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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.

  • Skechers Singapore Expands Foothold With New Partnerships

    Skechers Singapore Expands Foothold With New Partnerships

    Leading sports brand, SKECHERS, announces today a slew of new collaborations and exciting releases. Skechers has entered into a new franchise partnership with Trendz 360, a leading distributor and retailer of sports and lifestyle footwear. Together, the two companies are introducing a new Skechers concept store at Suntec City, designed with greater emphasis on visual merchandising and shoppers’ experience. This is the second and largest franchise partner store; with the first store located at Velocity, #01-46, which was opened in December 2017.

    Furthermore, Skechers launches its Spring/Summer 2018 collection in the stylish, sleek DLT-A range of athletic footwear, and with it, the appointment of popular host and TV personality, Left Profile Artiste Lee Teng, as Skechers Singapore Brand Ambassador.

    Skechers And Trendz 360 Enter Into Synergistic Franchise Partnership

    2017 saw excellent business performance for Skechers, with the brand achieving a 24% increase in net sales and 33% rise in pairs of shoes sold for Southeast-Asia. This year, Skechers continues to look to expand its presence in Singapore and the region, and thus has partnered Trendz 360 in a franchise agreement. A leading distributor and retailer of sports and lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories, Trendz 360 has an excellent portfolio of active lifestyle brands, and proves to be a great fit for Skechers.

    “Skechers has always been looking for a partner to further grow our business in Singapore, and we found the right match in Trendz 360. With its rich experience in the footwear segment and other retail businesses, we have great confidence that they will able to value-add and further enhance Skechers’ market share here in Singapore,” says Vincent Leung, President of Skechers Southeast Asia.

    The two companies will be working together to expand Skechers’ business presence in Singapore, through distribution and retail channels managed by Trendz 360.

    Mr Andy Chaw, Chief Executive Officer of Trendz 360, said, “The Skechers brand has evolved to become a lifestyle and performance wear powerhouse both regionally and internationally. As a new addition to our lifestyle footwear portfolio, we are confident that there will be great synergy from this partnership with Trendz 360’s business ethos of curating leading sports and lifestyle brands for the active consumer.”

    New Skechers Store Adopts Visual-Oriented Design, Greater Focus on Apparel

    Skechers Singapore’s new concept store at Suntec City West Wing, #01-375, is now officially open to the public. Encompassing over 1,900 sqf, the retail space is specially designed using the new Visual Merchandising concept adopted by Skechers since Q4’2017.

    The store utilises visual images and clear displays to better emphasise and portray the footwear, inviting visitors in with its modern, neat look.

    There are dedicated areas for different categories, including Lifestyle, Performance, the kids’ series, as well as the well-loved Skechers YOU and D’Lites collections. To better segment and highlight each segment, different fixtures are also used to highlight specific parts of the store, such as perforated panels for the Lifestyle section and black, vertical bars to create an industrial look for the Performance section.

    Furthermore, the new store features the largest collection of fitness and active apparel yet, reflecting Skechers’ increasing focus on the apparel segment. In the future, Skechers will place more emphasis in apparel, and is likewise targeting to increase apparel representation in Skechers stores.

    Skechers Singapore Brand Ambassador, Lee Teng

    Skechers is pleased to welcome Left Profile artiste Lee Teng, well-known host and TV personality, as its new Singapore brand ambassador. Embodying the qualities that a Skechers Brand Ambassador should possess – Trendy, Active and Sporty, he is well-equipped to reflect the brand and its range of products, bolstered by his influence both on TV and on social media.

    Lee Teng is also a successful entrepreneur and the undisputed icon of streetwear fashion, which is fully in line with Skechers’ young, trendy brand image. His keen sense of fashion and business has led to successful collaborations with Taiwanese stars like Jay Chou and Show Luo on their streetwear brands.

    Joining other stars in the Skechers brand ambassador family including Camila Cabello, Wu Zun and Zico, Lee Teng will front the brand’s campaigns in Singapore, including the D’Lites and DLT-A collections.

