Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • LANCÔME’s Haitang Bay Store Unveils New Retail Identity

    LANCÔME’s Haitang Bay Store Unveils New Retail Identity

    On 24 November 2017, LANCÔME Travel Retail Asia Pacific, leading French luxury beauty brand, unveiled the brand’s latest 2020 retail concept at its newly revamped No.1 Point-of-sale (POS) at Haitang Bay, China. The latest in line to celebrate the brand’s ‘Declaring Happiness’ global campaign across Asia, the grand opening event was graced by international celebrity and Brand Friend, Wu Zun, who officiated the ribbon cutting ceremony and attended the opening of the interactive Declaring Happiness popup concept. Wu Zun was also joined by the likes of 17 top Chinese social media influencers such as LU ⼀丝 and ⼩猪姐姐 in spreading beauty and happiness with LANCÔME’s consumers. Having achieved an astounding digital outreach of 127 million via WeChat, Weibo and livestreaming, the event was a tremendous success in elevating the brand’s digital presence and generating genuine brand engagement with consumers. Further bolstering brand engagement and buzz on social media, the influencers also shared additional Weibo stories and WeChat moments in appreciation of LANCÔME’s hospitality at the event.

    Currently the No.1 POS for the LANCÔME brand worldwide, the Haitang Bay store is the
    largest travel retail store at 120sqm and the second store to unveil the brand’s latest 2020 retail
    identity, opening after Lotte Hotel in Seoul, South Korea. Consistent with LANCÔME’s global
    strategy to roll out a new retail design language that is fully consumer-centric, the new
    Haitang Bay store is efficiently adapted towards the travel retail channel. “The introduction of
    the 2020 retail identity to our No.1 POS and largest store in Haitang Bay marks a key milestone
    in LANCÔME Travel Retail Asia Pacific’s plans to transform and optimise our stores for the
    modern traveller. The design concept of the new 2020 store is set to provide an immersive brand
    environment for consumers to fully experience the world of LANCÔME, while at the same time
    offer time-pressed travellers a quality and smooth shopping experience through the store’s
    thoughtful layout and features,” says Ms. Tao Zhang, General Manager of LANCÔME
    Travel Retail Asia Pacific.

    (L-R): Ms. Cao Xiaodan, Deputy General Manager of Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex, Mr. Luke Chang, Director of Cosmetics & Confectionary Department, CDFG, Ms. Liu Jing, General Manager of Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex, Mr. Wu Zun, International Celebrity and Brand Friend, Ms. Tao Zhang, General Manager of LANCÔME Travel Retail Asia Pacific, Mr. Don Huang, Area Manager of LANCÔME Travel Retail Asia Pacific, Ms. Anna-Maria Marini, Marketing Manager of LANCÔME Travel Retail Asia Pacific

    Designed with a Parisian ‘apartment with a view’ concept, the new Haitang Bay store is an
    inspirational place full of discovery with elegant touches of Parisian chic featured throughout the
    store. The interior is warmly lit with soothing tones of greys, white and warm wood to create a
    more intimate and welcoming feel for customers. Against a backdrop of virtual video walls
    reminiscent of bay windows in a Parisian apartment overlooking the breathtaking panoramas of
    Paris, customers will be taken through the beautiful four seasons with roses and petal rain or
    Parisian night under starry firmament taking turn to decorate the walls. Other key elements to the store include sharing tables for skincare and makeup, as well as a Grab & Go counter.

    Featuring the newest product launches, the sharing tables encourage customers to discover LANCÔME’s world of beauty, from experimenting with different makeup textures and colours to customising their skincare routine through one-on-one personal consultations with LANCÔME’s beauty experts. Latest launches and travel exclusives are also available at the Grab & Go counter for an easy and fuss-free experience.

    In celebration of the Haitang Bay store reopening, LANCÔME Travel Retail Asia Pacific also
    introduced an interactive pop-up concept that blends retail with entertainment at four
    different online and offline touchpoints named after the brand’s key products – Génifique, Absolue, L’Absolu Rouge and Miracle Zones. The Virtual Mirror at the L’Absolue Rouge Zone, which is an augmented reality virtual makeover application that allows guests to experiment with different face and lip makeup looks, was an instant hit at the event. At the Génifique Zone, guests also had the opportunity to win a sample of Advanced Génifique Sensitive through a touch-screen interactive game vending machine. Complimentary engraving services were also available at the Absolue Zone, where guests can choose to personalise their very own LANCÔME mirrors. While experiencing the Miracle Blossom fragrance at the Miracle Zone, guests were also seen playing with the swing photo booth to recreate their fun Parisian moments against the beautiful backdrop of the Eiffel Tower.

