Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • AirAsia to resume Philippine domestic flights starting June 3

    AirAsia to resume Philippine domestic flights starting June 3

    AirAsia announced on Sunday that it will be resuming its domestic flights starting June 3 as quarantine protocols are eased in several areas in the country including Metro Manila.

    In an advisory, AirAsia said that resumption of services will gradually increase to include international destinations by July 1.

    Selected domestic flights are available for booking via the airline’s website or mobile application. Travelers can also use their credit accounts to redeem these flights.

    AirAsia also announced that operations for domestic flights will be temporarily moved to Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from its previous location at Terminal 4.

    Travelers were advised to expect enhanced safety measures which include the mandatory wearing of face masks to be permitted to travel, among others.

    AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricky Isla said assured the traveling public that they are “well prepared to welcome everyone aboard.”

    “During the hibernation of our fleet, we took the time to step up our handling procedures to ensure that our guests have a swift and safe journey with us. Needless to say, we are well prepared to welcome everyone on board,” Isla said.

    “As we resume our services around our network, AirAsia is determined to help rebuild our economy and country,” Isla added.

    Other airline companies such as Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have earlier announced the resumption of some flight operations this June.

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  • Two-Thirds of Singaporeans Lack Savings to Maintain Lifestyle

    Two-Thirds of Singaporeans Lack Savings to Maintain Lifestyle

    Two in three working Singaporeans lack the savings to last beyond six months without compromising their existing lifestyles should they lose their jobs now, according to a recent survey by OCBC.

    Around half of the respondents already claimed to have suffered wage cuts, prescribed no-pay leaves or reduction of commission-based earnings. More than half the respondents saw their savings shrink with just 20 percent able to maintain the same savings levels.

    Around 55 percent of respondents said they were worried about their current income and job security with 38 percent saying this would persist through to December.

    As a result of the financially troubling drivers fuelled by the coronavirus pandemic, many have also had to make adjustments to their financial plans.

    23 percent of those in their 20s who are invested in financial plans have indicated that they allocated more money to retirement. Two in five also plan to downsize their portfolios with around 16 percent seeking to cut investments by more than 20 percent.

    It is encouraging that some are doing the right thing to boost their financial health, by continuing to save, spending prudently and making sound investments, according to their risk appetite and financial circumstances, Tan Siew Lee, head of wealth management head at OCBC. But we also hope that those who are cutting back on these aspects, which are crucial to building a nest egg for retirement, will not despair.

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  • Flipkart loses bid to sell food online

    Flipkart loses bid to sell food online

    Amazon-owned Flipkart has been blocked from entering the food-retail business by Indian regulators who had deliberated for almost a year on an application.

    Subsidiary Flipkart FarmerMart had applied to sell foodstuffs grown or manufactured in India online via its marketplace and on apps. However the company was told by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) marketplace, it cannot add food to its platform as a foreign-owned retailer.

    Foreign direct investment in retail has long been a controversial issue in India and only in the last several years have multinational retail giants been allowed to enter the market, usually with strict requirements for a proportion of goods they sell to have been manufactured in India.

    The government has recently tried to tighten laws to ensure companies like Amazon only act as third-party marketplaces, allowing local companies to sell on its platforms, rather than develop their own inventories and become retailers in their own right.

    Flipkart had, however, been hoping to form supplier alliances with farmers and growers to create its own brands – rather than import all of the products it would sell.

    Establishing such strong supply agreements would also potentially have helped Flipkart expand into the brick-and-mortar retail market.

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  • Uber Launches Hourly Ride Booking Option In Some U.S. Cities

    Uber Launches Hourly Ride Booking Option In Some U.S. Cities

    Uber Technologies Inc on Friday said it would offer rides by the hour in some U.S. cities, a feature aimed at helping Americans with essential trips during the coronavirus pandemic.

    The option, which is already available in a handful of cities in Australia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East, will cost $50 per hour. Fares for regular Uber rides are generally based on the level of demand and the trip distance.

    Uber said it decided to expand the hourly feature to the U.S. after riders requested an option for extended trips during the pandemic to avoid exposure to different drivers and vehicles when taking multiple trips in a confined time period.

    The company said it expected the option to be used for trips to grocery stores, pharmacies and doctors’ appointments, but would monitor use going forward.

    A couple of globetrotters are stopped in their tracks by coronavirus after seeing 50 countries on five continents. The two have been stuck in their car on a Florida shopping center parking lot for two weeks.

    Hourly bookings will be available in Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Orlando, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Tacoma and Seattle beginning June 2, with expansions planned in the following weeks.

    Since May 18, Uber requires riders and drivers around the world to wear face coverings or masks and allows both parties to cancel trips and report users who do not comply with the measure. Repeated failure to comply can lead to account deactivation for both riders and drivers.

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  • CapitaLand Singapore malls test new technology in virus fight

    CapitaLand Singapore malls test new technology in virus fight

    CapitaLand Singapore plans to roll out “innovative tech solutions” in its properties as the city-state prepares for phase one reopening tomorrow, June 2.

    Among the measures: anti-microbial coating for high-contact areas including lifts and lift buttons, door entrance buttons, handrails, touch screens, toilet cubicles and basins, family rooms and customer service counters; disinfected floor mats which clean shoe soles when walked on; and disinfection robots.

    “CapitaLand malls have continued to operate and serve the daily needs of Singapore throughout the circuit breaker period,” said Chris Chong, MD of retail at CapitaLand Singapore. “Now that the nation is gearing up for Phase 1 safe reopening, we are committed to take the necessary precautions to protect the health of our shoppers, tenants and employees as they gradually return to their workplaces.”

    The robots will be deployed to the basement floors and level one of Tampines Mall and Bukit Panjang Plaza, two of the company’s busiest centers, before being progressively rolled out at other CapitaLand properties.

    Meanwhile, PhotoPlasma air disinfection systems will be introduced in CapitaLand’s lift cars to “energize atmospheric air into a plasma state, in turn eliminating air-borne and surface microorganisms such as virus and bacteria”.

    Another technical innovation being used is automatic escalator handrail disinfection at The Atrium@Orchard. An Ultra UV device installed in the escalator system will disinfect handrails while the escalators are running.

    And two lifts at The Atrium@Orchard will also be fitted with a QR code registration device, allowing tenants and shoppers to scan a QR code and activate the lifts without contact with lift buttons.

    All visitors to the company’s malls will be required to undergo temperature checks upon entry and must wear masks at all times. Signs and queue markers will enforce safe distancing

    “With precautionary measures in place, we create a safe environment to welcome the community back to our malls upon the gradual easing of Singapore’s circuit breaker,” said Chong.

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  • Best Asian Bookmakers

    Best Asian Bookmakers

    Are you a gambler? You need to sign up with the Asian bookmakers. Here you will never fall short of the services you need in betting. If you are not a resident of Asia, you should not be worried because the Asia bookmakers are not limited to the residents of the region. Many of the Asia bookmakers will accept fiat currency from different countries. Get high betting limits, huge and fast payouts, and a faster verification process. The welcome bonuses offered by Asia bookmakers are unparalleled with any other betting site. 

    This article will provide you with some of the best Asian bookmakers you need to sign up due to tremendous benefits.

    SBOBET

    Sbobet is one of the best Asian bookmakers in the Asian market and around the world. It has gained an exceptional reputation over the years for winning several awards and titles consecutively. It operates in many countries and accepts different fiat currencies. Sbobet bookmaker offers many Asian handicap options for you to bet and with the best odds geared for your unparalleled winnings. They have a welcome bonus of $200 on your first deposit. Sbobet has a large bet limit.

    1XBET

    This bookmaker offers you exceptional betting opportunities with greet advantages. It provides you with many matches and live betting options from the best leagues that ease prediction. They have some of the bests odd that are meant for you to make high winnings. 1xbet has huge payouts for W-D-W and secondary markets, which has contributed to its rapid growth. They have featured many innovations and offer a wide range of promotions. With 1xbet, you earn yourself a $100 bonus on the first deposit.

    PINNACLE

    The greatest asset and advantage of signing up in pinnacle is the highest odd compared to the other bookmakers; they offer some of the best odds in the betting market. They have a payout of up to 97.7%, which is huge enough. Pinnacle has no limit for staking as well; there is no limit of maximum winning per bet. They have one of the best 24/7 customer services and make a perfect option for winning players.

    UNIBET

    They offer some of the best betting odds for football. They have considerably high payout rates with a wide variety of betting options they provide to customers. Unibet offers free withdrawals. They have multi-language support services to accommodate every gambler around the world.

     

    BETWINNER

    Despite betwinner being a new Asia bookmaker, it has had accelerated growth due to offering high odds on Asian handicap markets. They have an enticing welcome bonus of 100% and weekly promotions by reloading bonuses every Thursday. Betwinner accepts transactions with many fiat currencies and cryptocurrency. The transaction with cryptocurrency is fast and straightforward, making it an excellent option for those not willing to use fiat currency.

    888 SPORT

    This is one of the best Asia bookmakers with high sports betting odds. They have fast and high cash payouts. 888sports is an excellent option for e-sports betting professionals. They give a welcome bonus of up to $30; however small, it is not a significant disadvantage considering their vast odds. 

     

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  • Apple 12 Is Likely to Arrive Much Later

    Apple 12 Is Likely to Arrive Much Later

    Over the years, we have come to expect that each new generation of Apple products usually comes sometime in September. Everyone thought that the same thing would happen with the upcoming Apple 12 lineup.

    If you tend to follow the news regarding Apple phones, you might already know that the new Apple 12 models are set to be released within the usual September and October timeframe, with slight differences depending on location.

    However, this might not turn out to be the case if the latest rumors are to be believed. According to MacRumors.com, the forthcoming iPhone 12 models are likely to arrive a little later. They are basing this on the production schedules for the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Max and iPhone 12 Pro, which have the two phones set for production in July and August.

    Production schedules influence the release date greatly, and these seem to show that Apple won’t have enough time to release the phones in September. However, even if they were able to release these two phones in the usual timeframe, it seems that the smaller iPhone 12 with the 5.4-inch display and the massive 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max are set for production in August and September.

    Looking at these rumors, it seems likely that Apple will release all four models at different dates. The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Max could come out in the usual timeframe, while the base model, iPhone 12, and the most expensive one, iPhone 12 Pro Max, could come out in November, or later.

    If that were to happen, it would be the first time for Apple to release its main models later than usual. In fact, it would be the first time in almost an entire decade.

    The displays are the likely culprits for the delay. The new iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Max are supposed to have separate touch screen layers that are easy to acquire from suppliers, but the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro Max are likely to feature a different technology called Y-OCTA.

    Even though this is the likely reason for a later release date, it’s still good news because the technology will allow for thinner panels. This will likely result in more accurate colors and thinner bezels. More importantly, it could result in a 120Hz display. Many smartphone manufacturers are already using 120Hz displays as they create a much smoother user experience.

    For example, if you are an avid gamer or an online casino aficionado, you would have a tremendously improved experience. This would be akin to what PC gamers tend to get from monitors with higher refresh rates. That way, if you were to play slots found on Japanslots.com, the experience would be a lot smoother than if you were using a standard 60Hz display.

    So, that one extra month of waiting could end up being a good thing. Naturally, the release dates are still only rumors and we could still get all the new Apple models much sooner. Only time will tell.

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  • Descente forced to shutter stores in South Korea as anti-Japan bias continues

    Descente forced to shutter stores in South Korea as anti-Japan bias continues

    Japanese sportswear label Descente is shuttering 47 kidswear stores in South Korea in the wake of anti-Japanese sentiment combined with the impact of Covid-19 on the territory.

    The Young Athlete outlets, which deal in clothing and accessories for kids, will close their department store and mall locations in August, with stock being redistributed to Descente’s full-range stores.

    The formerly popular Descente brand saw an 89-per-cent dip in operating profits last year to US$7.26 million compared with its 2018 results and a 15-per-cent drop in sales to $496.9 million. The drop was initially prompted by souring diplomatic ties between Japan and Korea, prompting a general boycott of Japanese goods in the territory.

    Further declines in business due to the coronavirus pandemic proved too much for the firm, with the Young Athlete stores deemed unviable to continue trading.

    Similar closures have been seen amongst other Japanese firms trading in the Korean market, including fast-fashion giant Uniqlo, which this month announced it would close physical stores of its diffusion brand GU in the country.

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  • Taiwan’s Eslite to make Southeast Asian debut in Malaysia

    Taiwan’s Eslite to make Southeast Asian debut in Malaysia

    Taiwanese bookstore chain Eslite is preparing to launch in Kuala Lumpur.

    Although final details have yet to be released, the new 3300–6600sqm store will likely trade in downtown Kuala Lumpur. The opening, scheduled for next year and potentially delayed due to Covid-19 concerns, will see Taiwan’s largest bookseller opening its first store in Malaysia. Earlier reports have suggested the firm has been seeking a partner in the territory for some time.

    The 30-year-old chain is well known for its unique fusion retail business model as a bookstore, mall and cultural creative platform. It operates 48 stores in Taiwan as well as overseas outlets in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Japan. The Malaysian store will be the first Eslite outlet in Southeast Asia.

    Despite the expansion, Eslite’s business has struggled in its home territory, prompting a series of high-profile store closures, including its flagship location in Dunnan where it famously traded 24 hours.

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  • South Korean retail sales rise as Covid-19 crisis eases

    South Korean retail sales rise as Covid-19 crisis eases

    South Korean retail sales rose by 3.9 percent year on year during April.

    The nation’s retail industry in general has benefitted from increasing demand in the e-commerce sector brought on by changes in consumer behavior in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, despite a major hit to offline retailers.

    Figures released by Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy showed combined South Korean retail sales by major companies hit US$8.74 billion last month, up from $8.39 billion during the same period last year.

    Offline retailers experienced a 5.5 percent drop in sales during the same month, compared to last year’s results.

    While sales from department stores, large supermarkets, and convenience stores dropped 14.8 percent, 2.6 percent, and 1.9 percent respectively, online retailers selling food and daily necessities saw sales increase by 16.9 percent.

    Total sales of food products increased by 56.4 percent during the month, while clothes sales dropped 8.8 percent.

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  • 7-Eleven Malaysia sales surge on store network expansion

    7-Eleven Malaysia sales surge on store network expansion

    7-Eleven Malaysia sales grew by 6.1 percent in the first quarter of this year, largely on the back of 34 new store openings.

    Total sales grew by US$8.2 million during the quarter to $142 million and profit attributable to shareholders rose by 1.9 percent to $2.6 million. Same-store sales were up 1.9 percent.

    CEO Colin Harvey said the company’s strategic roadmap of strengthening assortment, supply chain, operational excellence, store base and digitally enabling the organization continues to bear fruit.

    “Despite challenging conditions ahead due to the Covid-19 pandemic, our continuous discipline in executing our strategic roadmap as well as leveraging and seeking out opportunities from our recent corporate acquisitions whilst remaining flexible to adapt to market changes shall ensure that 7-Eleven remains the nation’s preferred convenience store choice,” he said.

    The company’s revenue growth was driven by new stores, higher same-store sales and better consumer promotion activity. Revenue from fresh food grew by more than 13 percent and from tobacco by more than 7 percent.

    Despite the strong first quarter, Harvey says the group will be impacted by the Covid-19 crisis with stores in its malls closed and others operating under restricted hours during the country’s Movement Control Order

    7-Eleven Malaysia now has 2419 stores across Malaysia.

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  • JD Central launches giant online sale in Thailand

    JD Central launches giant online sale in Thailand

    JD Central launches its giant online sale ‘618 Super Joy Shopping Fest’ in Thailand today. The shopping festival starts with a pre-sale campaign, offering discounted products from more than 6500 brands. The Super Flash Sale offers exclusive products for US$19.40 during the campaign, with items as low as 3 US cents from June 18-20.

    “618 is the largest annual shopping festival of our parent company JD,” said K Rvisra Chirathivat, CMO of JD Central. “We will continue to expand it with the 618 Super Joy campaign in Thailand, which brings to customers 100-per-cent authentic brand products with special prices.”

    According to Chirathivat, the online sales campaign is to help people enjoy shopping after the loosening of the Covid-19 lockdown measures and stimulate domestic economic circulation.

    The JD Central 618 Super Joy Shopping Fest will run until June 20.

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  • You can now save tweets as drafts and schedule them for later

    You can now save tweets as drafts and schedule them for later

    Twitter is becoming a lot more user friendly. Quite recently, a threaded interface was rolled out to make conversations more manageable. And now, the microblogging website has announced two nifty features.

    When you are in the middle of writing a tweet and have to leave it midway for some reason, you can now save it as a draft. Just tap ‘X’ and then select ‘Save’ to ensure the unfinished tweet is not discarded. To access it later, select Unsent Tweets and you will be able to view all your drafts.
    This feature is also available on the mobile app. However, for now, it doesn’t seem like drafts are synced between the app and the website.
    Also, for tweets to be saved as drafts, you should use the popup composer. We think Twitter will refine the feature further in the coming days.
    Twitter also lets you schedule your tweets now. Just tap on the calendar/clock icon and then select the date and time on which you want the tweet to be sent.
    As pointed out by Neowin, tweets can be scheduled for up to 18 months and you can time multiple tweets at once.
    While an average user might not find much utility in this feature, it will be incredibly useful for marketers and social media managers.
  • Google Voice is now available in Gmail for G Suit members

    Google Voice is now available in Gmail for G Suit members

    Google is making things easier for G Suit subscribers who use Google Voice. The company is rolling out an update that integrates the voice call service into Gmail, letting users make and receive calls without the need to switch tabs.

    Google announced the new feature on its official blog, adding a nifty little GIF image, showing the integration in action. G Suit users will get a similar panel to the one they’re used to in other Google Voice iterations. The new feature appears in desktop browser versions of Gmail, but there are new functionalities in the mobile app as well.

    You can now transfer calls to a suggested contact or manually added number in a few steps. Call transferring is available in Voice on Android, iOS, and the web. Google is already rolling out the call transfer option and will start adding Google Voice to Gmail in the following days.

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  • Contactless Payments Gain Ground in Singapore

    Contactless Payments Gain Ground in Singapore

    With more than half of Singaporeans using mobile contactless payments, the city-state is one of the market leaders globally in terms of contactless payments penetration.

    Mobile contactless payments use among Singaporeans grew by 12 percent over the past year to 56 percent, with the most popular option being contactless card payments at 84 percent, according to a new study by Visa on consumer payments attitudes in Southeast Asia, conducted among 5,000 consumers in seven regional markets in October 2019.

    Reasons for the strong uptake in Singapore include state-of-the-art mobile security and stringent data privacy measures, the survey, published on Thursday, revealed. Supermarkets and quick service restaurants, along with contactless acceptance in new categories like public transport, were also key contributors, Visa said.

    Some 75 percent of respondents here said they do not feel their personal information is at risk when making mobile payments, and two in three believe that merchants, banks and third-party companies provide sufficient security to protect their transactions. The study also found that three in five Singapore consumers are willing to share location data with merchants in exchange for discounts, promotions and services.

    The use of contactless payments was given a boost in April 2019 with the introduction of contactless credit and debit card payments on public transport.

    The outbreak of Covid-19 has also spurred businesses to adopt mobile payments and prompted a rise in contactless payments to reduce the spread of the virus. Earlier this week, the Singapore Government said it was allocating S$500 million to support digital transformation and the adoption of e-payments by businesses. In announcing the package, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said the use of digital payments has «risen sharply,» with more than 50,000 businesses adopting Paynow Corporate since April.