Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • The British House to showcase UK in Beijing

    The British House to showcase UK in Beijing

    Opening in Beijing in December, The British House showroom will display items from 100 UK brands across fashion, homewares and lifestyle.

    Already confirmed are such brands as Aspinal of London, Johnstons of Elgin, Liberty, Rachel Riley, Sunuva and Turnbull & Asser.

    Near Tiananmen Square, the 13,000 sqft (1207 sqm) showroom covers two floors and is modelled on a London townhouse, with products on display in each room of the “home”. Shoppers will be able to scan the items they like and buy them online using tablets. The products will be shipped directly from the UK to their home within eight to 11 days.

    The “home” will also have a tearoom and offer English language lessons as well as host VIP parties.

    Former women’s fashionwear Jonathan Saunders interim MD Jamie Powell has been appointed as the UK MD for the business, and he plans to roll out the concept to other locations across Asia. The owner is Yimei McCabe, a former diplomat with China’s ministry of foreign affairs.

  • Rakuten launches Raxy subscription service

    Rakuten launches Raxy subscription service

    Japanese eCommerce company Rakuten Inc has launched a beauty-subscription service, Raxy.

    Registrations are already being accepted for the service, which offers options for three, six or 12 months.

    Each month, subscribers will receive boxes of assorted cosmetics and beauty products. Through partnerships with such brands as Revlon and SK-II, these boxes will contain three to seven items of cosmetics, hair care products, make-up accessories and beauty supplements.

    Raxy’s website will offer a variety of content each month, including articles and videos by makeup artists and beauty experts, as well as YouTube users introducing products.

    As well as receiving Rakuten Super Points upon subscribing, users can also earn extra points when buying beauty products on Rakuten Ichiba. Also, the first 100 subscribers receive a limited-edition original cosmetics pouch from the official SK-II store on Rakuten Ichiba. Customers signing up for 12 months will also receive a special product.

  • Asia dominates retail destination rankings

    Asia dominates retail destination rankings

    Asian cities dominate the latest retail destination rankings, with the Middle East taking most of the remaining spots.

    According to the latest edition of JLL’s Destination Retail report, which ranks markets for retailer expansion around the world, Asia is fuelling global growth, taking 12 of the top 20 spots. Six of those cities are in China – but Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau are not among them. Six months ago Hong Kong was second only to London – neither city makes the list now.

    This time around, the top two cities are Dubai and Shanghai, with Beijing ranking third. The other Asian cities in the top 20 are Bangkok, Chengdu, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Manila, Tianjin, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Chongqing and Hangzhou. (The full list is below).

    Besides Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Jeddah and Riyadh make the list, meaning 85 per cent of the top 20 destinations are in just two regions.

    “The global retail landscape is expected to change significantly over the next 10 years, as a fast-growing middle class in emerging markets attracts retailers hungry for growth,” says David Zoba, chairman of JLL’s Global Retail Leasing Board.

    JLL says Shanghai has become a favourite of international brands looking to test the Chinese market and gain exposure. While established prime markets include West Nanjing Rd and Huaihai Rd, new submarkets targeting local residents are popping up along the many new metro lines leading out of the city, and the city’s retail network is growing and shifting.

    Beijing follows as the third-fastest-growing retail market with its swelling middle class and strong concentration of high-net-worth individuals. Properties such as China World Mall and the landmark project Taikoo Li continue to draw high-end shoppers, while malls like Beijing APM and Oriental Plaza dominate tourist-friendly shopping strip Wangfujing. The Chinese capital’s suburbs are also experiencing rapid growth as people choose to shop more locally rather than brave the traffic into the city centre.

    “Emerging markets can expose international retailers to greater levels of economic and geopolitical risks. One pertinent example is China’s anti-corruption campaign and the knock-on effects on the luxury market,” says James Hawkey, head of retail for China, JLL. “However, international retailers are increasingly comfortable dealing with these risks, and generally have their eyes on the long term prize of establishing a strong position in major world markets.”

    Added Zoba: “The search for growth is escalating the penetration of international brands across the world’s most attractive retail cities, especially in Asia. Retailers who succeed in acquiring the right space in the right place at the right time will benefit from successful, profitable growth, but they should be mindful that potential rewards go hand in hand with risk,” continues Mr Zoba.

    Retail rents in these emerging markets reflect legislation, market transparency, reputational risk, maturity, as well as growth potential, meaning that their levels are relatively low compared to more mature markets. Places like Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta and Bangalore present an opportunity for retailers to establish their brands at rents of less than US$2000 per square metre per year with projected in-store sales increasing by 8 to10 per cent until 2019, based on Oxford Economics forecasts. However, as cities mature and the pace of new construction of retail centres slows, rents will gradually increase.

    JLL’s Destination Retail report 2016 examines the presence of 240 international retail brands across 140 retail cities, giving insights for international retail expansion. The 140 cities make up 36 percent of the world’s GDP, 13 per cent of the global population and 33 per cent of total consumer spending.

    Top 20 Global Growth Cities for Retail

    1              Dubai

    2              Shanghai

    3              Beijing

    4              Kuwait City

    5              Abu Dhabi

    6              Jeddah

    7              Riyadh

    8              Moscow

    9              Bangkok

    10           Chengdu

    11           Kuala Lumpur

    12           Jakarta

    13           Manila

    14           Istanbul

    15           Tianjin

    16           Shenyang

    17           Shenzhen

    18           Chongqing

    19           Mexico City

    20           Hangzhou

  • Pos Malaysia taps Alibaba Group for growth

    Pos Malaysia taps Alibaba Group for growth

    Malaysia’s biggest postal company is seeking a more direct role in providing logistics services to Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, tapping a boom in online retailing.

