Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • Coles starts selling food on eBay

    Coles starts selling food on eBay

    Coles on Wednesday started selling a range of ‘everyday essentials’ on eBay, in a bid to reach some of the marketplace’s 11 million unique monthly visitors. The offering includes perishable and non-perishable items in Coles’ everyday essentials range across several categories, including select pre-packaged fresh food, pantry, personal care and household items. The items at launch are available to eBay shoppers in metro Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Shoppers will initially have just one delivery option, though more will be added throughout the year, according to a statement from eBay and Coles. 

    Alister Jordan, chief executive of Coles Online, described the partnership as being all about convenience.

    “By partnering with eBay, we are providing our customers another convenient way to access our products and have them delivered straight to their door,” he said in a statement.

    The idea is that consumers who are already buying fashion, homewares and electronics on eBay can also complete their food shopping on the online marketplace, rather than having to make a second – virtual – trip to Coles’ e-commerce site.

    “It really comes down to convenience and being able to choose from a great range of groceries as well as those bigger ticket items you can’t get from a supermarket,” Julie Nestor, eBay’s CMO told.

    “Think about planning for a dinner party and being able to purchase everything from the table setting to the meal ingredients on the one site – it’s a more convenient, seamless way to shop online.”

    There is also the fact that more and more brands stocked on supermarket shelves are increasing their direct-to-consumer sales through their own websites or marketplaces like Amazon, which expanded into the pantry category last October, though it doesn’t yet offer fresh food in Australia. For eBay, the partnership seems to be about growing its eBay Plus membership program, which it launched in May 2018 in what many saw as a response to Amazon Prime. The program, which costs $49 a year, includes unlimited delivery and returns on new items bought on eBay, discounts on the Stan streaming service and opportunities to earn points through Coles’ flybuys loyalty program.

    Nestor confirmed that launching Coles’ food offering on eBay has been in the works for some time.

    “After we successfully launched our partnership with flybuys last year, this is a natural extension of our relationship with Coles,” she said.

    Nestor declined to say how many members are currently signed up to the eBay Plus program, but she described the uptake so far as “really positive” and said the company expects it to continue to grow with the launch of Coles on eBay. EBay Plus members get free delivery on orders that are $49 and over, and they earn double the number of flybuys points on all orders.

  • DHL Global Forwarding appoints Fabian Rybka to head Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

    DHL Global Forwarding appoints Fabian Rybka to head Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

    DHL Global Forwarding, the leading international provider of air, sea and road freight services, has appointed Fabian Rybka as Cluster Head for DHL Global Forwarding’s operations in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, along with partner operations in Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives.

    Rybka brings to the role more than 10 years of experience at DHL Global Forwarding in both Asia and Europe, serving most recently as Head of Business Strategy and Development for DHL Global Forwarding ASEAN and South Asia, where he spearheaded successful growth initiatives in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka amongst other markets. Previous roles saw him specialize in designing and executing growth plans for DHL Global Forwarding’s high-potential markets including Italy, India, Singapore, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as key operations in European markets.

    “Fabian has built up a formidable track record for turning even the most challenging business situations into environments of high growth and customer satisfaction,” said Thomas Tieber, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding ASEAN and South Asia. “He has already proven that ability in guiding our teams in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to significant results while understanding the nuances of the local market operations. I can think of no better individual to lead these growth markets and further build on our strong market position.”

    In the new role, Rybka will apply his extensive business development expertise to further boost productivity and expand DHL Global Forwarding’s range of services in the markets under his leadership, focusing particularly on developing key products in ocean freight and value-added services like customs and integrated warehousing. He also continues to lend his business turnaround skills to projects throughout the broader South Asia and Asia Pacific regions.

