Online fashion sites Zalora Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan have introduced a special page of high-end brands.
Zalora Premium showcases signature aesthetics and capsule collections along with customised editorial and a catalogue. Some products are exclusive to Zalora.
More than 50 brands for men and women feature on Zalora Premium, including Calvin Klein, Diesel and Tommy Hilfiger as well as exclusive offerings from such brands as J.Crew and Swarovski.
Thai telecoms regulator NBTC has backed down on its recommendation of providing financial relief for mobile operators AIS and TrueMove in the face of criticism from academia and the public sector.
The regulator will no longer support a plan to provide relief from the operators’ 900-MHz license payment obligations.
The ultimate decision will be down to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and the government, but the NBTC will not oppose a plan that would ease the financial burden of digital TV operators but leave 900-MHz license winners out.
AIS and TrueMove both petitioned the NCPO in September requesting assistance in easing their license payment terms. The NBTC had drawn up a proposal to grant five year extensions for the payments of the final 900-MHz license payments, but the proposal was controversial.
TrueMove noted that the winning prices of the 2015 900-MHz spectrum auction were six times higher than the reserve price and the highest in APAC, and has warned that without financial relief the company will have limited capital for investment in services including 5G and the IoT. The company could also be hampered in its participation in the upcoming 1800-MHz auction.
AIS has likewise argued that relaxing the 900-MHz payment scheme would allow the company to invest in expanding and upgrading its mobile network, benefiting consumers.
Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom is upgrading its video security framework as it seeks to expand its multimedia-on-demand (MoD) service offering to include 4K ultra-high definition video streaming.
The operator has upgraded to the latest generation of the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS), VCAS Ultra, to support new delivery models and next-generation streaming services for its MoD offering.
VCAS Ultra is designed to allow operators to provide premium ultra-HD services and advanced hybrid network deployments. It includes enhanced content security profiles to meet the service requirements for UHD including multi-network video watermarking technology.
“As we enter this exciting new domain of premium video delivery, we couldn’t be more pleased to already have such a deep level of confidence in our security framework and trust in Verimatrix to navigate us through the complex requirements associated with UHD/4K services,” Chunghwa Telecom deputy principal engineer Dr. Chih-Cheng Lo said.
“Selecting VCAS Ultra was an easy decision, but we also know it is the optimal solution to support our future goals as we continue to evolve to stay ahead of the competition.”
In October, Chunghwa Telecom announced plans to develop original video programming and films to drive growth and allow expansion overseas, in the face of growing competition from local cable TV companies.
The operator announced an ambition to transition into a digital media company with both a telecoms and multimedia presence.
But Chunghwa’s video on demand service has reportedly lost NT$30 billion ($1.02 billion) since launching 13 years ago.
Why are retailers failing at such an alarming rate?
The preconditions for any business to be successful are:
Points one and and two are usually not the issue because failure is quick – if the business even succeeds in getting off the ground.
The root cause of many failures can be found in HOW the retailer chooses to play the arbitrage game of tapping into a supply to meet a need.
That is, entrepreneurs will pick the way in which business is done (proposition delivered) and attempt to build some differentiation around that that can be defended at a profit.
Timing: First or faster
An example would be Zara that aims to bring the latest fashion (from the catwalk to the store) in less than six weeks – and if anecdotal reports are to be believed have done so in a matter of days. Or you can be the Concord. Or the movie house that shows all the premiers.
Leverage: Add value, minimise cost
Someone turns raw meat into patties, someone solves the challenge of distributing fuel to every town in every country. Someone is the cheapest, someone figures out how to make things smell better, work differently, last longer or taste better. We are limited only by our imagination and the possibilities of innovation are endless. Of course, any particular innovation can be made redundant in a flash.
Change: Adapt, transform, improve
More than simply adding value, there are opportunities for entrepreneurs to transform products completely. Old tires can become road base. Cars can be turned into supercars or transformed into vehicles for mobility impaired people and clothes can be altered to fit. Wind can be turned into electricity.
