Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • Vietnam Aviation under pressure

    Vietnam Aviation under pressure

    The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has recommended a 3.7-percent increase in domestic fare caps to enable airlines to cope with surging fuel prices.

    In a proposal it submitted to the Ministry of Transportation, it said fuel costs have risen by 84 percent since September 2015, when the current caps were introduceThe price of aviation fuel Jet A1 has doubled in the period from US$61.6 per barrel to $132.6, according to data from the International Air Transport Association.

    CAAV has proposed hikes ranging between 2.2 percent for routes of up to 850 kilometers and 6.6 percent for those above 1,280 km. Currently, these fares are capped at VND2.2 million ($96.1) and VND3.75 million ($163.8).

    In 2019, Vietnam Airlines had called for abolishing the domestic price caps altogether.

    Last month it called for raising the caps and fuel surcharges. Vietnam is one of the few countries in the world to still cap airfares.

  • With the Waze Retro Mode, go back in time and drive a VW bus as you navigate to your destination

    With the Waze Retro Mode, go back in time and drive a VW bus as you navigate to your destination

    If you’re Google, what do you do with Waze? Google reportedly paid anywhere from $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion for the crowdsourced navigation app and several Waze features ended up on Google Maps including speed limit signs, the speed of your vehicle, the ability to report speed traps and accidents, the cost of the tolls that you will be asked to pay en route to your destination, and more.
    Waze helps Google sell hyper-local ads which sets it apart from Google Maps as a revenue generator from Google’s point of view. Also setting Waze apart from Google is a new feature for Waze called Retro Mode. Sounds groovy, man. With Retro Mode, you can change the app’s appearance and the sound of the turn-by-turn directions to match the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s.
    To activate Retro Mode, open the Waze app. In the bottom left corner tap on My Waze. From the menu that appears, tap on Drive with the 80’s. You will then have options to change how you appear on the app by pressing Moods. You can select a lava lamp (1970s), a boom box (1980s), or a Mac (1990s).
    Tap on Car to choose between an iconic “flower power” VW bus, a race car, or an SUV (representing the 79s, 80s, and 90s respectively). Keep in mind that your car icon is only visible to you. Next, you can choose Voice directions to pick from a 70’s DJ, an 80’s Aerobic Instructor, and a 90’s Pop Star.
    With Retro Mode enabled, you can mix and match elements from each era. For example, you can choose to have the VW bus from the 1970s, the voice of the Aerobic instructor from the 1980s, and the SUV from the 1990s. Cool, huh? You won’t see Retro Mode on Google Maps.
    Once you’ve finished making your selection, tap on the Done button. You’re now ready to drive into another era. Install Waze from the App Store or from the Google Play Store.
  • Swiss performance label On launches its first Asia flagship store

    Swiss performance label On launches its first Asia flagship store

    On Asia’s first flagship store has opened in Tokyo. This is the second flagship store after New York and the largest in the world.

    Located in the famous Harajuku district, the on-flagship store has three entrances over 320 square meters that span three levels. The façade of the store features floor-to-ceiling glass windows that allow natural light to enter the space. There is a metal staircase next to the entrance that guides you to the upper floors. The interior design, which follows the futuristic atmosphere, is emphasized by modern elements such as metal, LED lights and mirrors.

    The first floor has a large selection of on-apparel and accessories, while the second floor has shoes such as sneakers on the “magic wall”. On’s regular concrete sheet has been replaced with wooden elements inspired by Japanese craftsmanship, adding warmth to the space.

    Underground is a 3D-printed rock that is a replica of what was found in the Engadin Valley, where On’s idea was born. The installation can be seen from the atrium on all floors.

    The launch of the first On flagship store in Asia is part of the brand’s strategy to expand its presence in the region.

    Founded in 2010, On’s products are now sold in over 8700 retail stores in more than 50 countries. Headquartered in Zurich, the brand has offices in the United States, Japan, Vietnam, Australia and Brazil.

  • Levi Strauss sets up its own operation in Thailand

    Levi Strauss sets up its own operation in Thailand

    Levi Strauss & Co, the trademark owner of Levi’s denim, has established its own operation in Thailand after a 25-year distribution contract with DKSH ended last month, allowing the brand to connect directly with Thai aficionados.

