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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.

  • Myanmar is the eighth country to join Google’s Android One initiative

    Myanmar is the eighth country to join Google’s Android One initiative

    Following last month’s launch in Turkey, Google has today announced that Android One is now expanding to its eighth country: Myanmar. Cnsumers will be able to buy the Cherry Mobile One in the country, and like all Android One phones, it runs the latest version of Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. The hardware is definitely in the budget range, however,  and starting June 26, the device will be available for purchase at retail in Myanmar, starting at Ks 109,000.

    Since they’re such an important part of our lives, the experience of a smartphone matters a lot. Last year, Google launched the Android One program to help put high-quality, up-to-date devices into the hands of as many people as possible. Following the launch in India nine months ago, Android One has expanded to six additional countries: Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Turkey — and today, we’re excited to add Myanmar to that list, working in partnership with Cherry Mobile. That makes eight.

    Google originally launched the Android One initiative in India followings its announcement at Google I/O 2014. Following that, Android One made its way to Bangladesh, Nepal, Sir Lanka, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Turkey. You can find the official announcement of Android One’s entrance in Myanmar over at the Google Asia Pacific blog. Google says it hopes to “put great smartphones into the hands of more people across Myanmar,” and that more devices will launch soon.

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  • Huawei hails SE Asia success

    Huawei hails SE Asia success

    Smartphone maker Huawei says its determination to concentrate on Southeast Asia is already bearing fruit.

    With the profitable Southeast Asia regional launch of the Huawei P8 and wearable units in Bangkok Thailand in late Might, Huawei is retaining the momentum going by introducing the P8, P8Max, P8Lite, Talkband B2 and AP007 energy financial institution to Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and different Southeast Asia nations and areas.

    The corporate says it set a brand new gross sales document in Myanmar when it launched the P8 handset there on June 6.

    After two weeks of pre-orders of Huawei’s newest flagship merchandise, the primary batch of P8s turned obtainable in 28 outlets throughout Myanmar – all of them bought out by 10am.

    “The regional gross sales supervisor from one among telephone store famous that the P8 has set a brand new gross sales document and has turn into the best-selling handset of their store’s historical past and that they have been amazed by the variety of preorders,” stated Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Shopper BG.

    says Southeast Asia is now one of many key markets for Huawei, and the corporate is optimistic concerning the potential within the area.

    “Southeast Asia is likely one of the most promising and high-potential financial entities on the earth, each now and sooner or later. It’s considered a strategic market and an engine driving the quick progress of Huawei’s Shopper Enterprise,” Yu stated.

    “In 2014, Huawei noticed over 10 million complete shipments on this area. With the launch of the P8, P8Max and P8Lite this yr, we anticipate complete shipments to succeed in eight million models, a 167 per cent improve.”

    The corporate has seen substantial progress in regional shipments within the area. Thomas Liu, president of Huawei Shopper Enterprise Group Southeast Asia, stated within the first quarter of 2015, smartphone shipments in Southeast Asia rose 120 per cent over final yr.

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  • Kase targets journey retail sector

    Kase targets journey retail sector

    Cell phone case idea Kase is about to broaden its journey retail presence after the early success of its first airport retailer within the Philippines.

    Kase opened a retailer in Manila’s Ninoy Aquino Worldwide Airport in February in partnership with Regent Distributors. It contains a broad vary of instances for smartphones and tablets – a excessive margin retail enterprise which has already confirmed widespread in non-travel places in 150 markets together with Singapore, Hong Kong, India, the US, Germany and France.

    The corporate says its first airport retailer, simply 33sqm, is attaining gross sales at ranges “completely past all expectations”.

    A key level of distinction making Kase so common is the customisation out there in-store. Buyers can take their telephones in, and utilizing an iPad select from hundreds of various designs and modify them to go well with their private preferences earlier than having the case printed inside eight minutes in-store. They will even present their very own designs – uploadable by way of the shop’s WiFi.

    Kase believes the idea is right for journey retail, requiring area as small as 15 sqm in a shop-in-shop, 22 sqm for a pop up store or between 30 sqm and 60 sqm for a standalone boutique.

    Says Kase cofounder Steve Rosenblum: “The Kase gives travel-retail an incredible alternative to capitalise on a market in fixed enlargement. It’s estimated that in 2016 1 billion smartphones and 400 million tablets can be bought – double the variety of 2012. As well as, the marketplace for equipment is rising equally quickly, up 80 per cent in 2012 and anticipated to point out 120 per cent progress subsequent yr, representing an enormous US$50 billion. More and more, covers for these things are being thought-about a style accent in their very own proper.”

