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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.

  • First Aid, Delivered: Deliveroo Provides Riders With Red Cross First Aid Training

    First Aid, Delivered: Deliveroo Provides Riders With Red Cross First Aid Training

    Deliveroo riders are well loved in Hong Kong for delivering great food direct to people’s doors, and now many riders and walkers will also have the skills to deliver first aid to members of the public in an emergency – thanks to first aid training rolled out by the leading food delivery platform in April.

    Deliveroo will provide over 150 riders in Hong Kong with access to 13 first aid training classes. Administered by the Hong Kong Red Cross. The courses will equip Deliveroo riders and walkers with life-saving skills that can benefit the Hong Kong community in which they live and work. Participants in the training sessions will gain skills and confidence in dealing with emergencies, including scenarios such as finding someone unresponsive, badly injured or unable to breathe. cardiopulmonary resuscitation instruction and an introduction to automated external defibrillators will also be provided.

    Brian Lo, General Manager of Deliveroo Hong Kong, said, “I’m proud of our riders in Hong Kong for consistently going above and beyond in bringing the best food from local restaurants direct to hungry diners. Our riders are a force for good, and we hope that through this initiative, Deliveroo can help tackle the problem of people not receiving life-saving first aid in advance of emergency services getting to the scene. We’re delighted to equip riders with first aid skills and knowledge that will serve them in life, in their careers, and for the good of Hong Kong.”

    The training programme in Hong Kong is part of a global initiative from Deliveroo, which will see a total of 3,000 riders receive first aid courses. The first aid initiative was created after research commissioned by the British Red Cross in January 2018 showed that just 5% of adults in Britain have the skills and confidence to provide first aid in emergency situations.

    In Hong Kong, various groups including The University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Medical Journal have found evidence that the public lacks first aid knowledge and skills, which affects their willingness to offer assistance in an emergency situation. However, the research also shows that when training courses are provided, there is significant improvement in people’s willingness to provide first aid.

    Mr. LEUNG Yiu-wah, Chairman of First Aid Advisory Panel, Hong Kong Red Cross said, “First aid is an extremely valuable skill, enabling you to provide assistance in a crisis or time of need. While many people may feel unqualified to provide help in an emergency situation, having a knowledge of first aid means you can make simple yet impactful interventions. We encourage everyone in Hong Kong to enhance their own first aid education.”

    Chun-ming, a 25 year old rider with Deliveroo in Hong Kong, said, “Being a Deliveroo rider puts me in all corners of Hong Kong, at all times of the day. You never know what’s going to happen, so I think it’s quite useful to have an understanding of how to help out if I do come across a medical emergency involving members of the public. Hong Kong is my home, and as a member of the Hong Kong community, I’m proud to be able to enroll in this first aid course and potentially make a difference for others.”

    The first aid training programme for riders comes off the back of other recent Deliveroo initiatives in support of the Hong Kong community. In February, Deliveroo collaborated with St. James’ Settlement and restaurant partner LAO ER by Crystal Jade to host a festive Chinese New Year tea gathering event for elderly people in Hong Kong who live alone. Deliveroo also offered 100 free meals to domestic helpers last December, as a holiday treat to recognise their valuable role for families in Hong Kong.

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  • Lululab unveils the first AI Beauty Store at Dubai Mall

    Lululab unveils the first AI Beauty Store at Dubai Mall

    Beauty AI startup Lululab has unveiled its unmanned virtual retail space “AI Beauty Store” in the giant Dubai Mall.

    Lululab is the developer of Lumini, an AI-based skincare assistant that provides individually tailored skin-care solutions. It offers a smart-shopping experience through the store, which combines AI and big-data technology, on the ground floor of the popular French department store Galeries Lafayette.

    The service is made up of three steps: self-skin analysis by the customer; recommendation of products that best satisfy the customer’s skincare needs; and provision of an outcome report via mobile.

    By taking a single selfie with the multispectral camera at the Lumini kiosk, customers can receive an accurate analysis of their skin’s top layer condition and a list of recommended skin care products based on the result, making it unnecessary for them to wander around the shopping mall searching for random skin care products. They can also receive discounts for the recommended products.

