Retail News CRM

Category: General

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

  • Twitter said to be looking to sell

    Twitter said to be looking to sell

    Twitter, the global microblogging service that pioneered hashtags and the art of marketing in small, crisp sentences is reportedly looking for suitors.

    The sale around the region of $16 billion, although no accurate sales figures have been released and it greatly depends on the performance of Twitter’s stocks.

    Reportedly, Twitter is working with Goldman Sachs and Allen & Co for the potential sale.

    According to Reuters news sources, the company is not short of suitors. The list includes Alphabet (Google parent), Microsoft, Salesforce.com and Walt Disney, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey is a board member.

    Facebook, for the moment, seem to be glaringly absent.

    No assurance of an actual sale has been given as of time of reporting.

    A similar rumor reared its head around the same time last year, although evidence points to more concrete reports this time.

    The biggest problem for Twitter is in its ability to be clear about its mission: whether it is a technology company or a media player.

    It also has not found a way to monetize its over 300 million subscriber base. In comparison, Facebook and LinkedIn have fared better.

    Twitter’s foray into becoming a major media player has not fared any better. Its prominence in the Rio Olympics did not increase engagement and a streaming deal with NFL is way lower than live TV. These misses have analysts saying that the Twitter stock being overvalued.

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  • Indonesian Retailers Prepares for ASEAN Market

    Indonesian Retailers Prepares for ASEAN Market

    Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Retailers Association (Aprindo) Tutum Rahanta, said that the Association is currently aiming for the ASEAN market, specifically countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

    Tutum predicted that hundreds of millions can be gained if Indonesian retailers can tap into international markets. “I think if we can penetrate the market, it would be like serving 600 million people, and it is three times bigger than Indonesian market,” Tutum said on Monday, September 26, 2016.

    Tutum said that Indonesian retailer has plenty of open chances and opportunities to tap into the ASEAN market, especially in terms of expansion costs, which according to Tutum, would be similar to expanding their business in Indonesia. In addition, Indonesian retailers would have better chances at expanding in ASEAN with the recent establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community.

    “It would be much different if retailers wanted to expand to Japan, opening one outlet there equals opening 30 outlets [in Indonesia], it doesn’t make sense,” Tutum said.

    Tutum added that despite retailers’ readiness to expand to ASEAN, Aprindo expected the government to show support by facilitating bureaucratic affairs and adapting regulations.

    “The government can lobby the foreign country’s government to see if there are any obstructing regulations, then they can inform retailers,” Tutum said.

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  • Cost-cutting isn’t cutting it anymore for Singapore’s struggling retailers

    Cost-cutting isn’t cutting it anymore for Singapore’s struggling retailers

    Profits plummeted by 30% over the last 5 years.

    Retail firms have been thinking out of the box in terms of cost-cutting to constrain cost growth, but they can only do so much on back of the struggling retail industry.

    According to a report by BNP Paribas, retail trade firms have seen persistent erosion of profit margins.

    “Aggregate revenue growth for the roughly 22,000 retailers has been hard to come by (5-year nominal CAGR of 1.2%). This likely reflects slower domestic growth and the impact of macro-prudential tightening,” the report noted.

    Additionally, retailers have also grappled with labour market policies spurring strong wage gains (5Y CAGR of 7%) and, more recently, rising debt service.

    “As a result, we estimate industry-wide pre-tax profits fell by 30% over the last 5 years,” the report added.

    Meanwhile, similar sinking trends in profit margins are also manifest in the services sector, as labour market data indicates firms are now attempting to pass the problem on to households by shedding jobs.

    “In turn, these developments allude to slower wage income growth and a potential vicious cycle as highly-indebted households struggle with their own debt service,” the report noted.

  • Despite problems at home, SMRT eyes Indonesian market

    Despite problems at home, SMRT eyes Indonesian market

    Transport operator SMRT has been awarded the tender for the construction of a public rail project in Bandung, the Mayor of Indonesia’s third-largest city said, a development that has elicited a thumbs-up from analysts.

    Local media in Indonesia had reported in recent days that SMRT will be the project operator for the Light Rail Transport (LRT) in Bandung. Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil was quoted in the reports as saying that in the initial stage, SMRT will build the LRT Corridor 1, a 10.2km route from Babakan Siliwangi to Leuwipanjang.

    In a Facebook post last Monday (Sept 19), Mr Kamil wrote SMRT had been awarded the tender for Corridor 1 and that construction would begin by next year if everything went well.

    In the wake of those reports, SMRT on Monday (Sept 26) said in a regulatory filing with the Singapore Exchange (SGX) that its wholly-owned subsidiary, SMRT International, had on Sept 9 submitted together with T-Files Indonesia a formal bid to participate in a tender for the construction of a public rail project in Bandung, about 180km from Jakarta.

    SMRT said in its filing that it had not received official notification of the tender award and that no agreement had been reached on any of the terms with regard to the construction and implementation of the project. It declined to comment beyond the SGX filing.

    Assistant Professor Yang Nan, Department of Strategy & Policy at NUS Business School, said: “Obviously this is an interesting project. Even if it doesn’t promise immediate high returns, SMRT is eyeing the future. As the largest economy in Asean, Indonesia has very underdeveloped transport infrastructure but is ready to catch up quickly.”

    He added: “Getting an early and strong foothold in these new markets is crucial for rail expansions and SMRT’s move is in this direction. I’m optimistic about SMRT’s perspective in winning this and future tenders, for its specialties and experiences operating in the Asean market.”