    Pos Malaysia Bhd plans talks with Alibaba this month on bypassing the middlemen when shipping goods sold on its platforms, Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh, its chief executive officer, said. Surging parcel deliveries for online shopping drove a 40% jump in profit in the fiscal first quarter and full-year earnings will be higher than a year earlier, he said.

    “My focus is still e-commerce, and it is driving the logistics business. When e-commerce is booming, somebody needs to deliver these items,” Mohd Shukrie, 42, said in an interview at the company’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Sept 27. “Marketplace owners wants to deal with logistic players directly. I’m going to China to meet up with Alibaba and other market players” in October, he said.

    Postal companies in Asia are remodeling themselves by expanding overseas to meet rising demand spurred by a global retail e-commerce market valued at about US$1.2 trillion by the Universal Postal Union. Pos Malaysia, which started work in the early 1800s delivering mail by bicycle, is the top performer this year among 14 global courier stocks with a market value of at least US$500 million, recording a total return of 49%, beating United Parcel Service Inc and FedEx Corp.

    Pos Malaysia stock has soared 88% from a February low as record earnings from its courier business and a potential increase in tariffs for the first time in six years buoyed the shares. The government is examining its proposal for higher postal rates, said Mohd Shukrie. The company is valued at 25 times its 12-month projected earnings, versus 18 for UPS, the world’s most valuable courier company.

    Alibaba said its delivery affiliate Cainiao Smart Logistics Network Ltd “works collaboratively with logistics participants to enhance customer experience and operation efficiency. “It is natural we talk to industry participants,” it said in an e-mailed statement in response to queries by Bloomberg News.

    While Pos Malaysia handles parcel deliveries for Alibaba through freight forwarders, or so-called consolidators such as Japan’s Sankyu Inc, the Kuala Lumpur-based company wants to deal directly with these marketplace owners, said Mohd Shukrie.

    Eliminating Middlemen

    “The future is about cutting the middleman, and the existence of consolidators will be under threat,” he said. “Right now, we deal more with consolidators for parcels from China to the world, but understandably marketplace owners want to deal with logistic players directly.”

    Consolidators collect and group outward-bound cross-border mail to specific destinations and negotiate special rates with the public postal operators to distribute the bulk mail in the designated countries.

    Singapore Post Ltd, which counts Alibaba as its second-biggest shareholder, said a year ago it plans to expand freight services and warehouses in the US and Europe as Asia’s emerging middle class drives online purchases from overseas.

    “The potential is quite huge for e-commerce,” Lim Sin Kiat, an analyst at Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd in Kuala Lumpur, said by phone. “Clients are looking for fully integrated services, and it’s still a work in progress for Pos Malaysia to be fully integrated.” Lim has a buy call on the company with a target price of RM3.87. The stock climbed 1.3% to RM3.90 as of 9:58am in Kuala Lumpur, near the highest level in more than a year.

    Logistics Acquisition

    In September, Pos Malaysia completed the purchase of KL Airport Services Sdn Bhd from parent DRB-Hicom Bhd, controlled by businessman Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary. The move will boost revenue to RM2 billion (US$482 million) in the year ending March 2018 and allow the company to offer more logistics services overseas, said Mohd Shukrie.

    KL Airport now has two aircraft and the capability to pick up cargoes from the region including Hong Kong, he said. It can expand the fleet by one plane annually in the next five years in tandem with business growth, said Mohd Shukrie, who mentioned Ingvar Kamprad, Ikea’s billionaire founder as an inspiration for building a steady and sustainable business.

    “The pie is growing very fast, we do not want to settle with growing with the market, we want to grow more than the market,” he said.

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  • Ted Baker flourishing worldwide

    Ted Baker flourishing worldwide

    North America has led a solid increase in sales for Ted Baker in its first half year.

    With group revenue increasing £32.7 million to £259.5 million, the UK-headquartered fashion retailer has proved once again that its overall strategy and business investments across its three distribution channels are paying off.

    The retail business grew in value to £191.1 million, boosted by an almost 30 per cent increase in North American retail sales, while wholesale rose to £69.4 million and income from licensing increased to £7.9 million.

    Ted Baker’s store expansion continues as average retail square footage rose 9.7 per cent with store openings in the US, Canada and China, the addition of department store concessions in the UK, Europe and Asia and licensee store openings in newer territories South Africa and Vietnam.

    Ted Baker’s premium design aesthetic and almost aspirational appeal continues to attract shoppers.  Products are recognisably and distinctively Ted Baker, making them highly desirable to its loyal customer following. Ted Baker also has an advantage over rivals such as Reiss and Whistles, in terms of its ability to appeal to women and men fairly equally across a variety of products as evidenced by growth across both womenswear (up 13.8 per cent to £148.9 million) and menswear (up 15.3 per cent to £110.6 million). The brand is also gradually positioning itself as a lifestyle brand, with expansion into categories such as homewares, stationery and luggage. Its distinctive aesthetic translates well into these complementary categories and will enable Ted Baker to create newer sources of revenue in a challenging clothing market.

    eCommerce is hugely valuable and is a particularly stand-out element of the business. Investment in design, personalised content and language specific websites, the first of which launched in Germany during the half, further enhances the online experience. Initiatives such as its newly launched interactive video where customers can shop autumn/winter products as they watch further set Ted Baker apart from competitors.

