Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • Ikea introduces line of kitchenware in Korea

    Ikea introduces line of kitchenware in Korea

    Swedish home furnishing company Ikea is launching kitchen products for the first time in Korea.

    “We have 700 articles in the cooking and eating area, completely new for the Korean market,” Andre Schmidtgall, country retail manager at Ikea Korea, said Thursday during a press briefing at the Times Square shopping mall in Yeongdeungpo District, southwestern Seoul.

    Although Ikea entered the Korean market in 2014, sales of kitchenware such as dishes and cups from the Swedish home decor maker were not permitted due to legal restrictions related to product labeling. After the Korea Food and Drug Administration eased up on the restrictions this year, the company was able to bring in the full set of its items to Korea.

    Ikea’s store in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi, includes a 1,000-square-meter (10, 764 square foot) space devoted to kitchen products and began sales on Sept. 9. The new promotional campaign for the product line begins next Tuesday and runs through Nov. 12 at Times Square. The mall will include a venue set up with an Ikea kitchen and allow visitors to cook food there.

    Even as the company rolls out its new products here, Ikea is still working on cleaning up its stained image in Korea after delaying a recall of drawer chests that killed several children after tipping over.

    “We have tested drawer chest products and suspended another 15 models a day before yesterday,” Schmidtgall said.

    The company already halted sales of 15 drawers including the MALM drawer on Sept. 9, following recall orders from the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

    “We put safety and security as the utmost priority,” Schmidtgall said. “Tipping risk is an industry-wide problem.”

    According to Ikea, particular models of its drawer chests are banned from sale only in three countries – the United States, Canada and Korea – and in other markets, the article is sold with recommendations that the drawer be anchored to the wall for safety.

    Ikea Korea in the latest financial year from Sept. 2015 to Aug. 2016 recorded 345 billion won ($309.4 million) in revenue. From January to August 2016 compared to the same period last year, revenue rose 17 percent.

    The company is working on a second Korea branch in Goyang, Gyeonggi, set to open by the latter half of next year. It plans to build up to six stores in Korea by 2020. Likely locations include the Seoul metropolitan area, Daejeon and Chungcheong in the country’s central region, and Busan in the southern region.

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  • DJI Opens Its Third Flagship Store In Hong Kong

    DJI Opens Its Third Flagship Store In Hong Kong

    DJI, the world leader in unmanned aerial vehicle technology, will open the doors of its Hong Kong flagship store to the public this coming Saturday, September 24, making it the third DJI flagship store in the world.

    Located at the center of Hong Kong’s busiest shopping district in Causeway Bay, the three-story, 10,000+ square-feet flagship store will display DJI’s full range of aerial and handheld products. The flight cage on the ground floor will allow visitors to see DJI drones in action even from outside the store. The SkyPixel Gallery on the first floor will showcase breathtaking examples of aerial photography from around the world. The second floor will house the technical support center* and a dedicated space for workshops, seminars and special events. Adding to Hong Kong’s iconic skyline is an animated display on the facade of the building, illuminating the instantly recognizable shapes of the DJI drones themselves.

    In celebration of the opening, there will be a series of activities and programs throughout the day including:

    • Life-size DJI Phantom and Osmo mascots will kickstart the day’s celebration with a street parade around the Causeway Bay area.
    • An outdoor flight cage and Virtual Reality experience zone will be set up just outside the World Trade Center for people who want to experience the thrill of being in the pilot’s seat.
    • For those who want to play the role of movie director, they can pick up an Osmo (a stabilized 4K handheld camera) to capture all the excitement and happenings in and around the neighborhood.
    • Workshops by aerial photographers, dance and music performances by local bands leading into the early evening.
    • Those who wish to tune in to the opening day activities remotely can watch the live stream at https://live.dji.com/hkstore/or join the Official DJI Hong Kong Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/DJIHKOfficial/.

    The DJI Hong Kong flagship store will open its doors to customers at 12 noon and the first 200 customers can enjoy a discount of up to 30% on selected DJI products purchased at the flagship store on opening day.

    “Whether you are a professional interested in the latest aerial-imaging equipment or just looking for your first drone, we welcome everyone to come and learn, discover the joys of flying and share your experience to inspire others,” said Frank Wang, DJI Founder & CEO. “We want to provide a truly unique experience for anyone who walks into our store and leave with a sense of curiosity, excitement or inspiration. We hope our technology can provide a new perspective and allow us to see the world differently.”

    On display and for sale will be DJI’s consumer products, including the latest Phantom 4 drone and Osmo Mobile stabilized handheld gimbal, as well as professional products, including the Inspire 1 and Matrice drone series, the Zenmuse Z3, X5R, and XT cameras, and the Ronin handheld three-axis camera gimbal line.

