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  • Supermarkets in Vietnam lack qualified staff due to lack of professional training

    Supermarkets in Vietnam lack qualified staff due to lack of professional training

    A majority of staff in Vietnam’s supermarkets and trading centres lack professional training, according to Vu Vinh Phu, chairman of the Hanoi Supermarket Association.

    Retail centres are on the rise, but they’re facing a serious shortage of well-trained staff, he said. Organising training programs for supermarket workers is not an easy task.

    Some positions – salespersons, security guards and accountants – required short-term training, but key positions such as managers and deputy directors would take more time and expense, he said.

  • KFC to add 65 new outlets in Indonesia next year

    KFC to add 65 new outlets in Indonesia next year

    The franchise holder of the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) brand in Indonesia, PT Fast Food Indonesia (FAST), plans to open between 60 and 65 new outlets in and outside Java to tap into the country’s growing food retail market.

    FAST business development general manager Gandhi Lie said on Tuesday that his firm would spend around IDR240 billion (US$19.2 million) on the expansion, of which about IDR200 billion would be used to open 40 to 45 new “stand alone” outlets, with the remaining IDR40 billion to set up 20 “KFC box” outlets.

    “We will use our internal cash as well as partner with landlords to build the new outlets next year,” he said without providing details on the composition of each source of funds.

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  • Save no more? Are Japanese turning spendthrift?

    Save no more? Are Japanese turning spendthrift?

    The Japanese spent more than they saved in the 12 months ended March 2014, the first time that’s happened since the data set began in 1955, with the savings rate at a negative 1.3 percent in the last fiscal year.

    “It’s something to keep an eye out for in the medium-term because Japan’s debt has been funded domestically, and very cheaply. But foreign investors would require a more appropriate risk premium,” said Toru Yamamoto, Daiwa’ Securities chief rates strategist.

    Japan has quite a bit of debt, with the country’s debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) at over 220 percent, one of the highest in the world, financed by the domestic savers and Japanese government bond (JGB) investors at some of the lowest interest rates globally.

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  • Pricey Singapore: Savvy shoppers go online

    Pricey Singapore: Savvy shoppers go online

    A recent Visa study found that 26 percent of Singaporeans shop online at least once a week – the highest in Southeast Asia. And analysts say that with mobile phone apps that allow consumers to hunt for bargains anytime in a city that is ranked most expensive in the world, the potential for growth in the online retail sector cannot be underestimated.

    Lazada, also known as “Asia’s Amazon” for its online offerings of electronics, toys and other general items was founded almost three years ago and is one online retailer that has made headway in Singapore in recent years. Others include fashion website Zalora and online grocer RedMart.

    There is 19 percent year-on-year growth in e-commerce transactions performed by Visa cardholders in the city, Visa Country Manager for Singapore and Brunei Ooi Huey Tyng was quoted in the local media last month as saying.

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  • Car-makers on sales overdrive in India with discounts, freebies

    Car-makers on sales overdrive in India with discounts, freebies

    It is a buyers’ market out there in the country’s automart. If you are planning to buy the first dream car or upgrade to the next one, then this is perhaps the best time. Most automotive companies are offering a slew of discounts and freebies through dealers to boost year-end sales in a sagging market. These include direct cash discounts, option of zero payment on insurance for three years with extended service warranty and loyalty bonus.

  • Vehicle marketplace Carmudi expands to Southeast Asia

    Vehicle marketplace Carmudi expands to Southeast Asia

    Vehicle marketplace Carmudi, which has presence in Asia, Africa and Latin America, is expanding in Southeast Asia, specifically the Philippines and Indonesia.

    The company said the automotive sectors in these countries are thriving. The Association of Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers (Gaikindo) estimates Indonesia’s car sales to increase by 10 percent this year, possibly hitting a record high sales of 1.3 million vehicles. In the Philippines, the Oxford Business Group reported car sales increasing 43.6 percent from August 2012 to August 2013.