    In addition to the retail-tainment zones, the 17 Chinese social media influencers also participated
    in a LANCÔME skincare and makeup workshop held within the store. Leveraging on livestreaming social sharing to expand the workshop’s audience reach beyond those who were
    physically present, social media influencers brought LANCÔME workshop experience to their
    followers, inviting them to join in the LANCÔME brand universe through organic, usergenerated
    content and engagement via their personal brand journey at the event.

    In December, the LANCÔME ‘Declaring Happiness’ campaign will make its final stop at Hong
    Kong.

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  • INFINITI LAB Hong Kong 3.0 primes startups for success in the future of retail

    INFINITI LAB Hong Kong 3.0 primes startups for success in the future of retail

    INFINITI Motor Company, Ltd. and Nest, a leading venture capital firm and innovation partner, concluded the nine-week INFINITI LAB Global Accelerator 3.0 today with a Demo Day. The seven startups, with two from Hong Kong and the remaining five from Canada, Germany, Mexico, Sweden and the US, pitched their business to more than 100 investors and key retail partners in hope of securing partnerships and funding to propel their businesses to the next phase. Among the investors and partners were retail companies DFS, Nielsen, Hysan, Shanghai Tang and Bluebell Group who attended to hear the startups’ plans to develop technologies that enhance the customer journey for ‘The Future Consumer’.

    INFINITI LAB is a global program that works with startups around the world to address locally
    relevant challenges. During the INFINITI LAB Global Accelerator 3.0, seven startups were chosen from more than 130 applications across the globe to participate in the program, including two from Hong Kong. During the nine-week program, each startup has been exposed to established investors in Asia, and benefited from an intensive business coaching and mentoring program.

    Dane Fisher, General Manager, Global Business Transformation & Brand, INFINITI Motor Company

    “At INFINITI we are constantly striving to innovate to deliver the most personal and rewarding
    customer experience. As INFINITI LAB continues to grow globally, so does our opportunity to
    develop great solutions for our customers and lead innovation in the mobility space. The INFINITI LAB 3.0 is not only helping us to find technology partners to develop the future retail experience, but also inspiring us to become a more agile organization”, said Dane Fisher, General Manager, Global Business Transformation & Brand, INFINITI Motor Company.

    Lawrence Morgan, Nest CEO said,” We are extremely proud to be part of the founders’ entrepreneurial journeys. The unique strengths and solutions the cohort have will truly transform the retail tech landscape for the future consumer, today.”

    The seven startups that successfully completed the Global Accelerator 3.0 were invited to INFINITI’s global headquarters from five different countries. Among the startups involved in the program were Rover Parking from Canada, invited to join following their involvement in the Toronto INFINITI LAB accelerator program earlier this year. Other startups include Wyzerr (USA), actiMirror (Hong Kong), ManoMotion (Sweden), Cove (Hong Kong), Synapbox (Mexico) and Thinqs (Germany).

    As a result of this program, Thinqs has validated their online-to-offline search model in the Asian
    marketplace, and have gained interest from a number of Hong Kong retailers. actiMirror and Rover Parking have secured investment funding connections, and Rover Parking is in discussion to partner with INFINITI to expand their parking network in Canada.

    Cove is in negotiation with property development companies in Hong Kong to launch a pilot project together with INFINITI using INFINITI vehicles to provide a shared mobility solution; while both Synapbox and Wyzerr have already piloted their products within INFINITI and
    have developed global service packages to attract wider corporate partnerships.

    ManoMotion has partnered with V777, an INFINITI LAB 2.0 alumni startup to develop
    a revolutionary prototype – combining advanced hand gesture recognition with Virtual Reality to
    create a concept for the future of digital showrooms. V777 technology was used to launch INFINITI’s all new QX50 at the recent LA Motorshow. ManoMotion is also in discussion to explore longer term product collaboration with INFINITI.

    INFINITI LAB Hong Kong 3.0_Startups

    Ross Garvie, Head of INFINITI LAB said; “This year, focusing on “The Future Consumer” we worked with startups looking at data analytics, shared parking, AR displays, gesture recognition and facial recognition. Each startup was selected as they share INFINITI’s vision to improve the future of retail and enhance the customer journey”.

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  • DFS Hosts Ninth Annual Masters Of Time Event

    DFS Hosts Ninth Annual Masters Of Time Event

    DFS Group, the world’s leading travel retailer, launched its ninth annual Masters of Time exhibition on Saturday, December 9. The exhibition, which is held at T Galleria by DFS, Macau, in partnership with Shoppes at Four Seasons, will run until February 28, 2018 for customers to view and shop the curated collection. The DFS Masters of Time exhibition is well known for being the world’s largest and most prestigious retail event for luxury watches and jewelry, showcasing the best in design, innovation and heritage for men and women. This year, DFS’ expert teams brought together an unparalleled collection of more than 450 fine watches and exquisite jewelry from 30 brands in a theme that focused on the concept of memories.