    Rosenblum says Kase has signed up a grasp franchisee in Indonesia and others in South Africa, Center East and Europe.

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  • Samsung introduces OLED personalised retail displays

    Samsung introduces OLED personalised retail displays

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  • Mi Hong Kong opens doorways

    Mi Hong Kong opens doorways

    Chinese language smartphone maker Xiaomi has opened its first retail retailer outdoors the Mainland.

    The Mi Hong Kong retailer – dubbed Mi Residence – is a 270 sqm area inside Hollywood Plaza at 610 Nathan Rd in Mongkok.

    We are saying ‘area’ as a result of the shop was created as someplace “identical to residence” – someplace Mi house owners, or potential house owners, would really feel at house.

    As the pictures launched by Xiaomi present it’s a lot like an Apple retailer, however with out the huge product vary. As an alternative there are brightly colored sofas and cushions and big flat display TVs.

    Hugo Barra, the previous Google government who’s now VP of Xiaomi International, promised final month Xiaomi would create “a service and retailer expertise that feels identical to house, we would like a spot that feels so snug you’re simply completely happy to return and hang around”.

    In addition to permitting clients to check out the handsets and examine fashions, the shop has a service assure: clients can deliver a telephone in to be fastened and wait not than 19 minutes earlier than with the ability to take it away.

    Xiaomi was launched in China in 2011 but has already turn out to be the world’s third largest smartphone model – and the most important within the mainland. Final yr it bought 60 million handsets, virtually all of them in Mainland China. Founder and CEO Lei Jun, China’s 23rd richest man, is now increasing the model into different shopper electronics strains.

    And the corporate has begun what guarantees to be a relentless march overseas. In addition to opening its flagship in Mongkok – virtually definitely a check earlier than the idea is rolled out elsewhere – it has began promoting equipment like headphones on-line within the US and Europe.

    Thus far it isn’t promoting handsets in both market, however Mi telephones are discovering their approach into different markets by way of distributors and gray imports.

    Xiaomi launched its new Mi 4i handset in Hong Kong on Might 12 at HK$1599 – a handset with a 5.5 inch display and 15 megapixel ahead digital camera, operating Android. On the equal of US$206, it’s a potential class killer as soon as shoppers develop to belief the Mi model. An Apple iPhone 6 begins at $5588 (US$720). It’s Xiaomi’s first telephone developed for the worldwide market.

    Xiaomi has a small community of 19 retail shops in Mainland China, dubbed Mi Houses and 541 service centres operated by companions in eight markets.

    So far most of its handsets are bought on-line and thru a small group of retail companions in Hong Kong and India.

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  • Lenovo Malaysia to spice up retail focus

    Lenovo Malaysia to spice up retail focus

    Lenovo Malaysia says it’s going to increase its retail presence because it goals to develop its share of the PC market.

    The corporate unveiled a change technique this week based mostly on new enterprise fashions to its Malaysian channel companions.

    It says it’s in a “steady shift on your complete gadget and related ecosystem” with elevated emphasis on “human-centric designs” starting from wearable units, smartphones and tablets to non-public computer systems, servers, software program and clouds based mostly providers.

    Lenovo stated in assertion that it deliberate to proceed to spend money on Malaysia to achieve market management in all segments.

    A part of this implies extra shops and retail factors of sale, funding in infrastructure and a dedication to driving innovation.

    Regardless of Malaysia’s lacklustre financial system – blamed on the introduction of six per cent GST on April 1, Lenovo is satisfied the market holds robust potential for the model.

    Beijing-headquartered Lenovo says it has skilled hypergrowth” in Southeast Asia through the first 4 months of this yr and claims to now maintain greater than 28 per cent market share in cellular computing.

    Dr Harry Yang, Southeast Asia area VP and GM, stated the robust momentum was persevering with and Malaysia was a key market in driving that progress. “SEA is a mixture of mature markets with an urge for food for premium and cutting-edge know-how, and quick rising rising markets with entry-level know-how penetration, giving us the chance to develop market share shortly,” he stated.

    Globally, Lenovo recorded 21 per cent yr on yr progress within the fourth quarter to March 31 with revenues totalling US$11.three billion, regardless of a sluggish financial setting in lots of areas and foreign money fluctuations.

