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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.

  • AirAsia India plots growth to 100 aircraft by 2025

    AirAsia India plots growth to 100 aircraft by 2025

    AirAsia India is planning to accelerate its growth and hopes to increase its fleet fourfold to 100 aircraft in the next five years, an unnamed company source told industry publication TravelBiz Monitor.

    “We have firmed up plans to add 14-15 planes every year starting next year for the next five years. We have remained a small player in the Indian market till now with just 23 planes, which will increase to 29 planes by the end of December,” the executive said.

    According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, the Indian LCC, a 51/49 joint venture between Tata Sons and AirAsia Group, currently operates twenty-three A320-200s and is in the process of adding the twenty-fourth unit.

    The airline will be adding aircraft both transferred from other AirAsia Group units and directly from lessors. Out of its current 23-strong fleet, 11 aircraft were previously operated by AirAsia, while the remaining 12 came from other carriers.

    The carrier said earlier this year that its growth plans for 2020 include the addition of the first A320-200neo.

    AirAsia India will focus its growth on existing routes as it plans to add more frequencies rather than launch new, low-frequency routes.

    “There is no point staying a marginal airline on various routes. The focus will rather be on strengthening our position on routes that we are in,” the executive said.

    According to the ch-aviation capacities module, AirAsia India has a 6.8% market share by capacity on the Indian domestic market, compared to 46.4%, 16.0%, and 10.5% shares of its LCC rivals IndiGo Airlines, SpiceJet, and GoAir.

    Meanwhile, the carrier’s Malaysian parent said it will add capacity on its Kuala Lumpur Int’l-Singapore Changi route, using A330-300s operated by AirAsia X to launch an additional two daily services between the cities. According to the ch-aviation schedules module, AirAsia currently operates 59x weekly between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore with all flights operated by A320-200s.

    The carrier’s A320s seat up to 180 passengers, while AirAsia X’s A330-300s have 365 economy class seats and 12 premium class seats. AirAsia has a 21.6% market share by capacity on the Kuala Lumpur Int’l-Singapore Changi market.

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  • Harvey Norman first to launch Microsoft Synchronized Shopping software

    Harvey Norman first to launch Microsoft Synchronized Shopping software

    Harvey Norman has become the world’s first retailer to launch a new AI-powered retail software concept the Microsoft Synchronized Shopping solution.

    Microsoft says its system, accessible via the retailer’s website, “empowers consumers to make informed purchase decisions amidst the myriad of options available online and offline”.

    Visitors to the Harvey Nomran website can use a customized, conversational AI-driven product advisor that asks a series of questions to identify the shopper’s needs, then recommends devices that best suits them. That might feature such as long battery life or storage capacity.

    Microsoft says product advisor results reflect devices that are on display in Harvey Norman, where customers can go to try them out.

    “The immersive and engaging experience starts when the shortlisted device(s) on the website creates a shopper pass on the mobile device with embedded geo-location services. When shoppers are in proximity of the store where the specific PCs are available, they get a phone notification, and once they enter the store are guided to the exact PCs that were recommended by the online advisor,” says Microsoft in a statement.

    “This simplifies the in-store experience, eliminating the need for shoppers to spend time navigating through all the choices in the PC aisle. In addition, it provides a seamless online-offline purchase journey tailored to their needs which is highly secure (and with no footprint of the user on any of the interacting devices).”

    Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page says she believes customers must be able to make decisions holistically, especially in a digitally connected world.

    “This has always guided how we curate our assortment of offerings, and it now shapes how we look at connecting online and offline channels seamlessly for our customers. Microsoft Synchronized Shopping is a major step in the right direction to help all of us live this ‘connected life’.”

    Microsoft says it created the solution to address the challenge faced by consumers of an online proliferation of options and the anywhere/anytime nature of shopping via mobile devices.

    Its research showed that 80 percent of consumers now begin their shopping journey online, and many end up delaying a purchase because they are overwhelmed by the number of choices.

    “Second, they find it difficult to choose the product that best meets their needs, without conducting extensive research, and often ends up buying a less-than-satisfactory device. This ‘choice paralysis’ inspired the design of Microsoft Synchronized Shopping.”

