Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • International “IoT” Conference In Hong Kong Next Week

    International “IoT” Conference In Hong Kong Next Week

    The Internet of Things (IoT) is regarded as the third technological advancement, after computers and the Internet, which sets a new trend for the ICT industry. Through IoT technology, electrical products gain access to networks, enhance remote capabilities and become “smarter” by integrating various kinds of information and resources via the Internet.

    In view of recent IoT applications and their huge development potential, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will organise the “IoT Revolution – How does it benefit your business?” international conference on 13 October. The conference is part of the opening day activities of the four-day HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). International speakers from renowned brands and enterprises including Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Microsoft, Philips, Samsung and Texas Instruments China R&D will share their views on the future trends and applications of IoT.

    Synergy with the Hong Kong Electronics Fair

    “The Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) is a once-a-year spectacular event for the electronics industry,” said Benjamin Chau, Deputy Executive Director, HKTDC. “Electronics suppliers from all over the world will showcase their most sophisticated technology and electronics products. IoT, as the on-coming wave for the electronics industry, can be a kingmaker that allows suppliers and service providers to seize the opportunity to lead the market. With the fair attracting industry players from around the world, the conference aims to encourage entrepreneurs to grasp the opportunity, and release more advanced and smarter products so as to add value, not just for companies but to also enhance our way of life.”

    Looking to the future of IoT

    The theme of the conference is “Global Trend on IoT Development & the Arising Opportunities”, which introduces the latest developments and applications of IoT technology to the audience. Speakers include Yuki Hon, Senior Technology Evangelist, Microsoft Hong Kong Limited, Ravi Gokhale, Director and Head of Texas Instruments China R&D, and Vivek Sharma, Global Director, Channel Business Development Group, Intel Sales & Marketing Group.

    Ms Hon believes enterprises across nearly every industry ranging from retail, to healthcare and public services can benefit from IoT. “SMEs can build on the infrastructure they already have or subscribe cloud-based IoT services, add more devices to the ones they already own and get more from the data that already exists. By leveraging their existing investment, SMEs can apply IoT with a limited budget,” said Ms Hon.

    In the afternoon, the conference continues with the theme “Future Vision of the IoT”. Senior management from leading enterprises will reveal the future trends of IoT. Speakers include Curtis Sasaki, Vice President of Ecosystems and IoT General Manager, Samsung Electronics, Jo Shum, Senior Director and General Manager, Lighting Hong Kong and Macau, Philips Electronics HK Limited, and Fred Sheu, General Manager, HP Software, Hewlett-Packard HKSAR Limited.

    Mr Sasaki, a renowned speaker on memory and next generation consumer products, says, “Samsung is helping to enable our connected future by providing integrated hardware and solutions like the Samsung ARTIK and Samsung SAMIIO platforms, which jump-starts development for the Internet of Things. The true winners in IoT will be those companies who move quickly, and think ‘out of the box’ about how they can best use these technologies to provide convenience, solve real problems, and make a dent in the challenges of today’s world.”

    Ms Shum explained that the concept of IoT has been applied in lighting systems for a long time, from the initial closed-circuit lighting system connected to other management systems, to the development of a wireless system via the Internet with more functions and applications. Apart from the energy-efficient system, which can turn lights on or off through touch or motion sensors, the new generation of IoT-enabled systems can adjust the light according to the outdoor lighting and the timings of sunrise and sunset. It can even adjust the brightness to match the mood of a video. Nowadays, the IoT-enabled lighting goes beyond home applications and extends to the retail environment and service industry. For example, the light can be adjusted to highlight the special features of the showcased product in retail store.

    Hong Kong companies embrace IoT

    For smart homes with IoT capability, many appliances are connected to the Internet via Bluetooth. Bluegic, a brand under Lincogn Technology Co. Limited, seized the opportunity and developed an app that combines low-power-consuming Bluetooth 4.0 with home electronics. The application of IoT has become the competitive edge for the company. They also won the Silver Award in the Hong Kong IoT Awards 2014 and a merit certification in the ICT Startup (Consumer Market) category of the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2015.

