Retail News CRM

Category: Fashion

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

  • Pandora adjust pricing in China to limit grey market

    Pandora adjust pricing in China to limit grey market

    PANDORA, the world’s largest jewellery manufacturer, today announces a retail price reduction across the majority of its jewellery assortment within the Chinese market.

    Effective from July 19, 2018  the reduction is across the majority of the Company’s jewellery collections, with the overall adjustment range at around 15%.  The new prices are reflected on all platforms including the PANDORA owned eSTORE and the Tmall flagship store.

    Being the most known jewellery brand globally, PANDORA jewellery is highly sought after, and the demand has seen a rise in the grey market trade within China.  The price reduction aims to limit this, as well as balance the retail price difference in the mainland Chinese market and other markets.

    “We are committed to servicing our Chinese customers and are very pleased with the opportunities for continued growth in China. This price reduction across our jewellery assortment is one element in our strategic programme to limit grey market trading of our products in China, and continue to enhance our customer experience in the world’s largest jewellery market,” says Kenneth Madsen, President of PANDORA’s Asia Pacific region.

    Since entering China in 2010, PANDORA has grown its revenues double or triple-digit each year as the Company has opened more stores, entered new cities and expanded its online presence in the country. Today, PANDORA has over 170 concept stores in more than 50 cities in China.

     

  • Sarah Zhaung Jewellery opens UK doors

    Sarah Zhaung Jewellery opens UK doors

    Named after the eponymous jewellery designer, Sarah Zhuang Jewellery decided to expand from its home market after a successful showcase at Couture London.

    Sarah Zhuang Jewellery wowed press and retailers at the show with its selection of versatile fine jewellery designs.

    Recognising the brand had something different to offer consumers in the UK, leading London independent jewellery retailers Kabiri and Talisman Gallery in Harvey Nichols have secured Sarah Zhuang Jewellery for its stores.

    All of Sarah Zhuang Jewellery collections are hand-crafted and designed to personify a unique trait of contemporary women. Pieces are crafted in 18ct gold and adorned with diamonds and precious gemstones, with each piece designed to be worn in multiple ways.

    Founder and designer of the namesake brand, Sarah Zhuang, shares on the move into the UK: “London is a very important market for us. It is the first time that we have expanded outside of Asia. We are extremely thrilled to have received such positive feedback from Couture London, and to have connected with Harvey Nichols and Kabiri through this wonderful event.”

    Born into a family that has worked within the jewellery trade for more than 20 years, Zhuang has lived and breathed design from a young age. Fuelled by her passion for jewellery craftsmanship, she received her design certificate from the GIA and a professional diploma from Hong Kong Design Institute, before studying in Florence, Italy, to further hone her skills in jewellery design and making.

    In 2017, she launched her own eponymous brand, which she describes as ‘as versatile as women;.

    Already stocked in retailers in Hong Kong, China and Japan, Sarah Zhuang Jewellery is looking for other retail partners to expand her presence in the UK and internationally.

  • StreetTrend buys majority interest in Italian footwear retailer P448

    StreetTrend buys majority interest in Italian footwear retailer P448

    US-based footwear holding company StreetTrend has signed a joint venture agreement with Italy-based investment firm Panda to purchase a majority interest in luxury sneaker and footwear retail brand P448.

    The deal covers all creative design, manufacturing operations and brand assets of the footwear brand in Forli.

    Following the acquisition, P448 founders Marco Simone and Andrea Curtis will maintain an equity stake and continue to operate the business.

    StreetTrend chairman Kulkin said: “When we launched StreetTrend last year it was very clear that we had to include P448 in our portfolio of luxury sneakers.

    “The feedback about the product design and quality coming out of Europe was amazing and I was thrilled to sign an exclusive distribution agreement to market the brand in North America, the UK, Hong Kong, and China.”

    Following the transaction, Panda CEO Paolo Griffo will serve as the CEO of P448 and lead the new management team of the brand. He will also continue to run Panda.

    Kulkin will serve as non-executive chairman of P448, while Simone and Curtis will serve as co-creative and design directors.