    “AI Beauty Store offers many tourists from all over the world who visit Dubai Mall the opportunity to enjoy a revolutionary shopping experience,” said Lululab CEO Yongjoon Choe. “By establishing skincare-related big data, we will be providing sophisticated and individualised services.”

    Based on its collaboration with Galleries Lafayette, Lululab plans to accelerate its entry into the Middle Eastern and global beauty markets.

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  • Habitat by Honestbee Flies High with global Retail Innovation

    Habitat by Honestbee Flies High with global Retail Innovation

    Habitat by Honestbee has been voted one of the must-see retail innovations in the world this year. The concept was listed among the top 16 stores to visit in the world by IGD, and Google reports it among the top 10 trending searches in Singapore last year.

    The 60,000sqft flagship store opened last October, offering more than 20,000 essential and unique food and grocery products.

    The store is billed as the world’s first tech-enabled food-and-grocery concept which uses technology to provide a seamless shopping experience with human interaction.

    According to Honestbee, customers are spending an average of two hours at the store – considerably more time than people spend in a single visit to any other supermarket in Singapore.

    Close to 500,000 people spanning all age groups have visited the store, despite its remote location. The two largest demographic groups of customers fall between the ages of 26 – 35 years old (41 per cent) and 36 – 45 (28 per cent). Two in three customers are family groups who visit the store, attracted by the mix of grocery and dining and its friendly neighbourhood feel.

    “We are pleased to have had such a resounding success since the launch, not just with customers, but also with the business community in retail, property, grocery and F&B,” said Pauline Png, Habitat by Honestbee MD.

    “Strong sales growth pushes us to continue delivering a memorable experience for customers to visit, try new products and return. This tactility that Habitat by Honestbee provides ignites a curiosity for our products, which are also available online.”

    Future growth plans

    Png says Honestbee will soon be providing an option to combine food carts on the app, enabling orders from multiple F&B concepts at the store on one receipt.

    More engaging product information and content will be added in time, along with personalised recommendations.

    “The launch of Habitat by Honestbee has allowed us to elevate our business into an omnichannel platform and work with partners like no other online player can,” said Joel Sng, CEO and founder of Honestbee.

    “Habitat by Honestbee has built on our brand’s promise and expertise in using data to optimise the customer experience.”

    Sng says the company is confident it can expand the concept into other markets.

    “In the second quarter of the year, we will be extending our food-retail leadership in Asia by launching a scalable, multi-concept kitchen and convenience store powered by data.”

    Honestbee started in early 2015 as an online concierge and food-delivery service.

  • Sogo opens at Shah Alam’s Central I-City

    Sogo opens at Shah Alam’s Central I-City

    A second Sogo Malaysia department store has launched at Central I-City shopping centre in Shah Alam, Selangor.
    The new four-storey store, designed according to a distinctive Japanese aesthetic, features 18,581sqm of retail space and more than 400 brands in a wide variety of product categories.

    “Aside from purchasing beauty products on the ground floor, shoppers can get their manicure, pedicure and waxing done at the Smooch Waxing Studio,” said Sogo Malaysia group COO Raymond Teo. “There is also the Prinz Classic Barbershop on the second level, while the shoe and bag spa is at the ladies’ shoes section on the first floor. We also have cafes for those who want to chill out without having to leave the department store.”

    A range of promotions, redemptions and activities are being held to celebrate the launch.

    “This year marks our 25th anniversary and the opening of this store is an important milestone for us,” said Sogo Malaysia CEO Toh Peng Koon. “Opening Sogo in Central I-City is not only to cater to the needs of the Shah Alam community and beyond but also to be nearer and engage more with them.”
    “We are opening two new stores this month,” he added. “After Sogo Central I-City, it will be Sogo The Mall in Mid Valley Southkey, Johor Baru, on April 23.”

    By 2022, Sogo should have expanded its total network to six stores with a total retail space of 222,967sqm, which includes Prai Megamall in Penang, Selayang, Terengganu, and the first Seibu department store at the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) Lifestyle Precinct in Kuala Lumpur.

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  • Google starts rolling out Android updates via Play Store

    Google starts rolling out Android updates via Play Store

    What started as a rumor last week has now become a certainty, as Google is now rolling out Android Q betaupdates through Play Store. The main benefit is that you’ll now find Android updates much easier, or let’s say that they will find you faster and easier than before.