    Ambi Labs, another local company that focusses on IoT, uses the technology to produce smart air conditioning systems. Their flagship product, Ambi Climate, can provide the most suitable air conditioned environment by collecting interior data including temperature, humidity and air ventilation as well as information about outdoor weather conditions. This is used to automatically achieve the optimum setting for the air conditioner. Two local entrepreneurs, Colin Ng, Co-Founder of Lincogn Technology Co. Limited, and Julian Lee, CEO and Founder of Ambi Labs, will share their insights on IoT, based on their start-up experience in the conference.

    Free Admission

    Those interested in joining the IoT conference can register online via the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) website. Admission is free, and seating will be provided on a first-come-first-served basis.

    Apart from the conference, IoT takes centre stage at the Electronics Fair (13-16 October) with the debut of Smart Tech zone featuring innovative devices ranging from a Hong Kong-designed smart Wi-Fi photo frame, to smart cups that automatically record nutritional information of a beverage. The zone will be located at Convention Hall Foyer and Mezzanine of the HKCEC, close to the IoT conference venue.

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  • XIUS Awarded NFC Patent by USPTO

    XIUS Awarded NFC Patent by USPTO

    XIUS, a leader in delivering innovative, revenue-generating solutions to mobile operators, banks and financial institutions worldwide, announced today the award of its patent in Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. The invention relates to a smart integration of dual architecture contactless SIM into mobile devices and describes the method of efficiently performing various financial transactions. The patent filed in February 2010, was awarded by the US Patent and Trademark Office recently this year.

    NFC as a technology is extending beyond applications initially envisioned by the market. End users have started to believe that using their mobile phone for payments is safe and also addresses privacy concerns. Mobile wallets are now making a significant impact by creating new market opportunities. XIUS mobile payments solution is powered by futuristic technologies including NFC, and aims to deliver customers seamless services and enriched experiences in real-time fashion.

    Speaking on the occasion, said G.V. Kumar, CEO and Managing Director, “The award of yet another patent is testimony to XIUS’ thought leadership and emphasis on innovation. XIUS takes immense pride to have developed years ago, a SIM based solution for NFC enabled payments. Our endeavoring efforts have borne fruit and the award of this patent only reiterates our strong belief and commitment to continue innovating and contributing to the industry”.

    XIUS implements NFC as one of the technologies in offering banks and financial institutions its unique technology enabled banking services. The solution leverages existing mobile ecosystem and extends banking services to the unbanked and under-banked segments of the population that banks are otherwise challenged to penetrate and cater to.

    NFC technology allows retailers and brands to engage with increasingly connected mobile consumers. Retailers and brands can use NFC during the customer journey to improve in-store experiences, enable touch & go payments, generate more sales, and enhance customer loyalty and trust. As part of its mobile commerce offerings, XIUS NFC-based payment solution improves customer experience and delivers control of purchase flow to the merchant.

    Whether deployed to facilitate banking transactions or in a retail outlet, XIUS NFC mobile enabled solution has diverse uses among those that are now being widely publicized and adopted by technology companies / retail chains in evolved markets such as the US and Europe in the recent times.

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  • JCB Starts Trials of Payment by Palm for Practical Application

    JCB Starts Trials of Payment by Palm for Practical Application

    JCB Co., Ltd. (“JCB”), the only international payment brand based in Japan, will be conducting a trial of payment using palm vein authentication in corporation with Fujitsu Limited and Fujitsu Frontech Limited. The trial will be held at the JCB World Conference in October, an event attended by JCB partner companies and financial institutions from around the world.

    Payment by palm leverages the JCB global network with Fujitsu’s palm vein authentication technology, one of the most accurate biometric authentication technologies in the world. After linking a palm vein pattern and payment card information, customers can make a simple, fast and secure payment by using palm. Multiple cards can be linked to one pattern, and customer does not need to bring his or her wallet or any mobile payment device.