    “I firmly believe Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the surrounding markets of Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal hold opportunity for substantial growth. We have a role to play to connect these economies to the rest of the world, supporting foreign businesses to invest in these markets, and also encouraging exports from local businesses overseas,” Rybka said. “Bangladesh’s GDP is growing faster than almost anywhere else in Asia at 7.3% per annum, while Sri Lanka continues to see steady increases in both imports and exports[2] that point to its growing connectedness and market opportunity within the global economy. As business optimism grows, my goal is to ensure we make our world-class logistics services as accessible and reliable as possible to enterprises of all sizes throughout the cluster.”

    Rybka holds an MBA from the University of Cooperative Education in Stuttgart, Germany, as well as a Global DHL CEO Award for his work in CSR and sustainability. Formerly one of Germany’s top junior football coaches, he also organizes and hosts youth football competitions — including one of the world’s largest, in Switzerland — to support the community work of SOS Children’s Village, a DHL GoTeach partner organization with whom he has volunteered for more than 10 years.

    Read more at https://vietnamnews.vn/media-outreach/505358/dhl-global-forwarding-appoints-fabian-rybka-to-head-bangladesh-and-sri-lanka-operations.html#qzaaIQjDkqMUVr8X.99

  • Thai AirAsia says it will not buy shares in Nok Air

    Thai AirAsia says it will not buy shares in Nok Air

    Asia Aviation, majority shareholder of budget airline Thai AirAsia, said on Wednesday that it would not proceed with an acquisition of shares in rival carrier Nok Airlines, sending Nok’s shares down.

    Nok’s shares fell more than 12% and Asia Aviation’s prices slid nearly 3% in the morning trading session.

    Asia Aviation said in February that it was in talks to buy Nok shares, although Nok had said at the time that it was “not aware of any details in this respect”.

    Nok is 53% owned by the Jurangkool family, which also controls Thai Steel Cable PCL and unlisted auto parts maker Thai Summit.

    Intense competition among budget airlines has led to quarterly losses since 2015 for Nok.

    Asia Aviation owns 55% of Thai AirAsia, with the remainder held by Malaysia’s AirAsia Group Bhd.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Telstra to trial 5G in banking sector

    Telstra to trial 5G in banking sector

    Australia’s Telstra has used this week’s Mobile World Congress to announce a partnership with Commonwealth Bank of Australia And Ericsson to trial 5G edge computing technologies in the financial services sector.

    The three-way collaboration will involve testing end-to-end banking solutions over 5G technology in an effort to explore the future of banking.

    The companies will evaluate how 5G edge computing can help reduce the network infrastructure currently required at bank branches to support high-speed transactions.

    Speaking at the event, Telstra group executive for networks and IT Nikos Katinakis said 5G has the potential to transform the global financial services sector.

    “5G edge computing is all about bringing the network closer to the user or application. For financial institutions like Commonwealth Bank, it will help to enhance existing banking applications as well as deliver new use cases such as artificial intelligence, all supported by a range of software defined networking solutions,” he said.

    “Together with Ericsson, we are pleased to be working closely with Commonwealth Bank, an industry leader, to help them design and deliver the next generation of banking services, powered by Telstra’s 5G technology and using edge computing.”

    Katinakis added that the lessons learned from the collaboration will be applicable to other industry verticals beyond financial services.

  • Indonesian airline Garuda talking with Go-Jek to provide logistics support

    Indonesian airline Garuda talking with Go-Jek to provide logistics support

    Indonesia’s national carrier Garuda and Go-Jek are in talks for a partnership that will make it easier for the ride-hailing and e-commerce app to move goods to customers within the 17,000 islands of the sprawling Southeast Asian archipelago. Garuda chief executive Ari Askhara told Reuters the talks are in an advanced stage and an agreement is expected to be finalised by the two companies in the next few months. Askhara said Garuda was developing a new technology relating to e-commerce and logistics. The partnership would enable goods ordered via Go-Jek’s app in one city in Indonesia to be delivered in another using Garuda’s fleet, he said. The CEO did not provide more details.

    Started in 2011 in Jakarta, Go-Jek has evolved from a ride-hailing service to a one-stop app through which its customers can make online payments and order everything from food, groceries to e-commerce goods.