    Microsoft says its Synchronized Shopping solution is part of a broader “retail-reimagined strategy aimed at simplifying the consumer journey” by using intelligent cloud technology.

    It was developed in partnership with Microsoft Gold partner Popcornapps and is built on Azure cloud services, progressive web-apps and geo-location-based services.

  • Thailand’s Central Group invests in EU expansion

    Thailand’s Central Group invests in EU expansion

    Thailand’s Central Group has made three major overseas investments totaling US$662.7 million to build its presence in world-leading tourist destinations.

    The new investment properties are located in Vienna, Osaka and Turin.

    “Central Group continues to embark on our strategy to ride on the global tourism trend by developing high-quality flagship projects in major tourist cities,” said Central Group executive chairman and CEO Tos Chirathivat. “Our most recent investment of over 20 billion baht comprises three landmark projects: an iconic innovative luxury retail and hotel complex in Vienna; Centara’s first Centara Grand Hotel Osaka in Japan; and the relaunch of a completely refurbished Rinascente Department Store in Turin, Italy.”

    The 58,000sqm development in Vienna comprises a luxury department store, a luxury hotel with 150-165 keys, retail shops and upscale restaurants with a publicly accessible roof park.

    Design group OMA won an international design competition with its design concept “The Link”, which seamlessly connects the new building complex with the city surroundings via a series of public and commercial spaces. The project is a joint venture between Central and Austria’s Signa Group, and is due to open in 2023.

    Centara Grand Hotel Osaka is the first Centara-branded property in Japan, which will occupy a prime site in Osaka’s Namba district, the center of leisure tourism for the city and the wider Kansai region.

    The property will be built as a flagship five-star hotel located at the city center, with 515 rooms occupying a new 34-story tower overlooking Namba Parks. The top floors will include a lounge along with customizable space for meetings and events, plus a rooftop restaurant sky bar providing panoramic 360-degree views of Osaka.

    Centara Grand Hotel Osaka is a partnership between Centara Hotels & Resorts, Taisei Corporation and Kanden Realty & Development, and is scheduled to open in 2023.

    Thailand’s Central Group bought Rinascente Turin in 2017 and is now refurbishing and upgrading the store, nearly doubling the net selling space. A highlight of the renovation is the new accessories area featuring new collections by luxury brands such as Bottega Venetta, Burberry, Alexander McQueen and Marni.

    Central’s international investment and growth can be partly attributed to the strong Thai baht, which has appreciated substantially against most major currencies over the last few years. Last year, Central Group’s international operations – primarily in Vietnam, Europe and the Maldives – contributed around 30 percent of the group’s revenue. This share is expected to grow in the next five years with the new projects in the pipeline.

    “Thailand has a huge opportunity to drive domestic spending and tourism growth by lowering import duties and optimizing the foreign exchange rate,” said Tos. “Today, Thai import duties on major lifestyle categories are the highest in Asia, putting the country at a disadvantage as a shopping destination. If Thai baht depreciates and import duties are lowered, it will be more attractive for tourists to visit and shop here, and there will be less incentive for Thais to shop overseas.

    “Given the significant contribution to the country’s employment and GDP, a vibrant and thriving tourism and retail sector is key to driving Thailand’s healthy and sustainable economic growth overall,” he said.

  • Waze brings back a beloved voice for a limited time

    Waze brings back a beloved voice for a limited time

    Waze has just announced that due to popular demand it has decided to bring back a beloved voice. Starting today, in celebration of Cookie Monster’s birthday this month, Waze users will be able to download the Cookie Monster voice for a limited time in the United States.

    Cookie Monster is Waze’s most downloaded voice in the United States to date with over 130 million monthly active users on the road using this specific voice. The voice was originally released in the US this summer as part of the company’s partnership with Sesame Street.

    Just as with all Waze famous voices, Cookie Monster was only available for a limited time, but if you didn’t manage to get it for whatever reason, now would be a good time to fix that.