    CMC Markets Singapore analyst Margaret Yang said: “Indonesia is a fast-growing emerging economy, with a large population and high demand for infrastructure upgrading. This would be a good opportunity for SMRT to explore new business in Asean’s largest economy.”

    The latest development comes two years after SMRT International joined a consortium to provide consultancy services and secured first rights to operate and maintain the Jakarta Eco Transport monorail, due to commence operations next year.

    At home, SMRT has come under heavy criticism in recent years as frequent train disruptions and delays on its various lines held up passengers on their daily commutes.

    In March, two employees carrying out routine maintenance work on a track near Pasir Ris MRT Station were killed after they were hit by a train approaching the platform. In July, SMRT said it had sent back 26 China-made trains to the manufacturer for repairs after cracks were found in them.

    Earlier this month, SMRT said it had not been able to determine the source that caused the intermittent loss of signalling communications on the Circle Line last month, which led to days of train service delays.

    Transport analyst Park Byung Joon, who lectures at SIM University, said that any operator with a long-enough history in operations will have its own record of mishaps. “As a train operator, it has a responsibility to the public, of course, but as a commercial entity there is nothing wrong for a business expansion opportunity,” he said.

    “Despite some recent operational hiccups suffered by SMRT, it is still a very strong operator of trains. As an operator of trains, it can bring in its knowledge on how to oversee the construction project and what kind of considerations you have to have for safety concerns. This kind of knowledge can be very useful for the consortium.”

    This Thursday, SMRT shareholders will vote on state-owned investment fund Temasek Holdings’ proposed buyout of the public transport company and experts have mixed views on how news of the Indonesian tender will affect the vote.

    Temasek’s wholly-owned subsidiary Belford has proposed to buy the 46 per cent of SMRT shares that the state-owned fund does not already hold, by way of a scheme of arrangement at S$1.68 per share.

    More than 50 per cent of shareholders present in person or by proxy must vote to approve, and they have to hold at least 75 per cent of the value of SMRT shares among those present. This excludes shares held by Temasek, which is not eligible to vote.

    SMRT said in Monday’s filing that the company does not expect the Indonesian bid to have a material impact on its net tangible assets per share or earnings per share (EPS) for the current financial year.

    “There shouldn’t be a material impact on shareholder’s decision due to the uncertainty surrounding the bid, and no material impact on its tangible assets or EPS in the near term,” said Ms Yang.

    However, Mr Yang disagreed.

    “The shareholders may vote for SMRT to remain publicly-listed as they see this announcement as something that can boost the future stock value of SMRT, and an opportunity to receive higher future dividends,” he said.

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  • Bangkok tops Global Destinations Cities Index

    Bangkok tops Global Destinations Cities Index

    Bangkok is the top-ranked destination city by international overnight visitor arrivals, according to the annual Mastercard Global Destinations Cities Index.

    Ranking 132 cities, the index projects visitor volume and spend estimates while delivering insights into how people travel and spend around the world.

    As cross-border travel and spending continue to grow at a faster pace than the world GDP, the world’s cities continue to be engines of broader economic growth, says Mastercard.

    According to the study, Bangkok is projected to receive 21.47 million international overnight visitors this year, just ahead of London (19.88 million visitors).

    Also in the top 10 cities are:

    • Kuala Lumpur, 12.02 million visitors

    • Paris, 18.03 million visitors

    • Istanbul, 11.95 million visitors

    • Dubai, 15.27 million visitors

    • Tokyo, 11.70 million visitors

    • New York, 12.75 million visitors

    • Seoul, 10.20 million visitors

    • Singapore, 12.11 million visitors

    Hong Kong was 11th.

    “The way people travel and spend across borders indicates just how interconnected and important the world’s cities are,” says Mastercard president of international markets Ann Cairns.

    As well as the top 10 cities, Mastercard names the top 10 fastest-growing destinations, which indicates the increasingly importance of Asia Pacific to the global economic landscape.

    Osaka new star

    Osaka has shown the strongest growth in international visitors (24.15 per cent) over the past seven years. Other cities that make the fastest-growing list:

    • Chengdu, 20.14 per cent

    • Taipei, 14.53 per cent

    • Abu Dhabi, 19.81 per cent

    • Xi’an, 14.2 per cent

    • Colombo, 19.57 per cent

    • Tehran, 12.98 per cent

    • Tokyo, 18.48 per cent

    • Xiamen, 12.93 per cent

    • Riyadh, 16.45 per cent

    For the first time, the index explores whether visitors travel for business or leisure, giving broader insights into spending on dining, lodging and shopping. The index shows that more people are travelling to the top 20 cities for leisure with Shanghai being the sole exception.

    Visitors to the top 20 cities overwhelmingly spent more on shopping, as opposed to dining, says the index.

    Asia Pacific dominates both the global top 10 (five cities) and top 10 fastest-growing destination cities (seven cities).

    Public data is used in deriving the international overnight visitor arrivals and their cross-border spending in each of the 132 destination cities for the index. Mastercard volumes or transactional data is not considered.

    The full report can be downloaded here.

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  • Singapore Golden Week targets shoppers

    Singapore Golden Week targets shoppers

    Singapore Retailers Association (SRA) is launching the inaugural Singapore Golden Week (SGW), a lifestyle event to be held over three weekends from September 30  to October 16.

