Retail News CRM

Category: General

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

  • Google rolls out Messages end-to-end encryption to everyone

    Google rolls out Messages end-to-end encryption to everyone

    Google Messages is finally getting end-to-end encryption, which means your messages will be secure from prying eyes. Google has been testing improved security for its Messages app since last year, but only a limited number of users had access to end-to-end encryption.

    Starting this week, Google is rolling out end-to-end encryption to all Messages users. However, to take advantage of the new feature, a few aspects are required. First off, you and the person you message must both use the Messages app and have chat features enabled.

    Secondly, you must use data or Wi-Fi for RCS ( messages. Keep in mind though that end-to-end encryption does not cover SMS/MMS messages and group messages. You’ll be able to tell when end-to-end encryption is enabled if you have an arrow icon with a lock on it on the send button when you write a message.

    When you lose chat features and end-to-end encryption will no longer be enabled, you won’t have a lock icon next to the timestamp of the conversation’s latest message or on the send button when you write a new message.

    According to Google, this type of encryption converts data into scrambled text, which can only be decided with a secret key. The latter is a number created only on your phone and the device you message. The secret key is not shared with Google, anyone else, or other devices, and it’s generated again for each message.

    Last but not least, the secret key is always deleted from the sender’s device when the encrypted message is created, as well as from the receiver’s device when the message is decrypted.

  • RCS becomes a little more Apple-flavored after adding end-to-end encyption

    RCS becomes a little more Apple-flavored after adding end-to-end encyption

    When Google first started disseminating Rich Communication Services (RCS) to Android users, Google tried to copy several iMessage features. Because it uses a data hook up instead of a cellular connection, RCS can deliver much larger messages (8,000 characters up from 160), handle larger video and image files, show read receipts and more.

    One thing that RCS didn’t have that iMessage did was end-to-end encryption. With this feature, a message you send could only be read by the recipient. In May 2020, the buzz around the water cooler was that Google was testing end-to-end encryption for RCS and today the beta label was removed.

    As Google Senior Vice President Hiroshi Lockheimer (@lockheimer) posted on Twitter today, one to one messages on RCS now are equipped with end-to-end encryption. Keep in mind that this means group messages are not included. The first bunch of RCS users to get the feature are those who had not opted into the Google Messages beta indicating that this could be part of a new wide RCS rollout.

    for end-to-end encryption to work with RCS, both ends of the conversation need to have RCS enabled, and you’ll know if a message you’re sending is encrypted end-to-end if you see a lock icon on the send button.

    Little by little, Google is trying to end the blue bubble jealousy that Android users have suffered with through the years. If two RCS users are exchanging a chat, both will have blue text bubbles just like when an iPhone user is sending an iMessage to another iPhone user.

    Originally, all of the major carriers were going to be involved in the Cross Carrier Messaging Initiative (CCMI) allowing each wireless provider to offer a single new RCS app. Ironically, Google was not part of the CCMI which seemed strange in the first place considering that RCS was its baby.

    And earlier this year, the CCMI was canceled as Verizon said, “The owners of the Cross Carrier Messaging Initiative decided to end the joint venture effort. However, the owners remain committed to enhancing the messaging experience for customers including growing the availability of RCS.”

    T-Mobile also released a statement at the time that stated, “We’re committed to delivering RCS interoperability and are working with other providers to make it happen. T-Mobile customers with Android devices can currently enjoy RCS messaging across our network as well as with many other customers worldwide by interoperating with Google.”

    The major U.S. carriers were hoping to profit from the monetization of the CCMI by allowing their customers to chat with their favorite brands without having to switch apps. Users would be able to schedule appointments, pay bills, order rideshare and more through RCS thanks to the CCMI

    Analyst Lynnette Luna of GlobalData noted that RCS is really important to Google, but pointed out that because of Apple’s iMessage platform, there is no reason for Apple to get involved in RCS, and Apple has half of the U.S. smartphone market. She did say that Google continues to push RCS in the U.S. and that is because the company hopes to make money by pushing business to consumer ads.

