Retail News CRM

Tag: asia

  • Carrefour Indonesia adopts new POS tech

    Carrefour Indonesia adopts new POS tech

    German tech company Wirecard has teamed up with an Indonesian bank to roll out new point-of-sale technology for Carrefour Indonesia.

    Wirecard, with its Indonesian subsidiary PT Prima Vista Solusi and Bank Mega have joined forces to support Carrefour Indonesia with innovative Point-of-Sale (POS) solution with integrated payment capability. Customers in all Indonesian Carrefour retail stores will be able to pay contactless with their NFC cards, credit cards or debit cards.

    The new system is chip and PIN ready, and enriched with value-added services such as installment payment and loyalty. Wirecard provides the complete technical infrastructure, which is integrated in the front-end store system at the retail stores, as well as the online payment processing over the Wirecard gateway, whereas Bank Mega is credit card acquirer.

    Carrefour Indonesia has almost 100 hypermarkets in 13 Indonesian provinces under the ownership of PT Trans Retail Indonesia. It serves some 500,000 customers each day, offering groceries, fresh products, electronics, cosmetics, textile and many other consumer products. Siva Kumar, commercial and marketing director with PT Trans Retail Indonesia said the company feels committed to restoring its customers’ purchasing power in Indonesia.

    “To make this possible, we offer them a full one-stop-shopping experience through our products and support them with best-in-breed and secure payment technology from Bank Mega and Wirecard.”

    Bank Mega operates 344 branches nationwide in Indonesia, including issuing and acquiring credit card, debit card as well as its stored-value contactless payment card MegaCash. In addition, Bank Mega serves its customers through electronic banking, eCommerce and POS solutions at merchants.

    Mirtha Rahman, group head card sales and marketing with PT Bank Mega Tbk said the company looked forward to working together on further future projects.

    Wirecard AG is an independent provider of outsourcing and white label solutions for electronic payment transactions.

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  • Filipino telco unveils new retail concept

    Filipino telco unveils new retail concept

    Globe Telecom has simultaneously opened the first three stores in a new retail format named Generation 3.

    The Globe Gen3 format was designed by Tim Kobe, founder and CEO of Eight, Inc, whose most famous work is the Apple Store in New York.

    Globe says the colourful stores designed to engage with customers, set a new global standard in telco retail experience. The first three opened in SM North Edsa, Quezon City, Manila and in Limketkai Mall, Cagayan de Oro.

    “The Globe Gen3 stores will further engage and delight customers by fueling their passion in the areas of music, entertainment, productivity, and life,” the company said in a statement.

    “Globe is proud to bring to Filipino consumers another world-standard differentiated experience. Our passion for our customers inspires us to end the year on a high note by bringing innovation a notch higher in our stores, one of our key customer touch points, allowing us to truly empower our customers’ digital lifestyles,” said Ernest Cu, Globe president and CEO.

    Apart from reconfigured store displays, customers can also check out the Play Bar to explore the different featured apps and sit through one-on-one service consultations. Self-service tools are available that allow better interaction with customer representatives through a video hotline.

    “Exciting, unexpected, and experiential are the words to describe our Gen3 Stores. The concept and design of the Gen3 Stores have undergone intense research and consultation with the world’s top-notch designers and architecture experts. We are inviting customers to explore and be inspired by the stores’ four zones—music, entertainment, productivity, and life so they can fully enjoy a wonderful world,” said Joe Caliro, Globe head of retail transformation and management.

    The Globe Gen3 stores are home to various lifestyle zones with stories and exciting features for customers to experience and enjoy. These zones feature latest trends in product, people and even in business. Various lifestyle vignettes illustrate mobile and broadband technologies as connected solutions – featuring the latest devices, apps, digital connectors gadgets and services that contribute to the total interactive customer experience.

    The lifestyle zones will also highlight the stories of brand ambassadors every quarter. The store is a platform for the introduction of “must-watch personalities who are blazing new trails in their respective Art, Community and Technology spaces”.

    For the first quarter of 2015, with Music as the main theme, Globe Gen3 will feature four popular DJs: DJ Badkiss, Callum David, Mars Miranda, and Eric Capilli – who all have inspiring success stories in their chosen career. In the coming months, it will also feature the inspiring story of JR Dela Paz, a Globe myBusiness ambassador and owner of fast-rising restaurant chain Size Matters.

    The Globe Gen3 Store will also serve as a venue to introduce the latest products, devices, and services offered by Globe. To start, it is the first retailer in Asia to introduce and carry Google Cardboard, the fold-your-own virtual reality headset.

    On his design plan for Gen3, Tim Kobe shared: “The space is dynamic. It changes with new stories and experiences that support different events and moments. We have elements that move and reconfigure, the way entertainment venues support great concerts or shows.

    “Retail is one touch point where brands build relationships and sell products and services. It is important today to have a place to demonstrate what you stand for. More than 50 per cent of the reason why someone engages with a brand comes from word of mouth. Interestingly, 80 per cent of word of mouth comes from direct experience. Designing the experience is critical to building brand advocates.”

