Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • Bursa Malaysia expects 2018 to have more IPOs than 2017

    Bursa Malaysia expects 2018 to have more IPOs than 2017

    Bursa Malaysia Bhd, which attracted 13 new listings in 2017, expects to see more companies listed on the Main and ACE Markets this year.

    “The IPO (initial public offering) pipeline seems to be tracking quite well. So we expect that it will probably be slightly higher than last year,” its CEO Datuk Seri Tajuddin Atan said at a media briefing today.

    “And we think some of the big ones is coming,” he added, noting currently there are four registered companies that are still waiting for approval to be listed on the stock exchange.

    Last month, Binasat Communications Bhd, which is involved in the provision of telecommunication supporting services for satellite as well as mobile and fibre optic telecommunications networks, became the first listing for the year.

    Meanwhile, Tajuddin said the stock exchange operator has no plans to increase or reduce the listing fee at the moment, as it looks to introduce incentive or rebate schemes.

    Additionally, he said, the local exchange plans to introduce more products and services this year to create a conducive capital market ecosystem for all market participants.

    “We are still in a process of getting approval and putting things in place. Not only in terms of product, we are also trying to have more players as well as selling agents,” Tajuddin said.

    Going forward, he said the securities market segment is expected to remain resilient, given recent encouraging economic data, the strengthening ringgit and expected positive corporate earnings.

    Trading, however, may be influenced by local and external factors, such as geopolitical developments and the tightening of monetary policies in major economies in 2018, he added.

    On the derivatives market, Tajuddin said volatility in commodity prices and the underlying equity market will continue to affect hedging and trading activities of the crude palm oil futures and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Futures contracts.

    The local bourse’s net profit rose 10.2% to RM55.27 million for the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2017 against RM50.17 million in the previous corresponding period, driven by higher contribution from the securities market.

    Revenue expanded 14.1% from RM123.74 million to RM141.2 million.
    Its full-year net profit rose 15.2% from RM193.62 million to RM223.04 million, with revenue rising 9.9% from RM506.78 million to RM556.83 million.

    For the year under review, securities market trading revenue increased 21.9% to RM259.6 million on the back of higher average daily trading value for securities market on-market trades which grew 27.7% to RM2.3 billion.

    It has declared a second interim dividend of 18.5 sen per share amounting to RM99.4 million for the quarter under review, which will be paid on March 5, 2018.With that, the total dividend (including special dividend) declared for the year amounts to 53.5 sen per share.

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  • WeChat Pay Now Links to Non-Chinese Cards

    WeChat Pay Now Links to Non-Chinese Cards

    Tencent’s WeChat Pay is now linking to non-Chinese credit cards for mobile payments.

    This means expats in China and foreign residents of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan can now bind and activate WeChat Pay accounts with credit-card services provided by JCB, MasterCard and Visa.

    Tencent says it is the first time WeChat Pay users do not need a Chinese bank account or credit card.

    With China going cashless, Alipay and WeChat Pay are now used for online shopping, ride-hailing, buying tickets, renting bikes, food delivery and hotel bookings.

    In its five years, WeChat Pay has expanded to 25 countries, serving Chinese tourists.

    According to a Tencent data report last year, more than 64 per cent of expats in China use WeChat Pay for their daily needs.

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  • E-Land Group to get US$91 million fund injection

    E-Land Group to get US$91 million fund injection

    Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC has injected KW100 billion (US$91 million) into Korean retail major E-Land Group.

    The round was part of a KW200 billion investment led by Hong Kong-based Anchor Equity Partners. With interests in malls, restaurants, theme parks, hotels and construction businesses, E-Land has built its cornerstone on fashion apparel.

    This latest infusion of capital follows the Meritz Financial Group investing KW300 billion in the firm as part of a consortium led by Korea’s Keystone Private Equity last month. GIC has previously invested in E-Land – in 2009 it acquired an outlet of hypermarket Kim’s Club and the Gangnam branch of its NewCore Department Store. It subsequently leased them back to E-Land.

    At the end of March last year, GIC was estimated to have assets under management of between US$359 and $398 billion.

    GIC’s previous investments in South Korea include KW130 billion backing for cafe chain A Twosome Place.

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  • Saudi Arabia to temporarily suspend Vietnamese fish imports

    Saudi Arabia to temporarily suspend Vietnamese fish imports

    Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has decided to temporarily suspend the import of fish and shrimps from Việt Nam.

