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

Incheon airport’s 2nd terminal ready to open in 2018
Incheon International Airport plans to open its new terminal on 18 January 2018, about three weeks before the start of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the airport’s operator said.

The opening date of Terminal 2 was set based on the consideration that the Olympic Village opens on 30 January 2018.

The airport has been expanding its facilities to accommodate the athletes and officials who will be coming to Korea for the Winter Games.

Four members of the SkyTeam alliance – Korean Air, Delta, Air France and KLM – will use the new terminal. Other carriers, including Asiana Airlines, will remain in the existing Terminal 1.

The airport expects about 20 percent of the Games’ 300,000 visitors will go through Terminal 2.

The new terminal will allow the airport to handle 72 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo annually, according to data from the airport’s operator.

The existing terminal had the capacity to handle 54 million passengers and 4.5 million tons of cargo a year.

“Based on expanded infrastructure, we expect the airport to become the core airport in the Northeast Asian region,” an airport spokesman said, “and also win in the competition to become the world’s leading hub airport.”

The new terminal will operate independently from Terminal 1 and have its own check-in, security and customs facilities. The airport said it has upgraded the technology to shorten the time from check-in to boarding. Self-check-in counters and guide robots will be installed for passenger convenience.

“At Terminal 2, overall waiting time can be reduced by roughly 10 minutes compared to Terminal 1,” said Chung Il-young, chief executive of Incheon International Airport.

The airport also announced a plan to continue expanding Terminal 2 through 2023. The airport has so far spent 5 trillion won on building the terminal and plans to add another 4.2 trillion won to expand its capacity so that it can handle up to 46 million passengers a year.
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November 15, 2017
AirAsia India Offers Flight Tickets At Base Fare Of Rs. 99 In Big Sale
AirAsia India is offering domestic flights at a starting base fare of Rs. 99. AirAsia India’s Rs. 99 fare excludes taxes and other charges, the airline said on its website – airasia.com. The offer of a starting fare of Rs. 99 is part of a limited-period promotional scheme which requires flyers to make advance bookings. Called ‘Big Sale’, the promotional scheme is valid on bookings for travel from May 7, 2018 to January 31, 2019, according to the AirAsia website. Bookings under the AirAsia Big Sale are open till November 19, 2017, it noted.
Here are 10 things to know about AirAsia’s Big Sale offer:
airasia big sale airasia website
(AirAsia said the ‘Big Sale’ is valid on bookings for travel from May 7, 2018 to January 31, 2019)

1. The fares offered under the Big Sale scheme are quoted for single journey (one-way) only, AirAsia said.

2. The fares offered under the Big Sale scheme are only available for online bookings at the airline’s website – www.airasia.com, it noted.

3. AirAsia India is offering all-inclusive fares starting at Rs. 403 under the Big Sale offer. A search on the AirAsia bookings portal showed tickets for flights from Bhubaneswar to Ranchi in mid-May next year were available for booking at Rs. 403. The ticket price of Rs. 403 included fares of Rs. 99, a surcharge of Rs. 52 and GST (Goods and Services Tax) of Rs. 8, according to the airline’s website.
airasia big sale airasia website
(Tickets priced at Rs. 403 include fares of Rs. 99, according to the AirAsia bookings portal)

4. Some other starting all-inclusive prices included flights from Ranchi to Bhubaneswar at Rs. 466; from Bhubaneswar to Kolkata at Rs. 507; from Ranchi to Kolkata at Rs. 571, and from Kochi to Bengaluru at Rs. 764, according to the airline’s website. Some other flight tickets offered just above Rs. 1,000 include Kolkata-Ranchi (Rs. 1,001), Kolkata-Bhubaneswar (Rs. 1,001), Goa-Bengaluru (Rs. 1,087), Guwahati-Imphal (Rs. 1,096) and Hyderabad-Bengaluru (Rs. 1,061).

5. The fare includes airport taxes (except for selected airports where airport tax is collected at the point of departure), AirAsia said. “A non-refundable processing fee is applicable for payments via credit, debit or charge card,” AirAsia added.

6. Without divulging the number of seats offered under the Big Sale offer, AirAsia said: “Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights.”

7. AirAsia further said the offer was valid for new purchases only and fares are not available during embargo period.

8. “All taxes must be paid at the time of purchase unless otherwise stated,” AirAsia said. “Full payment shall be made upon booking,” it added.

