Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • David Jones says retail spending up significantly, more boutiques planned

    David Jones says retail spending up significantly, more boutiques planned

    David Jones has brushed off suggestions it will head downmarket under its new owners, and says it aims to build more boutique stores amid continued economic uncertainty.

    Chief executive Iain Nairn, who was appointed in August after the AUD2.1 billion takeover of David Jones by South African retailer Woolworths Holdings, said its tracking of about AUD30 billion in retail spending showed “significant” growth in year-on-year spending.

    “The customer is spending and we’re making good market share gains, particularly in the department store sector,” Nairn said.

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  • Malaysia smartphones sales peak at 8.5m units in 2014

    Malaysia smartphones sales peak at 8.5m units in 2014

    Malaysian consumers just cannot get enough of smartphones; buying more of them each year to bring annual sales volume to yet another peak in 2014 at 8.5 million.

    GfK retail sales tracking showed consumers buying around USD2.66 billion worth of the popular gadget between January and December last year. Total consumer spend, however, was down by 4 percent against 2013 due to the falling prices of smartphones in the country.

    “There was an influx of strong new players in the smartphones and phablets market in the past year, presenting an even wider array of more affordable options for consumers,” saidSelinna Chin, Managing Director for GfK in Malaysia. “Demand peaked in December when sales volume in that month alone reached nearly 769,000 units—over 106,000 more than the slowest sales month in the same year.”

    All regions across the country exhibited stable growth in 2014, with the Central region contributing to nearly half (46 percent) of the entire market share volume.

    The biggest spike in sales was contributed by the USD150 to USD200 segment of smartphones. Its volume share grew from 10 percent of the total market in 2013 to 16 percent in 2014; making it now the biggest segment within the local market.

    “Smartphones below USD200 will continue to be in demand moving into 2015, driven by the multitude of brands, improved technical specifications, aggressive marketing and price erosion — key factors which will further encourage consumers to replace their smartphones,” said Chin. “In a separate GfK consumer survey conducted nationwide, nearly half of all respondents indicated that price is the most important deciding factor when choosing which phone to buy.”

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  • foodpanda group acquires Middle East food delivery service 24h.ae

    foodpanda group acquires Middle East food delivery service 24h.ae

    Targeting the Middle East as next high growth market in the food delivery sector, online food delivery company foodpanda acquired 24h.ae, a food business delivery in the United Arab Emirates.

    Founded in 2011, 24h.ae delivers food in seven cities: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaima. It has 700 restaurant partners, including major brands like Subway, Wendy’s , Domino’s, Johnny Rockets, and Pizza Express.

    foodpanda is already active in Saudi Arabia and Jordan with its hellofood.sa and hellofood.jo brands, respectively.

    Ralf Wenzel, Co-Founder and CEO of foodpanda group, said that combined with its existing hellofood business in Saudi Arabia and Jordan, they would be able to offer the best food ordering experience in the Middle East.“

    The foodpanda group also recently announced acquisitions in Southeast Asian and Asian markets.

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  • Flipkart aims to double sales to USD8b this year

    Flipkart aims to double sales to USD8b this year

    E-commerce major Flipkart has set a target of doubling the gross merchandise value (GMV) of the products sold on its platform to USD8 billion by December this year, against the current USD4 billion, say company sources. The target was decided upon at a recent board meeting of the company, held in Singapore.

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  • India’s LocalBanya aims to raise USD15m in the next quarter

    India’s LocalBanya aims to raise USD15m in the next quarter

    Mumbai-based grocery e-tailer LocalBanya is set for a fourth round of funding worth about USD15 million from domestic venture capital firms within the next quarter. The company has raised about USD20 million in three rounds, one of them about a quarter ago. “We’ll need another round of cash infusion to go national.

  • Samsung introduces extensive lineup of new products at 2015 Samsung Forum in HK

    Samsung introduces extensive lineup of new products at 2015 Samsung Forum in HK

    South Korean electrical appliance giant Samsung Electronics introduced an extensive lineup of new products which included SUHD TVs, curved monitor, smartphone, notebook and printer at its 2015 Samsung Forum in Hong Kong last week.

    For business customers, Samsung introduced MultiXpress 4 Series – the first Android OS-equipped multi-function printers (MFPs). The new printer features a 10.1-inch full touchscreen panel that enables users to search and print from web browsers, emails, maps, images and other types of content – without the need to connect to a PC. The touchscreen also offers the ability to preview documents, as well as editing and annotating capabilities.

    “Businesses seek smart printing solutions that can be managed easily whilst still delivering powerful performance at reduced costs. Our new printing technology not only delivers all of these things but also ensures that super smart is also super simple,” said Ellen Fu, Head of Enterprise Business Team, Samsung Electronics Hong Kong Co., Ltd.

    When Samsung introduced the curved form-factor in 2013, it dramatically enhanced the home entertainment experience for consumers. Utilising Samsung’s proprietary, eco-friendly nano-crystal technology and intelligent SUHD re-mastering picture quality engine, Samsung SUHD TVs demonstrate advances in contrast, brightness, colour reproduction and detail – delivering a superior picture quality experience.

    Samsung will offer three new series of SUHD TVs – JS9900, JS9800 and JS8000 – in four screen sizes from 55″ to 88″, so that consumers have the flexibility to purchase the perfect TV that fits their style and taste.

    As its first 34-inch ultra-wide 21:9 curved monitor, SE790C delivers an enhanced immersive and comfortable viewing experience for multi-media entertainment and multi-tasking.

