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.

  • New finger ‘food’ from KFC Hong Kong

    New finger ‘food’ from KFC Hong Kong

    Advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather (Ogilvy) has pushed the boundaries of creativity by launching two edible nail polishes for KFC Hong Kong, bringing the fast-food giant’s tagline “Finger Lickin’ Good” to life.

    Working with food technologists at flavour giant McCormick, which makes KFC’s 11 secret herbs and spices mix, Ogilvy used natural ingredients for the edible nail-polish flavours, basing them on the brand’s popular recipes, Original and Hot & Spicy.

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    Packaged in a designer bottle and box, the product has been teased on social-media platforms, including Facebook and YouTube, for the past two weeks ahead of an exclusive launch and tasting.

    An online music video has also been released, asking Hong Kongers to choose which flavour to go into mass production.

    KFC Finger licking good nail polish 2

    Ogilvy creative director John Koay says the recipe for the nail polish was designed to hold the flavour yet also dry with a glossy coat similar to normal nail polish.

  • Guess Malaysia goes white in KL

    Guess Malaysia goes white in KL

    Fashion brand Guess Malaysia has revamped its Suria KLCC branch to incorporate its contemporary white store concept.

    US-headquartered Guess, launched in Malaysia in 1992, now has 33 stores in the market – 20 Guess, seven Guess Accessories and six Guess Kids.

    Its its new minimalist 2300 sqft (214 sqm) space, Guess KLCC carries ready-to-wear styles for men and women, accessories and jewellery, and its more exclusive apparel (the Guess Pavilion KL flagship is the only other outlet in Malaysia carrying the exclusive collections).

    Denim is still a big focus for the brand, and the new store features a “denim menu” arranged according to the wash of the jeans.

  • ZALORA Ties the Knot with Customers through Oracle Marketing Cloud

    ZALORA Ties the Knot with Customers through Oracle Marketing Cloud

    ZALORA, the largest e-commerce fashion company in Southeast Asia, has extended its partnership with Oracle Marketing Cloud. ZALORA has relied on Oracle Marketing Cloud technology since 2013 to send its customers targeted and personalized marketing communications at scale.

    ZALORA is the fastest growing online fashion retailer in Asia, operating across eight countries (Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia & Brunei, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Taiwan). The e-commerce platform works with a good mix of over 500 international and local labels, providing consumers with a diverse range of apparel, footwear and accessories, tech products, beauty essentials, sporting equipment and more.

    “We are happy to have achieved the success we have today, and want to continue offering the best-in-class customer experience across our digital channels. For us it is not just about understanding our customers preferences, but making sure we listen and respond to their digital body language to develop a personalised dialogue with each and every customer,” said Joshua Tan, Head, Regional CRM, ZALORA.

    ZALORA communicates with more than 10 million app users, 7 million Facebook fans, 500,000 Instagram followers, 120,000 Twitter followers, and over 2.2 million email, call and online chat requests. Today, the platforms cater to the varying customer profiles where ZALORA provides individualized experiences for each of their customers’ interests.

    “Our earlier marketing efforts were batch and blast, but as the business evolved, we saw the need to respond to increased expectations from our customers for a personalized dialogue. Being able to orchestrate individualized communications and make informed, data-driven decisions is key. Having the right tools makes our job much easier, that’s why we chose to extend our investment in Oracle’s Marketing Cloud technology,” said Mr. Tan.

    With Oracle Marketing Cloud, ZALORA is able to speak to customers in a relevant and personalized way. Automated programmes equip ZALORA with the ability to analyse customer behaviour and better understand how to incentivise customers.

    ZALORA has since managed to half the time needed for lead conversion to capture a larger customer base, which has resulted in a multifold increase in revenue. Oracle’s marketing cloud technology allows ZALORA to create automated programmes that have helped reduce the resources previously required.

    “ZALORA is an innovative company that appeals to a young, constantly engaged audience. We are happy that Oracle Marketing Cloud is able to support their marketing organisation with a platform that allows them to intelligently and creatively communicate a cohesive brand message across channels, and deliver a world-class customer experience,” said Paul Cross, Group Vice President, Customer Success, Oracle Marketing Cloud Asia Pacific.

    ZALORA currently has 10 automated programmes in place and has plans to expand the number of triggered touchpoints with customers, to further enhance cross-channel marketing and grow their customers into strong brand advocates.