    Luna added at the time that she didn’t expect Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile to make a big push for RCS in the states. Consider though that in Japan, 60% of RCS messages are clicked on compared to the 0.001% that click on mobile banner ads. You can understand why Google has such high hopes for RCS as a platform for business.

    And with 1 to 1 chats now encrypted end-to-end, Google could still use RCS to pad the top line some more.

    Lees ook:

  • Aldi hits 100 per cent renewable six months early

    Aldi hits 100 per cent renewable six months early

    Aldi has hit its goal of powering its Australian operations with 100 percent renewable energy six months ahead of schedule, resulting in an 85 percent reduction in the company’s CO2 emissions.

    The German supermarket chain achieved this through on-site generation using solar, offsite generation through power purchase agreements with wind farms, and the acquisition of market renewable energy certificates.

    “As the 67th biggest user of electricity in Australia, we recognize the significant role we have to reduce our impact on the environment and contribute to a more sustainable future,” said Aldi Australia chief executive Tom Daunt.

    “Our customers care about ensuring they purchase with purpose and every time someone walks through our doors they can feel confident their weekly shop isn’t costing the Earth.”

    However, being powered by renewable energy is just one of the supermarket’s goals. By 2025 Aldi aims to send zero waste to landfills, with the smaller goal of zero food waste to landfill to be hit in 2023, and the business will continue to find more opportunities to recycle within its ecosystem.

    Greenpeace Australia Pacific chief executive David Ritter said the milestone was proof of genuine corporate climate leadership in action.

    “Renewable energy is the cheapest form of new energy, and capable of powering Australia’s biggest businesses. Aldi’s leadership in the race to power all Aussie supermarkets with renewables is a landmark day,” Ritter said.

    “Australia is blessed with abundant renewable resources. We are the sunniest and windiest country in the world, it just makes sense that businesses like Aldi are choosing to power their operations using renewable electricity.”

    Both Woolworths and Coles have also committed to power its operations through renewable energy by 2025.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Simple methods to gain customers on Instagram

    Simple methods to gain customers on Instagram

    Do you have a brand-new Instagram account and want to know how you can gain new followers as quickly as possible? Are you trying to promote your business or brand on Instagram but have no idea how to gain more followers?

    Social media is a large part of our culture, and it has taken many shapes in recent years. TikTok, for example, is an app on which users can watch short videos or clips posted by other people. Instagram has become one of the most popular social media platforms with approximately 1 billion active monthly users and an incredible interface with so many different features and ways to post.

    As we all know, the size of your followers on Instagram can have a big impact on how successful you are. The more followers you have, the more people see what you post and the better the chance for them to follow suit. This is why many brands and businesses have begun using growth services like Growthoid to get Instagram followers, as it gives them the head start when creating new accounts on the platform. We all want to be popular on social media but it’s not always easy to get new followers on your account without some serious hustle. If you need help gaining customers, here are a few methods to do just that.

    Use hashtags and influencers

    One tool that far too many businesses, brands, and individuals, don’t seem to be taking enough advantage of is hashtags. Hashtags are one of the most misused and underrated tools that social media has to offer and are a fantastic way to gain more customers and followers, when used correctly.

    People tend to think that hashtags are just fun little words that you can include at the end of your posts to liven them up a little. Or some people think that by just adding the most popular hashtags they can find; they will see success. However, you need to be very particular about the hashtags you are choosing in order to receive the benefits from them. When choosing hashtags, they must always be relevant to your content otherwise they will be useless. Of these relevant hashtags you should choose the most popular ones, as these will allow you to reach a much bigger audience. Last but not least, you should limit it to around 4 or 5 hashtags per post so that you don’t come across as spammy or annoying.

    Create quality content follow trends

    When it comes to marketing on social media and trying to grow your audience and customer base, there are a few things that you need to consider and keep in mind in order to be successful. The very first step you should be taking is following the trends.