    On 19 April 2018, Lee Teng will grace the official opening of the Skechers concept store at Suntec City, happening along with the launch of Skechers’ Spring/Summer 2018 DLT-A collection.

    Delight in the Timeless Attitude of the Skechers S/S’2018 DLT-A Collection

    The Spring/Summer 2018 collection of Skechers’ DLT-A series is out now. The sneaker comes with air-cooled memory foam technology and includes a super lightweight shock-absorbing athletic midsole signature to the D’Lites series. It has a knitted upper and futuristic wavy line designs on the outsole, scoring points for its sporty style and comfort.

    This new release will comprise the following designs and colours:

    Model 88888164

    Lace-Up in Black, White, Pink

    Model 88888157 Lace-Up in

    White, Tan, Black, Coral

    Model 66666085

    Velcro Slip-On in

    Pink, Black/Red

    Model 88888156

    Regular Slip-On in

    Black, White/Black, Pink, Aqua Blue

    The unisex sneakers come in US size 5 – 12, retailing at $129. They are now available at Skechers concept stores in Tampines 1, Jurong Point, NEX, Parkway Parade, Causeway Point, VivoCity, Jem, Bugis Junction, Ngee Ann City, ION Orchard, Junction 8, Compass One, Northpoint City (South Wing) and Suntec City.

    Check Ya Brain with DLT-A – Exciting Roadshows at Suntec City, NEX

    To celebrate the launch of DLT-A, Skechers will be holding roadshows at Suntec City (16 – 23 Apr) and NEX (3 – 6 May). Aside from checking out the new collection, visitors will be able to try out revolutionary technology at the ‘Check Ya Brain with DLT-A’ booth.

    Users will be invited to put on an electroencephalogram (EEG) headset, which depicts the electrical activity of the brain. Next, interact with the various designs and colours of DLT-A shoes on display, and each user’s unique brainwaves at the moment will be projected!

    The roadshows will also showcase Skechers’ new lifestyle apparel additions, branching out from its previous focus on performance apparel.

    The lifestyle apparel saw great response when it was first launched in Korea and Hong Kong, and after it was recently featured on the hit boy group survival show Idol Producer, all relevant apparel flew off the shelves.

  • China Airlines adds new route to U.S.

    China Airlines adds new route to U.S.

    A new route to the United States has been added by China Airlines. The TPE-ONT (Taoyuan to Ontario in California) route that the market has long been waiting for was officially commissioned. China Airlines will operate Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on the route with seven flights a week. The new regular service will be the first direct flight from Asia to Ontario CA. It has already achieved average bookings of 70% at launch despite March through to April being the off-peak season. The launch means China Airlines now offers six direct flight destinations in the U.S. with 32 flights a week to choose from.

    To celebrate the launch of the all-new route, China Airlines Chairman Nuan-hsuan Ho hosted a ceremony at Taoyuan Airport on 25 March 2018. The milestone moment was witnessed by Mayor of Taoyuan City Wen-tsan Cheng, VISIT CALIFORNIA – Taiwan Travel Trade Director Milane Tsai, Taoyuan International Airport Corporation President Deng-Ke Shiau, Taoyuan Metro Chairman Kun-Yi Liu and other guests, all of whom gathered to bestow their blessing on the inaugural flight.

    China Airlines Chairman Nuan-Hsuan Ho said that the extensive studies and assessments carried out by China Airlines have now finally paid off. The launch of the Taoyuan – Ontario route will tap into the market for travel between Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau among eastern Los Angeles’ Chinese community. The new route, along with the existing Taoyuan – Los Angeles service, will expand options for travel to and from Asia for metropolitan Los Angeles as a whole, fostering closer Taiwan-U.S. ties as well as strengthening links with the Asia market.

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  • AirAsia X’s 1Q passenger traffic up 13%

    AirAsia X’s 1Q passenger traffic up 13%

    AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) carried 13% more passengers to 1.59 million in the first quarter of 2018 (1Q18) from 1.4 million a year ago on the back of increased capacity as the airline catered to increased travel demand arising from the festive seasons and school holidays during the period.