    Its aim is to heighten Singapore’s appeal as a lifestyle destination with a suite a retail privileges, shopping reward and pampering experiences as enticement.

    Global payment network UnionPay is the official card for the event, with special privileges for cardholders across more than participating outlets including retail, F&B, beauty and wellness, and hotels and attractions.

    As well as exclusive discounts, cardholders are offered gifts when making purchases at participating merchants using their cards. The merchants involved include department stores Isetan Scotts, Metro and Robinsons, clothing labels Dockers, Dorothy Perkins, Karen Millen, Levi’s, TM Lewin, Topman, Topshop and Warehouse; and attractions such as the Alive Museum.

    There is also a game in which cardholders can win shopping vouchers and prizes worth more than S$10,000 (US$7388) in all, based at Ion Orchard.

    Visitors – not just cardholders – are also welcome at the UnionPay Golden Pampering Lounge in Ion Orchard’s atrium, which offers gourmet coffee and free-flow gourmet cookies.

    Cardholders can access the VIP area, which has massage chairs plus gourmet coffee sprinkled with edible gold dust.

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  • Spikes Asia set to ignite discussion as Festival begins

    Spikes Asia set to ignite discussion as Festival begins

    With a record number of entries, 1,850 delegates and the most diverse speaker line up yet, the first day of Spikes Asia is now underway at Suntec, Singapore.

    Shortlists have been announced for Design, Direct, Entertainment, Film, Healthcare, Innovation, Media, Outdoor, PR, Print & Outdoor Craft, Print & Publishing, Promo & Activation and Radio with the remaining shortlists to follow on Thursday and Friday.

    Whilst the judges deliberate over the winners a wide range of speakers will take to three stages and delegates have a unique opportunity to participate in two Guinness World Records attempts.

    “This year’s Festival is designed to push boundaries and stimulate debate. We are excited about facilitating these conversations and the ideas they will spark,” said Andrea Hayes, Festival Director, Spikes Asia.

    New this year are a series of Brand Breakfasts, powered by Edelman, designed to ignite discussion on issues being faced in the industry by some of its biggest brands, including Manulife, The Kellogg Company, Twitter and Unilever.

    Gavin Coombes, president of Edelman Digital Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa will ask the expert panelists what the future holds, how much of what they do – and the people who do it – can be retained and where the competition of the future will come from.

    “In this unsettled world of opportunity and chaos, now is the time to understand how the brand mind set is evolving. Ultimately my hope is that we can come to a conclusion as to whether or not creativity as we know it today is in crisis,” said Coombes.

    Delegates of the Festival can make new connections and meet with industry experts from across the region at various Festival events and attend the highly anticipated Spikes Asia Awards Ceremony on Friday 23 September. The full programme and information on how to attend can be found on www.spikes.asia.

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  • “In Style Hong Kong” Promotion Coming to Bangkok

    “In Style Hong Kong” Promotion Coming to Bangkok

    The mega promotion, “In Style Hong Kong”, is making its debut in the Thai capital Bangkok, starting this month. Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the campaign will engage business leaders and entrepreneurs, as well as consumers in Thailand to showcase Hong Kong’s vibrant lifestyle and creativity and explain how the city’s world-class services can help Thai companies expand overseas, especially to the Chinese mainland.

    “Thailand is the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia. As the country’s capital, Bangkok is a commercial hub in Asia with a thriving retail market,” said Dannie Chiu, Regional Director, Southeast Asia & India, HKTDC, at today’s press conference. “With the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), we can expect to see greater potential for cooperation between Hong Kong and Thailand. “In Style Hong Kong” aims to strengthen economic and trading ties between Hong Kong and Thailand, capitalising on all forms of growth opportunities. We look forward to bringing the best of Hong Kong’s services and products to Thailand as the HKTDC celebrates its 50th anniversary.”

    The “In Style Hong Kong” Symposium, on 6 October, will highlight Hong Kong’s advantages as a trendsetting hub, and reveal the potential of Hong Kong services sectors as partners for Thai companies. An invitation-only Gala Dinner will be held for 450 members of the business community, while a citywide promotion will combine retail and gourmet specials at venues across Bangkok for the public.

    The promotion aims to deepen the already strong trade links between Thailand and Hong Kong, which is consistently rated as the world’s freest economy by the United States-based Heritage Foundation. In 2015, bilateral trade between the two economies reached US$17.18 billion.

    Services under the spotlight

    Rimsky Yuen, Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, will officiate at the opening session of “In Style Hong Kong” (6 Oct) at the Plaza Athenee Bangkok. Following the opening session, Hong Kong business leaders including Royce Yuen, CEO, MaLogic; Jason Chiu, CEO, cherrypicks; Dr King Fai Pang, Group President and Executive Director, VTech Holdings Ltd; and Chansak Fuangfu, Senior Executive Vice President and Director, Bangkok Bank Public Company Ltd, will offer insights on how Hong Kong can facilitate the business expansion of Thai companies.

    Services sector leaders and professionals from Thailand and Hong Kong will speak at five thematic sessions:

    – The Fast Track to E-commerce Logistics

    The establishment of the AEC is helping to fine-tune Asia’s supply chain network. Meanwhile, cross-border trade, particularly e-commerce development, is also driving huge changes in the traditional logistics industry and distribution networks. Hong Kong can facilitate Thai companies to tap these opportunities. Participants of this session will include moderator, Ruth Banomyong, Associate Professor, Department of International Business, Logistics & Transport, Thammasat University; and speakers Gary So, Deputy Managing Director, Kerry Logistics; Vincent Cheung, President, BPS Global Group; Michelle Leung, Senior Vice President, Fung Omni Services; and James Chang, Chief Operations Officer, Cross-border, Lazada Hong Kong.