9. The airline also said the offer is subject to availability “and AirAsia’s Terms and Conditions of Carriage”. Under the Big Sale scheme, AirAsia said, no refunds are permitted after a payment has been made.

10. Change of flight dates will be chargeable. “Changes to flights and dates are permitted subject to change fees… Changes to name are not permitted,” AirAsia India said.
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November 13, 2017
Vietnam’s ‘Little Paris’ tells tourists to be ‘decent’ and ‘civilized’
Lam Dong Province, home to the popular highlands resort town of Da Lat, has issued a list of rules for tourists that includes a dress code and shopping guidelines.

The code of etiquette, drawn up by the province’s tourism department, asks visitors to be “civilized, decent and responsible”, Tuoi Tre newspaper reported.

They should wear suitable clothing, respect cultural differences, avoid littering and stealing, and queue in line when they are shopping or buying tickets.

The purchase of undocumented goods and wildlife products is deemed “inappropriate” behavior, the rules state.

Hotels, restaurants and other services are also warned not to overcharge, sell copycat or low quality products, or pester customers.

The code of conduct is based on a national set issued by the tourism ministry in March this year, and will be printed in Vietnamese and English in time for the annual Da Lat Flower Festival in late December.

Lam Dong received around three million visitors in the first half of this year, of which foreign travelers increased 44.3 percent from a year ago to more than 204,400.

The Central Highlands province is best known for Da Lat, which is often dubbed “Little Paris” due to its colonial history.

But like many places across Vietnam, Da Lat has both benefited and lost out to the recent travel boom.The mostly quiet and charming town, surrounded by pine trees, flowers and vegetables farms, is famous for its cool climate and has gained in popularity both as a romantic getaway for lovers and an oasis in a country that usually sweats all year round.

Its center is covered in garbage on big holidays, when complaints of thefts and rip-offs are not uncommon.

This year, Da Lat has reported multiple cases of local gangsters and racketeering gangs colluding with businesses to scam travelers, usually on strawberry farms or in souvenir shops.

The gangs have reportedly threatened to assault tour guides and drivers from several travel companies who have refused to lure tourists into their traps.

The issue got physical in May when a tourist was beaten after trying to return a product, prompting the government to order immediate measures be taken to protect visitors from these new groups of gangsters.
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November 13, 2017
Saigon says delayed first river bus will launch in late November
Saigon’s first river bus service will hopefully be up and running later this month, according to local authorities.

The service will cruise 10.8 kilometers (6.7 miles) from Bach Dang Wharf in District 1 to Linh Dong Station in Thu Duc District, passing through District 2 and Binh Thanh District.

With 12 stops in total, the entire trip will take half an hour, cutting a third off the time it would take to travel by road and costing just VND15,000 (66 U.S. cents).

The first river bus was due to launch this summer, but the city has kept passengers waiting on the dock. In August, it said that construction delays would not allow the first river bus to set sail until October.

The city’s transport department explained that as it is the city’s first river bus, it wants to make sure the service is as user-friendly and convenient for passengers as possible.

However, the only passengers to have experienced the service thus far are those recruited by the city for two test runs.

Saigon has more than 1,000km of inland waterways, so the river bus service should ease traffic and attract more tourists, director of the city’s transport department Bui Xuan Cuong told local media in August.

A second route from Bach Dang Wharf to District 8 is scheduled to open in early 2018. The two routes are said to have cost an estimated VND120 billion ($5.28 million).

In April, the city’s municipal administration approved two more routes connecting the downtown with new urban areas in District 7.

In September, the city also agreed to a plan tabled by a private firm to add three more routes connecting the city’s downtown with the outlying districts of Can Gio and Cu Chi, as well as the stunning Con Dao Island, which is administered by the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau and lies 230 kilometers (143 miles) away from Saigon.
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November 13, 2017
Vietjet evolving as a Consumer Airline in its next phase development

Fast growing Vietjet is evolving to become a “Consumer Airline” in its next phase of development, according to its President and CEO, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, at the APEC CEO Summit 2017 in Danang, Vietnam.
Speaking at the session themed “Connecting for Growth,” Nguyen said Vietjet is heading to build up the airline that serves consumption demands, using e-commerce platform and logistics and consumption product distribution system.