    In a statement today, AAX said its capacity for 1Q18 increased 14% year-on-year (y-o-y), while passenger load factor remained static at 84%. Its available seat per kilometer and revenue passenger kilometres grew 10% and 9% respectively.

    “In the month of February, AAX Malaysia rotated some capacity from Australia to the Asian market, while we continue to build our brand in Australia.

    “The airline also increased its flight frequencies to Hangzhou and Taipei, further strengthening the North Asia market. AAX Malaysia began flying to Maldives and Jaipur in February,” it added.

    The fleet size of AAX Malaysia stood at 22 Airbus A330s as at end-March 2018.

    On the associates, AAX said its Thai unit carried 19% more passengers to 503,259 in 1Q18 from 423,404 passengers in 1Q17. Passenger load factor was unchanged at 94%.

    “No additional aircraft was added into AAX Thailand during the quarter under review. Hence, its fleet size at the end of March 2018 remained at six aircraft,” it added.

    AAX Indonesia, meanwhile, carried 124,874 passengers in 1Q18, up more than 100% y-o-y, and posted a load factor of 72%.

    AAX Indonesia’s fleet size stood at two aircraft, bringing AAX Group’s total fleet to 30 A330s.

    AAX shares closed 0.5 sen or 1.33% higher at 38 sen today, with 7.62 million shares done, bringing it a market capitalisation of RM1.57 billion.

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  • Vietjet Soaring to Greater Heights

    Vietjet Soaring to Greater Heights

    In just a little over a decade, Vietjet – Vietnam’s new-age airline has taken Asia and the world by storm, making waves in the global aviation industry and turning heads with its rapid growth, unique service offerings and cheeky out-of-the-box ideas.

    Once the underdog of the race, Vietjet is now leading the domestic aviation market in Vietnam and actively expanding its fleet to support its foray into new international markets.

    Earlier this year, the airline was the first in Southeast Asia to take delivery of an A321neo Airbus aircraft, adding to its existing fleet of 55 aircraft, which includes a mix of A320s and A321s.

    Vietjet also recently announced its decision to upgrade an existing order for 42 A320neo aircraft to the superior and larger A321neo models. Accordingly, the airline now has a total of 73 A321neo and 11 A321neo on order for future delivery.

    The airline currently operates 44 international routes, including flights to and from Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Cambodia, China and Myanmar – making traveling across Southeast Asia both convenient and less expensive. Domestically, Vietjet’s extensive flight network connects passengers to a total of 38 destinations within Vietnam, allowing travellers to explore the many hidden gems the country has to offer.

    With a vision of becoming a favourite multinational airline, Vietjet has also made great strides in the expansion of its flight network both domestically and internationally. The airline has established a comprehensive code-sharing partnership with Japan Airlines, providing customers better access to destinations between Vietnam and Japan, and beyond.

    Just recently, the airline also announced plans to connect Vietnam with New Delhi, India and Brisbane, Australia. Scheduled to commence in 2019, the non-stop service between Ho Chi Minh City and Brisbane will give the airline much reason to celebrate as it will mark Vietjet’s first Australian long-haul destination.

    There is no denying the vast potential of the growing tourism market. Moving forward, Vietjet aims to continue exploring unchartered territories, forging partnerships and taking hold of opportunities to facilitate deeper international and regional integration. In the coming months, the airline will continue adding new routes to its ever-expanding list of destinations, spreading its wings to even more destinations across the globe. These are but a few of the things the airline is doing to better serve its customers in the region.

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  • AEON awards the 25th Anniversary from campaign “25th year AEON Anniversary Cerebration”

    AEON awards the 25th Anniversary from campaign “25th year AEON Anniversary Cerebration”

    Mr. Kiyoyasu Asanuma (7th from right), Managing Director, together with Ms. Suporn Wattanavekin (9th from left) and Mr. Nuntawat Chotvijit (6th from right), Director and Management of AEON Thana Sinsap (Thailand) Public Company Limited awarded the grand prize to the key customer of “25th year AEON Anniversary Cerebration with 25 Cars and Other Prizes Worth Over 19 Million Baht” campaign with the first prize is 25 Toyota Yaris Ativ 1.2S cars, the second prize is 25 iPhoneX 256 GB and the third prize is 200 gold necklaces weight 50 Satang or 7.58 Grams. The 250 prizes, a total worth over 19 Million Baht at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.

