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.

  • Chicco Singapore opening concept store

    Chicco Singapore opening concept store

    Baby brand Chicco Singapore launches its first Southeast Asia concept store at Tanglin Mall this week.

    It is also the largest Chicco store in Asia, covering 4400 sqft (408 sqm), it offers products that cater to the varied needs of children for every stage of their development.

    In a bid to make the shopping experience easy, the Chicco concept store has a guided path with different product categories delineated by colour, icons and imagery.

    The 58-year-old brand offers tiered pricing to ensure products are accessible to all shoppers. Chicco also has a homogenous pricing model, so shoppers in Singapore have similar prices to its stores in Europe for the same products.

    chicco-store

    To understand more about the needs of children during their early stages of development, Chicco has its own R&D centre, known as Osservatorio Chicco. The brand also guarantees the safety of its products.

    Chicco was founded by Pietro Catelli in Como, Italy, in 1958 after the birth of his son Enrico, affectionately nicknamed Chicco. Twelve years earlier, Catelli had founded sales agency Artsana, which specialises in the production and distribution of products for venipuncture and medication.

    Chicco now has a presence in 120 countries.

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  • Kurt Geiger sales soar despite ownership carousel

    Kurt Geiger sales soar despite ownership carousel

    Kurt Geiger should now be focusing on expanding internationally after a solid performance in 2015.

    Despite going round and round the carousel of ownership with three owners in the last four years, Kurt Geiger has maintained sales momentum and posted an impressive set of full year 2015 results, doubling operating profit and growing turnover to £281.6 million. The retailer’s fashion-led proposition, premium – yet accessible – price points and distinct design aesthetic is unrivalled on the high street, and has kept it top of mind of footwear shoppers.

    These results do not reflect its latest change of ownership, as it was sold to European private equity group Cinven in December 2015, and the footwear market in 2016 has been considerably less forgiving than that in 2015. Kurt Geiger has not been immune to the pressures of waning consumer confidence and volatile weather patterns, as evidenced by the fact that it has been discounting heavily over the last few months, even on new season A/W 2016 stock.  The retailer has to be careful to not dilute the Kurt Geiger brand too much, and ensure it remains aspirational and recognised for its quality and design credentials.

    Initiatives such as signing supermodel Karlie Kloss as the face of its brand for S/S 2016 and advertising its celebrity fan following on its website and social media channels through the ‘As Seen On’ function will continue to build its destination appeal and grow brand awareness. Given its robust product proposition and the continuing desirability of its brand, Kurt Geiger is in prime position to benefit from further investment from its new owners, whose focus must now be on nurturing the brand and expanding internationally as its domestic presence matures.

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  • Ted Baker flourishing worldwide

    Ted Baker flourishing worldwide

    North America has led a solid increase in sales for Ted Baker in its first half year.

    With group revenue increasing £32.7 million to £259.5 million, the UK-headquartered fashion retailer has proved once again that its overall strategy and business investments across its three distribution channels are paying off.

    The retail business grew in value to £191.1 million, boosted by an almost 30 per cent increase in North American retail sales, while wholesale rose to £69.4 million and income from licensing increased to £7.9 million.

    Ted Baker’s store expansion continues as average retail square footage rose 9.7 per cent with store openings in the US, Canada and China, the addition of department store concessions in the UK, Europe and Asia and licensee store openings in newer territories South Africa and Vietnam.

    Ted Baker’s premium design aesthetic and almost aspirational appeal continues to attract shoppers.  Products are recognisably and distinctively Ted Baker, making them highly desirable to its loyal customer following. Ted Baker also has an advantage over rivals such as Reiss and Whistles, in terms of its ability to appeal to women and men fairly equally across a variety of products as evidenced by growth across both womenswear (up 13.8 per cent to £148.9 million) and menswear (up 15.3 per cent to £110.6 million). The brand is also gradually positioning itself as a lifestyle brand, with expansion into categories such as homewares, stationery and luggage. Its distinctive aesthetic translates well into these complementary categories and will enable Ted Baker to create newer sources of revenue in a challenging clothing market.

    eCommerce is hugely valuable and is a particularly stand-out element of the business. Investment in design, personalised content and language specific websites, the first of which launched in Germany during the half, further enhances the online experience. Initiatives such as its newly launched interactive video where customers can shop autumn/winter products as they watch further set Ted Baker apart from competitors.

