Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • MG Motor India To Launch Its First Electric SUV In Phased Manner

    MG Motor India To Launch Its First Electric SUV In Phased Manner

    We already have told you that MG Motor will launch an all-electric SUV in India and according to the latest news reports the company is planning to launch the upcoming electric SUV in select cities to begin with. “We will be launching the pure electric SUV in the fourth quarter (October-December) this year. It will be launched in some select cities across the country,” said Gaurav Gupta, Chief Commercial Officer, MG Motor India to the reporters.

    The company will be launching two models in India- starting with the Hector SUV and then a fully electric SUV, over the next nine months and has plans to launch one model in India every year. The company further shared that its electric vehicles in the country would have over-the-air (OTA) technology and would go over 250 km in a single charge. However, he refrained to comment on the selected locations.

    OTA technology is still an alien concept in India and MG Motor will be the first to have it in their models. OTA technology allows the auto maker to update its operating system in the vehicle helping refresh the content including entertainment features. OTA is a standard for the transmission and reception of application-related information in a wireless communication system.

  • Tata Harrier Becomes The Official Partner For The IPL 2019

    Tata Harrier Becomes The Official Partner For The IPL 2019

    Tata Motors has announced the second year of association with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), as the new Tata Harrier becomes the official partner for the Indian Premier League a.k.a. IPL 2019. Last year it was the Tata Nexon subcompact SUV, in fact, last season, a special Tata Nexon SUV, which has been autographed by the captains of the 8 leading teams, was auctioned to create more awareness for cancer. As the Official Partner, Tata Motors will showcase the Harrier in the stadium, across all IPL matches, which begins on March 23, 2019.

    The Tata Harrier was launched in India, early this year in January 2019, and the SUV is based on the company’s new Omega Arc platform. The 5-seater premium compact SUV is priced in the range of ₹ 12.69 lakh to ₹ 16.25 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Now, with its latest association with the IPL, Tata Motors hopes to give the Harrier the push that it needs to effectively target the market.

    Commenting on the continued association with the IPL, Mayank Pareek, President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, said “After a successful association last year, it is only fitting for Tata Motors that our premium SUV, Harrier, should be the Official Partner of one of the biggest sporting events across the world. Born of legendary pedigree, the Harrier has received a phenomenal response from customers across India.” He further added, “We have elaborate plans to capture the audience’s attention in-stadia, on-air and across digital platforms, and hope to drive tremendous value from this association yet again.”

    Being the official partner for the IPL 2019, this season will host the Harrier Super Striker Awards as well. So, the best striker of the match stands a chance to win the Harrier Super Striker Trophy along with a prize of ₹ 1 lakh. Furthermore, the batsman with the highest strike-rate in the tournament will win a Tata Harrier SUV. In addition to these, Tata Motors is also offering a prize of ₹ 1 lakh to anyone who takes a single-handed catch in a match stands.

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  • Hyundai Cars Will Now Be Available On Subscription Basis

    Hyundai Cars Will Now Be Available On Subscription Basis

    Hyundai Motor India and self-drive car rental service provider- Revv have tied up to provide Hyundai cars on a subscription basis. On subscription, the customers could opt for a flexible ownership plan which includes both, short term and long term. The customers will also be able to swap cars across Hyundai range and can easily avail it without any down payment. The company will also not charge any amount for insurance or maintenance from the customer who has subscribed for the short term. Hyundai is also assuring new cars to customers who opt for one-year subscription or more.

    Commenting on the announcement SJ Ha, Senior Director, Sales & Marketing, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, “We are extremely excited about the Indian mobility landscape currently and foresee great prospects. This strategic alliance will provide a unique opportunity for today’s millennial customers to experience Hyundai’s diverse product offerings that blend with their personality. With our deep understanding of Indian consumers and progressive tech-driven mobility solutions, we aim to forge a new market for the New Age Indians.”

    The subscription-based car leasing service has been started as a pilot project. Hyundai and Revv have launched the service only in six cities initially- Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad and haven’t mentioned anything about the expansion plan yet. The project will start in Q1 2019.