    Furthermore, AEON also surprised a special prize of gold bar weight 2 Baht or 30.48 Grams to the 25 customers who using along with AEON services for 25 years, worth 1.1 Million Baht.

    “AEON Celebrate its 25th Anniversary with 25 Cars” campaign was held to celebrate AEON’s 25th Anniversary, giving AEON customers who spend the required amount under conditions. Apply and using AEON services for the first time as well as download and registration “AEON THAI MOBILE” application

  • imageHOLDERS Launching New Tablet Kiosk at RBTE 2018

    imageHOLDERS Launching New Tablet Kiosk at RBTE 2018

    imageHOLDERS will be unveiling their new Mini POS kiosk called the Integrator Pro 15, at RBTE 2018.

    The all-in-one countertop kiosk is a versatile and robust solution with internal space for up to five devices. The latest addition to imageHOLDERS vast portfolio of self-service solutions, the Integrator Pro 15 is a new take on the original integration kiosk imageHOLDERS launched in 2015. The upgraded design can enclose a 15” tablet or touch screen alongside multiple devices within the base of the kiosk.

    Designed to be modular and easy to adapt, the futureproof design drastically lowers the cost of ownership in comparison to alternative solutions. The Integrator Pro 15 is an all-in-one kiosk which can be countermounted, or mounted on bespoke furniture designed by imageHOLDERS to mount kiosks securely.

    Alongside the new Integrator Pro 15, imageHOLDERS will be showcasing their self-service retail solutions which have been successfully deployed for several large retailers and supermarkets.

    Many industries are seeing technology greatly impact their traditional structure, and none more so than the retail and hospitality industry. Retail Business Technology Expo brings together over 370 suppliers and organisations within the retail and hospitality industries, showcasing innovative solutions and tools to support businesses.

    Retail Business Technology Expo is being held at the London Olympia on the 2nd and 3rd May 2018. If you would like to visit imageHOLDERS exhibit, please click here to sign up for your ticket.

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  • Cebu Pacific passes IATA safety audit

    Cebu Pacific passes IATA safety audit

    For the first time, Gokongwei-led Cebu Pacific passed the globally recognized safety audit of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

    “Cebu Pacific has achieved full compliance with IATA’s Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), joining a roster of 429 airlines worldwide that have strictly complied with the most stringent of international standards governing aviation safety,” the airline said in a statement on Thursday, April 12.

    Though Cebu Pacific is not a member of IATA, which represents some 280 airlines comprising 83% of global air traffic, it is now listed in the IOSA Registry, which lists those who have met the benchmark for airline safety management.

    The IOSA, which is conducted for each airline every two years, is described by IATA as “an internationally recognized and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline.”

    “We are committed to upholding the highest possible standards for the benefit of our passengers. Hence, we chose to undergo the rigorous and stringent audit requirements for IOSA,” said Cebu Pacific president Lance Gokongwei.

    “Since it is considered the internationally recognized and accepted benchmark for airline safety, we wanted to be sure that our protocols and regulations meet IOSA standards,” he added.

    Gokongwei also said Cebu Pacific “invested in safety technology over the past several months… to better manage safety risks.”

    These include the on-board Runway Overrun Prevention System (ROPS) cockpit technology for its Airbus fleet, which monitors runway conditions before landing and calculates where the aircraft can safely stop, as well as Area Navigation (RNAV) data for more accurate navigation and approaches to various airports.

    It also invested in a Fatigue Risk Management System for pilots to minimize safety risks and ensure they are at adequate levels of alertness.

    Philippine Airlines and its subsidiary PAL Express are also included in the IOSA Registry, with the latter passing its latest audit back in March.

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  • How does the Facebook inquiry relate to retail?

    How does the Facebook inquiry relate to retail?

    In the latest example of the United States Democratic political machine’s inability to accept losing the ‘un-losable election’, Facebook has become the next scapegoat for failure.