  • SEVVA Tailors an All American High Tea in Collaboration with RALPH LAUREN May 12th to June 11th

    SEVVA Tailors an All American High Tea in Collaboration with RALPH LAUREN May 12th to June 11th

    If the thought of high tea feels quintessentially British, think again. Tastemaker extraordinaire Bonnae Gokson is creating another stylish afternoon tea set for yet another luxury fashion house – Ralph Lauren, to celebrate the launch of womenswear at the Landmark Prince’s flagship store. The brand has collaborated with SEVVA and will hold an All American Afternoon Tea there for the month – a high tea founded on favourite American flavours and inspired by the exclusive Cut Lace Capsule collection’s lace pattern.

    Ms Gokson has been a fan of the brand for years and it was just 2014 when Mr Ralph Lauren himself, held a big book launch party at his Madison mansion in New York for Bonnae’s award winning book launch.

    American Splendour

    Ralph Lauren made waves among the fashion glitterati when it opened a stunning womenswear level at Landmark Prince’s, where interiors and collections at the store are the epitome of cool and calming chic. The 10,000 square-foot Ralph Lauren Landmark Prince’s store will now feature a premium assortment of the luxury Women’s Collection, in addition to the existing Men’s Purple Label apparel and accessories. The availability of womenswear adds a new dimension to this Ralph Lauren flagship store and enhances it as a must-visit luxury shopping destination in Hong Kong.

    “Ralph Lauren stands for American traditional aesthetics, so I’ve created a high tea with time-honoured American favourites and including Ralph Lauren’s signature homemade carrot and cheese cake recipes to showcase the truly American taste” says Ms. Gokson, SEVVA’s stylish icon and founder.

    The master of American fashion and the Mistress of Hong Kong high society put their heads together and formed a remarkable new take on an old classic, to be presented at SEVVA, Hong Kong’s most fashionable dining address located just minutes from Ralph Lauren’s Landmark Prince’s store.

    Star Spangled

    Guests will be able to enjoy a plush tea set of 12 varieties of delectable nibbles such as Devilled Eggs with Bacon Crisps, Mac ‘n Cheese Spring Roll, Lobster & Avocado Sandwich, Chicken Waldorf Cup, Wagyu Beef Burger, Kurobuta Hot Dog, Peaches & Cream, Apple Crumble with Shaved Cheddar, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries and Ralph Lauren’s Signature of Chocolate Brownie, Carrot and Cheese Cake.  Also complimenting this scrumptious 3 tiered set will be a mini cake of chocolate print of Ralph Lauren classic handbag; The Soft Ricky, cut in lace effect. What can be more American than a banana split sundae in a cake to pare with this gorgeous design!

    Ralph Lauren Landmark Prince's Women's Floor 3 - 1MB

    Wistful lace designs seen on pieces in the Cut Lace Capsule Collection are honoured in chocolate on Ms. Gokson’s signature cherry-topped Banana Split Sundae cake – itself a culinary classic. Chewy brownies are fashionably attired in red, white and blue stripes or in Ralph Lauren Spring Collection colours. Strawberries coated in white chocolate furnish the striking sweets display.

    A full menu of curated teas is offered for selection to be enjoyed with SEVVA’s All American High Tea. Available at HK$820*.

    SEVVA’s All American High Tea will be offered exclusively for just one month only, beginning May 12th until June 11th, 2016. High Tea is available on weekdays from 2:30pm – 5:00pm, and Saturdays from 3:00pm – 5:30pm.

  • Revlon to present two major launches in Singapore

    Revlon to present two major launches in Singapore

    Photo of Mascara 251x300Cosmetics brand Revlon will showcase two major launches at the Tax Free World Association Asia Pacific show in Singapore. This year, the company will present its Ultimate All-in-One Mascara, the number one eye launch in the US and Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor.

    According to the company the Revlon Mascara Collection provides the looks the beauty shopper wants without confusing product names and claims.

    Revlon has created five new mascara and brush combinations: Revlon Volume Mascara, Revlon Length Mascara, Revlon Definition Mascara and Revlon Volume & Length Mascara.

    Additionally, with results indicating users are layering different mascaras to satisfy multiple lash benefits, Revlon has created Revlon Ultimate All-in-One Mascara. This all-in-one mascara features all five lash transforming benefits, allowing consumers to achieve volume, length, definition, lift and intense colour using just one product.

