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Category: Living

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.

  • Tesco Thailand Planning to Open 750 new Stores

    Tesco Thailand Planning to Open 750 new Stores

    Tesco Thailand is evaluating opening as many as 750 more convenience stores, which would expand its overall network by about 50 per cent.

    No timeline was revealed for the move, which is one of several strategic growth options being considered by the British-headquartered grocery retailer. Another is the development of a premium supermarket offer in the UK.

    Tesco currently operates 1583 stores in Thailand, a mixture of large-format hypermarkets and a growing network of small compact stores for local communities.

    In light of the company’s success in Thailand and neighbouring Malaysia, the company is reportedly considering options for expansion in other Asian markets including South Korea and China. A move into South Korea would be surprising given the company sold its Homeplus-bannered hypermarket operations there in 2015.

    Developing a stronger convenience-store network in Thailand – and potentially Malaysia – would make a lot of sense given consumers across the region are losing interest in hypermarkets as a format in favour of more frequent visits to smaller shops, as well as buying goods online.

    Tesco has told its investors that Thais are migrating from traditional markets to hypermarkets, supermarkets and convenience stores as the country develops.

    The potential store expansion was outlined at a Capital Markets Day presentation to analysts and investors on the company’s future direction.

  • Netflix to launch Stranger Things mobile RPG in 2020

    Netflix to launch Stranger Things mobile RPG in 2020

    In anticipation of the third Stranger Things season set to debut on July 4th, Netflix announced a brand new mobile game under the successful franchise. Developed in collaboration with Next Games, makers of The Walking Dead games, the free-to-play Stranger Things mobile game will be released in 2020 on Android and iOS platforms.

    According to Netflix, the game will reimagine the Stranger Things universe in the style of an 80’s Saturday morning cartoon. Moreover, the game will feature location-based gameplay elements and Google Maps integration, which will allow players to explore The Upside Down hidden around them.

    We are huge fans of Stranger Things and thrilled to work together with Netflix to bring our shared vision of Stranger Things into life in a mobile game format. Our core focus will be to deliver on Stranger Things’ rich and intense themes like friendship and supernatural adventure, and translate these into snack-sized entertainment on your mobile device.

    We don’t know if the Netflix and Next Games plan to monetize the game or simply use it for more exposure. Either way, we do know that the upcoming Stranger Things mobile RPG will be free-to-play.

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  • Ecmoho Pharmacie plans US$100 million IPO

    Ecmoho Pharmacie plans US$100 million IPO

    Chinese online pharmacy Ecmoho is seeking to list on the New York Stock Exchange in order to raise US$100 million for expansion.

    According to sources cited by Bloomberg, the IPO may take place as early as this year.

    The company has declined comment on the matter and sources say the exact timing and the target to be raised may yet change.

    Based in Shanghai, Ecmoho distributes supplements and pharmaceuticals online. As well as selling direct it has stores on JD and Alibaba’s platforms.

    Ecmoho launched in 2002 as an online marketing service, transitioning into e-commerce in 2006, before sharpening its focus on the health sector in 2011. It sells products from domestic manufacturers and global brands.

    Besides Mainland China and Hong Kong, the company operates in the US, Europe and Asia Pacific.

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  • Nintendo’s Dr. Mario World coming to Android and iOS

    Nintendo’s Dr. Mario World coming to Android and iOS

    Nintendo’s next mobile game is coming sooner than we expected. The Japanese company has just announced that Dr. Mario World will be making its debut on Android and iOS no later than July 10, and, more importantly, it will be free to play. Obviously, there will be in-app purchases, but those will be entirely optional

    Dr. Mario World is a match-3 puzzle type of game with a twist where players must match capsules with viruses. Basically, you’ll have to match three objects of the same color vertically or horizontally to clear them, using Dr. Mario’s virus-busting skills.

    At first glance, this might sound rather trivial, but you’ll find that each puzzle configuration of viruses must be cleared using a limited number of capsules, so you’ll have to plan ahead to be successful.

    Other iconic characters in the Mario universe will be available in the game, including Dr. Peach, Dr. Bowser, and other. Assistants like Goomba, Koopa Troopa, and Buzzy Beetle will help the doctors with additional skills.

    According to Nintendo, the game will feature “hundreds of stages over many different worlds,” which sounds like a lot of fun. Also, you’ll be able to play together with friends and family, or even have fun in versus mode. You can now pre-register for Dr. Mario World on Google Play Store and App Store for free.