    The spectacle of one small geeky guy being bullied by 20 senators and the might of the ‘political inquisition’ is absurd theatre that may provide some people with an avenue to exorcise their frustration but will change little.

    Why? For three very good reasons.

    Firstly, the very foundations of e-commerce rely on monetising data collection. Without it the model does not work and the world leader in e-commerce technology and its monetisation is the United States.

    Secondly the intelligence community is so intertwined in this web that it will defend it at all costs.

    And thirdly, while when confronted with direct questions about personal data consumers may offer negative opinions, their behaviour betrays that they care more about what they can get than they do about what information is collected as a result of their actions.

    If there are any traditional retailers expecting e-commerce to be derailed as a result of the Facebook inquiry they will be sadly disappointed. The media angle taken on e-commerce data portrays the lemming-like thinking that sees e-commerce (which produces less than 10 per cent of retail sales dollars and a fraction of the gross margin) given a halo of power that magnifies its influence beyond its natural impact.

    Data collection and its manipulative use online creates the virtual equivalent of a product stalker following a shopper around a centre and shouting in their ear every five minutes that they should buy their product for a discounted price until the customer either capitulates or runs away.

    Most shoppers (read more than 90 per cent by dollar value) would prefer to buy at physical stores for a multitude of reasons. However what data allows online outlets to do is destroy competitors by starving their profitability – not by providing a better alternative.

    E-commerce outlets do not build brands. They generate transactions. They do not build experiences. They provide transactional convenience. And they use data to do it. Make no mistake, they can decimate traditional retailers who either put their head in the sand and ignore them or react the wrong way.

    Unless the retail industry starts to think strategically, rather than tactically, e-commerce may end up with the majority share of retail purely by outlasting bricks and mortar retailers economically by starving them of profitability.

    So regardless of any meaningful legislative changes that are unlikely to emerge from the Facebook inquiry, the e-commerce game will roll on and the technologically enabled, globally connected marketplace will continue to evolve beyond the ability of legislator’s attempts to curb it.

    It is not new (we’ve been collecting data on consumers in one form or another since commerce began) but it is technologically turbo-charged.

    However, as any true merchant will tell you, there is a big difference between data points and really knowing what turns on a customer and how to charm them. That is where the real opportunity will always live for real retailers and brands as distinct from product and price catalogue sellers.

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  • Korean police question KT chair in donation probe

    Korean police question KT chair in donation probe

    South Korean police are reportedly questioning KT chairman Hwang Chang-gyu over suspicions that the operator made illegal political donations in exchange for favorable legislation.

    Police believe that KT made donations to lawmakers sitting on the parliamentary committee in charge of telecommunications in return for policies favorable to KT’s newest business, its internet banking service.

    South Korean law bars registered companies from donating any funds to lawmakers as well as donations made with company money.

    The police suspect that former and current KT executives may have paid around 90 legislators a combined 430 million won ($401.8 million) in illegal donations between 2014 and 2017.

    According to the report, police have already raided the offices of KT and its affiliates on suspicion that KT executives used company funds to buy large amounts of gift vouchers and then cashed these vouchers out for donation money.

    Authorities believe that Hwang may have either instructed these executives to do so or was briefed about the plan.

    Hwang, who was appointed chairman of the company in 2014 and last year renewed his term for a further three years, has been asked to come in for questioning today, the report adds. Depending on the outcome he may be interrogated for a second time.

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  • Vietjet plans to pay a dividend of 60% for its US$231 million profits

    Vietjet plans to pay a dividend of 60% for its US$231 million profits

    Vietjet today announced its plan to pay a dividend of 60% of its 2017 profits after posting positive business results for the year. According to the audited and consolidated financial statements released by Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company (HOSE: VJC), the airline’s after-tax profit stood at VND5,074 billion (US$230.63 million).

    The airline’s net revenue stood at nearly VND42,303 billion (US$1.92 billion). After-tax profit of Vietjet in 2017 stood at VND5,074 billion (US$230.63 million). These figures have exceeded the airline’s targets for 2017 respectively by 150% and 103% year-on-year.

    Profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company increased to VND5,073 billion (US$230.59 million), exceeding the company’s targets for 2017 by 150% and 103.3% year-on-year. Earnings per share (EPS) stood at VND11,356 (US$0.52), an increase of 73% year-on-year.

    Vietjet’s unallocated profit up to December 31, 2017 was VND5,809 billion (US$264 million). Before that, the company raised its 2017 dividend payout from 50% to 60% due to its positive business results. Vietjet advanced the 2017 cash dividend payment at the rate of 30% and plans to pay the remaining 30% dividend in shares. With the higher profits and cash reserves, the Board of Directors expects to submit the proposal for the payment of 10% cash dividend and 20% share dividend in the coming Shareholder Annual Meeting. Vietjet has built a reputation for consistently making high dividend payments to its shareholders.

     

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  • AirAsia looks at Tinder to find travel lovers

    AirAsia looks at Tinder to find travel lovers

    Low-cost airline AirAsia is hoping New Zealanders will swipe right and fall in love with Malaysia.

    The Kuala Lumpur-based airline is launching the “Meet Malaysia” campaign on Tuesday.

    Anyone who chooses to match with the destination will go into the draw to win a trip to Malaysia for two people and tickets to the Borneo Jazz Festival or Rainforest World Music Festival.

    The campaign, which the airline has described as “cheeky”, is aimed at attracting those who may want to try something new. Something that may be common on Tinder, but perhaps not for an airline.

    AirAsia hopes the campaign will attract potential travellers on the app who were thinking about spending time in places like Indonesia, Thailand or Vietnam that could be swept off their feet by the Malaysian experience.

    AirAsia operates seven flights per week from Auckland to Kuala Lumpur with connections to 15 cities in Malaysia.

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  • AirAsia ties up with Sarawak Tourism Board to boost visitors

    AirAsia ties up with Sarawak Tourism Board to boost visitors

    AirAsia has partnered with Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) as one of the airline partners for the upcoming Borneo Jazz Festival (BJF) and Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF). These festivals would be held in Miri from 11 to 13 May 2018 and Kuching from 13 to 15 July 2018 respectively.

    In a statement to A+M, AirAsia’s spokesperson said that the partnership is in line with the airline’s continuous effort to boost visitors to Sarawak. In addition, a regional contest over ten countries will be held via its social media platform to further drive awareness for the BJF and promote Miri as a tourist destination.

    The airline will also be reaching out to all 23 countries it is operating in, to promote not just the festivals, but also the diverse cultural identities, traditions and eco-tourism attributes in Sarawak.

    “We are pleased to partner with Sarawak Tourism Board as one of the airline partners for the both internationally-acclaimed festivals while further strengthening our commitment in East Malaysia. We hope this partnership will encourage more visitors to the beautiful state,” Spencer Lee, head of commercial, AirAsia Malaysia added.

    “The Sarawak Tourism Board is excited to partner with AirAsia, whose many flights to and throughout Sarawak have bolstered our tourism industry greatly, making it easier for tourists to be able to traverse the length of Sarawak at ease, moving from one grand attraction to another. This is evident during festival seasons as well,” Mary Wan Mering, acting chief executive officer of Sarawak Tourism Board said.

    The airline also plans to promote Sarawak as a whole to the world through its robust connectivity in and out of Sarawak. Currently, AirAsia operates more than five direct routes and over 26 fly-through connections to Miri. Meanwhile, the airline also operates more than 12 direct route and over 41 fly-though connections to Kuching. These connections include countries such as Australia, Japan, New Zealand and China among others.

  • Switch Made expands operations with global hub office in Dubai

    Switch Made expands operations with global hub office in Dubai

    In a significant move that underlines the strong UAE-French business ties, SWITCH MADE, a French company and world leader in providing efficient, innovative and stylish lighting solutions, is further expanding its operations in the UAE with the opening of a brand-new global hub office in Dubai.

    This coincides with the 10th anniversary of SWITCH MADE’s operations in the UAE, with the new global office being beefed up with a dedicated team of experts from SWITCH MADE’s France office taking up positions in Dubai.