    Trending content is by far the most popular content that you will find on Instagram and it won’t hurt you to take inspiration from it. Not only is that a fantastic way to reach more people who will be interested, but it also makes your life that much easier because you don’t always have to be thinking about original content all the time.

    Engage and use services

    If you are looking to have a successful Instagram account for your business and gain both followers and new customers, you need to think about how to do this. One of the best ways to go about doing this is by engaging with your audience and other users. Engagement is one of the key factors to having a successful marketing campaign, and the best ways to receive engagement is by dishing it out too. You can engage with your followers and other users in a variety of ways from responding to direct messages, replying to comments on your content, liking and sharing other users’ content, and even following other users that you would like to follow you.

    Understand the audience

    If you are trying to gain more customers from your audience, you need to know and understand who your audience is and what they like. One of the best ways to do this is by looking at your analytics on Instagram, and it is also an efficient way to gain followers. Here you will see exactly what kind of content your audience likes the best, what content they engage the most, how they engage on the various different features, and even what times they are most active on social media.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • The History of Solidarity Between Asian and Black Americans 

    The History of Solidarity Between Asian and Black Americans 

    Recently, a targeted shooting took place in Atlanta, killing Paul Michels, Xiaojie Tan, Chung Park, Delaina Ashley, Hyun Jung, and more. After the incident, an initiative dubbed “Stop AAPI Hate” was founded to provide information and resources on ways to offer support to the Asian community.

    There has been a discourse around gender-based violence, with the main target being the Asian-American community. The solidarity between Asian and Black Americans has a long history, with Asian-American activists and leaders demanding policy initiatives to address the major anti-Asian racism.

    https://www.pexels.com/photo/successful-multiethnic-business-colleagues-in-modern-office-6457579/

    The racism concerns

    The murder of George Floyd by police raised global concerns where racist violence conversations dominated the news. The reckoning against racism targeting the anti-blacks has caused cases of comparisons between corporate and mainstream responses to the ‘stopAsianHate” and the black lives movement.

    Whereas solidarity has existed between these movements, there have been demands for statements to be made by corporates as it happened after the killing of Floyd. The black Americans are concerned with the response by the Asian community regarding the issuance of corporate statements.

    Most of the crimes of hate targeting Asians living in America have been perpetrated by the whites. However, concerns about violence against Asians have been actively raised through social media.

    The calls of solidarity

    Asian-American solidarity has existed since 1955, when the Bandung conference was held. Representatives from African and Asian continents congregated to discuss the issues of decolonization. Within the Imaginary of American, the interest was in maintaining a good relationship between the Asian and Black American communities.

    Cultural diversity has been a major concern among communities today and academicians are doing lots of research in this area.

    Black Lives Matter and diversity issues essays

    Racism and discrimination are a major concern today because they affect the relationships between communities and the countries at large. There is a need to conduct research about why “Black Lives Matter” as mentioned in these essays on diversity on EduZaurus. From the essay samples, students in universities can get inspired to write essays addressing the issues of diversity. They can arrive at conclusions and give recommendations regarding what should be done to promote solidarity between communities.

    Tension between communities

    Tension has existed between Asian Americans and Black Americans such that Asians feel like slaves in America. A great American racial discourse move is the ability to manage the racial injustices and differences between the two communities using unique approaches.

    What is needed most is a conversation regarding the differences in the experiences between Black Americans and Asian Americans. Understanding the significance of the blacks in society can be achieved through writing essays on “Black Live Matter.”

    https://www.pexels.com/photo/focused-diverse-colleagues-analyzing-project-together-in-office-6238186/

    Black Live Matter Essays

    Students in college can succeed in their education if they are able to write well-researched and quality essays. A student wishing to do research in the area of black lives can find essay examples to get meaningful ideas. One of the best ways of finding writing inspiration is by reviewing the Black Lives Matter college essay examples by WritingBros. All they need to do is to study the free essays to get some insights into research gaps and proceed with their research.