    Ted Baker’s products are typically smart, design-led and chic, and with Christmas coming up – will be top of mind for customers for partywear, occasions and gifting. As the retailer continues to invest in product and build brand awareness of its core offer in new and emerging markets, Ted Baker is well-positioned to continue on its upward trajectory over the second half year.

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  • Pandora goes online in China on Alibaba’s Tmall

    Pandora goes online in China on Alibaba’s Tmall

    PANDORA announced that the Company has launched on Alibaba Group’s business to consumer platform, Tmall.com, providing a further avenue for Chinese consumers to purchase PANDORA jewellery. The launch on Tmall.com is PANDORA’s first online presence in China, which will be followed by the launch of the Company’s own eSTORE in December, 2016.

    Internet retailing in China is becoming increasingly popular amongst consumers, driven by faster internet, greater payment security and increasing convenience. In 2015, internet retailing in China generated sales of CNY 1,795 billion (approximately DKK 1,785 billion), corresponding to an increase of 53% compared to 2014.

    In connection with the launch, Kenneth Madsen, President, PANDORA Asia Pacific, said: “The launch of PANDORA jewellery on Tmall.com is another important step in establishing the PANDORA brand amongst Chinese consumers. Tmall is a clear leader in China’s internet retail space, and is the right business partner for PANDORA to get the broadest approach to the Chinese consumer.”

    The jewellery market in China is the largest jewellery market in the world, which in 2015 had a value of CNY 607 billion (approximately DKK 600 billion), corresponding to an increase of 7% compared to 2014. In the period 2016-2021, the Chinese jewellery market is expected to grow with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6%.

     

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  • Shiseido perfume ambition revealed

    Shiseido perfume ambition revealed

    Japanese cosmetics group Shiseido is aiming to become one of the world’s top five perfume makers in five years, up from its current seventh spot.

    New acquisitions will help Shiseido perfume market share grow – along with a step-up in marketing, especially online.

    Shiseido has beaten Spain’s Puig to win Procter & Gamble‘s Dolce & Gabbana perfume (D&G) licence, which generates 400 million euros ($445 million) in annual revenue. It aims to grow this to 1 billion euros in 10 years.
    Shiseido group chief executive for Europe, Middle East and Africa Louis Desazars, who was previously US head of Shiseido’s Nars make-up brand, says there is a new mindset and energy in the group.

    The D&G licence business will compensate for Shiseido’s loss this year of the Jean-Paul Gaultier perfume licence as part of an agreement with Puig when it bought the French brand in 2011.

    Shiseido says the D&G perfume business helped it more than double its market share instantly to 5.8 per cent from 2.2 per cent. It is aiming to reach 9 per cent in five years.

    On top of its own skincare lines, Shiseido makes perfume under licence for fashion brands Azzedine Alaia, Elie Saab, Issey Miyake and Narciso Rodriguez. The group has created a separate branch for niche brands it has acquired such as Serge Lutens last year, and the skincare and cosmetics brands Laura Mercier and ReVive in July.

    The global perfume market grew 2.9 per cent last year, while niche perfume brands saw their sales surge 15 per cent.

    Estee Lauder has also placed niche perfume brands it has bought, such as Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle and Le Labo, in a separate division.
    Including perfume, skincare and makeup, Shiseido ranks fifth globally behind L’Oreal, Coty, LVMH and Chanel, and is bigger than Clarins. In skincare alone, Shiseido says it aims to join the top three globally, up from its current fifth spot.

  • Damiani Malaysia opens in Pavilion

    Damiani Malaysia opens in Pavilion

    Italian luxury jewellery group Damiani Malaysia has opened a boutique store in the Pavilion shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur.

    Damiani Pavilion Malaysia

    Precious materials are used in the store’s interior to create a sophisticated environment to enhance the tradition and modernity of Damiani’s jewellery. The interior features taupe satin wallpaper and bronzed brass details.

    Founded in 1924, Damiani designs, manufactures, distributes and sells jewellery and luxury watches. The company manages 55 direct and 20 franchised points of sale internationally.