    The unveiling of the global base of SWITCH MADE in the UAE complements the call by French President Emmanuel Macron to enhance the role of French companies in international entrepreneurship.

    The French Ambassador to the UAE, HE Ludovic Pouille, marked the new expansion and opening of the global office and congratulated the company for its strategic focus on expanding its presence in the country. He was accompanied by H.E. Emmanuel Mayer, Vice Consul General of the France in Dubai and other dignitaries and business leaders.

    “This is a commendable example of French companies strengthening their international footprint and sharing invaluable French expertise for supporting the development of the UAE,” HE Ludovic Pouille said. “Over the past years, French-UAE ties have grown manifold, with French business expertise, especially in areas such as sustainable development and renewable energy, complementing the development vision of the UAE. SWITCH MADE has an accomplished track-record in delivering energy-efficient lighting solutions and the new office will enable it to further contribute to the UAE’s Vision 2021.”

    Jeremy Loisel, CEO of SWITCH MADE, said: “With our expanded presence, we are building on 10 strong years of operations in the UAE, marking a new milestone in our growth journey. We are bringing top-notch French experts to support our business growth in the UAE, complementing the development goals of the nation. French companies already play a significant role here by providing cutting edge technology and expertise, and through our enhanced local presence, we can be more agile and closer to our customers in meeting their requirements.”

    “Our French headquarter is currently being restructured, and reflecting the consequent change of business model, focusing on manufacturing LED luminaires for projects. We are also in the final stages of partnering with a reputable industrial group, which will take our growth to the next level. 2018 is a decisive year for our French market.” He added.

    SWITCH MADE has already been associated with several landmark projects in the UAE including the provision of energy-efficient sustainable lighting solutions for the façade of The Dubai Mall, supplying more than 52,000 LED luminaires.  SWITCH MADE also delivered over 8,800 LED light fittings and over 2 Km of linear soluitons for the Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai, which is the Middle East region’s first low-energy building that complies with the MINERGIE Ecolabel, a Swiss sustainable building standard.

    Several flagship projects in the UAE have been developed through close co-operation with France, such as Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, the only French-language university in the Gulf. Total trade between the two countries was estimated at US$5.6 billion in 2016. The UAE is France’s second-largest trading partner in the Gulf, and is also the second largest Gulf investor in France. There are over 600 French subsidiaries in the UAE.

    “The UAE has outlined a clear vision to be among the best nations in the world, and has set tangible targets in reducing energy consumption and promoting sustainable solutions. As a French company with proven expertise in supporting the needs of nations and companies with sustainable lighting solutions, we are committed to be a partner in the progress of the UAE by bringing French expertise to the nation’s development projects,” concluded Jeremy Loisel

  • Philippines franchise business matching event planned next month

    Philippines franchise business matching event planned next month

    The latest Philippines franchise business matching event is scheduled for Manila in May.

    Organised by VF Franchise Consulting on May 14 at the Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the event will showcase leading international franchise brands from the US, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Japan.

    Executives from Little Caesars, Presotea, First Code Academy, The Edge Learning Centre Sureclean, Mennya Kokoro, and Pronto, will attend to meet with potential franchisees and investors.

    “These franchise brands represent a broad spectrum of segments, including food and beverage, education, and services,” said VF Franchise Consulting CEO Sean T Ngo.

    “The Philippines has nearly 95 million people and one of the fastest growing GDP per capita in Asia. US News recently ranked the Philippines as the number one country for investment based on a survey of more than 6000 business decision makers. The franchising sector in Philippines is also the largest in ASEAN, with more than 2000 franchise systems, and is expected to grow by 10-15 per cent each year for the next five years,” said Ngo.

    Franchise sales in the Philippines contribute about 25 per cent of all retail sales and added more than 1.5 million jobs to the Philippines economy.

    “We have had fantastic meetings last year in Manila, and look forward to even better meetings this year given the broader spectrum of franchises in food and beverage, education and services.”

    F&B franchises

    Bill Schreiber, VP of international development with Little Caesars says pizza is widely accepted in the Philippines.