    Women promoting solidarity

    Fighting for justice requires the contribution of leaders and activists from diverse communities. Activist and scholar, Akemi Kochiyama, has played an important educational role in building a multicultural community.

    She is a director at the Manhattan school that is committed to educating the community on matters of equality, social justice, and diversity. Akemi is inspired by modern artists, activists, human and civil rights activists, and educators who are committed to practicing a wider and multicultural solidarity vision.

    Moni Tep is a black community organizer and a leader of Creative Justice. Creative Justice is a program that offers a healing platform for young people using an art-focused approach. Under Moni’s leadership, mentors pay more attention to the significance of anti-racism, skill-building, collaborative work, and social justice.

    Emily Akpan is also a community leader who works alongside the Tsuru for solidarity organization. This organization advocates social immigration policy implementation and solidarity within communities dealing with violence and racist issues.

    Conclusion

    Activists, leaders, and educators are concerned with the enslavement of Asians in America and they consider this a nuisance. A lot has been said about racism concerns and the key players, including women, have played an active role in promoting solidarity. What the anti-racism groups do to address the situation is what can determine how possible it is for Asians and Americans to live in harmony.

    Author’s Bio:

    Michael Turner is working for an educational app company and his role is to test and review the apps and provide feedback to the development team. Besides that, he’s an academic writer and helps students write and learn the techniques behind winning essays. When he’s free, he catches up with his friends, watches action flicks and reads novels.

     

    Lees ook:

  • Casino operator targets ending losing streak

    Casino operator targets ending losing streak

    Royal International Corporation, which operates a casino in the northern Quang Ninh Province, has set itself a profit target of $500,000 this year after two years of losses.

    It seeks to double revenues to $10.3 million, $5.8 million from the casino and the rest come from its hotel and villas.

    The corporation will continue with last year’s business strategy of targeting foreigners working in Vietnam who are unable to return to their home country due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    It plans to cut costs and adopt a flexible pricing strategy to attract Vietnamese customers once the pandemic passes.

    It posted a VND82 billion ($4.3 million) loss last year, and said casinos are a unique business that rely on chance but also pointed to the increasing number of casinos in the north, which cut into its revenues.

    RIC, which has a charter capital of $22 million, is listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange.

  • Google’s Android app returns blank search results thanks to bug

    Google’s Android app returns blank search results thanks to bug

    Over the last few weeks a bug has affected the Google app on Android. When conducting a search, the user gets a blank response. The bug work its magic on several devices including handsets made by Samsung, Google, and OnePlus.

    If this happens to you, you could get annoyed, jump up and down on your phone and start cursing out the Google app. Or, you can handle this like the calm, cool and collected person that you are and request the search for a second time. You might also consider force closing the Google app since that appears to solve the issue, at least temporarily.

    Additionally, it appears that using the Chrome URL bar to run a search doesn’t result in a blank response, so you might want to use the search feature on Chrome if getting a blank response is not what you’re looking for from your search request. We should point out that receiving blank search results has nothing to do with the strength of your network or Wi-Fi connection.

    Dare we assume that Google is aware of this bug and hopefully is working on an update to exterminate this rather strange issue?  Yes we do because Search is Google’s most important business unit and was responsible for $104 billion in revenue for the company last year. That made up 71% of Google’s advertising gross and 57% of parent firm Alphabet’s total 2020 revenue.

    Lees ook:

  • Singapore and Hong Kong Set Review Date for Travel Bubble

    Singapore and Hong Kong Set Review Date for Travel Bubble

    An announcement on the launch date for the travel bubble is expected in early July, following a review by both sides.

    The latest developments come in view of the COVID-19 epidemic situation in Singapore, which has been stabilizing since early June, the Hong Kong government said in an announcement on Thursday.

    Both consider that it is prudent to keep the developments under review to ensure the epidemic situation is sufficiently stable before deciding in early July on the way forward for the ATB, the announcement said.