    To get Cookie Monster’s voice, Waze users must open the application and click the magnifying glass. Then, simply open the Settings menu and choose “voice and sound.” The last step is tapping the “Waze Voice” and choosing the Cookie Monster voice, which, once again, will only be available for download for a limited time.

  • Tigerair expands PBH contract with AJW Group

    Tigerair expands PBH contract with AJW Group

    Australian low-cost airline Tigerair has extended Power-by-the-Hour (PBH) contract with AJW Group. AJW Group specializes in the global management of aircraft spares.

    The company has been providing an integrated component pooling, repair and logistics support program to Tigerair since 2014. The PBH agreement covers Tigerair’s fleet of A320 aircraft.

    Under the support program, AJW will satisfy the airline’s material requirements across a variety of component groups including airframe and engine LRU’s, major assemblies, wheels and brakes, auxiliary power units (APU), thrust reversers and consumables.

    Tigerair is an Australian low-cost airline headquartered in Melbourne with two additional established service bases at Sydney and Brisbane Airports. Tigerair operates a fleet of Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft, across 21 domestic routes out of 12 destinations around Australia.

    Christopher Whiteside, chief executive officer of AJW Group said: “Tigerair was AJW’s first major contract in Australia and our work over the past five years has demonstrated the Group’s strength across the Australasia region.”

    Over the past five years, AJW Group has successfully delivered improved operational efficiency and cost savings, which according to AJW Group, are ‘key focus areas for the airline’.

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  • E-sports set to fly high with AirAsia backing

    E-sports set to fly high with AirAsia backing

    E-sports are set to take off in a big way with the two head honchos at AirAsia giving their full-fledged support.

    According to Allan Phang, president of the AirAsia All-Stars E-Sports Club, Tan Sri Dr Tony Fernandes, Group CEO, AirAsia Bhd, and Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, executive chairman, AirAsia Bhd, have been very “visionary and supportive” when it comes to e-sports as the low-cost carrier is among the first airlines to back e-sports on a regional scale.

    AirAsia was the main strategic partner of the World Electronic Sports Games Southeast Asia (WESG SEA) Regional Finals, which concluded at the Quill Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur last weekend.

    Phang said AirAsia made its first foray into e-sports in 2017 with the setting up of the AirAsia All-Stars E-Sports Club.

    “The club had about 10 members upon its inception, but now there are more than 200 members,” said Phang, underlining the surging popularity of e-sports and its future direction.

    As Agri Mind, the organizers of the WESG SEA Regional Finals, have a long-standing relationship with AirAsia, they were able to push through the initiative for the low-cost carrier to come onboard as a partner.

    “AirAsia provided support in terms of flights (to the gamers), which was in support of the e-sports ecosystem, in line with the government’s initiative,” said Phang.

    He added that there are four key verticals of AirAsia’s role in the burgeoning e-sports arena: employee engagement, employer branding, e-sports tourism and supporting the eco-system by way of sponsorship through teams and events.

    “AirAsia is targeting the next generation of consumers as it realizes that the government wants to connect with the youth e-sports generation,” said Phang.

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  • September Hong Kong retail sales down across the board

    September Hong Kong retail sales down across the board

    Hong Kong retail sales in September were down 18.3 percent in the same month last year, but the decline was less than in August. The luxury sector again took the biggest hit.

    Census and Statistics Department data released Friday provisionally estimated sales at HK$29.9 billion. The revised estimate for August’s decline was 22.9 percent, with sales for the third quarter down 15.1 percent on the second quarter, and by 19.5 percent year on year, almost on a par with 1998’s third-quarter record decline during the financial crisis.

    Year-to-date, sales are down by 7.3 percent.

    A government spokesman described the decline as “significant” as “local social incidents continued to take a heavy toll on inbound tourism and consumption-related activities”.

    “As protests involving violence continue to deter tourists and reduce local consumption, and the subdued economic outlook also dampens consumer sentiment, the performance of retail sales is likely to stay weak in the near term.”

    Hong Kong retail sales of jewelry, watches and luxury goods fell 40.8 percent during the month, which was less than the 50-plus percent that some retailers were fearing. Department-store sales fell by 25.6 percent, apparel by 26.3 percent, accessories by 16.6 percent, and medicines and cosmetics by 21.7 percent.

    Perhaps the greatest difference between August and September was the obvious impact of locals spending less – to date the protests have had the greatest effect on retailers serving the inbound tourist market. Supermarket sales fell by 2.6 percent in September; food, alcohol and tobacco sales by 13.8 percent; furniture and fixtures by 7.2 percent; books, newspapers, stationery, and gifts by 9.6 percent; and motor vehicles and parts by 16.1 percent.

    Sales of Chinese drugs and herbs were down 18.2 percent, of electrical goods by 1.4 percent and at optical shops by 15.8 percent.

    The only category to show growth in September was fuel, up by 5.9 percent.

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  • Google Messages latest update is all about fighting spam

    Google Messages latest update is all about fighting spam

    The Messages app is becoming harder to spam after the latest update, Google confirmed recently. After teasing a new ability that would allow Google Messages users to report group spam messages earlier this week, an update released today is adding this specific feature.

    A support document that contains instructions on how users can report spam in a group message is now live on the app’s support page. Keep in mind though that if you’re using Google Messages and don’t see the new option yet, you should wait a few more days since the update is rolled out in waves.

    When you report spam in a group message, the spammer is reported and the message is sent directly to your “Archived” folder, Google explains. To report someone, simply open the Messages app, then the conversation you want to report, tap More Group details, and then choose Tap Report spam.

    Don’t try to download anything from the Google Play Store since this seems to be a server-side update. You’ll just have to pray that the new feature will appear on your phone sooner rather than later.

  • Two variations of Dark theme are reportedly being developed for the iOS version of WhatsApp

    Two variations of Dark theme are reportedly being developed for the iOS version of WhatsApp

    Whether you’re using Android or iOS, Dark theme is all the rage these days. Both Android 10 and iOS 13 feature system-wide Dark theme settings and more and more apps are including such an option. Why? for a couple of reasons, really. At night, or in a darkened room, the usual white background (with black text) can strain the user’s eyes and annoy innocent bystanders. In Dark theme, the black or gray background with white text isn’t as offensive to one’s eyes.

    Besides saving your eyesight, there is another reason to toggle on Dark theme; for phones sporting an AMOLED display, using Dark theme can save some battery life. That’s because OLED panels create the color black by turning off all pixels in the appropriate area of the screen; pixels that are turned off do not draw energy from the battery. But keep in mind that to save battery life, the version of Dark theme used by an app must have a black background, not a dark gray one.

    Now you might recall that back in March, the beta version of WhatsApp for Android received a Dark theme feature, but only on the settings page. Because this configuration used a version of Dark theme with a gray background, those testing it did not score any additional battery life. And in fact, Android users with the public version of WhatsApp have yet to receive the feature at this point in time. As for iOS users who employ WhatsApp, they could end up with one of two different versions of Dark theme according to WABetaInfo.com. For those of you unfamiliar with WhatsApp, it is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world and is owned by Facebook.

    It seems that when Apple released the system-wide Dark theme for iOS 13, WhatsApp’s developers went back to the drawing board and came up with a new version of Dark theme from scratch. WABetaInfo.com says that two different configurations are being developed. One uses a dark black background while the second configuration uses a lighter gray. The first variant would seem to offer the best battery life savings. Both versions have the same configuration for Dark bubbles.

    While it isn’t clear which one will be found on the iOS version of WhatsApp, the first configuration is the one that Facebook has decided to use for Instagram. The report does speculate that the app itself might choose from the two options depending on the settings of the iOS device that has the app installed.

    Apparently, the Dark theme feature for WhatsApp is still being developed so it might be sometime before iOS and Android users get the opportunity to try it out on the public version of the respective apps.

  • Google Maps update will help you find historical landmarks in major cities

    Google Maps update will help you find historical landmarks in major cities

    We’re thinking that the Google Maps team is fueled by pots and pots of coffee. How else can you explain the number of new features that are added to the app? Developers must pull 24-hour shifts a few days a week and we envision a whiteboard filled with multiple ideas. The latest addition to Google Maps, allows users to quickly find major landmarks in big cities. Note the words “major” and “big.” In other words, you’re not going to see one of these large icons appearing on a map of a one-horse town to show you where the local Dairy Queen is.

    On the other hand, as you can see from the screenshots accompanying this article, the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abby in London and the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower in Paris do feature the larger icon. It appears that Google is placing these easier to spot icons next to older landmarks that have a history behind them. Interestingly, the White House doesn’t merit one of the larger icons although New York’s Rockefeller Center does. Whether Google is currently in the process of adding new landmarks is unknown, but it would be interesting to know what the company’s criteria are. We have reached out to Google for more details, and if they respond we will update this story.

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  • AirAsia India plans to take fleet size to 100 in five years

    AirAsia India plans to take fleet size to 100 in five years

    New Delhi: After growing at a very slow rate in its first five years of operations, AirAsia India plans to expand its fleet more than fourfold to 100 aircraft in the next five years. “We have firmed up plans to add 14-15 planes every year starting next year for the next five years. We have remained a small player in the Indian market till now with just 23 planes, which will increase to 29 planes by the end of December,” said a senior executive, who did not wish to be identified.

    The executive said the lowcost carrier, a 51:49 joint venture between Tata Sons and Malaysia’s AirAsia Berhard, will become an impactful player in the market once its fleet grows to 50 aircraft. The market is dominated by IndiGo, which operates a fleet of about 250 aircraft. “While we will continue to add aircraft under the current model by getting aircraft from AirAsia Berhad, we will also look at leasing planes directly from lessors,” said the executive.

    The airline’s expansion plans focus on strengthening the network on existing routes rather than adding new routes. “The philosophy is simple: There is no point staying a marginal airline on various routes. The focus will rather be on strengthening our position on routes that we are in,” said the executive, adding that both the promoters would put in funds for expansion. AirAsia India, which started operations in 2014, is the smallest scheduled commercial airline in the country. In the ongoing winter schedule, which began at October-end, the airline has increased its flights by 326 departures to 1,345 departures per week.

    With a reduction of nearly 3,600 weekly departures because of the sudden suspension of operations by cash-strapped Jet Airways on April 17, other airlines are seeking to fill the gap by launching new flights.

  • Vietjet to expand fleet with 20 long-range Airbus jets

    Vietjet to expand fleet with 20 long-range Airbus jets

    Budget airline Vietjet has ordered 20 Airbus long-range A321XLR aircraft to expand its international reach as Vietnam’s aviation market keeps growing.

    With a range of up to 8,700 kilometers, the aircraft will serve Vietjet’s plans to expand its international flights network, the airline said in a statement Thursday.

    The contract increases Vietjet’s order book with Airbus to 186 aircraft, with the first A321XLR to be delivered in 2023.

    The single-aisle A321XLR will “modernize Vietjet’s fleet as we look to strongly grow our international flight network,” Vietjet CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao said. The airline currently operates 66 Airbus jets.

    Also Thursday, the carrier ordered two A320/321 aircraft simulators for pilot and technician training on top of the one simulator it already has.

    A321XLR’s range is 15 percent more than the previous model A321LR, it also burns 30 percent less fuel per seat compared with older generations.

    Vietjet’s order follows similar moves by other Vietnamese airlines to expand their fleet as air travel heats up. Private airline Bamboo Airways has ordered 50 narrow-body Airbus A320neo aircraft and is expected to receive the first next month, while national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines plans to get 50 new narrow-body aircraft by 2025.

    Vietnam’s fleet of over 200 aircraft last year could quadruple by 2038, aircraft maker Boeing said last week.

    Last year, the country’s 21 state-run airports served 103.5 million passengers, up 11 percent year-on-year, and the figure is set to rise to 112 million this year, according to the Airports Corporation of Vietnam.

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  • Eco Shop Me @ South East launched

    Eco Shop Me @ South East launched

    Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) has partnered with South East Community Development Council (CDC) to launch Eco Shop Me @ South East program.

    Collaborating with eco-shops, the program is to create a stronger awareness of eco-friendly businesses in the southeast District and encourage consumers to shop sustainably and strive towards a zero-waste lifestyle.

    “Eco Shop Me @ South East is an exciting new initiative as we are working with cafes, grocery stores, retail outlets, and many others, to change the shopping and eating habits of their customers,” said Maliki Osman, Mayor of Southeast District. “These changes may not seem much, just a straw, a bag, or a container, but we hope it becomes a habit of every individual, to reduce our overall usage of plastics and recycle what we can to protect our environment, to make it last for us and our future generations,” he said.

    “We believe this program has great potential and look forward to more small and medium-sized enterprises coming on board to partner us as we do our part for climate change.”

    Several partners have joined Eco Shop Me @ South East program including health product store Two Sisters Pantry, social enterprise Enterprising Mums United and an ice cream parlor The Humble Scoop, (whose dish is pictured above).

    Interested business owners can tap into funding support under the 3R Fund or the Towards Zero Waste Grant.

    Deputy CEO (planning, corporate and technology) of NEA, Khoo Seow Poh, added: “We are heartened to see businesses coming together under The Eco Shop Me @ South East program, where they are taking a firm stance against unnecessary waste, by for example, reducing the use of disposables where possible and thereby influencing the daily habits of residents. We hope that more businesses and consumers will be inspired to take simple steps to reduce waste and build a sustainable future for Singapore.”

  • South Korean convenience store chain launches franchise in Vietnam

    South Korean convenience store chain launches franchise in Vietnam

    GS25 Vietnam, a joint venture between South Korea’s GS25 and local retailer Son Kim Group, opened up its brand to franchisees beginning Friday.

    Interested franchisees can choose from one of three models offered by GS25 Vietnam: investing in a standalone store, a chain of convenience stores, or co-investing with GS25 Vietnam to open stores, said a representative of the brand.

    Franchised stores come in three models, with areas of 65-70 square meters, 100-120 square meters, or 150 square meters, respectively.

    Franchisees will have to spend at most VND2 billion ($86,260) to invest in a convenience store, and will be able to source products from major distributors in Vietnam or import South Korean goods, said Nguyen Thi Hong Trang, General Director of GS25 Vietnam.

    South Korean convenience store chain GS25 entered Vietnam in January last year, opening a store in Ho Chi Minh through a joint venture with the Son Kim Group, which operates in retail, real estate and media sectors.

    GS25 Vietnam currently owns 50 stores, and aims to open 2,500 nationwide after 10 years. Opening the business to franchisees is a major step towards realizing this goal, its brand representative said.

    According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, on average, 1-3 retail stores are needed per 1,000 people. However, only 7,012 stores are considered modern retail stores in Vietnam.

    More than a third of Vietnamese households shop at convenience stores or mini supermarkets, with an average frequency of 10 times per year, data compiled by research firm Kantar Worldpanel shows.

    The UK-based Institute of Grocery Distribution forecasts that convenience stores in Vietnam would grow in double digits over the next four years and account for 37.4 percent of retail revenue by 2021

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  • Vietnam Airlines Jan-Sept profit highest in five years

    Vietnam Airlines Jan-Sept profit highest in five years

    Vietnam Airlines Group posted pretax profits of VND3.29 trillion ($142 million) in Jan-Sept, up 35.7 percent year-on-year.

    This is the highest profit it has earned in the last five years. The group, comprising Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific and Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO), saw its net revenue rise 3 percent to VND76.7 trillion ($3.3 billion).

    The group managed to reduce sales and financial costs down by 30 percent in Q3, resulting in this quarter’s profit surging 2.5 times year-on-year to VND1.13 trillion ($48.88 million).

    The group, accounting for 51.7 percent of Vietnam’s aviation market, served 21.4 million passengers in nine months, up 3.2 percent year-on-year.

    Vietnam Airlines this year has received two new wide-body Boeing 787-10 aircraft and 10 Airbus A321neo jets. It is set to get one more Boeing 787-10 and four more Airbus A321neos by the end of the year.

    The group targets serving 23.4 million passengers this year, earning revenues of VND104.59 trillion ($4.52 billion).