    According to Sameer Koul, the company’s general manager for Southeast Asia, the business of Levi’s in Thailand would from now on be handled by LS&Co Thailand, the firm’s own subsidiary.

    Thailand is the second country in the Southeast Asian market in which Levi’s has decided to run its own business 100%, following Singapore. This is a strategic move to accelerate its growth, reach a wider customer base and cope with the competitive environment.

    “Thailand has a huge opportunity to grow our business due to a favorable customer demographic. Levi’s has very strong brand recognition among Thai fans. Moreover, Thai customers love to express themselves,” Mr Koul said.

    According to Mr Koul, the company expects that running its own operation rather than it being run by a distributor would ensure the brand would directly reach generations of local customers, particularly those aged between 18-30.

    Members of this age group typically buy 1.5-2 pairs of jeans per year, compared to an average of one pair per year among others not included in this group.

    Product characteristics are also being adjusted while brick-and-mortar stores will be refurbished under a new store format known as “NextGen Indigo Stores”.

    At present, there are eight NextGen Indigo Stores in Thailand including outlets at Siam Paragon, Emporium, Central Lat Phrao and Central Festival Chiang Mai.

    At Levi’s Lat Phrao shop, customers are able to customize their own products in terms of design and decoration. The company also launched an inaugural Thai version of its website allowing consumers to access its products more easily.

    Mr Koul said during 2019-2020, the global fashion industry faced a 20% decline in terms of sales due to the pandemic.

    Nonetheless, Levi reported strong financial performance in 2021, with net revenue of US$5.8 billion, which was similar to the figure for 2019.

    Of the total, 55% of revenue was from the international market, up from 49% in 2016.

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  • GoTo shares surge 23 per cent after IPO

    GoTo shares surge 23 per cent after IPO

    Shares of GoTo soared as much as 23 percent in their market debut on Monday after Indonesia’s largest tech company raised $1.1bn in a widely anticipated IPO, setting the mood for other tech offerings.

    GoTo shares climbed to as much as 416 rupiah ($0.029) versus their offer price of 338 rupiah ($0.024) per share, which was the high end of an indicative range for one of the world’s largest offerings so far this year. The shares later pared gains to trade at 384 rupiah ($0.027).

    The strong debut provides a boost to some of the tech giants which have backed GoTo and have seen their other investments battered by the global market rout since late last year, including longtime major investors SoftBank Group’s Vision Fund 1 and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

    “GoTo’s IPO is a watershed moment for Indonesia,” said Joel Shen, head of Asia technology at global law firm Withers. “With millions of users, drivers, and merchants, there’s no company that’s more plugged in to Indonesia’s digital economy,” he said.

    PT GoTo Gojek Tokopedia Tbk’s stock market debut is the culmination of last year’s merger between ride-hailing-to-payments company Gojek and e-commerce giant Tokopedia.

    “I hope that GoTo IPO will motivate our young generations to give new energy for Indonesia’s economic progress,” Indonesian President Joko Widodo said in a video message.

    The listing ceremony at the Jakarta bourse kicked off with a video of all of GoTo’s senior leadership in Gojek driver uniforms riding in-house Electrum brand electric motorcycles.

    GoTo’s IPO comes as record venture funding is creating a wave of startups in the $70bn digital market of Southeast Asia’s largest economy.

    The company sold only 4 percent of its shares in the IPO, and, unlike most other previous flotations, it was offered only to investors in Indonesia.

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  • Puma South Korea names new CEO

    Puma South Korea names new CEO

    Puma Korea announced on the 12th that it has appointed Lee Na-young as its new CEO. The new CEO is said to be a sales and marketing expert with more than 20 years of experience in the distribution industry related to sporting goods and food and beverages. She has been working as a sports brand expert for domestic and global offices of Reebok and Adidas for the last 10 years or so. She joined Puma Korea in 2020 and oversaw sales and marketing operations.