    A couple of Pixel users have taken to Reddit to confirm their Android Q beta updates have arrived via Google Play Store. Those with Pixel phones that run the previous Android Q beta build should start receiving notifications like the ones you usually get for an app update. Once the update is downloaded and installed, your phone will restart automatically.

    Aside from the fact that the whole process of find and downloading an update is quicker and easier, it’s also faster than previous updates. We doubt the new update method will become available to those using phones other than Pixels anytime soon, but we can safely assume that Google will reveal in-depth details about how it’s done in early May at Google I/O.

    If Google pushes for the standardization of the Android OS updates via Play Store, it could mean a more user-friendly method of updating your phone, but it certainly doesn’t guarantee that these important updates will be released faster and at the same time for everyone.

  • Three arrested at Mong Kok ginseng store

    Three arrested at Mong Kok ginseng store

    Hong Kong Customs officers have arrested three Mong Kok ginseng store staff, charging them with making false representations.

    Hong Kong Customs officers have arrested three Mong Kok ginseng store staff, charging them with making false representations during the sale of American ginseng.

    Their actions allegedly contravened the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO) and if found guilty they face a maximum penalty of a $500,000 fine and imprisonment for five years.

    Customs were acting on a tip-off alleging salesmen of a ginseng and dried seafood shop in Mong Kok used a gift to attract a customer and further claimed that American ginseng was being sold at a specific price. After the goods were sliced, the salesmen revealed that the American ginseng was priced per tael. The price was 16 times different from expected.

    After investigation, Customs officers arrested three men, aged between 27 and 42, two of them directors of the company and the other a salesperson.

    Investigations are ongoing and the arrested men have been released on bail pending further investigation.

    A Customs spokesperson says inspections and enforcement will be stepped up ahead of the coming of the Labour Day Golden Week period.

    “Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to purchase products from reputable shops,” the spokesperson said.

    “Consumers should also be cautious about the unit price and ask for more information, including the total price of the goods selected, before making a purchase decision.”

  • Calzedonia pays the price in Russell Street

    Calzedonia pays the price in Russell Street

    Italian fashion brand Calzedonia has reportedly renewed its Causeway Bay lease at a 15 per cent increase.

    According to reports in business media, the firm re-signed for the 400sqft retail space with just a month to spare on its existing contract at a cost of HK$9 million (US$1.15 million) for one year on the world’s most expensive retail strip, Russell Street.

    The rental translates to $750,000 ($95,674) per month, a typical figure for the shopping street that demands pricier rentals than even New York’s 5th Avenue. The street is a must-see for big-spending luxury retail hunters from Mainland China.

    The opening of the new Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao bridge and high-speed Express Rail Link is expected to attract higher numbers of tourists and reverse the city’s trends of falling rentals, but to date the increases has not met expectations.

    Calzedonia operates 16 outlets in Hong Kong, including those for its Intimissimi and Falconeri brands.

    The opening of the new Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao bridge and high-speed Express Rail Link is expected to attract higher numbers of tourists and reverse the city’s trends of falling rentals, but to date the increases has not met expectations.

    Calzedonia operates 16 outlets in Hong Kong, including those for its Intimissimi and Falconeri brands.

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  • Vietnam’s exports to Japan increase rapidly in Q1

    Vietnam’s exports to Japan increase rapidly in Q1

    Elimination of many tariff lines for goods under the CPTPP has helped Vietnam’s exports to Japan increase sharply in the first quarter of this year, according to the General Department of Customs.

    Vietnam’s export value to Japan in the first quarter surged 6.7 per cent year on year to US$4.6 billion, the general department said. Việt Nam became one of three markets gaining an export value in the billions of US dollars to Japan, after the US and China.

    In March 2019 alone, the export value to Japan reached $1.7 billion, a sharp increase of 62.3 per cent month on month and a surge of 2.7 per cent year on year.

    The strong growth in Vietnam’s export value to Japan was attributed to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). According to this agreement, Japan for the first time has pledged to completely eliminate tariffs for the majority of Việt Nam’s agricultural and seafood products exported to this market.