    The travel bubble between two business hubs, planned since October 2020, has been beset by numerous delays.

    On Thursday, Singapore also announced the easing of curbs to control the spread of Covid-19, to take place from June 14.

    The city-state brought back stricter social distancing measures in early May amid growing community infections, but new cases have since stabilized in the low single digits.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Vietnam Airlines cleared for 12 repatriation flights from US

    Vietnam Airlines cleared for 12 repatriation flights from US

    National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has received permission from U.S. authorities to conduct 12 repatriation flights this year, the first of which is scheduled for this month.

    The first flight will leave Hanoi on June 22 for Washington D.C. with a stop in Alaska before returning to Vietnam on June 24.

    The airline will use its biggest wide-body aircraft – the Boeing 787 or the Airbus A350 for these flights.

    It remains the only Vietnamese carrier to receive flight permits from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which is said to have stringent requirements. The examination process for the 12 flights took one month.

    Vietnam Airlines expects the flights to help evaluate the possibility of conducting regular flights between the two countries after the Covid-19 pandemic has been contained.

    Last year, it conducted 20 flights between Vietnam and the U.S. to serve Vietnamese citizens and U.S. experts, and to transport goods.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Giphy’s Clips now integrated with Apple’s iMessages

    Giphy’s Clips now integrated with Apple’s iMessages

    GIF database and search engine Giphy announced today that its “Clips” content (short GIFs with sound) will be supported by Apple’s iMessage and in the Android Keyboard. In a press release disseminated today by Giphy, the company said, “You know that moment when someone sends you the perfect GIF and you can practically hear it. Whether it’s a familiar character or simply the perfect visual representation of your emotions, there is a very specific sound you associate with it. At Giphy, we definitely know the feeling.”

    Giphy says that it has been working hard to bring Clips to every platform where conversations happen. The company adds that “You can already share Giphy Clips anywhere using the video’s URL and can even access them in places like Slack and Medium. But, starting today, you can find and share Clips even more easily in messaging via Giphy’s iMessage Extension and in the Android Keyboard.”

    Version 4.2.5 of the iOS and Android Giphy apps have just been launched from the App Store and Google Play Store respectively. Giphy says that “it is the fastest, simplest way to search and share GIFs and stickers across all of your favorite social channels. Enjoy our powerful GIF Keyboard and iMessage extensions that put Giphy at your fingertips. Spruce up boring conversations with our Emoji and Text libraries – exclusively available in the mobile app.”

    Giphy states that Clips brings a whole new dimension to self-expression. The world’s largest library of free GIFs, Clips, & Stickers, Giphy for iOS is the fastest, simplest way to search and share short-form content and animated reactions across all of your favorite social channels such as Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Snapchat & more.”

    Lees ook:

  • Aldi named top supermarket by customers

    Aldi named top supermarket by customers

    Aldi has been deemed 2020’s supermarket of the year in Roy Morgan’s latest customer satisfaction awards.

    Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine said supermarkets become some of the most trusted brands in the country last year due to the integral role they played during the first national lockdown, keeping Australia’s communities safe and fed.

    “Many businesses, and particularly those in retail and hospitality, faced a major threat to their way of doing business in 2020 as a nationwide closure early in the year forced many to close – at least temporarily,” said Levine.

    “The good news for the businesses hit hardest with the lockdowns was that they proved effective with most of Australia spending the remainder of 2020 in relative normality compared to the rest of the world.”

    The survey is calculated from an annual survey of 50,000 Australians and previously led Aldi to win the best supermarket in 2016, 2014, and 2012.

    “We are hugely excited to be recognized as Australia’s Best Supermarket by Roy Morgan. We are continuously striving to deliver the highest quality products at the lowest prices possible, and it’s clear this commitment is resonating with customers year in and year out,” said Aldi Australia group director Simon Padovani-Ginies.

    “We are proud to receive this award and aim to continue to live up to shoppers’ expectations that ALDI is Australia’s best supermarket by delivering exceptional value every time they shop.”

