Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • M1 Jointly Implements Southeast Asia’s First Maritime 5G AR/VR Smart Glasses

    M1 Jointly Implements Southeast Asia’s First Maritime 5G AR/VR Smart Glasses

    Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), in partnership with M1, has implemented a 5G augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) smart glasses solution at its yard in Singapore, the first in Southeast Asia’s maritime industry. The pilot project is part of Keppel O&M’s strategy to leverage digitalization and virtual technology to enhance the efficiency of remote operations for its tech-enabled workforce. The project received a grant from IMDA’s 5G Innovation Program for the development of virtual platform solutions.

    Smart Glasses can have multiple applications. It can be deployed in different phases of a project’s construction as well as to optimize the use of resources in shipyard settings. Versatile virtual platform solutions such as smart glasses can help to improve the overall efficiency of production processes in the maritime industry.

    Equipped with a camera lens, microphone, micro speaker and cellular or WIFI reception, smart glasses are powered by leading-edge software that can perform real time analyses and provide data to the wearer. The device also enables the wearer to communicate seamlessly with a receiver or control room. Smart glasses are also equipped with a micro projector, which can project a digital overlay of text and images within the wearer’s field of vision.

    Chris Ong, CEO of Keppel O&M, said, “As a provider of leading-edge solutions for the maritime industry, Keppel O&M is pleased to partner M1 in leveraging digital technologies to enhance yard operations and safety. During the Covid-19 pandemic when safe management measures limited physical inspections and site surveys, we were the first to officially conduct remote inspections for a newbuild vessel with a classification society using smart glasses.

    “Today, we are further expanding its use to not only improve the efficiency of delivering projects and enhancing yard operations but also widening our capabilities to provide digital solutions for our customers’ assets. This is part of Keppel O&M’s Yard of the Future initiative, which harnesses digitalisation to transform our products, services, and operations.”

    Keppel O&M worked with M1 to test-bed applications for smart glasses, harnessing M1’s 5G high-speed and low latency connectivity to enable quicker and more effective responses.

    Manjot Singh Mann, CEO of M1, said, “We are pleased to collaborate with Keppel O&M to pilot 5G-enabled wearables such as smart glasses, which can help solve critical challenges in Singapore’s maritime industry.

    “Through M1’s robust 5G network, smart glasses can provide high-bandwidth immersive AR/VR environment that enables highly detailed representations and real time information to be relayed to users and control centres. The successful introduction of the smart glasses solution at Keppel O&M is a useful test case that can be scaled and replicated to boost operational efficiency and safety across businesses and industries.”

  • Converge ICT Now Offers Data Center Service Connectivity Solution

    Converge ICT Now Offers Data Center Service Connectivity Solution

    Philippines’ fiber broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. announced it is now offering its Data Center Express (DC Express) to address high-capacity requirements of its customers from the residential and business sectors.

    DC Express delivers clear channel, dedicated connectivity between data centers, such as those used in BPOs, banks and multinational companies, through Converge’s Data Center Interconnect Network. This product leverages the latest DWDM (Dense wavelength division multiplexing) technology for high-capacity requirements to reach data transfers of up to 100 Gbps to data centers in the Philippines and, in the future, key international data centers as well.

    DC Express is complemented by the Optical Transport Network, for customers who want to use their own network terminals for their high-capacity requirements.

    Aside from supporting Ethernet connectivity, this service also supports different protocols to interconnect customer equipment housed in the data centers. For the subscriber’s Storage Area Networking requirements, Fiber Channel is the best solution as DC Express supports FC800 (20G) and FC3200 (40G) for business-critical applications.

    DC Express aims to cater to the connectivity needs of enterprises whose equipment is based in data centers. The service can be provisioned quickly, has enterprise-grade SLAs, and has a 24-hour support and restoration team.

    Converge Chief Operations Officer, Jesus Romero, said in a statement, “DC Express is yet another expansion of our services, leveraging on our inter-data center connections, to ensure faster, better, and more secure data transfer for our enterprise subscribers.”

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  • ZTE Passes Industry-First GSMA NESAS 2.1 Audit for 5G NR and 5GC Solutions

    ZTE Passes Industry-First GSMA NESAS 2.1 Audit for 5G NR and 5GC Solutions

    ZTE has passed the industry-first GSMA NESAS (Network Equipment Security Assurance Scheme) 2.1 audit for network equipment vendor development and product lifecycle processes with its 5G New Radio (NR) and 5G Core Network (5GC) products.