    Ted Baker’s products are typically smart, design-led and chic, and with Christmas coming up – will be top of mind for customers for partywear, occasions and gifting. As the retailer continues to invest in product and build brand awareness of its core offer in new and emerging markets, Ted Baker is well-positioned to continue on its upward trajectory over the second half year.

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  • DHL Expands Presence in Hong Kong

    DHL Expands Presence in Hong Kong

    DHL Express has opened its new Tsing Yi Service Center, a HK$78 million (US$10.1 million) facility on the third floor of the Goodman Interlink building in Hong Kong.

    “The opening of the new Tsing Yi Service Center follows double-digit growth in our international shipments over the past year, and underscores our confidence in the Hong Kong market,” said Herbert Vongpusanachai, senior vice president and managing director of DHL Express Hong Kong and Macau. “With a steady growth in our Hong Kong business contributed by the strong e-commerce sector, this facility is set to cement our market leadership with its enhanced handling capacity.”

    The 12,777-square-metre facility is double the size of the previous facility located in the same building and is capable of handling 380 tonnes of shipments per day, the strongest out of all DHL service centres worldwide.

    “We’ve been looking for a site since 2014,” said Vongpusanachai. “Hong Kong hasn’t been the easiest place in which to look for a new warehouse. There are very few fully equipped warehouses that have the size and scale that we needed based on our requirements.”

    Self Photos / Files - 3D reweigh & dimensioning machine

    Features include a high-speed automated reweigh and dimensioning machine capable of processing 2,200 pieces per hour, a 3D dimensioning and reweigh machine for unconveyable shipments that need volumetric measuring, a singulator which rearranges shipments so they travel down the conveyor belt one by one, and 122 CCTVs providing 24-hour monitoring.

    “It’s got all the technologies that we wanted,” said Vongpusanachai. “We want to be able to scan the shipments automatically when they come in, we want to sort them so that they go to the correct belt automatically, and we want to be able to build our own aircraft ULDs that we can bring straight to the airport.”

    One other “secret weapon,” according to Vongpusanachai, is the Clear-In-The-Air system, which allows all customs clearance information to be sent to the destination and handled while the plane is still in the air, cutting down transit times.

    Even though economic and trade conditions around the region have been disappointing, Vongpusanachai said that he wasn’t too concerned.

    “We’ve seen a bit of an economic slowdown over the past few quarters, but with the uptick in last quarter’s numbers and with our medium- to long-term look at the economy, we’re confident that we’ll actually see moderate growth in the near term,” he said. “There’s also still a lot of potential in the growth of certain sectors. The government has also increased its forecast for next year in terms of air trade.”

    The major driver of growth for DHL Express in recent times has been e-commerce, which was the predominant motivation for an upgraded facility.

    “We’ve seen a lot of customers moving away from big breakbulk to smaller shipments directly to the workplace or residence,” said Vongpusanachai. “That has been an emerging trend. This facility will allow us to increase our capacity and become more efficient in handling these types of shipments. Our focus as an express company is on time-definite international shipments.”

    The new Tsing Yi centre, which had its soft opening in July 2016, adds to DHL Express Hong Kong’s two other service centres in Cheung Sha Wan and Tsuen Wan.

    “These are some of the largest facilities that we have across the whole network, since Hong Kong is a high-capacity, high-volume exporter,” said Vongpusanachai. “We are always looking for new places. There is a plan but it’s a longer-term plan. Sometimes facilities might not be available yet, but we’re always looking ahead to see where we can expand.”

    The third-runway project at Hong Kong International Airport, which is scheduled to be completed by 2023, will give DHL Express the possibility of increasing capacity by operating more flights, allowing the DHL Central Asia hub to expand.

    “That’s something that we’re looking forward to,” Vongpusanachai said. “We’re very excited about the project and how we can participate in the growth of Hong Kong’s economy.”

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  • You Tube Pre-school Smash Hit ChuChu TV partners with Dream Theatre

    You Tube Pre-school Smash Hit ChuChu TV partners with Dream Theatre

    ChuChu TV, Asia-Pacific’s most watched YouTube channel for toddlers from India, with over 6 billion views and 6 million subscribers, has partnered with Dream Theatre to launch the global Consumer Products business for the brand. In terms of watch time, ChuChu TV is the most watched channel in Asia Pacific and is amongst the top 20 YouTube channels in the world. Originated in Chennai in 2013, ChuChu TV is a truly global phenomenon with a wide audience from around the world averaging around 300 million views per month. Given its global appeal and audience, ChuChu TV has now partnered with Dream Theatre to launch the ChuChu TV Consumer Products business globally.

    Dream Theatre, India’s premier entertainment firm with licensing as a core business, is creating the brand architecture and is and making ChuChu TV “license ready”. Having worked with iconic international brands like Angry Birds, DreamWorks Animation, Pokemon, Femina and numerous others on the licensing front, Dream Theatre is creating the brand architecture and Go-To-Market plan for ChuChu TV by upgrading the creative assets, creating style guides, business templates and also charting the launch strategy and rollout plan across territories for ChuChu TV.  Toys, Gaming, Publishing, Apparel will form the core categories and will be rolled out first, starting summer 2017. US, Europe and Asia will be the leader markets with Dream Theatre collaborating with best in class licensing agencies, toy players, publishing houses and gaming companies to roll out the consumer products program in a synchronized fashion. 