Access: Exclusive or convenient
Businesses also exist on the premise that access to the product/ service is exclusive or particularly convenient. This is a very typical ‘advantage’ that many smaller retailers rely on, and it is most often also their weakness. E.g. to be the only menswear retailer in Yepoon or the only newsagent in the shopping centre, or maybe even the only convenience store on that particular side of that particular city block leverages ‘access’ as the method of arbitrage.
Most small, product-oriented retailers tend to rely on the ‘access’ angle to create a POD. Retailers tend to be resellers, so innovation is not a primary focus. The only value-add lies in the bulk-breaking activity. These SME retailers are content to be ‘the only shoe shop’ in the mall as their core proposition.
In the past this has been a legitimate approach to ‘capitalise’ on an opportunity. There has always been limits as to how far people would travel to gain access to a product, so geography-based retail propositions have been viable since forever.
But, reliance on this particular approach is the reason why the technological shift in the market is causing serious competitive pressure. And being blind to the change that has occurred is the cause of many retail failures.
Too many retailers rely on the fact that they are ‘the only’ cafe on the strip, the only menswear retailer in a suburb, the only servo on that street.
If you merely rely on being the only store in a particular geography, the internet obliterated that point of difference because on the internet, geography hardly matters.
Everything that is for sale is in every customer’s pocket. And the time delay (caused by delivery requirements) are (a) offset by cost saving and (b) becoming shorter and shorter. In metropolitan areas, many e-commerce providers are providing same-day delivery and food delivery businesses do it in a matter of hours.
This leaves traditional corner-stores an ever-shrinking market comprising mostly of emergency shoppers or impulse buyers.
That is why Amazon poses such a threat to retailers – suddenly there is a competitor that it is more convenient and cheaper than your shop on your corner, and you can do very little about it.
The internet has made geography irrelevant – and if THAT has been the basis of your business, so is the business.
The only appropriate response is to change your execution. You need pick a different propositional dimension to differentiate.
The problem is obvious. The solution is obvious. But maybe, like any good rehab program, the starting point is to admit the problem.
Since the origination of REITs in the United States, in the 50 years of its development, REITs in the United States, Singapore, Japan has been running on a rather perfect system, with legal policies and tax system. REITs was able to help the countries in growth, sustainable decisions, and the industry coordination. China had the first REITs in 2005. Since then, REITs in China have been moving forward, to seek further opportunity.
The new age of investment has come. PE is the most anticipated type of investment that most of the investors that are eyeing for. According to Asset Management Association of China, by the end of Februrary 2018, PE Fund pool have reached monthly growth of 250 billion Yuan, totaling 12 trillion Yuan. It has its competition to Public Placement.
With the development of Real Estate Equity Fund and REITs, an increase in the amount of firms are interested to be a part of it. As the fundamental, Finfo Global along with CaishiV is going to host the 2nd Real Estate Equity Investment & REITs in Shanghai on May 17. The event have gathered worldwide trust firms, insurance company, law firms, securities, asset managements and banks. The event is excepting more than 300 managerial positioned attendees.
At the event, Weida Kuang from China Remin University, National Development and Strategy Institution, City and Real Estate Institution with be introducing his ideas over the macro economy and the effect of the industry of real estates. Also, there are newly added topics such as low-cost rental housing, public rental housing, rental housing REITs, investment opportunities in second and third tier cities, offshore real estate PE Fund and its structuring,
On Thursday, March 29, Bolloré Logistics USA inaugurated its new Foreign Trade Zone facility in Miami, in presence of Clément Leclerc – Consul general of France in Miami, Cyrille Bolloré – Chairman of Bolloré Transport & Logistics and Thierry Ehrenbogen – CEO of Bolloré Logistics.
The new site of more than 200,000 square feet consolidates freight forwarding and contract logistics activities previously housed at two different locations and will support operational synergies and cargo turnaround time for customers with time-critica! logistics requirements.