    As part of the deal, StreetTrend will assist the P448 brand to expand its current global distribution footprint.

    The company is also planning to open a new P448 store at the Palazzo Serbelloni in Milan, Italy, in October.

    Griffo said: “The company will continue to grow by being innovative and executing on our vision of offering a unique Italian spin on shoes that reflect streetwear, including looks that capture the surf, skate and music culture.”

  • Tokyo LACOSTE’s new travel retail store opens with new concept

    Tokyo LACOSTE’s new travel retail store opens with new concept

    Lacoste is pursuing its Asian expansion with the opening of a new travel-retail outlet within Lotte Duty Free Shop Ginza in Tokyo.

    The brand is, for the first time, introducing its new retail concept – “Le Club” – into Asia Pacific. The French word hints at the exclusivity and uniqueness of the location. With Le Club, Lacoste is biting the curiosity of both foreign visitors in Japan but also Japanese tourists traveling abroad.

    For this 50sqm store, the crocodile has played on its authentic sportive roots, merging the brand’s and its creator’s core values. With a layout reminiscent of a tennis court, the customer is invited to dive into René Lacoste’s universe, founder and early 20th century tennis champ. Open in order to let the light in, the green concrete panel is a nod to René LACOSTE’s tennis practice wall. A whole new design which creates a unique human and customer experience.

  • Hana Tajima x Uniqlo 2018 collection launched

    Hana Tajima x Uniqlo 2018 collection launched

    Uniqlo has announced the rollout of its Hana Tajima for Uniqlo 2018 Fall/Winter collection, available in stores and online.

    The collection is a collaboration with New York-based, British-born fashion designer Hana Tajima, known for her contemporary, functional designs. Tajima describes her latest collection as showcasing “transitions in emotions, nature and in light”.

    “I also pursued an elegant simplicity to complement the style preferences and figures of wearers.”

    The collaboration line has been designed to embody a refined elegance and effortless comfort for women of all backgrounds, regardless of race or religion.

    Tajima is changing the way young women dress all over the world with contemporary, functional designs, which are both culturally sensitive and versatile. She has garnered considerable international attention in recent years for her unique designs, which are informed by her upbringing in diverse environments.

    Check some of the collections below :

  • Zara China to start recycled garments program

    Zara China to start recycled garments program

    Spanish garments retailer Inditex, owner of international fashion brand Zara, is set to pilot test its at-home pick up service for recycled garments in China this September.

    The initiative, which currently operates nationwide in Spain, is a central part of the group’s strategic commitment to the so-called ‘circular economy’. It has enabled the collection of more than 25,000 tonnes of garments in 21 markets since launching in 2016.

    The plan was released as part of a report on Inditex’s performance last year, announced at its recent annual meeting. The report highlighted how the company’s integrated store and online model has boosted Inditex’s sustained growth.

    “All of Inditex’s brands benefit from a robust integrated store and online platform,” said Inditex chairman and CEO Pablo Isla. “Last year, online sales already accounted for 12 per cent of the total in the 47 markets in which e-commerce platforms are available, representing annual growth of 41 per cent.”

    He added that the model had enabled sustained growth over the years, coupled with the consistent creation of economic, social and environmental value.

    Inditex has also recently embarked on a refurbishment drive for its entire global network of more than 7400 stores, accompanied by considerable growth in the Zara online platform.

    The group’s earnings performance has enabled its dividend per share to increase by 70 per cent during the last five years.

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  • G.U., Uniqlo’s sister brand, coming to Korea

    G.U., Uniqlo’s sister brand, coming to Korea

    Uniqlo’s sister brand G.U. is coming to Korea in September and will open its first store in the Lotte World Mall in Jamsil, Southern Seoul.

    Due to open on 14 Sept., the store will be 1,400 square meters (15,069 square feet) on the first basement floor. The brand’s parent company is Japan’s Fast Retailing, best known for Uniqlo.

    “Expanding overseas is one our most important tasks,” said G.U. CEO Osamu Yunoki in a press conference held on July 19 in central Seoul. “Korea has consumers that are highly sensitive to fashion, so our launch here was considered essential to fulfill that goal.”