    Puma Korea expects that the new CEO Lee will actively and quickly respond to the rapidly changing market conditions in line with the brand slogan ‘FOREVER FASTER’ based on his rich experience in sports goods and distribution and marketing. In particular, Puma reflected an active and quick response strategy not only in its products, but also in its organization and management culture. In the rapidly changing era after the COVID-19 pandemic (global pandemic), we have organized an organization with an optimized brand and introduced a quick decision-making system. Product production has been promoted localization.

    New CEO Lee said, “While the overall growth of the sports goods and sportswear industry has been stagnant due to the recent COVID-19 impact, Puma has continued to innovate to target changing consumer tastes. We will develop an aggressive business centering on marketing,” he said.

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  • Uniqlo launches online alteration service

    Uniqlo launches online alteration service

    Fashion is a great tool of self-expression, but it’s not always accessible for people with disabilities, illnesses, and injuries. Since a lot of clothes can be hard to put on when your mobility is limited, there are very few clothes available, and a lot of disabled people, especially in Japan, have a hard time finding clothing that’s easy to wear but also stylish.

    That’s why former Uniqlo employee Teppei Maeda started clothing alterations service Kiyasuku, which translates as “easy to put on” or “easy to wear.” After discussing clothing options for people with disabilities with a hearing-impaired coworker, Maeda decided to interview hundreds of people to learn more. That’s how he found out that the biggest fashion challenge for people with disabilities is that there just aren’t enough types of clothes they can wear.

    So Maeda began to think about what he could do to help, and that’s how Kiyasuku, Japan’s first-ever online tailoring service specifically for individuals with disabilities, was born. The company offers to modify the parts of clothes that make them difficult to put on. For example, they can alter T-shirts and sweatshirts so that they open up in the front, and remove zippers and buttons and replace them with velcro. They can work with all kinds of garments, from casual wear to outerwear. That’s a service that’s hard to find.

    The order process is also extremely easy and all done online. Once you have an item of clothing you want to be altered, you access the website, indicate what alterations you want, and choose your tailor. After a digital meeting with the tailor through the website, you send off your clothes via the post, and they’ll fix it up for you and send it back.

    The staff at Kiyasuku are highly dedicated to the cause with an earnest desire to help people in need, so you can rest assured that your clothing will be well taken care of. One member is even the parent of a child with a disability, who learned to sew by altering clothes for their child.

    Kiyasuku sounds like a great service that lets people wear clothes they want to wear, not just because it’s something they’ll be able to wear. Want to wear the latest Pokemon graphic tees from UNIQLO, but can’t pull them over your head? Want to be comfy and stylish at home with hakama pajamas but find them tricky to get on? Or have you always wanted to go gothic lolita but never thought you could be able to put all the different pieces together? Kiyasuku can probably help.

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  • India’s Tata launches “super app” in challenge to Amazon, Walmart

    India’s Tata launches “super app” in challenge to Amazon, Walmart

    India’s Tata Group on Thursday launched its much-awaited e-commerce “super app” offering everything from apparel to air tickets in a renewed push for a slice of a fast growing market dominated by Amazon.com and Walmart’s Flipkart.

    Tata Neu, which has been in the works for about two years, is a single platform for the group’s brands, including Westside fashion, Air Asia tickets, Croma electronics, the Taj group of hotels, BigBasket online grocery and 1mg online pharmacy.

    “Our aim is to make the lives of Indian consumers simpler and easier,” Tata’s Chairman N Chandrasekaran said on LinkedIn, adding that its joint venture airline Vistara and recently acquired Air India, as well as watch brand Titan will be available on the app soon.

    The 154-year-old group, which raked in $103 billion in revenue in 2020-21, is a leading player in steelmaking, IT outsourcing and utilities but arguably best known internationally as the owner of British luxury car brand Jaguar Land Rover. It also makes cars at home under its own brand.

    Tata also has an expansive offline retail portfolio, including a joint venture with Starbucks Corp. Its fashion and watch stores are ubiquitous on Indian high streets and it operates stores for Inditex fashion brand Zara.

    Despite launching the Tata CliQ online marketplace in 2016, the group has been a minnow in an e-commerce market widely projected to be worth $200 billion by 2026. With Tata Neu the group is determined to change that, sources told Reuters last year.

    Tata Neu will offer a membership program and a cross-brand loyalty scheme where customers can earn and redeem rewards while making purchases on the app.

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  • BMW’s CEO Expects Chip Shortage To Last Into 2023

    BMW’s CEO Expects Chip Shortage To Last Into 2023

    A shortage of semiconductors is likely to remain a problem for the auto industry into 2023, German carmaker BMW’s Chief Executive Oliver Zipse said in an interview with newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung (NZZ) published on Monday.

    “We are still in the height of the chip shortage,” Zipse was quoted as saying. “I expect us to start seeing improvements at the latest next year, but we will still have to deal with a fundamental shortage in 2023.”

    BMW said during its annual press briefing in mid-March that it expected the chip shortage to last throughout 2022.

    Zipse’s comments echoed similar statements by Volkswagen’s CFO Arno Antlitz on Saturday who said he expected that supply of chips would not be able to meet demand until 2024.

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  • Ethereum Mastermind Supporting Ukraine

    Ethereum Mastermind Supporting Ukraine

    Russian-born Vitalik Buterin has quietly transferred Ethereum donations of around $5 million to the benefit of Ukraine.

    Ukraine has been receiving a lot of support from the crypto world since the Russian invasion, including Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of the Zug-based Ethereum (ETH).

    The software pioneer transferred ETH donations worth some $5 million to Ukraine in early April, Aid for Ukraine said on its Twitter channel. The organization is a joint initiative of the Ukrainian government, crypto exchanges FTX, Everstake, and Kuna, which collect crypto donations for the country.

    Buterin lived in Russia until he was six years old when his parents emigrated to Canada. According to the Ukrainian institution, he did not announce the transaction despite the large donation amount. It was linked to him through the Ethereum domain name vitalik.eth, which served as the origin of the transfer.

    Half of the donation went directly to Aid for Ukraine, and the other to the Unchain Fund, a cryptocurrency charity initiative founded by activists from the blockchain community to provide humanitarian aid to Ukrainians.

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  • Game Your Way to a Job at Julius Baer

    Game Your Way to a Job at Julius Baer

    The Swiss bank is launching its own video game to attract future tech talent. In an effort to attract future tech talent, Swiss bank Julius Baer is offering its own game on the video game platform Roblox where candidates can take the Be Baer Challenge in the metaverse, the bank announced Monday.

    How many times must children have heard their parents admonish get off of the computer and go play outside, or do your homework and stop playing games?

    Now they can play and look for a job.

    The Julius Baer Challenge was launched on April 11 and requires the users to employ logical and analytical thinking, creativity, and speed in a gaming environment. Players can create their own avatar which can roam around the bank’s virtual headquarters in Zurich in 3D. The challenge has four different levels where prizes can be won, and a showroom that informs players about jobs and benefits at the bank.

    We are thrilled to have been able to implement this unconventional approach to attract tech talent. We wanted to bring a ‘Super Mario’ aspect to the banking world. Gaming requires curiosity, agility, and a drive to advance to the next level. These skills are highly sought after in a banking environment said Guido Ruoss, global head of human resources at the bank.

    The Be Baer Challenge was designed in partnership with E-Sports and gaming experts aimed at creating an inspiring location in the Roblox metaverse. Founded in 2004, Roblox is a global gaming platform with 55 million daily active users with video games are available on PCs, Xbox, and cell phones. There are currently 9.6 million developers on the platform.

    Maybe now, kids will be hearing from their parents «what are you doing outside? Come in and get on the computer and look for a job!»

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  • Everything You Need to Know About Luggage Storage in Victoria Station

    Everything You Need to Know About Luggage Storage in Victoria Station

    Every year, billions of people travel to destinations across the world in search of new experiences and culture. Which means that billions of luggages carrying precious cargo are also making rounds globally. Sometimes, however – well, more often than we’d like to admit –  plans don’t go according to plan

    Last minute changes to your travel itinerary can be frustrating, especially if you’ve been traveling for long hours and you’ve received the unfortunate news that somewhere along the way, your precious luggage has been lost or worse, stolen.

    If you’ve ever lost or have become separated from your luggage, you know what a frustrating experience this can be. Not only does this means you’ve got to buy a whole new wardrobe – and luggage – it also means that many personal and sentimental items may never be seen again.

    How to Keep Your Luggage Safe When Traveling

    Imagine the power to find reputable locations to store your luggage in the palm of your hand. Well, your phone. That’s what a new app-based company that calls itself the largest luggage storage network in the world is aiming to do.

    With locations spread across the world, and in the most popular travel destinations, this company offers a secure pay-per-item daily storing rate to keep you moving. And if you’re traveling to London, you’re in luck because they’ve got multiple locations for luggage storage in Victoria Coach Station.

    After downloading the app on your phone you can move around anywhere in Victoria Coach Station and locate safe and secure luggage storage locations near you. Then, you can book your reservation completely online, unburdening you from the hassle of having to lug your bags when your travel plans don’t always sync up.

    Visiting Victoria Coach Station in Westminster

    Victoria Coach Station in Westminster happens to be the second busiest terminus in London, welcoming more than 74 million annual passengers. With multiple shops and dining options located inside, waiting for your connecting train by never stepping outside the station is definitely an option. But why would you with so many points of interests nearby?

    Westminster and surrounding Whitehall are  home to some of the most decadent and impressive government entities and attractions in London. Buckingham Palace. Big Ben. Sound Familiar? So whether your travels take you here on purpose or by accident, you can relax knowing luggage storage in Victoria Coach Station is available to keep your stuff safe while you’re out and about exploring.

    Nearby Attractions in Westminster and Whitehall, London

    If you’re traveling to this part of London, you’re going to want to prepare yourself for a day of walking. The Westminster and Whitehall boroughs of London are home to the elite of government society and it boasts some of the most iconic and decadent architecture of the land.

    Here are some nearby attractions you can visit:

    Trafalgar Square

    Featuring a central focal point called Nelson’s Column that towers 170 ft. above and flanked by an entourage of bronze lion statues and fountains, Trafalgar Square is a central public square frequented by locals and tourists alike. A great location to sit and rest, the neverending cityscape of vehicles and bustle of people provides a great backdrop for a midday lunch or coffee break.

    National Gallery

    This museum of visual arts boasts more than 2,300 paintings that represent a melting-pot of Italian, Spanish, French, and British artists. A look at all those paintings will take a couple of hours and with free guided tours to keep you enthralled, it’s a better option than staying at the station.

    House Guards

    If you opt for a presentational flair, then Changing of the Guard offers a spectacle of the military and coordinated kind. Featuring two sentries of the Queen’s Household Cavalry on horseback, the ceremony

    Big Ben

    Who can forget an iconic image such as Big Ben? The bell tower next to Westminster House, Britain’s parliamentary buildings, offers a great photo opportunity for any tourist.

    Westminster Abbey

    The esteemed and historic location of the coronation of many kings and queens, Westminster Abbey symbolizes much of Britain’s history.

    The next time you visit London, head down to Victoria Coach Station where you can safely store your luggage and walk outside to bask and take a look back at London’s history.

     

     

     

     

     

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  • Aviation yet to gain takeoff momentum

    Aviation yet to gain takeoff momentum

    On Mar. 15, Vietnam fully reopened its borders to foreign tourists, allowing quarantine-free entry and reinstated its pre-pandemic visa policies, including waivers for nationals of 24 countries.

    “These positive moves have contributed to strengthening confidence in a brighter picture for the aviation industry this year,” Nguyen Huu Nam, deputy director of the HCMC chapter of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said at an event held last week to present the Vietnam International Aviation Exhibition (VIAE 2022) set to take place in September.

    Regarding this year’s prospects, brokerage Bao Viet Securities (BVSC) has said in recent report that if new coronavirus variants are not too dangerous, international routes can recover strongly from the end of the second quarter onwards.

    It has forecast the number of domestic and international passengers in 2022 at 30 million and five million, up 89.9 percent and 4.6 percent respectively over last year.

    Meanwhile, Viet Capital Securities JSC (VCSC) estimates the number of domestic flights has reached 94 percent of the pre-pandemic period (2019).

    The company expects that the total number of domestic passengers for Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air this year will be 92 percent and 91 percent of 2019, respectively; and that of international passengers will be 44 percent.

    Nguyen Phuoc Thang, Head of Science – Technology and Environment Department of Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, said from now until the end of August, carriers will increase the number of flights to serve tourists and the market will recover “very quickly.”

    The industry is coming out of two quiet years, resuming international commercial flights about a month ago.

    As for international flights, Vietnam officially resumed services on nine routes on Jan. 1 before reopening flights to all markets starting mid-February with several Covid related restrictions.

    According to the General Statistics Office, 91,000 foreigners arrived in Vietnam in the first quarter, up 89.1 percent against the same period last year. Of these, 90.5 percent came on flights, up 165.2 percent.

    In 2021, the number of passengers dropped to the lowest ever level in history, to 15.9 million, with that of foreign and domestic passengers dropping by 96.5 percent and 50.5 percent against 2020, respectively.

    As the fourth Covid-19 wave hit the country in April last year, domestic flights were put on hold late August and only a limited number of flights resumed early October.

    Between Oct. 10-20, only one return flight was allowed on 19 domestic routes compared to 58 routes in 2019. and it was not until after that pilot period that domestic flights resumed gradually.

    The demand for flying in Vietnam entered the “new normal” phase during the latest Tet, or Lunar New Year holiday, which last nine days starting Jan. 29.

    According to the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM), Vietnamese carriers operated 10,711 flights on domestic routes between Jan. 29 and Feb. 2, an increase by more than 69 percent against the previous Tet holiday.

    However, the aviation industry has several obstacles to contend with before it gains a strong recovery momentum. One major obstacle is access to its major feeder markets before the pandemic, namely, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia.

    For now, China is still pursuing a “zero Covid” policy and South Korea still maintains tight border control. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis will also prevent Russian tourists from going on tours abroad.

    The VCSC has suggested that Vietnam diversify its markets while waiting for the traditional ones to recover.

    According to Destination Insights with Google, the U.S. and Europe are among markets with the highest search demand for information on accommodation and air travel to Vietnam since the reopening was announced.

    The other obstacle airlines could face in the near future is fuel prices, which accounted for 29 percent and 43 percent of the input costs for Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air in the 2015-2019 period.

    In January, the average price of jet fuel rose to about $101 per barrel, higher than the $77.8 forecast by the International Air Transpo

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  • Ford dealer reports 36-fold profit increase

    Ford dealer reports 36-fold profit increase

    City Auto Corp, Vietnam’s largest Ford dealer, reported profits of VND51.8 billion (US$2.27 million) last year, a 36-fold rise from 2020.

    But it sold only 4,580 vehicles, 29 percent fewer than in 2020, and the increased profitability was due to the average price of each rising by 13 percent to VND915 million.

    The company attributed the decline in number of cars sold to last year’s Covid-19 outbreak and social distancing, but said business bounced back in the last quarter of 2021 thanks to post-pandemic economic recovery and the registration fee cut.

    It hopes to sell 8,820 units this year and double profits to VND104 billion, its highest ever.

    Opening new Ford dealerships and also distributing other car brands are part of its strategies to achieve the goals, it said.

    It did not exclude the possibility of acquiring other dealerships and selling electric vehicles.

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  • Mercedes dealer to operate luxury car rental service

    Haxaco, a major Mercedes-Benz dealer, will focus on developing luxury car rental service this year besides its core business of car retail.

    In a recent annual meeting, its chairman Do Tien Dung said the firm has almost gained monopoly status in luxury car rental across Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, as competitors had been driven out of business due to the pandemic.

    Haxaco posted VND205 billion ($9 million) in profits in 2021, and it targets raising that by 3.4 percent this year.

    Besides being the dealer of Mercedes in Vietnam, it has also distributed MG, a UK car brand, since 2020.

    Dung said the MG reselling segment saw some achievements but has yet to meet the expectations of the company and its shareholders.

    Haxaco eyes becoming an exclusive distributor of a new car brand in Vietnam, but its chairman also noted that such ambitions need time and planning.

    It also plans to issue shares worth VND595 billion this year to raise funds for opening new Mercedes-Benz showrooms.

    Such investment is vital to maintain competitiveness against larger contenders, Dung added.