“We are leading a digitalization and automation trend in the 4.0 technology revolution. I believe that direction plays a very important role to fulfill the target of – connecting for growth,” she said.

Sharing the Vietjet success story, Nguyen said “our pride named Vietjet” is a typical corporate culture trait which is the key of success for all our plans, all strategies and all ambitions.

“Each of us is proud of being a member of our organization. We do strongly believe that with the connection of civilizations and nations and cultures, trading sectors which create ecological systems for human development and economic growth, there is a prosperous and brighter future in the sky. We are dedicated to realizing that future soon.”

She also presented the Vietjet vision with a global development plan that comes with efforts to build up the airline into a multi-national company and multi-cultural environment homing staff from more than 30 countries.

Defined by our motto “Sky Connection,” Vietjet international routes now account for more than two-third of our operating network, she said.

“We are heading our international network via interlines with credited airlines in the world. We successfully did it with Qatar Airways, doing it with Japan Airlines and will do it with Asiana soon. We are also working with one carrier in the US and one carrier in EU for possible co-operations. Other than standard low-cost carriers which can only fly around with a radius of less than three hours, in a very near future, our passengers can fly to many destinations around the world,” she added.

At the helm of Vietjet’s rapid expansion, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao has been named by Forbes as one of the world’s top 10 power women in business. It is her ambition to grow Vietjet, which she founded in 2011 into an international airline. Vietjet, the first airline in Vietnam to operate as a new-age airline with low-cost and diversified services, was listed in the country’s largest IPO on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange last February.

After only five years of operation, Vietjet has captured the biggest share of the Vietnam local market and become the country’s largest domestic carrier.

The APEC CEO Summit 2017, held in Da Nang between 8 – 10 November, 2017 is Asia-Pacific’s premier business event. It provides unparalleled opportunities for global business executives to engage in dialogue with APEC Leaders, high-level government officials and influential thought leaders.

November 13, 2017
How Technology and Health Effect Relationship? Prudential Relationship index sheds interesting insights
In this rapidly-evolving digital age, the relationships of Thai people are weakening and technology is one of the main culprits. Technology, which includes social media, is the second-leading cause of arguments among couples in Thailand, according to the recent Prudential Relationship Index (PRI) 2017 report.

Relationships breathe life into our lives, adding colour, tears and laughter. But how much do we truly understand them? In the pursuit of deeper relationship insights, Prudential has launched the second edition of the PRI, a year after the inaugural report was launched in 2016.

This year, Thailand retains its fifth position on the PRI index among the nine markets surveyed in Asia, with a score of 70/100 – a one-point decrease from 2016. This indicates that relationships in Thailand fulfil 70% of people’s needs and expectations, leaving a 30% relationship gap. The highest PRI scores across the region were recorded in Cambodia and the Philippines.

CEO of Prudential Thailand, Aman Chowla said, “We are delighted to launch the second edition of the PRI in Thailand, which provides interesting insights into the state of relationships among Thai people. Highlights from this year’s results reveal that physical health and financial security for loved ones continue to be a key priority among Thai people.”

On the importance of relationships, Aman Chowla said, “Research has shown that better relationships directly translate to a greater sense of well-being and significant improvement in health and longevity. We consider Prudential to be a life partner to our customers and will strive to provide fresh and innovative experiences to them.”

Does technology make relationships stronger or weaker?

While social media can bring people together, many couples in Thailand say it drives a wedge between them. Thirty-six percent of respondents argue with their partners over the amount of time spent on smartphones or computers. Close to the same proportion say they sometimes get upset by what their partner posts on social media (37%).

Forty-six percent of people in Thailand say their families spend too much time on the phone rather than talking to each other, while 40% admit the time spent on the phone has a negative impact on their family relationships.

The difference between men and women in the utilisation of technology is also clear: 71% of Thai men say they are on their phones more than their partner, compared to 51% of women.

Thais do care about their health…but to what extent?

According to the PRI 2017, people in Thailand are aware of the need to be more physically healthy, but do little to maintain their health.

Sixty-nine percent of Thais are concerned whether they will stay physically healthy when they are older. More imminently, 34% believe their health will worsen in the coming five years.