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  • BMW And MINI Lifestyle Collection Now Will Be Available On Amazon

    BMW And MINI Lifestyle Collection Now Will Be Available On Amazon

    In a bid to make its original lifestyle collection more accessible to automotive enthusiasts in India, BMW India today announced launching the latest range of BMW and MINI branded products on Amazon India. Customer now have access to a wide range of original BMW and MINI branded clothing, accessories, luggage, and many other types of merchandise, which can now be purchased online.

    Customers now have access to wide range of original clothing, accessories, luggage, and more

    Hans-Christian Baertels, President, BMW Group India said, “The fascinating BMW and MINI Lifestyle Collection is created to add a touch of style, sophistication and inspiration to everyday life. We are thrilled to introduce the unique BMW and MINI Lifestyle Collection for our customers on Amazon India. This will enhance the reach and accessibility of our authentic and aspirational range of lifestyle products beyond the existing retail area in our showrooms. Be it golf equipment, bags, wallets, watches, t-shirts, jackets or even miniature cars, there is always something for everyone.”

    The collection will include products themed after the multiple branches within the BMW family like – BMW M Collection, BMW Motorsport Heritage Collection, BMW i Collection, Montblanc for BMW Special Edition, the BMW Iconic Collection and BMW Miniature Collection. A similar collection of MINI-branded clothing and bags to luggage, accessories and mobility items will also be on offer.

  • One in Three Entrepreneurs in APAC Rely on M&A

    One in Three Entrepreneurs in APAC Rely on M&A

    In Asia Pacific, one in three entrepreneur leverages on merger or acquisition as means to grow or expand their businesses, according to a recent report by BNP Paribas. A high proportion of entrepreneurs (33%) in the region rely on merger or acquisition to grow their businesses compared to their counterparts in Europe, GCC and USA, according to the 2019 BNP Paribas Global Entrepreneur Report.

    38 percent of Hong Kong business owners have undergone either a merger or acquisition in the past.

    Disruption and Development

    Over 50 percent of Indonesian entrepreneurs focus on contributing to growth of the local economy as their business goals in five years, while the entrepreneurial ambition in Taiwan is gravitated towards contributing to innovation and development in their chosen sectors. For Taiwan entrepreneurs, 38 percent are disruptors – their business goal is to permanently change the status quo with a new product or concept within five years.

    In India, it is for the next generation of their families to have meaningful careers.

    Use Of Credit Solutions

    Globally, 44 percent of elite entrepreneurs have used credit solutions to develop their business.  In Asia, 55 percent of entrepreneurs have sought to borrow to invest in their own businesses. This rises to six in every ten entrepreneurs in China, India and Indonesia.

    61 percent of Chinese entrepreneurs use credit or lending products to finance their business.  54 percent of Indonesian entrepreneurs have used structured products for credit or lending.

    Respondents

    The report is based on the responses of 2,763 Asian elite entrepreneurs handling a total net worth of USD16 billion, spanning 23 countries across Europe, Asia, the United States and the Middle East. It also unveils the different stages of maturity of their entrepreneurial journey, the impact on their private wealth and their need for family governance.

    Sampling of the Asia respondents include 830 elite entrepreneurs covering China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan. The average primary company revenue was $7.2 million.

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  • Hyundai Develops Smartphone Based Digital Key

    Hyundai Develops Smartphone Based Digital Key

    Hyundai Motor Group announced the development of a Digital Key, which allows users to unlock and start a vehicle via their smartphone. Replacing a traditional physical key, the new Digital Key can be downloaded via an app and can be used by up to four authorised people. The Digital Key can be downloaded via a cell phone application and Near Field Communication (NFC) technology detects the presence of an authorized Digital Key-enabled cellphone in close proximity to the vehicle door. NFC is a form of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), which boasts a high level of security. The NFC wireless data communication takes place only when the device and the reader are placed several centimetres apart.