    “This year’s Masters of Time exhibition explores how watch collectors and creators commemorate life’s most significant moments, so that certain pieces become imbued with our memories,” said Christophe Chaix, Senior Vice President, Fashion, Watches, Jewelry and Accessories. “As always, the customer is at the heart of everything we do at DFS, and each year we travel the world to curate a Masters of Time exhibition to delight returning and new customers alike. This exhibition offers seasoned collectors and first-time buyers the chance to
    own exceptional pieces that will forever become part of their own memorable journey.”

    The ninth annual Masters of Time exhibition kicked off with a prestigious gala event where award-winning artist Jade Kwan performed for guests as they explored a variety of intriguing activities. A multi-sensory exhibition was introduced for the first time at Masters of Time, in which the curated collection of timepieces and jewelry was displayed through a series of interactive pop-up spaces and animations to evoke emotions and ignite the senses. Guests were taken on a multi-sensory journey through four different spaces that explored the concepts of
    nostalgia, memories, adventure and heritage, each of which transported guests back to a special place, moment or time.

    Romantic, rare and archival pieces with a focus on “savoir faire” took center stage in the section dedicated to nostalgia, whilst innovative complications that are certain to become future icons embodied the idea of making memories. Highly technical sports and lifestyle watches dominated in the adventure area, and finally, iconic and classic timepieces brought heritage to life. In addition, guests were treated to a taste of The Macallan whisky and fine Petrossian caviar, paired to provide the ultimate culinary experience. Korean illustrator Jae Suk Kim flew in from Seoul to hand-paint guests’ portraits in his signature style, featuring Su Su girls adorned in fine jewelry and watch pieces, as holiday gift cards to commemorate the event.

    The 2017 Masters of Time exhibition is available for viewing and purchase at T Galleria by DFS, Macau, Shoppes at Four Seasons until February 28, 2018.

    2017 DFS MASTERS OF TIME COLLECTION

    The 2017 DFS Masters of Time collection of distinguished brands includes: Angelus; Arnold & Son; Audemars Piguet, Blancpain; Breguet; Bulgari; Chopard; FRANCK MULLER; Girard-Perregaux; Glashütte Original; Grand Seiko; Hublot; IWC Schaffhausen; Jaeger-LeCoultre; Jaquet Droz; Officine Panerai; Piaget; Roger Dubuis; Romain Jerome; TAG Heuer; Tiffany & Co; Ulysse Nardin; Vacheron Constantin; Zenith and more.

    Highlights include:
    • Audemars Piguet – Royal Oak Tourbillon Extra-thin
    • Blancpain – Tribute to Fifty Fathoms MIL-SPEC

    • Breguet – Tradition Dame 7038
    • Bulgari – Diva’s Dream High Jewelry Watch – DFS Special Edition – Unique Piece
    • Hublot – Techframe Ferrari 70 Years King Gold Tourbillon Chronograph
    • IWC – Da Vinci Perpetual Calendar Chronograph
    • Jaeger-LeCoultre – Master Gyrotourbillon 1
    • Jaquet Droz – Lady 8 Flower
    • Piaget – Limelight Mediterranean Garden Necklace – Unique Piece
    • Roger Dubuis – Excalibur Aventador S
    • TAG Heuer – Carrera Caliber HEUER 02 T Automatic Chronograph 45mm DFS Masters of Time IX

    Special Edition
    • Ulysse Nardin – Marine Grand Deck Tourbillon
    • Vacheron Constantin – Heures Créatives Heure Romantique
    • Zenith – Defy El Primero 21

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  • Thailand to launch ‘THE FORESTIAS’, a World-First Integration of Nature and Community

    Thailand to launch ‘THE FORESTIAS’, a World-First Integration of Nature and Community

    Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited (MQDC) unveils its latest business development plan, transforming a piece of land in Bangna into a real estate phenomenon under its Magnolias, the Aspen Tree, and Whizdom brands with collaborations from global partners.

    THE FORESTIAS, with a project value of over THB90 billion (USD2.8bn), is the world’s first property development to introduce a living environment integrated into a natural ecosystem to provide sustainable happiness under the concept ‘Imagine Happiness’.

    The mixed-use multi-generational lifestyle project spans 300 rai (119 acres), including residential housing and low- and high-rise buildings, retail buildings, office buildings, a health center, an innovation center, a forest pavilion, community space, a learning center, and Asia’s largest-ever forest ecosystem in a mixed-use lifestyle project.

    The project is designed for all multi-generational lifestyles and all families. Construction begins in 2018 and is expected to be completed in 2022.

    Mr. Visit Malaisirirat, CEO of MQDC, a company under DTGO Corporation Limited that develops, invests in, and manages property projects, said, “Today, innovation and technology play a significant role in the economy. They connect living and lifestyle together. Amidst materialistic advancement, the world is challenged in many ways – the natural ecosystem is deteriorating, families are drifting apart creating distance between people, leading to feelings of isolation and depression, and society is aging fast.