Despite these concerns, 61% of Thais say they are not currently active in maintaining their health. When asked what they would like changed in their partners, making their partners healthier topped the wish list – as mentioned by over half of the people (54%) surveyed in the PRI 2017.

“The insights from the PRI 2017 provide us with an in-depth understanding of the top needs and concerns in the market. While health is a key concern, a third of Thais (66%) are also worrying about saving enough for their future retirement, with 55% citing retirement as their key financial priority. The findings from this insightful report reinforce our commitment to provide tailored products and services to enhance our customers’ overall quality of life, from health and medical to savings and life protection,” concluded Mr Aman Chowla.
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November 13, 2017
Vietjet Bags Best Ultra Low Cost Airline Award 2018
New age airline Vietjet is certainly no stranger in the aviation arena, making headlines for its innovative campaign executions and exponential growth in recent years.

It comes as no surprise that the airline was recently bestowed the inaugural Best Ultra Low Cost Airline Award 2018 title by AirlineRatings.com – the world’s only air safety and product rating review website. Joining the likes of Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines, Vietjet was named a winner of the Airline Excellence Awards by the website which promotes excellence in the airline industry.

Geoffrey Thomas, Editor-in-chief of AirlineRatings,com said, “Vietjet is a real innovator bringing very affordable, safe and enjoyable travel with an outstanding product to millions across Asia and Vietnam. The airline has done the impossible – bringing top class travel to the region at amazing prices and ultimate flight experiences.”

“The new award, taken out by Vietjet, celebrates a new breed of airlines that offer extraordinary value to passengers, while not compromising on product or service,” added Thomas.

Since its debut in December 2011, Vietjet has rapidly grown its fleet and expanded its route networks to include a number of local and international destinations, opening up affordable travel to all across the region.

To date, the airline has flown over 40 million passengers, and been presented with numerous awards including 32 domestic and nine international accolades such as being named ‘The Pioneer Airline’ by The Guide Awards 2017 at the annual festival of national tourism 2017 Vietnam and the ‘The Best Asian Low-Cost Carrier 2015’ at the TTG Travel Awards 2015.

At the helm of Vietjet’s success is its Founder and CEO, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao who was recently listed in Forbes World’s 100 Most Powerful Women list.

“I have always aimed big and done big deals. I have never done anything on a small scale and this is the same driving force behind the growth of Vietjet. It is my goal to continue propelling Vietjet forward and leading it to its highest point of success,” said Thao. Vietjet plans to open six new routes in the fourth quarter, increasing its total new routes by 19 for the year 2017.

The AirlineRatings.com Airline Excellence Awards, judged by six editors with over 180 years’ industry experience, combines major safety and government audits, with 12 key criteria – up from nine last year – that include: fleet age, passenger reviews profitability, investment rating, product offerings, and staff relations.
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November 13, 2017
Miniso Vietnam to open more stores

Miniso Vietnam plans to open 500 more stores in the next two years, adding to the 30 outlets already established.

Co-founder/chief designer Miyake Junya says he has signed a strategic co-operation agreement with Vietnamese developers, including Vincom, which includes plans for 300 stores next year.

He says Miniso will open 10,000 stores in 100 countries by 2019, with expectations of global revenue reaching US$15 billion.

In its four years, the Chinese discount chain already has 2000-plus stores in more than 60 countries and regions.

Miniso Vietnam launched in August last year.

November 11, 2017
Courts Singapore getting serious with flagship store
Courts Singapore has redesigned its flagship megastore in Tampines, offering a new immersive experience for customers.

For the upgrade, the retailer of home electronics, IT and furniture products has put a particular focus on the needs of modern apartment living.

With its official grand opening on Saturday, the store offers 136,000sqft (12,600sqm) over three floors, with experiential areas making up most of the space.

In conjunction with the makeover, Courts has also unveiled its relaunched online store which now seamlessly unifies the offline/online shopping experience. The webstore is the largest in its network, offering more than 17,000 SKUs as well as introducing intuitive navigation, search and a faster check-out experience. There is also the option to collect purchases in its physical stores.

“We are making good living and great in-store experiences accessible and affordable to all Singapore homeowners – a vision we’ve stayed true to since we first opened 43 years ago,” says group CEO Dr Terry O’Connor.

$10 million investment

The flagship upgrade is part of Courts Singapore’s S$10 million (US$7.3 million) investment into a series of store refurbishments for the financial year with a focus on new retail concepts and experiential areas. Courts has also launched a new brand slogan, “Better Living, Better Prices”.

“The Courts Megastore transformation is the result of a year of planning and two months of renovation work, combining the expertise of the commercial, visual merchandising and store operations teams,” says Courts Singapore country CEO Ben Tan.

“We’ve curated every aspect of the shopping journey,” he says. This includes online integration, a new range for lifestyle and smart technology trends, complementary furniture customisation and three-week delivery.

With every furniture consultation customers are offered a free cup of artisanal coffee. Bespoke options are available for every furnishing need from sofas, curtains and blinds to wardrobes, bedding and dining tables.

In its bedding department Courts offers more than 1000 types of mattresses from 23 brands. Shoppers can customise their bed frames and headboards. The revamped bedding area has 11 galleries including new brand for healthy living.

Design services

For new homeowners, the Courts Design Studio offers services covering interior design, renovation, furnishing, flexible finance and smart-home connectivity. Consultants are on hand from two award-winning interior-design firms. The studio houses a full-size four-room HDB apartment and studio apartment showroom, integrated with smart-home automation.

On the same level, the new Home Gallery is an adaptable showroom space that will be regularly refreshed with room settings and also doubles up as a furniture photoshoot studio. The showroom has two movable walls.

There is also a Dulux Paint Experience area where shoppers can experiment with colours.

Four new interactive cooking demonstration stations will feature chefs and cooking hosts. Hungry shoppers have the new Mo Cafe for single-origin coffee and cakes, and a Subway with a window overlooking the third level.

Samsung Open House 2.0 is an experiential retail concept offering an interactive and connected smart-home experience. It showcases the brand’s range of digital appliances on a 85in. UHD display, allowing shoppers to visualise how each appliance might look in their home. The neighbouring LG Home Entertainment area showcases a range of setups.

Hands-on gaming

Courts has also expanded its gaming zone with such brands as Acer Predator, Alienware, Asus Republic of Gamers, Lenovo Legion, MSI and Razer. shoppers can try out the latest PC games, and there is a space designed to host multiplayer gaming tournaments.

Also launched at the megastore is Guru, which offers more than 100 repair and maintenance services for more than 20 home-product categories. It will be open 365 days a year with its own in-store service counter as well as a phone hotline, and will also offer home cleaning, painting and fix-it services with warranties.

To mark the flagship’s official opening, a four-week celebration will offer discounts of up to 90 per cent, and deals such as a free Xbox One, worth $499, with the purchase of any gaming laptop computer.

There will also be a celebrity line-up including Arsenal and Liverpool football stars, singer Joanna Dong, Running Man star Kim Jong Kook and Singapore’s first boxing champion, Muhamad Ridhwan.

Free public Wi-Fi as well as complimentary parking are also available.
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November 10, 2017
Indonesia threatens to block WhatsApp messaging over obscene content
Indonesian government gave Whatsapp a two-day notice to block obscene GIF images. Indonesia on Monday vowed to block Facebook Inc’s WhatsApp Messenger within 48 hours if the service did not ensure that obscene Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) images were removed.

WhatsApp, which is widely used in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, said message encryption prevented it from monitoring the animated graphics files, known as GIFs, that are available on the app through third-party services.

WhatsApp said in a statement on Monday that it asked the government instead to work with those providers, which integrate their technology into WhatsApp to allow users to enter keywords to search for GIFs.

Indonesia’s Internet is partly censored, with access blocked to websites providing criticism of Islam, dating services and sex education, according to research published in May by Tor Project, a nonprofit maker of Web browsing tools.

Semuel Pangerapan, a director general at Indonesia’s communications and informatics ministry, said WhatsApp would be blocked within 48 hours unless the images supplied by third parties were taken off the service.

“Yes, true. They have to follow the rules of the host,” Pangerapan said of the proposed block.

The ministry had sent three letters to WhatsApp over the issue, he said.

“They have responded, but asked us to speak directly to the third party. The GIFs appeared in their apps. Why do we have to be the one speaking to the third party? They are supposed to be the ones managing it,” said Pangerapan.