    Revlon Ultimate All-in-One also Mascara features a new Revlon Power Mini Brush with a hollow core designed for mega lash impact and easy application. It is available in both waterproof and non-waterproof formulas.

    Meanwhile, Revlon has also enjoyed success with its Ultra HD Mate Lipcolor, the number one lip launch in the US this year. Formulated with Revlon’s 100% wax-free gel technology providing high-definition colour, it is available in travel-retail in seven sultry shades, scented with fragrance of whipped vanilla and creamy mango. Each Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor comes with a plush, velvety applicator.

    Revlon global travel retail director, Jerusa Moura said: “In the highly competitive world of colour cosmetics, having both the number one new eye launch and number one new lip launch in the US. this year is an incredible achievement. At Revlon, we know and understand the importance of exclusive packs for the travel-retail channel and they form a key part of our portfolio.

    “However, offering top selling cosmetics singles is equally important, so we’re delighted to now be offering the Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor and Revlon Ultimate All-in-One Mascara to the travel retail channel—the latter as part of a great new mascara collection from Revlon.”

    Moura added Revlon’s new products were sure to be a hit in travel-retail on the back of their success in the US. She also acknowledged Asia Pacific as the fastest growing region for the industry and source of strong growth as Revlon seeks to build distribution in the region.

  • Gucci sorry for warning to Hong Kong funeral offering shops

    Gucci sorry for warning to Hong Kong funeral offering shops

    Gucci and its parent company apologized Friday after drawing heavy criticism for warning some Hong Kong shops not to sell paper offerings for the deceased that resembled the fashion brand’s luxury products.

    The brand and its Paris-based owner, Kering, also said in a statement that they regretted any misunderstanding caused by the letters, which were sent to six shops last month.

    After meeting with the shop owners, “Kering and Gucci would like to reiterate their utmost respect with regards to the funeral context,” the statement said.

    In Hong Kong and some other parts of Asia, people burn paper offerings at funerals and during grave-sweeping festivals for deceased relatives to “use” in the afterlife.

    Specialty shops near funeral parlors sell a diverse array of paper offerings, including bundles of “hell money,” mansions, iPhones, cars, cigarettes and designer handbags, cans of beer and soda, mahjong tables and dogs and cats.

    The letters, which were sent as part of the companies’ global intellectual property protection efforts, did not suggest legal action or compensation because they did not believe the shop owners intended to infringe on the Gucci trademark, the statement said.

    Gucci operates 11 boutiques in Hong Kong and is one of the brands most coveted by shoppers, including many visiting from mainland China, where luxury goods are more expensive because of higher taxes.

  • Hong Kong Sees Signs of Improving Retail Sales

    Hong Kong Sees Signs of Improving Retail Sales

    The latest figures show retail sales in Hong Kong continued falling in March. However, signs of improvement are in sight, with sales of drugs and cosmetics rising slightly.

    However, the biggest question on the minds of many in Hong Kong is how long the overall downturn in Hong Kong’s economic fortunes is going to continue.

    Retail sales in Hong Kong have been suffering through a year-long contraction, the longest decline since 1999. Overall retail sales are down around 10 percent in March compared to a year ago. However, March’s figures are far better than the 20-percent drop in sales registered through February.

    Through the first quarter of this year, retail sales in Hong Kong have fallen 12.5 percent compared with the same period last year. The Hong Kong government attributes the severe drag on retail sales to the slowdown in inbound tourism.

    However, there are some signs of life for the struggling city. The just-concluded three-day May Day holiday saw tourism numbers from the mainland come in 10 percent higher than most observers had been forecasting.

    At the same time, cosmetics firm Sasa has registered a slight growth in same-store sales. Cheng Wai Hung, Head of Hong Kong’s Retail Management Association, says even though there are signs of improvement, retailers still need to do more to keep people buying.

    “Retailers know it is hard to run businesses this year, so stores will start promotions earlier than usual to make up for the losses. It is likely that we will see sales starting from this month. Even some big brands will follow suit.” However, Banny Lam, co-Head of Research at Agricultural Bank of China International Securities, believes retail sales in Hong Kong are not likely to pick up in the short term.

