Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • BigPay gears up for regional expansion, with early access coming to Singapore users in coming weeks

    BigPay gears up for regional expansion, with early access coming to Singapore users in coming weeks

    BigPay is coming to Singapore, after 2 years of rapid growth with over 1 million users in Malaysia. The fast-growing Fintech is on an aggressive growth path and is getting ready to make its mobile money app and prepaid Visa card available to all Singapore residents in the coming weeks.

    “We quietly opened up our waiting list on the app earlier this year and already have 20,000 people ready to get early access” said Christopher Davison, Co-Founder and CEO. “People are turning to digital financial services and the pandemic has accelerated the need for fair and transparent alternatives to traditional banking – which is exactly what BigPay stands for.”

    Launched in 2018, BigPay has grown to be one of the largest e-money issuers in Malaysia by gross transaction value. The company’s business was unscathed by the global pandemic, showing strong growth in international money transfers and online spending thanks to the worldwide acceptance of its card. BigPay has received its licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore to operate in Singapore early this year.

    BigPay will make its two core features – payments and remittance – available in Singapore. Users will be able to seamlessly open an account from their mobile phones and make payments at any local or international merchant. They will also be able to make free and instant money transfers to friends, split bills, manage work expenses and track their spending all in one integrated app.

    In addition, Singapore users will be able to remit money quickly and at a competitive rate to 10 markets, namely: Malaysia, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Australia, with more to come.

    Operating on a challenger bank model, BigPay’s goal is to give consumers access to all the mainstream financial products typically offered by retail banks – at a much lower cost and with greater efficiency. BigPay also plans to launch new business lines such as loans, insurance and wealth management in the coming months, as well as expand to other Southeast Asian markets early in 2021.

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  • 7-Eleven opens Snoopy concept stores in Hong Kong and Macau

    7-Eleven opens Snoopy concept stores in Hong Kong and Macau

    7-Eleven has always been known for running attractive redemption programs that offer appealing collectibles. However, the team decided to do things differently this time around, they wanted to shift the program from simply being a way to reward loyalty into a platform to increase brand equity and authentically engage the customer in a fun and exciting way.

    So, 7-Eleven launched a total of four Snoopy concept stores in Hong Kong and Macau to not only showcase and generate awareness of the program itself but also create an exciting destination for Snoopy fans to visit and enjoy.

    To coincide with Snoopy’s 70th birthday, 7-Eleven chose to collaborate with PEANUTS, the iconic cartoon strip featuring Snoopy and his friends. “HAPPINESS IS….” was selected as the overarching platform for the campaign; a famous catchphrase from the PEANUTS cartoons that encourages us to appreciate the little things in life.

    In their latest redemption program, 7-Eleven partnered up with PEANUTS and Japanese lifestyle fashion brand Niko and… in their first-ever crossover collection in Hong Kong to launch a series of eight colorful, stylish eco-bags featuring Snoopy and the gang. To accompany the launch and promote the program in an exciting and engaging way, 7-Eleven developed the innovative idea of the Snoopy concept store.

    The rationale behind the Snoopy concept stores was to bring the redemption program to life and create an opportunity for customers to truly experience the wonderful world of Snoopy and his friends within selected 7-Eleven stores.

    Four locations were chosen to undergo the transformation; a hub of three stores in the high traffic district of Mongkok to create a “Snoopy Town” for added impact and one store in Macau. Each store is decorated individually in a special theme to represent a particular concept under the umbrella of the HAPPINESS IS… platform — Friendship and Togetherness, Sharing, More Hellos, and A Day Out. The different fit-outs not only flesh out the HAPPINESS IS…concept but also give customers a compelling reason to visit each and every concept store to create and share even more happy moments.

    To create a true 360-degree customer experience, stores were decorated from top to bottom. Special Snoopy touches have been added throughout including the shopfront, category signage, chiller and freezer doors, walls, and, in some stores, even the ceiling! The finished stores look as though they have just leaped off the pages of a PEANUTS comic; shelving has been transformed to look like Snoopy’s iconic red doghouse and a custom-made gondola end display installed featuring a jumbo Snoopy figure driving a bright yellow school bus.