    – RMB Internationalisation and Corporate Treasury

    As the premier offshore renminbi centre with proximity to the Chinese mainland, the session will explain Hong Kong’s advantages to attract companies to set up their corporate treasury centres in the city, in turn deepening the offshore renminbi capital markets. Speakers will include Yuthadej Putamanonda, Managing Director and Head of Transaction Banking, Standard Chartered Bank Thailand; Chen Shuang, Executive Director and CEO, China Everbright Ltd; Council Member, Financial Services Development Council, Hong Kong; and Kanit Si, Executive Vice President, Bangkok Bank Public Company Ltd.

    – The Belt and Road Initiative: Digital Framework for Connecting Smart Cities

    At this seminar, experts will share the latest developments in cross-border payment instruments, smart identity, smart-city infrastructure, interoperability and legal framework, which are essential in strengthening connectivity among smart cities. Eva Chan, Vice Chairperson, Hong Kong Public Key Infrastructure and Surangkana Wayuparb, Executive Director & CEO, Electronic Transactions Development Agency, Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Thailand will deliver remarks. Speakers will include Clarence Hui, Senior Manager, Financial Infrastructure Development, Hong Kong Monetary Authority; Chaichana Mitrpant, Deputy Executive Director, Electronic Transactions Development Agency, Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Thailand; and Eric Yeung, Convener, Smart City Consortium.

    – Integrating Creativity with Innovation

    Unlock Asia’s Business Success in the Digital Era with Jason Chiu, CEO, cherrypicks Ltd as the moderator and Tommy Li, Creative Director, Tommy Li Design Workshop Ltd; Keith Lam, co-founder, Dimension Plus; and Francis Kwok, founder and CEO, Radica Systems Ltd as speakers, Thai companies will gain insights into digital marketing, including innovative branding strategies, big data and new media with art and design.

    – Legal Risk Management: Key to International Trade and Investment

    Experts will share tips on how Thai enterprises can protect their intellectual property and settle cross-border business disputes through arbitration in Hong Kong. Speakers will include Denis Brock, Council Member, The Law Society of Hong Kong; Pui-Ki Emmanuelle Ta, Counsel of the Secretariat, International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce – Asia Office; Winnie Tam, SC, Barrister-at-law, Arbitrator and Mediator, Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association.

    Gala Dinner showcasing Hong Kong: “Day and Night”

    An invitation-only gala dinner, to be held on the evening of 6 October, at the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, will welcome about 450 business leaders from Thailand and Hong Kong. Under the theme, “Hong Kong: Day and Night”, a “Thai Silk Crossover” fashion parade will be a highlight of the gala dinner. Six Thai silk-themed fashion collections by celebrated Hong Kong designers, Doris Kath Chan, Bonita Cheung, Koyo William Cheung, Polly Ho, Henry Lau and Mountain Yam will be showcased during the parade. Miss Hong Kong 2015, Louisa Mak has been invited to be among the models in the fashion parade. The gala dinner will also feature “Lifestyle Chemistry”, an interactive display window graced by live models, to present selected lifestyle brands from the HKTDC Design Gallery. A unique culinary experience featuring Hong Kong and Thai star chefs: Albert KK Au, Group Executive Chef (Chinese Division), Lai Sun F&B Management Ltd and James Norman, Executive Chef, Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, who will collaborate on a fusion menu with dedicated wine-pairing by the Hong Kong Sommelier Association.

    Hong Kong lifestyle for everyone

    The centrepiece of the citywide promotion is a Hong Kong galleria at the Siam Paragon shopping mall (3-9 October), spotlighting Hong Kong fashion, and lifestyle and gourmet products. Thai consumers can try on collections presented by the six Hong Kong designers and take photos using an e-wardrobe. Selected lifestyle products from the HKTDC Design Gallery via Lazada.co.th and hktdc.com Small Orders will also be featured, bringing a convenient O2O shopping experience to Thai consumers.

    Complimentary tea tasting by Hong Kong’s premium tea brands – Contact Design, Gianna, MingCha and OrTea(TM) – and food tasting sponsored by Lee Kum Kee, will also be available. As part of an extended In Style Hong Kong campaign, a range of products from the HKTDC’s Design Gallery will be sold at Betrend and The Selected from September to December 2016, offering local consumers a chance to experience Hong Kong’s design and creative excellence in lifestyle and household products.

    Meanwhile, a “Hong Kong Lifestyle Products” promotion is underway in Bangkok, with well-known Hong Kong fashion brands Bossini, Episode, Esprit, Giordano, G2000 and Jessica, as well as popular retail watch brand City Chain and optical boutiques eGG and Optical 88 offering discounts and other consumer incentives. To enjoy these offers, simply pick up a Citywide Promotion coupon booklet at more than 100 participating outlets across Bangkok, featuring over 30 Hong Kong and local brands from 1 September to 31 October, or visit Hong Kong Galleria in Siam Paragon from 3 to 9 October. More exciting Hong Kong products and gourmet can also be found at online retailer Lazada Thailand and gourmet website Openrice Thailand.