    “Our company is committed to developing real estate projects to close the gap and bring sustainable happiness with a promise of ‘for all well-being’. We want to offer the best and we do that through ecofriendly design, modern innovation and technology, and enhanced space for all four generations – grandparents, parents, children, and great-grandchildren. The whole community can spend time together and interact, creating a happy society.

    “THE FORESTIAS was born from the question “What is true happiness in life?” This is not easy to answer because everyone has a different definition of happiness. But one thing is certain: happiness affects our body and mind, the people around us, and the environment. This is the foundation of ‘sustainable happiness’.”

     Mr. Kittiphun Ouiyamaphun, Senior Vice President, Project Development, The Forestias, MQDC, said, “This is the first time for a property project to be based on ‘sustainable happiness’. We are working with global partners in designing and creating the project to offer sustainable happiness now and in the future.

    “The idea led to the world-first flagship project THE FORESTIAS, which redefines the property industry with a new phenomenon. The THB90 billion [USD2.8bn] project is developed under the concept ‘Imagine Happiness’. There’s something for everyone and every lifestyle at this mixed-use multi-generational lifestyle project, the first of its kind in the world, which includes residential houses and buildings, retail buildings, office buildings, a health center, an innovation center, a forest pavilion, a community space, a learning center, and the largest-ever forest ecosystem in a mixed-use lifestyle project in Asia. Its core elements, or Eternal 4, are 50 Shades of Nature, happiness from living amid nature; Connecting 4 Generations, happiness from being with family members across four generations; Community of Dreams, happiness from space and facilities that allow people to connect and interact with each other; and Sustainnovation for Well-being, technology and innovation that drive sustainability and promote health and well-being. It is the DNA of MQDC to create a new living concept for today and the future.”

    Mr. Ouiyamaphun added, “We have global partners who are experts in their fields. Together, we are creating a living phenomenon in an environment that brings happiness to its residents. This is the first model of its kind in the world. We have worked with Foster + Partners, which provided consultancy on the architectural master plan; EEC Engineering Network, which helped research and develop systems in the buildings based on MQDC’s concept of Sustainnovation, centered on sustainability, social responsibility, and the environment; and Atelier Ten, which has contributed to the research and prevention plan to reduce environmental impact and ensure balance and sustainability through innovations. Atelier Ten is also in charge of monitoring and assessing construction and design to make this project the model for other world-class projects. ITEC Entertainment is in charge of experience and entertainment in the project. To provide a one-of-a-kind experience to residents and visitors, Six Senses has been brought on board for hospitality and residential management services, with a focus on nature, health, and sustainability.”

    In addition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is joining to conduct innovative scientific research and data collection on the impact of the project’s landscape and design features on human health. This new model of urban development, combining healthier buildings with biodiversity, environmental buffers, and infrastructure that promotes physical activity, may demonstrably enhance health resilience and well-being, both of which are fundamental to happiness.

    THE FORESTIAS is on 300 rai (119 acres) at Bangna-Trad Road km 7. Construction begins in 2018 and is expected to be completed in 2022.

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  • Vietjet Honored as the Most Favorite Airline

    Vietjet Honored as the Most Favorite Airline

    Vietjet was recently honoured with the title of “Most Favourite Airline” at the “2017 Trust and Use Award” ceremony organised by the Vietnam Economic Times – the leading economic publication in Vietnam.

    This marks the airline’s second consecutive year of receiving the award, a true testament of Vietjet’s commitment towards providing top-notch service for its customers. Driven by the theme “Connecting consumption, sharing values”, the 2017 Trust and Use Award surveyed reliable, high-quality goods and services that have been greatly appreciated by consumers.

    Launched in 2006, the annual Trust and Use Awards aims to recognise enterprises with top quality products and services that are trusted and used by consumers. It nominates outstanding products and services within seven main fields namely, Finance – Banking – Insurance; Food and Retail; Fashion – Cosmetics – Beauty Services; Household Appliances – Interior Décor; Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare; Tourism – Resorts – Real Estate, and Telecommunications – Technology.

    Since its inception in 2007, Vietjet has established a favourable reputation not only for offering reasonable fares but also creating breakthroughs within the Vietnam aviation industry. Currently servicing a total of 73 international and domestic routes, the airline has bridged the gap in easing air travel, connecting passengers to a colourful selection of interesting destinations across the globe.

    Offering one of the most modern and brand-new fleets in the region, Vietjet has also been recognised for its services over the years through a number of prestigious international and domestic awards including ‘The Best Asian Low Cost Carrier’, ‘Asia’s Best Employer Brand’ and ‘The Best Place to Work in Vietnam’.