    Palm vein authentication is highly accurate (see “About Palm Vein Authentication”), and already being used for many applications such as bank ATMs and high security area access control systems. Incorporating this authentication method with the JCB global network will create the world’s first payment way of its kind.

    In addition to the trial at JCB World Conference in October, JCB has already conducted a trial of, involving several hundred employees at the JCB headquarters in Tokyo in July 2015.

    “We are planning pilots in different global markets in order to develop a unique biometric-based program using the most secure accurate palm vein authentication, followed by the trial at the JCB World Conference. I am confident that this new payment method using innovative technology will be in line with the needs of JCB customers and partners around the world,” Tac Watanabe, Executive Vice President, Brand Infrastructure & Technologies of JCB, said.

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  • Siam Piwat, launches Siam Piwat Academy

    Siam Piwat, launches Siam Piwat Academy

    Siam Piwat Company Limited the leader of innovative retail and real estate business – launches Siam Piwat Academy. The academy is Thailand’s first in collecting and gathering every aspect of shopping mall and property facility management, which will be shared by professional executives who are specialized in the area. Moreover, Siam Piwat collaborated with Thailand’s two leading educational institutions: Chulalongkorn University and Thammasat University, introducing Thailand’s first specific course of facility management.

    Chanisa Chutipat, President of Siam Piwat Co., Ltd. said: “Siam Piwat’s 56 years of success in shopping mall and retail business has led the company to the creation of Siam Piwat Academy – Thailand’s first leading educational institution offering Shopping Mall and Public Assembly Facility Management. The academy proceeds on the company’s vision of sharing the knowhow and long experiences of the company with retail business people through Siam Piwat’s high executives who have long been in the business. By introducing Siam Piwat Academy, the company has emphasized its main strategy of being the advanced creative leader, and strengthened the capability of those high executives, who are the main supporters in driving business to success. The essential goal of the academy is to give back to the society by enhance the quality of life and education standard for Thais. We expect to share our business knowhow to support the development of retail business industry, to increase Thais’ competitiveness for them to be ready for global platforms – thus, leading to the strong and sustainable retail business management.”

    Assist. Prof. Vorapat Inkarojrit, Distinguished Scholar Mr. Wicha Hanamornroongruang, Mrs. Chanisa Chutipat, Assist. Prof. Jittaporn Sribonnjit

    Mr. Wicha Hanamornroongruang, Distinguished Scholar, Faculty of Architecture and Siam Piwat’s Advisor, revealed that: “Siam Piwat Academy is established with Siam Piwat’s determination in sharing its excellent knowhow collected for 56 years, along with the willingness to develop the project until it is internationally recognized by retail and real estate industry. Our executives has often been invited to give lecture to business personnels. We foresee that such business expansion will call for an increase in human resources. Thus, in 2015, we decide to officially launch the course of Public Assembly Facility Management for the first time in Thailand. The course is the result of Siam Piwat’s collaboration with two leading educational institutions: Chulalongkorn and Thammasat Universities. The course will feature both theoretical knowhow taught by honorable professors of each university, and real and practical working experiences by Siam Piwat’s executives. By enrolling in the course, one will also be granted a chance to observe businesses in Siam Piwat Company Limited. In the next three years, we plan to elevate such vocational education to the level that Thailand becomes ASEAN’s largest learning center in shopping mall and retail business management, along with to collaborate with more of international institutions and the company’s partners in order that the course will be developed to efficiently cover all dimensions of shopping mall and retail business management.”

    Siam Piwat academy has opened a short 3-month intensive program for executives in Shopping Mall Facility Management in collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University, on 15th August – 10th October 2015. Next on schedule is Public Assembly Facility Management course – the collaboration with Thammasat University – which will start in November 2015 to February 2016. Siam Piwat academy expects about 100 persons who will graduate from Facility Management course, and within 5 years Siam Piwat Academy will empower people in the major of Facility Management over than 500 persons.