    Korea is the fourth overseas location for G.U. It currently has 19 branches in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, along with 374 in Japan.

    G.U. was established in 2006 and has grown rapidly to reach 199.1 billion yen (US$1.76 billion) in revenue this year. Its products are differentiated from Uniqlo by their lower prices and more diverse styles, which include preppy, feminine and business casual. Uniqlo emphasizes functionality and keeps its product designs basic.

    “In Japan, Uniqlo and G.U. stores are often located close to each other and sales figures have shown that the two stores proximity create a positive effect,” Yunoki said. Uniqlo is on the first floor of the mall.

    Yunoki said G.U.’s prices in Korea may be higher than in Japan considering additional costs like tax, but the plan is to maintain the similar price gap with Uniqlo as in Japan. In an interview with the Japanese media outlet Nikkei last month, Yunoki said the ideal pricing for G.U. was “half the prices offered by Uniqlo, or at least 30% cheaper.”

    Some of the products at G.U.’s Korea branch will be exclusive to Korea. The brand has research centers in London and Tokyo that analyzes fashion trends in different markets.

    “In line with the launch schedule, we did a study of Korean fashion based on interviews, postings on social media and fashion magazines, to come up with exclusive products like over-sized coats and skinny pants,” said Hirofumi Osako, G.U.’s regional head for Korea.

    “Our plan is to learn from consumers here and continue to apply what we learn to products we release here.”

    From August 24 to 26, a pop-up store will open in the Hongik University area to present G.U.’s fall and winter lineup. Local consumers can also see the designs beforehand through a mobile app that will launch August 1 and the official online shopping mall, which is due to open on 1 Sept..

  • Louis Vuitton China expands cover to all major cities

    Louis Vuitton China expands cover to all major cities

    Luxury brand Louis Vuitton China is rolling out services to all major cities across the country.

    The expanded reach, which marks the first anniversary of its e-commerce launch in China, will allow metropolitan consumers throughout the country access to Louis Vuitton’s delivery service and seven-day return policy, which it has been testing in 12 of China’s largest cities over the past 12 months.

    The news follows the announcement that Louis Vuitton China, and other luxury brands, will lower prices there in response to the administration’s recent tax cuts.

    The anniversary of the Louis Vuitton China business will also be marked by the release of several new exclusive products, including new bag designs and the brand’s latest fragrance.

    Louis Vuitton’s e-commerce platform is supported by domestic delivery service SF Express, which serves a number of international luxury brands.

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  • Victoria’s Secret HK first flagship store is now open

    Victoria’s Secret HK first flagship store is now open

    Victoria’s Secret is opening its first full assortment flagship store in Hong-Kong.

    Situated in the heart of Causeway Bay the store spans four floors with a total retail space of more than 50,000 sq. ft.

    From delicate lingerie with the brand’s latest collection from Very Sexy™, Dream Angels™, Body by Victoria™, T-Shirt & Sexy Illusions Collections to its athletic line, Victoria Sport, the store satisfies any customer’s demand.

    Cocooned in a glamorous and sophisticated atmosphere, Victoria’s Secret fragrances are available along with the brand’s other cosmetic products.

    Head upstairs through a spiral staircase with floor to ceiling LED video screens screening highlights from the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show to a fully dedicated Victoria’s Secret PINK floor. There, you will find a collection of bras, panties and beauty products inspired by and focused on university-aged women.

    As angels never work alone, the store’s highly trained team offers complimentary bra fittings in store for you to find your perfect fit.

    With a stunningly mirror glass façade with dynamic lighting in the brand’s signature pink hues and a large video display facing the Times Square showing the Victoria’s Secret Angels and the brand’s latest collections you cannot miss the place.

    To celebrate the store’s opening, Victoria’s Secret Angels Josephine Skriver and Martha Hunt will be appearing in the store between 6-8pm on 24 July to meet & greet fans and sign autographs.