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  • Garuda targeting Rp386 billion transactions during travel fair

    Garuda targeting Rp386 billion transactions during travel fair

    PT Garuda Indonesia is targeting transactions of up to Rp386 billion in ticket sales during the Garuda Travel Fair (GATF) Phase II in 2016, to be held in 18 cities in Indonesia.

    Commercial Director of Garuda Indonesia A. Toni Soetirto said at a press conference here on Thursday that for Jakarta alone, the company targets sales transactions amounting to Rp225 billion and 80 thousand visitors.

    “The implementation of GATFs second phase provides an opportunity for service users to receive attractive offers,” he stated.

    In addition, he targeted a 3 to 4 percent increase in occupancy rate (load factor) compared with the off-season or low season.

    “In the third quarter, the interest of the public is higher,” he remarked.

    The overall target for transactions, he added, was higher than that of GATF Phase I, which raised Rp350 billion, and in Jakarta alone raised Rp179 billion, with 69 thousand visitors.

    Soetirto said GATF Phase II will be held in 18 major cities: Jakarta, Bandung, Medan, Lampung, Palembang, Semarang, Solo, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Lombok, Kupang, Balikpapan, Makassar, Manado, Ambon, Timika, and Jayapura.

    “Through this travel fair, the customers get the best prices and attractive packages,” he stated.

    Soetirto said Garuda Indonesia is also working with its subsidiary, Citilink Indonesia, as well as a number of travel agents to participate in the exhibition being held at the Jakarta Convention Center for three days from October 7 to 9.

    For the seventh time, Garuda will collaborate with Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) as its bank partner in organizing the exhibition.

    On the same occasion, Director of Consumer Banking BNI Anggoro Eko Cahyo said BNI would offer a variety of promotions and convenient services for customers at the exhibition.

    Among them, BNI credit card holders will receive 600 cashback tickets per day with a value up to Rp1 million, while the banks debit card holders will have a similar offer.

    “We appreciate Garuda Indonesias invitation to partner with them again and share profits, values, and so on,” Cahyo noted.

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  • Enjoy “Golden Moments” at Singapore Golden Week 2016

    Enjoy “Golden Moments” at Singapore Golden Week 2016

    Come 30 September, Singapore Retailers Association (SRA) will launch Singapore Golden Week (SGW) 2016 – a brand new lifestyle event to be held over three weekends from 30 September to 16 October, with global payment network UnionPay as the Official Card. With the aim of heightening the appeal of Singapore as a choice lifestyle destination for locals and tourists, the inaugural SGW 2016 will feature a suite of golden retail privileges, sure-win rewards and pampering experiences for consumers to indulge in. 

    GOLDEN “RETAIL” PRIVILEGES

    Over 200 participating outlets across retail, food and beverage (F&B), beauty and wellness, as well as hotels and attractions categories among others, will be giving UnionPay Cardholders more reasons to spend with exclusive “Golden Retail Privileges” at SGW 2016. 

    Cardholders can enjoy exclusive discounts as well as gifts with purchase when they shop at participating merchants with their UnionPay cards at SGW 2016. Popular participating merchants include department stores Isetan Scotts, Metro and Robinsons; clothing labels Dockers, Dorothy Perkins, Karen Millen, Levi’s, T.M.Lewin, Topshop, Topman, Warehouse; local attraction Alive Museum and many more.

    GOLDEN “SURE-WIN” REWARDS

    During SGW 2016, Cardholders who make a minimum purchase of S$50* with their UnionPay card anywhere in Singapore can take part in the “Golden Sure-Win Rewards” game located at ION Orchard’s Level 1 Atrium. In addition, shoppers who make purchases within ION Orchard can enjoy double chances of winning. Shoppers who spend $688 and above at selected Premier Tax Free merchants are entitled to a free limousine ride*. With over S$10,000 worth of shopping vouchers and prizes up for grabs in the “Golden Sure-Win Rewards” game, everyone can be a winner at SGW 2016!

    GOLDEN “PAMPERING” EXPERIENCES AT THE UNIONPAY GOLDEN LOUNGE

    In addition to the golden retail privileges and sure-win rewards, SGW 2016 promises pampering experiences for all locals and tourists, including non UnionPay Cardholders. Simply pop by the exclusive UnionPay “Golden Pampering Lounge” located at ION Orchard’s Level 1 Atrium, to enjoy a fresh cup of gourmet coffee, free flow gourmet cookies and take a break from the busy downtown shopping environment.

    UnionPay Cardholders can also present their UnionPay card to gain access to the exclusive VIP area, decked out with OSIM massage chairs for an even more luxurious experience. Plus, Cardholders can enjoy a special cup of gourmet “Gold Brew” coffee sprinkled with edible gold dust for the additional gold rush. With mobile charging ports available for the power-hungry and some of Singapore’s favourite brands and foods on show, there will not be a single dull moment at the “Golden Pampering Lounge”. 

    “UnionPay is delighted to be named as the Official Card for Singapore Golden Week 2016. As a brand new lifestyle event to be held over three weekends in September and October, we hope that this will light up the local retail scene, and offer new lifestyle experiences for both local and overseas UnionPay Cardholders to enjoy. And as we continue to build on the momentum to provide better products and services for consumers here in Singapore, we also hope to be able to, at the same time, bring fresh experiences, more choices and excitement to everyone,” said Mr. Wenhui Yang, General Manager of UnionPay International Southeast Asia.

    “Singapore Retailers Association is pleased to partner UnionPay again to bring consumers yet another event to look forward to and a new golden opportunity for the industry to leverage on. With a base of over 5.4 billion UnionPay Cards issued worldwide, Singapore Golden Week aims to create a new opportunity for retailers to drive spending among the overseas UnionPay Cardholders who will be here, as well as UnionPay Cardholders in Singapore. We are excited about the new business opportunities that SGW presents and the benefits that our partnership with UnionPay can potentially bring to participating merchants,” said Mr. Anthony Gan, Executive Director, Singapore Retailers Association.

    “ION Orchard is a favourite mall among locals and Chinese tourists and is the ideal location for UnionPay’s first Singapore Golden Week campaign. We are especially delighted to be the official mall that houses UnionPay’s Golden Pampering Lounge for their campaign for all redemptions. The central location along Orchard Road will certainly make shopping more convenient – and for purchases made at ION Orchard, shoppers will enjoy double chances when playing the ‘Golden Sure-Win Rewards’ game at the lounge, making it a truly rewarding shopping experience,” said Mr. Chris Chong, CEO Orchard Turn Developments.

    UnionPay International focuses on supporting the growth of UnionPay’s global payments business. With an acceptance footprint covering 160 countries and regions globally, UnionPay serves the world’s largest cardholder base by providing quality, cost-effective and secure payment services to over 5.4 billion Cardholders worldwide.

    In Singapore, UnionPay enables efficient and cost-effective payment services that are tailored to the needs of local businesses and consumers. UnionPay cards are issued by Bank of China (BOC), DBS Bank (DBS), Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and United Overseas Bank (UOB) in Singapore, and are accepted at over 80 percent of retail, lifestyle and food and beverage establishments locally, as well as at almost all automated teller machines (ATMs) across the island.

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  • Golden Pin Design Award 2016 reveals Design Mark recipients

    Golden Pin Design Award 2016 reveals Design Mark recipients

    The Golden Pin Design Award–an annual award organized by the Taiwan Design Center that seeks to raise global awareness for design created for and within huaren (Chinese-speaking) communities–today reveals its Design Mark recipients for 2016.

    After gruelling Secondary Selection judging rounds held in China and Taiwan, a total of 457 entries from Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and England, and Switzerland have received a Golden Pin Design Award 2016 Design Mark and are now in the running for a coveted Best Design trophy.

    Contemporary ideas of refined living dominated entries from Hong Kong. For TUVE, a boutique hotel located east of Victoria Park, Design Systems Ltd used natural and relatively common materials such as concrete, galvanized steel, brass, oak, and wired glass to create a surprisingly sophisticated yet relaxing space for visitors. When homegrown jewelry brand Chow Tai Fook wanted to reach out to a younger market, Noiseless Design Limited drew inspiration from the card game poker to create a visual aesthetic that plays into the new generation’s mix-and-match approach to fashion.

    Malaysian entries typically put a twist on what could be considered traditional huaren culture, such as in Dot Creative Design’s iPack, which added an element of play to the celebratory Chinese red envelope. Among entries from Macau was a plethora of thoughtfully designed posters for cultural events, including advertising by Untitled Lab for a tenth anniversary exhibition held by Centro De Estudos Permanentes Pos-Laboral and by Bilioteca Pública de Macau for the Macau Library Week 2016.

    Among entries from China were a proliferation of unusual or highly specialized smart products for living, including Yourpet Smart Bowl by inDare Design Strategy Limited, which allows pet-parents to regulate their fur baby’s food intake via their smartphones, and Intelligent Frying Pan by Hangzhou Hotdesign Co. Ltd, which uses an app and bluetooth technology to teach users how to cook better, faster, and smarter. Ancient ideas about nature also featured heavily as design inspiration among visual communication products from the country. About Trees, an aptly named Chinese font design by Hanqingtang Design, was influenced by the rings and trunks of trees, and Book of Freedom by independent designer Sihan Chou references a story from Chinese mythology that documents the struggle of a fish adapting to the life of a bird.

    It was clear that designers in Taiwan had thought carefully about the needs of those living in local or huaren communities: located in Taipei’s sublime Mandarin Oriental Hotel, restaurant Bencotto by Tony Chi & Associates embodies the best of contemporary huaren living; leading local homewares brand JIA Inc.’s Four Seasons Glass Set, designed by astute independent Taiwanese designer Pili Wu, portrays a glass bowl set as a Chinese ink painting for the table; new packaging for the nostalgically named soy sauce brand Grandpa Sauce incorporates traditional sisal rope to instil a sense of the past; and commuter bike Pick-Up Sliders adapts European practicality for life in bustling Taiwanese cities.

    Groundbreaking concepts both large and small in scale abounded in the Spatial Design category. HEX-SYS by China-based firm OPEN Architecture is a reconfigurable and reusable building system that attempts to address the problems created by the country’s decades-old building frenzy. The Kaohsiung Public Library, a joint project by the Kaohsiung City Government and Ricky Liu & Associates Architects + Planners, is a public building designed to economize on resources without sacrificing access to necessary public amenities or the beatification of the neighborhood in which the building sits. At the other end of the scale, Formo Design Studio in Taiwan combines a laundrette with a sleek coffee shop, ensuring laundry doers can wile away the hours in style and comfort; the facility is aptly named Travelled 9000 km.

    Overall, the 2016 entries into the Golden Pin Design Award received high praise from Secondary Selection judges. “You can really see the efforts of participants, as this year’s entries demonstrated an understanding of the importance of finding the balance between the market and huaren cultural values. In particular, spatial design entries have greatly improved, showing a balance between huaren culture elements and mainstream spatial aesthetics,” noted Shikuan Chen, Compal design director, educator, Icsid board member, and Jury Chair of the Secondary Selection judging round in Taipei.

    The Golden Pin Design Award–Taiwan’s longest-running and most prestigious design award–opened its doors to entries from and for huaren (Chinese-speaking) communities around the globe in 2014. This year sees a 27% growth in number of entries submitted into the Golden Pin Design Award: in 2015, the award received 2,360 entries compared with this year’s record-breaking 3,005 entries. Final Selection–the jury of which will be chaired by world-leading Japanese-Canadian designer Oki Sato, Chief Designer and founder of the famed Tokyo-based studio Nendo–will held in Taipei on September 28, with Best Design of the Year recipients announced on December 1 at a grand award ceremony, also held in Taiwan’s capital city.

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  • Max brings in the festive grandeur with Sanjeev Kapoor’s Limited Edition Virasat Collection

    Max brings in the festive grandeur with Sanjeev Kapoor’s Limited Edition Virasat Collection

    Max, India’s largest value fashion brand, today unveiled its Festive Collection with the celebrated Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar. They also launched an exclusive festive offer –Sanjeev Kapoor’s Virasat Collection limited edition collection,making this festive season shopping experience a delight for the esteemed customers. Designed by India’s eminent Chef- Sanjeev Kapoor, the Virasat Collection is an ode to the opulence and the grandeur of India’s rich heritage. Exquisite coffee mugs and cups and saucer sets from the Virasat Collection were launched as a part of ‘Max Celebrates India’ festive collection and will be available across all leading Max Fashion stores in India.

    “I am very excited to be associated with Max’s Fashion Festive collection launch that ensures that there are grand designs for the entire family available. Festive time is an emotional time for all of us and this collection by Max brings out just the best of this warm spirit. The modern shoppers demand latest fashion trends and Max brings a variety of festive wear to make everyone stand out this season. Said Bhumi Pednekar, talking about her association with Max.

    Speaking on the launch, Mr. Vasanth Kumar, Executive Director, Max Fashion Indiasaid “We are excited to unveil ‘Max Celebrates India’ festive collection that showcases the beauty of India’s diverse and rich cultural heritage. We are also very happy to bring to our Max customersthe exclusive limited edition festive offer from Chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s Signature Virasat collection”.

    Chef Sanjeev Kapoor said, “This festive season, I am happy to bring forth my exquisitely designed Virasat Collection with Max Fashion, as it offers a perfect platform to reach out to millions of festive shoppers. The brand Sanjeev Kapoor signifies ethnicity, which is being intrinsically weaved into its Virasat range of crockery through its intricate designs based on royal architecture synonymous to Jaipur’s heritage. Moreover, patrons can have the pleasure to discover and cook traditional Diwali delicacies with the Virasat recipe book, which contains a treasure of festive Indian recipes”.

    Indian festivals are grand celebrations of our rich culture and heritage and to commemorate the festivities, Max Fashion offersexclusive limited edition offer from the Virasat Collection.  Inspired by the Jharokhas (window) and leaf motifs in the Royal City Palace, Jaipur, the Virasat Collection features exquisite coffee mugs and cup and saucer sets designed by India’s renowned Chef, Sanjeev Kapoor.  Max Fashion is exclusively offering its valuable customers a pair of Coffee Mugs on every purchase of Rs. 3499. For all purchase of Rs 6,999 and above, the festive shoppers at Max will receive the limited edition beautiful Virasat Collection set of 4 cups &saucers.

    The festive season shopping indulgence gets a royal touch with Max’s Festive collection. Showcasing variety of ethnic Indian wear that draws inspiration from phulkari embroideries, decorative brocades to dramatic baroques and heirloom, Max’s festive collection special merchandises are designed for the entire family. Max’s Men’s wear introduces ‘TAVISH’, a one stop ethnic solution of beautifully chanderis, art silk and rich brocadeembroidered kurtas to bandi jackets. The bright colours of voluminous skirts, traditional anarkalis, jewelled toned crop tops, vibrant coloured tiered kurtas and maxi dresses are a perfect way to brighten wardrobes. The cheerful ethnic collection for kids encompasses beautiful chanderi lehenga cholis, maxi dresses and brocades in delightful shades of magenta, vibrant orange and emeralds.

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  • Garuda Indonesia opens new flight route in E. Nusa Tenggara

    Garuda Indonesia opens new flight route in E. Nusa Tenggara

    The national airline Garuda Indonesia launched a new flight route here to expand connectivity in East Indonesia, said Director of Garuda Indonesia Cargo Sigit Murhartono on Thursday.

    “The two new routes are Maumere-Denpasar, round trip, and direct flights on Kupang-Jakarta, round trip,” he said in a press statement in Kupang.

    The inauguration of the new flight path for Garuda Indonesia was conducted at the Frans Seda Airport in Maumere, Sikka District, and was attended by Sikka Regent Yoseph Ansar Rera.

    Murhartono said the new flight service to and from the NTT is part of the expansion of the flight network, which continues to be conducted by Garuda Indonesia.

    In addition, the opening of the new route is part of the continued commitment of the state-owned airline to support the programs of the Presiden Joko Widodo (Jokowi) administration.