    The NFC antenna for entry identification is located in the handles of the driver and front passenger’s doors, whilst one for starting the engine is located within the wireless charging pad. After unlocking the vehicle, the user can start the engine by placing the smartphone on the wireless charging pad in the centre console and pressing an engine Start/Stop button on the dashboard.

    The user’s preferred vehicle settings are stored in the vehicle. When the key is recognized those settings are adjusted automatically – including the position of mirrors, seats and the steering wheel, as well as controls for the audio, video and navigation (AVN) systems and head-up display.Hyundai’s Digital Key can be used to control selected vehicle systems remotely via their smartphone. Using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication, users can lock and unlock the vehicle, activate the alarm and start the engine. In addition, once the vehicles with autonomous parking features are commercialized, such features are also expected to be remotely controlled.

    The level of access to different vehicle functions can be tailored to each user, for a defined period. The vehicle owner can pre-set the duration of vehicle use or limit the use to only certain features when renting the vehicle. For instance, it can even be used to enable a courier to open the trunk to deliver a parcel.

    For cases such as using a valet service or visiting a repair shop, where handing over a digital key is not feasible, conventional smart key and card type key are also provided. Hyundai Motor Group aims to gradually implement the technology in its new production vehicles, starting later this year.

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  • UNIQLO to Launch UTs Celebrating Megahit Capcom Game Series Monster Hunter and Street Fighter

    UNIQLO to Launch UTs Celebrating Megahit Capcom Game Series Monster Hunter and Street Fighter

    UNIQLO, Japanese global apparel retailer, announces that it will launch a special UT (UNIQLO graphic T-shirts) collaboration collection that celebrates the megahit game series Monster Hunter™ and Street Fighter® from Capcom, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games. The Game by Street Fighter UT collection will begin rolling out at UNIQLO stores and through UNIQLO.com starting Monday, April 15. The Game by Monster Hunter UT collection will be available in Mid-June.

    Making its arcade debut in 1987, the Street Fighter game series is considered the progenitor of the fighting game boom that began in the 1990s. A new collection of unique UT designs celebrating the Street Fighter franchise highlights world warriors such as Ryu and Ken in various designs. Street Fighter®UTs include designs with controller button commands, as well as a pixel art rendition of a rare double K.O. from the game. Artwork from the latest Street Fighter title popular in the international esports scene, Street Fighter® V: Arcade Edition, features dramatic illustrations of the games’ iconic characters.

  • UNIQLO to Open its Second Largest Store in Singapore at Jewel Changi Airport

    UNIQLO to Open its Second Largest Store in Singapore at Jewel Changi Airport

    After opening its Global Flagship Store at Orchard Central in 2016, UNIQLO will welcome its second largest store in Singapore on 11 April 2019, as it sets foot in the iconic Jewel Changi Airport. Aspiring to showcase its LifeWear ethos to the world, UNIQLO aims to leverage Jewel – a choice lifestyle destination that will draw in both locals and visitors globally – to share its brand experience that champions Simple Made Better through constant innovation.

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  • Samsung patent reveals its next foldable smartphone

    Samsung patent reveals its next foldable smartphone

    Two major smartphone vendors, Samsung and Huawei, revealed their first foldable phones – Samsung Galaxy Foldand Huawei Mate X. Although both are based on the same foldable concept, they’re using different technology, which led to some rivalries between the companies and their fans, of course.

    Specs aside, the major difference between these two smartphones is the way their displays fold. First off, we have the Samsung Galaxy Fold, which features a big display that folds to the inside of the device. Secondly, there’s the Huawei Mate X which folds outward, with the part of the display that becomes the back side of the folded phone turning off.

    Many say that Huawei’s solution is much better in terms of design, even though the Chinese company’s foldable smartphone is prone to scratches due to the design. Samsung and Huawei have been arguing about who’s got the best overall foldable smartphone design, but that might not last too long.

    Samsung is reportedly readying two other foldable smartphones, one of which will feature the same foldable design as the Mate X. One of Samsung’s patents spotted by LetsGoDigital reveals what the upcoming Samsung foldable smartphone might look like.