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  • Jay Mart snaps up Singer stake

    Jay Mart snaps up Singer stake

    Thailand’s listed electronics and debt assortment firm Jay Mart has purchased a 25 per cent stake in Singer Thailand.

    Retail Holdings NV (Thailand) BV on Monday revealed it had bought its 40 per cent stake in Singer Thailand to a gaggle of buyers for US$44.eight million. The Bangkok Submit subsequently reported nearly all of that funding, equal to 24.9 per cent of the enterprise, was acquired by Jay Mart and that the funding marks the corporate’s first step in the direction of turning into “a totally fledged nanofinance service supplier” giving it entry to Singer’s excessive curiosity mortgage enterprise.

    Retail Holdings stated its subsidiary Singer Thailand will proceed to have a royalty bearing license from the corporate to make use of the Singer model.

    Jay Mart CEO Adisak Sukhumwittaya stated the acquisition will assist his firm broaden all of its present companies quickly, particularly nanofinance and debt assortment, by means of Singer’s distribution channels nationwide.

    Singer has 200 distribution retailers in Thailand, which can be merged with 250 Jay Mart distribution channels.

    Singer Thailand had income of roughly $105.6 million and attributable internet revenue of roughly $1.9 million for the yr ended December 2014. Apart from its house equipment enterprise, Singer operates cell phone recharging stations and petrol merchandising machines in Thailand.

    In the meantime, Retail Holdings retains its remaining operations, probably the most vital a 54.1 per cent fairness curiosity in Sewko/Singer Asia, a distributor of shopper sturdy merchandise in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with shopper credit score and different monetary providers; and the highly effective Singer trademark.

  • Panasonic Opens Four Showrooms in Southeast Asia

    Panasonic Opens Four Showrooms in Southeast Asia

    Towards improving market visualisation, Panasonic Asia Pacific and its group companies (Panasonic) opened four showrooms in Myanmar, Indonesia and Cambodia in the first half of 2015. The three showrooms in Yangon and Mandalay, Myanmar; and Phnom Penh, Cambodia; which showcase the company’s full array of Business-to-Consumer (B2C) products and Business-to-Business (B2B) solutions, are integrated with service centres. Panasonic Business Showroom in Jakarta, Indonesia, is a dedicated B2B showroom targeted at government and business partners.

    Panasonic_Showroom-Service_Centre_Yangon_Myanmar

    As fast-growing countries with sizeable young populations and untapped opportunities, Myanmar; Indonesia; and Cambodia are key markets for Panasonic in the Asia Pacific region. Panasonic aims to create a better life and a better world by enhancing quality of living through innovative electronics that cater to different lifestyle needs. These include home and cooking appliances, beauty and grooming products, televisions, audio-visual products and cameras.

    The company also strives to boost local business development and support growing infrastructure by marrying technology and products into comprehensive solutions tailored to meet unique market requirements in both residential and commercial sectors such as retail shops, convenience stores, hotels, offices and educational institutions.

    The one-stop showrooms offer customers and corporates the opportunity to experience the products and solutions first-hand, enhancing the brand’s touch points with its stakeholders. Staying true to its philosophy of contribution to society, Panasonic will continue to contribute to the development and prosperity of the markets it operates in, be it through technologies, products, solutions and corporate citizenship activities.

    Myanmar

    Panasonic Showroom & Service Center Yangon
    Address: G-15, Tower D, Pearl Condominium,
    Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township, Yangon
    Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 9:00 – 17:30 (Showroom & Service Center)
    Sunday (except public holidays): 9:00 – 17:30 (Showroom only)
    Tel: +95 – 1 – 860 – 4657

    Panasonic Showroom & Service Center Mandalay
    Address: No.647, Corner of 36th & 78th street, Mahar Aung Myae Township,
    Haymamarlar North Quarter, Mandalay
    Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 9:00 – 17:30 (Showroom & Service Center)
    Sunday (except public holidays): 9:00 – 17:30 (Showroom only)
    Tel: +95 – 2 – 60488

    Indonesia

    Panasonic Business Showroom Jakarta
    Address: JL. Dewi Sartika No. 14, Cawang, Jakarta, 13630, Indonesia
    Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 – 17:00

    Tel:

    		 +62 21 801 5710

    Cambodia

    Panasonic Showroom Phnom Penh
    Address: No.25, iOne Building, Mao Tse Tung Blvd, Sangkat Boeung Keng Kang I,
    Khan Chamkar Morn, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia
    Opening hours: Monday to Sunday (except public holiday): 10:00 – 19:00
    Tel: +855 23 213 857
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  • Symphony EYC strengthens Asian arm

    Symphony EYC strengthens Asian arm

    Symphony EYC, which supplies software program and providers for greater than 1000 retailers, producers and wholesalers globally, has made two key Asian government appointments.