    “ChuChu TV’s huge popularity across the world propelled us to create a consumer products business on a global scale. Our target audience loves the ChuChu TV characters. Parents and care takers around the world trust us and our content. Hence we wanted to channel this into creating equally loved and trusted ChuChu TV products for our cute little fans. The real time feedback we receive from the parents, points to a huge demand for merchandise of our key characters ChuChu, ChaCha, Chika, Chiku, and Mr. Harlo who are loved and adored across the world. We have found the right partner in Dream Theatre who has a wealth of experience in licensing. We felt this is right time to enter the licensing arena and take our brand to the next level”, says Vinoth Chandar, Founder, CEO & Creative Director, ChuChu TV.

    “Chu Chu TVs phenomenal success is a testimony to its popularity and it is very exciting for us to work with a brand originated in India and adored across the world by the young and old alike.  We are thrilled to create a world class licensing program that enables fans to engage with the brand in a products and services form and will be engaging with top international licensing agents, toy companies and retailers to launch and grow the business across the globe” says Jiggy George, CEO and Founder Dream Theatre. 

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  • TrueMoney Transfer is Thailand’s first affordable remittance solution for migrant workers

    TrueMoney Transfer is Thailand’s first affordable remittance solution for migrant workers

    TrueMoney, a subsidiary of Ascend Group, announces the launch of TrueMoney Myanmar and the launch of its fund transfer solution, TrueMoney Transfer.

    TrueMoney Myanmar aims to be a leading financial service provider, offering bill payment, mobile topup, remittance, and cash collection services. With two offices, one in Yangon and one in Mandalay and a network of 3,000 agents nationwide, TrueMoney Myanmar is working  continuously to expand its services and agent network to fulfill its mission of enabling everyone access to innovative financial services, leading to better lives because we believe that financial access should be a basic right for everyone.

    TrueMoney is also launching TrueMoney Transfer, the company’s first international money transfer solution. Fast, easy, safe, and affordable, TrueMoney Transfer enables real-time fund transfers from Thailand to Myanmar, allowing Burmese migrant workers to significantly reduce the expense and risks associated with sending money to family back home.

    Fast with real-time fund transfers, easy with 250 transfer spots in Thailand by end-2016 and 681 transfer spots in Myanmar, safe with a passcode to receive the money that only the sender knows, and affordable with transaction fees starting at 50 Baht. To celebrate the launch of the TrueMoney Transfer service, TrueMoney is waiving the transfer fees for all transactions until October 31, 2016. Transfer fees usually start at only 1,818 MMK  per transaction.   

    Migration within and across Myanmar’s long borderline has been long-standing. In an aim of improving relatives’ standard of living, many Burmese have chosen to cross borders in search of decent work and income. To date, according to the United Nations (UN), Thailand is home of almost 2 million hard working Burmese sending 2,8 billion Kyat back home annually, namely 1 million Kyat per person per year. 

    “Transferring money to loved ones has undoubtedly become a crucial need for Burmese migrants and their families. However, a large number of Myanmar workers remain unbanked, due to a variety of reasons such as, but not limited to legal status, language barrier, and access to banking services. We have developed TrueMoney Transfer to give a faster, safer, more secured and affordable alternative to the commonly used informal channels”, said Ms. San Thaw Da Wun, Country Director of TrueMoney Myanmar. 

    Indeed, sending money from Thailand to Myanmar can be very expensive and uncertain. Because no other options are available to date, Myanmar migrant workers are placing their trust and savings within informal networks, which are complicated, time-consuming – it can take up to 4/5 days to send funds –, and unsafe – there is no guarantee that the intended receiver will ever receive the money.

    Mr. Lawt Aung, Senior Product Executive of TrueMoney said, “TrueMoney Transfer will deeply change the lives of millions of hard-working people who do not have access to proper banking services. The network we have built throughout Myanmar is the stronger existing. Our 681 TrueMoney Transfer spots in Myanmar cover 91 percent of migrant workers’ hometowns such as Mon, Tarintharyi, Kayin, Shan, Yangon, and Bago, bringing services for money transfer in rural areas where banks don’t even have a representation. The solution will enable money transfer from Thailand to Myanmar only. By end of 2016, the 250 transfer spots in Thailand will be concentrated in areas with a large population of Myanmar migrant workers such as Bangkok, Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakarn, Tak, Ranong, Kanchanaburi, and Phuket.”

    Ms. San Thaw Da Wun added, “It has never been that simple to transfer money internationally”.

    Users can simply register a user account at one of TrueMoney’s official agent shops in Thailand, show their ID, and instantly transfer funds to Myanmar. After informing the agent of the receiver’s name and mobile number and the amount to be transferred, the sender will be told the exact amount the receiver will receive. The sender will also receive an 8-digit code via SMS. The receiver can immediately use the given code, in addition to their identification and mobile phone number, to receive cash at any of the TrueMoney Transfer spots in Myanmar.

    TrueMoney has developed this new innovation to offer a cross-border remittance service that is fast, easy, safe, and affordable to upgrade the standard of living of everyone.