    “I believe the rate of decline will narrow a little bit, but it won’t be a significant change, and sales won’t get back to positive territory any time soon. The current economic environment is rather weak, which has led to a sluggish overall retail performance. Another factor that’s worth noting is that the Disneyland in Shanghai is going to open soon. So the question is, is this going to affect Hong Kong’s tourism? ”

    At the same time, Deputy Director of Hong Kong Department Stores and Commercial Staff General Union, Tung Cheong Sing, says retailers in Hong Kong have to transform their business models to appeal to the changing demands of mainland tourists.

    “For example, stores should be selling middle or low-range priced watches, rather than luxury ones. Despite a decline in rents, many stores may have to close down some of their branches to adapt to the new environment.”

    Even though times have been tough for Hong Kong retailers, some are performing better than others.

    One store selling Japanese products has witnessed a 30 percent spike in sales through the first three months of this year.

    Store Manager Chuang Tin Chi says they’ve been able to keep their finger on the pulse of what’s been trendy this year.

    “There have been a number of movies released over the past couple of months which have featured a wide range of digital, video products or cell phone accessories. So to capitalize on that, we order in these products right away into Hong Kong from Japan, which has significantly increased our sales.”

    One bright spot for Hong Kong retailers has been the recent rise in the value of the renminbi to the US dollar, as the Hong Kong dollar remains pegged to the value of the greenback.

    This means mainland shoppers are getting a more favorable exchange rate when converting from the yuan into Hong Kong dollars, which may prompt more shoppers to cross the border.

     

  • Under Armour in trademark fight with Uncle Martian

    Under Armour in trademark fight with Uncle Martian

    Uncle Martian, a new competitor for sportswear brand Under Armour in one of its main markets, China, is in hot water for co-opting the US company’s logo.

    Under Armour uses a U over an inverted U that intersect to form a stylised A. Uncle Martian has the same two-U configuration, but the letters do not touch.

    Apparel manufacturer Tingfei Long Sporting Goods in Fujian province, in southeastern China, is the company behind the new brand, which is offering shoes in its first foray into athletic wear.

    Executive Huang Canlong says the brand aims to be associated with “comfort, excellence and innovation”. He told Shoes.net.cn he wants to create a high-profile brand with “high standards”.
    Out of Baltimore in the US, Under Armour has seen its sales in China almost triple in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period last year.

    Meanwhile, Chinese consumers have been criticising Uncle Martian for its blatant hijack of the Under Armour logo.

    “How come you can’t even design a logo? All you do is plagiarise – don’t you feel it’s disgusting?” one critic wrote on Weibo.
    Another Weibo user, Zhang Gemeng, has pointed out that such blatant copying goes against the national policy of encouraging homegrown creativity.
    “Don’t blame people when they say they look down upon domestic brands,” wrote another user, indicating the move as a “loss of face” for China.

    Under Armour, of course, is also unamused and is pursuing “all business and legal courses of action” according to spokesperson Diane Pelkey.

    “Uncle Martian’s uses of Under Armour’s famous logo, name and other intellectual property are a serious concern and blatant infringement.”

  • Esprit sales flat

    Esprit sales flat

    Reporting “flat” revenue for its third quarter, Hong Kong-listed clothing retailer Esprit Holdings points the finger at negative growth in its Asia Pacific stores, as well as weakness in its wholesale channel.

    There was a marginal decline of 0.1 per cent in Esprit sales for the three months but the company continued to benefit from improved product performance, as well as improved marketing and channel operations.

    Retail revenue (63.3 per cent of the group’s income) grew 3.1 per cent year-on-year, primarily driven by the European region.

    Particularly encouraging for the group was the continuation of the positive trends in several areas. The women’s divisions (including Esprit and EDC branded products) had retail revenue growth of 6.6 per cent for the quarter; plus comparable stores sales growth (including online) was up 10.3 per cent; while online sales totalled HK$984 million (US$126.8 million) – 35.4 per cent of the group’s retail revenue and an increase of 11.7 per cent.

    Performance, meanwhile, was still weak in Asia Pacific (15.2 per cent of the group’s revenue), with revenue tumbling 15.3 per cent.

    Esprit says the performance of Asia Pacific continued to be undermined by a combination of unfavourable macro-factors, including volatility in the financial markets, weak consumer sentiment amid the slowdown of economic growth in China, and reduced tourist flow in the region.

  • Estee Lauder to axe up to 1200  jobs

    Estee Lauder to axe up to 1200 jobs

    Beauty giant Estee Lauder has announced a multi-year initiative named Leading Beauty Forward to build on its strengths and better leverage its cost structure to free resources for investment to continue its growth momentum.