    Go-Jek, which is valued at between US$9 billion and US$10 billion according to sources, declined to comment.

    E-commerce has been growing rapidly in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy, but one of the main obstacles is logistics as the islands are sprinkled across an area bigger than the European Union.

    Go-Jek recently raised over US$1 billion in a funding round as it challenges Singapore-based rival Grab for a larger share of the region, sources told Reuters.

    The Go-Jek proposal is one of several being explored by Garuda to cut its dependence on passenger traffic as the airline tries to grow its profits after a bumpy 2018.

    The airline has been battling for market share against local market leader Lion Air, which in October suffered a crash of a Boeing Co 737 MAX jet, killing all 189 people on board.

     

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Tekka Place Soft opens End of Year

    Tekka Place Soft opens End of Year

    Hospitality-and-retail integrated development Tekka Place has marked its topping out, and is scheduled for a soft opening by the end of this year.

    Located at 2 Serangoon Road, the complex has a main tower and a seven-storey annex with rooftop deck. Tekka Place will cater to the needs of nearby residents, office workers and commuters of both the North East and Downtown MRT lines, as well as house the new Citadines Rochor serviced residences, attracting new international visitors.

    Tekka Place’s construction started in mid-2017, managed by Lum Chang-LaSalle joint venture.
    Nearly 50 per cent of the 70,000sqft lettable retail space in the integrated development has been leased or is in advanced negotiations.

    “Even though we have been approached by reputable local and international retail and F&B brands, we are selective in curating Tekka Place’s retail mix to both reflect and build on the unique cultural identity of the Little India heritage precinct, and to complement the shopkeeper businesses in the area,” said Kelvin Lum, director at Lum Chang Holdings and spokesperson for the joint venture.

    XinTekka, a new food hall concept by Andrew Tan will occupy 10,000sqft of the mall, offering a spread of local culinary favourites with a twist. XinTekka is set to be Singapore’s newest dining destination.

    “We very much look forward to the forthcoming completion of Tekka Place, which will add to the revitalisation of the precinct as well as the dynamism of Little India,” said Rajakumar Chandra, chairman of the Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Vive Cake Boutique opens fresh pop-up at Harbour City

    Vive Cake Boutique opens fresh pop-up at Harbour City

    Vive Cake Boutique has opened a three-month pop-up store at Harbour City’s Gateway Arcade. The store is timed to coincide with White Day, a traditional holiday in Japan where men return gifts to their sweethearts who gave them chocolate on Valentine’s Day.

    The bakery’s founder Vivien Lau and her team have designed a White Day selection which will also be available in the company’s Central flagship store.

    “Vive’s pop-up store in Harbour City is an idyllic location that embodies refinement and luxury,” says Lau. “Gourmands from around the world can explore our unique and new dessert sensations in a homely, inviting, and Insta-worthy environment.”

    In addition to the cake creations and offers, Lau and her team have also designed memorabilia and treats for shoppers to take home, including a unicorn portable charger inspired by their signature Uni-Cone cake.

    Vive Cake Boutique was launched online in 2014 with its first pop up opening at The Pulse the following year. The company now has two permanent boutiques with pink and sleek marble decor, in Lee Tung Street in Wan Chai and H Queen, Central’s lifestyle hub.

  • Moon Lok Chinese restaurant opens at Xiqu Centre

    Moon Lok Chinese restaurant opens at Xiqu Centre

    The first dining establishment has opened in the brand new Xiqu Centre in West Kowloon, showcasing high-calibre Chinese regional cuisine. Seating 260 guests, the 8000sqft Moon Lok Chinese Restaurant evokes the atmosphere of a Chinese garden as a place where one spends time with family and friends for pleasure and relaxation, inspiring a closeness with nature.

    The venue is operated by Buick Management, a Hong Kong-based hospitality group that has over 25 years’ experience in the food and beverage industry. It is best known for managing Pak Lok Chiu Chow, a household name for Chiu Chow cuisine in Hong Kong, with branches in Times Square, K11 and Elements, as well as Starhill Gallery in Kuala Lumpur.