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  • Online Printing Startup Gogoprint Is Revolutionising Malaysia’s Printing Industry

    Online Printing Startup Gogoprint Is Revolutionising Malaysia’s Printing Industry

    Gogoprint, Southeast Asia’s leading online printing company, aims to solve one of the printing industry’s biggest pain points – high fixed costs and requisite order volumes, which particularly affect budget-conscious SMEs and startups. Gogoprint achieves this with its proprietary algorithmic software, which manages and pools together multiple orders, and distributes the cost of printing. Parameters such as paper type, quantity, and delivery times are taken into account and aggregated into a batch of prints. This maximises the space on individual sheets. As compared to traditional printing houses, which take 7 to 10 days to process orders, Gogoprint does so in as fast as 1 day. Moreover, it is looking to further optimise the process of preparing the artwork files that customers send for printing, to automate the correction of frequent printing mistakes.

    As a result, the company is able to offer premium printing services at competitive rates, enabling SMEs and startups to print their products such as business cards, digital/offset booklets, flyers, posters, postcards and stickers more cost-effectively. Over the last year, Gogoprint has further developed its algorithm and processes, enabling it to raise its production efficiency, reduce wastage, and share these benefits with customers through price reductions. Furthermore, the company strives to continuously expand its product portfolio, as exemplified by its upcoming launch of banners and buntings.

    These features have fueled Gogoprint’s success despite a general slowdown in the Malaysian printing industry. Gogoprint’s operations have been largely differentiated from their competitors from the start. The company has focused on leveraging technology in order to inject its business model with customer-centric values and approaches, which emphasize convenience, transparency, and speed for the customer.

    This was no easy task since Malaysia’s printing market is relatively saturated with limited market share and a higher volume of competitive prices offered by players, both big and small. Entering this industry would traditionally be considered as a significant risk, but Gogoprint managed to stave off the competition by targeting key sectors which required its services more than others. More specifically, the country’s SME and startup sector clearly needed more transparent pricing and delivery deadlines in order to better manage their printing needs.

    Laurent De Candido, Managing Director and co-founder at Gogoprint said: “We recognise that SMEs and startups in Malaysia require a great deal of reliability, consistency, and transparency to facilitate their operations. This knowledge has enabled us to adapt our business strategies to a market where consumers operate on a fine line between managing operational cost and ensuring business profitability. With such great competition present in the market, we recognise the need for constant innovation. Hence, the innovative solutions that we offer have allowed us to experience a considerable amount of success since our launch in Malaysia a year ago, in November 2016. Growth has exceeded our most ambitious expectations, with an 800% customer increase, as well as a 600% increase in headcount, between November 2016 and November 2017. Also active in Thailand and Singapore, Gogoprint’s success in Malaysia is a testament to how regional expansion success can be derived from a comprehensive market understanding and strategic product positioning.”

    At the source of Gogoprint’s success, of course, lies a happy and diverse customer base. “Gogoprint won us over with their quick and efficient response to a recent crisis that we faced. We had a sudden and urgent demand for a huge amount of books to be printed, and we engaged Gogoprint due to their transparent and convenient website. The customer service provided by their accounts team was professional and world class which, led to the smooth and timely delivery of more than a thousand copies to our customers. Their attention to detail also left a great impression on us and we will definitely continue to work with Gogoprint in the future,” said Anusha Abishegam, Editor from Centrestage, an online magazine dedicated to scouring the local arts scene for news, information and opportunities.

    Satisfied with its strong performance in Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, Gogoprint is dedicated to tackle the Indonesian market next, which also suffers from the ailments that characterize printing in Southeast Asia. Since the company’s strong performance and fast regional expansion reflect very positive customer feedback, Gogoprint’s mission to provide affordable and convenient printing to everyone resonates stronger than ever.

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  • Natural Elements-Inspired Uniqlo U Spring/Summer 2018 Collection to Launch

    Natural Elements-Inspired Uniqlo U Spring/Summer 2018 Collection to Launch

    UNIQLO announces the Uniqlo U Spring/Summer 2018 collection will launch in three phases, on 26 January,and more items will be introduced progressively in March and April 2018.This is the fourth Uniqlo U collection, which embodies the UNIQLOLifeWear philosophy of creating high-quality clothing that is universal in design and comfort, and made for everyone, everywhere. The new collection features reinvented basics from the design team at the UNIQLO Paris R&D Centre,which is led by Artistic Director ChristopheLemaire.

     

     

    The full Uniqlo U Spring/Summer 2018 collection will be available exclusively at the UNIQLO Global Flagship Store at Orchard Central and online at www.uniqlo.com/sg. In addition, selected pieces from the collectionwill be available in the following UNIQLO stores –Bugis+, JEM, ION Orchard and Suntec City. Prices range from $14.90 for a U Crew Neck T-Shirtto $199.90 for a BLOCKTECH coat.