    Leading up to the launch of the Gen3 Stores, Globe collaborated with homegrown Philippine artists who took part in one of the telco’s biggest transformation projects to better serve its customers. Led by multi-awarded artist Ross Capili, the artists turned their design inspirations into live art galleries, showcasing murals exhibiting Globe’s brilliant vision, complementing the look, feel, and experience of its Gen3 Stores.

    By 2015, Globe is set to convert more of its existing stores into the Gen3 format.

  • China buying more iPhones than US

    China buying more iPhones than US

    Apple is expected to say this week that it has sold more iPhones in China than on its home turf in the US for the first time last year, highlighting the shifting power balance of the smartphone market.

    Analysts estimate that the US tech group reached the turning point in iPhone sales after expanding its presence in China last year via a deal with China Mobile, the country’s largest network operator, and after the release of the latest iPhone 6 in the country in October.

    The iPhone’s growing market share in China comes as Samsung, the global market leader by smartphone volumes, has stumbled and the region has seen the rapid rise of low-cost challenger Xiaomi.

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  • Starbucks’ breathtaking ‘Shrine to Coffee’

    Starbucks’ breathtaking ‘Shrine to Coffee’

    Lovingly carved into a handsome thick timber bench at the new Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room in Seattle is a Victor Hugo quote: “There is nothing like a dream to create the future”.

    It serves as a mantra for this ambitious ultra flagship, meant to be the forerunner of 100 Roastery cafes across the US. For this indeed is a dream brought to life with breathtaking scale, incredible quality, and painstaking detail.

    The “shrine to coffee” (as it was referred to in Wired Magazine) sits at the base of Seattle’s hipster Capitol Hill and is massive – 15,000sqft (or about 1500sqm). It’s designed to be a “totally immersive experience” (a retail cliché, which in this case is an accurate description).

    As a customer, you literally walk into a scrupulously clean, polished to within an inch of its life coffee bean roasting plant. You are greeted by a kind of coffee maître de and order your beverage from a restaurant-like menu on a clipboard – specifying your preferred bean, naturally.

    Food is also on the menu, and I selected a pretzel sesame seed bagel with smashed edamame mixed with mint and lemon, to accompany my Colombian Americano. (The premiumisation of everything is somewhat hilarious. How did we get to this? What ever happened to a cup of Joe and a plain bagel and cream cheese?)

    The service is a little slow (it takes longer to order craft coffee), so while I waited I was able to absorb the space and fitout. From the gleaming copper roasting kettle to the leather curtains; from the blackboard illustrations to the manifesto on entry (“every cup we’ve ever served has led us here”), Starbucks Reserve Roastery is seriously impressive. (If you’re hungry for more than a snack, there is also a Serious Pie gourmet pizza restaurant on the premises.)

    My only reservation is that by the time my coffee arrived, my expectations were through the (cavernous) roof. While the food was delicious, the coffee was, well… still Starbucks. Coming from Australia, I like my coffee strong and flavorful, and this was just a little “meh”.

    Nevertheless, Starbucks Reserve Roastery is remarkable, and well worth a visit. The single star motif above the signature ‘R’ should really be five stars.

    On my way out, I noticed another quote embedded into the bench where a barista was hard at work: “Crafted by hand and heart.”  That sums up the love that has gone into this store – led by designer Liz Muller and CEO, Howard Schultz. God is in the details, and they have most of the details absolutely right.

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  • Fifty shades of lingerie to light up retail this year

    Fifty shades of lingerie to light up retail this year

    Retail experts are tipping women’s intimate apparel as one of the hot spots for the sector this year with the release of the steamy movie Fifty Shades of Grey expected to trigger a rise in sales of lingerie and related “items”.

    Being billed as the “movie event of 2015”, it is the adaption of the best-selling book and lingerie retailers can’t wait for its release.

    Although a discretionary category, lingerie sales have been higher in the past year, as consumers look to spoil themselves with a one-off purchase. This demand, which has also been out-pacing even jewellery sales, has led to the opening of more stores, including the overseas-based Victoria’s Secret outlets and the Agent Provocateur, both of which are on the hunt for more stand-alone stores across Australia.

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  • Aeon plans 500 Thai stores

    Aeon plans 500 Thai stores

    Japanese retailer Aeon is planning to increase its supermarket network in Thailand to 500 outlets by 2020.

    But this year it has scaled back its expansion plans due to what it considers to be a subdued retail market.

    Aeon currently has 76 supermarkets in Thailand most trading under the MaxValu brand, shops which are larger than convenience stores but smaller than full scale supermarkets. Many trade 24 hours.

    The company had planned to open 30 new stores this year but now says it will open just 15 new ones. Next year will see 40 new stores, and then 100 each year through to 2020. About 80 per cent will be MaxValu stores, the rest full sized supermarkets.

    GM Keiji Ono told the Bangkok Post that Aeon would invest up to 400 million baht (US$12.3 million) on upgrading existing stores and opening new ones.