    Assist. Prof. Vorapat Inkarojrit, Ph.D., Deputy Dean of Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University comments on the importance of Shopping Mall Facility Management study:  “The University foresees that well-rounded knowhow and understanding in business are what will significantly drive the business forward. Our Faculty of  Architecture works with Siam Piwat to develop academic knowhow in architectural researches, industrial design, physical environment, real estate, and urban planning design. The collaboration aims to share useful knowhow with the public, society, and country, in order to elevate retail and real estate industry, and trigger the development in retail and real estate human resources to achieve competitiveness with global platforms.”

    Assist. Prof. Jittaporn Sribonnjit, Lecturer of Real Estate Business Program, Thammasat University says “The University is pleased to collaborate with Siam Piwat in human resource development. The courses co-created by the university will provide understanding in public facility design, commercial marketing and trade development and standardized management, for the sustainable business growth. The curriculum does not only include lecture from honarary professors and instructors, but also field observation, and group project activities supervised by instructors.”

    Thailand’s current retail market is growing and expanding so fast that it becomes yet another business with high competitiveness. Siam Piwat’s role as the innovative leader in retail and real estate business, along with its long expertise in the business, and the establishment of Siam Piwat Academy, are regarded as significant step to drive Thai retail industry towards international standard equivalent, and to create quality human resorce to respond to the expansion of retail business, and the role of being ASEAN’s largest learning center in the near future.

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  • Hong Kong house prices to fall by 30% by 2017

    Hong Kong house prices to fall by 30% by 2017

    The price of buying a home in Hong Kong could fall by 30 percent between now and 2017, according to forecasts.

    Quick, cut down on bubble tea and start saving for the property bubble to burst!

    Eva Lee of market leader USB says buying demand will be hurt by lower inflation, rising unemployment rates and a deteriorating economy. Something to look forward to then.

    “Unlike past down cycles that were triggered by global economic shocks, we believe this round of price reversals will be triggered by a deteriorating local economy. Thus, we think price drops may come more gradually and over multiple years,” Lee said in a briefing, according to the SCMP.

    Home prices have jumped 340 percent since Hong Kong was in the grip of the SARS epidemic in 2003. This quarter, however, the Hang Seng Properties Index fell 15 percent, with property stocks declining an average of 20 percent over the past four months.

    Lee also notes that 42 percent of Hong Kong’s retail sales were contributed by tourists last year.

    “It is the highest level we have ever seen in the world and it is an unhealthy market. Hong Kong will get hit immediately once the number of tourist arrivals falls,” she said.

    While that may be bad news for the economy, it’s also good news for renters, who could see residential rents falling 10 percent and luxury retail rents by 25 percent over the same period.

    Can you see your landlord actually putting your rent down though? Nah, us neither.

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  • JD.com launches Italian Fashion Mall

    JD.com launches Italian Fashion Mall

    The best of Italian fashion will soon feature on a new fashion mall being created by JD.com.

    JD.com, China’s largest online direct sales company, says the Italian Fashion Mall is dedicated to introducing Italian fashion brands and products to consumers in China. JD.com and Europe Design Center also jointly announced the participation of three renowned Chinese fashion designers – Lin Gu, Ali Tan and Xiaoyan Xu – in Milan Fashion Week. The three designers were selected through a competitive program run by JD.com and Europe Design Center, and their participation marks the first time Chinese designers will participate in Milan Fashion Week.

    The announcement was made at an event during the Milan Fashion Week.

    President of JD Mall’s Apparel and Home Furnishing Business Unit, Lijun Xin said the online mall will offer China’s “increasingly sophisticated and fashion-conscious consumers a fantastic range of choices,” while offering Italian brands and designers a powerful sales platform in China.

    “Fashion has been an important part of JD.com’s development into a comprehensive eCommerce platform, and we look forward to bringing products from the world’s most exciting designers to our 118 million customers.”