    The Hong Kong flagship store is DJI’s third foray into retail after the December 2015 opening of its first flagship store inShenzhen, China, followed by the Seoul, Korea flagship in March 2016. More than just a retail outlet, the Hong Kong flagship store will provide a location where the worldwide community can connect to share their experience of flight and discover the latest UAV products and aerial cameras.

    The Hong Kong flagship store is located at TOWER 535, Shop G07, 535 Jaffe Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Opening hours of the store are Mon – Sun, 10:00 – 22:00 and for after-sales service, Mon – Sun, 10:00 – 19:00.

    *The Hong Kong flagship store technical support center and online booking system will official open after the grand opening weekend on September 26, 2016 at 10:00. To make an appointment for repair or technical consultation, customers can visit https://www.dji.com/zh-tw/service/repair/reserve. For general after-sales inquiry, customers can call +852 3189 8979 to speak with one of our customer service representatives.

  • Drone maker DJI’s new Hong Kong store offer customers to fly

    Drone maker DJI’s new Hong Kong store offer customers to fly

    DJI, the world’s biggest maker of remote controlled drones, opens its first retail store in Hong Kong this weekend in the heart of Causeway Bay to give up-and-coming drone pilots hands-on experience of flying the machines.

    The 10,000 square foot site – over three storeys in the newly opened 535 Mall on Jaffe Road – marks a return to its roots by Da-Jiang Innovations Science & Technology Co, the formal name of DJI.

    Its founder Frank Wang, an alumnus of Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, established the company in Shenzhen a decade ago.

    It’s the company’s third Asia store, after opening outlets in Shenzhen, and Seoul over the past 10 months.

    Unlike customers in Europe and the US, the largest markets for DJI, Asian pilots haven’t had the opportunity yet to actually get their hands on flying one of its drone before buying it.

    “There’s a lot of growth potential in Asia and having a larger retail footprint will help expand that,” said Michael Perry, DJI’s director of strategic partnerships.

    The company’s top-of-the-line drone is the Phantom 4, which retails for HK$9,299.

    “Phantom 4 may not be an impulse buy, but what we’ve found is that a lot of people are very interested, they spend a lot of time researching but the key turning point in their decision is seeing their technology themselves,” Perry said.

    Research firm Teal Group predicts global sales of civilian drones will soar to US$10.9 billion by 2025, up from US$2.6 billion for this year.

    The ground floor of the new DJI shop displays the firm’s range starting from the hand held Osmo gimbals, which start at HK$2,299, right up to up to the Phantom 4 and Inspire drone models, as well as a large cage for trying out the aerial vehicles.

    DJI’s industrial series of drones and gimbals, including the Matrice 600, designed for professional aerial photography or applications such as surveying, are housed on the first floor alongside a gallery of images taken by DJI users. On the third floor are offices, technical support and space for workshops or seminars.

    Perry said there is huge global potential for the use of drones, adding that its community of users are constantly coming up with new ideas on how the devices can be improved, the latest example being a new sensor for use in warehouses to check inventory.

    “Anywhere that data collection or delivery is too time intensive, too costly, too dangerous, that’s where a drone can play a pretty critical role,” he said.

    DJI launched its first drone for the agriculture market last year. The DJI Agras MG-1 has eight rotors and can carry more than 10 kilograms of liquid for crop spraying, with the ability to spray up to four hectares an hour.

    Perry said the company’s technological strength and control systems such as one that prevents collision gives it an edge over competitors, including Xiaomi’s Mi Drone, and GoPro’s Karma.

    GoPro, which makes action cameras, this week launched the Karma, a foldable model, for HK$6,300. Xiaomi’s Mi Drones sell for less than HK$3,550, and are aimed at competing with DJI’s Phantom 3 model.

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  • Apple Looks to Open First Store in Samsung’s Backyard

    Apple Looks to Open First Store in Samsung’s Backyard

    Apple Inc. has made inquiries about opening its first retail store in South Korea, in a signal that the technology company might be looking to step up competition in the backyard of smartphone rival Samsung Group.

    Apple looked at sites across the street from the group’s longtime headquarters in Seoul, according to people familiar with the matter.

    The Cupertino, Calif., company, which is Samsung Electronics Co.’s biggest rival in the mobile-phone market as well as a major customer of its smartphone components, is looking at locations near the South Korean company’s own three-story global flagship store in Seoul’s upscale Gangnam neighborhood, the people said. The company has sent retail executives to South Korea in recent months to check out potential sites for the store, they said.

    The people warned that Apple’s plan hasn’t been completed and a store opening could take about a year.

