of which 1,200 are in chain restaurants and 490 are in independent restaurants.
    • Deliveroo generates HK$956 million in additional revenue for the restaurant sector in Hong Kong, of which HK$668 million is in chain restaurants and HK$288 million is in independent restaurants.
    • In total, Deliveroo supports HK$1.3 billion in revenue across the economy of Hong Kong.
    • 54% of restaurants who partner with Deliveroo in Hong Kong say that, as a result, they have seen increased revenue from people dining in at their restaurant.
    • Deliveroo’s tax contributions in Hong Kong amount to HK$29 million in employee taxes and HK$74 million in corporation taxes.
    • Deliveroo’s contribution to economic growth (measured by Gross Domestic Product) in Hong Kong is HK$596 million.
    • Capital Economics project that if Deliveroo continues to grow at its current rate, the report projects that the company’s operations would support somewhere in the region of 4,500 jobs and HK$1.1 billion of economic output (measured by Gross Domestic Product) in Hong Kong by 2020.

    The report was conducted across all of Deliveroo’s 13 markets worldwide. Globally, the report found that:

    • In total, Deliveroo supports 67,000 jobs across the economies of the markets in which it operates, which is on top of the 130,000 riders to whom Deliveroo provides flexible, well-paid work.
    • Deliveroo supports 59,000 additional jobs in restaurant sectors across the economies of the markets in which it operates, of which 41,000 are in or from chain restaurants and 18,000 are in or from independent restaurants.
    • Deliveroo generates a total of HK$22.2 billion in additional revenue for restaurant sectors across the economies of the markets in which it operates, of which HK$15.4 billion is in chain restaurants and HK$6.8 billion is in independent restaurants.
    • Capital Economics project that if Deliveroo were to continue to grow at the same rate it is today, the report estimates that it would support somewhere in the region of 200,000 jobs and HK$41.1 billion of economic output globally by 2020.

    Brian Lo, General Manager of Deliveroo Hong Kong, said, “Hong Kong boasts one of the most dynamic F&B markets in Asia, with fierce competition, demanding diners and an ever-evolving landscape of local, regional and international players. In this context, Deliveroo is proud to be an innovative and influential force for the restaurant sector, making a positive economic impact. Deliveroo helps to increase restaurants’ sales, increase the number of people employed in restaurants and ultimately helps restaurants to grow their businesses.

    This, as a result, brings more choice and food options to local communities, so more people can have more amazing food whenever and wherever they want it.”

    *         NB: all figures cover the output arising from Deliveroo’s operations/activities over the 12 months to November 2018.

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  • Volkswagen Ameo Corporate Edition Launched

    Volkswagen Ameo Corporate Edition Launched

    Volkswagen India has launched a special edition of the Ameo subcompact sedan and it’s called the Ameo Corporate edition. The company says that it will cater to the needs of corporate and business customers. Available only in the Highline Plus variant, the Ameo Corporate edition has been launched at an introductory price starting at ₹ 6.69 lakh for the petrol with the manual transmission while the diesel costs ₹ 7.99 lakh.

    The Ameo Corporate edition comes equipped with features that are already part of the Highline Plus variant. Available in 5 colours – Lapiz Blue, Reflex Silver, Candy White, Toffee Brown and Carbon Steel, the Volkswagen Ameo all variants come equipped with dual front airbags, and ABS as standard. The Ameo comes with a host of features like cruise control, rain sensing wipers along with static cornering lights and the dynamic Touchscreen multimedia music system with AppConnect, Auto air-conditioning system.

    Steffen Knapp, Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars said, “The made-for-India and made-in-India Ameo is carline specifically developed for the Indian market. It’s a true testament of German engineering in a compact sedan filled with segment leading features. Through the Ameo Corporate edition, we aim to offer globally renowned standards of safety, quality and fun-to-drive experience to all our customers”

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  • Mazda Recalls Nearly 190,000 Cars In The US

    Mazda Recalls Nearly 190,000 Cars In The US

    Mazda is recalling nearly 190,000 Mazda 3 compact cars in the U.S. because the windshield wipers can fail.