    The plan involves the reduction of between 900 and 1200 jobs – about 2.5 per cent of its workforce – and restructuring on a number of fronts aimed at saving US$250 million to $300 million in overheads.

    “Leading Beauty Forward is designed to enhance the company’s go-to-market capabilities, reinforce its leadership in global prestige beauty and continue creating sustainable value,” the company said in an announcement coinciding with its latest quarterly financial results.

    Globally, net sales for the company’s third quarter to March 31 totalled US$2.66 billion, a 3 per cent increase compared over the $2.58 billion in the prior-year quarter. Net earnings were $265.6 million, down on the $272.1 million of last year.

    Fabrizio Freda, president and CEO of Estee Lauder, said: “We are launching this initiative from a position of exceptional strength. With the aid of our 10-year compass, we are proactively anticipating long-term industry trends and positioning our brands in more promising and faster growing areas. Leading Beauty Forward should further position us better to continue winning on a complex global stage and generate savings to help sustain our long-term sales growth and margin progress.

    “This initiative is expected to provide further resources to invest in brand growth, increase speed-to-market and flexibility in resource allocation, and better leverage growth for continued profitability improvement,” he concluded

    Leading Beauty Forward will begin during the company’s current quarter. Specific initiatives are expected to be approved through to the end of the 2019 fiscal year and be complete by 2021. Key actions include:

    • Better leveraging growth through cost savings, more scalable processes and organisational design;
    • Redesigning select areas of the company’s go-to-market brand, region and affiliate organisations to strengthen capabilities in areas such as digital and retail;
    • Redesigning and restructuring select corporate functions that support the company’s brands, channels and geographies through the development of scalable global and regional shared services with a more efficient cost base;
    • Investing in brand growth, such as new products, social media, communications, in-store merchandising, point-of-sale activities and advertising.

    The company expects to take restructuring and other charges of between $600 million and $700 million, before taxes, consisting of employee-related costs, asset write-offs and other costs associated with implementing these initiatives.

    Estee Lauder said the job cuts will take into account the elimination of some positions, retraining and redeployment of certain employees and investment in new positions in key areas.

  • Lady Gaga & Elton John launch Macy’s line

    Lady Gaga & Elton John launch Macy’s line

    Lady Gaga, Elton John and department store chain Macy’s have launched a limited edition clothing range for charity.

    Love Bravery is described as “a high-spirited, limited-edition line of clothing and accessories that inspire compassion and combat prejudice”. Available as part of Macy’s American Icons campaign, Love Bravery spans several categories, including shirts, sweats, outerwear, clutches, backpacks, scarves, beanies, keychains, pins, and even speakers, water bottles and skateboards, all rendered in vibrant graphic prints and designs that fuse both artists’ renowned musical talent and style.

    love-bravery-gaga-elton-04

    “It’s an honor to team up with Sir Elton John to create this line with Macy’s,” said Lady Gaga. “We need to make the world a kinder and braver place where men and women everywhere are empowered to live with compassion. That’s what Born This Way Foundation is all about, that’s what the Elton John AIDS Foundation is all about, and that’s what Love Bravery is all about.”

    “I love the idea of fusing who you are on the inside – your passions and dreams – with what you wear on the outside,” said Sir Elton John.

    “Love Bravery is about the compassion on the inside to understand someone’s fears, and the bravery on the outside to stand up for them, and for yourself: to accept others for who they are and to be who you want to be. It’s what I’ve tried to do in my life, my career and with the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and it’s a passion Lady Gaga and I share. So I’m thrilled we are collaborating on this project and delighted Macy’s understood our dream to connect with people this way.”

    Created in collaboration with Lady Gaga’s sister, Natali Germanotta, and designer Brandon Maxwell, the limited line boasts fresh crop tops and sleeveless tees in stark black-and-white, while heather sweatshirts with tonal graphics and tops with metallic lettering are edgy updates to the athleisure trend. Oversized scarves with piano key prints and artistic interpretations of Lady Gaga’s face are stylishly offbeat, and neoprene backpacks that say “Love” and also have piano key prints are super cool must-haves. With enamel pins and patches in the shape of moto jackets, electric guitars, microphones, platform shoes and Lady Gaga’s infamous claw, the options to show off your inner little monster are endless. Clutches in the shape of sunglasses, pianos and hearts are unapologetically fun and sassy.