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  • Toys“R”Us Asia brings smiles to kids and families in China through their record-breaking Children’s Day Toy Festival

    Toys“R”Us Asia brings smiles to kids and families in China through their record-breaking Children’s Day Toy Festival

    Celebrating Children’s Day with families and kids across China, through a vast offering of experiential offsites, special promotions and exclusive toy ranges, Toys”R”Us Asia announces a record-breaking Y-o-Y sales growth of over 25% in China, on the first weekend of June.

    The strong business results for Toys”R”Us Asia in China on June 1 can be attributed to millions of happy in-store customers, as measured through a record-breaking number of transactions. Kids and families got to enjoy a significant increase in exclusive product ranges offered through Toys”R”Us China’s vast network of over 180 permanent stores and over 100 experiential offsites, set up specifically to celebrate Children’s Day.

    Nicholas Green, Managing Director of Toys“R”Us China, said, “Toys“R”Us is the ultimate destination for kids of every age. Our top priority is to support families with fun and interactive shopping experiences so they can access the very best products for entertainment and learning. The recent record-breaking business results for Toys“R”Us China over the weekend of International Children’s Day is a strong sign that customer demand in this market is on the rise and is a testament to the company’s success and growth, both in the offline and eCommerce space. We plan to open over 50 new stores in China in 2019 alone, and we are confident that our offering to customers will only continue to strengthen.”

    Andre Javes, President and CEO of Toys“R”Us Asia, commented, “In the coming year, Toys“R”Us Asia is planning to open over 65 stores across Greater China, Japan and South East Asia, to meet the growing demand for imaginative and educational play. We will be rolling out even more immersive experiences and inspiring content to showcase the infinite possibilities of toys – offering up the most relevant toy choices for every development stage of childhood.”

    At the end of the previous fiscal year, Toys”R”Us Asia posted strong business results, as well as growth in their STAR CARD loyalty program and several investments in new stores, store renovations, eCommerce and IT infrastructure.

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  • Helloworld expands New Zealand Activities

    Helloworld expands New Zealand Activities

    Travel retailer Helloworld Travel has announced a number of new businesses have joined, or will join, its New Zealand retail network, broadening operations in the region.

    Agencies Gilpin Travel, Barlow Travel, and Atlas Corporation have joined the network with a combined total transaction value of $130 million.

    Additionally, the NZ Travel Brokers – which command a $125 million total transaction value – along with other “significant agencies” have committed to join from June 2019.

    “The New Zealand acquisitions and network expansion has given our NZ business the size and resulting economies of scale to assist the Group to achieve our targeted EBITDA to revenue of 25 per cent in FY20,” Helloworld Travel chief executive Andrew Burnes said.

    “The team in New Zealand has done an outstanding job of building a strong value proposition which in turn has attracted these new agencies to our networks.”

    The total annualised TTV added to the business is approximately $300 million, bringing the networks total size to 580 agency members in New Zealand – including 280 travel brokers.

    The travel business is continuing discussions with several other former members of First Travel Group.

    Helloworld also acquired sports travel retailer the Williment Travel Group recently, further broadening its offering.

    “The Williment team and their breadth of product and experience across a wide range of sporting codes and in event management adds a new dimension to our New Zealand business, and will allow us to open up the amazing offerings Williment has to the market via our Helloworld network members,” Burnes said.

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  • Countdown Started to offer paper bags at checkout

    Countdown Started to offer paper bags at checkout

    Countdown will begin selling recyclable paper bags at checkout, as the government ban on the sale and distribution of single-use plastic bags takes effect on July 1st. The paper bags will cost 20 cents each, and be made of Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper.

    “We’re really pleased to see single-use plastic carrier bags banned in New Zealand,” Countdown general manager of corporate affairs, safety and sustainability Kiri Hannifin said.

    “Bringing your own bags is a behaviour change that New Zealanders are really getting behind, and it’s always our first preference.

    “We’ve recently started accepting BYO containers in our deli, meat and seafood counters in selected stores and we’re hoping to roll this out nationwide shortly too.”

    According to Countdown, the move away from single-use plastic bags at the supermarket has meant 350 million fewer plastic bags are entering the New Zealand waste stream each year.

    The new legislation applies to all retailers in the country, and includes all single-use plastic bags under 70 microns thick.

    Retail NZ interim chief executive Greg Harford welcomed the legislation, stating that it is good for the environment and for the country.

    “Retailers large and small have been working hard over time to reduce or eliminate the number of plastic carrier bags being issued, and the formalisation of the phase out will ensure that there is a level playing field right across the retail sector,” Harford said.

    Countdown confirmed it has started work on a programme to look at the ways the supermarket uses plastic, the types being used and why, as well as alternatives that could be adopted that would be suitable for New Zealand’s waste infrastructure.