    Uniqlo U takes the LifeWear range further towardstomorrow by bringing new ideas to design, patterns, fabric development, and sewing techniques. The latest Uniqlo U collection features brilliant hues inspired by nature in slightly oversized styling for effortlessly relaxed silhouettes, and it comprises50items for women, 38for men and eightaccessories.

    Featuring Blues and Greens, Stripes and Borders

    Key colours in this collection include variations of blues and greens, such as sea blue, sky blue,forestgreenand grass green. Orange and red accents, stripes and borders, as well asother elements are also incorporated into the collection to broaden wardrobe flexibility. An exciting addition to the Women’s linethis season is theOpen Collar Shirt featuring thick stripeswhile thehighlight of the Men’s range is theColour BlockT-Shirt,which employsheavyweight cotton.

     BLOCKTECH Coats Offering Outstanding Performance

    This season’s line will incorporate coats that offer exceptional functions –water-resistant, windproof, and breathability. The Women’s BLOCKTECH Short Coat is both comfortable and stylish as townwear, employinga drawstring waist and a matte finish. The new Men’s BLOCKTECH coat employs chambray twill fabric that is water-repellent and windproof, combining a clean silhouette with excellent all-weather protection.

    Seamless, Comfortable Knits Employing WHOLEGARMENT Technology and Seamless Swimwear forWomen

    Fall/Winter 2017 items made with 3D U-Knit three-dimensional weaving technique proved incredibly popular, employing WHOLEGARMENT technology to enhance fit and comfort. The new range enhances the look and feel by adopting high twist cotton fabric in two newWomen’s items: one is the 3D Ribbed Balloon Sweater, with distinctive cuff and waist styling, and the other is the 3D Crew Neck Balloon Dress, whose fit and flare silhouette enhances femininity.

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  • AirAsia unit in Philippines projects 20% rise in revenue

    AirAsia unit in Philippines projects 20% rise in revenue

    Budget carrier Philippines Air Asia is targeting revenue to grow by about 20 percent in 2018, as it expands its fleet, routes and ancillary sales.

    Philippines Air Asia CEO Dexter Comendador told reporters on Tuesday that revenue next year could hit an average of P1.3 billion per month, or about P15.6 billion for the full year. Revenue for 2017 was targeted to hit P12 billion to P13 billion.

    “If this year was a good year for us, it’s going to be very good next year,” Comendador said, adding that he was hoping to end 2017 with a modest profit.

    For 2018, Air Asia plans to increase its fleet to 22 Airbus A320s, higher by 30 percent. Load factor, which measures the utilization of seats per flight, was targeted at about 87 percent.

    Philippine Air Asia has a domestic market share of about 10 percent. It competes here with larger rivals Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air. AirAsia has a bigger footprint abroad, through its main hub in Kuala Lumpur and regional units in Thailand, Indonesia, India and Japan.

    Comendador said the airline is also on track to its public listing plan by the middle of 2018. The airline is raising at least $200 million, mainly for expansion purposes.

    Philippines Air Asia started in 2012 and has grown organically and via acquisitions.

    It completed in 2015 an investment in and merger with Zest Airways. This gave it access to valuable slots in Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the Philippines’ busiest air gateway, although the airline also sees bright prospects for Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

    Comendador earlier said the domestic fleet would grow to 70 planes in 15 years, or by 2032. It had 15 Airbus A320s at the end of 2016.

    Airlines in Asia Pacific and the rest of the world are expected to remain profitable through 2018, as demand remains robust.

    The International Air Transport Association projected that profits of Asia Pacific carriers would hit $9 billion next year, up 8.4 percent from the expected $8.3 billion in 2017.

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  • SpherePay, a mobile payment app launched in November this year

    SpherePay, a mobile payment app launched in November this year

    Launched early last month, mobile payment app company SpherePay, has acquired over 60,000 users in Singapore and has actively engaged users by running campaigns and strategic partnerships with reputable brands and organizations. With its mission to be South East Asia leading localized mobile payment app, SpherePay is on track of acquiring over 1 million users by end of 2018.

    With a fully equipped and supported QR code-based transaction systems, SpherePay aims to bridge both consumers and merchants’ transaction experience by providing a new cashless payment services, communications, events and experience of offline and online transactions all under one platform.

    SpherePay users can make payments for their purchases or transactions swiftly, conveniently and seamlessly with just a scan of a QR Code via their smart-phones. By adding user credit cards and debit cards to the app, users can easily choose their mode of payments without even having to bring their physical wallets out. Users can also top up credit into the app wallet to enjoy special perks, benefits and rewards when they pay with the app credit. To benefit the user further, the app also enables users to apply for an advance wallet credits of up to $500 where this credit could be used to purchase any goods or services at SpherePay merchant in advance of payment. With the concept of “Buy now pay later”, the credit function hope to assist users to purchase items they really need without having to go thru the hassle of documentations as with taking any other loans from credit provider or banks. In near future, SpherePay will also be made available for online purchases enabling seamless offline and online transactions.