    The audit is implemented by ATSEC, a Swedish independent information security company designated by GSMA, based on the latest GSMA NESAS 2.1 released on January 28, 2022.

    The increasing dependence of society and business on networks brings more complexity to network convergence, and the supply chain security of network equipment vendors has become paramount. The security requirements for “sourcing of third-party components”, which have been added in the latest version of NESAS, stand out in the supply chain. As an industry security assurance framework, GSMA NESAS is constantly iterating on the basis of application experiences, new security needs and feedback from all stakeholders.

    “After ZTE’s RAN and core network products passed the NESAS1.0 audit in 2020, ZTE has been committed to meeting industry security requirements and optimizing our High Performance Product Development (HPPD) R&D process, and then became the industry-first vendor to pass the GSMA NESAS 2.1 audit this year,” said Yang Tiejian, Security Director of ZTE Wireless Operation Division. “To ensure our customers’ cybersecurity and achieve the common goals of all stakeholders, ZTE keeps up with the latest industry requirements and constantly enhances its product security capabilities.”

    Adhering to the principle of transparency and openness, ZTE will implement and evaluate security measures, obtain security certifications as required by customers and regulators, and manage risks throughout the product lifecycle. In the era of global digital transformation, ZTE, with great commitment to becoming a driver of the digital economy, has been providing customers with secure and trustworthy networks and services.

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  • HCMC lottery firm reports record H1 profits

    HCMC lottery firm reports record H1 profits

    The HCMC Lottery Company Ltd. earned profits of VND736 billion (over $31.46 million) in the first half of the year, an increase of 27% year-on-year.

    The company recorded H1 revenues of VND5.46 trillion, completing nearly 54% of the year’s target, the company said in its financial statement.

    The main source of income was the sale of traditional lottery tickets and scratch-off tickets; and the rest from office leasing and printing.

    The company leaders said that from the beginning of the year until mid-July, the company had paid out more than VND2.8 trillion to lottery winners

    After deducting all expenses, the company made a profit of VND736 billion. This was a record high in the company’s history.

    The company’s revenue and profits have been increasing steadily over the last 10 years.

    Current sales are twice as high as they were in the first half of the year 10 years ago, and profits have increased three-fold.

    The company’s management said demand for lottery tickets in the southern region has grown continuously, and the Ministry of Finance has increased the ticket volume by 10% to cover a larger area and expand its agent network.

    The scratch-off lottery, which has been in operation since the end of 2018, has also been successful, covering nine provinces and accounting for 4-5% of annual revenue.

    The company’s total assets exceed VND2.6 trillion, while its liabilities exceed VND900 billion. Cash and bank deposits account for a sizable portion of the asset structure.

    This year, the company expects revenues of VND10.15 trillion and pre-tax profits of VND1.17 trillion. Its payment to the state budget is estimated at around VND3.04 trillion.

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  • Samsung to start producing semiconductor components in Vietnam

    Samsung to start producing semiconductor components in Vietnam

    Samsung is testing its ball grid array products and will mass produce them at the tech giant’s factory in northern Thai Nguyen Province in July 2023.

    Roh Tae-Moon, head of Samsung’s key smartphone division, said this at a Friday meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

    On its homepage, Samsung has said that it is preparing trial production for semiconductor chip grid products and planning to open a research and development (R&D) center in Hanoi later this year or early next year.

    The company said the R&D center was about 85% complete.

    “Semiconductors would mark a third business for Samsung in Vietnam, where the company makes home appliances and half of its smartphones.

    In the first half of 2022, Samsung Vietnam’s export revenue was $34.3 billion, up 18% from the same period last year.

    In February, Samsung announced an additional $920 million investment into its factory in Vietnam.

    Before Samsung, Vietnam had Intel Products Vietnam (IPV), the largest assembly and testing plant in Intel’s network. During the global chip crisis, IPV not only maintained stable operations, but also made a number of innovative contributions to help it fill the shortage in semiconductors. One of the key initiatives was to improve the substrate treatment process at the plant.

    “Vietnam has the ability to establish the necessary infrastructure and policies needed to support cutting-edge manufacturing operations in the chip sector,” Steve Long, general manager of Intel’s Asia-Pacific and Japan region, had said during an interview with VnExpress in May.

