Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • AirAsia warns of fake ticket sales on Facebook, Instagram

    AirAsia warns of fake ticket sales on Facebook, Instagram

    Discounted AirAsia and AirAsia X tickets sold on social media platforms are likely fraudulent, the airline warned the public today.

    The low-cost carrier today said it has already encountered several complaints from consumers who procured the tickets from unauthorised resellers who advertised these at heavily discounted rates on Facebook and Instagram.

    “The airline would like to remind the public to book their flights only through official channels such as the website airasia.com, official websites of its affiliates (such as AirAsiaGo.com) and official sales centres listed on our website,” it said in a statement today.

    It then urged the public to verify such third-party offers via the airline’s social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Ask.

    The low-cost carrier said that its popularity in the region made it an attractive target for such scams, further warning that it may take legal action against those involved, in addition to the police report it has already lodged.

  • Ad’Lite™ – Brighten Up Your Sales!

    Ad’Lite™ – Brighten Up Your Sales!

    HL Display China, the innovative solution provider for in-store communication and merchandising industry have the latest lighting solution that is based on LED technology, which is green and cost-effective approach, low energy consumption and has long life. The system is easy to use and install – no tools required, no electrician needed.

    Ad’Lite™ is a complete plug and play solution that simplifies any illumination project. The range is compatible with signage, merchandising and price information. The features of this innovative solution includes:

    • High brightness and high efficiency
    • Minimized operating costs
    • Complete plug and play solution

    The lighting can be designed with technically advanced and economical lamps where the LED lamps are designed to be robust and thin with highest output of emitted light. The system ensures minimal maintenance and adapted to variety of uses including applications in sub-zero temperature. The system also emits a minimum heat and without UV radiation, which makes it an ideal solution for food, cosmetics, pharmacy products, chocolate and other sensitive products

    Innovative solutions for retail sector and how it implicates:

    • Highlights exclusive offers
    • Drives additional traffic
    • Improves consumer experience
    • Increase time spent in the store and section
    • Increase sales

    Essentially, it is designed to meet the present and future’s needs of retailers and brands. Create a competitive advantage by gaining customers attention and reducing operation costs at the same time.

    For further information, HL Display China can be directly contacted during office hour at +86 21 63546998 (Shanghai office) with the attention to Mr. Jadon Yue, or e-mail to [email protected] or [email protected]. Visit the company website for at www.hl-display.com/asia for Engllish language or www.hl-display.cn for Chinese language.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Ikea Japan launching online store

    Ikea Japan launching online store

    Ikea Japan will make a full-fledged entry into internet sales, offering nearly all store items through a dedicated website to launch in late April.

    Plans call for selling 9000-odd products, excluding food and plants. They will initially be shipped from the nation’s nine Ikea stores. When coverage expands there will be direct shipping from warehouses.

    While customers in certain regions have been able to order items via e-mail, the company has not had an official online store.

    The local unit of the Swedish furniture retailer has tested the online service in southwestern Japan’s Kyushu and Yamaguchi prefectures since January, charging a minimum of ￥3990 (US$35.40) for shipping and handling. This may be reduced, depending on the delivery destination and items bought.

    Ikea Japan has a logistics centre in Yatomi, Aichi prefecture. Spanning 54,000 sqm, it opened in 2008. A 31,000 sqm section dedicated to online shopping will be added and launch next year.

    Ikea Japan aims to have online sales account for half of its revenue in 10 years. Its sales shrank 2 per cent to ￥76.7 billion for the year ended August. The company will add the online push to an ongoing initiative of increasing smaller stores to gain momentum toward a sales target of ￥140 billion in 2020.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • VietJet stock jumps 20 pct on debut – exchange

    VietJet stock jumps 20 pct on debut – exchange

    That’s the maximum jump allowed for stock price on its debut day by Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange. Vietnam’s biggest private airline, jumped by the maximum 20 percent limit in early trading on debut on Tuesday to hit 108,000 dong ($4.74), data from Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange showed.

    The budget airline’s stocks rose from a starting price of 90,000 dong per share. A combined 103 shares were traded by 0233GMT, the data showed.

    The bourse allows the stock price to move a maximum of 20 percent up or down from the starting price on its debut day.

    On February 13, Vietnamese budget airline Vietjet Aviation VJC.HM would list on the domestic Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange on February 28 at a starting price of 90,000 dong ($3.97) per share.

    The price announced by Vietjet would put the capitalization of Vietnam’s biggest private airline at $1.19 billion.

    The airline had intended to list overseas by last year, but the plan was put on ice. Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC and a Morgan Stanley investment fund are among 26 foreign investors which recently bought a stake in VietJet.

    Company CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, the nation’s first female billionaire, is the biggest shareholder.

    The CAPA Center for Aviation has said that VietJet, which currently commands 40 percent of Vietnam’s domestic market, will likely surpass flag carrier Vietnam Airlines this year as the nation’s top domestic carrier.