    “In addition to being deeply talented musical artists, Lady Gaga and Sir Elton John are champions of self-love, courage, empathy and kindness, and Love Bravery represents all of those tenets,” said Martine Reardon, Macy’s chief marketing officer.

    “We are so proud to present a line that is not only fun and bold, but also stands for something so meaningful and important. The work they do through Born This Way Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation is invaluable and truly changes lives, and Macy’s is honored to partner with them to spread the message of love and acceptance.”

    Born This Way Foundation is committed to supporting the wellness of young people and empowering them to create a kinder and braver world by shining a light on real people, supporting quality research, and fostering meaningful partnerships focused on social emotional learning (SEL) and mental health awareness and resources. The Elton John AIDS Foundation raises much-needed funds for evidence-based programs that give people the information and tools to protect and care for themselves and those they love – challenging stigma, reducing the spread of HIV and preventing people from getting sick or dying of AIDS.

    The foundations brought together a diverse array of young people to showcase the Love Bravery apparel and will be sharing content from that campaign this spring. The limited-edition line with Macy’s is the first in a series of activations which are planned for the coming months to make people feel proud of who they are.

    Love Bravery will be sold exclusively at Macy’s this spring, with 25 per cent of the purchase price benefiting Born This Way Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and will be available globally later this year. All donations from the limited-edition line, on sale through August 30, will be made to Born This Way Foundation, which will use 50 per cent to support the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

  • WearYouWant advises start-ups to add profitability to execution strategy

    WearYouWant advises start-ups to add profitability to execution strategy

    WearYouWant, Thailand’s leading online fashion and beauty marketplace is advising start-ups to have a clear strategy toward profitability as investors are now demanding it and that the e-commerce space in SE Asia is currently experiencing an exciting time.
    At the Last Mile Fulfilment Asia (LMFAsia) Conference & Exhibition 2016 held in Singapore last month which brought together  retailers, e-commerce businesses, logistics and parcel industry professionals, CEO and Co-Founder of WearYouWant Martin Toft Sorensen said there was considerable discussion on how start-ups should focus beyond just team, product and market to become successful.
    “Start-ups should have a clear path and strategy towards achieving profitability by scaling the business without forgetting the life time value of the customer versus cost per acquisition,” pointed out Sorensen.
    “If e-commerce businesses simply follow a desire to climb user acquisition heights quickly without keeping an eye on the ROI, there is a higher risk of a greater fall. Penetration from online platforms can go far, wide and deep but the trajectory needs to be based on running a business that brings money for investors, shareholders and other stakeholders in the near future.”
    Echoing this advice is Thailand’s e-commerce guru, Pawoot Pongvitayapanu, CEO and Founder at efrastructure inc. and Managing Director and Founder of TARAD.com, who also attended the business platform event. 
    Sorensen advises that in addition to creating a viable business model that balances cost of acquiring customers with the ability to monetize the lifetime value of a customer, start-ups should also be creative in how to attract and keep customers. 
    While many e-commerce sites are reporting high sales growth, the reality is that they may not be showing any profitability, said Sorensen. 
    “In Thailand, we have yet to see any e-commerce companies proving they can scale and yet become profitable.
    The recent acquisition of Rocket Internet’s fast growing, yet loss-making e-commerce site Lazada by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, and Zalora (Thailand and Vietnam) by Central Group, has definitely created waves in the e-commerce industry”.
     Martin (left) and Pawoot (right) at LMF Singapore Mar2016_RS
    Sorensen says that while Lazada will pave the way for Alibaba to penetrate into SE Asia in a market leader position, it remains to be seen whether Zalora’s acquisition by a traditional offline retailer will kick start true omni-channel experiences in Thailand.
     
    Sorensen adds that this is an exciting time particularly for e-commerce companies and start-ups in general, as well as for investors. 
  • Hermes sales rebound

    Hermes sales rebound

    Hermes sales rebounded globally in the first quarter of this year, exceeding analysts expectations.

    But the best news seems to be from Hong Kong where the French luxury goods label reported sales had “stabilised” after last year’s serious decline.  Sales fell in Macau, Hermes said, without providing further details.

    In the broader picture, the company saw respite in its home market after shoppers began to return to stores following the nervousness fuelled by the terror attacks late last year.