    “We have made no announcements about a store there,” a spokesman for Apple said.

    A spokeswoman for Samsung Electronics declined to comment.

    South Korea, Asia’s fourth-largest economy, has long been a tough market for Apple. Smartphone sales are dominated by hometown favorites Samsung and LG Electronics Inc., who together account for about 80% of the smartphone market in the country. Apple doesn’t break out sales for South Korea separately.

    After the launch of the larger-screen iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in late 2014, Apple jumped to about one-quarter of the market, before its share fell below 10% in the second quarter of 2016, according to data tracker Strategy Analytics.

    Opening a glitzy flagship store would send a message that Apple intends to compete hard on Samsung’s home turf.

    From a glass cube on New York City’s Fifth Avenue to a Norman Foster-designed store in Istanbul, Apple has used its prominently placed retail stores to attract buzz for the brand and to sell premium handsets. In Seoul, Apple has scouted potential locations around the Gangnam subway station, Seoul’s busiest and home of the headquarters of Samsung Group, as well as another site on Seoul’s fashionable Garosu-gil shopping street, according to the people.

    In South Korea, Apple relies on third-party retailers who apply for licenses to operate as authorized Apple resellers, as well as carrier partners.

    In mainland China, a critical market for Apple, the company has opened 36 Apple stores, including in Shanghai and in second-tier cities such as Nanning, Fuzhou and Jinan. It has six Apple stores in Hong Kong and seven in Japan.

    Apple’s hunt for retail real estate in Seoul comes as Samsung grapples with a recall of its latest smartphones amid reports of batteries in the Galaxy Note 7 catching fire. Analysts estimate the recall of 2.5 million devices could cost

    Samsung more than $1 billion.Before the Note 7 recall, Samsung reported its most profitable quarter in two years in July as Apple suffered a 27% drop in quarterly net profit compared with a year earlier.

    Samsung’s share of the global smartphone market rose to 22.3% in the most recent quarter from 21.8% a year earlier, according to research firm Gartner. Over the same period, Apple’s share fell to 12.9% from 14.6%.

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  • Ben Sherman China new stores in Shanghai

    Ben Sherman China new stores in Shanghai

    British menswear brand Ben Sherman has opened for the first time in Shanghai – at two locations.

    The Ben Sherman China stores are in the Hopson Mall and Sogo department store.

    “These distinct retail destinations are prime for Ben Sherman, with an influential core of millennial consumers,” says group GM Stanley Chou of MRH Sparotica Groupe, which oversees Ben Sherman China.

    Billy Du, Stanley Chou (Groupe General Manager MRH Sparotica Groupe), Richard Kisembo (CEO MRH Sparotica Groupe), Allen Hua, at the ribbon cutting ceremony for Ben Sherman’s expansion in Shanghai.

    Billy Du, Stanley Chou (Groupe General Manager MRH Sparotica Groupe), Richard Kisembo (CEO MRH Sparotica Groupe), Allen Hua, at the ribbon cutting ceremony for Ben Sherman’s expansion in Shanghai.

    He says Sogo is among the top five department stores in China. It is in the Jing’An district in central Shanghai, on China’s most influential fashion street, Nanjing Road.

    In the Yang’Pu district in the city’s north, the Ben Sherman Hopson One store is close to the new Apple Hopson One store. The mall is tailored to upper-middle-class residents, drawing on a population of more than 1.3 million residents within a 5km radius.

    ben-sherman-shanghai

    Ben Sherman signed on for its China expansion in June.

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  • Pei Wei Asian Diner plans 11 Korean stores

    Pei Wei Asian Diner plans 11 Korean stores

    Pei Wei Asian Diner, the fast casual pan-Asian US restaurant chain, has opened the first of 11 restaurants planned for South Korea.

    Known for bold flavors and an affordable Asian-inspired menu, the US company has partnered with ELX Food & Beverage, led by chef Justin Choi for its first foray into Asia.

    The inaugural store has opened at Starfield Hanam, the country’s largest shopping mall. The company is planning to open 10 more Pei Wei locations by end of 2017 including Daejeon Galleria Department Store and Busan Seomyun Lotte Department Store.

    pei-wei-outlet

    Choi will supervise the brand in Korea and Pei Wei will offer its characteristic ‘scratch and open kitchen’, which allows customers to see the cooking process that includes Chinese woks.

    Pei Wei is the second brand of the globally popular P F Chang’s which was brought by ELX F&B to the South Korean market.

    “South Korea’s sophisticated yet practical customers are a perfect target for Pei Wei’s simple, yet healthy and high-quality dishes,” said Kwak Ki-hoon, CEO of ELX F&B. “Through our insights and experience behind our successful launch of P F Chang’s, I look forward to leading local dining trends through Pei Wei’s flavorful selection and fresh offerings.”

    The Pei Wei menu in Korea will feature the same items popular in the US, including its signature Lo Mein and Quinoa & Fire Chicken, in addition to the ‘Wok Classics’ Noodle & Rice bowl options, soups, salads and Small Plate offerings.

    Founded in 2000, in Scottsdale, Arizona, Pei Wei owns and operates more than 200 restaurants in the US, Middle East, South Korea and airports.

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  • DBS to offer digibank service in Indonesia

    DBS to offer digibank service in Indonesia

    DBS Bank plans to launch a mobile-only banking service in Indonesia by the end of the year.

    DBS Group chief executive Piyush Gupta told the Sweden-Southeast Asia Business Summit on Wednesday that the bank is targeting Indonesia to capitalise on the young, tech-savvy consumers among its 260 million population.

    “Indonesia is an important market with its size and scale, and the economic reforms taking place in the country,” he said. “There is great potential for business as we see a pickup in the country’s economy under the leadership of President Joko Widodo.”

    DBS’s digibank offering, which includes an e-wallet and a savings account, will be available to customers in addition to its consumer and corporate banking services at its 34 branches in 13 Indonesian cities. DBS opened its first branch in Indonesia – an outlet in Jakarta – in 1989.

    DBS hopes to replicate the success it is seeing in India since it started its digibank service there in April – the first mobile-only banking facility in the sub-continent, said a DBS spokesman.

    The service has attracted more than 250,000 new clients in the first four months of its operation.

    A digibank account can be opened in India with just a 12-digit Aadhaar number, which provides a unique biometric identification for all resident Indian citizens.

    More than a billion Indians have been issued with Aadhaar cards by the government. With over 200 million smartphone users in the country, the market for digibank is huge.

    The service’s e-wallet can be used for making payments, including telephone and electricity bills. Customers can also use a Visa virtual debit card to shop at over 100,000 online merchants.

    “While we continue to invest in growing our existing network in India, we also believe that with the digital revolution, the future of banking will be very different,” said the spokesman.

    “Increasingly, many customers want to be able to do their banking digitally and on the go. A successful digital banking strategy will meet changing customer needs, while enabling us to accelerate our reach in large geographies without the need for a large brick-and-mortar footprint.”

    Indonesian clients will be able to use their biometric national identity card to open digibank accounts.

    DBS said it intends to launch digibank in other markets after its introduction in Indonesia.

  • Garuda targeting Rp386 billion transactions during travel fair

    Garuda targeting Rp386 billion transactions during travel fair

    PT Garuda Indonesia is targeting transactions of up to Rp386 billion in ticket sales during the Garuda Travel Fair (GATF) Phase II in 2016, to be held in 18 cities in Indonesia.

    Commercial Director of Garuda Indonesia A. Toni Soetirto said at a press conference here on Thursday that for Jakarta alone, the company targets sales transactions amounting to Rp225 billion and 80 thousand visitors.

    “The implementation of GATFs second phase provides an opportunity for service users to receive attractive offers,” he stated.

    In addition, he targeted a 3 to 4 percent increase in occupancy rate (load factor) compared with the off-season or low season.

    “In the third quarter, the interest of the public is higher,” he remarked.

    The overall target for transactions, he added, was higher than that of GATF Phase I, which raised Rp350 billion, and in Jakarta alone raised Rp179 billion, with 69 thousand visitors.

    Soetirto said GATF Phase II will be held in 18 major cities: Jakarta, Bandung, Medan, Lampung, Palembang, Semarang, Solo, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Lombok, Kupang, Balikpapan, Makassar, Manado, Ambon, Timika, and Jayapura.

    “Through this travel fair, the customers get the best prices and attractive packages,” he stated.

    Soetirto said Garuda Indonesia is also working with its subsidiary, Citilink Indonesia, as well as a number of travel agents to participate in the exhibition being held at the Jakarta Convention Center for three days from October 7 to 9.

    For the seventh time, Garuda will collaborate with Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) as its bank partner in organizing the exhibition.

    On the same occasion, Director of Consumer Banking BNI Anggoro Eko Cahyo said BNI would offer a variety of promotions and convenient services for customers at the exhibition.

    Among them, BNI credit card holders will receive 600 cashback tickets per day with a value up to Rp1 million, while the banks debit card holders will have a similar offer.

    “We appreciate Garuda Indonesias invitation to partner with them again and share profits, values, and so on,” Cahyo noted.

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  • Enjoy “Golden Moments” at Singapore Golden Week 2016

    Enjoy “Golden Moments” at Singapore Golden Week 2016

    Come 30 September, Singapore Retailers Association (SRA) will launch Singapore Golden Week (SGW) 2016 – a brand new lifestyle event to be held over three weekends from 30 September to 16 October, with global payment network UnionPay as the Official Card. With the aim of heightening the appeal of Singapore as a choice lifestyle destination for locals and tourists, the inaugural SGW 2016 will feature a suite of golden retail privileges, sure-win rewards and pampering experiences for consumers to indulge in. 

    GOLDEN “RETAIL” PRIVILEGES

    Over 200 participating outlets across retail, food and beverage (F&B), beauty and wellness, as well as hotels and attractions categories among others, will be giving UnionPay Cardholders more reasons to spend with exclusive “Golden Retail Privileges” at SGW 2016. 

    Cardholders can enjoy exclusive discounts as well as gifts with purchase when they shop at participating merchants with their UnionPay cards at SGW 2016. Popular participating merchants include department stores Isetan Scotts, Metro and Robinsons; clothing labels Dockers, Dorothy Perkins, Karen Millen, Levi’s, T.M.Lewin, Topshop, Topman, Warehouse; local attraction Alive Museum and many more.

    GOLDEN “SURE-WIN” REWARDS

    During SGW 2016, Cardholders who make a minimum purchase of S$50* with their UnionPay card anywhere in Singapore can take part in the “Golden Sure-Win Rewards” game located at ION Orchard’s Level 1 Atrium. In addition, shoppers who make purchases within ION Orchard can enjoy double chances of winning. Shoppers who spend $688 and above at selected Premier Tax Free merchants are entitled to a free limousine ride*. With over S$10,000 worth of shopping vouchers and prizes up for grabs in the “Golden Sure-Win Rewards” game, everyone can be a winner at SGW 2016!

    GOLDEN “PAMPERING” EXPERIENCES AT THE UNIONPAY GOLDEN LOUNGE

    In addition to the golden retail privileges and sure-win rewards, SGW 2016 promises pampering experiences for all locals and tourists, including non UnionPay Cardholders. Simply pop by the exclusive UnionPay “Golden Pampering Lounge” located at ION Orchard’s Level 1 Atrium, to enjoy a fresh cup of gourmet coffee, free flow gourmet cookies and take a break from the busy downtown shopping environment.

    UnionPay Cardholders can also present their UnionPay card to gain access to the exclusive VIP area, decked out with OSIM massage chairs for an even more luxurious experience. Plus, Cardholders can enjoy a special cup of gourmet “Gold Brew” coffee sprinkled with edible gold dust for the additional gold rush. With mobile charging ports available for the power-hungry and some of Singapore’s favourite brands and foods on show, there will not be a single dull moment at the “Golden Pampering Lounge”. 

    “UnionPay is delighted to be named as the Official Card for Singapore Golden Week 2016. As a brand new lifestyle event to be held over three weekends in September and October, we hope that this will light up the local retail scene, and offer new lifestyle experiences for both local and overseas UnionPay Cardholders to enjoy. And as we continue to build on the momentum to provide better products and services for consumers here in Singapore, we also hope to be able to, at the same time, bring fresh experiences, more choices and excitement to everyone,” said Mr. Wenhui Yang, General Manager of UnionPay International Southeast Asia.

    “Singapore Retailers Association is pleased to partner UnionPay again to bring consumers yet another event to look forward to and a new golden opportunity for the industry to leverage on. With a base of over 5.4 billion UnionPay Cards issued worldwide, Singapore Golden Week aims to create a new opportunity for retailers to drive spending among the overseas UnionPay Cardholders who will be here, as well as UnionPay Cardholders in Singapore. We are excited about the new business opportunities that SGW presents and the benefits that our partnership with UnionPay can potentially bring to participating merchants,” said Mr. Anthony Gan, Executive Director, Singapore Retailers Association.

    “ION Orchard is a favourite mall among locals and Chinese tourists and is the ideal location for UnionPay’s first Singapore Golden Week campaign. We are especially delighted to be the official mall that houses UnionPay’s Golden Pampering Lounge for their campaign for all redemptions. The central location along Orchard Road will certainly make shopping more convenient – and for purchases made at ION Orchard, shoppers will enjoy double chances when playing the ‘Golden Sure-Win Rewards’ game at the lounge, making it a truly rewarding shopping experience,” said Mr. Chris Chong, CEO Orchard Turn Developments.

    UnionPay International focuses on supporting the growth of UnionPay’s global payments business. With an acceptance footprint covering 160 countries and regions globally, UnionPay serves the world’s largest cardholder base by providing quality, cost-effective and secure payment services to over 5.4 billion Cardholders worldwide.