By combining traditional freight forwarding with value added logistics services, coupled with industry vertical expertise, the Miami hub hos become a multimodal platform meeting the needs of its various customers. The new logistics hub is designed to deliver logistics excellence with an end-to-end solution offering and to create value to its customers, especially in the cosmetics, aerospace and travel retail industries.
The secure facility hos on-site 24/7 guard coverage, biometrie access control, CCTV monitoring and recording, perimeter fencing and fire sprinkler systems engineered to handle specific commodity classifications. The warehouse offers state of the art infrastructure with 52 doek doors, 32′ clear height. 60′ speed boy and a line of material handling equipment that can handle the warehouse challenges with reliability, power, productivity, performance, and efficiency.
The facility also reflects the environmental dimension required today for any real estate project of Bolloré Logistics and is built to Silver LEED.
“We are extremely proud of our newest logistics center. Miami is geographically pivotal to regional trade and a strategie location for Bolloré Logistics Americas. With this investment. we aim to play a key role in supporting the supply chain transformation of this industry,” said Tony Rodrigues, CEO Americas.
Arvato SCM Solutions and C & A have jointly developed a new packaging solution for shipping fashion items in the online business. So far, cartons have already been automatically cut to the actual size required, which saves costs on the material and optimizes shipping, as less air is transported. Now, the lid has been redesigned, and is fixed to the back and front of the carton after being positioned. The punched tear strip on the front of the lid enables easy opening as well as re-closing in case of a return of the package. The cardboard itself, which adeptly displays C & A branding on all sides, is made from unbleached recycled material.
“We have noticed that many of our customers are not sure where to open packages,” says Knut Brüggemann, Head of E-Commerce Operations at C & A. “That’s why we analysed our packaging concept together with Arvato and developed a more functional design that now displays our C & A branding even more prominently.”
Efficient use of materials saves costs
But not only simple handling and an appealing design are required for modern packaging solutions. Sustainability also plays an increasingly important role against the backdrop of steadily increasing transport volumes in online commerce. For this reason, C & A not only uses recycled materials in its cardboard packaging, but also uses as little material and space as possible to protect the environment: for this reason, the cardboard is automatically cut to the correct size before the package is sealed.
In practice, this process is as follows: after the articles have been picked and automatically pre-sorted for the customer’s order, an employee at the shipping packing station checks the ordered goods for completeness and packs all articles in a prepared cardboard base. After that, the open carton is transported to the sealing machine by means of conveyor technology that is equipped with both photo and video documentation as well as weight determination. After the delivery papers and a return label have been automatically attached to the packaging, a pressure-sensitive unit measures the box filling height. Once this has been determined, the cardboard is reduced at the corners to the exact size in millimetres by means of cutting knives and is then glued to the newly developed cardboard lid.
Through this cutting process, less filler material such as air cushioning is needed because the cut-down material remains in the carton as a space filler. In addition, adhesive material is saved because, thanks to the
innovative cover, only an adhesive strip for closing a return shipment is required at the most.
A further environmental aspect: “If the boxes contain less air, they require less space on the truck. This reduces the transport volume by around 250 truck journeys per year. Not only does this benefit the environment through less CO2 pollution, but also the consumer who has less packaging material to dispose of,” explains Michael Sorge, site manager of the 45,000 m² Arvato distribution centre in Hannover-Langenhagen, from where C & A customers in 20 European countries will soon be supplied. “Space-saving packaging brings the requirements of environmental compatibility, resource avoidance, damage limitation and customer experience into an optimal relationship.”
Listed jewellery retailer Soo Kee Group is planning to change its name.
In a statement to shareholders, CEO and executive director Lim Yong Sheng says the company proposes to adopt the new title SK Jewellery Group.
“The group currently retails fashionable jewellery and mementoes under, amongst others, the well-established SK Jewellery brand in Singapore and abroad. As such, the board is of the view that the proposed change of name will better reflect the profile, business activities and business direction of the group,” he wrote.