    Oscar Garcia-Velasco turns into VP Asia Pacific and Japan and Henry Chen GM of Higher China.

    “With Garcia-Velasco and Chen in place, Symphony EYC is properly positioned to satisfy demand for the G.O.L.D. Unified Retail Platform within the quickly rising Asia-Pacific markets,” the corporate stated in a press release.

    Garcia-Velasco shall be answerable for creating the Symphony EYC G.O.L.D. buyer base, becoming a member of the corporate from NET (internet), the place he was answerable for creating and increasing NET (internet)’s providers and market management in Asia, the Center East and Latin America. With greater than 25 years of IT business expertise, Garcia-Velasco has held government management positions with giant IT organizations, akin to IBM, SSA and Torex all through Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Japan.

    Reporting to Garcia-Velasco, Chen will handle all Symphony EYC G.O.L.D. enterprise in Higher China, comprising Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Chen has greater than 15 years’ expertise working with main distributors, akin to SSA International, Infor and Torex, in bringing retail, manufacturing and distribution options to the Chinese language market.

    “With Oscar Garcia-Velasco on the helm of our Asia-Pacific operations and Henry Chen supporting him in China, Symphony EYC enhances the management it must benefit from the elevated demand for omni-channel retailing in addition to the robust financial progress within the area,” stated Graeme Cooksley, president & MD, Symphony EYC G.O.L.D.

    “Each Garcia-Velasco and Chen are distinctive people with strong backgrounds and deep area experience in enterprise retail techniques.”

    Symphony EYC clients embrace 15 of the world’s 30 largest retailers, hundreds of retail manufacturers, and lots of of nationwide and regional chains.

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  • Singapore, Taiwan, Korea to get Apple Watch

    Singapore, Taiwan, Korea to get Apple Watch

    Singaporeans, Taiwanese and South Koreans will be capable of purchase the Apple Watch from later this month.

    “The response to Apple Watch has surpassed our expectations in each approach, and we’re thrilled to convey it to extra clients around the globe,” stated Jeff Williams, Apple’s senior vice chairman of Operations. “We’re additionally making nice progress with the backlog of Apple Watch orders, and we thank our clients for his or her endurance. All orders positioned via Might, with the only exception of Apple Watch 42 mm Area Black Stainless Metal with Area Black Hyperlink Bracelet, will ship to clients inside two weeks. At the moment, we’ll additionally start promoting some fashions in our Apple Retail Shops.”

    Apple says the Apple Watch might be obtainable in Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Italy, Mexico Spain and Switzerland from Friday, June 26 from the Apple On-line Retailer, Apple’s retail shops and chosen authorised resellers.

    The world’s developer group has already created hundreds of apps for Apple Watch with new apps for patrons to discover and uncover. Apple Watch wearers can already hold monitor of a Singapore Airways flight, keep in contact with associates in South Korea with KakaoTalk, discover the close by YouBike station in Taiwan and entry film tickets with Cinepolis in Mexico.

  • Japanese take slice of Tran Anh Digital World

    Japanese take slice of Tran Anh Digital World

    Main Japanese electronics retailer Nojima Company has taken a cornerstone stake in Vietnamese electronics chain Tran Anh Digital World.

    The corporate says it has acquired 20.86 per cent and intends to take a 30 per cent holding for now.

    Tran Anh is predicated in Hanoi and has 15 shops within the northern areas of Vietnam, with plans to open as many as 9 extra this yr.

    Nojima’s transfer follows an funding by Thailand’s Central Group in taking a 49 per cent share in Nguyen Kim, a bigger chain dominant within the southern area of Vietnam. And property developer Vingroup has launched what it plans to turn out to be a community of 100 electronics shops in its Vincom purchasing centres, branded VinPro and in smaller standalone outlets beneath the VinPro+ model.

    Analysis home GfK reviews house electronics gross sales in Vietnam exceeded US$5.5 billion final yr, the second yr in a row progress within the class has exceeded 20 per cent yr on yr.