    It’s definitely a step up from the current model, the Galaxy Fold since it comes with a flexible segment in the middle that makes it possible to close it seamlessly when completely unfolded. The images also reveal some sort of slide that works like a lock to make sure that the phone remains flat when opened.

    This removes the need of having to implement a more sturdy hinge to keep the phone completely flat when you open it. If Samsung does plan to launch such a device, it will be the company’s first foldable smartphone to feature an outward-facing display, in the same vein as Huawei’s Mate X.

    picture by: letsgodigital.org

  • Disney’s video streaming service will be a dream come true

    Disney’s video streaming service will be a dream come true

    Back in November, we told you that Disney’s video streaming service, which will compete with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and Apple, is going to be called Disney+. According to Polygon, during the entertainment giant’s stockholders meeting last week, company CEO Bob Iger passed along some information related to the streaming service. Perhaps the most exciting bit of news that the executive revealed is something that will make Disney fans open their wallets as soon as the service is launched. Disney+ will offer “the entire Disney motion picture library.”
    If you’ve ever watched the Disney Channel, you know that Disney only offers a title on DVD for a limited time, and then locks it back into the Disney Vault for a number of years before it is released again. But once Disney+ is launched, the Vault gets blown up. Besides all of those classics and more recent hits (including Frozen), Iger says that there will be some original programming including a live action Star Wars series called The Mandalorian.
    In case you were wondering, Iger says that new theatrical releases will take about a year to go from silver screen to your phone screen. Disney+ will “combine both the old and the new,” the CEO said. “All of the films that we’re releasing this year, starting with Captain Marvel, will also be on the service.”
    “The service, which I mentioned earlier is going to launch later in the year, is going to combine what we call library product, movies, and television, with a lot of original product as well, movies and television. And at some point fairly soon after launch it will house the entire Disney motion picture library, so the movies that you speak of that traditionally have been kept in a ‘vault’ and brought out basically every few years will be on the service. And then, of course, we’re producing a number of original movies and original television shows as well that will be Disney-branded.”-Bog Iger, CEO, Disney
    While Iger didn’t reveal a launch date for Disney+, he did say that the service will debut later this year.
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  • Motorola’s smartphones could soon remove almost every bezel

    Motorola’s smartphones could soon remove almost every bezel

    The Motorola Moto E, Moto G, and Moto Z smartphone lineups could eventually adopt displays that feature almost no bezel, a new patent suggests. Submitted late last year and published earlier this month, parent company Lenovo describes a total of eight smartphone designs range from ‘Model A’ to ‘Model H.’ The first three models focus on different front panel looks which could be used in the near future. The second set of devices, on the other hand, describes different rear designs.

    Starting with Models A, B, and C, these all sport rear panels that resemble current-gen Motorola devices thanks to large circle-shaped camera modules and rear-facing fingerprint scanners. In the case of ‘Model A,’ this rear design is paired with a thick chin up front and a small notch above the display. Overall, the device resembles the recently-announced Moto G7 quite closely.
    Moving on to ‘Model B,’ this smartphone sports a slimmer chin along with the same notch. As a result, the device is reminiscent of the upcoming Moto Z4 Play. ‘Model C,’ however, appears to depict what Motorola’s smartphones will look like in the future. Like the previous two, it maintains the waterdrop-like notch above the display. This time, though, the side and bottom bezels are basically non-existent.
    Taking a look at the remaining models, these all depict different rear setups. Models ‘D’ and ‘E’ resemble slightly updated versions of current Moto Z and Moto P-series devices. Models ‘F’ and ‘H,’ on the other hand, showcase horizontally-aligned cameras that sit in the top-left corner, a design that hasn’t been seen on Motorola smartphones. When it comes to the remaining ‘Model G,’ this rear design resembles the look of older Moto devices by boasting a much smaller camera that sits in the center, just above the LED flash and the Motorola logo.
    Because Motorola no longer competes in the flagship segment, it could be a while until the brand’s mid-range offerings embrace the bezel-less look depicted by Model C. The alternative rear looks, however, could appear in the near future.
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  • Facebook’s massive outage helped a rival app gaining millions of new users

    Facebook’s massive outage helped a rival app gaining millions of new users

    If you’re bothered by Facebook’s notoriously shady data harvesting methods and various other controversies surrounding the privacy and security of the social networking titan’s user base, it’s probably not a good idea to switch to Instagram. But there are actually many competing services and platforms on the market that Mark Zuckerberg does not own.