Tenor Inc, one of the third parties, said it was attempting to release a “fix.” Giphy Inc, another provider, did not respond to requests to comment.

Jennifer Kutz, a Tenor spokesperson, said in a statement that the company is working “to address the content issues raised by the Indonesian government within the next 48 hours.”

Kutz said the company “regularly” works with “local entities to make sure our content reflects the cultural mores and legal requirements.”

She declined to identify the proposed fix or existing regions with content restrictions. Tenor allows integrators of its service to block potentially objectionable image results or a defined list of search terms.

“In the case of WhatsApp, we’re taking on this responsibility,” Kutz said in an email.

Giphy, a New York City company that also works with WhatsApp, offers its partners a feature for filtering inappropriate images.

Indonesia’s warning did not appear to target Gboard, a keyboard app developed by Google that provides comparable GIF search results but must be installed separately from WhatsApp on most devices.

Indonesia had 69 million monthly active Facebook users as of the first quarter of 2014, ranking the country fourth globally after the United States, India and Brazil, company data showed.

Some reaction on Indonesian social media to the threatened block was sceptical. “While you’re at it, why don’t you block Twitter too, (and) if necessary all browsers in the Playstore, because it’s way easier to search for porn there than on WhatsApp,” wrote one Twitter user, with the handle @jnessy.

The country’s regulators have reached settlements with several technology companies after threatening to shut them down. In August, Indonesia announced it would block Giphy’s website for showing gambling-related ads. Access soon was restored after it agreed to cooperate with regulators.

Bans similarly were rescinded in recent years on social media websites such as Vimeo and Tumblr and the chat app Telegram, which regulators had said was “full of radicals and terrorist propaganda.”

The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) had urged the communications ministry to block pornographic GIF images accessible via emoticons, complaining that children could easily reach them, according to news website kompas.com. Terms of use for WhatsApp, Tenor and Giphy say users must be 13 years old.
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November 8, 2017
Ikea Singapore starts selling online

After about two years in the making, Ikea Singapore’s online store launches today.

Customers will no longer need to visit the Swedish furniture giant’s Tampines megastore or Alexandra Road outlet, but can buy at Ikea.sg and have the items delivered to their homes. As with the physical outlets, the online store has an inventory of about 7000 products.

Online customers can pay via credit card or Nets. There is no minimum spend.

Delivery charges range from $15 to $70 for bulky items. The delivery-service team members have been trained to also assemble the furniture, for an extra fee.

Ikea Southeast Asia retail director Mike King says there have long been calls for an online store in Singapore, but the brand wanted to iron out all the kinks before launching one.

Previously, Ikea Singapore’s website was a virtual extension of its print catalogue, showing mood shots of various rooms and offering product details.

Mike King, Ikea Southeast Asia’s retail director, says there have long been calls for an online store in Singapore, but the brand wanted to iron out all the kinks before launching one.

Previously, Ikea Singapore’s website was a virtual extension of its print catalogue, showing mood shots of different rooms and information about Ikea’s products. With online shopping now available, King expects greater demand for Ikea’s products but is confident there will not be a problem fulfilling orders.

He says that during the past 12 months, Ikea has been affected by a global container problem (caused by South Korean company Hanjin Shipping going bankrupt) and port delays in Shanghai. “Those issues cause more problems rather than the added demand generated by e-commerce.”

King says there are improvements ahead for the online store, which may include an option for customers to collect their online purchases from the two physical stores.

An online Ikea store is also planned for Malaysia.

November 7, 2017
Welcia drugstore offers new instore brands

A new Japanese drugstore, Welcia-BHG, offers brands previously not available in Singapore. It is a JV between Japanese pharmacy and drugstore chain Welcia and BHG Holdings, a department store chain that has seven outlets in Singapore.

On level one of the BHG department store in Bugis Junction, the 2700sqft (250sqm) store has two zones, health and beauty, and offers more than 7000 products. There is also a pharmacy.

Of the roughly 700 Japanese products offered, 100 are new to Singapore. They include Kanebo’s cult skincare line Suisai, Q&P Kowa Gold vitamins, Vantelin topical analgesics, Vegie slimming products and nailcare serum Dr Nail.

More products will be added over time, says Welcia-BHG MD Tadahisa Matsumoto, including over-the-counter Japanese drugs.