    “We have a commitment to always support government programs to improve connectivity between the island and the city, especially in developing the tourism industry to realize the target of 272 million tourists visiting Indonesia and to make NTT Province a new tourist destination,” he noted.

    He also expected the opening of the new routes would allow Garuda to increase the flow of tourists and businesspeople between Kupang City, as the capital of the province, and Maumere, which has many tourist spots.

    Murhartono explained that the Maumere-Denpasar route will be served by Garuda Indonesia four times a week — Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday — with scheduled flights from Maumere departing at 10.55 a.m. and arriving in Denpasar at 00.55 p.m.

    Meanwhile, the Denpasar-Maumere trip will depart at 7 a.m. and will arrive in Maumere at 9 a.m. The Maumere-Denpasar round trip flight route will be served by an ATR 71-600 aircraft with a passenger capacity of 70 economy seats.

    The Kupang-Jakarta round trip flight will be served by a Bombardier CRJ 1000 NextGen aircraft, which is touted as being reliable and environmentally friendly with cost-efficient operations.

    “For the daily Kupang-Jakarta, round trip, service departure from Jakarta will be at 5 a.m., arriving in Kupang at 8.55 a.m. and then returning from Kupang at 6.55 p.m. and arriving in Jakarta at 8.10 p.m.,” he stated.

    With the opening of the new routes, Garuda Indonesia will serve up to 39 flights to and from NTT Province every week.

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  • Chuseok sales weren’t as terrible as expected

    Chuseok sales weren’t as terrible as expected

    Going into last week’s Chuseok holidays, expectations were low in the retail sector due to a prolonged economic slowdown and a soon-to-be-implemented anti-graft law that will make expensive presents unlawful.

    Against all odds, however, four major department stores in Korea enjoyed growth in the sales of holiday gift sets. To skirt an anti-graft law known as the Kim Young-ran Act, which goes into effect Sept. 28 and bans the exchange of gifts costing more than 50,000 won among civil servants and even journalists, the stores offered lower-cost gift sets.

    Galleria Department Store said sales of holiday gift sets rose 10 percent between Aug. 26 and Sept. 14 compared to the same period last year.

    The proportion of products that were cheaper than 50,000 won was 26 percent – the highest share and 6 percentage points more than last year. Products that cost more than 300,000 won accounted for 14 percent, 1 percentage point lower than last year.

    Galleria Department Store expanded gift options that cost less than 50,000 won from last year’s 56 items to 478. As a result, revenue generated from 50,000-won-or-less products rose by 47 percent year-on-year.

    Lotte Department Store said sales of holiday gift sets between Aug. 26 and Sept. 13 rose 8.6 percent year-on-year. Sales of processed food products and daily necessities – which usually cost less than 50,000 won – rose by 16.5 percent. But sales of meat and gulbi (dried corvinas) – relatively expensive holiday gifts – only increased by 6.5 and 3.8 percent respectively.

    Hyundai Department Store said its holiday gift set sales between Aug. 29 and Sept. 14 rose by 3.8 percent.

    Shinsegae Department Store saw a sales increase of 3.6 percent in Chuseok gift sets sold between Aug. 26 and Sept. 13. Products or sets cheaper than 50,000 won saw an increase of 7.8 percent while more costly items only rose 2.9 percent.

    The Kim Young-ran Act was not the only factor in holiday spending.

    An unprecedented heat wave during the summer on top of a prolonged economic slowdown prompted many consumers to buy health supplements, which are cheaper than agricultural and marine products.

    The most popular product was red ginseng extracts or pills. Health-related products saw a sales surge of 26 percent year-on-year at branches of Galleria Department Store. The top seller in the health category was red ginseng extract, which is in the 80,000-won price range.

    Shinsegae, which is known for its extensive and affordable wine selection, said sales of wine rose the most – 40.5 percent – followed by health-related items, which rose by 20.8 percent year-on-year.

    Health-conscious products were the most popular at Lotte as well, enjoying a 28 percent year-on-year increase in sales.

     

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  • Carrefour Taiwan Ping Jian store’s ‘unique’ experience

    Carrefour Taiwan Ping Jian store’s ‘unique’ experience

    Customers of Carrefour Taiwan’s new Ping Jian store have been promised “a new shopping experience in different universe”.

    The store, the French retailer’s 88th in the country, features what the company describes as an “integration of three dimensions: eco-friendly, digital application and customer experience”.

    “Many new concepts have been implemented to create a unique shopping experience,” Carrefour Taiwan said in a statement.

    Digital technology was applied to upgrade customer’s shopping experience. A 3D virtual fitting room delivers customers a brand new experience. Through searching products by different categories, users can try on different looks within seconds. The outfits fit customers’ bodies on the screen and users can view them at different angles and easily find an ideal match.

    carrefour-taiwan

    The two-level Ping Jian store has a sales area of 6855 sqm, a restaurant precinct and shopping mall. Built as a ‘green building’ it uses LED lights and various materials to reduce energy use by 25 per cent. A water recycling system collects rainwater for cleaning and gardening.

    Food options include a professional pizza oven. Customers can customise their own pizza with any ingredient.

    In the salads and soups bar, customer can make their own salad or lunch box.

    In front of the cashier area, hamburger, shawarma, fried chicken and drinks in “Oh Bar” are made for takeaway. Ping Jian also launched Australia’s premium Wagyu Kobe Beef which attract hundreds of customers during opening day tastings.

    Outside the cashier line, Customer can enjoy their food in a spacious rest area with nature and green outlook and an aquarium.

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