    TrueMoney Transfer – Fact Sheet

     

    TrueMoney – Key information

    About TrueMoney Thailand Company

    TrueMoney is an Ascend Group subsidiary and the first e–payment provider in Thailand that has been granted a license from the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Thailand to offer cross-border remittance service

    About TrueMoney Transfer solution

    TrueMoney has been developing the TrueMoney Transfer solution to help unbanked individuals as well as migrant workers to safely send money to their loved ones and to give them an alternative to costly and unsecured informal money transfer solutions

    Key information about TrueMoney Transfer
    • TrueMoney Transfer, Thailand’s first fast, easy, safe, and affordable remittance solution for migrant workers
    • With 250 TrueMoney Transfer spots in Thailand by end- 2016 and 681 in Myanmar, a very affordable cost as well as no fee applied for receiving money, this is the most accessible platform available to date
    • You can transfer up to 30,000 Baht per transaction and up to 200,000 Baht per day
    • The transfer fee is waived until October 31, 2016 (normally 50 Baht for 100-5,000 Baht transferred)
    • TrueMoney Transfer is available for individual customers only

    Process to set–up an account
    • To use TrueMoney Transfer simply register for the service by showing your ID and mobile phone number at one of TrueMoney’s official agent shop. This process is one time will take just a few minutes.
    • Then, you’ll need to give the receiver’s details and mobile phone number before handing over the money you wish to transfer. The TrueMoney Transfer officer will let you know exactly how much money the receiver will get in the destination currency.
    • You will then get an 8–digit transaction code via SMS to your registered mobile phone number.
    • The receiver simply need to show the 8–digit transaction code, ID, and their mobile phone number to any TrueMoney Transfer spot in Myanmar to get the cash right away.

    Target users

    Unbanked individuals and migrant workers who wants to transfer money back to Myanmar

     

    Transaction fee (Conditions as stipulated by the company)

    Remittances from 100 Baht to  5,000 Baht

    Transaction fee at 50 Baht

    Remittances from 5,001 Baht to  10,000 Baht

    Transaction fee at 100 Baht

    Remittances from 10,001 Baht to  15,000 Baht

    Transaction fee at 150  Baht

    Remittances from 15,001 Baht to  20,000 Baht

    Transaction fee at 200 Baht

    Remittances from 20,001 Baht to  25,000 Baht

    Transaction fee at 250 Baht

    Remittances from 25,001 Baht to  30,000 Baht

    Transaction fee at 300 Baht

     

    TrueMoney Transfer’s user profile

    Myanmar migrant workers – Key data

    Number of Myanmar workers in Thailand to date

    2 million workers, 50% non–registered

    Gender
    • 57% male
    • 43% female

    Age
    • 16–24: 21%
    • 25–34: 52%
    • 35–55: 27%

    Location
    • Bangkok Outskirts: 38%
    • South: 27%
    • North: 16%
    • Central: 13%
    • Bangkok: 6%

    Occupation

    Fishing worker, Farm worker, Factory worker, Rubber worker, Construction worker, Housekeeper

     

    Myanmar’s remittance market

    Average number of fund transfers per individual per year

    6 times a year

    Average amount sent per transfer per individual

    6,650 THB

    Total number of transactions per year

    12 million THB

    Total amount of money transferred per year

    77 billion THB

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  • World’s Largest Electronics Marketplace Opens in Hong Kong

    World’s Largest Electronics Marketplace Opens in Hong Kong

    The Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and electronicAsia opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and continue through 16 October. The 36th Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) is organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), while the 20th electronicAsia is jointly organised by the HKTDC and MMI Asia Pte Ltd.

    “As the world’s largest electronics marketplace, the Electronics Fair and electronicAsia gather around 4,200 exhibitors from 29 countries and regions,” said Benjamin Chau, Acting Executive Director, HKTDC. “The exhibits this year include smart tech, virtual reality, wearable electronics and more, demonstrating the industry’s ability to keep abreast of the technology trends and launch products that match the market’s demand. We hope they will be received well during the fairs.”

    The HKTDC has organised more than 140 buyer missions this year representing more than 12,000 global buyers from over 8,000 companies to the two fairs. These include major international retailers, importers and distributors such as TDL from Canada, Product Group from Australia, Casino from France, Casanova from Spain, Mad Robots from Russia, Mobibox from Brazil, Sound Village from Argentina, LehuMall.com from the Chinese mainland, Croma from India, ICST from Japan, Signeo from Singapore and Matahari Mall.com from Indonesia.

    Debut Virtual Reality and Startup zones showcase innovative technology and ideas

    Adopting smart and high-tech solutions has become a prevailing trend across virtually all sectors. To effectively showcase the latest technologies and products, the HKTDC has introduced a new Tech Hall at the Convention Hall, clustering five thematic zones including the inaugural Virtual Reality and Startup zones, as well as Smart Tech, Robotics & Unmanned Tech and 3D Printing. This assemblage will help buyers source high-tech electronic products with ease while investors can explore investment and partnership opportunities in a range of new technologies developed by startups.

    Startups are a growing force in driving economic diversity. The new Startup zone gathers close to 50 startup companies from Hong Kong, Canada, the Chinese mainland, Taiwan and the US to showcase new technologies. A Canadian exhibitor is presenting an in-vehicle diagnostic and monitoring device that can transform a conventional car into a smart vehicle. Its nine-axis sensor can gather data to reconstruct the car’s motion path if it is involved in an accident. A local startup exhibitor is introducing an electronic smart price tag equipped with a high-definition colour display and Wi-Fi, allowing pricing information to be updated wirelessly in real-time.