    VietJet currently operates about 60 routes both locally and internationally, and expects to have a fleet of 200 aircraft by 2023. It had ordered billions worth of jets from both Airbus and Boeing in recent years.

    Its 2016 net profit jumped 96 percent annually to VND2.29 trillion on rising revenue, the filing showed, while its CEO Thao told the bottom line is expected to climb 30 percent this year.

    Lees ook:

  • Tim Hortons Philippines launches in Bonifacio

    Tim Hortons Philippines launches in Bonifacio

    Tim Hortons Philippines has launched its first branch at Uptown Place Mall in Bonifacio Global City.

    It is the Canadian cafe and bakeshop’s first foray into Southeast Asia.

    Miss Universe Canada 2016 Siera Bearchell was in Manila for restaurant’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. With her were Department of Tourism secretary Wanda Teo, Tim Hortons president Elias Diaz Sese and executives of TH Coffee Services Philippines, which is the Philippines partner for Tim Hortons.

    The store is known for its signature pastries, including bite-sized doughnuts known as Timbits, and Iced Capp, an ice-blended coffee drink.

    Another speciality is the Double Double, a coffee with two servings of cream and two of sugar.

    There are also full-sized doughnuts, plus regular and breakfast sandwiches. Breakfast offerings also include muffins.

    Tim Hortons was named after its founder, a National Hockey League player, and first opened in Ontario in 1964.

    Restaurant Brands International announced its plans last July to launch the Canadian brand in the Philippines.

  • Sands China launches branded Mastercard rewards program

    Sands China launches branded Mastercard rewards program

    Sands China, ICBC and Mastercard have launched a credit card allowing holders to collect points anywhere in the world which can be redeemed at Sands Macao’s integrated resorts.

    The ICBC Sands Lifestyle Mastercard holders will also have the opportunity to earn up to three times more points when they shop and 20 times more points when they stay at Sands Resorts Macao properties. ICBC Asia offers three times more points when they spend overseas with the card.

    The program is the first for Mastercard’s Pay with Rewards in Asia Pacific. It will have two levels of co-branded credit cards, including the Sands Lifestyle Platinum Mastercard and Sands Lifestyle World Mastercard.

    Cardholders can take advantage of benefits including hotel stays, dining, shopping, events and entertainment. This includes discounts on accommodation packages, ferry tickets, air travel and holiday packages with Cotai Travel, special offers at selected restaurants, Sands Shoppes and entertainment tickets to international and Asian theatre shows and music events.

    Initially, the program will only be available for customers living in Hong Kong and Macao. Customers living in Hong Kong can apply to join the program at ICBC (Asia) branches in Hong Kong or via the ICBC (Asia) website, while customers living in Macao can apply at ICBC (Macau) branches or via the ICBC (Macau) website.

    Dave Horton, chief marketing officer with Sands China, said the Sands Lifestyle program offers a range of attractive benefits for cardholders.

    Sands China, ICBC and Mastercard executives announce the new Sands Lifestyle loyalty program. From left: Ling Hai, co-president, Asia Pacific, Mastercard, Jiang Yisheng, CEO of ICBC Asia, Dave Horton, global chief marketing officer, Las Vegas Sands Corp & Sands China and Wang Du Fu, president, ICBC Card Center.

    “Designed to enhance the experience of our visitors to our integrated resorts and Macao in as destination, Sands Lifestyle is an innovative addition to our world-class facilities and one we anticipate will encourage more visitor arrivals.”

    Ling Hai, co-president, Asia-Pacific, Mastercard, added: “Today represents a number of firsts for Mastercard in China. It is the first time we are partnering with Sands China, one of the largest leisure brands and most popular lifestyle destinations in the region. The ICBC Sands Lifestyle Mastercard is also the first to launch the Mastercard Pay with Rewards product in Asia Pacific. We believe our partnership with Sands China is another step towards fulfilling our commitment to meeting the evolving desires of China’s burgeoning affluent population.”

    Lees ook:

  • Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show Opens

    Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show Opens

    The International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show opened today and continues through 4 March at the AsiaWorld-Expo. This fourth edition of the show, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), welcomes more than 1,900 exhibitors from 39 countries and regions to showcase raw jewellery materials including quality diamonds, precious gems, semi-precious stones and exquisite pearls.

    On Thursday (2 March), the 34th HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show will begin its five-day run at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The International Jewellery Show, which is dedicated to finished jewellery products, along with the International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show, feature a total of about 4,480 exhibitors from 52 countries and regions, forming the world’s largest jewellery marketplace for sourcing and networking.