    The ban, effective from March 1, is in accordance with the regulatory procedure for fish and other aquaculture export establishments of SFDA, according to a note published on the Saudi Aquaculture Society’s website.

    The decision came after a delegation of several regulators, including SFDA, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Saudi Aquaculture Society conducted an inspection tour last month to 24 Vietnamese facilities that exported to Saudi Arabia.

    The delegation found that only nine facilities met the hygiene requirements of Saudia Arabia.

    The suspension will be in place until the facilities complied to Saudi Arabia’s requirements.

    This is one of the most serious actions by Saudi Arabia against Vietnamese exporting firms.

    The Việt Nam Sanitary and Phytosanitary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on January 30 also announced the SFDA’s notice about the temporary ban.

    The notice said that Saudi Arabia was instituting the emergency measure to prevent the introduction of white sport disease and acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease into the country.

    The Việt Nam Sanitary and Phytosanitary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point urged relevant agencies to raise appropriate measures to tackle this problem.

    SFDA has also temporarily suspended the import of aquaculture products from Bangladesh and Myanmar and farmed fish from India, according to Saudi Aquaculture Society.

     

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  • AirAsia bullish on India market

    AirAsia bullish on India market

    Low-cost, long-haul carrier AirAsia X Bhd, which has started operating its Kuala Lumpur-Jaipur route, is hoping toincrease its services in and out of India, a market in which it sees potential.

    “We would love to put a lot more flights if regulators allow us to. Right now we are having trouble getting slots into India, with a lot of Malaysian carriers going into India as opposed to Indian carriers coming into Malaysia. That is the challenge,” said AirAsia Bhd executive chairman and AirAsia X group CEO Datuk Kamarudin Meranun.

    On top of that, he said, AirAsia X is looking to increase the frequency of the Kuala Lumpur-Jaipur route to daily from the current four times a week.

    With a potential annual seat capacity of over 156,800 seats, it is eyeing a load factor of 75-80% for the route this year.

    AirAsia X chairman Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz (fourth from left), Kamarudin (second from left), airline executives and other dignitaries, flanked by cabin crew, celebrating the successful inaugural flight to Jaipur from Kuala Lumpur.

    Kamarudin was speaking at the inaugural flight celebration ceremony. The Kuala Lumpur-Jaipur route is the second direct flight service connecting India and Malaysia offered by AirAsia X after the launch of the Kuala Lumpur-New Delhi direct service in February 2016.

    The Jaipur-Kuala Lumpur service brings the total weekly flights connecting India to Malaysia under AirAsia group to 110 times with a total capacity of 22,755 seats.

    AirAsia X Malaysia has carried over 184,000 passengers in and out of India since the introduction of the Kuala Lumpur-New Delhi route.

    AirAsia group, which comprises AirAsia X and short-haul arm AirAsia, currently serves a total of 19 cities.

    Recently, AirAsia Bhd group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes was quoted as saying that the group is looking to buy Boeing 787s to expand the fleet of its long-haul unit.

    On this, Kamarudin said it is “still under discussion”.

    “At this stage I think it’s premature to talk about it. We are evaluating from a technical aspect and pricing and all those. To confirm it is premature.”

  • The Internet Crosses 4 Billion User Mark

    The Internet Crosses 4 Billion User Mark

    Hootsuite, the most widely used social media management platform, and We Are Social, the global socially-led creative agency, released Digital in 2018, a report of social media and digital trends around the world. Representing 239 countries and territories, the seventh annual report finds the number of internet users in the world has now surpassed the 4 billion mark, putting more than half the global population online. Of that, social media brings nearly 3.2 billion active users online to connect with each other, consume media, interact with brands, and more.

    The 2018 key findings include:

    • Internet user numbers increased 7 percent in the last 12 months to hit 4.021 billion, or 53 percent of the world’s population
    • Global social media usage has increased by 13 percent in the last 12 months, reaching 3.196 billion users
    • Mobile social media usage has increased by 14 percent year over year to 2.958 billion users, with 93 percent of social media users accessing social from mobile
    • Internet users are projected to spend a combined total of 1 billion years online in 2018, of which 325 million years will be spent on social media

    Mobile dominates in Asia Pacific. Forty one percent of the population are active on social media using mobile devices. Since 2017, social media users have grown by 14 percent, raising social media penetration in the region to 42 percent. Overall, internet users surpassed the 2 billion mark, growing 5 percent in the past year alone.