    One instant messaging app that has been growing at a pretty impressive pace for the past few years noticed a particularly large boost to its user numbers yesterday. According to its founder, Pavel Durov, a whopping 3 million people signed up for new Telegram accounts “within the last 24 hours.” It’s safe to assume that doesn’t happen every day for an IM and VoIP service that boasted a grand total of 200 million monthly active users around a year ago.

    While Durov doesn’t spell it out for us on his personal Telegram channel, the surge in sign-ups is naturally believed to be connected with Facebook’s most recent worldwide outage. A massive number of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp users reported problems logging in to their accounts yesterday, and incredibly enough, the main social networking platform is still down for some people.

    Even though that seemed to boost the action (and jokes) on Twitter, where Facebook itself confirmed the issues, Pavel Durov suggests his app may have had more to gain thanks to its “true privacy and unlimited space for everyone.” Then again, Telegram had its fair share of scandals and controversies back in the day as well, disappearing from the iOS App Store at one point due to suspicions of rampant child pornography content spreading.

    The app is also banned in countries like Russia and China, although the reason for that might actually convince more people in the Western Hemisphere to switch from Facebook or WhatsApp to Telegram. Namely, a strict policy on sharing user information with government authorities.

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  • Wehkamp Plots Double-Digit Growth Trajectory with Manhattan Associates

    Wehkamp Plots Double-Digit Growth Trajectory with Manhattan Associates

    Manhattan Associates today announced that leading Dutch online retailer Wehkamp has selected Manhattan’s Warehouse Management System (WMS) to manage its new distribution centre (DC) in Zwolle, Netherlands. The project, part of a €40 million investment Wehkamp is making in expanding and modernising this DC, will eventually extend to Wehkamp’s other DCs in the country. Wehkamp chose Manhattan’s WMS because of its industry-leading functionality, because it can orchestrate and maximise the performance of both human and automated resources, and because it will allow the retailer to scale order line volumes at a 20 percent growth clip.

    With 2.7 million regular customers and more than 11 million orders processed annually, Wehkamp is the Netherlands’ online market leader in fashion, lifestyle, beauty and baby/childrenswear. Its Zwolle DC, already one of the world’s largest automated DCs for online retail at 360,000 sq. ft. is being extended to 650,000 sq. ft. Once this expansion is completed, Wehkamp will have almost 1.5 million sq. ft. of warehousing capacity in the Netherlands and is able to process more than 250,000 orderlines per day.

    Once it began this DC expansion and modernisation project, Wehkamp executives concluded that their incumbent WMS would not be able to keep up with the company’s rapid growth or the additional associated complexity. The company set out to find a single, future-proof solution that could be deployed across its DCs, could efficiently orchestrate workflow across both automated and manual resources, and could maximise product flow-through velocity.

    Manhattan’s state-of-the-art WMS will provide Wehkamp with more flexibility in terms of how it processes orders and returns, maximise asset utilisation and support mobile workflows within its DCs. The solution’s order streaming capabilities will allow the retailer to simultaneously process wave, waveless and flow-through orders, whilst its embedded Warehouse Execution System (WES) capabilities will orchestrate workflow between its human workforce and its various automated technologies, which include 550 shuttle robots.

    “Wehkamp has grown rapidly because we have made ‘offering the ultimate customer experience’ our number one priority,” said Maarten Tibosch, Chief Operations Officer at Wehkamp. “Manhattan’s WMS will help us develop a supply chain that is effective, efficient, flexible and scalable to support our customers’ evolving needs. This solution will maximise asset utilisation, accelerate inventory flows and get goods to consumers faster.”