    “The outlook for the jewellery industry is positive, based on signs of recovery in the United States economy while emerging markets such as the Chinese mainland and ASEAN are displaying a sustained demand for jewellery,” Benjamin Chau, Deputy Executive Director, HKTDC, said. “However, with fierce competition in the market, jewellery manufacturers and retailers have to stay ahead of the curve by seeking out the best suppliers and keeping up with market trends by understanding the latest materials, technological advancements and the needs of buyers and consumers. Our fairs are designed to address these issues.”

    – Quality diamonds and gems from around the globe –

    Dedicated zones facilitate convenient sourcing of various product categories. The Hall of Fine Diamonds gathers top-of-the-range diamond suppliers from around the world showcasing high carat and top quality diamonds. Exhibitors include Dharam Creations (Booth no.: 2-L24), Kiran (Booth no.: 2-K02) and Novel Collection (Booth no.: 2-R02) from Hong Kong, NIMESH GEMS (Booth no.: 2-T10) and Venus Jewel (Booth no.: 2-R08) from India, SwissDiam (Booth no.: 2-Q06) from Switzerland, Kristall (Booth no.: 2-S21) from Russia, Gemstar (Booth no.: 2-T17) from Israel and DBS Diamond (Booth no.: 2-S12) from the US. Treasures of Nature features a variety of precious gemstones. As well as popular emeralds, rubies and opals, rarer precious stones such as Ceylon pink sapphires, light red spinels and Paraiba gems are also on show. Treasures of Ocean presents natural precious pearls that offer top quality and value. The Rough Stones & Minerals zone, which was launched last year, returns to present unpolished and uncut precious stones and gems to buyers.

    Aside from product zones, 22 group pavilions including Australia, Brazil, the Chinese mainland, Colombia, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Thailand and the US showcase different jewellery raw materials. Prominent jewellery trade organisations have also set up their own pavilions, including Antwerp World Diamond Centre, International Colored Gemstone Association and Tanzanite Foundation.

    – One-stop platform for buying missions –

    The HKTDC organised more than 110 buying missions comprising over 7,400 buyers from some 70 countries and regions. Aside from gaining insights into the latest products and sourcing opportunities worldwide, buyers can also participate in seminars under a variety of themes. GIA experts are invited to introduce natural IIa diamonds, while a buyer forum will analyse the opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative. Exhibitors and buyers will be able to exchange ideas while appreciating exquisite gems. Business matching services are also provided for buyers to meet with potential suppliers to enhance sourcing efficiency.

    – International Jewellery Show opens Thursday –

    The 34th edition of the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show will kick off at the HKCEC on 2 March. The show is set to offer finished jewellery products, including elite jewellery collections, premier brands, antique jewellery as well as new designer brands etc. The synergy between the two shows will generate more effective and convenient business exchanges among raw material suppliers and finished jewellery brands.

    The International Jewellery Show will provide a diverse sourcing opportunity, featuring the Hall of Fame devoted to the elegance of popular brands; Hall of Extraordinary with rare and top-tier jewellery pieces; Design Galleria that showcases innovative creations; World of Glamour spotlighting Hong Kong-based exhibitors; as well as Treasures of Craftsmanship where jewellery and art converge.

    A number of networking receptions will also be organised during the International Jewellery Show. Events include the Gala Dinner on the first day (2 March) sponsored by Tanzanite Foundation, where invited guests will enjoy a menu prepared by Chef Robert Fontana, ASEAN Chairman of Disciples Escoffier International Asia, while appreciating jewellery parades and other performances. The culinary and visual pleasure will surely enrich the night already full of networking opportunities. During the fair period, jewellery parades will allow buyers to examine selected items from exhibitors. Themed seminars will furnish industry players with the latest product trends, market information and technological advancements.

    During the concurrent fair period a free shuttle bus service will be provided between AsiaWorld-Expo (Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show) and downtown areas (including HKCEC). Please visit the fair website for more details.

  • A new era for Nokia smartphones

    A new era for Nokia smartphones

    HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, today unveiled a new generation of Nokia smartphones, setting a new standard in design, quality and user experience throughout the range. The highly anticipated global portfolio features three new smartphones – the new Nokia 6, delivering performance and immersive entertainment in a premium and extremely robust design; Nokia 5, an elegant smartphone that fits perfectly in your hand; and Nokia 3, which delivers an unprecedented quality at an affordable price point. The new range of Nokia smartphones all run Android™ Nougat and offer a pure, secure and up to date experience and will all feature Google Assistant. Today also sees the return of a modern classic – the iconic Nokia 3310, reborn with a modern twist on design.

    The family of products announced demonstrate a belief that every consumer should have access to premium quality, not just those with high end flagship devices. Combined with a thoughtful design philosophy that focuses on improving the smartphone experience at every level, each technical component has been carefully considered and integrated into the phone design to have the biggest benefit on consumers’ daily lives. Drawing on the hallmarks of the Nokia phone heritage of quality, simplicity and reliability, the range is designed for a new generation of fans.