    Team members at the Snoopy concept stores can also join in on the fun. An exclusive Snoopy x 7-Eleven T-shirt featuring the iconic Charlie Brown chevron stripe has been designed for them to wear within the stores.

    The eye-catching displays and appealing artwork put smiles on customers’ faces and also give them many opportunities to take “Instaworthy” images to share on social media with their friends and family. The authentic user-generated content is invaluable in creating buzz for the stores and far-reaching exposure of the campaign.

    One of the team’s primary objectives was to strengthen the brand association between 7-Eleven and the PEANUTS franchise in a fun and engaging way. Visitors to the concept stores can see Snoopy and his friends enjoy a range of 7-Eleven SIGNATURE products including Slurpees, Sundae, and 7Café coffee and Hot Shot. And if you look carefully, Snoopy can even be spotted wearing a 7-Eleven uniform himself!

    After experiencing the store, take Snoopy and the gang home with you in the form of exclusive PEANUTS merchandise! Snoopy’s influence is not just noticeable in the store decoration but also in the product range of these specialty stores. One store contains a dedicated Snoopy corner where customers can purchase exclusive PEANUTS-themed merchandise including pet products, lunch boxes, cutlery sets, and other accessories. Yet another chance to bring a little bit of Snoopy happiness home with them.

    The Snoopy concept stores are a successful example of building on an already popular market promotion to give customers a fun and exciting store experience. The introduction of the concept stores elevates the redemption program to another level, turning it into a platform to authentically connect with customers and reshape how they think and feel about 7-Eleven as a brand.

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  • Starbucks Singapore opens in heritage building at Katong Square

    Starbucks Singapore opens in heritage building at Katong Square

    Starbucks fans will have a new outlet to traipse to this coming weekend. Located at the Conservation Building of Katong Square, the airy shop is a pleasing palette of muted green and white, complemented by the wood furniture.

    Artworks by local artist Danielle Tay adorn the wall, paying homage to the “rich Peranakan heritage,” according to Starbucks.

    The coffee chain gave customers a peek of the outlet in a Facebook album on Sep. 23.

    While many have expressed their delight at the store’s design, they are also calling for Starbucks to prevent customers from hogging the seat in the post’s comments section.

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  • California Pizza Kitchen opens new outlets in Manila and Daegu

    California Pizza Kitchen opens new outlets in Manila and Daegu

    The openings in Salt Lake City, Manila, and Daegu, South Korea, mark the beginning of CPK’s emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Los Angeles-based California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) has opened new franchise locations in Salt Lake City as well as Manila, Philippines, and Daegu, South Korea, as it begins to emerge from its Chapter 11 restructuring process, the company announced.

    CPK is planning three additional new international locations that are already under construction.

    CPK announced in July that it had filed for Chapter 11 protection and had entered into a restructuring support agreement with lenders to equitize most of its long-term debt.

    The new stores are located at the Salt Lake City Airport; the Evia Mall in Manila; and the Daegu Mall in Daegu. The Manila restaurant will be CPK’s fifth location in the Philippines, while the Daegu store is the seventh in South Korea. According to a CPK press release, the openings offer “evidence of the company’s strategic expansion in growing markets and its business and financial health.”

    “This has been truly an unprecedented year due to COVID-19 headwinds, but these openings and future construction highlight the confidence we and our partners have in the strength of the brand and its restructuring plan,” said Giorgio Minardi, CPK’s executive vice president of global development and franchise operations.

    The new Philippines location opened at the Evia Mall after government officials eased COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. All new restaurants will implement rigorous cleaning and safety measures, the press release said.

    “We’re very proud to partner with Pie Co., Seoulland, and HMSHost and expand our franchise relationships in these three CPK markets,” Minardi said. “It takes a lot of trust, passion, and strength during these times to make such an investment, and these openings are a clear indication of that commitment.”

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  • Tesla To Support The Electricity Grid Soon In The Future

    Tesla To Support The Electricity Grid Soon In The Future

    Tesla has announced that in the future its electric cars will be able to feedback the stored energy back to the electricity grid. Tesla’s Model S Long Range Plus model can drive up to 644 kilometers using its 100 kWh battery which is often not fully utilized by its owners unless they plan on going on a long trip. While Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk hasn’t specified when it is coming, he did say at its battery day event that the feature was in the works. The billionaire however clarified that this feature wouldn’t be game-changing as the very concept of electric mobility.

    “Vehicle-to-grid sounds good, but I think actually has a much lower utility than people think,” Musk said.

    Musk instead was of the belief that users should start augmenting the electricity that comes in the household with Tesla’s PowerWall which is a battery-based electricity solution that Tesla sells in the US augmented with solar panels. “I think it’s actually going to be better for people’s freedom of action to have a Powerwall and a car,” said Musk.

    Using the PowerWall, users can even go off-the-grid and be fully self-sufficient on their power needs. That being said, having a Tesla with a 100 kWh battery at home can be very handy in the case of a blackout.  “The amount of energy storage you have driving on four wheels is much more than any electric utility will ever build and put on the grid,” says Gerbrand Ceder, a professor of materials science and engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.

    “So it now starts to make sense that you use this as a resource to stabilize the grid,” he added.

    This news comes as Tesla also announced its new tabless batteries which are more efficient and powerful. Tesla also announced that it was developing a new vehicle at the $25,000 price point which may even have the potential to come to India.

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  • Snapdragon 875 will likely be followed by Snapdragon 775G, a 6nm flagship-rivaling chip

    Snapdragon 875 will likely be followed by Snapdragon 775G, a 6nm flagship-rivaling chip

    The upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon 875G will also be available in a Plus variant, claims tipster Roland Quandt. The Snapdragon 875G is apparently codenamed SM8350 and it is internally known as Lahaina. Based on what we know so far, it will be made using Samsung’s 5nm EUV process as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)’s entire 5nm capacity has been reserved by Apple for the A14 Bionic and other proprietary chips.

    5nm chips are expected to be around 25 percent smaller and 20 percent more power-efficient than 7nm SoCs. And, of course, we can also look forward to performance gains. The Snapdragon 875 will likely feature an Arm Cortex-X1 core, three Cortex-A78 cores, and four Cortex-A55 cores. The X60 5G modem will presumably be embedded within the chip.

    If history is any indication, Qualcomm’s upcoming flagship chip will be unveiled in December.

    It will probably be refreshed in July 2021, and per Quandt, the overclocked version is internally known as Lahaina+. The leaker also mentions the rumored Snapdragon 775G, which will likely succeed the Snapdragon 765G that powers midranges 5G-enabled phones like the OnePlus Nord and LG Velvet. The chip will reportedly not share the stage with the Snapdragon 875, and we can expect it in early 2021.

    The chip is reportedly going to be a massive upgrade over its predecessor, and will probably have more in common with the Snapdragon 875 than its 7-series stablemates. According to today’s leak, it will support 120Hz displays, 12GB LPDDR5 RAM, and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage.

    This chip will reportedly be based on a 6nm architecture and it will have a 40 percent faster CPU and 50 percent better graphics than the Snapdragon 765G. This may make it more power-efficient and faster than the Snapdragon 865.

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  • Harley-Davidson Decides To Discontinue India Operations

    Harley-Davidson Decides To Discontinue India Operations

    Harley-Davidson has decided to discontinue its sales and manufacturing operations in India, as part of restructuring actions that the company refers to as ‘The Rewire’ strategy. On Thursday, Harley-Davidson informed its employees of additional restructuring costs amounting to $75 million in 2020, which includes discontinuing the iconic American brand’s operations in India. Total costs associated with ‘The Rewire’ strategy outlined by Jochen Zeitz, President, Chairman and CEO of Harley-Davidson amount to $169 million this year. The motorcycle brand expects to complete the restructuring actions from August to be completed within the next 12 months, which will include optimizing its global dealer network, exiting certain international markets and discontinuing its sales and manufacturing operations in India. In India, Harley-Davidson will reduce the workforce by approximately 70 employees.

    In a statement to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, Harley-Davidson outlined the development, adding some details about the restructuring costs.

    “As a result of the actions approved from August 6, 2020 through September 23, 2020, the Company expects to incur restructuring expenses of approximately $75 million in 2020, of which approximately 80% are expected to be cash expenditures, including one-time termination benefits of approximately $3 million, non-current asset adjustments of approximately $5 million, and contract termination and other costs of approximately $67 million. Full implementation of these Rewire actions may require the Company to commit additional funds for additional contract termination and other costs. Including previously disclosed restructuring charges, the Company expects total restructuring expenses associated with Rewire restructuring actions approved through September 23, 2020 of approximately $169 million in 2020. The Company expects to complete the restructuring activities approved through September 23, 2020 within the next 12 months. Announcements associated with additional actions under The Rewire are expected to occur, some of which will likely result in additional restructuring charges,” Harley-Davidson said.

    Harley-Davidson India has responded with a press statement saying that the company is “evaluating options” to continue to serve its customers. While H-D India has said that the manufacturing facility in Bawal will be closed down, and the sales office in Gurugram will be significantly reduced in size, there is still no concrete announcement on how the brand will support its existing customer base in India. All Harley-Davidson India has said is that the dealer network will continue to serve customers through the contract term. Harley-Davidson has 33 dealerships across India, and each dealership will have a different contract term, but how existing customers will be served in terms of spares and service in the future is still not clear. In fact, with the closure of the manufacturing facility in India, the Harley-Davidson Street 750 range will likely be discontinued, as will be assembly operations. But there’s still some hope that the brand will continue to have some presence, importing models from its facility in Thailand, and with India’s Free Trade Agreement, that may work out to be cost-effective as well.

    Harley-Davidson has been under pressure in recent years, with sales of the American motorcycle brand slowing down in several markets around the world. And India seems to be one such market, where Harley-Davidson has been present since 2009, and where the first Harley dealership came up in July 2010. Harley-Davidson still led premium motorcycle sales in India over the last few years, led by the made-in-India Street 750 models. Harley-Davidson also had assembly operations in India at its plant in Haryana, assembling several models from completely knocked down (CKD) kits. In the last financial year, Harley-Davidson sold fewer than 2,500 units in India, and between April-June 2020, only about 100 Harleys were sold in India, making it one of the worst-performing international markets. And just about 10 years since the iconic brand set up shop in the world’s largest motorcycle market, it’s now time to wind up manufacturing and sales.

    Earlier this year, Jochen Zeitz replaced former CEO Matt Levatich as President, Chairman and CEO of Harley-Davidson. Levatich was in Harley-Davidson for 26 years, and with increasingly slowing sales in recent years, his exit was seen as a move to give new strategic vision to revive the brand internationally. ‘The Rewire’ plan outlined by Zeitz intends to re-look Harley-Davidson’s product strategy, as well as focus on about 50 markets, mainly in North America, Europe and parts of Asia Pacific, that represent the “majority of the company’s volume and growth potential.” And India, the world’s largest motorcycle market, seems to have been given the miss from those important markets where Harley-Davidson sees potential growth.

  • Harley-Davidson Street 750 To Be Discontinued

    Harley-Davidson Street 750 To Be Discontinued

    Harley-Davidson has announced the brand’s decision to discontinue sales and manufacturing operations in India, as part of the brand’s ‘Rewire’ strategy. Harley-Davidson India has released a press statement saying that the company will shut down its manufacturing facility in Bawal, and the sales office in Gurugram will be significantly reduced in size. The made-in-India Harley-Davidson models, the Harley-Davidson Street 750 and the Harley-Davidson Street Rod will now be discontinued. According to a source, a decision to discontinue the Street range was taken months ago, and that is why Harley-Davidson India was offering massive discounts on these models.

    Only last month, Harley-Davidson announced massive price cuts on the Street range of motorcycles. The Street 750, India’s highest-selling Harley-Davidson motorcycle, is also the most affordable, and the company announced a price cut of ₹ 65,000, lowering the price to ₹ 4.69 lakh (Ex-showroom). The Harley-Davidson Street Rod, on the other hand, was offered with price cuts of ₹ 77,000 with prices starting at ₹ 5.99 lakh (Ex-showroom). In fact, Harley-Davidson Street 750 used to Harley-Davidson India’s highest-selling model, accounting for over 80 percent of Harley-Davidson’s sales in India for several years in a row.

    According to one source familiar with the developments, the price cuts for the Street range were announced to liquidate existing stock of motorcycles. With Harley-Davidson planning to shut down manufacturing operations in India, both the Street 750 and Street Rod would have been discontinued anyway. Now, Harley-Davidson has said that the dealership network in India, totaling 33 across the country, will continue to support existing customers through the contract term. But each dealership will have a different contract term and there’s still no concrete announcement on how existing customers will be served in the future, in terms of service and spares.

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  • Apple releases final versions of latest iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch updates

    Apple releases final versions of latest iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch updates

    Apple today released an update to iOS 14.0.1 that exterminates some bugs and more. This isn’t the first public update released by Apple over the last week. On September 16th, the final public build of iOS 14 was introduced bringing changes to the home screen, Android-style widgets, picture-in-picture capabilities, App Clips, and more. The latter allows a user to take advantage of an app’s feature set to take care of tasks without having to completely install the app.

    So what are the issues that iOS 14.0.1 fixes? One causes the default browser or Mail app you’ve selected to reset to Safari or Mail when your iPhone or iPad is rebooted. With today’s update, this problem is erased which means that once you’ve selected your default browser or mail app, you won’t have to select it again. The update also corrects a problem with the Apple News widget that prevents images from showing up on the screen. Other bug fixes are related to Wi-Fi connectivity, and the sending of email through certain mail providers. And there is even an issue specific to the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus related to camera previews that Apple repairs with iOS 14.0.1. Also being pushed out today update to iPadOS 14.0.1, and watchOS 7.0.1. The latter “fixes an issue where some payment cards in Wallet were disabled for some users.”

    To update your devices, on your iPhone and iPad go to Settings > General > Software Update. To update your Apple Watch, on the device itself go to General > Software Update. If an update is ready, tap on Install and follow the directions on the device. The Apple Watch must be within the range of your iPhone’s signal and must have a Wi-Fi connection. The installation will begin once the timepiece is charged to 50% or higher. Keep the watch connected to the charger until the update is completed.

    The update to iOS 14.0.1 weighs in at approximately 171.MB and the watchOS update to version 7.0.1 weigh in at 1GB. Updates to macOS Catalina 10.15.7, and tvOS 14.0.1 have also been made available by Apple today.

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  • Google adds a COVID-19 layer to Google Maps

    Google adds a COVID-19 layer to Google Maps

    Google continues to work on improving Google Maps and on Wednesday a “COVID-19 layer” started rolling out. With this layer, users can see areas where the virus is spreading and it is coded by color based on the number of people with the coronavirus in each region. The layer produces these color codes based on the seven-day average for the number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people and even reveals whether the number of cases is trending higher or lower.

    Google said that over a billion people rely on Google Maps to help them safely get from point “A” to point “B.” And that includes safely navigating around the virus by using the COVID-19 layer. As Google says, “This week, we’re introducing the COVID layer in Maps, a tool that shows critical information about COVID-19 cases in an area so you can make more informed decisions about where to go and what to do.”

    When you open Google Maps, tap on the layers button in the upper right corner of the screen and click on “COVID-19 info.” You will then see the seven-day average of new COVID cases per 100,000 people for the area of the map you’re looking at. The color-coding also reveals the density of new cases in the area. The COVID-19 layer starts rolling out on iOS and Android phones this week.

    The source of the data that you’ll see comes from legitimate places such as Johns Hopkins, the New York Times, and Wikipedia. Those places get their info from the World Health Organization, state and local health agencies, government organizations, and hospitals. And while consumers can get the same info through Google Search, they can also obtain it from Google Maps. As Google says, “While getting around is more complicated these days, our hope is that these Google Maps features will help you get where you need to be as safely and efficiently as possible.”

  • Steel exports to China multiplies 19 times

    Steel exports to China multiplies 19 times

    Vietnam’s steel exports to China surged 19 times to 2.07 million tonnes between January and August on the strength of rising demand in a recovering economy.

    This was nearly 35 percent of Vietnam’s total steel exports in the period, and its value rose 15 times to $844.5 million, according to Vietnam Customs.

    China’s customs data shows that steel imports in the first eight months rose 11 percent year-on-year to 759.9 million tonnes.

    The country, the largest steel producer in the world, became a net steel importer in June for the first time since the last global recession in 2009 as demand overshot supply in the rapidly recovering economy.

    The surge in domestic demand for steel has been driven by infrastructure projects and the property market, the report said, citing China’s commodity price reporting agency.

    Vietnam’s steel exports in the first eight months to all markets rose nearly 37 percent year-on-year to 5.96 million tonnes, with increases of 195 percent to Brazil and 143 percent to Germany.

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  • DHL unveils air freight charter linking Asia, Europe and US

    DHL unveils air freight charter linking Asia, Europe and US

    In a bid to meet demand from customers in the technology, manufacturing, and life sciences and healthcare sectors, the twice-weekly charter will begin in Chongqing, China, before flying to Amsterdam, Netherlands; Chicago, United States; Incheon, South Korea, before returning to China.

    Thomas Mack, Global Head of Air Freight DHL Global Forwarding, commented: “While some passenger airlines have resumed operations, the situation in the air freight market remains volatile – especially as belly capacity is still tight As the leader in the air freight market, DHL Global Forwarding’s top priority is to provide our customers with sufficient and reliable air freight capacity. Not only are the resilient, agile, and reliable supply chains of highest importance for an economic recovery, but also in preparation for the availability of vaccines and other essential medical supplies during the pandemic.”

    South Korea has overseen the export of healthcare products significantly increase year-on-year by 26.7% during the first half of 2020, with pharmaceutical goods, in particular, rising by 52.5%. China exported 28.5% more medical devices during the first five months of the year in comparison to 12 months ago. In 2019, China, the Netherlands and the United States were among the leading 10 importers and exporters of medical goods.

    The news follows DHL and McKinsey’s whitepaper that focused on delivering stable logistics for vaccines and medical supplies during COVID-19. As a result of the collaboration, the aim is to provide global coverage of COVID-19, up to 200,000 pallet shipments, and 15 million deliveries in cooling boxes, as well as 15,000 flights across a number of supply chain set-ups.

    “Over the years, DHL has built up its expertise from globally certified facilities and staff to technologies that track shipments in real-time in addition to ensuring the integrity of such products throughout their journey. Getting the much-needed air capacity is the last piece in the value chain puzzle, so to speak, that ensures temperature-sensitive products such as life-saving vaccines reach the communities-in-need,” added Mack.

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  • Mochi Shoes completes 20 years

    Mochi Shoes completes 20 years

    Awesomeness trends once again as Mochi, the stylish youthful Indian footwear and accessories brand, turns 20 this year. Since its debut in the year 2000, the brand has expanded its presence in 74 cities with 144 stores. The Big Birthday Bash of Mochi as it turns 20 begins with a pre-celebration of 14 days starting 26th Sept to 9th Oct, with 10th and 11th Oct being the two BIG BIRTHDAY DAYS! The brand is celebrating this milestone with special offers, lucky draw prizes, special surprises on the big days, lots of excitement via various gifts, engagement with its followers on its digital platforms.

    What began as the first store in the year 2000 on Commercial Street of Bangalore has now expanded rapidly over the years into a brand that is synonymous with vibrant, fresh designs, creativity, and spunk for young Indians. In the past two decades, Mochi has gained experience providing bright, vibrant stylish footwear trends to the youth and has guaranteed a unique strong identity in style. This brand provides a wide assortment of fashion footwear along with trendy handbags, belts, socks, wallets, and more

    Speaking on this special occasion, Alisha Malik, VP Marketing and Ecommerce, Metro Brands LTD, said, “Mochi, the young, vibrant, fun brand is turning 20 and that’s a milestone all of us are very excited about. It is a brand that is very special to all of us. This 16 day of birthday celebration will also bring a positive vibe to our customers in this current pandemic. It’s the Mochi spirit, after all ‘Awesome Never Stops’! We would like to thank all our customers, employees, partners, Karigars, who have been through this exciting journey with us and have helped us achieve this milestone.”.

    Leveraging its heritage, most of the products from Mochi Shoes are ‘Made in India’ with the skill and expertise of over 4000 local Karigars. The philosophy of durability, quality, and innovation has continued, and the brand now offers footwear styles for men, women, and children.

    Mochi is celebrating its 20 glorious years with a series of activities at the store as well as on e-commerce platforms such as – Spin a Wheel, wherein customers can win their offer, free shopping and much more and redeem. This is assured for anyone who spins. There is a Lucky draw at the end of the duration, wherein over 1000 prizes will be given out. Customers stand a chance to win Apple I-pads, Prime subscriptions, Echo, fire sticks, free shopping, and lots more. Customers can choose to shop either at the store or from their e-commerce site

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  • Cebu Pacific now halfway through refund claims

    Cebu Pacific now halfway through refund claims

    Budget carrier Cebu Pacific is asking passengers for patience as it works through a pile of refunds that reached almost P5 billion. Like other airlines, Cebu Pacific has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the mass cancellation of flights and prospective trips.

    “We understand how challenging this whole situation is, and we sincerely apologize for the delay,” Cebu Pacific said in an advisory to passengers.

    Cebu Pacific said it had already refunded over P2.4 billion to customers but this was just about half of the requests received.

    “Since the start of this pandemic, we have received an unprecedented number of refund requests due to flight cancellations brought about by the lockdown,” Cebu Pacific said.

    “Our refund process than was originally not designed to handle this volume of requests, and this resulted in a backlog. We have since then revamped our procedures in order to address this,” it added.

    Cebu Pacific said processing of refund requests would take about six months.

    “We remain committed to our customers to complete pending refunds and will update them once these have been processed. We are currently halfway through refund requests filed last April,” Cebu Pacific said.

    At present, Cebu Pacific has restored just 10 percent of its pre-COVID network.

    Cebu Air Inc, which operates Cebu Pacific, announced a P9.1-billion loss in the first half of 2020, which included the almost three-month lockdown of major cites across the Philippines.

    The loss reverses a P7.14-billion profit in the January to June 2019. With the recent signing of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, airlines will have the option to stop issuing refunds for new requests while the law is in effect.

    Under the law, they will be allowed to issue travel vouchers instead.

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  • Google Assistant becomes even smarter after recent update

    Google Assistant becomes even smarter after recent update

    Google is trying to make Assistant a useful tool that we can’t live without. Using Google’s learning algorithms, the digital assistant can execute various tasks without having to interact with it every time.

    This time around, Google thought it would be a great idea “to find a way for Google Assistant to help you stay productive.” To make users’ lives easier, Google added new Assistant functionalities that let users get multiple things done with a single command.

    These are called routines and can be enabled in the Assistant settings on your Android or iOS devices. The latest update introduces a new workday routine specifically designed for those who work from home.

    The new workday routine will automatically remind users of all the things they need to do throughout their workdays. When the new routine is enabled, Google Assistant will regularly share the time with you throughout the day. The new workday routine feature is available in English only, while the individual Assistant actions and time block can all be customized to fit one’s schedule.

    Last but not least, Google Assistant is getting a new Gentle Sleep and Wake feature that’s now rolling out to all smart lights. The new feature allows you to set a reminder to get to bed at a certain hour by saying “Hey Google, sleep my lights at 11:00 p.m.” You can even set a reminder for the lights to start brightening 30 minutes before your alarm goes off.

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