    Pieter Van den Broecke, Managing Director, Benelux and Germany, Manhattan Associates commented, “Manhattan currently works with the top brands and retailers across the globe to help them navigate the complexities of omnichannel fulfilment. With Manhattan’s WMS, Wehkamp can be confident it will be able to deliver on its growth and efficiency improvement goals so that it can make the lives of all families in the Netherlands ‘easier and more beautiful’.”

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  • PVH opens third Tommy Hilfiger store

    PVH opens third Tommy Hilfiger store

    US-based PVH Corporation opened its 13th full-price Tommy Hilfiger store in Australia on Friday, just days after the fashion brand held its Tommy Now runway event in Paris, featuring a collection designed in partnership with American actress and brand ambassador, Zendaya.

    The new store, located in Sydney’s Mosman suburb, showcases the TommyXZendaya collection and the brand’s Spring 2019 collection, in keeping with Tommy Hilfiger’s early adoption of the ‘see now, buy  now’ runway trend. Customers can also shop the brand’s denim collection and newly launched men’s and women’s sportswear collections.

    The store, which opened on International Women’s Day, also offers the brand’s IWD capsule collection, which features t-shirts and sweaters with inspirational slogans, such as: “Be the change” and “Powerful”. The brand is donating $1 from every style sold to the International Women’s Development Agency, a non-profit that works to advance women’s rights and gender equality in Asia Pacific.

    Spanning 130sqm, the store design reflects Tommy Hilfiger’s new global retail concept, which fuses the brand’s American heritage with clean, modern finishes and a bright, airy aesthetic. A high-resolution digital screen showcases the brand’s latest global campaigns for an immersive brand experience.

    The Mosman store is the third Tommy Hilfiger store to open in the past eight months in Australia, reflecting the parent company’s efforts to minimise its exposure to Myer and other struggling department stores by increasing its retail presence. The brand opened a store in Burwood, NSW, in June 2018 and in Perth, WA, in October. The brand also launched an online presence in Australia in September.

    In a presentation to investors in May 2018, PVH Brands Australia, a 50-50 joint venture between PVH and local apparel retailer Gazal Corporation, which held the licences for  Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Van Heusen in the local market, said it would open 34 stores across the brands in the coming years.

    Since then, PVH has announced an agreement to acquire Gazal. The closing, which is subject to shareholder, court and regulatory approvals, is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2019.

    Tommy Hilfiger operates 1800 stores in over 100 countries around the world.

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  • American Eagle expands Aerie lingerie brand

    American Eagle expands Aerie lingerie brand

    Global apparel retailer American Eagle is boosting its Aerie lingerie brand, with plans to open 60 to 75 stores this year.

    The strategy, which coincides with rival brand Victoria’s Secret’s declining sales and series of store closures, involves both standalone locations and side-by-sides with American Eagle, predominantly in Texas and California. The company currently operates 1055 stores.

    “Aerie is a game changer by staying at the forefront of body positivity and women’s empowerment,” said Aerie’s global brand president Jennifer Foyle. “Our new cast of role models are even more inspirational. They embrace the Aerie lifestyle and were chosen for their influential voices, unique stories and commitment to increase the power and empowering our community.”

    The firm reported US$431 million in earnings for the last financial quarter, a 1 per cent rise over the previous year’s figures. Its total net sales also rose 1 per cent to $1.24 billion.

    “Strong execution by the teams drove a record fourth quarter and fiscal 2018, as we reached a milestone of $4 billion in annual revenue with increased operating profit,” said American Eagle’s CEO and chairman Jay Schottenstein.

    “Eagle and Aerie continued to deliver consistent performance by combining product innovation and great merchandise with an improved customer experience across channels. As we head into 2019, we will continue to leverage the strength of our brands, selling channels and the team’s commitment to continually raising the bar for our customers. The strength of our balance sheet and free cash flow enables us to make important investments in our business to fuel market share gains, future growth and returns to our shareholders.”