“In addition, the, the proposed change of name will also allow investors and the group’s business partners to better identify and associate the company with the SK Jewellery brand.”
Shareholder approval for the change will be decided at an extraordinary general meeting of the company on April 30, following the annual meeting.
The new name has already been reserved with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore.
Pocket Greens has introduced Singapore’s first-ever travelling farm, stopping at three locations for three months each – Bougainvillea Park, Raffles Place Park and Dhoby Ghaut Green.
The urban farming consultancy says people do not need to own a plot of land to have a garden. Its “express gardening” concept enables people to grow microgreens and other green vegetables, even in HDB homes.
The Travelling Farm (TTF) is housed in a yellow 20-foot container fitted out as a shop for plants and gardening equipment. It also provides craft activities and mini gardening lessons that can also be accessed online.
Visitors can also sample drinks and snacks made from the farm’s produce, such as a salad of microgreens like sunflower and cranberry hibiscus shoots.
Founder Eng Ting Ting says the aim is to reach out to different groups of people. The farm adapts to its locale. While it stocks more flora-like air-purifying plants for CBD office workers, it has more herbs and plants like chilli while in the residential area of Bougainvillea Park.
The TTF’s roving set-up is made possible by a Ministry of Trade and Industry scheme, which has granted it use of park space for 36 months.
Armin Strom has formed a distributor partnership with Swiss Prestige, which promotes Swiss watch manufacturers in Asia.
Swiss Prestige CEO Jacqueline Ng says Armin Strom, with its distinctive designs featuring in-house movements, all made in small quantities, will be a “terrific” addition to the company’s curated selection.
Armin Strom watches are designed so the inner mechanics of the movement can be seen through the dial.
This partnership is an extension of the Armin Strom’s business network. With 20 employees in its Bienne headquarters, the company designs and makes all its own movements and cases. Every watch is hand finished, and can be personalised.
Swiss Prestige represents Swiss watch brands in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Australia.
After launching last year, online grocery- and food-delivery service Honestbee Philippines has set a goal of national expansion.
Set up in Singapore in 2014, the concept soon spread to such neighbouring countries as Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan.
In the Philippines, meanwhile, the Honestbee team has grown from five members to 150 “and counting”, says country manager Crystal Lee-Gonzalez. “We have about 100 grocery partners and nearly 300 food partners on the platform.”
Services have expanded to include Metro Manila areas like Antipolo, Cainta, Malabon, Malolos Bulacan, Marikina, Meycauayan, Novaliches and Valenzuela. It has also launched in Metro Cebu, with other locations such as Camanava under consideration.
“Right now, we have our eyes on highly populated urban areas with relatively difficult traffic conditions, such as Dasmariñas, Imus and Lipa,” says Lee-Gonzalez.
Aside from online grocery shopping, a Wet Market Concierge Service has been added. Consumers can choose and buy the best produce and freshest seafood from the Alabang Wet Market, Cubao Farmer’s Market and the Pasay Wet Market.
Honestbee has also launched concierge services for laundry pick-up and delivery (including dry-cleaning), and will soon offer deliveries from restaurants.
French handbag brand Longchamp Philippines has opened its fourth boutique, in Rustan’s Makati.
Inspired by the brand’s Paris flagship along rue Saint-Honore, the new 65sqm store is decorated with modern interiors – lots of wood, leather and fabric, and rich textures in order to highlight the collections.
“We are honored to welcome Longchamp into a bigger and better space at Rustan’s Makati. As a brand beloved not only by the Filipino shoppers but by the entire global community, Longchamp further brings prestige and is truly a great part of the Rustan’s portfolio of distinguished retail partners,” said Rustan’s president Donnie Tantoco.
The store is highlighted by Longchamp’s Spring/Summer collection featuring African-inspired patterns, prints and colors, as well as the signature Mademoiselle handbag, the classic Le Pliage tote, and other leather goods.