    With a commitment to deliver pure Android, users can expect a simple, clean and clutter free experience. Featuring the latest Google services, as well as monthly security updates, Nokia smartphones are safe, secure and up-to-date. The new Nokia smartphones feature Google’s most recent innovation, the Google Assistant, building further on a great Android experience. Our teams have worked together to ensure the Google Assistant is integrated, allowing for conversations with the Google Assistant to take place easily on Nokia smartphones.

    It was also announced that the world-renowned game Snake will be snaking its way back into people’s hearts with a new version available to play on Messenger, part of Facebook’s Instant Games cross platform experience. The new free Snake game is designed to be played with groups of friends making it even more playable than the first time around. 

     

    The new Nokia range of Android smartphones unveiled today ahead of Mobile World Congress includes:

     

    Nokia 6 is going global – combining superior craftsmanship and distinctive design with immersive audio and an impressive bright and colourful 5.5” full HD screen, the Nokia 6 delivers a truly premium smartphone experience. The unibody of the Nokia 6 is crafted from a single block of 6000 series aluminium. The smart audio amplifier with dual speakers allow consumers to experience a deeper bass and unmatched clarity, whilst Dolby Atmos® sound delivers a powerfully moving entertainment experience. Available in four colours – Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper – the Nokia 6 will retail at an average global retail price of €229.

    Nokia 6 Arte Black Limited Edition – celebrating the worldwide Nokia 6 portfolio is the Nokia 6 Arte Black Limited Edition. With 64GB storage and 4GB RAM, this special edition combines the best features of the Nokia 6 family in a stunning black high gloss package and will retail at an average global retail price of €299.

    Nokia 5 – a sleek and compact smartphone that nestles in your hand. The Nokia 5 has been precision engineered out of a single block of 6000 series aluminium to create a perfect pillowed body that flows seamlessly into the sculpted Corning® Gorilla® Glass laminated 5.2” IPS HD display. Powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 430 mobile platform and the Qualcomm® Adreno™ 505 graphics processor, the Nokia 5 brings robust structural integrity, attention to detail and the quality of a high-end flagship to everyone. Available in four colours – Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper – the Nokia 5 will retail at an average global retail price of €189.

    Nokia 3 – a stunning new smartphone designed to deliver an outstanding experience with unprecedented value.  With a precision machined aluminium frame forged out of a single piece of aluminium, a sculpted Corning® Gorilla® Glass laminated 5” display and seamlessly integrated 8MP wide aperture cameras (front and back), the Nokia 3 packs a truly premium quality smartphone experience into its compact and elegant form. Available in four distinctive colours – Silver White, Matte Black, Tempered Blue and Copper White – the Nokia 3 will retail at an average global retail price of €139.

    Also announced today were:

    Nokia 3310 – a modern classic reborn. Thin, light and incredibly durable, the Nokia 3310 is a head turning modern twist on one of the best-selling feature phones of all time. Boasting an incredible 22-hour talk-time and month long stand-by, the Nokia 3310’s fresh, colourful, modern design brings it bang up to date. The Nokia 3310 is available in four distinctive colours – Warm Red and Yellow, both with a gloss finish, and Dark Blue and Grey both with a matte finish. The Nokia 3310 will retail at an average global retail price of €49.

    Accessories – also introduced was a portfolio of Nokia accessories that follows iconic design philosophy. As perfect companions to these smartphones, the full Nokia accessories portfolio includes a range of headsets, portable and Bluetooth speakers, in-car chargers, cases and screen protectors.

    Arto Nummela, CEO of HMD Global, said:

    “Nokia has been one of the most iconic and recognisable phone brands globally for decades. In the short time since HMD was launched into the market, the positive reception we’ve had has been overwhelming; it seems everyone shares our excitement for this next chapter. Today’s consumers are more discerning and demanding than ever before and for us they will always come first. Our efforts in bringing together world class manufacturers, operating systems and technology partners sees us proudly unveiling our first global portfolio of smartphones with a Nokia soul, delivering the very best experience to everyone.”

    Florian Seiche, President of HMD Global, said:

    “Strategic and meaningful partnerships are essential to our success, both for the products and manufacturing. Equally we are committed to building the right kind of partnerships at a market level so we can reach and service all of our fans. The encouragement, support and excitement we have felt from the operators and retailers we’ve met globally so far has been humbling. The excitement and anticipation for our first global family of smartphones has been tremendous, and we’re delighted to offer fans the ability to register their interest for the new range at nokia.com/phones.”

    Juho Sarvikas, Chief Product Officer of HMD Global, said:

    “Nokia phones stir real emotions; people know them for their beautiful design and craftsmanship, together with a built-to-last quality that you can rely on.  Our new portfolio combines these classic Nokia hallmarks with a best-in-class Android performance and a new level of craftsmanship. For the Nokia 3310 we just couldn’t resist. We wanted to reward loyal Nokia phone fans and make a statement that rich heritage, innovation and modern design can go hand-in-hand.  Fundamentally, it is about making sure that right across our portfolio we are delivering this pure Nokia experience.”