    “This includes reducing plastic where possible, trialling different bag options in bakery, installing produce misting systems to remove the need for packaging on fruit and veges, and supporting the return of the soft plastics recycling scheme in a number of Auckland stores,” Hannifin said.

  • Spotify free-tier users will be targeted with more relevant ads

    Spotify free-tier users will be targeted with more relevant ads

    Spotify has found a way to better generate more revenue from the ads it delivers to users of its free music streaming service. Although today’s announcement is aimed at advertisers that will now be able to target ads based on the category of podcasts people listen to, users of Spotify’s free service are the ones affected by the decision.

    Up until now, Spotify’s free-tier users would be targeted by ads based on the music they listen to, such as genre or playlist, but starting today, advertisers will be able to target them more specifically based on the category of podcasts they like.

    Spotify said that this is just the first step towards building a solid advertising strategy around podcasts, which was started not long ago by the partnership with Samsung and 3M.

    We aspire to develop a more robust advertising solution for podcasts that will allow us to layer in the kind of targeting, measurement, and reporting capabilities we have for ads that run alongside other content experiences like music and video.

    The new ads will play between songs for those who don’t pay for Spotify Premium, so that doesn’t change. However, free-tier listeners will notice that there are now more specific, depending on the podcasts they listen. The new capability is now rolling out to 10 market: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, UK, and the US.

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  • Victoria bans single-use Plastic bags

    Victoria bans single-use Plastic bags

    Victoria is bidding adieu to lightweight, single-use plastic shopping bags with a ban to be introduced state-wide in November.

    The state government introduced new legislation to parliament on Wednesday to ban bags at retail outlets including supermarkets, fashion boutiques, fast food outlets, convenience stores and service stations.

    The ban will target lightweight plastic bags with a thickness of 35 microns including those made from degradable, biodegradable and compostable plastic.

    The legislation will ensure all single-use lightweight plastic shopping bags with a thickness of 35 microns or less will be banned, including bags made from degradable, biodegradable and compostable plastic.

    The legislative changes follow community consultation, which revealed “overwhelming” support for the ban.

    “Plastic pollution is a significant environmental problem – the actions we take now will help ensure Victoria has a clean and bright future,” Minister for Environment Lily D’Ambrosio said on Wednesday.

    “The feedback on this one was clear. Victorians want to do more to protect the environment from the damage litter causes and are overwhelmingly supportive of banning single-use plastic shopping bags.”

    The government is working with the National Retailers Association to ensure businesses are prepared for the ban and have access to sustainable packaging alternatives.

    Single-use plastic bags have already been banned by governments in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, ACT and NT.

    Coles revealed on Wednesday that it has saved 1.7 billion lightweight single-use plastic bags from landfill since the ban came into place last July.

    Woolworths said it has issued around three billion fewer plastic bags from its stores over the last 12 months, equating to a 4,700 tonne reduction in single-use plastics going into the environment over the course of the year.

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  • After updating its app for Premium members, Spotify goes down

    After updating its app for Premium members, Spotify goes down

    Is this the day the music died? It is if you’re a Spotify member as the music streamer has been down since 8:22 am EDT this morning. 80% of the complaints they received have something to do with the inability of users to stream music, 14% say that they can’t use the Spotify website, and 5% can’t use Spotify on a Sonos smart speaker. The number of complaints rose from one to a peak of 3,448. The outage map shows serious issues in the upper northeast of the country, most of California and parts of Texas and Florida.

    In addition, Spotify announced that the outage has nothing to do with today’s announcement of a redesigned feature for Premium users. The Your Library page now allows you to tap or swipe to see the new tabs offered for Music and Podcasts. Tapping the Music tab takes you right to the Playlists section where all your playlists will be, including a new one called Liked Songs. The latter includes tunes that you have tapped the “Like” button for. The Artists section lists the artists that you follow, and you can add a new one to the list by going to the artist’s page and tapping on the “follow” button. When it comes to any albums found in that section, tapping the heart icon will save it to the Album section so you can quickly find it to hear again at a future time. You can add all of the songs on a particular album to your Liked Songs playlist by clicking on the three-dot menu and selecting “Like all songs.”
    Selecting the Podcast heading will reveal the Episodes section from where you can discover new podcasts to listen to or finish listening to ones that you’ve started. Move further down the screen and you’ll find new episodes of the podcasts that you follow. The Downloads section includes podcast episodes that you’ve, well, downloaded. These podcasts can be played while offline. Lastly, the Shows section allows you to manage the podcasts you follow and check out older episodes.
    The redesign has already been available to those using the ad-supported free version of the service. Premium subscribers will start seeing the change in the Spotify app starting today.
  • Decathlon to Open largest Store in Hong Kong

    Decathlon to Open largest Store in Hong Kong

    French sports company Decathlon will open its third store in Hong Kong this Saturday, 15th June, in Tseung Kwan O as it continues its efforts to make sports accessible to the many in the city.