    Consumer data protection and data safety is the upmost importance to SpherePay and its users. Thus, SpherePay puts in rigorous efforts and has met the compliances of the PCI DSS. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) was crafted to augment and promote cardholder data security and to implement a standardized global data security measures for all entities that store, process, or transmit account data. These entities include merchants, service providers (e.g. payment app), issuers and acquirers who accept or process account data. Users can rest assured their data are secured with SpherePay.

    Where is SpherePay now:

    Recently launched on Apple store and Google Play store last month, SpherePay is now available at over 100 merchants and over 60,000 users in Singapore. With the recent announcement from Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) about the SGQR initiatives to consolidate all QR Code enabled payment app provider into a one generic QR Code, SpherePay intends to be engaged and be part of this initiative to offer its users a bigger array of merchants and platform to use the app.  With its expansion footprint in line, SpherePay has plans to launch in Thailand and Indonesia market early next year and other Asian markets by the end of 2018.

  • Marni reopens Shanghai boutique

    Marni reopens Shanghai boutique

    Marni China has reopened its renovated boutique in Shanghai’s Reel Department Store in the downtown district of Jing’An.

    To celebrate the event, the Italian luxury fashion brand hosted its first-ever Marni Christmas Carnival.

    This featured a limited-edition range of “Marni Visitors”, puppets the brand commissions from Colombian artisans for the festive season each year. A portion of proceeds from the sale of the puppets worldwide go to the Milan-based children’s charity Piccolo Principe.

    In addition, five limited-edition trunk bags were also designed for the carnival.

    The Shanghai store is one of 15 the brand has in China.

    Founded in 1994, Marni has been undergoing a transformation since creative director Francesco Risso took over from founder/designer Consuelo Castiglioni last year. Risso was previously the designer of Prada womenswear.

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  • Vietnam plans to raise over $570 million through IPOs in energy firms

    Vietnam plans to raise over $570 million through IPOs in energy firms

    Vietnam hopes to raise a total of more than $570 million by selling stakes in an oil refinery, an oil distribution firm and a power company, the government website said on Saturday.

    The country has accelerated its privatization program in recent weeks, partly because of the need to fund a budget deficit and in the face of growing public debt.

    Vietnam aims to raise at least $297 million by selling a 20 percent stake in PetroVietnam Power Corporation and at least $155 million by selling 7.79 percent of the Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical company, the government said.

    In addition to the sale of those shares in initial public offerings (IPOs), the government said it planned to sell a 28.9 percent stake in the power company and a 49 percent stake in the refinery to strategic investors.

    The government also approved an earlier planned IPO in oil distribution firm PetroVietnam Oil Corp (PV Oil), aiming to raise at least $122 million by selling a 20 percent stake.

    The three share sales are expected within three months, the government said, without giving more precise details of the timing.

    Last month, Vietnam unveiled plans to sell a stake of up to 54 percent, worth $5 billion, in the nation’s biggest brewer, Sabeco, in what is set to be the country’s largest privatization yet.

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  • Hong Kong shopping centre rents predicted to rise

    Hong Kong shopping centre rents predicted to rise

    Hong Kong retail rents are expected to inch up in 2018 according to projections by Savills.

    In a media briefing on Tuesday, Savills senior director of research and consultancy, Simon Smith, predicted a rise in prime retail shop rents of up to 3 per cent, following a decline of 2 per cent this year.

    “The domestic economy is supporting demand as unemployment is low and consumer confidence is high as incomes grow and house prices hit new records,” Smith said.

    “Retail sales are beginning to show signs of life while mainland demand is also returning after two to three years of downward adjustment.”

    At the end of last year, Smith forecast a prime street retail rent decline of between 5 per cent and 10 per cent, but despite some high-profile rent renegotiations, they held up.

    Smith’s data is based on ‘spot’ rents which are different to the headline-grabbing rent reductions achieved by some retail groups in Central and Causeway Bay during this year.

    “When you read about a 50 per cent rent cut, that is usually the renewal of a three-year lease. My rents are ‘spot’ rents and the 2 per cent is this year alone.”

    However, Smith expects shopping mall rents to slip over the next year, giving the narrowing gap with strip-shops. After a decline of just 1 per cent this year, he is tipping a fall of up to 5 per cent next year.

    In terms of sales of retail real estate, Smith predicts an increase in prices of up to 5 per cent next year following a decline of 4 per cent this year, which was well below the 5 to 10 per cent he expected in late 2016.

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  • Jollibee tries bicycle delivery service

    Jollibee tries bicycle delivery service

    Home-grown fast food chain Jollibee rolled out its fleet of eco-friendly delivery bicycles in key cities in the metro.