    That meant Japan immediately abolished 86 per cent of tariff lines, equivalent to 93.6 per cent of Việt Nam’s export value to Japan, and then this figure will increase to 90 per cent of tariff lines within five years.

    On the other hand, the Việt Nam-Japan and ASEAN-Japan free trade agreements have created advantages in tariffs for some of Việt Nam’s seafood products exported to Japan.

    About 62.5 per cent of Vietnam’s total goods items exported to Japan in the first quarter gained strong growth compared to the same period last year, according to the general department.

    The major export products to Japan included textiles (export value of about $900 million), means of transport and spare parts ($630 million), machinery and equipment ($450 million) and seafood products ($306 million).

    Especially, the fertiliser exports to this market had a sudden growth in the first quarter of 2019 to 8,126 tonnes, earning $3.7 million. The exports rose up by five times in volume and about 11 times in value year on year.

    In addition, Vietnam saw strong growth in exports of some goods to Japan in the first quarter, including chemical products (up 70 per cent), animal feed and raw materials (up 56.8 per cent), ore and minerals (up 52 per cent), all kinds of steel (up 49 per cent) and plastic materials (up 43 per cent).

    Meanwhile, Japan sharply reduced imports of cassava and cassava products from Vietnam, with a reduction of 99.6 per cent in volume and 98.5 per cent in value over the same period, despite the average export price of cassava surging by 3.3 times to $886 per tonne.

    In 2018, Vietnam’s goods export value to Japan reached more than $18.8 billion. Textiles and garments accounted for the largest proportion with over 20 per cent of the total export value. Meanwhile, seafood, furniture and footwear respectively hold 7.4 per cent, 6.1 per cent and 4.5 per cent.

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  • Vietnam Airlines approved for listing on HoSE

    Vietnam Airlines approved for listing on HoSE

    The national carrier Vietnam Airlines (UPCoM: HVN) has gained approval of the Hồ Chí Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) to list its 1.4 billion shares on the southern bourse.

    The company will move to HoSE from the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM) and the stock ticket will remain as HVN.

    The company’s market value on HoSE is approved at VNĐ14 trillion (US$602 million).

    Vietnam Airlines planned to switch to HoSE from UPCoM in 2018, but the decline of the stock market in the second half of 2018 made the firm delay its plan until now.

    The national carrier sold 49 million shares, equal to 3.48 per cent of the total, for VNĐ1.09 trillion at the initial public offering (IPO) in November 2014.

    In 2016, the Japanese aviation firm ANA Holdings bought 8.8 per cent of Vietnam Airlines’ capital for $108 million.

    In 2018, Vietnam Airlines posted a record-high revenue of VNĐ96.8 trillion, up 17 per cent year on year.

    Its pre-tax profit for 2018 rose 34 per cent year on year to VNĐ3.24 trillion.

    Vietnam Airlines shares on UPCoM have increased by nearly a quarter since the end of last year, ending Tuesday at VNĐ41,200 per share.

    The private-equity new-age carrier Vietjet is now the only aviation firm that lists shares on the stock market with the market value of $3 billion.

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  • AuMake in trading halt

    AuMake in trading halt

    Shares in daigou-focused retailer AuMake have been placed in a trading halt pending an announcement on an acquisition and related capital-raising.

    The company, which last month extended its bricks-and-mortar presence beyond Sydney, has requested the halt be lifted before the open of markets on Wednesday April 17, or when its anticipated announcement is released to the market.

    AuMake sells Australian skin care, supplements and milk formula to Chinese tourists and personal exporters.

    It has 17 stores across Sydney, Brisbane, and Auckland and is aiming for a bigger bite of the $2 billion cross-border commerce market.

    In February the company announced it had halved its losses after more than doubling its sales in the space of a year, with its internal sales forecast upgraded 30 to 40 per cent in March after it flagged the expansion of its stores.

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  • Cebu Pacific receives highest ranking for safety

    Cebu Pacific receives highest ranking for safety

    Cebu Pacific has now achieved the highest ranking for safety with 7-stars from the world’s only safety and product rating agency AirlineRatings.com

    After careful evaluation and feedback from the airline and aviation industry AirlineRatings.com has upgraded its seven-star safety rating system to give more importance to IOSA and this move elevates Cebu Pacific up to 7-stars – the highest ranking.

    IOSA – the International Air Transport Association Operation Safety Audit – was first introduced in 2003 to curb the disturbing trend in airline accidents that could be attributed to simple processes and maintenance programs.

    Since it was introduced airlines that have completed IOSA have up to a four-fold safer safety record than airlines that do not do the audit.

    In 2017, the all accident rate for airlines on the IOSA registry was nearly four times better than that of non-IOSA airlines (0.56 vs. 2.17 accidents per million flights) and it was nearly three times better over the 2012-16 period.

    Of significant importance to Airlineratings.com is that the audit is done every two years and covers over 1060 parameters.

    AirlineRatings.com now awards an airline that has completed IOSA three stars.

    AirlineRatings.com Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas congratulated Cebu Pacific on this achievement.

    “Cebu Pacific has become a major part of the fabric of life in the Philippines bringing affordable travel to most,” said Thomas.

    “The airline has a very modern fleet and operationally is now up there with the best.”

    “That is great news for the traveling public,” said Thomas.

    The rating agency has reduced the stars allocated for ICAO compliance from two to one.

    The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was created to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world.

    It sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency, and regularity, as well as for aviation environmental protection.

    It has 8 audit parameters that pertain to safety and they are; Legislation, Organization, Licensing, Operations, Airworthiness, Accident Investigation, Air Navigation Service and Aerodromes.

    If the country meets between 6 and 8 of the audits one star is awarded to the airline. Five secures 1/2 star. However, if any of the criteria are below the average by less than 5 percent it is considered a pass. If the country only meets up to four criteria no star is given.

    The other main criteria are; Is the airline on the European Union (EU) Blacklist; has it a fatality free record for the past 10 years and is the airline FAA (USA) endorsed?

    Cebu Pacific commenced services in March 1996, initially only domestic operations but launched international operations in November 2001.

    It now flies to 64 tourist/business destinations within Asia and operates 67 mainly Airbus aircraft

    Cebu was the first local airline to introduce e-ticketing, prepaid excess baggage and seat selection in the Philippines.

  • Cebu Pacific is Recruiting New Cabin Crew

    Cebu Pacific is Recruiting New Cabin Crew

    One of the Philippines fastest growing airlines, Cebu Pacific is currently recruiting new cabin crew in c, Bacolod, Pampanga and Davao.  Cebu Pacific is aiming to fly more than 200 million passengers by 2020 and currently serves 36 domestic and 26 international destinations across Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and the USA.

    The airline says 2019 will be a year of major expansion as it plans to take delivery of 12 brand new aircraft including Airbus A321neo, five A320s and a regional ATR 72-600.  “2019 is the year we accelerate growth. On average, we will be receiving one brand-new aircraft per month which we can use to increase capacity in key markets or even launch new routes,” explained Lance Gokongwei, the airline’s chief executive.

    Interested candidates will already need to have the right to live and work in the Philippines, as well as the ability to speak and write in both English and Filipino.  Female candidates must be at least 5’3″ tall, while male candidates must a minimum of 5’7″ tall.

    Candidates in Bacolod, Pampanga and Davao can apply via the official Cebu Pacific careers website, while those in Manila can either submit an online application or attend an Open Day.

    Walk-in screenings are taking place every day between Monday and Friday from 9:00am to 11:00am Cebu Pacific Building, along Domestic Road, Pasay City.  Candidates must attend in full business attire and have a copy of their updated resume/CV.

    Cebu Pacific has also made headlines recently after it offered the opportunity for 16 lucky candidates to undergo a “study now, pay later, zero-interest” pilot training program to become fully fledged commercial pilots with guaranteed employment with the airline.

    Here’s how Cebu Pacific describes the opportunity:

    “The Cebu Pacific Cadet Pilot Program is open to all Filipino citizens who are college graduates who are proficient in English. There are no preferred college degrees, and applicants need only have an average grade of at least 70% or its equivalent in subjects related to Math, Physics and English.”

    “The program entails 52 weeks of week integrated flight training, theory and education at Flight Training Adelaide (FTA) in Australia. They will undergo learning modules, train in a flight simulator and then on to an actual aircraft. Successful candidates will receive Diplomas of Aviation for Commercial Pilot License – Aeroplane, Instrument Rating, and for Pilot in Command. They will also undergo an additional four weeks of training to obtain a Pilot’s License under the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.”

    “CEB cadet-pilots need not worry about expenses related to the flight training, as the airline will shoulder the costs first—including a stipend, and amortize the payment for the course while they are employed. The entire program will be financed by Cebu Pacific, and successful cadet-pilots who enter the CEB corps of pilots will reimburse the cost of the program through salary deduction over a maximum of ten years at zero-interest.”

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  • Facebook could combine two important parts

    Facebook could combine two important parts

    Facebook is split into so many products these days that it’s hard to keep track to everything the social app has to offer if you’re not a hardcore user. News Feed, Stories, Messenger are just some of the features that Facebook has made available to users throughout the years.

    The reason Facebook split its app into so many pieces is quite simple: monetization. Well, it appears that the social giant has found a way to make even more money by combining, rather than dividing, two of these features: News Feed and Stories.

    The changes spotted by software engineer Jane Manchun Wong indicates that Facebook is testing a new format that will combine News Feed and Stories into a one swipeable, hybrid carousel.

    It will allow standard feed posts and ads to be placed inside Stories in the same carousel so that users would be tempted to swipe through them more often than not, which translates in more views and better monetization of content.

    The GIF posted by Jane shows how a user seamlessly switches between a News Feed story and a Stories video, inside the hybrid carousel. The feature has been discovered in the Android version of Facebook, but if the company does indeed plan to make it available, it will be present on all supported platforms.

  • Cebu Pacific Expands Horizons to Australia

    Cebu Pacific Expands Horizons to Australia

    Australian cities such as Perth and Cairns, as well as destinations in Japan and India, are on the radar for Philippines budget carrier Cebu Pacific as it expands its fleet of Airbus A321neos. Cebu, which already flies direct to Sydney and Melbourne from Manila, is stepping up its re-fleeting program and took delivery of the first of 32 A321neos at the end of January.

    It expects at least five more of the longer-range, fuel-efficient planes during 2019 to support its expansion plans.

    Cebu is known for packing seats into its bigger Airbus A330s and has followed that strategy with the smaller plane.

    The budget carrier has opted for the Airbus Cabin Flex fuselage modifications to give the A321neo 236 ergonomically-designed Recaro seats, slightly below the 244-seat Airbus maximum.

    It expects and Pratt & Whitney  GTF-powered planes to achieve a 20 percent savings in fuel costs as well as other advantages such as a significantly reduced noise footprint and lower maintenance requirements.

    The January delivery brought the total size of its fleet to 72 aircraft, including 43 Airbus A320s and A321s, eight A330s and 20 ATR turboprops.

    While the airline also has mid- and long-term plans for widebody aircraft, its primary focus is currently on the neos.  It is looking to grow its fleet to 83 aircraft in 2022, with 27 of those neos.

    “This year, we’re taking in 12 new aircraft, (the) bulk of it will be the A321neo,’’ Cebu vice president Lance Gokongwei told AirlineRatings.

    “We are continuously studying new routes and destinations, especially with the A321neo that has Northern Japan, India, and other cities in Australia like Perth and Cairns within its capabilities, but plans are not concrete for now.

    “While the A321neo will give us the capability to possibly service a direct route from the Philippines to Perth, we will make announcements on new routes and destinations in due time.”

    Cebu is the Philippines’ biggest carrier by passengers carried and claims a roughly 50 percent market share in terms of domestic travel and cargo.

    Competitor Philippine Airlines (PAL) is also expanding and received a boost in January when Japan’s All Nippon Airways announced it would invest $US95 million to a 9.5 percent stake in the Filipino carrier. PAL is already using the A321neo to service Brisbane.

    However, Cebu is unfazed by the deal and Gokongwei says it is good for the Philippines aviation industry.

    Gokongwei said the two had been partners for many years, including on code-sharing flights, and the investment was something Cebu had factored into its strategy.

    The low-cost carrier was also looking at tapping opportunities in Japan after establishing an office there in 2018.

    “As for the Philippines, we firmly believe that despite the massive growth in Philippine aviation over the past 20 years, there is still much room for expansion,” Gokongwei said.

    “Less than 50 percent of the Philippine population have traveled via air, as compared with Malaysia or Singapore.

    “People here are used to taking the bus and the boat–whereas air travel can be exponentially convenient and not as expensive as it used to be.”

    The airline executive sais there was still “much room”’ to develop Clark International Airport, the former US air base, as a secondary domestic hub.

    “There is also strong demand for inbound flights from North Asia into Cebu, which we have turned into our beach hub as we fly to key island destinations from there, ‘ he added.

    A key to Cebu’s low-cost model is the ability to offer fares that are up to 40 percent lower than those of its competitors, partly through its investment in new and more efficient aircraft and technology.

    But it isn’t all smooth sailing: net income for the airline’s first nine months of 2018 fell 36 percent to 2.78 billion pesos as it grappled with higher fuel costs and a weakening currency.

    “Despite challenges brought on by volatile fuel prices and the foreign exchange of the Philippine Peso, Cebu Pacific has managed to keep sound fundamentals,’’ Gokongwei said.

    “Revenues have been growing by 12 percent annually for the past eight years and we have maintained healthy operating margins.”

  • Apple is spending Millions on new Games for Arcade

    Apple is spending Millions on new Games for Arcade

    Last month, Apple Arcade was unveiled. Set to launch this fall, the service will offer subscribers access to over 100 “groundbreaking” new games. The Arcade will be available on all Apple devices including the iPhone, iPad and the Mac. And the only cost will be the monthly subscription fee; there are no in-game extras that Arcade members will have to shell out for. Besides allowing a family with up to six members to share, a whole new family of accessories certified MFi (made for iPhone, iPad), such as game controllers, will make playing games on an iOS device much easier.

    With iPhone sales struggling, the company is looking to take advantage of the large number of active units (nearly 1 billion at last count) by selling owners of these handsets subscription services such as Apple Music, Apple News+, Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade. Apple is looking to double its services revenue from the $25 billion it collected in 2017 to the $50 billion it hopes to garner next year. For the fiscal first quarter of 2019, the period covering October through December of last year, Apple grossed nearly $11 billion from its services unit, putting it on track to meet its goal for fiscal 2020.

    Apple has budgeted more than $500 million this year to spend on games for Arcade. In other words, the company is spending millions of dollars on each game. Will there be a payoff for the company after it keeps cutting such large checks? Global banking giant HSBC believes so. The firm’s analysts see Apple Arcade grossing $370 million next year, overtaking Apple TV+ by 2022 with $2.7 billion in sales, and generating $4.5 billion in revenue by 2024. In that year, HSBC expects Apple TV+ to bring in $4.1 billion in revenue, while Apple News+ takes in approximately $2.7 billion.

    To help generate business for Arcade, Apple is offering incentives to developers who are willing to give the new service exclusivity on new games for a few months. That would keep popular titles off of other platforms, including the Google Play Store, for a period of time. Apple is hoping that this will lead to developers debuting their games on Arcade first, which was a pattern seen years ago when App Store users spent much more money on games than Android users. Now, with Android’s huge global market share, new games are apt to launch on both platforms at the same time.

    The $500 million Apple has reportedly budgeted for Arcade is half the $1 billion it originally expected to lay out for Apple TV+. Games already announced for Arcade include one based on Sega’s popular Sonic the Hedgehog character. Subscribers will also be able to select titles from Cartoon Network and Lego. There will even be a new version of Frogger available. Independent developers, who have proven themselves with games listed on the App Store, have received larger than normal advances from Apple to deliver new titles for Arcade.

    HSBC forecasts that Apple Arcade will have 29 million subscribers by 2024, paying $12.99 a month for the service. But that is only an estimate. Only time will tell whether Apple has made the right move by laying out half a billion dollars for new, unproven games for its service. And if Arcade ends up being a big money maker for Apple, competition will surely follow. Still, Apple will have the advantage of plucking apples from the low hanging trees. Those are the nearly one billion owners of an active iPhone who will be receptive to Apple’s marketing of Arcade.

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