Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • Giant Chengdu book store opens

    Giant Chengdu book store opens

    Award-winning book retailer Fang Suo Commune has opened another stunning store – this time in Chengdu, China.

    Two more are planned later this year – one in Chongqing in March and another in Qingdao later in the year. It is already planning a Shanghai store for 2017.

    Fang Suo Chengdu 1- 215

    The original Fang Suo Commune store, in Guangzhou was named the world’s best retail store in 2013 in the prestigious World Retail Congress Awards. According to Chinese news reports the store turns over as much as 1.5 million yuan (US$240,000) a day, although books account for just 35 per cent of that figure.

    The Fang Suo concept is more than a retail store. The founders want to encourage shoppers to relax and ‘hang out’ in store, as well as to shop. It features a cafe, a home living collection and space for cultural events.

    Fang Suo Commune Chengdu 3 - 215

    The 4000sqm Chengdu store officially opened at the end of January but during a two-month long ‘soft opening’ it attracted between 7000 and 20,000 visitors per day – twice the number of Guangzhou.

    “A brick-and-mortar bookstore that only sells books is unable to survive in the digital age,” Fang Suo Commune chief consultant Liao Mei-li said at the Chengdu opening ceremony.
    “However, what’s amazing about the book industry is that it can do crossovers with many other industries such as beverages and movies. There is a market for such cross-industry bookstores,” Liao said.

    Fang suo commune Chengdu 2- 215

    “To achieve business success, a cross-industry bookstore needs a big enough scale. But most importantly, we need a professional team to operate it. The leading members in Fang Suo’s team all have more than a decade of experience in the book or retail industry,” Liao said.

    The two-storey store, located in Taikoo Li Mall, features a 100 metre long display of books on either side of a giant room and handcrafts selected from all over the world on display tables in the centre.

  • Giant Matahari Mall online planned

    Giant Matahari Mall online planned

    Indonesian industrial conglomerate Lippo Group is to invest US$500 million creating “the Alibaba of Indonesia”.

    The Indonesian mall will bear the Matahari department store brand name, MatahariMall replicating and expanding the nation’s largest department store’s bricks and mortar offer online.

    Lippo Group is one of Indonesia’s largest and diversified corporations, which owns Matahari hypermarkets, department stores and some 60 shopping centres. It says it will invest the internet funds into the Matahari Mall online over a two to three year period as it strives to create the nation’s largest eCommerce site, turning over US$1 billion annually.

    Lippo Group representative John Riady described eCommerce in southeast Asia as “a US$100 billion opportunity”.

    “We want to become ‘the Alibaba of Indonesia’,” he told a media briefing.

    “Indonesia is the last remaining, large underpenetrated eCommerce market in Asia. MatahariMall is the single largest eCommerce opportunity today.

    “Our vision is to build the most powerful ecosystem that brings together buyers and sellers to do business anytime and anywhere.”

    Five years from now, Lippo wants to achieve US$25 billion in sales from its Matahari operations, 80 per cent of that from its bricks & mortar stores, 20 per cent online.

    Tech In Asia reports that prior to Lippo’s announcement the largest single commitment to eCommerce in Indonesia was $100 million from SoftBank and Sequoia Capital into Tokopedia.

    Lippo is effectively putting MatahariMall will into head-on competition with Rocket Internet’s Lazada, southeast Asia’s strongest online retailer.

    MatahariMall will sell goods spanning the fashion, beauty, electronics, home, groceries, books and entertainment categories, and more. Customers will be able to purchase online and collect in a Matahari store.

    Matahari Department Stores CEO Michael Remsen says Indonesian eCommerce will grow 10-fold over the next five years.

    “Together with MatahariMall, we are committed to the future of ecommerce. All of our suppliers and partners are 100 per cent behind us,” he said.

    The site will go live in March.

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  • Prada Vietnam makes debut

    Prada Vietnam makes debut

    Italian luxury brand Prada has opened its first store in Vietnam – in Hanoi.

    Prada Vietnam has debuted in Hoan Kiem, the capital city’s premier shopping strip

    Designed by architect Roberto Baciocchi, the store covers a total area of 360 sqm on a single level and houses the women’s and men’s leather goods, accessories and footwear collections.

    The store is strategically located on the corner of one of Hanoi’s historic buildings overlooking the renowned August Revolution Square. White stone pillars and a series of windows and light boxes inserted into black marble volumes set the rhythm of the external façade.

    The entrance overlooking the square is enhanced by a large canopy extending over it. The interior comprises a succession of spaces, each featuring a different atmosphere.

    The area housing the women’s leather goods collection is defined by the signature black and white marble chequered flooring – a legacy of Prada’s identity worldwide – and green fabric-clad walls with cut-in niches exalting the display of the products.