    Located at the junction of Canton Road and Austin Road, Moon Lok Chinese Restaurant is easily accessible by the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and Austin MTR station, the China Ferry Terminal that connects to Macau, Zhuhai, and Shekou, as well as the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link.

    Reflecting the Xiqu Centre’s modern design inspired by traditional Chinese lanterns, the restaurant also blends traditional and contemporary elements to reflect the evolving nature of the culinary art form.

    Lees ook:

  • Toby’s Sports flagship opening in BGC soon

    Toby’s Sports flagship opening in BGC soon

    A new Toby’s Sports flagship store just opened in BGC is the chain’s largest yet. The 1000sqm store, which takes up two floors, was designed by German architectural firm Blocher + Blocher and Philippine-based Sonia Olivares and Associates. The interior design was inspired by Manila’s “raw aesthetics” with larger-than-life graphics and bursts of color that reflect “the vibrant nature of sports”. Interactive touch screen displays throughout the store use RFID tags to provide shoppers with information about products.

    “We harnessed the latest technology to bring our store experience to the next level,” said Toby’s Sports president Toby Claudio. “We wanted to create more than just a store, but a space that tells stories about the latest sports innovations and inspire people to play; an iconic store, a pinnacle shopping experience in the heart of Metro Manila.”

    On the outside, a large LED display rises over Fifth Avenue.

    The store stocks a premium collection of footwear, sports apparel and equipment from multiple international brands.

    “The new Toby’s Sports flagship store is a statement we wanted to make, that even after 40 years in the business, we are still looking for ways to improve. It has allowed us to provide new and exciting experiences and best-level products for our customers. My hope is that the flagship can become an epicenter for sports and sneaker culture in the Philippines,” said Claudio.

    The store features several zones to provide an experiential component to shopping.

    An interactive PlayZone hosts events and doubles as a basketball court, featuring a professional-grade basketball shooting machine.

    LaunchZone will showcase new products and double as a space for pop-up installations, VIP events and guest appearances by athletes.

    Toby’s Custom Lab on the second floor, offers apparel customization services for customers, and is able to create team uniforms of personalised products for individuals.

    The BGC store is Toby’s Sports 55th shop in the Philippines and more are in planning.

  • January surge for Hong Kong retail sales

    January surge for Hong Kong retail sales

    Hong Kong retail sales surged 7.1 per cent in January – but the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) warns they could be affected by the timing of Lunar New Year.

    “Retail sales tend to show greater volatility in the first two months of a year due to the timing of the Lunar New Year,” said a C&SD spokesman. “Local consumer spending normally attains a seasonal high before the festival. As the Lunar New Year fell on February 5 this year but on February 16 last year, the year-on-year comparison of the figures for January … might have been affected by this factor.”

    After netting out the effect of price changes year on year, the volume of retail sales increased by 6.9 per cent.

    However, for the three months to January, Hong Kong retail sales declined by 2 per cent compared with the preceding quarter, and by 2.1 per cent compared with the same period a year earlier.

    Revised estimates for December showed a growth of 0.1 per cent in both value and volume.

    Sales of watches and jewellery rose by 4.7 per cent, while medicine and cosmetic sales rose 12.9 per cent and apparel by 2.4 per cent. Sales of goods in department stores surged 15.1 per cent, of food, liquor and tobacco by 13 per cent and of supermarket goods by 8.6 per cent.

    Categories to show a decline in sales were electrical goods and other consumer durable items, but 11 per cent.

    The C&SD spokesman said besides the LUnar New Year affect, retail sales were in part boosted by a surge in visitor arrivals in that month.

    “Yet, given the distortion by the difference in timing of the Lunar New Year, it would therefore be more meaningful to examine the retail sales figures for January and February combined, when available, to ascertain the underlying trend.”

    The spokesman said the outlook for retail sales in the near term is still uncertain.