    He said the stable socio-political environment, increasingly liberalized trade and investment policies, and a young and talented workforce were the reasons for foreign investors, especially large tech corporations, finding Vietnam an attractive destination.

    Vietnam is home to 60 percent of Samsung’s total smartphone production.

    Samsung, Vietnam’s biggest foreign direct investor, first invested $1.3 billion in its electro-mechanics unit in 2013. The unit produces main boards and other electronics components.

    As of last year, the world’s largest memory chip maker had invested $18 billion in Vietnam.

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  • How to get likes on Instagram – paid and free methods

    How to get likes on Instagram – paid and free methods

    It’s no secret that success on Instagram brings many benefits to both bloggers and companies. With the help of this platform, you can increase sales, tell a wide audience about your brand and become popular. Likes are one of the indicators of account success. The more of them, the better the profile statistics and the future of its author.

    Today we will talk about how you can increase this indicator in your posts and give examples of effective paid and free methods.

    Services to increase the audience

    It should be noted right away that it is important to find a website that has been operating for a long time and has a large client base and positive reviews. When accessing services such as Viplikes, for example, you can not worry about the safety of using this method and calmly buy Instagram likes. These websites have proven themselves to be honest and legit with time and customer reviews, so you’re safe from doing business with them.

    Beware of young services with a dubious reputation. There may be scammers who will take your money and will not bring any result.

    Freelance exchange

    If you have already turned to special websites to buy real Instagram likes and now you want to try some other ways, then you can go to freelance exchanges for help. There you can get from ten to hundreds of new viewers, but no more. This works if you have just started an account and you need a minimum initial audience.

    Unusual unique content

    Unlike the previous two, this is a free option to increase the audience, but it is more complex. Many novice creators only copy other people’s work and do nothing unique, but this is a road to nowhere.

    To impress a large number of viewers, you need to shoot unusual photos that will surprise the audience and evoke different emotions in them.

    In order to make your profile as attractive as possible, you should use professional photo editors or start working with a photographer who will create and edit pictures for your account. We understand that most likely you would like to save on content creation, especially at the very beginning. However, this approach will not lead you to a quick and good result.

    Commenting on posts of other profiles

    It is quite possible to fulfill a dream and gain an audience from other authors for free if you are active in the comments. You can support your colleagues or ask them questions and join discussions on some topics.

    The main thing is to always be polite and not start conflicts, because making enemies is not the best way to gain popularity. Remember that readers of all brands and influencers will support them in conflict with you and you risk getting a whole community of enemies.

    Be yourself

    Do not try to create an image that does not reflect your real thoughts and views. Sooner or later people will feel lies and hypocrisy, and no one approves of these qualities. Be honest with your audience and tell them how you really feel.

    The same goes for brands. Each company has its own decision-making policy and its own views. Follow them so that people clearly understand the interests of the brand and know who they are buying the product from.

     

  • Samsung workers in Vietnam bear brunt of slowdown in global demand for electronics

    Samsung workers in Vietnam bear brunt of slowdown in global demand for electronics

    Samsung Electronics Co Ltd has scaled back production at its massive smartphone plant in Vietnam, employees say, as retailers and warehouses grapple with rising inventory amid a global fall in consumer spending.

    America’s largest warehouse market is full and major U.S. retailers such as Best Buy and Target Corp warn of slowing sales as shoppers tighten their belts after early Covid-era spending binges.

    The effect is acutely felt in Vietnam’s northern province of Thai Nguyen, one of Samsung’s two mobile manufacturing bases in the country where the world’s largest smartphone vendor churns out half of its phone output, according to the Vietnam government.

    Samsung, which shipped around 270 million smartphones in 2021, says the campus has the capacity to make around 100 million devices a year, according to its website.

    “We are going to work just three days per week, some lines are adjusting to a four-day workweek instead of six before, and of course no overtime is needed,” Pham Thi Thuong, a 28-year-old worker at the plant said.

    “Business activities were even more robust during this time last year when the Covid-19 outbreak was at its peak. It’s so tepid now.”

    Reuters could not immediately establish whether Samsung is shifting production to other manufacturing bases to make up for reduced output from the Vietnamese factory. The company also makes phones in South Korea and India.