    Vietnamese information media report Tran Anh posted a tax-paid revenue of US$179,400 within the first quarter of this yr, up 11.5 per cent over the identical interval in 2014.

    Nojima first invested  in Tran Anh two years in the past, taking a 10 per cent stake.

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  • D.Phone Forms Mobile Phone Retail Partnership With Letv

    D.Phone Forms Mobile Phone Retail Partnership With Letv

    Letv and D.Phone announced a deal for D.Phone to open Letv experience zones in its over 4,000 outlets across China.

    Those experience zones will become pre-sales and post-sales service sites of Letv products, which are mainly super phone and super TV products. Financial terms of the arrangement were not released.

    Letv’s LePar sales vice president Zhang Zhiwei said that D.Phone will not keep any stock of goods. Instead, the related deliveries will be provided by LePar. So, D.Phone will only play the role of having experience stores and the product purchases still need to be completed via the Internet. LePar is a partnership project launched by Letv.

    By cooperating with Letv, D.Phone will gain commissions from the sales of Letv smart devices, accessories and derivatives. It can also gain income from post-sales services. In addition, as a partner of Letv, the company will have the opportunity to subscribe to possible equity of Letv.

    As a traditional 3C channel, D.Phone is transforming itself to a service provider. The company hopes to use its offline network channels to provide complete O2O services to the technology industry. Meanwhile, Letv wants to establish an experience center ecosystem via the nationwide offline channel of D.Phone that allows users to experience the products before purchasing them online.

  • Sony Talks Digital Distribution And The Shift Away from Physical Retail

    Sony Talks Digital Distribution And The Shift Away from Physical Retail

    SCE President Andrew House talks digital distribution and the shift away from physical retail occurring this generation.

    At Sony’s Investor Relations Day 2015 presentation, House spoke about the improved network features of the PS4 over the PS3 and believes that it’s one of the drivers for the shift. He also pointed out that having earlier and more accessible access of digital releases are contributing elements now that download versions arrive on the same day with retail copies and can often be pre-loaded.

    House also talked about the impact on profit, noting that regions will be affected differently based on technology and user preference.

    “Anecdotally the new console generation has certainly marked a shift to digital distribution in my opinion. Pre-loading, more competitive pricing and day and date access are the big factors for me, plus the requirement of retail releases to install and often download day one patches negates the speed factor of retail purchases.”

    In recent times, both Sony and Microsoft have embraced flash sales and discounting of online products.

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  • Apple watch to be available in Singapore from June 26

    Apple watch to be available in Singapore from June 26

    Apple Watch will be available in Singapore from June 26, according to a press statement on Apple’s website on Thursday.

    Fans will be able to buy the smartwatch from Apple’s online and retail stores, and selected authorised resellers.

    Selected models of the Apple Watch will also be available from boutique store Malmaison by The Hour Glass in Singapore.

    The watch will also be available in six other countries on June 26 – Italy, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland and Taiwan.

  • Courts struggles in “weak” setting

    Courts struggles in “weak” setting

    Singapore-based electronics and homewares retailer Courts has reported a quarterly revenue dip of 16.four per cent in what it describes as a “weak retail surroundings”.

    The listed firm posted a quarterly revenue of S$6.56 million within the three months to March 31, down from $7.84 million in the identical interval a yr in the past.

    Gross sales for the quarter fell seven per cent to S$192.5 million and for the yr to March 31, income fell a pointy 38.7 per cent to S$17.36 million, on gross sales down eight.6 per cent to S$758.5 million.

    “Singapore’s gross sales, which contributed to 66 per cent of the group’s gross sales, registered 11 per cent lower in FY14/15,” the corporate stated in a press release.

    “The lower in gross sales was primarily because of a lacklustre retail surroundings resulting in the autumn in gross sales of all product classes, decrease bulk gross sales of digital merchandise and lowered participation in commerce present days,” Courts stated.

    Malaysia accounted for 33 per cent of group gross sales, however fell by 5.eight per cent largely because of the weaker ringgit and regardless of some panic shopping for earlier than the introduction of gross sales tax on April 1.

    However the firm expressed optimism for the yr forward.

    Two new shops are quickly to open in Indonesia, its latest market, offering essential mass to realize operational effectivity.

    Courts additionally plans to launch right into a fourth market with Singapore media tipping Mauritius because the most certainly risk.

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