    JD.com’s JD Apparel platform features top international brands such as Lacoste and GAP and introduces the latest fashion trends to consumers through JD fashion shows held twice annually in China. Currently there are over 40,000 merchants featured on the JD Apparel platform.

    As part of the JD Apparel platform, JD.com recently launched its “JD Wardrobe” app for mobile devices. The app allows consumers to mix-and-match fashion items in a virtual wardrobe, share selected items with friends and receive fashion advice from virtual fashion experts.

    The Europe Design Center is created by the Director of Design Institute of Politecnico di Milano Arturo Dell’Acqua Bellavitis, and Alan Zhong, director of Future Master project of Italian design cultivation plan, also with the support of Honarary President of Italian National Fashion Association Mario Boselli, and in collaboration with experts from fashion and design sectors, to strengthen the talents and commercial exchange between Italy and China in field of fashion, industrial design, high tech and architecture.

  • Foodpanda’s sister Foodora Singapore bound

    Foodpanda’s sister Foodora Singapore bound

    Foodora – an upmarket little sister of mass market food delivery monopoly Foodpanda – is destined for Singapore.

    Foodora Singapore is best described as an “upscale Foodpanda”, a high-end food delivery service targeting cashed-up Millennials who want a higher standard of meal than quick service restaurant fare and faster delivery – and who parent Rocket Internet expects are happy to pay a premium for it.

    Rocket launched Foodora in Hong Kong earlier this year and a trial continues in two suburbs with more postcodes to be added later this year.

    A quick look at the Hong Kong website shows a clear family resemblance to the Foodpanda site, just a different coloured search button and a silver service platter logo in place of the smiling panda.

    But behind the scenes it is all different, we are assured.

    Chris Parrott, marketing MD with Foodora, said in an interview with e27 about the Hong Kong site that the two brands are targeting different clientele, albeit meeting the same need: food delivered to the door as quickly as possible.

    “Foodpanda is a sister company, so there is scope for knowledge-sharing. We have different target clientele, as our minimum basket size is US$25.8 (HK$200) and Foodpanda’s is variable,” Parrott explained.

    A key difference is the delivery time: Foodora promises within 30 minutes, which seems an overly ambitious promise; Foodpanda can take an hour or more, depending on the customer’s location.

    Foodora is now active in 14 countries and early this month took over Delivery Hero which is in 34 countries. Singapore will be next, with a website page already visible announcing “Coming soon”.

    The Hong Kong business is initially being promoted through blogs, food critics and Instagram.

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  • Inside Wuhan 1818 mall

    Inside Wuhan 1818 mall

    Wuhan 1818 mall has recently opened in China, delivering a new generation retail and lifestyle centre set to energise the precinct’s urban core.

    The 70,000 sqm, seven storey mall was developed by CapitaMalls Asia  and caters to the needs of the 2.4 million people living and working in the district. It provides a diverse range of quality lifestyle, food and entertainment tenancies, anchored by rooftop cinemas and a basement supermarket and car parking.

    Capitalmall-1818-Wuhan-China1

    “The project opens at a dynamic point in space and time for Wuhan, coinciding with a period of unprecedented change,” said Buchan Group principal, David Macleod.

    “Our design for the centre fits well with the contemporary facelift of the district as Wuhan rapidly evolves into a Future City.”

    The design for the development was inspired by the unique cultural catchment and captures the essence of its past, whilst responding to evolving retail trends of the future.

    “We felt both a responsibility to be respectful of Wuhan’s history and culture in our design, but to look to its future,” said Macleod.  “We felt a need to embrace the needs and aspirations of the new modern urban community.”

    Capitalmall-1818-Wuhan-China

    The interior design concept for the mall expresses aspects of this dynamic through restrained organic patterns crowned by splashes of vibrant colour and dappled light effects.  The prominent podium facade creates an impressive street-edge to the integrated office and residential mixed use precinct, and adds an impressive addition to the quality development portfolio of The Buchan Group and CapitaMalls Asia.