    “Indonesians and Filipinos are driving more cars, trucks and motorbikes than ever, which means the demand is there for a high-quality classifieds platform that meets the needs of both buyers and sellers,” said Stefan Haubold, co-founder of Carmudi.

    Car buyers can find or sell their car, motorcycle or commercial vehicle online through Camudi. The site offers diverse vehicle listings, with professional photos, detailed descriptions, as well as ranking for vehicles in each market. For dealers and agents, the site offers a business platform that allows them to have personalized web pages.

    The site was founded in 2013 and is currently available in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria and Pakistan.

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  • Decathlon signs up 2 new property leases in China

    Decathlon signs up 2 new property leases in China

    Decathlon, retailer of French sports apparel and equipment, recently signed two new lease agreements with property developer Goodman Group to set up two new warehouses at Goodman Citylink in Hebei Province, China.

    The new leases have a combined space 57,200 sqm, which the company expects to enhance its distribution capability in Northern China.

    Goodman Citylink is located at the Yanjiao Economic and Technological Development Zone in Langfang and has a total gross floor area of 130,000 sqm. Strategically located in close proximity to the 6th Ring Road which links to downtown Beijing, it is an ideal location for international brands to set up their regional distribution centres for Northern China.

    “The retail sector in which Decathlon operates, requires the highest standards in logistics management and warehousing facilities. Goodman has the proven expertise, high quality offering and capability to meet the individual needs of customers operating within this specialized industry sector,” said Philip Pearce, Managing Director Greater China for Goodman.

    Decathlon joins BMW Brilliance Automotive, which last year signed an agreement for Goodman to develop a 33,300 sqm built-to-suit facility at Goodman Citylink for its regional distribution centre for car auto parts in Northern China.

    Goodman currently has 786,580 sqm of developments underway in key cities including Shanghai, Nanjing, Shenyang Tianjin, Chongqing, Langfang, Changzhou and Hefei, and a 800,000 sqm development target for the next 12 months.

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  • Thailand’s Siam Center, Siam Discovery launch Siam Gift Card for easy gift giving

    Thailand’s Siam Center, Siam Discovery launch Siam Gift Card for easy gift giving

    Siam Piwat Co. Ltd., the owner of Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Siam Discovery, recently launched the Siam Gift Card, which will provide shoppers a greater shopping convenience and make it easy to send or receive gifts.

    Mayuree Chaipromprasith, Senior Vice President of Siam Piwat, based on their consumer survey on shopping behavior at year end, many customers buy products as New Year gifts.

    “Therefore, in late November, Digimedia Marketing Co., Ltd., subsidiary of Siam Piwat Group, introduced the Siam Gift Card, which offers better benefits than other cards in the market so that the customers can use it themselves or give it as a gift,” she said.

    The Siam Gift Card serves as cash card that allows the customers to top up the minimum of THB1,000 (USD30.3) to purchase any products from more than 50 leading fashion boutiques, cosmetic flagship stores and many more in Siam Center and Siam Discovery. It integrates the strategy of seasonal marketing, solution marketing, E-payment and CEM (Customer Experience Management).

    In addition, the card keeps record of the customer behavior so that the company can come up with the marketing promotion activities that truly meet their needs.

    For security purposes, customers must key their own code every time they buy products at the stores. Besides reward points, the shopping history will be recorded in the database so that customers will receive customized news about new arrivals and promotion that fit their own needs in the future.

    Mayuree said Digimedia Marketing Co. Ltd. invested more than THB15 million (USD455,843.31) in the Siam Gift Card campaign and expects to sell more than 20,000 cards in the first three months.

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  • Australia no longer sweet spot for Asos

    Australia no longer sweet spot for Asos

    Australia was once Asos’ largest market outside Britain. In 2012, the British online fashion retailer was flying four jumbo jets of clothing to this country each week.

    But Asos revealed this week international sales, comprising 57 percent of its total sales, were down 2 percent in the first quarter to GBP145.5 million (USD228.6m).