     

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  • Marks & Spencer UK plans to cut 351 management jobs

    Marks & Spencer UK plans to cut 351 management jobs

    Marks & Spencer UK reportedly plans to axe more than 300 jobs across the UK as it continues its restructure to counter falling sales.

    As reported seeing documents proposing 351 job cuts, almost all of them in management roles, including operations, section managers and “visual managers”.

    Marks & Spencer, which is flourishing in Asia under a franchise agreement with Middle Eastern-based Al Futtaim, has seen sales fall by 7.5 per cent in its home market over the last two years, which has reduced store profitability. That decline is behind a plan announced in May to close 100 stores by 2022.

    Earlier this month, chairman Archie Norman and CEO Steve Rowe warned there may be further closures, with Norman describing the scale of the Marks & Spencer store network as “a drag” on performance.

    Rowe is eyeing savings of £350 million by 2021, a target likely to lead to more redundancies. However to date, the company says 86 per cent of staff affected by the closure of stores so far have been relocated to new positions within the company.

    Marks & Spencer’s pre-tax profit nin the year to March 31 fell 62.1 per cent to £66.8 million, largely the result of £321.1 million in costs associated with store closures.

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  • Dalziel & Pow creates immersive retail space for Pieces

    Dalziel & Pow creates immersive retail space for Pieces

    Design firm Dalziel & Pow – which designed Dubai-based Lifestyle’s revamped store in The Dubai Mall – also created an immersive concept store, ‘Her Social Studio’, for Danish fashion brand Pieces. Located within the office headquarters of parent company Bestseller in Aarhus, Denmark, the concept store immerses customers in a multi-faceted hub for co-creation and brand storytelling.

    Fusing classic retailing with a working studio, the space is multi-purpose and houses a myriad of brand activations and engagements, from staff training to trialling products and merchandising to customer workshops and styling sessions. The aim, to give any visitor, be it franchisee, partner, supplier or staff member an opportunity to ‘buy into the brand’ through a totally Immersive experience.

    The flexible showroom is broadly divided into two zones – ‘Her Wardrobe’ and ‘Her Studio’.

    The retail space ‘Her Wardrobe’ exudes a contemporary Scandinavian aesthetic, reflecting the world of Pieces’ customers – celebrating and empowering them to look good and share their looks in a warm welcoming setting. It’s designed to be a flexible shoppable space, featuring a “coming soon” panel for sneak peeks at future product collections and collaborations. As well as showcasing the store concept it can be used to trial merchandisng and visual merchandising ideas and accommodate a constantly changing programme of events and classes.

    ‘Her Studio’ is designed as a co-working space, giving insight into the brand and its creative processes. Customers and partners can relax on informal lounge seating, or access complimentary drinks and gift-wrapping from a concealed ‘Hosting Cupboard’. Perimeter walls throughout act as a vibrant canvas for expressing brand inspiration and charting the creative process – such as a pin board showcasing ‘works in progress’, an upcoming events calendar, a lifestyle mood board and a bold brand manifesto.

    The showroom is 100% self-service – it’s cashless, card-less and most of the time unstaffed. Visitors and staff can make purchases through via their own mobile device. The whole space allows the brand story and retail concept to be told in a truly immersive and seamless way.

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  • Find the Perfect Piece of Pokémon Jewelry at U-TREASURE

    Find the Perfect Piece of Pokémon Jewelry at U-TREASURE

    Japanese jewellery brand U-Treasure has released a series of Pokemon-themed merchandise.

    The firm launched the “Pikachu Electric Motif” collection of rings for men and women to be available from the U-Treasure Shinjuku store in Tokyo and the K.uno Meitetsu store in Nagoya, as well as online. The rings will be available in platinum, yellow gold, and white gold as well as blends, and diamond-studded engagement and wedding rings are available. All the rings feature the Pikachu character.

    U-Treasure has also announced the re-release of its popular “Poke Ball” accessory case.

    The accessory brand has also released branded jewellery featuring Sailor Moon, Disney, and Star Wars.