    The report also found that global growth of the internet is propelling ecommerce forward, with 1.77 billion internet users purchasing consumer goods online in 2017, an increase of 8 percent compared to a year ago. Collectively, consumers spent a total of USD $1.474 trillion on ecommerce platforms in the past 12 months, 16 percent more than in 2016.

    “The Digital in 2018 report highlights the continuing growth of the internet and social media to individuals and businesses around the world. This dynamic has forever altered the customer journey as consumers and B2B professionals increasingly conduct research, make buying decisions, seek support, and recommend brands online. To achieve competitive advantage, all executives must dive deep into digital now, meeting their customers where they are to best market, sell, and serve them,” said Penny Wilson, CMO, Hootsuite.

    “With four billion people now online, connectivity is already a way of life for most of us. However, as internet companies strive to serve the next billion users, we’ll see important changes in digital over the coming months. Audio-visual content will take priority over text – especially in social media and messaging apps – while voice commands and cameras will replace keyboards as our primary means of input. Social relationships and online communities will evolve to accommodate these new ways for people to interact with each other. This will result in rich new experiences for all of us, but businesses need to start preparing for these changes today,” said Simon Kemp, Global Consultant, We Are Social.

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  • AEON celebrates Chinese New Year with special gold loans and free travel luggage

    AEON celebrates Chinese New Year with special gold loans and free travel luggage

    AEON Thana Sinsap (Thailand) Public Company Limited celebrates with a special Chinese New Year promotion get gold loans with low interest rates 12 months. And installment gold up to THB 20,000 with all AEON partner stores nationwide will get free 20-inch Caggioni luggage bag worth THB 4,990 or registration for joining the activities from send SMS type CH follow by 12 digits loan account number without space and sending to 4589123.

    Don’t miss out! AEON member cardholders and AEON credit cardholders. This exclusive Chinese New Promotion starts today and runs until March 31, 2018.

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  • Bolloré Logistics: QHSE Focus at the PTTEP Myanmar Asset 2018 SSHE Forum

    Bolloré Logistics: QHSE Focus at the PTTEP Myanmar Asset 2018 SSHE Forum

    Bolloré Logistics’ Oil & Gas teams from Myanmar, Thailand and Singapore were present for the second time at the PTTEP Myanmar Asset 2018 Safety, Security, Health and Environment (SSHE) Forum on January 19th, 2018, in Yangon.

    The Oil & Gas teams available at our booth welcomed the opportunity to showcase our footprint in the major global hubs, as well as in most of the oil and gas producing countries, with a strong implementation in Africa and Asia. Offering tailor-made solutions on contract or project basis, Bolloré Logistics prides itself in delivering simple or complex solutions to its oil & gas customers, sometimes in the most challenging areas of the world, in full compliance with Ethics and the Quality, Health, Safety, Environment (QHSE) standards.

    “The presence of the Bolloré Logistics’ Oil & Gas teams from three different countries shows the collaborative spirit that prevails among the dedicated oil & gas specialists in the Asia-Pacific region. Our collaborators are our number 1 asset,” mentions Bruce Boudailler, Regional Director Oil & Gas at Bolloré Logistics Asia-Pacific.

    Bruce Boudailler adds: “Our presence at a SSHE-focused event also demonstrates that Bolloré Logistics is highly committed to ensuring that its valued collaborators, subcontractors and customers go home safely at the end of each working day.”

    The implementation of all of our QHSE processes is top priority for Bolloré Logistics’ teams in Asia- Pacific. It is crucial for clients as well, especially considering the hazardous and risky nature of the oil and gas industry. To back this up, Bolloré Logistics Brunei boasts an exemplary record at their supply base located in Muara – Serasa and contributed to achieving 18 years without Lost Time Injury (LTI*) for TOTAL E&P Borneo BV (TEPB).

    Differentiating itself from other major international freight forwarders, Bolloré Logistics has developed a very strong expertise and track record in handling important capital asset projects onshore and offshore, and extended the logistics chain beyond the entry gates of the supply bases. As an extension of the supply chain, Bolloré Logistics has been integrating for many years in its solutions marine services as well as supply base services.