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  • Kenzo-H&M collaboration revealed

    Kenzo-H&M collaboration revealed

    The first images have been revealed of the extraordinary range of men’s and women’s designs in the Kenzo-H&M collaboration.

    The Kenzo and H&M collection will go on sale in more than 250 selected H&M stores worldwide from November 3. As with previous H&M collaborations, it is likely to attract huge interest as the fast-fashion giant makes available clothing from a luxury brand unaffordable to many core H&M shoppers.

    Kenzo collection 2

    The Kenzo- H&M lookbook features a key selection of looks from the designer collaboration and stars a diverse cast of talented, passionate and creative ambassadors, each of whom expresses their individuality and values with style. Inside Retail has chosen a small selection of the designs below.

    Kenzo collection 1

     

    The ambassadors featured in the lookbook are writer and activist Amy Sall, photographer Youngjun Koo, artist and DJ Juliana Huxtable, musician and performance artist Oko Ebombo, fashion editor Harriet Verney, make-up artist Isamaya Ffrench, artist Ingrid, musician Anna of the North, model and rapper Le1f, as well as models Mae Lapres, Hao Liu, Selena Forrest, Tom Gaskin, Julia Banas and Pierre Painchaud.

    The photographer was Oliver Hadlee Pearch.

    Kenzo collection 5

    Kenzo collection 4

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  • FJ Benjamin granted Casio Indonesia rights

    FJ Benjamin granted Casio Indonesia rights

    Singapore-listed fashion and lifestyle group FJ Benjamin has had a celebration to mark it gaining the Casio Indonesia rights to retail the full range of the Japanese watch brand’s watches.

    The brands include Baby-G, Edifice and G-Shock.

    While Casio distributes products to retailers in Indonesia already, only FJ Benjamin has the full range as exclusive retailer for all categories, CEO Nash Benjamin said at a Casio media event at a Jakarta nightclub venue attended by more than 1000 guests.

    He expects the watches to be sold at about 60 sales outlets in the first year. Associate Gilang Agung Persada is setting up G-Shock boutiques and stand-alone counters in malls across Indonesia, as well as selling Casio brands in 30 stores under its two multi-label watch chains, Watch Engine and Watch Zone.

    A G-Shock boutique opened at the end of August at the new St Moritz mall complex, which also houses high-end apartments.

    Benjamin says his company contacted Casio as it has an interest in G-Shock. “Casio came to Indonesia, saw our network of retail stores and was satisfied we could do a good job.”

    Casio senior executive managing officers and senior GM Shigenori Itoh says the company has had double-digit growth in Asia for the past three years.

    Meanwhile, Benjamin says his company could have up to 80 “or maybe even 100” stores in Indonesia in the next four to five years.

    FJ Benjamin has also won exclusive distribution rights in Indonesia for US fashion brand Marc Jacobs.

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  • Harvey Nichols Hong Kong reopens

    Harvey Nichols Hong Kong reopens

    Harvey Nichols Hong Kong has reopened its store at The Landmark following a three-month renovation.

    Originally opened in 2005, the five-storey store now offers the Style Concierge, a personalised service that helps customers with their wardrobe makeover. It also offers makeovers for every occasion, invitations to events, private sales, special offers, gift suggestions, beauty advice and delivery services.

    Harvey Nichols Hong Kong Landmark

    Also new is Mixology, a permanent pop-up area that features new designer labels and fashion trends. Its first showcase is Korean fashion power houses including Customellow, CY Choi, D-Antidote and Solid Homme.

    Harvey Nichols Hong Kong Landmark 2

    More than 30 makeup and skincare labels have been introduced as well, including Addiction, La Mer, Nail & Lash by Per Face, Tom Ford Beauty and Whoo.

    From Copenhagen Fashion Week, Harvey Nichols has introduced designer labels including Han Kjøbenhavn, Henrik Vibskov and Tonsure. These add to the line-up of labels from other international fashion weeks including Hilfiger Collection, Maison Margiela and Vera Wang for women, and Lavin and Marni for men.

    Harvey Nichols Hong Kong Landmark 3

    The store’s facade is a geometric-faceted floating panel sitting prominently with the inherited adjacent architecture, with the abstracted lines from the “H” and “N” creating a pattern that is illuminated at night.