    The innovative 3000R (curvature radius of 3,000mm) design of the SE790C provides a noticeably different viewing experience from traditional flat screen monitors and other curved monitors in the market. Unlike flat screen monitors where the viewing distance differs from the centre of the screen to the edges, the screen edges of the SE790C match the natural curve of the viewer’s eyes. As a result, the SE790C creates a distortion-free viewing experience with less eye strain and enhanced comfort. The company hasn’t released the retail price of the monitor but said it will available next month.

    To expand the popular services provided by smartphone GALAXY A5 and A3, Samsung introduced GALAXY A7, equipped with a 5MP front-facing camera, 13MP rear-facing camera with auto-focus and LED flash to make it easier for users to take selfies.

    Face Detecting Selfie Alarm enables users to take a photograph with the rear-facing camera. The auto-editing functions which support an automatic detection of faces and a real time retouch of images let users capture the best selfies.

    The new ATIV Book 9 notebook unveiled at the 2015 Samsung Forum comes wrapped in an ultra-slim and light design – making it easy to travel on the go. Weighing merely at 950g with a thickness of 11.8mm, the notebook’s overall volume is 23 percent more compact than its previous generation, fitting perfectly into the smallest size of bags.

    ATIV Book 9 adds freedom to work and roam without worry thanks to the extended 12.5 hours of battery life. The Ultra Power Saving Mode squeezes an additional hour with 10 percent of battery remaining. Without compromising mobility, this ensures efficient power management when users need battery most.

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  • Sony to launch training headset for runners

    Sony to launch training headset for runners

    Sony Corp. said on Thursday it plans to launch a training headset for runners called Smart B-Trainer that uses music to help runners adjust their pace.

    The 43-gram device monitors heart rate, calorie consumption and running pace, and even selects songs for adjusting the pace, from a databank that can store up to 3,900 songs.

    The device is expected to sell for around JPY30,000 (USD250) when it hits store shelves on 7 March.

  • Patek Philippe slashes prices by over 20pc in HK

    Patek Philippe slashes prices by over 20pc in HK

    Swiss luxury watch brand Patek Philippe announced a significant markdown in prices by up to 22 percent in the Hong Kong market, a move analysts believe is aimed at taking on an influx of European watches through parallel imports, Shanghai’s the Paper reports.

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  • Cyberattacks target in-store sales systems

    Cyberattacks target in-store sales systems

    Cyberthieves are increasingly targeting credit card information from point-of-sale systems, Tokyo-based information security company Trend Micro Inc. has warned.

    It’s a problem shared by countries worldwide, and Japan is no exception, the company said.

    POS attacks involve the use of computer viruses to intercept and extract confidential data from systems used to process credit card settlements and manage customer information as well as product sales records and inventories. The systems also play a role in marketing, through analysis of store-by-store sales trends and inventories.

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  • LG unveils “luxury” smartwatch in Apple challenge

    LG unveils “luxury” smartwatch in Apple challenge

    South Korea’s LG has unveiled an “all-metal luxury smartwatch” in an attempt to broaden the appeal of its wearable devices as a fashion item and steal a lead on the hotly-anticipated Apple Watch.

    The LG Watch Urbane has a 1.3 inch plastic touchscreen display and runs on Google’s Android Wear operating system. The stainless steel body comes in gold and silver with a leather strap.

    The South Korean electronics giant has billed the device as a “luxury timepiece” and the “perfect fashion accessory” for men and women.

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  • Traditional shops ‘not dead’ in Thailand

    Traditional shops ‘not dead’ in Thailand

    Traditional Thai retail businesses are expected to stay afloat, but their market share is likely to drop over the next five years as e-commerce proliferates.

  • Victoria Beckham to expand fashion line to Asia

    Victoria Beckham to expand fashion line to Asia

    Cheered by her famous family, Victoria Beckham brought a sexy vision of fall/winter to an intimate New York runway show on Sunday and confided plans to open a second store in Asia.

    The one-time pop star, mother of four and wife of retired English football superstar David Beckham, has won plaudits in the fashion industry for designing beautiful collections that flatter women’s bodies.

    Beckham said that 2015 would see her spend a lot of time in Asia, where she plans to open a second store after the success of her Dover Street boutique in London.

  • Dick Smith to have 450 stores by 2017

    Dick Smith to have 450 stores by 2017

    Dick Smith says Australian retail is starting a sunny period, as seven years of deflation in consumer electronics is replaced by price rises.

    Price increases to reflect higher import prices will start to flow through now, said Dick Smith managing director and chief executive, Nick Abboud.

    The company aims to have 400 stores open in Australia and New Zealand by the end of June, and 450 stores by 2017. It is also focused on increasing private-label and online sales, and ramming home that its prices are competitive.

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  • Philippines’ Robinsons to put up 7 new malls

    Philippines’ Robinsons to put up 7 new malls

    Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC), the property development arm of tycoon John Gokongwei, is opening more shopping centers over the next two years as it intends to retain its foothold as among the top mall developers in the country.

    RLC said it intends to put up seven new shopping centers and expand three existing malls in the next two years.

  • Aeon plans big expansion of MaxValu supermarkets in Thailand

    Aeon plans big expansion of MaxValu supermarkets in Thailand

    Aeon (Thailand) Co, the operator of MaxValu supermarkets, has announced plans to speed up expansion in Thailand by increasing its number of stores to 500 by 2020.

    The company, which now operates 76 outlets in supermarket and mini-supermarket formats, is expected to open 15 more outlets this year.

    General manager Keiji Ono said Aeon would spend THB300-400 million (USD9.2m-USD12.3m) to add new stores and modernise some outlets.

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