    The new Decathlon store in Sheung Tak Plaza, with 36,000 sq. ft (3,500sqm) in retail space and access to an outdoor sports playground of equivalent size, is the biggest sports retail store in the city. An array of family-friendly activities across the weekends this month is organised for visitors to enjoy as part of the opening celebrations.

    The Tseung Kwan O store will employ more than 80 full-time Sports Advisors and Leaders, and together with the Causeway Bay and Mongkok stores, Decathlon will see its workforce in Hong Kong increase to 270, from just 8 two years ago. Inspired by the concept of an urban neighbourhood, the new store design will feature 13,000 products from over 70 sports to be touched and tested as well as spaces to create unique social community moments for customers.

    Marc Zielinski, Decathlon Hong Kong Leader, said:

    “We are delighted to be opening our third store in Hong Kong this weekend, and we are proud that the Decathlon Tseung Kwan O store will become the city’s biggest sports retail space. We hope we can inspire more Hongkongers to exercise for a happy and healthy lifestyle. Decathlon aims to make sport accessible to all and we understand sports engagement can be a heavy financial burden to some. This is why we offer high quality products at competitive prices across 70 sports so everyone can have that choice. With the outdoor playground, visitors who are curious about any sport can seek the advice of our specialist Sports Leaders and fully test our products before they buy. We look forward to contributing to a healthier Hong Kong.”

    Earlier today, a number of special guests including partners and local celebrities were treated to a preview of Decathlon’s retail experience highlighted by in-store digital innovations that allow customers to get a complete understanding of any product before the point of purchase.

    A key part of the unique customer journey is the online catalogue of Decathlon products featuring over 13,000 models that is available on the 50” LED screens placed at prominent areas of the store. This means that even if customers cannot find the exact product they desire on the shop floor, they can visit the online catalogue in-store to compare products and learn about all the possibilities conveniently and efficiently. What’s more, customers can checkout autonomously on Decathlon mobile app for a fast and seamless shopping experience. Customers in a hurry will even be able to choose to pick up their online purchase in store in one hour, through Click & Collect 1H service.

    Joyce Tang Lai-ming, one of the four cast members of popular TVB sitcom “Come Home Love: Lo and Behold” who supported a lighting ceremony riding a stationary bike to generate energy through pedal power, commented:

    “Hong Kong is a fast-paced, always on, city. It is hard to find time to even breathe, and exercise can sometimes fall off the radar for all of us. I am a regular hiker, but there are plenty more activities I am curious about that I have yet to try. With so much choice here at Decathlon and a huge space to try things out, I am eager to satisfy my curiosity and experience new sports.”

    Part of the 36,000 sq. ft outdoor sports playground will be transformed into a campsite replicating the famous hiking trails of Hong Kong, while at the same time showcasing Decathlon’s comprehensive range of Mountain products. Over the weekends of 15-16, 22-23, and 29-30 June, visitors are invited to enjoy 28 indoor and outdoor sports activities such as cycling, stand-up paddle, archery, pétanque, and yoga among others. All activities are completely free of charge and a limited edition backpack will be awarded to Decathlon members who join in.

    To further enhance the sports experience for customers, the Decathlon Tseung Kwan O store will host daily experience sharing sessions and sports classes with inspiring athletes from the community such as Edie Hu who swam around Hong Kong Island last year. These interactive sessions aim to encourage members of the public to discover new sports, and to try them with confidence, while cyclists can utilize the free bicycle workshop space to upgrade, or repair their bikes DIY style or with assistance from a Sport Leader.

    Situated by the main entrance of the store, the year-round Hong Kong Sport Heroes photography gallery acknowledges those in the community who are using sports to improve their lives and want to inspire others to follow their path. With a different theme each month, a watersports exhibition with over 30 breathtaking photos will greet visitors as the store opens at 10.30AM on Saturday 15th June.

    In addition, Appysport, whose main investor is Decathlon Hong Kong, has announced the launch of Hong Kong’s first all-in-one sports platform with a mission to make sports practice more accessible in the city. The Hong Kong based company founded in 2019 has started with offering tennis courts on demand that can be easily booked online and will soon expand to other sports and services.

    Appysport will eventually connect sports users, sports coaches, sports associations and sports facilities in order to make it easier for everyone in Hong Kong to practice sports. The ambition of the start up is to play a key role in increasing sports practice in Hong Kong by facilitating access to it.