    View the gallery below (6 images) :

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  • Vini Vici beauty enters China

    Vini Vici beauty enters China

    Shinsegae International Co., the fashion arm of South Korea’s retail giant Shinsegae Group, aims to open a flagship store of its cosmetics brand VIDI VICI in China late next year to tap deeper into the world’s largest market.

    Prior to the opening, it will launch a premium skin care line with a concept of lotus in November, the company said.

    Shinsegae International recently established a local office in China to prepare for the opening of a VIDI VICI flagship store, according to a company official. It could open the store by the end of next year after getting necessary licenses from Chinese authorities.

    “VIDI VICI is famous for its skin care goods in China, so we are planning to add a premium skin care line consisting of six products for women in their 30s and 40s with a price tag of below 200,000 won (US$178.08),” said an official at Shinsegae International.

    VIDI VICI has successfully earned more than 10 billion won in sales every month since March thanks to the brand’s popularity among Chinese consumers.

    It swung to profit of 570 million won for the first time last year since it was taken over by Shinsegae International in 2012. Its revenue is expected to reach 130 billion won this year, according to analysts.

    Shinsegae International’s cosmetics business also reversed to profit of 5.7 billion won last year on sales of 62.7 billion won, and sales are forecast to more than triple to 200 billion won this year.

    Meanwhile, Shinsegae International recently has won the exclusive right to sell the lineup of U.S. top makeup brand Hourglass Cosmetics in Korea and opened a store in a department store in Seoul.

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  • DFS celebrates the 5th Annual “First Class Beauty” Campaign

    DFS celebrates the 5th Annual “First Class Beauty” Campaign

    DFS Group, the world’s leading luxury travel retailer, will bring the best of beauty to traveling customers worldwide this August with its fifth annual and much-anticipated First Class Beauty campaign. 24 DFS and T Galleria by DFS stores across 17 destinations will be transformed into a non-stop whirlwind of beauty excitement, featuring exclusive products and experiences from more than 40 leading brands.

    The latest edition of First Class Beauty, themed “Your Day-to-Night Beauty Experts”, offers a curated selection of products that work every hour of the day, guided by the advice and expertise of DFS’ trained Beauty Associates. Perfect for the world traveler who seeks to look and feel the very best across all time zones, or who loves to transform their look as the sun goes down, “Your Day-to-Night Beauty Experts” represents an assortment of makeup and skincare that is essential for anyone on the move, many of them exclusive to DFS.

    As with previous First Class Beauty campaigns, these exceptional products will be brought to life in DFS stores worldwide through an ongoing calendar of exciting and immersive experiences to delight the traveling customer. From August 1 to 31*, participating stores will host a series of playful activations that highlight and enhance the enjoyment of discovery and surprise in every customer’s journey to today’s discerning beauty aficionado.

    Global world firsts include a utility-meets-fantasy MAC Workshop Café, and DFS x Meitu’s awe-inspiring lipstick bar boasting the latest AI and AR make-up applications. Combining hot new technology with a sense of fun and wonder, these unique counter makeovers respond to customers’ desires for a more youthful and entertaining retail experience.

    “‘Your Day-to-Night Beauty Experts’ is our biggest edition yet of First Class Beauty, with the largest number of participating brands and the most exciting activations. We are thrilled to leverage our deep expertise in beauty, and our understanding of what makes our customers happy, to bring the ultimate First Class Beauty experience to discerning global travelers,” said Christophe Marque, DFS Group Senior Vice President Beauty.

  • Tom Ford Beauty Suria KLCC is now open

    Tom Ford Beauty Suria KLCC is now open

    Tom Ford Beauty has just opened its second free-standing store in Suria KLCC.

    The launch follows the opening of the brand’s flagship store in Covent Garden, London last year.

    The KLCC store features a layered grey glass sculpted design that casts rings of light on white marble slabs to showcase the beauty and skincare products on display. A key feature is a display of 100 Boys & Girls lipsticks.

    Buyers are invited to experience fragrance customisation, brow sessions, VIP masterclasses and bridal services.

    Private makeup services are available with the store’s beauty specialists by appointment.

    View interior gallery below (6 images) :

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