    The company says in documents posted Saturday by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the recall covers cars from the 2016 through 2018 model years. The Japanese auto maker traced the problem to metal deposits that can cause a wiper relay to stick, knocking out the wipers and limiting driver visibility.

    The company says it has no reports of crashes or injuries due to the problem. Dealers will replace the front wiper control module at no cost to owners starting June 3.

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  • Jaguar Land Rover India Announces The Above And Beyond Tour

    Jaguar Land Rover India Announces The Above And Beyond Tour

    What could be a better way to spend your day with a Land Rover than taking it off-road! Jaguar Land Rover India has designed the “Above And Beyond Tour” series of events to do exactly that. The series has been designed to give off-road drive experiences to customers on natural trails and demonstrate the advanced technologies that make Land Rovers a potent off-roader. The first event of the series started in Ahmedabad on April 12 across a number of cities in India.

    Speaking about the experiential event, Rohit Suri, President & Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover India said, “Over the years, Land Rover events have become highly desirable. They are a perfect platform for us to bring the Land Rover brand closer to our customers by delivering experiences that they will remember for life.”

    ‘The Above & Beyond Tour’ is organised and delivered by a team of highly trained and professional Land Rover instructors. Customers will get an opportunity to off-road in the Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque which are two of the entry models in the Land Rover line-up. The first Land Rover drive experience event was organised in India in 2013 and since then over 18,000 customers have shown at the events to experience these Land Rovers.

  • Audi To Showcase AI:Me Concept At The Shanghai Auto Show

    Audi To Showcase AI:Me Concept At The Shanghai Auto Show

    Audi will be presenting the AI:ME concept at the Shanghai Auto Show 2019. Beside this car, the company will also showcase the Q2L e-tron, which was designed especially for China and is built in the Foshan plant. The compact SUV, which will be delivered to the first customers in the summer of 2019, will make its world premiere in Shanghai.

    The body of the Audi Q2L e-tron is 33 millimeters longer than that of the basic model. The car is powered by an electric motor on the front axle that mobilizes 100 kilowatts and 290 newton meters. With a battery capacity of 38 kilowatt hours, it has a range of up to 265 kilometers.

    But the big concept car that will make its world premiere is the AI:ME concept car which shows the company’s vision for the future of urban mobility. The Audi AI:ME shows the ideas of Audi designers and developers for a compact car of the future. The show car offers a roomy, futuristic interior and capability for level 4 automated driving. This allows the occupants the freedom to do what they like with their time on board. The Audi AI:ME offers high-tech features for communication, entertainment, or simply relaxation.

    There’s just one design sketch of the interior and that shows an interesting layout. There’s a massive screen that dominates the cars instrument cluster and is placed behind the steering wheel and the wooden trims. Considering that the company says it is a level 4 autonomous car, the AI:ME gets a steering wheel too but we expect it to be retractable given the autonomous driving function of the car.

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  • Foot Locker Opens in Jewel Changi Airport, Celebrating Youth and Sneaker Culture

    Foot Locker Opens in Jewel Changi Airport, Celebrating Youth and Sneaker Culture

    Located in Jewel Changi Airport, the two-story space with a dedicated women’s and kids’ area, delivers an engaging retail experience, combining premium products, elevated in-store presentations, as well as enhanced customer experiences.

    With impressive footwear and apparel collections from global brand partners, customers can expect elevated product storytelling from Nike, adidas, Puma, Fila and Champion. The store celebrates basketball culture, offering a premium selection of sneakers and apparel from Nike and Jordan, and features the widest selection of Nike Air Max Plus (TN’s) available in market.

    The store features specially commissioned artwork by local artist Clogtwo, setting the tone for how Foot Locker will regularly tailor the store to the local community.

    To celebrate the launch, Foot Locker hosted a preview event for media. Attendees experienced Xbox gaming, a pop up nail bar and Nike customisation.