    Aldi was also named ‘mobile phone service provider of the year’ for 2020, beating out traditional telcos.

    Lees ook:

  • Google releases Android 12 beta 2 to compatible Pixel models

    Google releases Android 12 beta 2 to compatible Pixel models

    Pixel owners are another step closer to receiving Android 12 as said today that Google has started to push out Android 12 beta 2 to Pixel users. The update includes several of the new privacy features being added to the operating system with the new build including a 24-hour timeline showing which apps have accessed your phone’s camera, microphone, and location data.

    Another feature found in the new beta is a message that pops up to alert you when an app is reading your clipboard. Since users often copy important account numbers or passwords on their clipboards, it is important to know who is getting to read this data. The only time this message doesn’t appear is when the data on the clipboard that an app can read was copied from that very app.

    Similar to the Orange and Green dots found above the cell signal bars on an iPhone (which indicates when an app is using your handset’s microphone and camera respectively), Android 12 beta 2 users will see microphone or camera indicators when apps are using those two sensors.

    A new “Internet” tile in Quick Settings will show you your phone’s online connections including the name of your Wi-Fi network. Tapping on the Wi-Fi icon will allow you to quickly disable your Wi-Fi connection and will also show you a list of nearby Wi-Fi signals and give you the option to turn off/on your cellular network. The update also adds a GPay tile to Quick Settings to replace “Cards & passes.”

    To become an Android 12 beta tester for your Pixel, open the Android Beta Program site and tap the button that says “View your eligible devices.” Follow the directions and you’ll receive the Android 12 beta 2 update OTA. Once you receive notification that the update is on your phone, go to Settings > System > Advanced > System update.

    If your Pixel is your daily driver, you might want to wait for the final version of Android 12 before installing it. After all, the Android 12 beta 2 update is not stable and apps that you might need for work or play might not be working at full capacity during the beta testing.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Microsoft Office for Android updated with option to capture voice recordings

    Microsoft Office for Android updated with option to capture voice recordings

    Microsoft rolled out important new features to Office Mobile in the last month. After getting full-fledged dark mode support back in May, the Android version of Office Mobile is now gaining yet another new feature: the ability to capture voice recordings.

    As the name suggests, the new feature lets Android users go beyond simple voice memos, with live speech-to-text transcription. The implementation includes additional benefits like synced text highlighting during playback and the ability to share content by exporting it to other Microsoft 365 apps and services.

    Only for Microsoft 365 subscribers, the new feature allows for partition and transcription of the input from different speakers based on their identity. Here is how the new feature works:

    • In the Microsoft Office app on your Android device, tap the “+” button at the bottom of the Home tab.
    • Under Quick capture, tap Voice to launch the voice capture experience.
    • Start speaking to record and tap the Done button when finished. Your recording will be saved as a voice card. You can view all your voice captures in a list view.
    • To review your recording, select the voice card for playback with synced text highlighting. Your voice recordings are also available on your Home tab for easy access.

    Microsoft announced that the ability to capture voice recordings is now rolling out to users of the Office Mobile for Android with English (US) selected as their language and country/region.

    Lees ook:

  • Coles doubles down on payments with launch of Flypay for grocery

    Coles doubles down on payments with launch of Flypay for grocery

    By using Flypay, Coles customers will no longer need to enter their payment and delivery information separately when shopping at Coles group retailers online.

    Once customers set up their Flypay account, all they do is select ‘Flypay’ when completing the transaction.

    This new way to pay also includes the Flybuys reward card, so customers can collect points.

    Coles chief of emerging businesses George Saoud said the new system makes shopping online faster, easier and more secure.

    “Coles is committed to helping our customers shop more easily anytime, anywhere, and we are thrilled to introduce Flypay as a payment option for customers shopping at any of our online liquor retailers,” he said.

    The payments system was co-developed by Coles and Bell Identification, a Visa solution.