    To stand out in the marketplace, startups need suitable opportunities to explain their ideas and showcase their products to potential investors. To this end, the Electronics Fair provides an excellent platform with a series of startup-themed events on the programme. These include the “First Step of Your Startup Project” seminar, which features Ben Bateman, Senior Director of Strategic Programs of the US crowdfunding platform Indiegogo, a pitching session where startups can pitch solutions or product ideas to potential investors on the spot, as well as “Startup, Smart Launch” where newly developed technology and products can be introduced to buyers. Entrepreneurs behind successful startups are also on hand to share their experiences with visitors.

    Virtual Reality zone energises the tech craze

    Many industry players in the technology and online gaming sectors are investing in the development of virtual reality (VR) applications. The new Virtual Reality zone at the Electronics Fair is showcasing a range of VR headsets and related technology as well as VR video cameras. One of the Hong Kong exhibitors is using the fair to parade its 360-degree VR drone, a professional grade system for filming 360-degree panoramic scenes and VR videos. It is compatible with action cameras, enabling all-direction aerial spherical photography. A company from Taiwan has brought its 3D video camera module that enables users to capture 3D videos on a mobile phone with the module and an app.

    Launched last year, the Smart Tech and Robotics & Unmanned Tech zones continue to be popular with fair visitors keen to view the latest creative products and future technologies including robots with IoT technology, luggage tracking bands, drones and electric scooters. Meanwhile, the 3D Printing zone features 3D printers and related materials and technology. A local exhibitor is presenting a 3D printing education kit for use at home or in a professional learning setting. Users can assemble the printer themselves to print directly and, in the process, learn more about 3D printing technology.

    Hall of Fame presents branded products

    The brand of an electronic product is one of the key factors influencing consumer purchasing decisions. The Hall of Fame at the Electronics Fair gathers electronic products from some 550 brands, covering digital entertainment, home tech, wireless and communications, power and accessories. Buyers can choose from a wide variety of respected brands at the fair, including Desay, Goodway, GP Batteries, Haier, Intel, Motorola and VTech.

    electronicAsia offers cutting-edge electronic parts and components

    Held concurrently with the Electronics Fair, electronicAsia is an important sourcing platform for electronic components and production technologies. The fair gathers cutting-edge innovations from the US, Germany, France, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan and Korea, providing the industry with new product design ideas and materials. One of the highlight zones is World of Display Technology, which features products such as a LCD display suitable for outdoor use under direct sunlight. The product features a wide-viewing angle, high-resolution display and can also be used as a touch-screen panel.

    electronicAsia is also showcasing other components such as printed circuit boards, keyboards, switches, integrated circuits as well as parts, modules and technology for solar and photovoltaic energy. Key components for smart devices such as display backlight and smart switch modules are also on show, targeting mobile device manufacturers.

    Symposium on Innovation & Technology discusses IoT and smart devices

    Besides being an annual sourcing event for the industry, the Electronics Fair and electronicAsia also provide insights into market trends and industry intelligence. As smart devices and IoT technology continue to gain attention, the HKTDC is nurturing these trends by jointly organising today’s Symposium on Innovation & Technology with the Hong Kong Electronics & Technologies Association. Representatives from the world’s leading tech companies including Tesla, Amazon Web Services, HP and Qualcomm are among those sharing their expertise on smart tech and IoT trends.

    During the two fairs, a number of buyer forums and seminars are organised to address hot-button issues in the electronics sector such as virtual reality, augmented reality, wearable technology and integrated circuits among other industry developments. Meanwhile, TEDxHong Kong will be held on Saturday (15 October). TED, which stands for “Technology, Entertainment, Design”, is a forum for thought leaders from various sectors to share their views on future technological advancements. The winning products of The Electronic Industries Awards (EIA) 2016, jointly organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association (HKEIA), are displayed at the fairground (booth no.: 1CON-00B). This year, there are 21 award winners from 13 product categories. The EIA aims to stimulate creative design and innovation within the electronics industry, as well as recognise and award exhibitors for their outstanding performance.

    Big business through small orders

    In view of the keen demand for small order sourcing, the hktdc.com Small Orders zone returns to the fair, featuring a total of more than 330 counters offering over 2,900 products for buyers looking to source products in minimum quantities of between five and 1,000 pieces. With the increasing popularity of e-commerce, the Small-Order Online Transaction Platform (https://smallorders.hktdc.com) enables global buyers to complete transactions with suppliers online. The platform is displaying more than 120,000 products from over 10,000 suppliers.

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  • Bank Saint Petersburg to Start Accepting JCB Cards

    Bank Saint Petersburg to Start Accepting JCB Cards

    JCB International Co., Ltd. (JCBI), the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd. announced that Bank Saint Petersburg (BSPB), the leading bank in North-West Russia, started accepting JCB cards at POS terminals and ATMs.

    The bank network includes 7,100 POS terminals and 700 ATMs located not only in Saint Petersburg but also throughout the Leningrad region, in Moscow and Kaliningrad. JCBI started card issuing business with local banks in Russia in 2015 and cardmember base has been expanding. The partnership with BSPB will make JCB cardmembers feel more comfortable to use their cards, and enhance JCB presence in the market and increase JCB brand awareness.

    Commenting on the announcement, Kimihisa Imada, Deputy President of JCBI, said: “With this launch, JCB expands card acceptance in one of the most popular and famous destinations in Russia. Saint Petersburg has been recognized as Europe’s Leading Destination for the second consecutive year by the World Travel Awards and we are proud that JCB cardmembers from all over the world will be able to use their cards while travelling and sightseeing in the area.”

    Pavel Filimonenok, Deputy Chairman of the management board of BSPB, added: “It is very important for us that our bank is among the top ten banks in Russia certified by one of the leading worldwide payment brands – JCB. We highly evaluate the potential of our collaboration with JCB as the payment brand is actively growing and the global volume of transactions made by JCB cards has nearly doubled over the past 3 years.”

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  • Franchising and Licensing Awards 2016, a testament to the growth in internationalisation

    Franchising and Licensing Awards 2016, a testament to the growth in internationalisation

    Singapore’s top achievers in the franchising and licensing industry were recognised at the annual Franchising and Licensing Association (FLA) Awards 2016 held at the Marina Mandarin Ballroom last night.

    Currently in its 12th year, the FLA Awards continues to provide a formidable platform for successful franchise concepts and businesses to be showcased in the international arena. It also serves as a regional benchmark for franchise concepts aspiring to greater heights. The Awards, made up of both Competitive and Recognition Awards, comprises eight different categories that recognise and honour the various players in the industry – Franchisors, Licensors and Franchisees. 

    The 2016 Awards, which saw Sunflower Childcare clinching the title of ‘Overall Winner, Promising Franchisor of the Year’, had increased participation from the education sector. This reflects the continued growth of the education industry within the franchising and licensing scene. In line with the global trend of innovation, the Singapore-headquartered childcare group’s success can be attributed to its unique customisation model and record of constant innovation and development. Since starting its franchise business in 2005, Sunflower Childcare has opened 20 centres in total; 18 in Singapore and 2 in China.

    Sharon Lee, Director of Sunflower Childcare, said, “It is our first year participating in the awards and we are thrilled to have gotten the title of ‘Overall Winner, Promising Franchisor of the Year’. At Sunflower Childcare, we pride ourselves in the stringent process of acquiring franchisees and ensuring that they are well taken care of. We are looking to expand into international shores and FLA has been fundamental in enriching us with the relevant insights for expansion into our potential markets.”

    According to Donna Lee, Chair of FLA (Singapore), “The encouraging progress of our franchisors is a reflection of how companies can leverage on intangible assets like strong branding and innovative technology to penetrate new markets successfully. With the franchising and licensing landscape becoming increasingly diversified, it is key for companies to constantly innovate and expand into the global market in order to keep up with market trends and to remain competitive. FLA Singapore prides itself in equipping companies with the right toolset for internationalisation and we look forward to working with more businesses to help them successfully expand across markets and the region.”

    Earning the title of ‘Overall Winner, Franchisor of the Year’, veteran establishment 7-Eleven has constantly been at the forefront in the franchising and licensing playing field. Since opening its first franchised store in 1988, 7-Eleven has been offering entrepreneurs the unique opportunity to leverage on a renowned global platform to start a business. To date, it has a total of 207 franchised stores, forming 47% of its expanding network of 441 stores island-wide.

    David Goh, CEO of 7-Eleven, said, “Despite being in the franchising and licensing scene for more than three decades, we are continually learning and growing with the industry. Over the last few years, 7-Eleven has been constantly innovating and transforming its business model to be more relevant to its consumers and to add value to its franchisees. Our advice to franchisors looking to enter the industry would be to communicate with your franchisees, build a solid foundation of trust and constantly innovate your business model.”

    Traditional sectors like the Food & Beverage industry remained strong, with Thailand-established food service chain, The Pizza Company, being crowned ‘Overall Winner, International Franchisor of the Year’. Having adopted a master franchise model internationally, The Pizza Company has opened over 400 outlets in 9 countries in a span of 12 years.

    John Heinecke, Chief Operating Officer of Minor Food Group, said, “We are excited that The Pizza Company has been awarded ‘Overall Winner, International Franchisor of the Year’. This award showcases and recognises the systems that we have been building for the last 16 years to where it is today. With many of our brands operating in Singapore, we strongly believe in teaching our franchisees the art of learning to create wealth as we strive together towards success.”

    Donna Lee added, “FLA is proud to be able to bridge the gap between the global and local market with its strong government ties and prominent memberships in the World Franchise Council and Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation. Over the years, Singapore has been seen as a model test-bed and we are glad that we are able to assist international companies looking to penetrate the Singapore and Asian market.”

    The Awards were held in conjunction with FLAsia – an industry exhibition and conference, running from 13th to 15th October, showcasing both home-grown franchises and franchise opportunities from around the world. The exhibition this year saw participation from 17 countries, with international brands such as Swarovski, Delifrance, Gloria Jean’s Coffee and Coca Restaurant exhibiting. More information of the exhibition can be found on https://franchiselicenseasia.com/.

    Other Winners at the FLA Awards 2016 include Japan IPL Express, Mulberry Learning Centre, Anytime Fitness, Seoul Garden and Dancing Crab. The full winner list is attached separately and more information and images can be found on the FLA Awards website: https://www.flaawards.com/.

  • ASN, Bell Labs set 65Tbps subsea cable speed record

    ASN, Bell Labs set 65Tbps subsea cable speed record

    Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks and Nokia Bell Labs have set a new transmission record over a 6,600km single mode fiber for transoceanic cable systems.

    The lab trial achieved a total transmission speed of 65Tbps using submarine grade dual band erbium doped fiber amplifiers.

    The trial used Bell Labs’ new probabilistic constellation shaping (PCS) modulation technology. PCS is designed to maximize the distance and capacity of high-speed transmission in optical networks, by using non-uniform transmission of constellation symbols to increase resilience to noise and other impairments.

    “The future digital existence where everyone, everything and every system and process is connected will require a massive increase in network capacity and the ability to dynamically optimize this capacity,” Nokia CTO and Bell Labs president Marcus Weldon said.

    “Probabilistic constellation shaping extends the limits of current optical transmission by utilizing novel modulation techniques to dramatically improve the performance and capacity needed for the new digital era that will be enabled by the Future X Network.”

    The same technology was used in September to achieve speeds of 1Tbps per channel https://www.telecomasia.net/content/bell-labs-achieves-1tbps-over-fiberover Deutsche Telekom’s terrestrial optical network during trials with the operator’s T-Labs and the Technical University of Munich.

    A capacity of 65Tbps is 13,000 times the capacity of the first subsea amplified transatlantic system in 1995.

  • CITIC Telecom to acquire Acclivis

    CITIC Telecom to acquire Acclivis

    Hong Kong’s CITIC Telecom International has expanded its presence in Southeast Asia with the acquisition of a 100% stake in cloud infrastructure services provider Acclivis.

    Acclivis mainly operates cloud facilities in the markets of Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. The company also owns the ISP Pacific Internet in Singapore and Thailand.

    CITIC Telecom said the acquisition will transform the company into one of the few trans-regional one-stop ICT services providers in Southeast Asia, and will create synergies with the company’s subsidiaries including CITIC Telecom CPC.

    “Acclivis is a technology company that has strong technological capabilities and unique advantages. It operates internet service via Pacific Internet in the region and its businesses and the services we offer to our corporate customers have apparent strategic synergies,” CITIC Teleom CEO Dr Lin Zhenhui said.

    “The acquisition will enable us to expand our services to internet service, cloud computing and management services, support our transformation geared towards the mobile and internet arenas and expansion of the Southeast Asia market, giving us another rapid growth driver.”

    The deal still requires the approval of Acclivis parent DeClout, but pending this is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

    CITIC’s current development strategy is focused on “taking roots in the Mainland market while accelerating expansion and geographic coverage in the international market with Hong Kong and Macau serving as bases and connections.”

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  • Pandora goes online in China on Alibaba’s Tmall

    Pandora goes online in China on Alibaba’s Tmall

    PANDORA announced that the Company has launched on Alibaba Group’s business to consumer platform, Tmall.com, providing a further avenue for Chinese consumers to purchase PANDORA jewellery. The launch on Tmall.com is PANDORA’s first online presence in China, which will be followed by the launch of the Company’s own eSTORE in December, 2016.

    Internet retailing in China is becoming increasingly popular amongst consumers, driven by faster internet, greater payment security and increasing convenience. In 2015, internet retailing in China generated sales of CNY 1,795 billion (approximately DKK 1,785 billion), corresponding to an increase of 53% compared to 2014.

    In connection with the launch, Kenneth Madsen, President, PANDORA Asia Pacific, said: “The launch of PANDORA jewellery on Tmall.com is another important step in establishing the PANDORA brand amongst Chinese consumers. Tmall is a clear leader in China’s internet retail space, and is the right business partner for PANDORA to get the broadest approach to the Chinese consumer.”

    The jewellery market in China is the largest jewellery market in the world, which in 2015 had a value of CNY 607 billion (approximately DKK 600 billion), corresponding to an increase of 7% compared to 2014. In the period 2016-2021, the Chinese jewellery market is expected to grow with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6%.

     

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  • Embassy ties up with Hilton for star hotel in Bengaluru

    Embassy ties up with Hilton for star hotel in Bengaluru

    Leading property developer Embassy Group has tied up with international hospitality major Hilton to build a 586-room dual branded star hotel in this tech hub, said the realtor on Tuesday.

    “As per the agreement signed recently, the twin hotel will be developed and owned by our group, while Hilton will manage it,” said Embassy in a statement.

    Set to be located in the Embassy Manyata Business Park in the north-east suburb, the hotel will have 250 rooms at Hilton and 336 rooms at Hilton Garden Inn, with 46,000 sq.ft. of meetings and events space that can accommodate up to 1,500 people.

    “The hotel complex, when completed by 2020, will have a food and beverage hub and two commercial towers. It will also sport an iconic design drawn by Singapore-based Andy Fisher workshop,” said Embassy Chairman and Managing Director Jitu Virwani.

    The star hotel will offer the rooms at two price points to serve the needs of global firms located in and around the sprawling park.

    Both the partners, which run a brand hotel-cum-resorts at Embassy GolfLinks in the city’s eastern suburb, plan to build a mega hospitality project at the 100-acre Embassy Tech-Village in the nearby suburb.

    “Partnering with Hilton in developing two more hotels is part of our strategy in the hospitality business as it’s a global leader in the sector and known for quality service and attention to detail,” noted Embassy Chief Executive Mike Holland.

    The partnership will also help Embassy in providing synergy with its 175 international corporate occupier clientele across its commercial parks.

    “We see growing awareness of our global brand in the sub-continent and our partnership with Embassy reaffirms our commitment to India as an important market where we operate 15 hotels in 11 cities across the country,” said Guy Phillips, Hilton senior Vice-President for Asia.

    The three decades old realty group, which has an extensive land bank, developed a whopping 37-million square feet prime commercial, residential and retail space across the country and in Malaysia and Serbia.

    The US-based 97-year-old Hilton has 4,700 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties, with 775,000 rooms in 104 countries the world over.