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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.

  • South Korea sees retail sales grow in August

    South Korea sees retail sales grow in August

    South Korea’s retail sales grew 3.3 percent year over year in August on the back of higher sales in convenience stores super super market (SSM) operators, and online cosmetics and food retailers.

    The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE) surveyed 13 brick-and-mortar retailers and 12 online retailers and saw a 7.6 percent increase in convenience stores sales due to close proximity, small purchase shopping, and increased outdoor activities during the summer holiday season.

    SSM operators reported a 3.2 percent increase due to higher demand for fresh/prepared food products and processed food products, however, flagging a sales decline in daily necessities.

    Overall online sales during the month increased 8.1 percent, thanks to sales in cosmetics and food, which grew 14.1 percent and 13.0 percent, respectively. Online home/living sector grew 8.7 percent, while online services sold jumped 13.3 percent.

    Overall brick-and-mortar hypermarket sales fell 8.4 percent as home/living and food sales dropped 12.8 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively, due to slow demand for gift sets, and fresh and processed food products.

    Total department store sales 4.9 percent as food products, foreign designer labels and men’s clothing sold declined.

    The data also noted a 2 percent decrease in fashion/clothing sales and 5.6 percent decline in sports sales as consumers cut purchases of non-essential items amid lower consumer sentiment.

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  • Thai AirAsia Introduces New Flight To India

    Thai AirAsia Introduces New Flight To India

    The India-Thailand air connectivity is set to receive another boost, with Thai AirAsia announcing a new service from Bangkok to Guwahati in the northeast region of India. The airline already has a significant presence in the country, currently flying to six destinations from Bangkok. The new service will provide a more convenient connection to passengers from Guwahati and the nearby region looking to travel to Thailand.

    Thai AirAsia has announced a new service from Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport to Guwahati in the northeast Indian state of Assam. The new service is in response to a growing demand for travel between the two countries and will start in December. Tansita Akrarittipirom, Head of Commercial AirAsia Thailand, commented.

    To attract passengers, the carrier has offered attractive introductory fares if booked between September 13th and October 1st for a travel period of December 1st, 2023, to March 29th, 2024.

    Thai AirAsia will start the Bangkok-Guwahati service on December 1st with three weekly flights according to the following schedule:

    The carrier has a significant presence in India, given that Thailand is one of the most popular foreign destinations for Indians. Thai AirAsia currently flies to six Indian cities – Bengaluru, Kolkata, Kochi, Jaipur, Lucknow, and Chennai.

    From October, it will also start flying to Ahmedabad and Gaya. Per Cirium data, once Thai AirAsia begins its Guwahati service in December, it will serve nine destinations in India with a total of 402 monthly return flights, offering more than 72,000 seats.

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  • Bamboo Airways set to downsize fleet

    Bamboo Airways set to downsize fleet

    After restructuring its flight network, Bamboo Airways has said it will also reduce the number of aircraft to lower costs.

    An executive at the airline said the restructuring in the past two months included discontinuing unprofitable routes.

    The airline has not yet announced the number or type of aircraft that will be grounded.

    According to German civil aviation database Planespotters, Bamboo Airways currently operates 23 aircraft, seven fewer than last year.

    It plans to seek approval from regulatory authorities to increase the size of its fleet to over 30 in future, though again, no concrete plans have been announced.

    In a recent report to the Ministry of Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said it supports the expansion plan but added the airline needs to ensure it has the financial capacity, human resources, and aviation infrastructure.

    By flying three different aircraft – Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer – that do not allow interoperability, Bamboo Airways has additional costs in terms of hiring pilots, technicians, and training instructors for each of them.

    Many other Vietnamese carriers, such as Vietjet, Pacific Airlines, and Vietravel Airlines, only fly Airbus aircraft.

    All of Vietnam Airlines’ narrow-body aircraft are from Airbus, while its wide-body ones are a mix of Airbus and Boeing.

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  • Fertilizer prices surge after China imposes export ban

    Fertilizer prices surge after China imposes export ban

    Urea prices have risen by 10% in September and 30% since July after China banned the export of the fertilizer to keep domestic prices under control.

    Petrovietnam Camau Fertilizer raised urea prices by 10% this month to VND11,200 per kilogram.

    Petrovietnam Fertilizer and Chemicals Corp hiked prices by 4.8% to VND11,000.