    Commenting on the new store, Tomas Petersson, VP and GM, Foot Locker Asia said, “The Jewel store gives Foot Locker a great opportunity to engage and inspire youth culture within the local community. We designed a space that celebrates the city’s creative community and inspires Singapore’ssneaker enthusiasts.”

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  • Maserati Levante Trofeo India Launch Details Out

    Maserati Levante Trofeo India Launch Details Out

    One of the most powerful production cars to come from Italian automaker Maserati, the Levante Trofeo SUV has been confirmed for India. We understand that the Maserati Levante Trofeo will be launched in India in June this year. Compared to the standard Levante that is already on sale here, the Trofeo packs in 590 bhp and a whopping 730 Nm of peak torque from its 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 motor, and has a top speed of 300 kmph, bringing it close to the likes of the Bentley Bentayga Speed and the Lamborghini Urus. The performance SUV was first unveiled globally at the New York Auto Show in 2018 and will be produced in limited numbers.

    Adding an aggressive touch to the SUV, the Maserati Levante Trofeo gets a sharper looking front with the revised grille, full-LED headlamps and a functional bonnet vents. The car comes with carbon fibre inserts to the rear and a side skirts further adding to the aggressive appeal apart from being functional additions. The Levante Trofeo rides on massive 22-inch forged aluminium alloy wheels, which are not only lighter than the stock version but also the largest fitted on a Maserati car. Internationally, the car is offered with a matte paint scheme that could be offered in India as well.

    Inside, the Maserati Levante Trofeo gets red, black and tan leather upholstered seats, while the ‘Trofeo’ badging is a reminder as to why this model is special. The carbon fibre treatment has been extended to the cabin as well with a number of inserts including the paddle-shifters for the ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission. Other upgrades include new variant-specific graphics for the instrument cluster and new design for the gear lever. The Levante comes equipped with a 1280 watt, 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround sound audio system as standard, while the touchscreen infotainment unit supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The car also gets Trofeo-specific ‘Corsa’ driving mode with a launch-control function and 50:50 weight distribution.

    Maserati claims an output/litre of 156 bhp/litre on the Levante Trofeo, which is the highest ever for any Maserati engine. As a result, the SUV can sprint from 0-100 kmph in just 3.9 seconds. The Levante Trofeo is produced at the automaker’s Mirafiori plant in Turin, Italy. The model will be priced around the ₹ 3 crore (ex-showroom) mark.

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  • Asia Pulp and Paper Introduces New Compostable Bio Container for Takeaway Food to FooPak suite

    Asia Pulp and Paper Introduces New Compostable Bio Container for Takeaway Food to FooPak suite

    Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) continues to expand its portfolio to meet the environmentally conscious goals and demands of consumers with the newest addition to the Foopak suite of products: the new Bio Container for takeaway food. Constructed with folding boxboard (FBB), the box offers a fully biodegradable and compostable solution for takeaway containers, trays, and other direct food contact items. The highly durable paper stock capable of breaking down naturally in 12 weeks makes the boxboard an ideal alternative to commonly used plastic boxes.

    The Bio Container’s double coating has an outside layer that is ideal for branding and promotions with a white surface that is excellent for multi-color lithography, letter press, and flexography. The inside layer provides a level 9 grease resistance, designed to protect against water and grease absorption to promote reduced food leakage. Formulated for high-speed bar heat-sealing at 80C/356F for converting and finishing and hot gluing applications. The box is suitable for both microwave and freezer use.

    This new offering from APP is FDA compliant and ISEGA certified for composability within 12 weeks, and available in 260-370 gsm & 13.3-23.6 caliper. Strength and sustainability combined gives brands a solution to single-use plastics that satisfies consumer demands for both quality and environmental impact.

    “Expanding our Foopak line to include FBB to-go containers is another step toward helping brands across the globe reach their sustainability goals,” said Felix Koh, Senior Vice President and Global Business Unit Head, APP. “We’re proud to offer a product that will satisfy the needs of consumers and businesses alike, while extending our market reach.”

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