    *Loss Time Injury can be explained as follows: if someone gets any serious injury at work which inhibits
    him/her from returning to work immediately, it is considered a LTI. However, if instead that person gets light
    injuries but manage to return to work, it will not be counted as a LTI.

  • UniFriend Vietnam plans to expand in Ho Chi Minh City

    UniFriend Vietnam plans to expand in Ho Chi Minh City

    Korean childrenswear brand UniFriend Vietnam is planning expansion into Ho Chi Minh City via franchising.

    After opening three stores in Hanoi towards the end of last year, the brand is seeking franchisees and agents to sell its products in Ho Chi Minh City and other cities.

    Targeting children under 12 years old, UniFriend opens stores on main streets and department stores.

    All stock is manufactured in Indonesia or Vietnam.

    Founded in 2002, UniFriend now has more than 100 stores in Korea and other markets, including China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

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  • Macy’s to feature collection for Muslim women

    Macy’s to feature collection for Muslim women

    Brands have been paying attention to Muslim women as they often set up new trends in their own communities.

    Recently, different brands have launched products to target them, and even cosmetics brands have been shifting their production towards halal ingredients to engage them.

    Catching momentum, retailing giant Macy’s announced that it is partnering with clothing brand Verona Collection to feature a selection of ready-to-wear pieces geared toward Muslim women.

    The collection’s dresses, tops, cardigans, pants and hijabs will be available beginning 15 February 2018 on Macys.com.

    “Verona Collection is more than a clothing brand. It is a platform for a community of women to express their personal identity and embrace fashion that makes them feel confident on the inside and outside,” Lisa Vogl, founder of Verona Collection, said in a news release.

    The Verona Collection is a product of The Workshop at Macy’s, the retailer’s minority- and women-owned business development program.

    “Through The Workshop at Macy’s, Lisa shared her vision to create a collection that speaks to a community of women looking for a solution to their fashion needs,” Cassandra Jones, senior vice president of Macy’s Fashion, said.

    “Verona Collection offers a unique and understated elegance through everyday essentials designed for versatility and comfort, and through our partnership, we can better serve our customer looking for modest fashion.”

    Vogl, a single mom, converted to Islam in 2011, according to an article on Verona’s website. She launched the collection after realizing simple and fashionable clothing was hard to find and difficult to afford.

    “After doing a bit of research, she realized that many other women, both Muslim and non-Muslim, felt the same way,” the article said.

    Among the items in the collection are maxi dresses and hand-dyed hijabs.

    Macy’s has about 670 locations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam.

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  • Lululemon’s Chief Executive Resigns Over Behavior

    Lululemon’s Chief Executive Resigns Over Behavior

    Canadian activewear retailer and manufacturer Lululemon has announced its CEO Laurent Potdevin is resigning effective immediately amid unspecified misconduct.

    Potdevin, who has been with the company for four years, will also resign from the board.

    The board, led by glenn Murphy, executive chair, has already begun searching for his replacement.

    “Lululemon expects all employees to exemplify the highest levels of integrity and respect for one another, and Mr. Potdevin fell short of these standards of conduct,” the retailer stated.

    According to Murphy, while it was a difficult and considered decision, the board thanks Laurent for his work in strengthening the company and positioning it for the future.

    “Culture is at the core of Lululemon, and it is the responsibility of leaders to set the right tone in our organisation,” he said.

    “Protecting the organisation’s culture is one of the board’s most important duties.”

    Three of Lululemon’s senior leaders are being elevated and will take on additional responsibilities, reporting to Murphy.

    Celeste Burgoyne, executive vice president, Americas, will oversee all channel and brand-facing aspects of the global business, including stores and e-commerce, as well as brand marketing; Stuart Haselden, chief operating officer, will have responsibility for all operations related to finance, supply chain, people, and technology; and Sun Choe, senior vice president of merchandising, will guide all aspects of product development, design, innovation, and merchandising.

    Murphy said the company is confident that Burgoyne, Haselden and Choe will continue to execute on Lululemon’s growth strategy and drive global performance.

    “Based upon their contributions to the recent expansion of the business, their history of collaboration with one another and their strong support across the Lululemon organisation, we believe this trio of leaders will take Lululemon from strength to strength,” he said.

    The retailer also reaffirmed its updated guidance provided on January 8 and said the company’s growth strategies remain on track to achieve $4 billion in revenue in 2020.

    While the reasons for the departure of Potdevin are unclear, his exit is a blow to Lululemon, according to Neil Saunders, managing director of analysis firm GlobalData Retail.