    In the space dedicated to women’s small leather goods and accessories, black marble-clad walls create an elegant atmosphere. Polished steel display counters with drawers covered in coloured saffiano leather complete the furnishing.

    The area hosting women’s footwear is characterised by beige carpeting, green velvet sofas and walls with Prada’s iconic display niches. The space devoted to men features masculine materials and finishes: ebony floorboards and walls, dark brown carpeting and cotto-coloured leather sofas.

    Polished steel display cases and counters with drawers covered in coloured saffiano leather complete the setting.

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  • New concept for Pizza Hut Hong Kong

    New concept for Pizza Hut Hong Kong

    Yum! Brands has unveiled a new concept store in Hong Kong – Pizza Hut Super Delco.

    The delivery-based, eat-in store model features smaller scale fast casual or a convenient eat-in area with seating for 30-50 customers. The company believes the new store model is ideal for locations with high traffic and in dense residential areas.

    In place of the stark, plastic look of the last generation of fast food stores, Pizza Hut Hong Kong Super Delco features cast iron ‘star-burst’ chandeliers, mosaic, light-wood tables and rustic grasses arranged amidst artisan olive oil bottles. In the words of Yum!, it looks more like a character-filled coffee bar than a pizza restaurant.

    Designed to create “a relaxing and intimate ambiance”, the new Super Delco offers “a flavorful oasis from the hectic lifestyle of millennials living in Hong Kong”, says Yum!.

    Pizza Hut Hong Kong is aiming to be the city’s ‘most loved’ pizza brand and the chain already boasts more than 100 outlets. It is one of the few Super Delco located anywhere in the world.

    Richard Leong, CEO of Pizza Hut Hong Kong, is excited about the opportunities the Delco Model store will bring to the region.

    “Pizza Hut Super Delco is a new business channel that will continue to be an engine of growth for us as the Hong Kong restaurant space becomes more competitive and the neighborhood dining scene is evolving. We also need to cater to a younger millennial generation seeking for a convenient meal replacement.”

    The Super Delco design was intentional as research showed that millennials in Hong Kong are looking for a relaxing place to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and light meals (e.g. Panini or cake) during weekends in their neighborhood.

    It’s not just the design of the new Super Delco that’s infused with flavour: the menu brings new dishes, offering solutions for small groups or individuals with a focus on pasta, rice and mini-pizza.

    Dishes already proving popular among local customers include the Chinese New Year Pizza – Cheesy 7 Fiesta in the shape of a flower, and in Taiwan, the Pineapple Bun Stuffed Crust Pizza.

    “The overwhelming amount of encouraging responses to the new store opening has given the Hong Kong Pizza Hut team confidence in this exciting new venture,” Yum! said in a statement.

    More Super Delcos will now be opened in Hong Kong during the year.

  • Ethan Allen China boost

    Ethan Allen China boost

    American home furnishings brand Ethan Allen China has opened its 75th store Chinese store – an elegant, multi-level flagship in Haikou, Hainan’s capital.

    The US-based company shares the retail space with Markor Home Furnishings, its partner throughout the Chinese market.

    The design of the 25,000 sqft store the partnership’s “new generation” retail direction, with a stately and classical façade, and marble-clad interiors throughout. A second “new generation” flagship is planned for Beijing later this year.

    “We are taking the retail experience to the next level,” said Farooq Kathwari, CEO.

    Ethan Allen is in the midst of a product re-invention, introducing new styles and increasing its commitment to producing them in North America. The brand, which now makes over two-thirds of its products in its own workshops in North America, has found an enthusiastic clientele in China, said Kathwari.

    “This is a market that cares deeply about quality and has a passion for classic American style. Needless to say, we feel right at home here.”

    The brand is steadily expanding its retail footprint and has opened 11 new Design Centers in the last year, in key domestic markets like Houston, Las Vegas and Marlton, New Jersey and internationally in Dubai and Doha.

    During the next 12 months, 13 more stores will open, with the company continuing to focus on China.

    “As an American brand, we draw upon influences from all over the world, which is one of the many things that continue to keep Ethan Allen so relevant all over the world,” said Kathwari,

    Ethan Allen was founded in 1932 and today describes itself as a leading international home fashion brand doing business throughout North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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  • Prada opens new store in Auckland

    Prada opens new store in Auckland

    Prada recently opened a new store on Queen Street in Auckland, establishing a presence in the city’s prestigious shopping district.

    The new space, designed by architect Roberto Baciocchi, covers a total area of 350 square metres, spread over two floors, and houses the women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, leather goods, accessories and footwear collections.

    The external façade appears as a single large glass wall overlooking the street. The ground and first floor windows are framed by slim black marble profiles.

    The space dedicated to men features masculine materials and finishes: ebony floorboards and walls, palladium and crystal display cases defined by saffiano detailing in bright blue hues and light cotto-coloured leather sofas.