    Fat bikes were spotted bringing bestseller chickenjoy to consumers, in a bid to lessen pollution in central business districts (CBDs), a company official said Tuesday.

    The ‘Jollibee Bike Delivery Service,’ launched last November, serviced selected stores in Makati, Ortigas, BGC and Metro Cebu. It was also available in Laguna and Cavite, Arline Adeva, Jollibee’s AVP for Brand Communications and PR told ABS CBN News.

    “We are the first to launch the Jollibee Bike Delivery Service in the Philippines and so far, we are the only one exploring the service,” Adeva said.

    “The primary advantage of using bikes is really to lessen carbon emission especially in CBDs where it’s highly congested,” she added.

    There are 40 fat bikes traversing the streets to deliver orders in areas near selected branches. Adeva said the bikes were customized for stable travel and are equipped with waterproof and dust-proof thermal bags to ensure superior food quality.

    Riders’ safety will also be a priority, with road safety trainings and helmets provided for the delivery staff.

    “We also conduct trainings for our riders to ensure they understand speed limits, making use of the bike lanes, and also to use their blinkers at night time,” she added.

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  • World Bank raises Vietnam’s growth forecast for 2017

    World Bank raises Vietnam’s growth forecast for 2017

    The World Bank (WB) has increased its growth forecast for Vietnam this year from the 6.3 percent it projected in October to 6.7 percent, matching the government’s annual target following steady progress during the first nine months.

    Stronger domestic demand, robust export-oriented manufacturing and a gradual recovery of the agricultural sector are driving Vietnam’s economy, according to Taking Stock, the World Bank’s bi-annual economic report released on Monday.

    The manufacturing and services sectors respectively grew by 12.8 percent and 7.3 percent between January and September, the report said.

    “Growth momentum picked up across major economies and global trade recovered in 2017,” said Ousmane Dione, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam. “With incomes rising and poverty falling, Vietnam’s economy had another good year of strong growth and broad macroeconomic stability.”

    Vietnam expects economic growth of 6.5-6.7 percent next year, and thinks that the target of 6.7 percent set for this year is within reach, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at a recent session of the legislative National Assembly.

    Low inflation and rising wages sustained buoyant domestic demand and private consumption, while the stronger global economy has helped Vietnam’s export-oriented manufacturing and agricultural sectors.

    Job growth has continued, with 1.6 million new jobs added in the manufacturing sector over the past three years, and 700,000 additional jobs in the construction, retail, and hospitality sectors, leading to higher aggregate labor productivity.

    Despite progress in resolving non-performing loans, risks remain, including the lack of robust capital buffers in some banks, especially amidst rapid credit growth.

    Fiscal tightening is underway, according to the report, and has led to a leaner budget deficit and containment of public debt accumulation. However, the decline in public investment – falling to 16 percent of total spending in the first nine months of 2017 compared with an average of 25 percent in recent years – may not be sustainable over time, as Vietnam needs significant investment in infrastructure to support future growth.

    A slow-down in structural reforms could also impact the ongoing recovery, especially given the weaker growth in investment.  Enhancing macroeconomic resilience and structural reforms could lift Vietnam’s growth potential over the medium term.

    “Structural reform remains a central priority in view of tepid productivity growth,” said Sebastian Eckardt, the World Bank Lead Economist for Vietnam.

    “Building on progress already made, Vietnam can further lift productivity growth through investments in needed infrastructure and skills as well as deeper reforms of the business environment, state-owned enterprise (SOE) and banking sector.”

    Over the medium term, growth is projected to stabilize at around 6.5 percent, while inflation is projected to remain low.

  • Tous Les Jours Vietnam rolls out new look

    Tous Les Jours Vietnam rolls out new look

    Bakery cafe Tous Les Jours Vietnam has launched a new brand identity at its Hai Ba Trung outlet in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1.

    Months in preparation, the refreshed store features a cafe-inspired interior and takes its inspiration from the “just baked” concept, reports the Vietnam Economic Times.

    Tous Les Jours Vietnam - new concept 1

     

    Tous Les Jours (every day) is a South Korean bakery franchise owned by CJ Foodville Corporation in the US. CJ Foodville Vietnam CEO Kim Gun Pyo says more new outlets are planned “in the near future”.

    He says the company is committed to ethical business practices that strengthen its partnership with local businesses and contribute to the community. He says Tous Les Jours uses Fairtrade-certified coffee beans grown in Vietnam.

    Tous Les Jours Vietnam - new concept 2

    With 36 outlets in Vietnam, the company plans to reach 100 by 2020 and double that by 2025.

    Tous Les Jours is a French-Asian bakery that serves baked goods and beverages. The brand was launched in the US in 2004 and also has stores in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, with plans to enter Singapore as well.

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