    “When you look at the number of restaurants that exist in the market, it shows how much the people of the Philippines love pizza. After doing research on the market, Little Caesar’s strongly believes that our pizza has a place in the market and we know from other countries that we do business in, that our hot and ready product offers all of our customers great convenience, quality and value.

    “When customers realise that they can get a high quality pizza in their hands in one minute or less, they realise how convenient that is. We are proud to be able to bring our great tasting pizza to the Philippines.”

    According to Jackson Kah, Presotea’s international franchise manager, Filipinos have the same sweet-tooth habits like other Asian country and bubble milk tea is definitely a preference.

    “With Presotea entering the Filipino market, we will be able to fulfill the craving for bubble milk tea with healthier, brew-to-order, teas for the more sophisticated tea drinkers.”

    This year’s business matching will also include franchises from Japan: Mennya Kokoro and Pronto. Mennya Kokoro is known for its no-soup, dry-ramen noodle dishes that are hugely popular in Japan and has recently been franchised in Indonesia and Thailand. Pronto, also hailing from Japan, is an Italian-themed cafe and bar concept with a diverse menu of fusion Italian and Japanese dishes. There are currently more than 300 Pronto units in Japan and it has recently been franchised to Shanghai, China.

    Education opportunities

    The Philippine franchise business matching event will also include brands outside food.  Asian consumers are continuing to invest in education for children between the ages of four and 18.

    Michelle Sun, CEO and founder of First Code Academy, says that since her company launched in 2013, it has grown to be the leading K-12 coding education brand in Asia with a presence in six different cities in the region.

    “We continue to see great potential for coding education regionally. The Philippines has a rapidly growing technology sector, driven by government initiatives, and has one of the highest penetration rates of social media regionally. There is a lot of opportunity to fill the gap in Stem education for its future generation.”

    Duc Luu, CEO of The Edge, adds: “The Edge sees the rising trend in education industry in the Philippines, especially in the market of test preparation. Over the last 10 years, we have proven to students and parents that we provide the best experience in Asia to help students enroll in the best universities in the US and the UK.”

    Another company to participate is Sureclean. Its CEO and founder Alvin Tan says the World Bank projects the Philippines to remain the fastest-growing economy in Asean – which means the need for good quality hygiene in various premises such as schools, hospitals, offices and residences will also grow.

    “With a tried-and-proven business system with evergreen demand, training and marketing support, Sureclean’s franchise program is an ideal opportunity to tap into this fast growing economy.”

  • AirAsia rides on big data analytics

    AirAsia rides on big data analytics

    The airline that made flying more affordable for Malaysians since 2001 is now looking to up its game by using big data analytics to mine data on 80 million unique passengers at its disposal, to personalise and anticipate travelling patterns for marketing purposes.

    “We have a database of about 80 million unique individuals. We know where they like to fly to, or when they like to fly during the year, or how many holidays they take maybe during the year.

    “Now, the marketing side has already started employing data analytics there, to actually start targeting certain portions of passengers on specific dates or specific periods of the year that they go on holiday,” AirAsia Bhd CEO Riad Asmat told last week.

    “We can be more specific and will go further, not now but at one point, where maybe we can offer you as an individual, your preferred destination on the right date … and say we will give you a nice package at a discounted rate and all that,” he added.

    On data protection, Riad gave an assurance that the data trove is one of its most important assets which, as a “very responsible organisation”, the company is very protective of at all times and use responsibly.

    “We don’t share our information with any other parties but ourselves. If you notice what we are doing is we bring expertise inhouse. We employ people and bring in expertise,” he explained.

    Riad said while the airline is utilising its current resources, it is also on a continuous lookout for expertise and new technology.

    Besides marketing and ticket purchases, digitalisation has enabled AirAsia to improve operational efficiency, through the use of data in features such as live reporting and operations review from the previous day, made available to the team on a daily basis.

    This, according to Riad, enables the team to identify and tackle challenges and come up with preventive measures.

    “The airline bit is the traditional bit but it will be 100 times enhanced with digitalisation,” he quipped.