    “We also believe that everyone deserves access to the premium quality and attention to detail that is usually reserved only for flagship devices. With our new range of Nokia smartphones, we aim to democratise technology and bring this experience to everyone.”

    Pekka Rantala, Chief Marketing Officer of HMD Global, said:

    “Consumers today are seeking relationships with brands that they can trust. The Nokia brand has over 150 years of heritage giving it an authentic, differentiating experience which we are proud to introduce to a new generation of fans.  Our new Android Nokia smartphone portfolio, together with the return of the iconic Nokia 3310, is a real statement of our ambition and commitment to honouring the hallmarks of a true Nokia phone experience.”

    Brad Rodrigues, interim President of Nokia Technologies, said:

    “What HMD has created is remarkable. We’re excited to see the launch of a new family of smartphones, built to the standards that Nokia is known for. We believe that their strong design and quality will appeal to Nokia fans around the world, and the return of the Nokia 3310 has us smiling too!”

    Enrico Salvatori, SVP and President, Qualcomm EMEA said:

    We are pleased to have collaborated with HMD on the Nokia 6 and Nokia 5 and look forward to working closely with them on future devices. The Nokia brand has a rich heritage in advancing mobile technology and to see new Nokia smartphones on sale is a welcome sight.  Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 mobile platform which offers a rich feature set for smartphones: integrated X6 LTE, cutting-edge camera technology with dual-Image signal processors, next-generation Qualcomm Adreno 505 GPU all means Snapdragon 430 supports fast downloads and uploads, stunning graphics and photos with battery life to spare.”

    The new portfolio of Nokia smartphones and feature phones is on display at Mobile World Congress.  Local availability will be announced in markets in Q2, 2017. To get hands-on with the full range of Nokia phones, visit HMD at the Nokia stand (Hall 3, stand 3A).

  • Lazada Thailand sent top five sellers to Alibaba Campus

    Lazada Thailand sent top five sellers to Alibaba Campus

    Lazada Thailand sent five of its top performing sellers to Alibaba’s campus in Hangzhou. They joined a delegation of 34 Lazada sellers.

    Led by Lazada Group, the visit took place from 23 to 25 February 2017 and include a rare opportunity to hear from Jing Jie, Vice President of Strategic Partnership Development, Alibaba Group and Aimone Ripa di Meana, Chief Marketplace Officer, Lazada Group to gain insights on the eCommerce landscape development and best-practices of online selling. The delegates had the chance to visit and network with other successful sellers such as Semir from Alibaba’s Tmall platform as well as attended two training sessions on “Operations and Assortment Planning for Singles Day” and “Online Customer Management” conducted by Taobao University.

    Apart from Thailand, the sellers mainly originate from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam; markets that Lazada operate in. These sellers worked closely with Lazada throughout the Online Revolution 2016 event, and have emerged as top in their respective product categories, such as fashion, electronics, and other fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) categories.

    These top performing sellers experienced strong uplift in their sales during the month-long Online Revolution sale. In addition to their exceptional performance during the 2016 Online Revolution shopping event, these sellers offered great value to shoppers with their deals, efficient product dispatches as well as achieving minimal number of returns and cancellations on their products.                                                                               

    Alessandro Piscini, CEO, Lazada Thailand said, “Lazada is widely known as Southeast Asia’s number one online shopping site, but we are also the region’s top selling eCommerce marketplace. Today, we have about 55,000 local and international merchants and we are enabling them to achieve commercial success with Lazada.”

    “We empower our sellers and equip them with the best tools available to help them succeed. With this inaugural business trip for our sellers to Hangzhou, we have structured the trip to ensure our sellers can hear and learn from other successful examples, and scale their business in the future,” added Alessandro Piscini.

    Veraphon Ngamjarassrivichai, Chief Marketing Officer of Galaxy store, which sells household equipment, sports, games, and toys at https://www.lazada.co.th/galaxy/ shared, “working with Lazada has made our E-Commerce journey much quicker and easier. Since joining Lazada, we have managed to still grow our business, and last year we generated 4 times revenue from Lazada. Galaxy is excited to join the trip to Alibaba Campus in Hangzhou and take advantage of all the new opportunities the three day event will bring.”