    “During his tenure, Mr. Potdevin oversaw the steady expansion of Lululemon through both calm and rough periods in the athleisure market,” he said.

    “His innovative approach and his clear sense of Lululemon’s values and essence is one of the reasons the company has enjoyed continued success, even while other sporting brands struggle to generate growth.

    “Although we see executive chairman Glenn Murphy as a capable pair of hands in the short term, Lululemon needs a CEO to guide it as it expands overseas and tries to make further gains in its home market. It is crucial that the right person is selected, but it is equally appointment that the task is undertaken with urgency so that Lululemon doesn’t lose momentum.”

    Saunders said the announcement is vague and damaging to the retailer’s image.

    “Lululemon owes it to investors and to customers, to be clear about the reasons Mr. Potdevin was made to depart. As a company that prides itself on transparency and openness, we would expect it to have an honest conversation with stakeholders. Failure to do so will likely lead to speculation which could ultimately harm the brand,” he said.

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  • Alibaba’s Taobao has launched a special version of its app for elder people

    Alibaba’s Taobao has launched a special version of its app for elder people

    Alibaba’s C2C e-commerce site Taobao aims at seniors and their families on a newly launched shopping channel on its platform.

    Taobao for retirees aims to be easier for seniors to register an account and browse products, delivering an improved user experience that includes personalised recommendations and after-sales service, says Taobao head of development Ding Jian.

    It also includes a peer-to-peer chat service, allowing family members to share products and consult or help one another in one click, as well as a new “pay-for-me” option to pay for another’s purchases.

    It is the first move by Taobao this year to refine services based on a particular consumer group. “We want Taobao to become a bridge that helps them strengthen relationships with the younger generation, brings them closer together,” says Ding.

    The channel also expands Taobao from being “a tool for individuals” to a more-social “shopping destination for our relatives, partners and children…a shared place where we can seamlessly exchange product information and interact with each other as a unit,” says product manager Zhang Xiaoyu.

    “Great to see”

    “For middle-aged to elderly people, the website layout is too loud with too much information. Things we don’t need to see can be removed,” says retired teacher Liu Yanping, quoted on Alibaba Group’s Alizila news service. “And they did it – they simplified the website and made it cleaner. It’s great to see that.”

    Former engineering professor Li Lu says the channel will have a major impact on seniors. “In my social circle, most of us stay home and rely on Taobao. Retirement would be impossible without Taobao. Groceries can be too heavy to carry,” says the 83-year-old.

    Alibaba is recruiting two “senior experience officers”, senior citizens who are influential in their social circles, to provide user feedback and help further improve the channel.

    China’s population of over-60s is expected to exceed 255 million by 2020, up from 230 million in 2016 and equivalent to 16.7 per cent of the nation’s overall population, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

    Alibaba figures show that more than 30 million Taobao users are 50 years or older, with more than 75 per cent falling in the 50-59 range, and nearly 20 per cent 60-69. More than 1000 livestream shows aimed toward this consumer group are broadcast on Taobao daily.

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  • UK chooses HK for its biggest trade event abroad

    UK chooses HK for its biggest trade event abroad

    The UK to showcase the best of British innovation in Hong Kong this March with top industry leaders and innovators taking part in the GREAT Festival of Innovation 2018.

    World-leading innovators from the UK and Asia will take part in the GREAT Festival of Innovation, which will be held in 50 days’ time. The Festival will be a platform to connect the cutting-edge businesses and brilliant thinkers who will drive trade partnerships of the future, while highlighting the UK’s position as a global centre for innovation.

    Held from 21 to 24 March 2018 at Asia Society Hong Kong Centre, GREAT Festival of Innovation will showcase over 100 speakers across 60 engaging sessions, panel discussions and interactive workshops which will explore how innovation and technology is set to change the way we work, live, play and learn in the future.

    Leading the discussion will be an impressive line-up of some of the world’s brightest minds, business pioneers, innovators and policy makers from UK and Asia. Some of the key speakers set to take the stage include Charles Bowman, Lord Mayor of London, Paul Priestman, Chairman of PriestmanGoode, Richard Deverell, Director of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Tea Uglow, Creative Director of Google’s Creative Lab in Sydney, and Eiji Uda, Chief Technology Innovation Officer of Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee.

    The core programme of the GREAT Festival of Innovation will explore four key themes over its four days.

    The first two days will be dedicated to the theme ‘work’ and ‘live’. The first day will discuss topics such as sustainable energy, cybersecurity, FinTech, workplaces of the future and a discussion on some of the most pressing issues around artificial intelligence.

    The second day the discussion will move to the way we live, and explore a wide range of topics from smart cities to autonomous transport, and sustainable farming to alternative energy sources.

    More interesting for our readers are definitely the third and fourth day. Day three,  speakers reimagine how we ‘play’, discussing how innovation, technology and creative thinking will alter the future of fashion, luxury, art and sport in a climate in which consumers are becoming curators. Highlight speakers will include Chester King, Founder and CEO of British eSports Association, Tom Aikens, Chef, Tristram Hunt, Director of V&A Museum and a leading historian and journalist, and Duncan Pescod, CEO of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority.

    Day four, the Festival will conclude with insights into the future of education and learning. Through talks and hands-on events led by educators and students alike, audience members will understand how leading sectors are engaging with learning institutions to strategically link higher education, research and business to help create tomorrow. Andre Fu, architect, designer and Founder of Andre Fu Living will be among the key names to feature on this day.

    Attending the Festival will be business leaders and decision makers, with a strong delegation coming from the UK looking to create new business partnerships with their Asia counterparts.

    Supporting the Festival is a rich Culture Programme showcasing the best of British talent. Taking place across multiple venues, in unexpected places and into the evenings, the Programme will showcase the most captivating music, dance, visual art, literature, theatre, food and drink and moving image in the UK today.

    From storytelling to soundscapes, live music to wearable technology and even immersive food and drink experiences, the GREAT Festival of Innovation promises to tell the story of UK culture in a truly original way. In conjunction with the invitation-only Festival will be a host of satellite cultural events open to the public, the full programme of which will be announced shortly.

    Marking the 50-day countdown, the UK International Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, said the Festival showcases a country prime for investment opportunities.

    UK International Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox said:

    “In 50 days, the GREAT Festival of Innovation will bring together the best entrepreneurs and the most advanced technology from across the UK and Asia to explore how we will work, live, play and learn in the future.

    “Led by my international economic department, this festival will be a major showcase for our talent, creativity and design on the world stage. From smart robots and cities to autonomous vehicles, the UK is already a global technology hub and the festival will help secure that position for generations to come.”

    Director General, UK Department for International Trade in Hong Kong, Paul McComb said:

    “Taking part at a historic moment for UK and Asian economies, the event highlights that the UK is open for business and committed to Asian trade partners. The Festival will serve as a platform for creating new life-long partnerships, strengthening relationships between British and Asian business leaders and investors that will drive a future of free trade and prosperity.”

    The first round of announced speakers from the UK joining the GREAT Festival of Innovation includes: Dr. Liam Fox, UK International Trade Secretary; Charles Bowman, Lord Mayor of London; Tristram Hunt, Director of V&A and leading UK historian and journalist; and Ian Stuart, CEO, HSBC UK, to name a few.

    Among the Asia-based speakers: Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, GBM, GBS, JP, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China; Andre Fu, Founder of Andre Fu Living; Eiji Uda, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer for Tokyo 2020; and Duncan Pescod, CEO of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority.

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  • Camper to expand its business in Philippines

    Camper to expand its business in Philippines

    Spanish casual shoe brand Camper has gained a foothold in the Philippines.

    It is offering part of its international collection at SM Aura in Taguig City, Metro Manila, including two of its core lines Drift and Runner sneakers.

    Previously the shoes were available only online in the Philippines.

    Camper was founded in Mallorca by Lorenzo Fluxa in 1975, with its heritage stretching back almost 140 years when his grandfather, cobbler Antonio Fluxa, travelled to England and returned with the first sewing machines for the island. He then started making handcrafted shoes.

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  • JD Sports Malaysia expansion plans

    JD Sports Malaysia expansion plans

    JD Sports Malaysia has ventured into the provinces with its first Penang and Malacca stores.

    The Penang outlet is at Sunway Carnival, and the Malacca store at Mahkota Parade.

    This follows six other stores for the British sneaker and sportswear retailer in Malaysia, the latest opening in Putrajay’s IOI City Mall in November.

    Meanwhile, a JD Sports Singapore Instagram account has surfaced, indicating the retailer may open a store there.

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