    And “rest of world” sales, of which Australia is estimated to comprise half, fell by 6 percent to GP58.5 million in the three months ended November 30.

  • CUCKOO Electronics opens second store in Vietnam

    CUCKOO Electronics opens second store in Vietnam

    Korea’s home appliances company Cuckoo Electronics Co. Ltd. recently opened its second branded shop in Vietnam.

    The store is located in Hanoi Trung Hoa, a high-density residential city as well as a hub of business, administration, commerce, industry, culture and education.

    The company’s first shop in Vietnam opened in July in Phu My Hung, Ho Chi Minh City.

    “By opening this second branded shop in Hanoi after the Ho Chi Minh shop, Cuckoo Electronics is expanding its distribution channels and increasing brand awareness throughout major cities in Vietnam,” a company spokesperson said in a news release.

    “We will continue to enhance our reputation in Vietnam through Cuckoo’s exclusive strengths, such as high quality products, technology and localization strategies,” he added.

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  • Fossil to invest USD6.3m to open 25 outlets in India

    Fossil to invest USD6.3m to open 25 outlets in India

    US-based watchmaker Fossil will invest up to INR40 crore (INR400 million, USD6.3m) to open 25 retail outlets in India by 2017 as it aims to reposition itself from a watch brand to a fashion lifestyle brand.

    The company, known for its range of watches, will sell non-watch products such as leather bags for women and men, wallets, eye-wear and jewellery through its retail outlets in the country.

    “We want to re-position Fossil from a watch brand to a fashion lifestyle brand. We will focus on developing non-watch categories. We will sell these products only through our retail stores. We plan to open 25 outlets by 2017 and will invest INR35-40 crore,” Fossil India Brand Head Sumit Ghosh told PTI.

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  • Fashion SMEs in Thailand to get boost

    Fashion SMEs in Thailand to get boost

    The Industry Ministry of Thailand has earmarked THB120 million to support small and medium-sized fashion enterprises wanting to explore opportunities in neighbouring countries next year.

    Thailand’s fashion cluster, covering apparel, jewellery and leather products, has the potential to compete with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, says Arthit Wuthikaro, director-general of the Industrial Development Department.

    “SMEs in other industry clusters will obtain the same support for expanding business abroad, notably in ASEAN, if they have strong business potential,” he said.

  • Indonesia’s rubber exporters hopeful on automotive recovery

    Indonesia’s rubber exporters hopeful on automotive recovery

    Indonesia’s rubber businesses are eyeing a boost in sales and exports next year as the global automotive industry, one of the sectors that the rubber industry relies on, has begun recovering after being hit hard by the global economic downturn.

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  • Peugeot and China Changan Automotive in joint venture

    Peugeot and China Changan Automotive in joint venture

    French car giant Peugeot has agreed a new joint venture to manufacture light commercial vehicles and cars in China.

    Peugeot has signed an initial agreement with domestic carmaker China Changan Automotive Group. If it goes ahead, the deal will give Peugeot a bigger foothold in the fast-growing Chinese car market.

  • Synovate strengthens automotive research team in Asia

    Synovate strengthens automotive research team in Asia

    China’s Global market research company Synovate announced the appointment of Klaus Paur as Managing Director for Synovate Automotive Vertical for its automotive research unit in Korea and Greater China, which includes the markets of China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. He will join Synovate on 1st January 2011 from TNS.

    His addition supports the expected strong growth of the automotive industry in China, which has been changing its role from a global manufacturing centre to a significant market player.

    Based in Shanghai, Paur will be responsible for leading automotive market research in Synovate China and Korea. Paur brings over 20 years of experience in marketing and market research, 15 of which have been spent specifically in the automotive industry. Paur started his automotive research career in 1995 as a senior researcher for quantitative and qualitative ad-hoc studies in Paris. In 1997, he began leading international advertising effectiveness tracking surveys across Europe and Latin America, and then relocated to Shanghai in early 2003 to head the TNS Automotive research practice in China.