    The centre’s planning was engineered to ensure the mall performs a civic function as an urban meeting place for the local community, encouraging social connections and redefining the art of placemaking in the district. This informed the predominance of formal and informal food and entertainment spaces in the planning and tenancy mix.

    The Buchan Group provided integrated design and delivery services for this ambitious project, including facade and interior architecture, interior design and graphic and wayfinding design services from concept design through to construction site services.

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  • Fast Retailing launches refugee initiative

    Fast Retailing launches refugee initiative

    Japanese retail company Fast Retailing has launched HELP, a global initiative to help clothe refugees.

    The project – dubbed 10 Million Ways to HELP will be run in conjunction with the UNHCR.

    Collection starts at Uniqlo and GU on October 2 at stores around Japan and from mid-October in other markets.

    According to a Uniqlo statement, UNHCR estimates the number of women, men, and children forcibly displaced owing to armed conflict and other causes reached 59.5 million by the end of 2014 – the highest since the end of World War II – prompting Fast Retailing to respond.

    Fast Retailing has been implementing an All-Product Recycling Initiative to provide clothing to refugees since 2006, and in 2011 became the first company headquartered in Asia to establish a global partnership with UNHCR. As part of the initiative, Fast Retailing has also launched a drive to collect clothing from employees.

    Around 90 per cent of the clothing that Fast Retailing has collected to date through its All-Product Recycling Initiative has been in wearable condition. As of the end of April 2015, more than 10 million items from the company had been delivered to refugees in 37 countries by UNHCR, including those in Jordan, Syria, Thailand and Nepal.

    As another contribution to alleviate the plight of displaced people, from 2011 Fast Retailing has operated an internship program at Uniqlo stores in Japan for refugees and their family members, offering invaluable work experience to promote their self-reliance.

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  • Ikea Malaysia sets Cheras opening date

    Ikea Malaysia sets Cheras opening date

    Ikea Malaysia says its second store located at Jalan Cochrane, Cheras. is on track to open at the end of November.

    The timing was revealed at the store’s roof capping ceremony, a Swedish tradition to celebrate the end of construction and thank neighbours who helped out in the building phase.

    “Come November, Ikea Cheras will provide more Malaysians with Swedish home furnishings that are well-designed, functional, affordable and good quality,” said Mike King, retail director, Ikea Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

    “The new Ikea store is part our overall ambition to expand in Southeast Asia. Our entry into Cheras neighbourhood reflects our vision to create a better everyday life for the many people.”

    Ikea Cheras will provide Malaysians with greater convenience and a wide selection of home furnishing inspiration and solutions at incredibly low prices. The store has 41,000 sqm of shopping space, 20 per cent more than the Damansara store. Ikea Cheras is also located a five minute drive from the city centre, accessible from MAJU Expressway and Smart highways, and connects to the Cochrane MRT station (to be completed in 2017).

    As the opening fast approaches, the team is now in the midst of interior fittings, operational setup and co-workers’ training. To support its overall operation, a nationwide recruitment exercise was carried out recently.

    “We had an overwhelming response of which we hired a great mix of over 300 co-workers of various talent and expertise. With the passionate and committed co-workers we have on-board, this new store ensures more Malaysians will get a chance to enjoy the unique Ikea store experience many have come to know and love,” added King.

    Ikea Cheras will be one of the first few retail developments to be ready in the booming township. The new iconic landmark spots the potential in transforming Cheras into a vibrant retail destination, drawing upon the liveliness Ikea brings to Mutiara Damansara with its standalone store since 2003.

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  • KidZania India enters Delhi

    KidZania India enters Delhi

    KidZania, the global chain of role-play centres for children, will invest over US$15 million in a facility in Delhi-NCR, CEO Sanjeev Kumar, has said.