Japan has 1695 Welcia stores averaging 8000sqft, some of which are open 24 hours.

Matsumoto says Singapore consumers will particularly appreciate the store’s skincare offerings formulated for Asian skin as well as sensitive skin. “Like Japan, Singapore is experiencing an ageing population, so healthcare needs are growing,” he says.

The store also offers services such as simple health checks, skin analysis and product recommendations. The sales staff will receive regular training by experts from Japan instead of representatives from individual brands.

Plans are also in place for a second outlet at Northpoint City mall. “We hope to have about 20 stores in Singapore in five years,” says Matsumoto, who sees Singapore as the main starting point for expanding the concept into Southeast Asia.

November 6, 2017
IoT healthcare market to hit $10b by 2024
The global IoT healthcare market is will grow to exceed $10 billion by 2024, Global Market Insights predicts.

Market growth is primarily driven by the implementation of advanced digital solutions across the sector. The integration of such technology in the healthcare infrastructure is expected to streamline the operations, improvise the patient interactions and enhance the efficiency of processes.

Increasing penetration of smartphones coupled with the improved internet connectivity worldwide is expected to fuel the growth. IoT has potential to reshape the industry due to the benefits such as remote monitoring of patients and management of facility assets.

Increasing aging populations in Japan and several other European countries such as Italy and Germany, coupled with the rising number of chronic diseases, will drive the IoT healthcare market growth over the forecast timeline.

Technological advancements in the sector to provide accessible and inexpensive patient care solutions widens the scope for adoption of such solutions. It is gradually transforming the sector by focusing on the way devices, application as well as people interact with each other.

However, the lack of interoperability may hamper the IoT healthcare market growth. Interoperable systems enable share and retention of data automatically, eliminating the possibility of re-entering data each time.

Issues such as difficulty in integration of devices made by different manufacturers, their inability to operate on other operating systems, poses challenge to mass consumerization of IoT solutions.

In order to reach mass adoption, overcoming such risks restricting boundless connections of a connected world is a primary concern to the technology providers. Other factors such as high cost of infrastructure development followed by data privacy and security issues are predicted to curb the demand.

Rising deployment of smart sensor technology in various systems enhances the capability of IoT healthcare market devices to collect more data associated with patient’s health. The gathered data is used to enhance the patient monitoring process and analyze it to discover new treatments for various other diseases. These technological solutions therefore help bridge the gap between the physical and the digital world.
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November 2, 2017
Prudential appoints Aman Chowla as Thailand’s new CEO
Prudential Life Assurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited (PLT) has appointed Aman Chowla as Chief Executive Officer.

Aman joined Prudential in 2011 and brings with him over 20 years of experience in financial services. He has worked in several markets across Asia including India, Singapore, Malaysia and now Thailand.

Having held functional general Management & Transformation roles in his career, his last role was as the Chief Executive Officer of Prudential BSN Takaful BHD in Malaysia.

“Thailand is a key market for Prudential in Asia. I am truly excited with the opportunities for growth, but more importantly to do our bit to bridge the protection gap and increase insurance penetration rates,” Aman said.
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November 2, 2017
Ikea extends her online shopping to Sydney
Global Swedish furnishing retailer Ikea has made its online shopping service available to Sydney residents starting today. The new service, which follows the roll out of online shopping in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory and most recently Queensland, offers customers the option to Click and Collect in-store at Ikea Tempe, Rhodes and Marsden Park; or they can choose to have their products delivered to their home.

The retailer has also opened last month a 70,000sqm distribution centre in Marsden Park.

Michael Donath, multichannel manager at Ikea Australia, said the new service will make shopping at Ikea easier and more convenient for time-poor Sydney residents.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring online shopping and Click and Collect to Sydney residents and surrounding suburbs, where shoppers will have easier access to our extensive range of 9,000 quality home furnishing products at the click of a button,” Donath said.

“The service is great value for customers who are looking to create an entirely new look for their home, or for those who simply want to refresh with the changing seasons.”

Donath said opening up online shopping for Sydney-siders is the next phase of their expansion, as they strive to make Ikea more widely available.

The Swedish furniture retailer recently announced it will give its Richmond store in Melbourne a multi-million-dollar facelift to upgrade the store’s layout with new entrance points and better lift accessibility.
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November 1, 2017