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  • Muji to lower prices on 1100 household and grocery items

    Muji to lower prices on 1100 household and grocery items

    Muji household goods store owner Ryohin Keikaku will drop prices on around 1100 products from late August.

    The price reductions will affect 116 product ranges, including clothes, underwear, tableware, confectionery and furniture. The mark downs are the result of new streamlined production and distribution processes adopted by the firm, as well as reselected production areas and materials.

    Examples of the price reductions released by the company include an 11.2 per cent drop in the cost of a set of three “Ashinari Chokkaku Kutsushita” socks and a saving of up to ¥20 on “Pochigashi” candy and cookie packs.

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  • Bogart Group to be bought by Israeli company

    Bogart Group to be bought by Israeli company

    Israeli apparel group Delta Galil Industries is to buy Hong Kong-headquartered  intimate apparel maker Bogart Group.

    Delta Galil is a global manufacturer and marketer of branded and private label apparel products for men, women and children, as well as leisurewear, activewear and denim.

    Bogart designs, develops and manufactures fashion bras, sportswear and swimwear and is a strategic partner with global brands including Victoria’s Secret, Jockey, Adore Me, Vanity Fair and Hanes.

    Delta Galil will also acquire Bogart’s subsidiaries Brunet, a lace manufacturer, and B&B, a leading padding manufacturer.

    Last year, Bogart achieved sales of US$230 million. The deal, announced today, is expected to close at the beginning of the third quarter.

    “Expanding our footprint in the bra category has been a long-term goal for Delta Galil,” said Isaac Dabah, CEO of Delta Galil. “This is a unique strategic opportunity, where I see great potential for Delta to leverage Bogart’s strong market position to further build its company, while also helping Delta’s business units expand to the next phase of growth.”

    Founded in 1975, Delta Galil designs, develops, markets and sells branded denim apparel under the brand 7 For All Mankind, ladies apparel under the brand Splendid and a raft of lingerie and clothing for all ages.

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  • Single-use cup consumption on the fall in South Korea

    Single-use cup consumption on the fall in South Korea

    Single-use cup consumption at Korean fast-food restaurants has plunged by 72 per cent.

    The changes have occurred in the year since establishments began to participate in a move initiated by the government to pull back plastics use.

    The Korean Ministry of Environment assessed 1000 outlets under 21 brands over the past year, of which 16 were coffee chains (including Starbucks) and five fast-food restaurants (including Lotteria and McDonald’s) all located in metropolitan Incheon and its environs.

    The findings showed that 81 per cent of the outlets served beverages in multi-use cups, reducing the stores’ reliance on disposable cups from 206 tons last July to 58 tons in April. All brands assessed offered discounts to customers bringing their own cups, and many replaced plastic drinking straws with other alternatives.

    “We can live without disposable products and they can be replaced,” said a ministry official. “It is inconvenient without them, but we have to make the effort.”

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  • ACCC checks APRA’s “near-monopoly” on music licences

    ACCC checks APRA’s “near-monopoly” on music licences

    The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) wants to enforce stronger conditions on the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), after questions have been raised about its transparency.

    The changes could lead to lower fees for businesses using APRA’s music licences Australia-wide.

    APRA holds the performing rights for the majority of music played or performed in Australia. It earns royalties from these rights and sells licences which allow businesses to play this music publicly – with fees paid by businesses being distributed to the association members.

    But the lack of transparency into APRA’s fees and its near-monopoly on music licences in Australia have prompted the ACCC to propose several changes to the way APRA operates.

    “We are… proposing to grant authorisation for a further five years with conditions that require APRA to be more transparent about licence fees and the way it pays royalties to members, in order to mitigate APRA’s market power and its impact on songwriters and businesses,” ACCC deputy chair Mick Keogh said.

    Under the proposed conditions, APRA would be required to publish information about how it calculates its fees; produce a plain-English guide to its distribution policies; publish an annual transparency report with information on rights revenue, operating costs, and payments to members; and to continue the “resolution pathways” alternative dispute resolution scheme set up in responses to a previous ACCC condition.

    These changes have been proposed based on responses gathered by the ACCC during a consultation process, in which APRA members and businesses that use the service expressed concern around the way the association collects fees and questioned its accountability.

    “It’s more efficient for APRA members to collect royalties jointly, rather than every artist having to collect their own royalties and monitor compliance,” Keogh said.

    “However, APRA already has a near-monopoly, and the exclusive provisions it has with artists makes its position even stronger.

    “This raises the risk of higher prices for businesses that play music, and other inefficiencies or restrictions for APRA members.”

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