    In addition to sending top five sellers to Alibaba Campus in Hangzhou, Lazada, as the brand holding by Alibaba Group, is committed to train over 30,000 SMEs following Thailand 4.0 model and collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce by organizing training workshop for SMEs at the New Economy Academy (NEA) starting from 2nd February 2017 onwards until the end of this year. This training workshop aims to cover practical trainings on how to sell products and services on an eCommerce platform. Lazada also offers sellers a comprehensive suite of tools and solutions to make their online business a success. The seller centre for instance gives sellers a comprehensive overview of their business with Lazada. It is also a mobile platform for sellers to manage their business on-the-go. Sellers also receive a weekly performance report from Lazada with details on areas they can improve for better sales.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • The Wonder Room Unveils its Fresh New Look on the 3rd Floor of Siam Center

    The Wonder Room Unveils its Fresh New Look on the 3rd Floor of Siam Center

    “The Wonder Room”, women’s multi-brand store on the 3rd floor of Siam Center, opens the door to welcome fashionistas again after the refurbishment. Under the new look inspired by art studio, the store carries more than 40 Thai and international fashion brands to serve “hip and fashion-forward socialite with unique character”. To celebrate this re-opening, it launches The Wonder Room Collection” that offers ABSOLUTE SIAM items, available only at Siam Center, and welcomes the summer with “Future in The 80s” collection.

    Parisa Chatnilbhandhu Group Senior Vice President – Retail Business Development of Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., revealed that The Wonder Room has been the top choice for fashionistas who have a unique and distinctive sense of style and never follow trends because they always find one-of-a-kind items here. To better fulfill their needs, the store now adds the modernity and liveliness to the previously sophisticated decoration in black and gold thanks to “NENDO”, globally recognized design studio that transformed Siam Discovery.

    “In this transformation, The Wonder Room was expanded to 200 sqm, with completely new appearance. Mr. Oki Sato, chief designer and founder of “NENDO”, defined fashion items as pieces of art displayed by the wearers. Once stepping into the store, the shoppers will feel as if they were in an art studio where an artist crafts masterpieces. Every element like canvas frame, easel and photo frame, including the center table that displays products, are carefully placed to create this mood. The unexpected combination of green, black and white gives a sense of contrast, yet a modern and lively look,” added Parisa.

    The Wonder Room not only carries a wide selection of leading brands but also offers Absolute Siam collection available exclusively at Siam Center.  For the upcoming summer, more than 40 ready-to-wear brands of women’s wear, handbags, footwear and accessories will take fashionistas back to the 80s under concept of “Future in the 80s”.  The spring/summer collection 2017 incorporates distinctive pattern, bright spectrum, graphic, sailor stripes and metallic decoration to create a variety of looks, whether they are business look, casual look or party look.

    The fashion-forward ladies will find a wide selection of fashion brands such as DRYCLEANONLY, Tohns, HER La Femme, KANAPOT AUNSORN, VIPPY ROSE, TandT, Vinn Patararin, Mani Mina, FAFALU, PONY STONE, SEE and ACID while fans of Korean fashion will love LOW CLASSIC, Fleamadonna, SYZ and A.Bell. Moreover, the look will not be complete without an essential accessories from mikiwuu, Activity One, Darlin Jewelry, Revival, Porshz, la, Minacode, Iphforia and Ornaments & L’or and handbags and shoes from She, NATTAPONG, Ratthzart Studio, March and WALKIN.

    In this summer, SWIMWARE will raise the temperature with its hot and sexy swimwear while innerwear from Pattricia A. Garde, ZAZZIE, T-REX and NAVY can be perfectly matched with the outerwear to add sensuality. Lastly, ESTRO, Nostalgic and PAPERSELF will add the final touch and boost the fashionistas’ confidence with their beautiful cosmetics.

    To celebrate the new look of The Wonder Room, Vinn Patararin and jewelry brand la co-designed capsule collection. For the first time, “FABLAB” joins hands with The Wonder Room in offering a wide range of online fashion brands at FABLAB corner.

    Come visit The Wonder Room today on the 3rd floor of Siam Center. Under the new concept of art studio, this multi-brand store offers “ABSOLUTE SIAM” items, masterpieces in “The Wonder Room Collection”, which cannot be found elsewhere and will make you stand out from the crowd

    Lees ook:

  • First phase of Europark Dalian complete

    First phase of Europark Dalian complete

    New York-based architecture and urban planning firm Laguarda.Low Architects has completed the first phase of Europark, a 3 million sqft (280,000 sqm) mixed-use complex in Dalian.

    Set on a landscaped park in the heart of Donggang’s CBD, Europark Dalian comprises the award-winning Galleria Mall, a tower of apartment suites, two SOHO office towers and two residential towers, which are planned for the second phase of construction starting late this year.

    “Now the first phase is complete, we are certain the cutting-edge architectural style, contemporary design and endless retail options in this complex will attract attention throughout the region,” says Laguarda.Low principal John Low.

    Officially opened in August 2015, the Galleria Mall is the first European-style shopping centre in Donggang. It is at the site’s centre, offering four levels of retail, including Adidas, H&M, Nike and Zara stores plus an Imax theatre – all arranged around a central skylight that permeates daylight to all levels.