    Visa head of merchant sales and acquiring Dan Parsons said speedy and secure ways to pay are “more important than ever”.

    Eligible retail outlets include:

    • Coles online
    • Coles Liquor
    • Liquorland
    • First Choice Liquor and Liquor Market

    More Coles-branded retailers will be added in the coming months, according to the group.

    The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) has flagged concern about easy online ordering of alcohol during COVID-19.

    FARE chief Caterina Giorgi said it would be “seriously worrying” if it were easier for retailers to sell alcohol to people who are intoxicated or who are underage.

    “Even now, fundamental community standards around the way alcohol is sold are not upheld by online alcohol retailers and there is not enough alcohol industry accountability,” she said.

    “Alcohol companies have been taking advantage of people’s fear and anxiety by urging us to drink to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “This is concerning because the evidence shows that drinking alcohol can make people’s stress, anxiety and depression worse.”

    There are also concerns around alcohol-fuelled harm according to Ms Giorgi.

    “Alcohol-fuelled harm in the home is often invisible and there are strong indications of family and intimate-partner violence escalating,” Ms Giorgi said.

    “As online alcohol retailing increases and expands across platforms we need common sense controls in place to keep families and communities healthy and safe, including ending rapid and late-night delivery and requiring age verification at point of sale and delivery.”

    “We are most concerned about children and young people, and people who are intoxicated being sold alcohol well into the night by online alcohol retailers who aren’t even required by law to verify proof of age.”

    However, a Coles spokesperson told Savings.com.au that Flypay does not make it any easier to pay for alcohol than other ways to pay.

    “We take our responsible service of alcohol obligations seriously,” they said.

    “While Flypay makes it easier for customers to complete their transaction, it does not make it any easier to purchase alcohol than using any other form of payment.

    “For online alcohol purchases, customers need to show ID when they have it delivered.

    “This is the same process for card purchases or Paypal, which we already offer on these websites.”

    In the past week, FARE released a study in conjunction with Women’s Safety NSW that found 51% of family violence specialists across that state have seen an increase in the involvement of alcohol in cases since the COVID-19 restrictions were introduced.

    Earlier in May, FARE also released a report that found in just one hour on a Friday night, 107 sponsored alcohol advertisements were displayed on a person’s Facebook and Instagram accounts – one alcohol advertisement every 35 seconds.

    The report found 58% of the ads’ main message was getting easy access to alcohol without leaving the home.

  • Guardian Singapore cuts prices for 500 articles

    Guardian Singapore cuts prices for 500 articles

    The Guardian pharmacy chain said that it is reducing prices on more than 500 health and beauty products for the rest of the year, given that customers are “more value-conscious in the face of increasing financial challenges” of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Guardian said that the initiative, involving reductions of up to 25 percent, would cost the company S$6 million.

    In a press statement on Thursday (June 3), it said that it is embarking on these longer-term price reductions because it wants to help customers save more and make a meaningful impact by making health and beauty essential accessible to everyone.

    The price reductions apply from Thursday.

    The items that will see their prices reduced include:

    1. All products under the Guardian brand
    2. Listerine mouthwash
    3. Dove body wash
    4. Darlie toothpaste
    5. Pantene shampoo

    The selection of products follows Guardian’s research, which looked at what products customers buy the most, and it showed that they prioritized affordability. Giant invests S$4 million more to extend discounts on products till end-2021

    Mr. James McCoy, director of commercial and operations at Guardian Singapore, said: “We want to support our customers in managing their health and well-being in an affordable way, especially during this time. We are ensuring that our customers can get their daily essentials at low prices that are locked for the rest of the year”.

    This initiative by Guardian came after a similar move by supermarket chain Giant. Both chains are part of conglomerate Dairy Farm International Holdings.

    The supermarket chain announced in March that it would extend its discounts on hundreds of products until the end of the year, which will set it back by an extra S$4 million, and add more than 100 discounted products.

    The move was to help ease the financial hardship faced by customers during the pandemic.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook: