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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.

  • Li & Fung to have new COO

    Li & Fung to have new COO

    Weizhong Zhu (“Wilson”) has joined Li & Fung as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and will lead operations across all Li & Fung’s 40+ production countries. As Li & Fung pushes ahead on its digital supply chain strategy to build the Supply Chain of the Future, Wilson will focus on strengthening the Company’s production platforms globally, ensuring consistent KPIs and driving operational excellence to improve customer service.

    A 31-year industry veteran, Wilson brings deep expertise in international trade relations and supply chain for retail and consumer products.

    His vast industry experience includes Chief Sourcing and Production Officer at Gymboree, EVP for Private Brand and Global Sourcing at Michaels Stores Inc, VP of Private Brand and Global Sourcing at Office Depot, and VP for Global Sourcing at Hudson’s Bay Company.

    Most recently, Wilson co-founded Cooper Aerobics Wellness Center in China, the first fitness and wellness center of its kind in China, and prior to that, he served as Chairman and CEO of inQbrands, where he led the transition of the US subsidiary of China-based Focus Technology into a full-service brand and product agency.

    “With the ongoing US-China trade war, Wilson’s leadership comes at a critical time as our customers rely on our scale and expertise to deliver alternative sourcing strategies and mitigate any potential risk in their supply chains” said Spencer Fung, CEO of Li & Fung.

    Wilson Zhu received his Master of Arts degree in Language and International Trade from Eastern Michigan University in 1987.

    Passionate about sharing knowledge and ideas, Zhu was a columnist for China’s New Fortune business magazine from 2013 to 2016 and regularly contributes to other media outlets on globalization, retail, management, branding and China-US trade relations.

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  • Tigerair receives most complaints for sixth year in a row

    Tigerair receives most complaints for sixth year in a row

    For the sixth year, Tigerair has scored the dubious title of being the most complained about airline in Australia. The recent data by the Airline Customer Advocate, from January to December 2017, which has gone largely unreported, revealed the low-cost carrier had the highest rate of complaints in relation to flight cancellations or delays — with an average of two complaints for every 100,000 passengers.

    Overall, the most common complaints among Australian domestic carriers related to flight cancellations (28 per cent), refund requests (26 per cent), baggage services (11 per cent), loyalty and frequent flyer programs (10 per cent) and fees or charges (7 per cent).

    The annual report revealed a total of 1253 complaints out of more than 77 million passengers were received in 2017, which was up 17.15 per cent on the previous year. 

    Tigerair also received the highest complaints in relation to refund requests — with an average of 1.54 complaints for every 100,000 passengers.

    A Tigerair spokeswoman said the airline was committed to delivering a safe and reliable service to its customers.

    “In aviation there are times when things go wrong for reasons outside of our control and we recognise that the way we handle such disruptions is an important part of the customer experience,” the spokeswoman said.

    Virgin Australia was next with 0.42 complaints relating to refund requests, followed by Jetstar with 0.36, Qantas with 0.31 and Regional Express with 0.24.

    Virgin Australia fared the worst when it came to complaints about baggage services, receiving an average of 0.24 for every 100,000 customers, It was followed by Jetstar and Tigerair with 0.17, Qantas with 0.14 and Regional Express with 0.08.

    Of the three airlines that offer frequent flyer or loyalty programs, such as Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar, the most complaints were lodged against Qantas. Airline Intelligence Research managing director and former Qantas chief economist Dr Tony Webber said he wasn’t surprised that cancellations and delays were the biggest gripes among passengers. 

    “Tigerair are on really strict turnaround times given that they’re a smaller and low-cost carrier,” Dr Webber told.

    “This means that they’re just as strict on refunds because the ability for passengers to buy a cheap fare means that they don’t get a refund.”

    Dr Peter Bruce, airline operations expert at Swinburne University, said some airlines outsource their baggage handling to third-party services. 

    “Areas of improvement could definitely include better engagement with these services to create more efficiency,” Dr Bruce told.

    Monash University’s Professor Greg Bamber, who has researched airline performance in Australia and overseas for more than 15 years, said complaints needed to be handled better by low-cost carriers. 

    “Passengers aren’t being dealt with appropriately as they’re usually put through to a call centre which is usually in another country,” Professor Bamber told.

    Passengers are usually left to wait on hold, in some cases more than an hour, he said.

    “Low-cost carriers need to step up and handle complaints more appropriately, especially when it comes to cancellations which can be extremely frustrating.”

    A Virgin Australia spokeswoman said the airline continually reviewed its complaint-handling practices to facilitate a responsive and positive experience for its customers and to ensure it was complying with its legal obligations.

    A Jetstar spokesman said the airline still had areas to work on, but was pleased to see a reduction in the number of complaints in a number of key areas including delays and cancellations, refund requests and fees or charges.

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  • Airasia To Launch Colombo-Bangkok Direct Flights Soon

    Airasia To Launch Colombo-Bangkok Direct Flights Soon

    AirAsia will launch four-time weekly direct flights between Colombo and Bangkok from December 14, with a special promotional fare, an airline press release said. Operated by Thai AirAsia (flight code FD), this direct route to Bangkok in Thailand will be the airline group’s second connection from Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport which includes direct route to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (flight code AK).

    Santisuk Klongchaiya, Chief Executive Officer of Thai AirAsia said, “Sri Lanka has always been a promising destination for AirAsia as we have connected the country to a wider network via Kuala Lumpur for nearly a decade. To This time we are relaunching the flight from Colombo to Bangkok to provide the people of Sri Lanka with even greater connectivity that comes with attractive low fares to create more demand. We are strongly confident that our return to the market will stimulate travel appetite and demonstrate our commitment to generating more traffic to Sri Lanka to fuel tourism and economic growth for the country. Sri Lanka is such a hidden gem in South Asia with undiscovered potential. We therefore have high expectation for a healthy market reception for this new route.”

    Thai AirAsia operates the widest network in domestic Thailand and offers several international connections to other prominent cities in Asia. Travellers from Sri Lanka who wish to explore beyond Bangkok can enjoy a convenient Fly-Thru service with just a single-time baggage check-in from Colombo and make a brief transit in Bangkok to continue seamlessly to other destinations in Thailand and beyond. Sri Lankan travellers can take advantage of the convenient flight schedule that gives them more time to spend abroad by arriving in Bangkok in the early morning and depart in the evening.

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  • AirAsia to launch start Manila-Shenzhen direct flights in December

    AirAsia to launch start Manila-Shenzhen direct flights in December

    AirAsia said Monday it would fly direct between Manila and the Chinese city of Shenzhen, dubbed Asia’s answer to Silicon Valley, starting December 1.

    The low cost carrier started its Cebu-Shenzhen flights last April. Without direct flights, travelers had to travel to Hong Kong or Beijing before reaching Shenzhen.

    “China is an important market for us and we are looking to expand our network further and connect Filipino travelers to new and exciting business and leisure cities,” said AirAsia Philippines CEO Dexter Comendador.

    Telecommunications companies Huawei and ZTE are headquartered in the southern Chinese city.

    AirAsia will fly direct to Shenzhen every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Direct flights from Cebu to Shenzhen are also on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

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  • Vietnam becomes less competitive on global index

    Vietnam becomes less competitive on global index

    Vietnam has fallen three places on the competitiveness index from last year, a new World Economic Forum report says. The country was ranked 74th in last year’s global competitiveness index, but fell three places to 77th this year, according to a WEF report released Wednesday.

    The 2018 Global Competitiveness Index 4.0 report said that Vietnam’s overall competitiveness score of 58.1 was lower than the world average of 60.

    The report defines competitiveness as the set of institutions, policies and factors that determine the level of productivity.

    It added that Vietnam scored highest in the factors of health (81 points, ranked 68th), macro-economic stability (75 points, 64th) and market size (71 points, 29th).

    The report ranked Vietnam 102nd among 140 countries in terms of product market and 101st in business dynamism.

    The product market index components include the extent of market dominance, competition in services and trade tariffs.

    Vietnam’s innovation capability was the weakest among twelve factors used in determining the competitiveness index, at just 33 points, ranked 82nd.

    The country’s adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) had the second-lowest score of 43 points, ranked 43.

    The report added that globalization has contributed to reducing global poverty and inequality between countries. It cited Vietnam as an example, saying the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral trade has helped reduce poverty by increasing wage premiums in export sectors.

    The trade pact also reallocated Vietnamese labor from agriculture to manufacturing, stimulating enterprise job growth, it said.

    The report also cited Vietnam as an example of one of the fastest growing economies in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP), which is the fastest-growing region in the world, accounting for one-third of global growth last year.

    Vietnam, along with Cambodia, China, Laos and the Philippines, had a growth of over 6 percent last year, it added.

    The EAP also contributed three countries/territories to the world’s most competitive economies: Singapore (scored 83.5, ranked 2nd), Japan (82.5, 5th) and Hong Kong (82.3, 7th).

    The U.S. topped the ranking with a score of 85.6 thanks to vibrant entrepreneurial culture and high scores in the labor market and the financial system.

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  • Vietnam remains among 50 most valuable brands

    Vietnam remains among 50 most valuable brands

    Its brand value is estimated at $235 billion, up $32 billion from the previous year. It has risen two places in the list this year. The global brand valuation consultancy firm evaluates a country’s national brand on the brands based there and the economy as a whole by weighing up various socio-economic factors.

    A “strong” national brand denotes a highly attractive environment for investment, encouraging inward investment, adding value to exports, and attracting tourists and skilled migrants, it explained.

    Vietnam’s continuing rise in the list is primarily due to “Vietnam Value”, a national program to endorse products and services that meet minimum standards set out by the government, and concentrated efforts to promote economic growth by the government, it said.

    In Southeast Asia, Vietnam is only in sixth place in terms of value, below Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand.

    The Top 10 in the world did not see much change with the U.S., China and Germany continuing to lead in terms of value.

    The U.S.’ value has shot up by 23 percent to $25.9 trillion this year as a result of falling tax rates and a more business-friendly environment despite the negative public image that President Trump may have cultivated, the report said.

    Founded in 1996, Brand Finance is the world’s leading independent branded business valuation and strategy consultancy. Headquartered in London, the firm is present in over 20 countries.

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  • AirAsia probe may ground Vistara international flights

    AirAsia probe may ground Vistara international flights

    Vistara, the joint venture airline of Tata Sons Ltd and Singapore Airlines Ltd (SIA), may face the cascading effect of an ongoing probe into AirAsia India’s operations. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)-led probe into AirAsia India, in which Tata Sons own a 49% stake, may be forcing the government to withhold permission sought by Vistara to start international flights, two people familiar with the matter said.

    AirAsia India is being investigated by the central agency for allegedly lobbying the government for international flight permits and violating rules that prevent foreign airlines from controlling an Indian operator.

    According to the people cited above, Vistara had applied in June for rights to start international flights, after it took the delivery of its 20th aircraft, and was hoping to fly out from October. The deadline has now been moved to December, Vistara chief executive Leslie Thng said in July.

    “With the general elections coming up next year, bureaucrats may be wary of granting Vistara overseas flight permits in the backdrop of CBI investigating another airline,” one of the two people mentioned above said.

    CBI had in May raided the offices of AirAsia India and filed a complaint against Tony Fernandes, chief executive of the company’s Malaysian parent. Fernandes has rebutted the charges.

    Airlines were earlier required to fly for at least five years on domestic routes, and have a fleet of 20 aircraft before being allowed to fly international. Now, they can fly just by having 20 aircraft in its fleet or 20% of total capacity (in term of average number of seats on all departures put together), whichever is higher for domestic operations, according to the new civil aviation policy.

    Vistara became eligible to fly international in June when it added its 20th plane. The same month, it submitted a list of potential overseas destinations to the government.

    However, the civil aviation ministry is yet to clear Vistara’s proposal. “Once cleared, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation will also have to clear the airline to fly international. But, the file hasn’t moved from the ministry yet,” one of the two people mentioned above said.

    Civil aviation secretary R.N. Choubey did not respond to an email.

    A Vistara spokesperson said, “We await necessary approvals from the authorities and aim to start our international operations by end of this year. Vistara’s expansion plans are on course at present.”

    Vistara, which started operations in 2015, has a fleet of 22 Airbus A320s. The airline, which had listed out a plan to fly to destinations like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Thailand and other neighbouring countries, according to reports, may have seen rivals grab some of these routes in recent days.

    For instance, GoAir recently launched flights on Delhi-Phuket route, while Jet Airways will start flights on Pune-Singapore route from 1 December. Yet, Vistara is willing to wait it out to begin its international operations, the first person quoted in the story said.

    Vistara, in July, announced its decision to order 19 planes worth $3.1 billion from Airbus SE and Boeing Co. It plans to lease 37 new A320neo planes.

    The letter of intent with Airbus includes a firm order for 13 A320neo and A321neo jets, as well as options for seven more aircraft from the A320neo family. Another 37 new A320neo-family planes will be added from leasing companies.

    The Boeing order includes six firm-ordered 787-9 Dreamliner and purchase rights for four more from the 787 Dreamliner family.

    “The aircraft purchase will help Vistara expand both within and outside India and on all routes that this aircraft could support us on,” Vistara’s chief executive Leslie Thng said at that time.

    “For medium to long-haul destinations, we decided that Boeing 787-900 (Dreamliner) would be best for us and would allow us to start medium-haul operations from 2020,” Thng had said.

    “When India’s third FSC (full service carrier) launched, it did so with its eye on the opportunity in the international market. More than three years later Vistara remains a solely domestic carrier, thanks to Indian regulations,” said CAPA India’s Mid-Year Outlook for FY19. “Although the airline technically qualified to operate international services earlier this year when it inducted its 21st aircraft, it is experiencing delays in securing an international flying permit, which is surprising.”

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  • Philippine Airlines to fly new A350 to Los Angeles

    Philippine Airlines to fly new A350 to Los Angeles

    Philippine Airlines’ new Airbus A350-900 is set to make a temporary appearance on the carrier’s Manila-Los Angeles route starting September 28, with the aircraft taking on one flight per week for a period of approximately one month. The short-term deployment comes as the airline prepares to permanently fly its latest aircraft on its non-stop flights to New York starting October 30.

    According to Philippine Airlines’ current schedule, the A350 will take over flights PR112 and PR113 every Friday until October 19, with its Boeing 777-300ER operating the flights on all other days. PR112 and PR113 operate four times a week on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

    Philippine Airlines Manila-Los Angeles A350 schedule:

    Flight No. From To Departs Arrives Days
    PR112 Manila (MNL) Los Angeles (LAX) 1125 1000 Sept 28, Oct 5, 12, 19
    PR113 Los Angeles (LAX) Manila (MNL) 1230 1825+1

    The airline’s other daily flight on the route, PR102/PR103, also will continue to be flown by the 777-300ER throughout this period.

    The temporary deployment gives passengers a small window during which they can experience the aircraft when flying to the US ahead of its deployment to New York at the end of next month.

    Philippine Airlines’ A350 notably features the airline’s new long-haul business class seat product, a variant of Thompson Aero’s Vantage XL seat. Along with reclining to a fully flat position, these seats are also notably laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration that offers direct aisle access to all passengers, a benefit not offered with the airline’s 2-3-2 business class layout on board its 777-300ER.

    A total of 30 seats are offered in the business class cabin, with each offering 24 inches of width, 44 inches of pitch (legroom) when in a seated position and reclining to provide a 78-inch-long flat bed.

    Philippine Airlines took delivery of its first A350 back in July and earlier this month began flying the aircraft on its first long-haul service to London.

  • Real Singapore retail sales rise 2.4 per cent in August

    Real Singapore retail sales rise 2.4 per cent in August

    Singapore retail sales rose 2.4 per cent in August, after excluding the impact of motor vehicles on the figure. Including vehicles, retail sales posted a year-on-year decline of 0.4 per cent. They rose 2 per cent month on month, excluding cars.

    By category, August delivered a mixed bag for retailers, year on year. Jewellers drove the watches and gem sector up 6.3 per cent while apparel and footwear sales rose 6 per cent. Recreational goods rose 4.4 per cent and sales in department stores by 3.3 per cent.

    But sales of computers and phones dropped 3.8 per cent, partly due to declining computer sales. Food retailers experienced a 3.5 per cent decline and optical goods and book vendors, 2.3 per cent.

    Petrol stations had the highest movement, up 10.4 per cent, reflecting high fuel prices.

    The total of Singapore retail sales in August, including motor vehicles, was estimated at S$3.8 billion, of which online sales accounted for 4.6 per cent.

    Sales of food & beverage services from restaurants, cafes and fast-food retailers, increased 3.2 per cent in August, reaching $728 million.

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  • Alibaba Cloud and OBS Unveil Innovative Cloud Solutions for the Olympic Games

    Alibaba Cloud and OBS Unveil Innovative Cloud Solutions for the Olympic Games

    Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) and Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group, announced the launch of OBS Cloud, an innovative broadcasting solution that operates entirely on the cloud, to help transform the media industry for the digital era. Set to be in place for Tokyo 2020, the OBS Cloud aims to offer all the necessary cloud components, in specialized configurations, that can support the extremely demanding content production and delivery workflows of the broadcasting of the Olympic Games.

    Tokyo 2020 will be a game-changer for broadcasters as it showcases new possibilities for the industry by presenting solutions on the cloud. The use of cloud technologies has been gradually adopted for content creation and distribution purposes in broadcasting, however the extremely demanding requirements for volume, speed and latency that are inherent in live sports broadcasting of major events have kept the use of the cloud at a very low level, despite its multiple advantages. Apart from providing inherent flexibility and scalability, the use of the cloud may also help with the limited time frame that broadcasters have to set up, test and commission their on-premises systems. Traditionally, broadcasters of the Olympics have only been able to implement and test their equipment upon arrival at the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) in the host city, and the physical space dedicated to broadcasters on site has always been in high demand.

    As the host broadcaster, OBS can now provide most of the visual and audio assets of the Olympic Games to all Rights Holding Broadcasters (RHBs) through the new cloud platform efficiently, effectively and securely. Broadcasters can also set up their own content creation, management and distribution systems on OBS Cloud, a solution that has been optimized to address the particular needs of the most demanding live multi-sport workflows.

    The proprietary OBS Cloud leverages Alibaba Cloud’s services featuring best-in-class technology infrastructure to create an optimal media broadcasting environment for all RHBs of the Olympics. The OBS Cloud which will run on the most advanced Intel® Xeon® scalable processors, offers a suite of solutions including super computing capabilities, high-speed connectivity directly from the IBC, easily accessible cloud storage considering the demanding Olympic requirements, real-time monitoring, live video and audio broadcasting services and media processing.

    Also announced today was a partnership aimed at advancing the digital transformation of the Olympics and delivering volumetric content over the OBS Cloud for the first time at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Intel, also an Olympic TOP Partner, will collaborate with Alibaba and OBS to explore a more efficient and reliable delivery pipeline of immersive media to RHBs worldwide that will improve the fan experience and bring them closer to the action via Intel’s volumetric and virtual reality technologies.

    Additionally, the live media service on OBS Cloud allows RHBs to experiment with new program ideas in a secure sandbox environment or conduct interactive event broadcasts, accelerating the digitization of the coverage during the Games.

    After the Games, RHBs will also have the flexibility to move their deployment home or keep the asset within the OBS Cloud for future Olympic events.

    “We are very pleased that Alibaba Cloud has come up with this innovative and powerful approach to Olympic broadcasting. As the host broadcaster of the Olympic Games, we at OBS see ourselves as a leader in transforming the media industry,” said Yiannis Exarchos, CEO of OBS. “Tokyo 2020 will be an opportunity for the International Olympic Committee to champion digital transformation in the media industry, as well as empowering broadcasters around the world with a cloud platform that delivers new possibilities for how the Games are enjoyed by fans around the world.” Joey Tan, General Manager of Global Strategic Accounts and Sports Business Unit, Alibaba Cloud said, “The future of the Olympic Games is in cloud technology and Alibaba Cloud is fully committed to contribute to the digital transformation of the Olympic Games through innovation. This partnership with OBS is an exciting initiative to expand the reach and accessibility of the Olympic Games content and ultimately stimulate a rethink on how the media industry operates in a digital era. We are excited to create a new standard in broadcasting and a more enjoyable experience for audiences around the world during Tokyo 2020.”

    Jay Sankar, CTO and Head of Product of Intel Sports, commented, “Sports fans today are seeking more immersive and engaging experiences. Intel’s partnership with Alibaba Cloud and OBS is aimed at delivering these ground-breaking experiences to Rights Holding Broadcasters and fans in a seamless, efficient manner over the OBS Cloud, powered by the most advanced Intel Xeon Scalable processors”.

    The partnership between Alibaba Group and the International Olympic Committee began in January 2017 when the two parties signed a long-term strategic agreement that will help transform the Olympic Games for the digital era. Alibaba is now serving as the official “Cloud Services” and “E-Commerce Platform Services” partner.

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  • AirAsia offers up to 70% discount on Almost All Flights

    AirAsia offers up to 70% discount on Almost All Flights

    AirAsia has come up with a new offer to woo flyers in this festive season. AirAsia is offering up to 70% off on all its destinations. AirAsia’s latest offer started on 15 October and will continue till 28 October 2018, the carrier has mentioned on its website. This offer is valid for immediate travel until 30 June 2019. Bookings for this offer can be made on airasia.com or through the AirAsia mobile app.

    Air passengers can book tickets to over 130 destinations across the airline’s network under the new offer. There are some extra perks for AirAsia Big members, such as instant discounts on bookings through the mobile app.

    In order to enjoy the benefits of the discount, passengers are required to book their flight tickets in advance. The discount is applicable on the base fare of the flight ticket and is available only on select fare classes, during non-peak periods, the airline says.

    AirAsia, a low-cost air carrier, will introduce flight services from Visakhapatnam to Bangkok four times a week from 8 December 2018, with a one-way promotional fare of Rs 2,999. Passengers can book tickets up to 21 October to avail the offer.

    AirAsia Group operates scheduled domestic and international flights to more than 165 destinations spanning 25 countries.

    AirAsia is a joint venture between Tata Sons Ltd and low-cost Malaysian airline AirAsia Berhad

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  • Cashmaster Launches QR-Connect in Asia Pacific

    Cashmaster Launches QR-Connect in Asia Pacific

    Cashmaster Asia announced the Introduction of Cashmaster QR-Connect, a QR code application providing enhanced software functionality for its Cashmaster One range of count-by-weight cash counting devices that offers an innovative, simple solution to integrating with back office or POS systems.

    When installed, count data is presented as a QR code on the display of the Cashmaster One device that can be scanned by a standard POS scanner or the camera of a mobile/tablet device. The count data is instantly transferred to the POS or other system. The QR code avoids the need for USB or ethernet cable connectivity between the POS and the Cashmaster Cash counter – effectively providing wireless transfer of the cash count (including vouchers/coupons in addition to notes and coins) as well as other information for process traceability, such as cashier ID and till ID.

    In a connected world, a deeper level of integration and seamless transfer of data to the POS is a growing requirement for Cashmaster’s clients. Its customers are looking to remove multiple levels of manual processing of data across their businesses in order to: reduce opportunities for errors; speed up the processing of data; give more real-time information that businesses can use to make better, faster decisions; and provide greater accuracy and accountability to their enterprises. Integration can be seen also as a key component in a loss prevention strategy.

    No matter the level of operation, these solutions provide data in a format that can be easily digested by cash management and analytics programs for big, medium or small companies. As competition increases, the rewards of deploying Cashmaster One and Cashmaster QRConnect can show directly in bottom line improvements.

    Gordon McKie, Group CEO of Cashmaster, commented, “Companies are under intense pressure to maximise income and improve efficiencies, while at the same time motivating staff. It’s a complex dynamic that Cashmaster understands; it has also been a powerful imperative for us in designing the intuitive technology for cash management that helps clients achieve those goals.

    “Solutions can be tailored to customers’ specific needs, from simple off-the-shelf tools requiring minimal customer resources to implement, to working with customers’ IT teams in providing more complex solutions. With a proven quick return on the initial investment to boot.”

  • Online printing startup Gogoprint raises $7.7m to prepare new markets

    Online printing startup Gogoprint raises $7.7m to prepare new markets

    Gogoprint, a startup that’s modernizing the printing industry, has raised US$7.7 million in series A funding to fuel its expansion into new markets like Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea in the next 12 months.

    Gogoprint is an online service for printing things like business cards, flyers, and leaflets. It uses algorithms that take into account parameters such as paper type, quantity, and delivery, and then aggregates those orders into a “print-run” or a batch of prints.

    This enables printers to make the most out of one printing sheet. Because each sheet carries fixed costs, maximizing it helps reduce prices and turnaround time for customers. It also allows printers to take in small orders from budget-conscious firms, instead of only focusing on large volume orders.

    Printers that partner with the company are able to tap new customers, helping offset the cost of any unused capacity.

    Gogoprint is active in four countries: Thailand, where it started, as well as Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. In Indonesia, it faces competition from another online printing startup, Prinzio.

    To date, Gogoprint has experienced a 200 percent year-on-year growth in customer base, attracting more than 45,000 customers with over 250 million products printed. Its clients include Honda, Lazada, Lion Air, Yamaha, Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, and Booking.com.

    Retail News reached out to the company for more financial details, but it declined to disclose figures.

    The series A round was led by its existing backer OPG (Online Printing Group), an investor and partner of Brazil-based Printi.

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  • AirAsia to push discounted airfares via digital platforms

    AirAsia to push discounted airfares via digital platforms

    In line with the upcoming year end holidays and early 2019 travels, AirAsia is offering up to 70% off on all its destinations until 28 October 2018. These include Changsha, Tokyo, Kolkata, Bali, Phuket, Siem Reap, Yangon, Manila, Singapore and Kota Kinabalu, among others. In a statement, AirAsia group marketing head Amanda Woo said the move to offer discounted airfares is based on understanding the different travel and route behaviours of its consumers. For this campaign, AirAsia is focused on a combination of content marketing and digital platforms. It also looked into offline platforms for certain key regions, Woo said.

    “In line with our company direction of going digital, our marketing strategy relies heavily on data and digital analytics as part of the deciding factors on the channels we use,” she added.

    Besides encouraging more travels during the period, Woo said the airline also hopes to boost more member sign-ups so consumers can enjoy more exclusive deals.

    “The year end is always an exciting time and we can think of no better way to welcome the holiday season than to offer more discounts on our already low fares,” Woo said. AirAsia BIG members will enjoy more perks including instant discounts when booking directly via the website and mobile app.

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  • Garuda to open direct route from Singapore to Belitung Island’s Tanjung Pandan

    Garuda to open direct route from Singapore to Belitung Island’s Tanjung Pandan

    National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has strengthened its regional network by introducing a new direct route from Singapore to Tanjung Pandan on Belitung Island, according to a press release. Set to begin on Oct. 29, the flight will be available four days a week, using the Bombardier CRJ-1000 with 96 economy class seats. Garuda Indonesia commercial director Pikri Ilham Kurniansyah said the new service is aligned with the airline’s commitment to help develop tourism in Indonesia. Moreover, the new route is to support Indonesia’s 10 priority destinations aside from Bali, which includes Tanjung Kelayang on Belitung Island.

    “The direct flight is part of the company’s strategy to expand its international network, as well as an effort to strengthen connectivity in Southeast Asia,” Pikri was quoted as saying.

    He went on to say that Singapore is one of the busiest international hubs and also close to Indonesia.

    “With a less-than-an-hour direct flight from Singapore, Belitung is a perfect short getaway destination,” said Pikri.

    He is also confident that the new route would improve the growth of trade and business in Tanjung Pandan and its surroundings, especially since it is a special economic zone and one of the 10 priority destinations.

    Tanjung Pandan is said to have beautiful beaches and being developed to be the “next Bali”.

    Garuda’s Singapore-Tanjung Pandan route will depart from Singapore’s Changi Airport at 5:20 p.m. local time every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. A Sunday flight from Changi is also available, which departs at 5:30 a.m. Arrival time at Hanandjoeddin International Airport in Tanjung Pandan is 5:50 p.m. for Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 6 p.m. for Sunday.

    Meanwhile, all flights from Tanjung Pandan to Singapore depart at 2:50 p.m. and arrive at 4:20 p.m. local time.

    Garuda Indonesia now serves 84 flights every week to and from Singapore to Indonesian cities. Singapore-Jakarta flights are available nine times every day, the Singapore-Surabaya route has one flight daily and Singapore-Denpasar has two flights daily.