    “While the full-employment situation in the local labour market and the sustained expansion in inbound tourism should provide support, consumption sentiment will still be affected by the unsteady external environment.”

  • Hong Kong’s Hui Lau Shan launching in Philippines

    Hong Kong’s Hui Lau Shan launching in Philippines

    Hong Kong dessert chain Hui Lau Shan will launch in the Philippines in February. The franchise, best known for its mango-based treats,will open at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City with a range of desserts that are expected to draw on local fruits.

    Mango desserts have proven popular in the region recently, with prominent social media coverage of long queues for mango floats.

    Hui Lau Shan is a heritage brand originating from a herbal tea & tea trolley that traded in Hong Kong’s Yuen Long back in the 1960s.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Ted Baker’s CEO resigns

    Ted Baker’s CEO resigns

    Ray Kelvin has stepped down from his position as CEO and director of UK fashion label Ted Baker amid allegations of misconduct. The company’s founder and former CEO had been taking a voluntary leave of absence after employees launched an online petition in December 2018, accusing him of inappropriate comments and conduct, including forced hugging.

    An ‘independent committee’ within the business has been in the process of investigating the allegations over the past three months. The committee commissioned the law firm Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) to investigate the allegations and the comapny’s policies, procedures and handling of HR-related complaints.

    The investigation will continue, with the primary focus now on Ted Baker’s policies, procedures and handling of complaints. It is expected that HSF will conclude its investigation at the end of Q1 or early in Q2 2019.

    Kelvin has denied all allegations of misconduct, but he resigned on Monday with immediate effect. Acting CEO Lindsay Page has agreed to continue in her role, and director David Bernstein has been asked to act as executive chairman to provide additional support to Page.

    Bernstein said he will continue in this position until no later than 30 November 2020, by which time a successor will be appointed. In a regulatory statement. Bernstein attempted to toe the line between thanking Kelvin, and expressing his support for Ted Baker’s staff.

    “Ray Kelvin founded the business 32 years ago and has, together with the fantastic team around him, been the driving force behind it becoming the global brand it is today,” Bernstein said.

    “As founder and CEO, we are grateful for his tireless energy and vision. However, in light of the allegations made against him, Ray has decided that it is in the best interests of the company for him to resign so that the business can move forward under new leadership.

    “As a board of directors, we are committed to ensuring that that all employees feel respected and valued. We are determined to learn lessons from what has happened and from what our employees have told us and to ensure that, while the many positive and unique aspects of Ted’s culture are maintained, appropriate changes are made.

    “Sharon Baylay has agreed to act as the designated non-executive director for engagement with the Ted workforce. Led by Lindsay, we are confident that the strong and experienced team we have in place will build the Ted culture and move the business forward.”

    Taking such a middle-of-the-road position, however, seems untenable in the long run. Just last month Karren Brady stepped down from her position as chair of Taveta Investments, the holding company of Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia Group, which in turn owns the UK fashion retailer Topshop, amid ongoing allegations that Green has sexual harassed and made racist remarks to in-store staff.

    There are new calls for Green to lose his knighthood and step down from his position.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Manifesto opens first Mandarin Gallery flagship

    Manifesto opens first Mandarin Gallery flagship

    Multi-brand concept store Manifesto has opened a new flagship store on Singapore’s Orchard Road. Manifesto’s new space in Mandarin Gallery envelopes guests in “the stark and abstract beauty of the Saharan landscape”, featuring sand colours and organic rock-like contours.

    Inspired by North African architecture, the store uses natural desert hues to reflect the warmth and hospitality. The entrance recalls a nomadic tent, highlighted by LED lights.

    “The design direction reflects our philosophy. We want to welcome customers, wanderers, the same way Bedouins welcome strangers under their tent,” said Manifesto founder Walid Zaazaa.

    The new store offers more than 30 brands encompassing fashion, streetwear and lifestyle accessories, including a curation of hard-to-find brands in Southeast Asia: APC, Lemaire, and Axel Arigato.

    “The most important selling point of our product is scarcity. We have brands of different aesthetic, origin and prices. The common thread between them is how they express their identity through products that are easily wearable, made with outstanding quality, and have interesting stories,” Zaazaa added. The multi-use concrete cashier counter was cast on site and infused with red pigment.

  • Customer-first strategy turns out profitable for Myer

    Customer-first strategy turns out profitable for Myer

    Myer CEO John King’s turnaround plan passed its first real test on Wednesday when the retailer reported a 3.1 per cent year-on-year increase in net profit after tax in the first half of FY19 to $41.3 million.

    While total sales fell 2.8 per cent to $1.67 billion and like-for-like sales fell 2.3 per cent in the half, King told investors he was not concerned, since the company has stopped chasing sales growth for the sake of it and is focused on increasing store profitability and growing online moving forward.

    Online sales were up 18.6 per cent in the half to $151.2 million, buoyed by a strong Q2, in which Myer did over $10 million in online sales over Cyber Weekend and had its biggest online sales day ever on Boxing Day.

    Operating gross profit margin improved 99bps to 38.5 per cent in the half, thanks to a renewed focus on exclusive brands. The company revealed that it is in the process of introducing more than 20 exclusive-to-Myer brands, most of which are international brands.

    The department store noted a 1.3 per cent improvement in its cost of doing business in the half, which it attributed in part to the rollout of a new workforce management system, which has improved its ability to roster employees to meet customer demand.

    EBITDA improved 4.9 per cent to $113.6 million.

    “This result demonstrates the positive customer response to a number of initiatives from our Customer First Plan, particularly during the all-important Christmas and Myer sale periods,” King said in a statement on Wednesday.

    The turnaround plan, which King announced last September, is based on three key priorities: transforming the customer experience in-store, expanding the company’s ‘Only at Myer’ brands and categories and offering value for money and improving Myer’s online offering.

    The retailer implemented a number of customer-centric initiatives in the half, including improving store layouts and localising merchandise in 23 stores in the network, and relaunching Myer’s ‘MyStore’ campaign, which King said has been well received by customers.

    Myer also launched a new website in October, which King said performed well during the major online shopping events in the half. The retailer is now looking to increase the number of products it offers online, which will enable it to reduce its selling area in certain centres, and to move the fulfilment of online orders from stores to a centralised distribution centre.

    In a call to investors on Wednesday, King said there is still a lot of room to cut costs and improve profitability by reducing the size of certain bricks-and-mortar stores in the network and improving the range and service in stores.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Vodafone Idea taps Ericsson for 5G-ready LTE upgrade

    Vodafone Idea taps Ericsson for 5G-ready LTE upgrade

    Vodafone Idea has contracted Ericsson to deploy 5G-ready LTE equipment as part of its network consolidation and modernization program. Under the agreement, Ericsson will help integrate the networks of the merged Vodafone India and Idea Cellular. As part of the contract, Ericsson will supply radio systems and transport equipment from its 5G-ready Ericsson Radio System portfolio.

    The deployments will provide Vodafone Idea with high capacity, low latency microwave backhaul and an easy upgrade path to 5G.

    Vodafone Idea plans to consolidate its existing deployed 2G and 3G network to maximize spectrum availability for LTE. This will be followed by ongoing optimization of the network in order to enhance end-user experience.

    “We have been strategic partners to both Vodafone India and Idea Cellular for several years, and now we enter a new phase of partnership with this deal with Vodafone Idea,” Ericsson head of SEA, Oceania and India Nunzio Mirtillo said.

    “The 5G-ready solutions in the Ericsson Radio System portfolio will help boost the capacity of Vodafone Idea’s LTE network and broaden the availability of high-quality mobile broadband services for its customers. These deployments will play an important role in building [the operator’s] future-ready 5G network.”

    Vodafone India and Idea Cellular completed a $23 billion merger in September, but the combined company is currently operating both the Vodafone and Idea brands independently.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook: