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Category: Electronics

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Electronics news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Story-i launches into Vietnam

    Story-i launches into Vietnam

    Apple reseller Story-i has launched in Vietnam hoping to replicate its Indonesian market success.

    The Singapore-headquartered electronic authorised reseller has opened its first Apple Premium Reseller (APR) store in the new SC VivoCity Mall in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

    The opening of the first store in Vietnam marks Story-i’s 17th outlet. The company owns and operates 16 stores throughout Indonesia, selling Apple, Samsung and Lenovo products.

    Story-i chose Vietnam as its next new market because of its “similar demographic and lifestyle consumer trajectory to Indonesia”.

    Management has identified Vietnam with 92 million population as the next high growth market and aims to open eight more outlets during the next three years.

    Said executive director Michael Chan: “This new store in Vietnam marks the beginning of our growth strategy to penetrate the expanding middle class of Southeast Asia’s population of 600 million. As we have done in Indonesia, we will anchor growth from prominent store locations and drive market penetration with our eCommerce offering.”

    He said the team was focused on rolling out a unique mix of electronic lifestyle products such as Apple and Lenovo as well as its enterprise solution and education services into Vietnam.

    “Our first Vietnam store continues to exceed our expectations for visitation and sales. This bodes well for extending the network through the smaller cities up to the northern capital, Hanoi.”

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  • How big is Apple’s green initiative in China?

    How big is Apple’s green initiative in China?

    It’s not easy to convey the scale of the two initiatives Apple announced today to reduce its carbon footprint in China—Building 200 megawatts of solar projects in the provinces on its own and partnering with its Asian suppliers to install another 2 gigawatts of new clean energy.

    Apple’s press release offered some helpful analogies.

    —The 40 megawatts of solar projects already completed in the Sichuan Province produce more than the total amount of electricity used by all of Apple’s offices and retail stores in China.

    —The 200 megawatts of solar projects planned for the northern, eastern and southern regions of China will produce enough energy to power 265,000 Chinese homes in a year

    —The combined programs will avoid over 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas pollution in China between now and 2020, the equivalent of taking nearly 4 million passenger vehicles off the road for a year.

    “Climate change is one of the great challenges of our time, and the time for action is now,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “The transition to a new green economy requires innovation, ambition and purpose.”

    It also takes a lot of money. Apple achieved 100% carbon neutrality in its U.S. operations in part by generating its own clean energy and in part by buying credits from other clean energy providers. Now it’s doing the same in China.

    Not every company can afford that. Still, Apple is getting plaudits for leading by example.

    “We need governments and companies to transition us to renewable energy as rapidly as possible,” said Gary Cook of Greenpeace, an organization that played Apple’s scold not that many years ago. “Apple’s announcement today is a major step forward in building a renewably powered supply chain for its products.”

  • iPhone 6s hits store shelves in South Korea

    iPhone 6s hits store shelves in South Korea

    By Kim Seung-yeon

    SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) — Apple Inc.’s two latest smartphones went on sale in South Korea on Friday, with the industry poised to keep close tabs on the market for possible overheating on the retail front.

    The country’s three major mobile carriers — SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Inc. — released the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus for sale via their respective retail stores nationwide.

    The iPhone 6s is available for 720,000 won (US$635) for the 16GB model and 1.14 million won for the 128GB, given the subsidy of about 130,000 won, according to the telecom companies.

    The price of the iPhone 6s Plus starts from 999,000 won and runs to 1.26 million won depending on the phone’s storage capacity.

    The mobile carriers each held a launching event for the new iPhone series earlier in the day, offering various promotions and free gifts to woo consumers.

    The release of a new iPhone series usually draws heated interest here among consumers, including Apple loyalists, and the entire industry.

    Huge demand for the new iPhones has been a trigger for the mobile carriers to risk giving large sums of rebates that passed the legal limit in order to steal customers away from rivals.

    In October last year, the government came up with a new handset subsidy law to curb the excessive paybacks. Yet it proved to be less than effective when the iPhone 6 series went on sales later in that month and retail vendors began to splurge subsidies.

    Industry watchers are paying close attention again this time as to how the market will response to the two upgraded iPhones, although many bet that there won’t be as much of a fuss as the previous releases due to tougher market conditions.

    The online presales of the iPhone 6s series, which ran through this week, ended in early closures as they sold out in the first few minutes of the start.

    Of the early purchases, 30.4 percent booked the new rose gold model, while preorders for the silver iPhone 6s Plus came in at mere 0.1 percent, according to one of the mobile carriers.

    Customers form a long queue to buy the new iPhone S6 series on the first day of its release in front of a direct retail store run by South Korean mobile carrier LG Uplus Inc. in Seoul, on Oct. 23, 2015. (Yonhap)

    Customers form a long queue to buy the new iPhone S6 series on the first day of its release in front of a direct retail store run by South Korean mobile carrier LG Uplus Inc. in Seoul, on Oct. 23, 2015.

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  • Sim Lim Square scammers jailed

    Sim Lim Square scammers jailed

    Crooked retailers have been served a warning after a judge jailed four Sim Lim Square scammers.

    The freelance salesmen worked for the collapsed Mobile Air mobile phone shop for notorious conman Jover Chew Chiew Loon have been sent to jail for between four and 14 months for their part in duping customers of a proven $16,147 between April and October last year.

    Chew goes to trial next week.

    According to a Straits Times court report, the four convicted are Koh Guan Seng, 38, (14 months); Kam Kok Keong, 31, (11 months); Lim Hong Ching, 34, (six months); and Kelvin Lim Zhi Wei, 32 (four months).

    The newspaper reports they would lure unsuspecting customers with attractive pricing for new phones, then add hidden charges to extort additional cash from the customers. Such charges included bogus extended warranties

    Mobile Air is the store featured in footage which went viral on social media last November showing a Vietnamese tourist who used his life savings to buy his girlfriend a new phone begging for a refund after he could not pay an extra $1000 demanded for a ‘warranty’ before he could take the phone away.

    District Judge Toh Yung Cheong said that while they had been trained in how to dupe customers, the four convicted had made conscious decisions to offend.

    “In committing the offences, they behaved like thugs rather than sales assistants and they must bear personal responsibility for their conduct,” he said.

    Prosecutors said the victims were mostly foreigners on low wages and with limited English skills – thus easy targets for the conmen.

    The judge noted their actions had caused wider harm by damaging the reputation of Singapore as a tourist and shopping destination, apart from the impact on Singapore’s retail industry.

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  • Apple Inc. To Open The Largest Store In China Tomorrow

    Apple Inc. To Open The Largest Store In China Tomorrow

    Apple Inc. confirmed the upcoming launch of its 21st Apple Store in China, scheduled to open in Dalian on October 24, 2015. The latest retail outlet is situated in Parkland Shopping Mall on 19 Jiefang Road. Earlier in 2012, the iPhone maker claimed that the store in Dalian may potentially be the Apple’s “largest” retail outlet ever.

    The company’s new outlet is located in Dalian’s Zhongshan District, a populated area usually flooded with tourists from Japan, Korea and China. And it also serves as a popular port and financial center. Apple confirmed that the store was set to open its doors on Saturday at 9:30 AM.

    As Apple pursues its aim to open the “largest flagship store” in Parkland Mall, the company may also decide to transfer that title to its other upcoming retail outlet for Dubai, scheduled to open on October 29. The tech giant’s store in the Mall of Emirates also marks it as its first expansion plan in the Middle East.

    Apple is aware of its strong influence in Chine, and has been working on the Dalian project for past three years. Through this, it is clear that the tech giant takes China as one of its main consumer markets for Apple products. Even though Apple might not make its Dalian outlet the “largest” one, its former plans do so indicate that it may have other exclusive plans for its store in China.

    The company has also invited US locals to apply for potential jobs at the upcoming store, with recruitment beginning earlier this year. By introducing a new store in China, Apple may help create increasing job opportunities for local citizens as well. By providing customers with basic Apple Store services such as a Genius Bar, workshops, tutorials and more at the upcoming Apple Store, it is evident Apple is attempting to integrate its standard store elements into the upcoming branch to ensure it can authentically deliver according to its original standards and help boost its reputation even further in Chinese markets.

    By launching an Apple outlet in one of the most visited locations in Dalian, Apple’s plan may help it increase its user base even further. The company’s efforts to attract a larger target market is expected to be successful due to its easy access to numerous strangers and tourists who visit Parkland for shopping. The tech giant will be able to benefit from its store location and may attract foreigners to its variants, further promoting its services to a larger audience through its China retail outlet.

    Moreover, it is highly possible that Apple’s new store will help boost business for surrounding retailers as well, enabling the company to secure a relationship with Dalian businesses for future ventures. As far as its store in Dubai is concerned, the iPhone maker is deliberately choosing shopping plazas and malls to introduce its outlets, so that it can target wider audiences.

    It isn’t confirmed that the tech giant still plans to make its Dalian branch the “largest” outlet. However, the store’s launch this Saturday is expected to attract many customers from China, Korea and Japan.

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  • Artway sales surge

    Chinese electrical retail giant Gome says sales by its takeover target Artway during the first half year rose 7.85 per cent year on year, to RMB10.858 billion.

    Same store sales rose 3.66 per cent overall, while in second tier cities same store sales rose 5.93 per cent, demonstrating the success of Artway’s focus on smaller centres.

    Gross profit margin rose by 0.85 percentage points to 20.28 per cent.

    Profit for the period was RMB256 million, up 75.34 per cent compared to the same period last year.

    Gome Electrical Appliances, the Hong Kong-listed Chinese electrical appliances retailer – is planning to spend US$11.268 billion acquiring rival Artway, allow it to expand its presence from 269 cities to 436 cities across Mainland China.

    As at June 30, Artway operated 590 stores, including eight self-owned stores, covering 17 provinces in China (including Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hebei, Henan, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Guizhou, Guangxi, Shaanxi and Xinjiang). It opened 56 stores and closed 22 in the six month period, representing a net increase of 34 stores.

  • Apple to set up research centre in Indonesia

    Apple to set up research centre in Indonesia

    US-based technology firm, Apple Inc., plans to establish a research and development (R&D) centre in Indonesia, a minister said here on Friday.The company’s management officers came into Indonesia and held talks with the government over the plan, Xinhua quoted Indonesian Information and Communication Minister Rudiantara as saying.The minister said Apple Inc. has successfully developed such a plan in Brazil and wants to do so in Indonesia.

    “Apple officers proposed the investment model in Brazil to be implemented in Indonesia. They plan to build R & D centre in Indonesia,” he said at Graha XL building.Rudiantara said further discussion with Apple will be conducted over the local content requirement.Indonesian President Joko Widdo has scrambled to invite more foreign investors into the country by easing rules and improving investment climate.

    Indonesia is home to over 250 million populations with growing middle class and emerging wealth, making it one of the world’s biggest markets.

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  • Pepsi smartphone planned for China

    Pepsi smartphone planned for China

    PepsiCo will market a range of mobile phones and accessories in China later this year.

    The US beverage giant will licence its brand to a manufacturing partner with the Pepsi smartphone just one of a range of planned licensed products which will also include apparel.

    “Available in China only, this effort is similar to recent globally licensed Pepsi products which include apparel and accessories,” a Pepsi spokeswoman told Reuters by email.

    No further details were released about the phone’s specifications – or the manufacturing partner.

    It won’t be the first technology product born of a partnership between Pepsi and an electronics brand. Last year it teamed up with Danish avant garde audiovisual manufacturer Bang & Olufsen to create Pepsi-branded products to support the soft drink brand’s soccer campaign.

  • Apple iPhone 6s Sales in China Below Expectations, Says Boutique Researcher J.L. Warren

    Apple iPhone 6s Sales in China Below Expectations, Says Boutique Researcher J.L. Warren

    Junheng Li with boutique research shop J.L. Warren Capital this morning opines that Apple‘s (AAPL) rollout of its iPhone 6s is failing to meet expectations, citing as the main reason a failure of the Chinese market to deliver.
    “According to information and/or data readily available from AAPL suppliers, we consider that the iPhone 6s initial launch in the 12 markets globally, is not meeting market expectations,” writes Li.

    Oddly enough, although Apple announced on September 28th that its first-weekend sales of the 6s beat last year’s 10 million for the iPhone 6, selling more than 13 million units, Li argues the result was underwhelming.

    “During the first week (including weekend) or 3 days post launch, we estimate ~13million units were sold. This number is lower than original expectations, largely due to an overestimated demand from mainland China.”

    Li cites some China market data from something called Gray Market Marker, which apparently collects the price of iPhones trading on the black market:

    AAPL launched the iPhone 6s simultaneously in Hong Kong and mainland China which cannibalized sales in HK. According to the largest grey market make [sic] a consumer electronics trading platform, the current spot prices for many models even on the launch data (9/30/2015) were below the official retail prices, unprecedented in the iPhone launch history. In total, we estimate that ~2.5-3 million of units of the 6s were sold in the mainland and ~1.5 units sold in HK. In comparison with previous years iPhone launches, when the mainland was not included in the initial launch, only 30% of the 6s purchases were from mainland, vs. 50% in previous years.

    (One point not addressed by Li is whether the premium can be expected to be lower, or even absent, precisely because the iPhone 6 was only available on the black market last year, having been left out of rhr first round of retail sales.)

    Li offers one explanation for why she thinks sales to China are below plan: “Since ZTE and Huawei already launched smart phones with 3D force touch, the new screen is not novel to Chinese consumers.”

    Li also offers some other tidbits, such as that the iPhone that comes in rose gold finish was the best seller, making 45% of sales.

    As for the outlook, she opines,

    We believe that China is the biggest moving piece for AAPL’s global sales in 2015, given it is about 20+% of the company’s global market and the demand for the iPhone is growing at ~20% according to our research. We currently project 200 million units of sell-in for iPhone 6/6+ and iPhone 6s/6s+ combined in 2015, which is 10million sell-through units lower than, the current street consensus.

    Apple shares today are down 81 cents, or 0.7%, at $110.50.

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  • Apple launches new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, available in Singapore on Sept 25

    Apple launches new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, available in Singapore on Sept 25

    Apple unveiled two new iPhones – iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus – during a special event held at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.

    As with any iPhone with a “S” moniker, the new iPhones are incremental upgrades to its predecessors.

    The biggest feature being highlighted during the event is the 3D Touch, which is similar to Force Touch found on Apple Watch’s display.

    Users can press lightly on an app icon to bring up options that previously unavailable. For example, users can check in in Facebook without starting the app using 3D Touch.

    Both iPhones feature the new A9 processor and an improved 12-megapixel rear camera (up from 8-megapixel previously) that is able to shoot 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) videos and Live Photos.

    Live Photos will display moving images of moments before and after the picture was taken.

    The front-facing camera gets an upgrade too with a better 5-megapixel camera that comes with Retina Flash (flash from display) for selfie lovers.

    In addition, it is now able to shoot panoramic pictures as well as slow-motion videos.

    Appearance wise, the new iPhones look exactly like its predecessors. The iPhone 6s still sports a 4.7-inch with a screen resolution of 1,334 × 750 pixels while the iPhone 6 Plus’ 5.5-inch display has a screen resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels.

    However, both iPhones are slightly 0.2mm thicker than its predecessors with with the iPhone 6s measuring at 7.1mm and iPhone 6s Plus at 7.3mm. But they are now built with less-bendable 7000 Series aluminium shell to prevent the “Endgate” fiasco last year from happening again.

    Both iPhones now come in a new rose-gold colour to add to the existing gold, silver and space grey options. There is still no 32GB version for its new phones and the new iPhones will come in 16GB, 64GB and 128GB versions.

    The iPhone 6s will retail in Singapore starting from $1,048 (16GB) and the iPhone 6s Plus will start at $1,218 (16GB).

    Pre-ordering starts Sept 12.

    The new iPhones will hit Singapore’s shores on Sept 25.

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  • Apple’s Latest iPhone to Hit UAE Retail Stores in September?

    Apple’s Latest iPhone to Hit UAE Retail Stores in September?

    Great news for gadget freaks in the UAE this month! A report in gulfnews.com recently stated that Apple’s next-generation phone could be launched today in the UAE!

    The tech giant is to unveil alongside Apple TV its latest handset, which will likely be called iPhone 6s or iPhone7, during a special press briefing in San Francisco, California on Wednesday. If the launch goes ahead, the rumour mill has it that the new phone will hit the retail stores by September 18.

    The first few countries that are likely to get their hands on the new product include the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Japan, United Kingdom and Singapore.

    Though retailers in the UAE have not confirmed the release date,  Nicolai Solling, director of technology services at Help AG, said that if there’s going to be a product announcement, UAE consumers won’t have to wait very long.

    Apple is known to make big product announcements during the month of September, with the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 5s and 5c introduced in September last year. The tech giant has distributed invitations to the media for an event on Wednesday, with the now famous tagline “Hey Siri, give us a hint”.

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  • Robinsons Retail acquires Savers Electronic World

    Robinsons Retail acquires Savers Electronic World

    Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc., the retail arm of the Gokongwei family, has acquired 90 percent of Savers Electronic World, an electronics and appliance store chain that operates 24 stores around the country.

    In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), Robinsons Retail said its wholly owned subsidiary Robinsons Inc. has entered into a partnership with Saver’s Appliance Depot, which is owned and operated by Savers Electronic World.

    The Saver’s Alliance Depot has 13 stores in Central Luzon, eight stores in Cagayan Valley and three in Metro Manila with a combined gross floor area of 25,900 square meters.

    “Robinsons Retail will own 90 percent of Savers Electronic World,” the company said.

    Robina Gokongwei-Pe, president and COO of Robinsons Retail, said the partnership would expand Robinsons Retail’s footprint in the consumer electronics and appliance business.

    “We are excited to partner with Saver’s Appliance Depot in growing the consumer electronics and appliance business of the group. As the economy expands, discretionary spending is seen to surge ahead and this format should be a strong beneficiary. Also, the increasing scale of the group is expected to strengthen our market position in the industry,” Gokongwei-Pe said.

    Specifically, she said the partnership with Saver’s Appliance Depot would strengthen and expand Robinsons Retail’s coverage in the consumer electronics and appliance business, particularly in Central Luzon and in Cagayan Valley.

    After the purchase, Saver’s will continue to be managed by Jaime Uy as the managing director of Saver’s Appliance Depot.

    Saver’s Appliance Depot opened its first appliance store in 1986 and has been in operation for 29 years now.

    It was recognized and awarded as the 2014 Best Regional Retail Player by the Philippine Retailers Association.

    Saver’s Appliance is also considered one of the top 10 consumer electronics and appliance players in the country.

    “We are happy to become part of the Robinsons Retail family. The group has proven track record in growing and retaining the equity value of the companies or businesses that they acquired. We have strong presence in Northern Luzon which should add to the group’s growing presence in this region,” Uy said.

    Robinsons Retail continues to be on the lookout for new businesses to acquire to further boost growth.

    In the first half of the year, the retailer grew its net income to P1.86 billion, up by 36.2 percent from P1.37 billion in the same period last year.

    Growth came from a double-digit growth in sales on new store openings as well as the newly acquired businesses A.M. Builders’ Depot and Chavez Pharmacy.

  • Gome Electrical opens 117 stores in six months

    Gome Electrical opens 117 stores in six months

    Gome Electrical has opened 117 stores in six months on its way to an 8.8 per cent increase in sales for the half year.

    Total sales revenue was RMB 31.69 billion and its consolidated gross profit margin was 17.7 per cent.

    The store network expansion program is part of a push into tier two cities in China’s mainland where 84 of the new shops opened. Overall same store sales rose 2.3 per cent in a six month period when retail spending in China was subdued, but in tier two cities, same store sales rose 5.3 per cent.

    Gome now has stores in 41 Chinese cities where it did not have a presence just six months ago.

    Online sales were another growth powerhouse, rising 151.3 per cent in gross merchandise volume. More growth clearly lies ahead with 181 per cent year on year online growth in the last three months of the half year.

    In the remaining half of this year, Gome says it will accelerate even further its move into tier two cities, leading into ‘channel penetration’ in third and fourth-tier cities as well, largely based on eCommerce initiatives.

    “By seamlessly engaging customers across online and offline channels, the group is destined to achieve fuller integration of all channels and grow its ‘total retail ecosystem’,” the company said in its results filing.

    “This will allow customers to enjoy a total retail experience and comprehensive services at any time, any place.”

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  • The Apple-IBM MobileFirst Program Set to Launch in China

    The Apple-IBM MobileFirst Program Set to Launch in China

    In July 2014 the Apple and IBM global partnership was formed to transform enterprise mobility via the iPhone and iPad. The alliance formed MobileFirst. By mid-November the MobileFirst website was launched and began promoting the new apps that were being custom designed for key segments of business including Banking/Finance, Travel/Transportation, Retail, Telco, Insurance and Government. It has since expanded to Healthcare, Industrial Products, Law Enforcement, Energy/Utilities and Social Programs.

    It’s being reported today by Guanzhou’s 21st Century Business Herald that the Apple-IBM MobileFirst Enterprise program will be officially coming to China in the coming weeks. The program will reportedly begin with 10 apps aimed at the retail, insurance, financial, telecom and aviation sectors, as well as the government, and events will be held in Beijing and Shanghai to showcase the new products.

    The goal of the Apple-IBM MobileFirst was to have 100 apps finished by the end of this year. Thus far 32 of them are completed with more on the way. Guo Jijun, president for strategy at IBM Greater China, who is also in charge of MobileFirst in the country, noted that “IBM has also formed partnerships with companies, including Twitter, Tencent, SAP, Facebook and China Telecom, so the MobileFirst platform can integrate the strength of these businesses.

    Apple introduced the new iPad Pro on September 9 that now adds the ability to work with a new Smart Keyboard and a digital smartpen called the Apple Pencil to support  professional markets.

    2AF 55 APPLE IPAD PRO, APPLE PENCIL, SMART KEYBOARD

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  • China’s fake Apple Stores alive and well, look to profit on iPhone 6s launch

    China’s fake Apple Stores alive and well, look to profit on iPhone 6s launch

     Thanks to lax copyright enforcement policies, growing demand for all things Apple and a lack of official retail channels, China’s fake Apple Stores are experiencing a resurgence on the back of iPhone 6s preorders.

    In electronics manufacturing mecca Shenzhen, a major cog in Foxconn’s iPhone and iPad production machine, a multitude of counterfeit Apple stores are popping up to take advantage of Friday’s iPhone 6s release, reports Reuters. According to publication estimates, more than 30 storefronts bear Apple’s iconic logo, with some unauthorized outlets kitting out personnel with Apple Store-style blue t-shirts and lanyard name tags.

    As they have in the past, these counterfeit stores are taking advantage of China’s seemingly insatiable iPhone demand. Just hours after iPhone 6s preorders went live last week, Apple’s allotment for the Chinese market sold out, pushing buyers loathe to wait an extra two to three weeks toward unauthorized stores that buy stock from official resellers and flip them for a hefty profit.

    With iPhone viewed as a status symbol in China, many consumers are willing to pay more than double retail prices to get their hands on one the day it comes out. For some buyers the high costs are apparently worth the added cachet that comes with nabbing a copy on day one. Consumers in other markets are also keen to get their hands on Apple’s latest smartphone, but Chinese customers are especially zealous.

    The benefits are more concrete for resellers, who risk minimal retail overhead and an upfront investment by smuggling iPhones in from Hong Kong, the U.S. and other far-flung markets. If successful, however, they stand to haul in huge returns.

    Apple has for years dealt with counterfeit stores, an issue that gained media attention in 2011. While Chinese officials ultimately ordered a handful of operators to shut down, the unauthorized resale industry was never completely wiped out. Now with iPhone 6s, resellers are back in business.

    Part of the problem stems from an inadequate official retail presence in the region. Apple only had 22 stores serving all of China as of June. By comparison, there are 53 Apple Stores in California alone. The disparity is stands in contrast to China’s market potential, which is widely viewed as vital to Apple’s growth and sales sustainability. The company has plans to expand its retail footprint to 40 stores by 2016, however, the most recent being a second Hangzhou location in April.

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