    Samsung told Reuters it has not discussed reducing its annual production target in Vietnam.

    The South Korean tech giant is relatively optimistic about smartphone demand in the second half, saying on its earnings call last week that supply disruptions had mostly been resolved and that demand would either stay flat or even see single-digit growth.

    It is aiming for foldable phone sales to surpass that of its past flagship smartphone, the Galaxy Note, in the second half. It is expected to unveil its latest foldables on Aug. 10.

    But a dozen workers interviewed by Reuters outside the factory almost all said business is not good.

    Thuong and her friends who have been working for Samsung for around five years said they had never seen deeper production cuts.

    “Of course there is a low season every year, often around June-July, but low means no OT (overtime), not workday cuts like this,” Thuong said.

    She said managers had told workers inventories were high and there were not many new orders.

    Research firm Gartner expects global smartphone shipments to decline by 6% this year due to consumer spending cuts and a sharp sales drop in China.

    Samsung town

    Samsung is Vietnam’s biggest foreign investor and exporter, with six factories across the country, from northern industrial hubs Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh where most phones and parts are manufactured, to Ho Chi Minh City’s plant making fridges and washing machines.

    The South Korean company has poured $18 billion into Vietnam, powering the country’s economic growth. Samsung alone contributes one fifth of Vietnam’s total exports.

    Its arrival nearly a decade ago in Thai Nguyen, about 65 km (40 miles) from the capital Hanoi, transformed the area from a sleepy farming district into a sprawling industrial hub that now also manufactures phones for Chinese brands including Xiaomi Corp.

    Generous benefits including subsidised or free meals and accommodation have lured tens of thousands of young workers to the region, but reduced workhours have now left many feeling the pinch.

    “My salary was cut by half last month because I just worked four days and spent the remaining week doing nothing,” said worker Nguyen Thi Tuoi.

    Job cuts are on some workers’ minds but so far none have been announced.

    “I don’t think there will be job cuts, just some working hour cuts to suit the current global situation,” said one worker, declining to be named because she did not want to risk her team leader role.

    “I do hope that the current cut will not last long and we will soon be back to normal pace.”

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  • 2G and 3G Migrations Completed or in the Pipeline

    2G and 3G Migrations Completed or in the Pipeline

    The Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) has released the findings of its new report ”2G-3G Switch-off July-2022”. Drawing on information collected by the GSA about the switch-off of 2G and 3G around the world, this report noted that 135 operators have either completed, are planning or are in progress with 2G and 3G technology transitions in 68 countries and territories.

    75 operators in 42 countries and territories have either completed or are planning 2G switch-offs with 23 operators in 14 countries and territories having completed 2G switch-offs.

    For 3G, the report reveals that 75 operators in 40 countries and territories have either completed, are planning or are in progress with network switch-offs, including 26 operators in 15 countries and territories that have completed the move.

    The report observes disparities between regions including the pace of 2G and 3G network switch-offs. Europe has or will be undertaking the largest number of technology migrations,   of the total. Asia will be responsible for 31 (23%), followed by North America, and the Middle East and Africa with 8 (6%) each, and Oceania with 7 (5%). Latin America and the Caribbean have just 2 (1%) 2G and 3G switch-offs.

    “When they were first introduced to the market, 2G and 3G were highly important innovations, but as greater technological advances have emerged, their importance has waned, and usage of both technologies is now diminishing worldwide,” stated Joe Barrett, President of the GSA. “As such, more and more operators and governments are coming to the decision that the older 2G and 3G technologies as well as the spectrum allocated to them should be migrated to faster and more efficient 4G and 5G networks. At the GSA, we are forecasting an increase in the number of operators moving off 2G and 3G networks as the transition to 4G and 5G will fully unfold.”

  • IFC Provides $70 Million for Shared Mobile Infrastructure Project in Philippines

    IFC Provides $70 Million for Shared Mobile Infrastructure Project in Philippines

    The International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced that it is providing $70 million to fund a shared mobile infrastructure project in the Philippines.

    In a press release, the organization said it is collaborating with Renewable Energy Infrastructure (CREI) Phils Inc. to help address the digital gap in the country through tower-sharing.

    The $70 million financing package consists of a $25.5 million loan from IFC and the provision of a facility worth $44.5 million.

    IFC’s investment will allow CREI Phils, a newly formed tower company in the Philippines, to fund the construction of over 600 w towers by next year. For the first time in the country’s history, these towers will be shared on an open-access basis. Aside from creating a competitive market for tower colocations, the loan will help increase mobile network capacity, allowing operators to expand high-speed mobile networks (4G and 5G) across the country, offering better services at more affordable rates.

    According to the 2020 Global Digital Overview, the number of internet users in the Philippines has more than tripled from 23 million (2010) to 73 million (2020). Yet, the quality of mobile connectivity is inadequate given its pervasive network congestion. The country ranks 95th out of 142 countries for mobile internet download speed. Further, the number of mobile subscribers per tower – a measure of network congestion – is more than double the regional average. According to market estimates, to fill the gap, the Philippines would need a significant number of new towers built in the next seven to eight years to support the government’s network capacity requirements.

    “We are thrilled to be working alongside IFC in supporting the government of the Philippines’ development of its mobile infrastructure sector,” stated Kadri Hakim, CEO of CREI. “Despite the challenging market conditions triggered by the pandemic, IFC’s long-term funding will allow us to meet our ambitions of expanding our digital infrastructure portfolio in the Philippines. Our management team’s extensive knowhow gained through 15 years of telecoms operations across South-East Asia and Africa combined with IFC’s deep knowledge of the country’s telecoms regulatory regime and its experience as an investor in tower companies, will enable us to effectively develop and grow our operations in the country.”

    The company’s entry into the Philippines telecoms market brings robust expertise in the design, construction and operation of towers, as well as the provision of efficient energy solutions that help displace and reduce the use of diesel fuel on towers connected to the grid. In line with the nation’s climate goals, this project will lead to significant greenhouse-gas (GHG) savings. IFC will also assist the company align its environmental and social practices with IFC’s performance standards.

    “Digital connectivity is more important than ever for businesses and people to thrive,” said Jean-Marc Arbogast, IFC Country Manager for the Philippines. “By supporting the entry of a new company, IFC’s investment will contribute to a strong independent tower market in the Philippines, increasing competition, creating jobs, spurring economic growth and help cut emissions.”

  • YouTube might soon let you zoom in on videos

    YouTube might soon let you zoom in on videos

    A new useful feature might soon come to YouTube. Apparently, the video platform is working on a new option called “Pinch to zoom,” which will let you zoom in on the videos you watch by pinching the video player with two fingers.

    At the moment, Pinch to zoom is only an experimental feature, but YouTube Premium subscribers can freely enroll in the testing through YouTube’s experimental features site and try it themselves. However, they can only do so until September 1st. After that, the Pinch to zoom test won’t be available.

    Most likely, after September 1st, based on Premium subscribers’ feedback, YouTube will decide if it will officially release Pinch to zoom on its platform or just scrap the project entirely.

    If you regularly watch YouTube videos, you know there could be many instances where you would like to zoom in on a portion of the video. For example, tutorial clips often arrange information in small tables, and a zoom-in option would really help you read the displayed data more easily. Or maybe there is a small detail in the latest video of your favorite YouTuber that you would like to zoom in on in order to pay more attention to. Whatever the reason, a zoom-in option on YouTube will most likely be a very useful feature. We really hope YouTube decides to release it to all its users after the testing is finished.

  • KFC and Hype team up in branded fashion drop

    KFC and Hype team up in branded fashion drop

    KFC may be known for its fried chicken, but it’s about to make a move into the fashion world, teaming up with HYPE to launch a 47-piece clothing line.

    The fast food chain has collaborated with lifestyle brand HYPE to create a collection of clothes and accessories including hoodies, puffer jackets and bucket (no pun intended) hats.

    The line-up of co-branded clothing and accessories features designs inspired by both brands, mixing KFC’s tongue-in-cheek interactive messaging with HYPE bold heritage statements.

    The exclusive range has your everyday staples covered and features bralettes, joggers, tees, caps and backpacks, which the brands claim will ensure you look “festival-ready and feeling finger lickin’ good”.

    Inspired by KFC’s history, including its menus and slogans, the collection includes HYPE’s original dad cap shape with ‘Bargain Bucket’ emblazoned across the front.

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  • Gentle Monster opens new China flagships in Beijing, Qingdao

    Gentle Monster opens new China flagships in Beijing, Qingdao

    GENTLE MONSTER announced the largest flagship store in the world will open on August 4th in Beijing Taikoo Li Sanlitun. “DATAIZED FUTURE” serves as the visual narrative theme for the flagship store. As mankind inhibits a fragmented and dislocated near future, visitors are allowed to express free movement, jumping across time and space. As the store relocates from the Taikoo Li Sanlitun North District to the South District, taking up a landmark location in the commercial area, the latest GENTLE MONSTER retail creation marks the brand’s 360-degree upgrade into the world’s largest mono-brand eyewear store in the world.

    The upgraded GENTLE MONSTER Beijing Taikoo Li Sanlitun flagship store presents multi-scale installations, images, and videos that occupy the space from the façade to the third floor. Together, they set in motion a series of static replacements and dynamic contrasts, creating subtle harmony through contrasting colors and materials. The GENTLE MONSTER Beijing Taikoo Li Sanlitun flagship store provides twice the number of styles and products as other stores. The flagship store will offer free repair services for the first time in the Northern China market. Special collaborations or product will also be launched here before any other stores. The third floor is home to only optical products, where shoppers can find professional optometrists in the exclusive optometry area.

    In 2016, GENTLE MONSTER opened its first-ever store in the China market in Beijing Taikoo Li Sanlitun North District. Its “Future Retail” proposition redefined the brick-and-mortar retail experience and has continued to reimage the future of retail. The brand quickly launched 17 flagship stores in 14 cities across China. In collaboration with high-end Beijing luxury department store SKP, GENTLE MONSTER curated the SKP-S department store, last year, it also brought the HAUS SHANGHAI concept to the storied Huaihai Road. As the brand’s launchpad in the China market, GENTLE MONSTER’s move to the South District, occupying the most prominent entrance space of Taikoo Li Sanlitun, gave the brand a chance to push further the expressive nature of retail art, enabling the store to become a new landmark for Taikoo Li Sanlitun.

    Occupying three stories and boosting more than 1,330 square meters, GENTLE MONSTER’s latest project marks the brand’s most prominent move in the China market. GENTLE MONSTER dove deeper into its unique DNA, disrupting conventional retail methodologies that prioritize efficiency and function. With “Future Retail,” GENTLE MONSTER offered a powerful retail experience by simultaneously presenting contrasting emotions, amplifying the brand’s singular worldview. For the first time in GENTLE MONSTER retail history, interior design extends to the exterior façade of the glass building, breaking free of physical boundaries.

    The opening of GENTLE MONSTER Beijing Taikoo Li Sanlitun flagship store marks the brand’s revolutionary move to unleash creative energy like never before. Expansive artistic vision and fresh retail experiences celebrate the brand’s continued pursuit to inspire and ignite the new generation of shoppers.

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  • AirAsia rolls out welcome back campaign

    AirAsia rolls out welcome back campaign

    AirAsia Thailand unveils its latest advertising campaign, “Missing Moment”, building on its “Unseen Caring” concept, which became particularly important during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    AirAsia Thailand head of commercial Tansita Akrarittipirom remarked: “The new campaign is based on the fact that during the Covid-19 pandemic, everyone experienced “missing moments” especially being away from their friends and loved ones, and the places and destinations that give meaning to their lives.

    “We have received a positive response since returning to domestic and international service, with many guests telling us about how they missed sitting in the cabin and setting off on a journey. They even miss our cabin crew asking them to turn off their mobile devices and fasten their seat belts. This inspired us to create this campaign. We want to tell our guests that we are also delighted to be able to serve and glad to welcome them onboard once again,” Tansita added.

    AirAsia Thailand is rebuilding its extensive network to offer the best connectivity, both domestic and internationally, to 11 countries spanning Asean, India, Maldives and Hong Kong for a total of 22 destinations and more than 24 routes.

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  • Monnet Cognac launches in Australia

    Monnet Cognac launches in Australia

    Monnet is one of the most historical signatures of the Cognac region, and since its founding in 1838, has become known around the world for its ‘art de vivre’ (bringing people together through the art of living).

    It is commonly referred to as the ‘sunny side of cognac’ as it sets itself apart by the liquids radiant glow and brightness. As well as being an iconic signature of Cognac, Monnet Cognac has become famous through Leonetti Capiello’s renowned poster, ‘Sunshine in a glass’, which was illustrated for Monnet in the 1920s.

    Made with fine grain French oak, Monnet Cognac offers a fruity eau-de-vie and floral flavour profile with great aromatic richness, and is the result of secular tradition and generations of cellar masters who have turned the cognac into a drink of refinement and pleasure. Monnet’s makers use Ugnic Blanc grape variety to create six sweet signatures with low levels of sugar and acidity, that burst with aromas of apricots, peaches, stone fruits, and white flowers to embody the perfect sunny beverage.

    True to tradition, Monnet uses a copper pot still double distillation to produce its cognacs. Aged for a minimum of two years to achieve a greater aromatic richness and finesse, Monnet distils with the lees, a method that reveals the sunny aromas associated with this beloved signature.

    Export manager of Monnet Cognac, Austin Cooney, said: “We’re so excited to launch Monnet in Australia, and offer locals a taste of our rich French culture and history. While many know our name, most are yet to experience the taste for themselves, so we are looking forward to sharing this bright side of cognac with a new audience and helping them learn new ways to enjoy cognac: whether it be neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails.”

    With six Monnet Cognacs now available in Australia, there truly is a style to suit every palate and occasion:

    • Monnet VS – Monnet VS is aged in Limousin oak casks for a minimum of three years. Sparkling gold in colour, Monnet VS exudes aromas of fresh flowers and delicate spices with a soft touch of vanilla. On the palate, it reveals freshness and finesse, followed by a long, warm finish. RRP $72.99, ABV 40 per cent.
    • Monnet Sunshine – Monnet Sunshine’s roundness and fruitiness are remarkable, creating a product which is both elegant and accessible. Bright gold with a smooth texture, this SKU boasts warm sunset nuances. Full of aromas of quince jam accents and spring flowers like lilac and daffodils, Monnet Sunshine is smooth with hearty notes of summer fruits such as apricot and peach with a light touch of vanilla and gingerbread. RRP $75.00, ABV 40 per cent.
    • Monnet VSOP – At the heart of Monnet’s range, VSOP is aged in Limousin oak casks for a minimum of five years. Pure amber in colour, Monnet VSOP reveals spicy aromas of vanilla, dried fruits and hints of leather. On the palate, it is deliciously rich and balanced, with notes of honey, nougat and a long, smooth finish. RRP $82.99, ABV 40 per cent.
    • Monnet XO Carafe – Monnet Flamboyant is a bright and sophisticated XO decanter inspired by the sun. The Monnet XO decanter embodies a flower about to bloom in the sun. Full of life and energy, it is an ode to what nature and man can do when they work in harmony. RRP $189.99, ABV 40 per cent.
    • Monnet XXO – Beyond excellence Monnet XXO proposes an unprecedented journey into the exceptional nuances of Cognac. Produced in very small quantities, this rare XXO represents the epitome of Monnet’s savoir-faire, with a perfect roundness associated with a stunning delicacy. RRP X, ABV 40 per cent.
      Monnet Salamander – The perfect match of Cognac and gentle spices. The idea behind Salamander is to see Cognac from a different angle: a spirit which is also delicious when mixed with spices and other noble botanicals, as the Salamander is known for its capacity to withstand fire. RRP $41.95, ABV 30 per cent
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  • In Singapore, Zalora launches supermart-style pop-up with Adidas

    In Singapore, Zalora launches supermart-style pop-up with Adidas

    Zalora Group has unveiled a supermarket-inspired pop-up store in collaboration with Adidas at Bugis Junction, Singapore.  The Supermart by Zalora store is designed with a supermarket layout, featuring pop colours and Instagrammable corners. The pop up stocks more than 90 SKUs of Adidas, ranging from footwear, apparel, and accessories for men and women, and an exclusive range.  Through a ‘click-and-mortar experience’, customers visiting the store can purchase their favourite ite

    Through a ‘click-and-mortar experience’, customers visiting the store can purchase their favourite items by scanning the QR codes tagged on them and adding them to their cart on the Zalora app. The order will then be delivered to their doorstep.

    Zalora also partnered with three local artists, Hoon Jialing, Eman Raharno Jeman and Tiffany Tan, to create gift-with-purchase packaging with graphic artwork that incorporates the brand and artists’ aesthetics. Marking the launch, Zalora is also running an interactive game to further engage with its customer.

    The Supermart by Zalora will open until August 12.