  • Thai retail plays key role in rebound

    Thai retail plays key role in rebound

    Thailand’s retail industry is expected to grow by 5-10 percent this year from THB1.55 trillion (USD47.6 billion) last year as local consumption recovers.

    Suwit Kingkaew, a senior vice-president of CP All Plc, operator of the 7-Eleven convenience store chain, yesterday said local consumption was improving, and the momentum was expected to continue throughout 2015.

    Retail growth this year will come partly from greater exports to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Last year GDP in those countries grew by 7-8%, while Thai exports to them rose by 14-18%.

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  • Why GM hired 8,000 programmers

    Why GM hired 8,000 programmers

    Car Maker brought much of its technology in-house to make custom software; selling trucks online

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  • Moratorium on new malls leads to retail space shortage in Indonesia

    Moratorium on new malls leads to retail space shortage in Indonesia

    The retail space market in Jakarta anticipates limited future supply due to a moratorium policy for new mall development, a global property consultant company Savills PCI Research said in a report released on Wednesday.

    The capital city put in place the mall development moratorium in late 2011 under then governor Fauzi Bowo, after the city experienced a boom in mall construction, triggering concerns that it may lead to deteriorating quality of life, through greater traffic jams and less public space.

    In September 2013, Fauzi’s successor Joko Widodo extended the moratorium, but the current governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, has not outright banned mall developments, saying as long as the new development does not exacerbate traffic congestion, he will allow it to go ahead.

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  • Optus boosted by customer growth

    Optus boosted by customer growth

    New customers spending more on data have boosted revenue for Optus, but the telco continues to be outpaced by Telstra.

    Australia’s second largest telco achieved a 6 percent rise in revenue in the three months to December, as it added 100,000 mobile customers to 8.25 million.

    Data revenue rose 12 percent, as more customers moved to the company’s 4G network and new handsets, including the iPhone 6, were released.

  • Brands urged to adopt online video to reach customers

    Brands urged to adopt online video to reach customers

    Online video is predicted to be the next big thing in online communication tools to promote brands, thanks to the high penetration of budget smartphones and on-the-go lifestyles.

    Arpapat Boonrod, managing director of global media research company TNS Thailand, said digital media dominated the lifestyle of Thai people. They spend an average of 4.2 hours a day on online media, far surpassing the 2.6 hours spent on traditional TV screens.

    To cope with the rapid change of media consumption in Thailand, collaboration between traditional and new media is the best way for brands to communicate with target customers, she said. Brands should create online videos on a customised basis, adopt a multi-screen tactic and an on-the-go approach to create an effective strategy.

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  • Snapdeal makes it to the top 10 employers’ club in retail

    Snapdeal makes it to the top 10 employers’ club in retail

    Snapdeal has become the first e-commerce company in India to enter the best employers’ club. The latest survey by Great Place To Work Institute India, in partnership with Retailers Association of India, has put the New Delhi-based firm among the top 10 employers among retailers. The other nine companies in the list are traditional brick and mortar retailers.

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  • Thai retail leader Central Group to invest USD1.14b in 2015

    Thai retail leader Central Group to invest USD1.14b in 2015

    Thailand’s largest retail conglomerate, Central Group, plans to invest USD1.14 billion this year, expanding at home and in Southeast Asian neighbours by opening new malls to tap into cross-border trade and lining up acquisitions.

    Controlled by Thailand’s richest family, the unlisted firm told reporters at a news conference on Monday it plans to accelerate revenue growth to 15 percent this year, to THB287 billion (USD8.8 billion), compared with 6.6 percent growth in 2014.

    Central Group is among a group of major Thai companies looking to buy more international assets, especially in Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.

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  • Singapore consumer confidence down amid personal finance worries

    Singapore consumer confidence down amid personal finance worries

    Consumer confidence in Singapore fell in February, mainly due to Singaporeans’ reduced confidence about their personal finances over the next 12 months.

    This is according to a consumer confidence index by ANZ-Roy Morgan which fell 2.1 percentage points (ppts) month on month to 120.7 in February.

    The index sampled 1,000 randomly selected Singaporeans via face-to-face interviews, and also ensured that the income and gender proportions were similar to those of the national census.

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  • Zara opens 1st homewares store in Australia, plans more

    Zara opens 1st homewares store in Australia, plans more

    First it was fashion and now it’s homewares for the fashion conscious with the opening of Zara Home at the Highpoint shopping centre in Melbourne.

    It’s the first homewares store by the Spanish group Inditex – the owner of the Zara label – in Australia but more are planned. There are suggestions the Macquarie Centre in Sydney will be considered for its first NSW site.

    Zara, which is the biggest fast-fashion retailer in the world, has offered homewares in other countries, as does its rival and second-biggest global retailer, Swedish H&M.

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