    The Galleria Mall has won such accolades as the China Building Complex Award in 2011, the Design Innovation Award in 2013, a bronze award for retail development in 2014 and the New Media Service Marketing Award in 2015. Laguarda.Low also designed the mall’s interior.

    In partnership with international landscape design firm SWA, Europark has the biggest green park in Donggang. The development is within walking distance of Dalian Port and the Davos Conference Center.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Vietnam’s annual e-commerce growth to reach 30-50%

    Vietnam’s annual e-commerce growth to reach 30-50%

    “The size of Vietnam’s e-commerce market may reach $10 billion within the next five years,” he added.

    Ms. Dang Thuy Ha, Chief Representative at market researcher Nielsen in Hanoi, said the e-commerce market was worth up to $4 billion last year.

    Of Vietnam’s 91 million people, she said, 45 per cent access the internet and 28 per cent use e-commerce.

    Each person spends $160 a year on shopping via e-commerce platforms. Therefore, growth in e-commerce is 22 per cent, according to Nielsen’s report.

    The report also notes that the number of people using smartphones has increased sharply, giving a boost to e-commerce.

    Thirty-two per cent of enterprises have set up business relations with foreign partners through online channels and 11 per cent have participated in electronic trade floor and website activities, according to a VECOM report.

    Ms. Tran Thi Phuong Lan, Vice Director of Hanoi Industrial and Trade, said that retail revenue via e-commerce in the capital stood at VND30 trillion ($1.3 billion) last year, representing 6 per cent of total retail revenue and up 15 per cent against 2015. More than 5,600 e-commerce websites are registered in Hanoi.

    VOBF 2017 had five sessions: Overview, Cloud Technology and Mobile Phones with E-commerce, Omni Channel, Cross Border E-commerce, and Online Startups. The Vietnam E-commerce Index 2017 was also released.

    This is the first time the Forum has been held. Speakers included representatives from the Vietnam E-commerce and Information Technology Agency, Nielsen, Google, Facebook, Vietnam Post, Verisign, and Lazada.

    Attendees had the chance to meet with representatives from Z.com, VeriSign, Matbao, Bizweb, Gimasys, TrustPay, Interspace, Netnam, and iNet. The special features of startups in the sector was also discussed.

    VOBF 2017 will be held in Ho Chi Minh City on March 3.

    Lees ook:

  • Tesla says Model 3 on track for volume production by September

    Tesla says Model 3 on track for volume production by September

    Tesla Inc said on Wednesday its mass-market Model 3 sedan was on track for volume production by September, encouraging investors who see the electric vehicle as the avenue to profitability for the young company.

    But the carmaker’s operations continued to burn through cash, and Chief Executive Elon Musk told analysts on a conference call that he may ask Wall Street for more.

    “According to our financial plan, no capital needs to be raised for the Model 3 but we get very close to the edge,” Musk told investors on a conference call. Tesla plans an additional $2 billion to $2.5 billion in capital expenses before the Model 3 launch and has $3.4 billion cash on hand.

    “We’re considering a number of options but I think it probably makes sense to raise capital to reduce risk,” Musk said.

    Musk said Chief Financial Officer Jason Wheeler, in his role for just over a year, would leave in April to work in public policy. He will be replaced by former Tesla CFO Deepak Ahuja, who was popular with investors.

    Tesla, whose shares rose as much as 3 percent after the bell before settling up around 1.6 percent to $277.90, beat analysts’ expectations for revenue. Its adjusted loss missed the consensus target calculated by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S, although there was an unusually large range of estimates due to confusion over accounting for the acquisition of solar installer SolarCity.

    Ivan Feinseth, director of research at Tigress Financial Partners, said Tesla “delivered the results the market has been expecting” that drove the stock from a year low of $167.84 last February to a year high of $287.39 last week.

    By late spring or early summer, Feinseth estimated, Tesla will likely raise more money, noting that today’s highs could make it sooner rather than later.

    “You have to feed the ducks while they’re quacking. If they came to the market now they would be well received,” he said.

    Up to Wednesday’s close, Tesla’s stock had risen 53.9 percent in the last 12 months.

    Many investors and suppliers have predicted Model 3 volume production would be delayed until 2018, but Tesla said it would produce over 5,000 Model 3s per week “at some point in the fourth quarter”, and 10,000 vehicles per week “at some point in 2018”.

    Musk reiterated that Tesla still planned to deliver 500,000 cars in 2018 and 1 million vehicles by 2020.

    Tesla did not give its usual full-year delivery estimate, but said it expected to deliver 47,000 to 50,000 Model S and Model X vehicles combined in the first half of 2017.

    The company did not give a Model 3 target for this year and declined to update a previous disclosure made last April that 373,000 advance reservations had been taken for the car.

    “We’re still in great shape,” said Wheeler, when asked about early demand for the car.

    The public might not see the final version of the Model 3 until as late as July, when limited production begins, Musk said.