    “The project funding will be done through 70 per cent equity and 30 per cent debt, Kumar said.

    The new KidZania will be located on a 147-acre facility in Noida and will open in 2016.

    The Kidzania India franchise rights are owned by Imagination Edutainment. Singapore-based KidZ Inc, whose shareholders are Comcraft Group, Xander Group and Maxfield Management, owns 74 per cent of the franchise and actor Shah Rukh Khan the remaining 26 per cent.

    “We are very bullish about the Delhi NCR market. While we will be targeting kids between four and 14 years and their parents residing in Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon and we feel there is a great potential in the surrounding cities of Sonipat, Panipat, Mathura, Agra and Meerut.

    “Our feasibility report has also shown interest of inbound tourists and school groups from Punjab and Haryana. We are confident of hosting 600,000+ visitors in the first year,” said Kumar.

    The indoor theme-park, built-to-scale across three levels, will be spread over nearly 100,000 sqft and have a capacity for 1800 visitors a day – 65 per cent children and 35 per cent adults.

    The KidZania Delhi operation will follow on from the successful Mumbai destination which has now hosted 700,000 children in the last two years.

    But this one will feature new zones, including an underground archaeology facility, a stadium and a hanging aircraft at the entrance.

    There are now 20 KidZanias, operating in cities including London, Dubai, Jeddah, Lisbon, Tokyo and Santa Fe.

    KidZania Delhi facility has signed on brands including Parle-G for a biscuit factory, Bajaj Electricals for a culinary school and an energy conservation hub, Kellogg’s for a cereal factory, Big Bazaar for a supermarket, and E-Zone for an electronics store.

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  • H&M backs China, India

    H&M backs China, India

    Sweden’s H&M has followed in the footsteps of archrival Uniqlo in voicing its confidence in the China market despite the economic slowdown.

    Like Uniqlo H&M is aimed at the mass market, not the high end luxury sector most hit by the tightened spending of Chinese consumers.

    H&M says it will open 70 stores in China in the year to November 30, taking its network up to just over 300.

    Like Uniqlo, the company says it sees itself appealing to cost-conscious shoppers.

    In an interview in Hong Kong on Monday, H&M country manager for Greater China, Magnus Olsson, said the brand’s customers say they enjoy spending with H&M and they plan to shop more in future.

    “Those signs we think override some other maybe noise in the marketplace right now. We’re humble but confident.”

    H&M will open its largest store yet in Asia in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, on October 30.

    H&M group’s sales in the nine months to August rose 22 per cent globally; expressed in local currency, by 12 per cent.

    In the fourth quarter of this year H&M plans to open about 240 new stores – almost three per day.

    It will enter India and South Africa this autumn, with maiden stores in New Delhi this week and in Cape Town in October.

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  • Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken goes global

    Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken goes global

    After 10 years serving Filipinos, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar has opened its first store overseas and says more will follow.

    The popular quick service restaurant concept has opened in Myanmar, the first test in an offshore market.

    Parent I-Foods Inc, which also owns the Stackers Burger Cafe, Kogi Bulgogi and Wafu, says more stores will follow in other markets, with a focus initially on Southeast Asia.

    “We entered Myanmar and we opened two weeks ago. It’s a good market,” I-Foods owner Bryan Tiu told a press briefing.

    He said the chicken concept is one that can be appreciated by anyone, making it an idea export concept.

    With Myanmar only recently opening its doors to foreign businesses, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar has the advantage of being an early arrival and establishing a solid customer base before larger competitors come along.

    Meanwhile, the chain is continuing its expansion in its home market. Last month it opened its largest restaurant yet, in Capitol Commons in Pasig.

    Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Sauce Bar also has branches at SM City North Edsa Annex, Promenade Greenhills and Robinsons Mall Bacolod, with others soon to open at SM Megamall, Solenad Mall in Nuvali and Eastwood City Mall.