  • Chinese celebs promote ‘K-beauty’

    Chinese celebs promote ‘K-beauty’

    Internet celebrities in China, known as “Wang Hong” there, have been in the limelight among Korea’s cosmetics and retail industry officials, amid a chilly relationship between the two countries. Bilateral relations have soured since Korea decided to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system.

    The online stars, who have millions of followers on the internet, exert a strong influence over young Chinese people. According to CBN Data, a commercial data company affiliated with Alibaba, the “Wang Hong economy” is set to be worth 58 billion yuan ($8.7 billion) in 2016, more than China’s box office in 2015.

    Korea’s cosmetics industry officials have recently paid attention to them, as more have promoted K-beauty fever in China, evaluating or recommending Korean cosmetics online.

    Some cosmetics companies have even invited them to Korea to promote their products.

    AmorePacific invited some to Korea in March and September this year to promote its oriental herbal shampoo “Ryoe.” After the invitation, AmorePacific’s shampoo sales in China grew seven times year-on-year. LG Household and Health Care invited nine celebrities to Korea on Sept. 22 to promote its cosmetics brand SU:M37. The Face Shop invited five others and introduced their products to them earlier this year.

    Retail industry officials are looking for opportunities from the celebrities as well.

    Aekyung invited 10 in May to promote its cosmetics brand “Luna,” and HDC Shilla I’PARK Duty Free hosted an overnight trip for five to sightsee spots in Yongsan, central Seoul. Shinsegae broadcasted its “K-beauty fashion week” event to China through the channels of a few of the internet celebrities and Galleria Duty Free Shop employed two to promote the store in China through their social media.

    On Oct. 3, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Cho Yoon-sun said, “We would like you Wang Hongs, who lead the trend in China, to be a bridge between Korea and China,” meeting six celebrities at Jongno Hanok Village in central Seoul.

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  • Louis Vuitton buys Rimowa luggage

    Louis Vuitton buys Rimowa luggage

    French luxury group Louis Vuitton has bought a controlling 80 per cent stake in the Rimowa luggage business.

    Dieter Morszeck, grandson of the founder of Rimowa, believes partnering with the LVMH Group will preserve “the spirit of excellence and the long-term vision that have inspired his family and the company’s employees for over a century”.

    Morszeck will sell a majority stake to the LVMH Group while continuing to hold equity in the business and maintaining his leadership functions, resulting in Rimowa becoming the first German Maison of the LVMH Group.

    Upon completion of the transaction, Alexandre Arnault will be appointed co-CEO of Rimowa.

    Founded in Cologne in 1898, luggage and leather goods maker Rimowa has become renowned for innovative, quality luggage over the course of the 20th century.

    Since its creation by Paul Morszeck, innovation has been at the heart of Rimowa’s strategy. In 1937, his son Richard launched the first aluminium suitcase available on the market. The aluminium structure comprising parallel grooves makes the luggage instantly recognisable and has played its part in building the reputation of Rimowa among a sophisticated international clientele. His son Dieter designed the first waterproof metal case in 1976, since which time Rimowa suitcases have become the travelling companion of choice for the greatest filmmakers, photographers and journalists.

    Dieter Morszeck said: “My grandfather founded Rimowa more than a century ago and I joined the company 44 years ago. By entrusting this family venture to the LVMH Group, we are guaranteeing a promising future to all Rimowa employees. Over the past two years I have had the opportunity to establish close ties with the Arnault family, and in particular with Alexandre. Alexandre and I have discussed at length the attractive development prospects available to us and the common values that we share. I am delighted that he is joining Rimowa and I have full confidence in his ability to accelerate the development of the business by my side.”

    Arnault added: “Rimowa is a superb business which I have followed as a loyal customer for many years. It has revolutionised the luggage industry for over a century, its suitcases are renowned for their unique performance, quality and design. I am honored to join Rimowa and to be working alongside Dieter.”

    Morszeck has created the Rimowa Dieter Morszeck Foundation to which a substantial part of the sale proceeds will be donated. The foundation aims to support projects in scientific research, public health, education and humanitarian aid both in Germany and internationally.