    Hermes sales for the quarter rose 6.2 per cent on a constant currency basis, to reach 1.19 billion euros (US$1.35 billion)

    CEO Axel Dumas said during an earnings call that the fallout from the terror attacks – in both Brussels and Paris – was still hurting luxury goods retailers. Footfall had returned to normal in Milan and London, but remained down in Paris, causing a 9.2 per cent drop in sales of ties and silk scarves in the quarter.

    Leather goods was the only category to show a rise in sales – a healthy 15 per cent.

    “There’s a lot of volatility,” Dumas said. “We have to adapt to circumstance.”

  • BritishIndia store closes with a flourish

    BritishIndia store closes with a flourish

    Thousands of BritishIndia Malaysia customers grabbed a bargain as they farewelled the fashion store in Suria KLCC over the past week.

    BritishIndia farewell sale

    The fashion brand’s farewell sale offered 50 per cent off all items, ending its presence in the mall since 1998.

    BritishIndia farewell

    Built from scratch in Malaysia more than 20 years ago, BritishIndia now has more than 40 stores, in shopping centres in Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.

    There is still a presence in Malaysia, with stores in 1Utama Petaling Jaya, Bangsar Shopping Centre, Mid Valley Megamall, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Publika Kuala Lumpur, SACC Mall in Shah Alam and Sunway Pyramid.

    Meanwhile, the brand says it is seeking further expansion overseas.

    The brand has been embroiled in a long drawn-out court case with Suria KLCC management over it lease terms.

  • Raoul Singapore closes last store

    Raoul Singapore closes last store

    The last Raoul Singapore boutique has closed its doors as creator FJ Benjamin decides to focus on wholesaling.

    Raoul, positioned as an affordable luxury brand, began life as a menswear brand back in 2002 before expanding into women’s fashion – because women shoppers were buying smaller sized men’s shirts to wear themselves.

    At one point, it had boutiques as far afield as Melbourne and London and became a beacon for the Singapore fashion industry in a market dominated by European fashion labels.

    Raoul closed its Paragon store on Orchard Rd in February, unwilling to pay the rents demanded.

    The founding premise

    When your business model is built around retailing products designed by others – as FJ Benjamin has for more than 50 years – your fortunes rise and fall with those brands and the head office decisions in other countries. That was a major part of the motivation to launch Raoul, which met with success very quickly.

    Over its first 50 years, FJ Benjamin held Singapore or regional rights to brands as diverse as Gucci, Gap, Manchester United, La Senza, Fendi, Goyard, Celine, Givenchy, Banana Republic, La Perla, Naomi Campbell, Valentino, Nautica, Victorinox and Rado. But after the financial crisis, it pulled back from high end labels to focus more on lifestyle brands.

    “In business you have to be nimble. We thought ‘OK, lifestyle has done well for us. Let’s continue’,” Douglas Benjamin, the company’s COO, told a presentation attended by Inside Retail Asia back in 2010.

    The Raoul brand was conceived on a trip by Benjamin to London.

    “The company had always been franchising and representing brands from other companies. My father was a strong believer we needed to have our own brand. In 2003 we bought some shirts from some expensive stores and after three to four months I was wearing shirt and the cuffs were fraying, buttons coming off.”

    What if they could produce shirts that looked as high in quality, but actually lasted?

    “We decided to develop a men’s shirt label. We’d get the best quality material and make it in Asia and if you give a man a choice, he will buy.”

    So Raoul – the French name for Ralph – was launched through stores in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. The first store combining both ranges opened its doors in 2007 and a flagship in the classic Paragon shopping centre on Orchard Rd in 2009. Later, stores would follow in Mainland China and the Middle East.

    Raoul is by no means finished despite the closure of the Singapore stores. A concession continues to trade at Robinsons department store on Orchard Rd and the company will now concentrate on wholesaling with a particular focus on the US, UK and Middle East. Among the UK stockists of Raoul are Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Liberty of London. Saks and Neiman Marcus in the US and KaDeWe in Germany also stock Raoul, further underlining the brand’s fashion cachet.

    Despite its high profile globally, Singapore seemingly cannot sustain a flagship store. As a saddened fashion designer Sabrina Goh of fellow home-grown brand Elohim By Sabrina Goh told the Straits Times this week: “Raoul has always been seen as a sound brand with years of industry experience, and financial and production clout. It really just illustrates how tough the current Singapore retail market is.”