    The concept is based on grilled chicken marinated in a blend of herbs and spices sourced from Africa and served with a selection of eight sauces ranging from hot and spicy to mild.

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  • Where Muslim tourists shop

    Where Muslim tourists shop

    Muslim tourists spent $62 billion shopping and dining last year – and Asia got a huge share.

    Malaysia and Singapore were the second and third most popular shopping destinations for Muslim tourists last year, lagging behind only Dubai, according to the MasterCard-CrescentRating Muslim Shopping Travel Index 2015 just released.

    Fourteen cities from Asia Pacific made it onto the overall list of 40 destinations.

    The research shows shopping expenditure by Muslims in 2014 amounted to $36 billion, while dining expenditure amounted to $26 billion

    The MTSI 2015 looks at in-depth data covering Muslim travel shopping from 40 international cities creating an overall index, based on a number of criteria. It is the first time detailed insights have been provided on the consumer spending behaviour of Muslim travellers.

    The MTSI 2015 is the latest research collaboration between MasterCard and CrescentRating on this sector following the launch of the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2015 earlier this year.

    “The MasterCard-CrescentRating Muslim Travel Shopping Index is a fascinating insight into the shopping habits of Muslim consumers and will prove to be an invaluable tool to the entire sector,” said Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of CrescentRating & HalalTrip.

    “The research looks at two of the most important expenditure components of Muslim travellers which are shopping and dining. The index reveals how important Asia Pacific is to the sector and the vital contribution they are making.”

    The 40 international cities covered in the MTSI 2015 were scored against a comprehensive set of metrics which included suitability as a shopping destination, Muslim friendly services and facilities and ease of travel. Each criterion was then weighted to make up the overall index score.

    Dubai topped the ranking for overall Muslim Travel Shopping with a score of 79.5 followed by Kuala Lumpur with a score of 73.3.  Singapore scored 71.6 on the Index making it the number one ranked city from the non-OIC countries and third in the overall list.

    Bali also made into the top 10 scoring 58.2 closely followed by Penang with 56.9. In total, Asia Pacific contributed 14 cities to the overall top 40 list.

    A significant highlight of the MTSI 2015 was the high number of non-OIC countries featuring in the top 40 list.

    Singapore, secured a rank among the top five overall destinations for Muslim traveller shopping.  This further revealed the potential for non-OIC destinations, with 25 on the list, to attract Muslim travellers by proactively catering to this segment.

    Earlier this year, the GMTI 2015 showed that in 2014, the Muslim travel segment was worth $145 billion with 108 million Muslim travellers representing 10 per cent of the entire travel economy.

    This is forecasted to grow to 150 million visitors by 2020 and 11 per cent of the market segment with a market value projected to grow to $200 billion.

    MTSI 2015 will be updated on an annual basis and will feature more cities in future releases.

    “The MTSI 2015 provides a deeper look at two key components of the traveler consumer experience – shopping and dining. We see this as an important resource not only for us to better understand this significant and fast-growing traveller segment, but also a source of data that will inform and support the efforts of our partners in the travel industry,” said Matthew Driver, group executive, global products and solutions, Asia Pacific, MasterCard.

    Shopping chart

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  • La Perla Hong Kong revamps flagship

    La Perla Hong Kong revamps flagship

    Italian luxury lingerie brand La Perla has reopened its Russell St flagship store after renovation.

    Laperia - Russel street Hong Kong 2

    La Perla Hong Kong first opened in 2006 in Lane Crawford at pacific Place. Since then the brand has expanded to four stores – and the Russell St shop is described as its main showcase.

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    The newly revamped La Perla store features the new interior design concept of the brand and includes all La Perla Collections for women and men.

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    Gruppo La Perla is one of the leading international lingerie and beachwear groups, with 2000 employees globally. Since its establishment in 1954, the Gruppo La Perla has directed its production towards various market sectors including lingerie, beachwear and nightwear. The company has created a chain of exclusive boutiques in the main fashion capitals of 30 countries.

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