    Capital expenditures doubled in the fourth quarter to $521.6 million, as Tesla invests in its Fremont, California factory and its Gigafactory battery plant in Nevada.

    Cash rose by $309 million to $3.39 billion, which includes funds raised from a share sale last year.

    SolarCity installed more than 20 percent less solar in the quarter, as it focuses on profitability and cash over growth. Solar generation deployed fell to 201 MW in the fourth quarter from 253 MW a year earlier.

    Tesla’s net loss attributable to common shareholders narrowed to $121.3 million, or 78 cents per share, for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31 from $320.4 million, or $2.44 per share, a year earlier.

    The adjusted loss of 69 cents per share compared with the analyst consensus of a 43-cent loss, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

    Revenue rose 88 percent to $2.28 billion, topping Wall Street’s target of $2.18 billion.

    Lees ook:

  • AT&T, China Mobile team on IoT

    AT&T, China Mobile team on IoT

    AT&T and China Mobile have joined forces to further enable the IoT. Announcing the partnership ahead of Mobile World Congress 2017, AT&T said the deal will help the US telco’s global business customers connect and deploy their assets and offerings in the Chinese market.

    The pair is developing a new technology platform which AT&T say will seamlessly move its business customer’s IoT subscriptions over to China Mobile’s local service.

    The behind-the-scenes switch will help simplify the supply chain for AT&T’s customers looking to expand to China. This will help customers accelerate time to market and achieve greater efficiency in driving new revenue streams, said Chris Penrose, president of IoT solutions at AT&T.

    Penrose said AT&T is one of the first global operators to establish a relationship with China Mobile, which has the world’s largest 4G mobile network covering more than 1.3 billion subscribers.

    “China is one of the fastest growing markets. It holds incredible opportunity for our global business customers. Working with China Mobile means we can further develop that opportunity. This makes it an even more exciting time to be in the IoT,” the executive said.

    AT&T serves nearly 3.5 million business customers, helping them connect their devices around the world.

    “We look forward to helping AT&T business customers bring their connected solutions to our market,” said Dr. Li Feng, chairman & CEO, China Mobile International. “We believe this will help unlock new options and experiences for our customers while achieving one of our core goals – increasing the number of connected devices on our network.”

  • Porsche, Audi lift VW to record underlying profit

    Porsche, Audi lift VW to record underlying profit

    Record Audi and Porsche sales helped Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) swing to a record underlying profit in 2016, although a bigger than expected charge from the diesel emissions scandal meant it missed estimates for its operating profit.

    Sales of the German carmaker’s luxury brands lifted underlying operating profit before special items 14 percent to 14.6 billion euros ($15.5 billion) in 2016, after the company reported its biggest ever loss in 2015.

    VW forecast broadly stable earnings this year.

    Underlying profit was broadly in line with forecasts for the world’s biggest car manufacturer by volume sales, which hiked its dividend more than expected after group sales rose to new highs, with an 8.1 percent jump in fourth quarter deliveries.

    Volkswagen (VW) is struggling with the fallout from its admission 17 months ago that it rigged U.S. diesel emissions tests, a scandal that some analysts have estimated may cost it more than $30 billion in fines, compensation and vehicle refits.

    VW has since embraced a costly shift to more electric vehicles and last year eclipsed Toyota (7203.T) as the world’s top-selling carmaker with record deliveries of 10.3 million.

    ONE-OFF CHARGES

    Although group sales fell 4 percent in January on the back of national holidays and a tax hike on small-engine cars in China, its biggest market, VW forecast an underlying operating margin of between 6 and 7 percent for 2017, compared with the 6.7 percent it achieved last year.

    But the damage from the emissions cheating affair took its toll, with VW booking bigger-than-expected one-off charges of 7.5 billion euros in 2016, of which 6.4 billion were related to the emissions-test rigging scandal. Analysts had on average forecast the cost would be 4.2 billion euros in total.

    Including those charges, VW made a 2016 operating profit of 7.1 billion euros, missing a consensus forecast of 10.5 billion euros but a big swing from a loss of 4.1 billion euros in 2015.

    VW’s Chief Executive Matthias Mueller said the carmaker was now well set for the years ahead.

    “As the figures show, Volkswagen is very solidly positioned in both operational and financial terms. This makes us optimistic about the future,” he said in VW’s results statement.

    The return to profit at group level may help calm tensions in Wolfsburg where labour bosses and VW’s brand management have been sparring over its ability to tackle the high cost base of VW’s German plants, which what analysts and investors say will be key to a further recovery.

    VW said it would propose a dividend of 2.06 euros per preferred share, more than the 1.86 euros expected by analysts on average, and 2.00 euros per ordinary share for 2016.

    That is up from 0.17 euros and 0.11 euros respectively a year earlier, when VW had to cut the dividend because of the cost of the diesel emissions cheating.