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  • Laox opens new Osaka store

    Laox opens new Osaka store

    Japanese duty-free retailer Laox has opened its eighth store in Dragon Gate Building, Osaka.

    Called “Laox Osaka Dotonbori Ebisubashi Store”, the exterior of the first floor and second floor is covered with glass, making this a street-level store with a characteristic design that attracts the attention of passersby.

    The store specialises in personal items such as cosmetics, hair and beauty products, and home electronics, as well as Japanese-made watches, highly popular outside Japan, and collectibles such as figurines.

    Aiming to appeal to a broad international customer base, the store is located on the popular ‘Dotonbori’ nightlife and retail precinct.

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  • Nusantara Batik Week expected to see sales of Rp6 billion

    Nusantara Batik Week expected to see sales of Rp6 billion

    The ongoing Nusantara Batik Week is expected to record sales of Rp6 billion, a local official said.

    The target increased from Rp4.5 billion last year, said Supriono, head of the Pekalongan industry, trade and cooperatives and SMEs office, speaking on Tuesday.

    The Eighth Nusantara Batik Week, held Oct. 4-9, offers various kinds of batik and traditional culinary from Pekalongan and other regions.

    The batik expo is organized to celebrate National Batik Day, which falls on Oct. 2.

    Pekalongan is dubbed as “the city of batik” because it is one of the countrys centers of batik production.

    Indonesias batik, along with the Tango of Argentina and Uruguay, the traditional Ainu dance of Japan, and Frances aubusson tapestries, were among the 76 representatives included in UNESCOs Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity published ,on September 30, 2009.

    “The techniques, symbolism, and culture surrounding hand-dyed cotton and silk garments, known as Indonesian batik, permeate the lives of Indonesians from beginning to end. Infants are carried in batik slings decorated with symbols designed to bring the child luck, and the dead are shrouded in funerary batik,” is how Indonesian batik has been described by UNESCO.

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  • Cartier Japan’s renovated Ginza store reopens

    Cartier Japan’s renovated Ginza store reopens

     

    Following an extensive renovation, the flagship store of luxury jewellery company Cartier Japan has reopened in Ginza, Tokyo.

    Cartier Ginza

    Covering 10,764 sqft (1000 sqm), the boutique houses watch collections on the first floor, diamonds on the second floor, and fashion accessories and leather goods on the lower level.

    Cartier Ginza Japan 2

    Interior designer Bruno Moinard treated each level differently, with the first floor in brown tones and hues of beige, gold and champagne, and the second floor with contrasting hues of ivory and champagne.

    Cartier Ginza Japan

    Cartier-Ginza-Japan 4jpg

    cartier-ginza-japan-front

     

    Sylvain Dubuisson designed the facade, built in two sections. The lower part features dark brown, orange-toned granite inspired by the company’s Paris boutique on Rue de la Paix. The second section features Japanese screens made from traditional paper and wood cuts arranged to resemble Japan’s national tree, the sugi.

    Cartier Ginza Japan 3

    Cartier first entered the Asian market in 1970 in Hong Kong, opening in Singapore in 1973. A boutique was introduced in Ginza in 1991, with the flagship following in 2003, with an interior design concept by Moinard. The boutique was renovated and reopened in 2007, with its latest renovation taking two years.

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  • Shoopen Malaysia wows locals

    Shoopen Malaysia wows locals

    The official opening of Shoopen Malaysia attracted well over 1000 locals – lured by the chance to meet a celebrity.

    Shoopen Malaysia 3

    The store, which has actually been trading since June this year, is located in Fahrenheit 88 shopping centre in downtown Kuala Lumpur.  It has a prominent corner location facing one of downtown’s busiest streets, leading to the Pavilion shopping centre.

     

    Shoopen Malaysia 5

    Saturday’s grand opening event was attended by Korean variety show cast member Song Ji Hyo, who posed for selfies surrounded by hundreds of shoppers lining the mall’s balconies, overlooking the central atrium event.

    Shoopen Malaysia 1

    Shoopen Malaysia 2

     

    Shoopen is Korea’s largest shoe retailer and the Kuala Lumpur store is described as a flagship for the brand.

    Taking up some 11,800 sqft (1096 sqm)of space over two floors, it showcases footwear for men, women and children.