    Other chemical producers also effected similar hikes. Some such as HCMC-based Viet Au have raised prices to VND12,500.

    Urea provides plants with nitrogen to stimulate leaf growth.

    Phung Ha, deputy chairman of the Vietnam Fertilizer Association, said China, the biggest producer and consumer of urea globally, ordered some manufacturers earlier this month to stop exports and this caused prices of the key fertilizer to surge globally including in Vietnam.

    Vietnamese farmers are buying fertilizers for their winter-spring crops, and the rising demand is exacerbating the rise in prices.

    In the first eight months of the year, Vietnam imported nearly 2.5 million tons of fertilizers worth US$833 million, up 13% in volume but down 19% in value year-on-year.

    Nearly half of the imports came from China.

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  • Telegram brings a slew of new improvements to Stories

    Telegram brings a slew of new improvements to Stories

    After celebrating 10 years last month, Telegram announced a bunch of new features and improvements for both regular and Premium users. Among the most important changes included in this update are the ability for channels to post stories and new reaction stickers that are now available in Stories.

    Starting today, Telegram users can grant channels the ability to post stories by giving them boosts. However, only Telegram Premium users are getting one boost that can be assigned to any channel.

    Each channel can level up once they gain more boosts and, more importantly, for each level Telegram users can post one additional story per day. It’s a rather complicated system meant to encourage people to pay for Premium if they want to boost their Stories.

    Telegram also announced that channels can ask subscribers for boosts using a special link. The link can be generated by heading to Channel Info / More / Statistics / Boosts. Once a channel reaches level 10, it will get +15 resistance to trolls and unlock unique admin skins, whatever that might mean.

    Additionally, once a channel unlocks Stories, admins with a Telegram Premium subscription can post by tapping the plus icon on the Channel Info page. Furthermore, the latest update introduces the ability to add reaction stickers to Stories. Each story posted by channels will now show reaction counters to allow users to see how many people chose each emotion. A new icon in the sticker panel is now available for those who wish to add a reaction sticker. Premium subscribers can use any of their custom emoji in addition to the regular stickers.

    With the latest version of Telegram, users can use audio files from their devices in photo and video stories. Make sure to tap “Audio” from the sticker panel and select a file to be able to adjust the track if you want to select a specific part.

    Finally, Telegram is getting new login alerts. The latest version of the app will send notifications to all your devices. The new logins will also display an alert at the top of the chat list.

  • Capital A increases its presence in Cambodia

    Capital A increases its presence in Cambodia

    Capital A, the entity behind the AirAsia Aviation Group of airlines, remains committed to a November 2023 launch of AirAsia Cambodia (Phnom Penh). It comes as Capital A steps up its involvement in the Cambodian market and takes a 60% stake in a local ground services company called ADE Cambodia.

    In late 2022, ch-aviation reported that Capital A had set up a joint venture company, AirAsia (Cambodia) Co., Ltd, to facilitate its entry into Cambodia with the AirAsia brand. The start-up is a 51/49 joint venture with the hospitality group Sivilai Asia.

    This week, Capital A announced another joint venture agreement with Sivilai Asia. A September 20 Bursa Malaysia filing said the principal activities of ADE Cambodia will be engineering maintenance services, component and warehouse services, engineering support services, and digital and innovation services to aircraft, including repair and maintenance of aircraft and/or engines, consultancy, and training. Capital A says ADE Cambodia will support its local low-cost carrier.

    “This will create an opportunity for ADE to establish its operation in Cambodia,” the filing reads, noting that ADE will also hunt for business from other airlines flying into the country. “The objective is to optimize utilization of ADE’s assets at maximum capacity to reach utmost productivity […] enabling Capital A to capitalize on cost-saving opportunities and potentially capture surpluses from new revenue streams generated.”

    Capital A is making the USD1.2 million investment via its subsidiary, Asia Digital Engineering Sdn Bhd, a Malaysia-based business principally engaged in aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul. Sivilai Asia is a Cambodia-based incorporated in early 2022. Its core business is providing consulting services to the hospitality industry.

    The Capital A investment, which is funded from internal cash reserves and not subject to approval from Capital A shareholders, is expected to be finalized by the end of 2023.

  • Supercuts plans foray into India, eyes 100 stores initially

    Supercuts plans foray into India, eyes 100 stores initially

    Regis Corporation is set to bring its hair salon chain Supercuts to the Indian market via a master franchise agreement with Ravissant Style Private Limited, a subsidiary of Ravishing Style.

    Ravishing Style, an existing franchisee of Supercuts locations in the US, plans to open at least 100 salons in India within the first five years. The company also eyes further expansion through exclusive sub-franchising rights across Northern and Western India.

    Neeru Jain Wadhwa, CEO, and Alok Wadhwa, president of Ravishing Style said Supercuts will offer a “differentiated customer experience”, with a comprehensive salon experience including expert haircuts, masterful colouring, highlights, hair spa treatments, rejuvenating facials, nail services, professional makeup application, and exclusive Indian bridal services.

    Matthew Doctor, president and CEO of Regis Corporation, described the agreement as an important milestone in the company’s growth strategy.

    “India, a market full of long-term growth potential, is primed to experience the first large-scale, US-based salon brand in the country,” Doctor added.

    Regis Corporation is a leader in the haircare industry, franchising or owning 4863 locations as of June 30. Aside from Supercuts, which currently has more than 2000 stores across the US, the company’s brands include SmartStyle, Cost Cutters, Roosters and First Choice Haircutters.

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  • Fertilizer imports reach two-year high in August

    Fertilizer imports reach two-year high in August

    According to the General Department of Customs, Vietnam’s fertilizer import volume reached the highest in more than two years in August, while prices fell over the previous year.

    In August, Vietnam imported more than 472,283 tonnes of fertilizer worth $159 million, up 54% over July in volume and 85% in value. This was the highest import volume since July 2021.

    The fertilizer prices reached $338 a tonne last month, up 19% on-month, but down 26% year-on-year.

    Ending August, fertilizer imports rose 13% to 2.5 million tonnes, but the import value fell 19% year-on-year to $833 million.

    The average price of imported fertilizer was estimated at $347 per tonne, a 25% decrease from last year.

    China is the country’s biggest fertilizer provider so far this year, accounting for roughly half of all imported fertilizer with more than 1.2 million tonnes, valued at $375 million, up 15% on-year in volume and 14% in value.

    It was followed by Japan, with more than 225,000 tonnes of imported fertilizer and worth $21 million.

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  • WhatsApp announces better online shopping experience

    WhatsApp announces better online shopping experience

    WhatsApp is trying to create new experiences in addition to the basic chat experience that everyone knows and loves. Businesses and business-oriented features have been the focus of WhatsApp’s development strategy for quite some time, but few projects have materialized in actual features that users can take advantage of.

    Early this week, WhatsApp announced Flows, a new purchase service that allows users to buy products and services directly within the app. Either is a train ticket, a meal or an appointment booking, Flows is supposed to make the purchasing experience in WhatsApp as simple and snappy as possible.

    WhatsApp promised to make Flows available to businesses around the world, at least those that use the WhatsApp Business Platform, in the coming weeks. Flows will allow businesses to provide WhatsApp users with menus and customizable forms that support their needs.

    In addition, WhatsApp announced that it’s making it easier to complete a purchase directly in the chat. First, users in India will be able to add items to their car and send a payment using one of the various supported methods like UPI apps, debit and credit cards, and more. To make the purchase experience safe and simple, WhatsApp is working with partners like Razorpay and PayUu.

    Finally, WhatsApp is introducing a verification process, which will provide Meta Verified statuses to businesses that successfully demonstrate their authenticity. Those businesses will receive a verified badge, enhanced account support and impersonation protection, WhatsApp says.

    Furthermore, Meta Verified will offer some additional premium features for interested businesses, including the ability to create a custom WhatsApp page discoverable via a web search and multi-device support.

    WhatsApp will start testing the Meta Verified feature with small businesses using the WhatsApp Business app very soon, so this won’t be available to businesses on the WhatsApp Business Platform yet.

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  • New WhatsApp beta on TestFlight includes WhatsApp Beta for iPad

    New WhatsApp beta on TestFlight includes WhatsApp Beta for iPad

    Popular messaging app WhatsApp has never offered an app for the iPad. Instead, iPad users who want to use the platform are forced to use the web version of WhatsApp using a mobile browser. That’s because in the beginning, there wasn’t a separate iPadOS operating system for the tablets and WhatsApp didn’t work with the iPad.

    From time to time, there have been several false starts, including a couple of years ago when Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg (Meta owns WhatsApp) and WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart discussed a possible iPad app for WhatsApp in a group chat.

    Per WABetaInfo, the latest version of the WhatsApp Beta (version 23.19.1.71), available only from Apple’s TestFlight, is compatible with the iPad. You will have to be a member of the WhatsApp for iOS official beta program on TestFlight to install WhatsApp on your iPad. Once you install it, you will need to scan a QR code using your iPhone. The app will then download all of your conversations, and you’ll be able to send and receive messages on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

    Once the app is installed on the iPad, users will be able to use WhatsApp on their Apple tablets regardless of whether their iPhone is nearby or not, even if the devices aren’t sharing the same Wi-Fi signal. The WhatsApp app for iPad is limited in that you cannot open a new WhatsApp account from it, similar to the version of WhatsApp made for the desktop. It offers more content on the screen thanks to the larger displays.

    It isn’t known when the public will get access to this app and as we said, the Beta is available only from Apple’s TestFlight, so there is limited availability. But that will change as soon as WhatsApp for iPad becomes available in the App Store.

    We should point out that WhatsApp’s sibling, Instagram, also does not offer an app for iPad. Both WhatsApp and Instagram were purchased by what was then known as Facebook in February 2014, and April 2012 respectively.

  • iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 are now available for download

    iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 are now available for download

    Apple has delivered on its promise from the Wonderlust event, and iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 are ready for download. If you’re eager to upgrade to the latest iOS or iPadOS version, just follow these simple steps.

    Head over to Settings, tap on General, and select Software Update. From there, you can download the latest update. If you’re not in a rush to explore what iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 have to offer, you can simply let your iPhone or iPad handle the download in inactive hours, but make sure it’s while charging.

    If your battery is running low, it’s a good move to juice up your phone or tablet before diving into the update. Also, it’s a smart call to connect to Wi-Fi unless you want to be left wondering where all your mobile data went. After your iPhone or iPad gets that new OS update, it’s time to dive in and explore what’s new. But before you jump in, let’s take a quick peek at some of the coolest new features.

    iOS 17 brings in Contact Posters, which lets you decide how you want to show up on the other person’s screen when you call them. You can jazz it up by creating a full-screen calling card with a photo, emojis, and more.

    You can also explore Live Voicemail. When someone is leaving you a voicemail, their message gets transcribed to text on your lock screen in real time. After seeing what it’s all about, you get to decide if you want to answer the call.

    You can also leave a video message on FaceTime or quickly share contacts using NameDrop – bring your iPhone close to another iPhone. Plus, there’s an upgraded Private Browsing mode, better Autocorrect, and some fresh emojis thrown into the mix. For a full rundown of all the cool stuff iOS 17 has in store for your iPhone.

    Now, you can slap interactive widgets onto your iPad’s home screen, not just to peek at info but to play around with it too, right from those widgets. Plus, iPadOS 17 brings lock screen customization to your iPad, just like on the iPhone.

    The Health app is making its way to the iPad in iPadOS 17, making the most of that large screen and giving you a better look at all your health stats and data. If you’ve got an Apple Watch, sync it up with your iPad, and you’ll have all your health info right there on the bigger screen.

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  • Reliance Retail’s Hamleys opens first store in Italy

    Reliance Retail’s Hamleys opens first store in Italy

    Reliance Retail’s Hamleys has opened its first exclusive retail store in Milan, Italy, in partnership with Giochi Preziosi.

    The new 13,300 sq ft toy store is located at Corso Vittorio Emanuele II in Central Milan. Giochi Preziosi secured the exclusive right to operate Hamleys stores in Italy.

    “The finest toy shop in the world is all set to bring its theatrical magic to Italy! We are excited to spread smiles with our expansion and are proud to partner with the Giochi Preziosi Group,” said Sumeet Yadav, CEO at Hamleys Global.

    “The new store launch is timed perfectly with a refreshed store design concept, and we’re eager to weave new unparalleled experiences for children and families.”

    The company will also launch a flagship store in Rome following the opening of the store in Milan, which sells curated toys from popular brands such as Lego, Nerf, and Barbie.

    In addition, Build-A-Bear Workshop said it will open its first location, which will also be operated by Giochi Preziosi, at the new Hamleys store in Milan.

    Build-A-Bear allows its customers to create their custom soft toys.

    “We are thrilled to bring Build-A-Bear to Milan and in a beautiful and historic shopping gallery, where we can serve even more guests from around the world, and be part of creating special memories for them,” said Chris Hurt, COO at Build-A-Bear.

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  • Google makes a small change to the Android version of the YouTube app

    Google makes a small change to the Android version of the YouTube app

    Google likes to fool around with YouTube like a person who can’t stop scratching an itch. Unlike changes made to Google Maps that are helpful, some of the changes made to YouTube appear to be done for no real reason. Recently, the web version of the video stream moved from square corners to rounded corners on the thumbnails and the video player, and the feedback from YouTube users was not exactly favorable.

    Now it appears that YouTube is making the same change to videos on the YouTube Android app. The result is a more blinding white light in the background which might lead some users to turn on Dark theme. Open the YouTube app on Android and tap the profile picture in the upper right corner. Next, tap on Settings > General > Appearance. A popup box will ask you to choose from using the device theme, Light theme, or Dark theme. Make your choice.

    Since the rounded corners extend to the video player on the web and not just the thumbnails, we can assume that this will be the case for the Android app as well. Right now, the new look hasn’t been pushed out to many Android devices and it has yet to appear on my Pixel 6 Pro using Android 14 Beta 5.3.

    On the YouTube website, the rounded corners do not appear when you are watching a video in full screen or in Theater mode. But once you return to Default view, they do return. Now we don’t know exactly when Google plans to roll this out more widely to Android users and whether it will follow through by rounding the corners on the iOS YouTube app.

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  • Lender Sacombank eyes Bamboo Airways investment

    Lender Sacombank eyes Bamboo Airways investment

    Sacombank, a major creditor of Bamboo Airways, is seeking approval from economic regulators to invest in the local carrier.< Phan Dinh Tue, a Bamboo Airways board member, said at an unusual meeting on Friday that acombank is a credit institution supporting Bamboo Airways with capital. Hence, Sacombank is genuinely interested in the restructuring process of the airline and is expecting it to grow. Tue said Sacombank had expressed interest in providing more capital for Bamboo Airways. But being a credit institution, Sacombank’s move considered an outside-industry investment. That is why the bank is speeding up the processes to have regulators’ consent before the investment is possible. Bamboo Airways approved items related to the board’s new structure and changes to the company’s charter and the board’s operating regulations. The company also issued management regulations and directions to select strategic shareholders. Bamboo Airways’ general meeting of shareholders also agreed with Board Chairman Le Thai Sam’s recommendation on helping the board organize and review the company’s capital holdings, raise-reduced charter capital to serve the airline’s restructuring goal and mobilize capital from strategic shareholders. The goal is to expand the company’s flight network, and the quality of services. Bamboo Airways’ board now has five members: Le Thai Sam, Le Ba Nguyen, Nguyen Ngoc Trong, Phan Dinh Tue and Le Thi Truc Quynh. After dismissing three members, Bamboo Airways' supervisory board also elected three new people: Nguyen Thi Hong Cam, Pham Van Phung and Nguyen Dang Khoa. The number of company’s legal representatives was also reduced from three to two, including the board’s chairman and the director.

  • Threads by Instagram will now let you turn on notifications for posts you want to follow

    Threads by Instagram will now let you turn on notifications for posts you want to follow

    Threads by Instagram, the Meta app launched back in July, continues on its pursuit to dethrone its competition — namely X, formerly known as Twitter. In its newest rollout of features, the app is implementing notifications for threads you want to keep an eye out.
    The new feature was made public today via a post on the platform, announcing that users can now turn on notifications to follow a thread for 24 hours. This is a feature that is meant exclusively for the mobile apps, and not for the web client.
    The news was simultaneously shared by Instagram boss, Adam Mosseri, adding that this hasn’t been the only feature rolled out to the platform this week. On the web, you can also now quote other posts, which was not possible when Threads first rolled out its web client.
    To follow a thread and get notified when someone replies, you just need to tap the bell in the top right of a thread. When someone does reply, you’ll get a notification in your activity tab.

    If you are concerned about privacy, you’ll be glad to know that there will be no need to follow the account whose thread you are following, and there will be no way for others to know that you are. Additionally, you will be able to turn the notification off anytime you like by tapping the same bell icon again.

    This is the latest in a string of new features the platform has been rapidly deploying to its user base in order to combat its decline in daily active users. One of the most notable releases recently being keyword search, a glaring omission on the platform when it originally launched. I am excited to see what Threads rolls out next from the long list of features they have stated are in their roadmap.
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