    In Singapore, UnionPay enables efficient and cost-effective payment services that are tailored to the needs of local businesses and consumers. UnionPay cards are issued by Bank of China (BOC), DBS Bank (DBS), Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and United Overseas Bank (UOB) in Singapore, and are accepted at over 80 percent of retail, lifestyle and food and beverage establishments locally, as well as at almost all automated teller machines (ATMs) across the island.

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  • UFC Gym plans 30 outlets for Philippines

    UFC Gym plans 30 outlets for Philippines

    UFC Gym plans to open the first of 30 MMA-inspired gyms in the Philippines early next year.

    Under a new 10-year partnership with the Fitspiration Philippines Corporation, the first signature branch will be at Glorietta mall in Makati.

    “Filipino fight fans understand our brand, and partnering with Fitspiration PH is a perfect fit to help Manila’s fitness enthusiasts ‘train different’ while working to achieve their individual fitness goals,” says UFC Gym CEO Brent Leffel.
    “In almost two decades of bringing major players in the fitness industry to the country, I know a winner when I see it – and make no mistake, UFC Gym is a winner,” says Fitspiration PH president Mark Dayrit.

    “Asia is one of the UFC’s fastest-growing markets, and fight fans in the Philippines are some of the most passionate around the world,” says UFC Asia executive VP/GM Kenneth Berger. “We are excited to be leading the way, making MMA [mixed martial arts] more accessible for Filipino fans to train and increase their fitness through the sport.”

    Since its debut in 2009, UFC Gym franchise has opened more than 135 locations throughout the US, Australia, Canada, South America and the UAE. Offering a range of fitness classes, group and private MMA training, group fitness, personal and group dynamic performance-based training, plus MMA youth programming, UFC Gym has programs to suit all ages and fitness levels.

    Membership includes unlimited access to UFC’s Octagon and signature classes such as Daily Ultimate Training, Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, boxing and women’s self-defence.

  • Golden Pin Design Award 2016 reveals Design Mark recipients

    Golden Pin Design Award 2016 reveals Design Mark recipients

    The Golden Pin Design Award–an annual award organized by the Taiwan Design Center that seeks to raise global awareness for design created for and within huaren (Chinese-speaking) communities–today reveals its Design Mark recipients for 2016.

    After gruelling Secondary Selection judging rounds held in China and Taiwan, a total of 457 entries from Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and England, and Switzerland have received a Golden Pin Design Award 2016 Design Mark and are now in the running for a coveted Best Design trophy.

    Contemporary ideas of refined living dominated entries from Hong Kong. For TUVE, a boutique hotel located east of Victoria Park, Design Systems Ltd used natural and relatively common materials such as concrete, galvanized steel, brass, oak, and wired glass to create a surprisingly sophisticated yet relaxing space for visitors. When homegrown jewelry brand Chow Tai Fook wanted to reach out to a younger market, Noiseless Design Limited drew inspiration from the card game poker to create a visual aesthetic that plays into the new generation’s mix-and-match approach to fashion.

    Malaysian entries typically put a twist on what could be considered traditional huaren culture, such as in Dot Creative Design’s iPack, which added an element of play to the celebratory Chinese red envelope. Among entries from Macau was a plethora of thoughtfully designed posters for cultural events, including advertising by Untitled Lab for a tenth anniversary exhibition held by Centro De Estudos Permanentes Pos-Laboral and by Bilioteca Pública de Macau for the Macau Library Week 2016.

    Among entries from China were a proliferation of unusual or highly specialized smart products for living, including Yourpet Smart Bowl by inDare Design Strategy Limited, which allows pet-parents to regulate their fur baby’s food intake via their smartphones, and Intelligent Frying Pan by Hangzhou Hotdesign Co. Ltd, which uses an app and bluetooth technology to teach users how to cook better, faster, and smarter. Ancient ideas about nature also featured heavily as design inspiration among visual communication products from the country. About Trees, an aptly named Chinese font design by Hanqingtang Design, was influenced by the rings and trunks of trees, and Book of Freedom by independent designer Sihan Chou references a story from Chinese mythology that documents the struggle of a fish adapting to the life of a bird.

    It was clear that designers in Taiwan had thought carefully about the needs of those living in local or huaren communities: located in Taipei’s sublime Mandarin Oriental Hotel, restaurant Bencotto by Tony Chi & Associates embodies the best of contemporary huaren living; leading local homewares brand JIA Inc.’s Four Seasons Glass Set, designed by astute independent Taiwanese designer Pili Wu, portrays a glass bowl set as a Chinese ink painting for the table; new packaging for the nostalgically named soy sauce brand Grandpa Sauce incorporates traditional sisal rope to instil a sense of the past; and commuter bike Pick-Up Sliders adapts European practicality for life in bustling Taiwanese cities.

    Groundbreaking concepts both large and small in scale abounded in the Spatial Design category. HEX-SYS by China-based firm OPEN Architecture is a reconfigurable and reusable building system that attempts to address the problems created by the country’s decades-old building frenzy. The Kaohsiung Public Library, a joint project by the Kaohsiung City Government and Ricky Liu & Associates Architects + Planners, is a public building designed to economize on resources without sacrificing access to necessary public amenities or the beatification of the neighborhood in which the building sits. At the other end of the scale, Formo Design Studio in Taiwan combines a laundrette with a sleek coffee shop, ensuring laundry doers can wile away the hours in style and comfort; the facility is aptly named Travelled 9000 km.

    Overall, the 2016 entries into the Golden Pin Design Award received high praise from Secondary Selection judges. “You can really see the efforts of participants, as this year’s entries demonstrated an understanding of the importance of finding the balance between the market and huaren cultural values. In particular, spatial design entries have greatly improved, showing a balance between huaren culture elements and mainstream spatial aesthetics,” noted Shikuan Chen, Compal design director, educator, Icsid board member, and Jury Chair of the Secondary Selection judging round in Taipei.

    The Golden Pin Design Award–Taiwan’s longest-running and most prestigious design award–opened its doors to entries from and for huaren (Chinese-speaking) communities around the globe in 2014. This year sees a 27% growth in number of entries submitted into the Golden Pin Design Award: in 2015, the award received 2,360 entries compared with this year’s record-breaking 3,005 entries. Final Selection–the jury of which will be chaired by world-leading Japanese-Canadian designer Oki Sato, Chief Designer and founder of the famed Tokyo-based studio Nendo–will held in Taipei on September 28, with Best Design of the Year recipients announced on December 1 at a grand award ceremony, also held in Taiwan’s capital city.

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  • TransRush expands in Australia

    TransRush expands in Australia

    TransRush, a wholly owned subsidiary of China’s cross-border e-commerce logistics provider 4PX Group, has expanded its logistics business in Australia.

    With rapid development and keen competition in the e-commerce industry, geographical borders will continue to diminish and become an irreversible trend in the global logistics realm. TransRush’s arrival will undoubtedly exert a strong influence on Australian international delivery market.

    Widely known in China, TransRush helps customers purchase goods from global online retailers by offering freight forwarding services to both retailers and end consumers based in China. It gains professional logistics experience and financial support from 4PX, which was founded in 2004, and closed its latest investment round with Alibaba’s logistics arm, Cainiao, and Singapore Post.

    Cainiao and TransRush have already reached an agreement for cooperation in the cross-border logistics field, and this partnership will significantly speed up the construction of an intelligent global warehouse distribution network.

    TransRush currently offers many shipping routes from overseas to China, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, and operates 27 overseas warehouses in five global regions.

    Long-term strategic partnerships with Visa and Bank of China have helped fuel the growth of TransRush and with more than 200,000 m2 of global processing centers, comprehensive product lines and services, and competitive technical assistance, the company is emerging as a leader among the many Chinese cross-border logistics companies.

    TransRush’s newest Australia-China Express route has finished preliminary testing, which indicates forwarding goods from Australia to China will only take five to seven workdays at a total cost 20% lower than the industry average offered by its competitors. Red wine, for which Australia is famously known and which is in great demand in China, can also be shipped through TransRush.

    “4PX’s advantage does not only lie in its sophisticated logistic networks and exemplary service,” said Fatin Huang, director of TransRush. “The integration of Cainiao’s network data resource with TransRush’s system will accelerate the development of an intelligent logistics system. All corporations involved incross-border e-commerce will benefit in future.”

    The increasing capital inflow to the logistics industry will bring about even more heated competition in cross-border e-commerce and TransRush’s launch in Australia looks set to shake up the industry.

  • DHL Express has opened its Jakarta Gateway 530 facility

    DHL Express has opened its Jakarta Gateway 530 facility

    DHL Express has opened its Jakarta Gateway 530 facility at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to support Indonesian trade.

    According to DHL, the new 1,353-square-metre facility is an addition to the existing Gateway 510, which is at full capacity. Gateway 530 is capable of handling up to 2 million shipments per year and is equipped with dual-view X-ray screening, an explosive trace detector system and 103 CCTV cameras.

    “Our new Jakarta Gateway 530 will enable local businesses to trade seamlessly with customers around the world,” said Ken Lee, CEO of DHL Express Asia Pacific. “SMEs play a vital role in the Indonesian economy, contributing close to 58% of Indonesia’s GDP and Indonesia remains a key pillar in supporting South East Asia’s economic growth. This new facility allows DHL to continue supporting the growing export and import needs in Indonesia by providing greater access to international markets.”

    The facility offers direct airside access and in-house customs. Major trading partners that will benefit from Gateway 530 include mainland China, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the US, according to DHL.

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  • Hyundai to debut Genesis premium brand in China in two-three years

    Hyundai to debut Genesis premium brand in China in two-three years

    South Korea’s Hyundai Motor will launch its standalone premium auto brand Genesis in China within two to three years, betting on a luxury lane to profit as competition bites at the lower end of the world’s biggest auto market.

    Genesis brand chief Manfred Fitzgerald told Reuters in a recent interview the company is considering building Genesis models in China “For sure. But there are also other examples of (automakers) who live pretty well off of importing cars,” he said, citing Toyota Motor Corp’s Lexus.

    The plans come as Hyundai tries to reverse out of 10 straight quarters of falling profit, hit in part by weakness in China.

    Rolling out Genesis in key markets like China marks a shift for a company better known for making value-for-money cars and lacking the brand cachet and tradition of Germany’s BMW BWMG.DE, Mercedes-Benz and Audi. That trio dominates the luxury market globally – and in China.

    “The luxury customer in China is very brand-conscious,” said U.S. national Fitzgerald, 53. The former executive with Audi’s Lamborghini brand was speaking at the first, and so far only, standalone Genesis store, in a glitzy mall in Hanam on the outskirts of Seoul featuring cars like G80 sedans that can fetch up to 74 million won ($67,100).

    “If you don’t get your brand right, you can have the best product in the world, it won’t work,” said Fitzgerald. “In two, three years’ time we will be entering China,” he said, declining to give sales targets for a global rollout that will follow launches in Korea late last year and in the United States last month.

    In China, imported cars carry a duty of more than 20 percent, putting pressure on automakers to produce locally.

    DISTRIBUTION DEBATE

    Genesis will open more standalone outlets, said Fitzgerald, and is exploring unspecified locations for its first U.S. store. The Genesis line-up currently features two models, a range that the company plans to expand to six by 2020, including two sport utility vehicles.

    Consultants like Eric Noble, president of California-based consultancy CarLab, say getting the sales channel right for premium cars is as important as the product itself.

    For now, over 300 of Hyundai’s more than 800 U.S. dealerships will also be selling the Genesis brand, posing an added challenge for differentiating it from Hyundai. By comparison, Toyota’s Lexus is sold through separate dealerships.

    “From a product standpoint, the prospects of the (Genesis) brand are encouraging,” said Noble. “But from a distribution standpoint, at least here in North America, it is much more problematic.”

    ‘TIPPING POINT’

    Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo, now 78, took the helm in 2000 and turned Hyundai and its Kia Motors (000270.KS) affiliate into the world’s fifth-largest automotive group by making inexpensive but reliable small cars.

    But the veteran’s 45-year-old son and vice-chairman Chung Eui-sun has sought to move Hyundai up the value chain. He spearheaded the move last November to hive off the Genesis sedan into a standalone brand, tapping a segment growing faster than the mass market to generate higher margins.

    Fitzgerald said meeting with the younger Chung was a “tipping point” in his decision to join a company long known for promoting from within.

    “He definitely gave me the feeling that no matter how long and how troublesome and how tedious this might be, they are in for it and they want to succeed.”

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  • StarHub trialing mesh network on buses

    StarHub trialing mesh network on buses

    Singapore’s StarHub has teamed up with the National University of Singapore, charter bus company ComfortDelGro Bus and “Internet of Moving Things” company Veniam for a mesh network of connected vehicles pilot.

    The trial at the university’s Kent Ridge campus is involving using buses as mobile WiFi access points connected to one and other and to fixed points in buildings on campus.

    Wireless mesh access points on the buses are being powered by a combination of 4G, WiFi and dedicated short range communications (DSRC) technology.

    The approach is designed to extend WiFi coverage will providing connectivity for a large number of IoT devices.

    Stephen Lee, Head of StarHub i3 (Innovation, Investment, Incubation), said companies will also be able to use the anonymized data generated to address Singapore’s logistic and transportation challenges.

    “This mesh platform at NUS allows StarHub to explore how we can use data generated from the platform to help companies in the logistics and transport sectors improve their operations and planning,” he said.

    “We look forward to working with more commercial partners to expand the network to other parts of Singapore and find new ways to analyse and utilise the data collected in order to address various urban concerns and challenges facing the transportation and logistics industry.”