    “We will penetrate the market in provinces in the Northeast such as Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani in order to exploit the expected economic boom from the coming regional pact of the Asean Economic Community,” he said.

    New MaxValu stores will soon open in Laem Chabang and Pattaya.

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  • Goubuli runs Australian coffee chain

    Goubuli runs Australian coffee chain

    Goubuli, a renowned Chinese restaurant chain known for its steamed stuffed buns, said they sealed a deal with Gloria Jean’s Coffees to operate the Australian brand in China.

    Tianjin Senyongtai Food and Beverage Co, a subsidiary wholly owned by the Goubuli Group, will hold an 80 percent stake in “Tianjin Glory”, a new joint venture that will operate Gloria Jean’s coffee brand in China under the deal reached on 25 December, Goubuli’s Board Chairman Zhang Yansen said on Wednesday.

    The Australian firm will hold the remaining 20 percent, he said.

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  • Voylla.com to open 25 offline retail stores in offline expansion plan

    Voylla.com to open 25 offline retail stores in offline expansion plan

    Voylla.com, a jewellery and accessories shopping website run by Bengaluru-based Voylla Retail Private Limited, is planning to set up exclusive offline stores to consolidate its presence in the Indian fashion imitation jewellery industry, said its founder and chief executive officer Vishwas Shringi.

    The two-year-old company, which currently has three offline stores, including one in Bengaluru, is gearing up to launch 25 shop-in-shops across the country in tie-up with retail chains like Future Group’s Central within the next one-and-a-half year.

    Voylla.com is the latest to join the league of ecommerce players entering the offline retail business. While Flipkart has opened its first brick-and-mortar store “Fliptomania” in Bengaluru and online jewellery store Bluestone.com launched outlets in Bengaluru, Mumbai and New Delhi in 2014, online fashion retailer Myntra.com is gearing up to roll out offline stores in due course.

  • FENDI launches e-commerce globally

    FENDI launches e-commerce globally

    FENDI (LVMH Group) announces the launch of its e-commerce in 28 European countries starting with this year. Japan will be followed by the US in 2016. The strategic retail approach towards e-commerce follows many other top luxury fashion brands, with several to follow suit by the end of this year.

  • Kathmandu names Xavier Simonet new CEO

    Kathmandu names Xavier Simonet new CEO

    New Zealand-based outdoor clothing retailer Kathmandu on Friday announced the appointment of Xavier Simonet as the new CEO of the company.

    Simonet is currently the CEO of Radley, a London-based brand with a product range covering women’s handbags, luggage and a wide range of accessories. Simonet will relocate to Melbourne to take up the role after working out his notice period with Radley.

    Prior to joining Radley, Simonet was Vice President & General Manager, International for apparel & underwear group DB Apparel and prior to that he was the International Director of Seafolly Group based in Sydney.

    Simonet began his career with LVHM where he worked for 11 years in France, Scandinavia, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, and the UK and Ireland before returning to Australia to join Seafolly.

    “We have undertaken a comprehensive international search to fill the role and we are delighted Xavier has agreed to join Kathmandu as our new Chief Executive Officer,” said David Kirk, the Chairman of Kathmandu.

    “Xavier has wide experience in retailing and brand development in Australia and in many international markets. He has a proven track record building brands and developing successful retail businesses in fashion, apparel, accessories and related products,” Kirk added.

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  • Hooters in major Asian roll-out

    Hooters in major Asian roll-out

    Hooters of America has signed an extensive development agreement to open 30 new Hooters QSR restaurant locations throughout Southeast Asia over the next six years.

    After introducing the concept to Thailand with the opening of Hooters Phuket, international franchisee Destination Resorts has set sights on Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as Hong Kong and Macau.

    The initial focus will be on Hong Kong, Thailand and the Philippines.

    Hooters is already well established through other partnerships in mainland China and Singapore.

    “The moment the doors opened to Hooters Phuket we realised the tremendous opportunity to greatly broaden our efforts to develop the Hooters brand across Asia,” said Gary Murray, CEO, Destination Resorts Co.

    “We pride ourselves on introducing fresh, exciting concepts to our guests, and the unparalleled Hooters dining experience fits that profile.”

    Hooters, derided by many for its concept of attractive women in tight or skimpy clothing serving ordinary, primarily deep fried food to customers, appears to have exhausted its growth potential in its home market and has failed to capture customers in forays into other western market, such as Australia. Now it is eyeing Asia for growth, recognising locals are currently ready to embrace pretty much any US fast food concept or brand.

    Less than a year after Hooters Girls first welcomed guests in Patong, Phuket, Destination Resorts says it will dedicate “significant capital and resources” to an expanded Hooters venture, continuing growth in Thailand and concentrating heavily on Hong Kong and the Philippines and on the other new countries.

    “Destination Resorts Co. brings a wealth of hospitality and restaurant industry expertise, overseeing premier resorts and travel destinations in multiple Asian markets,” said Mark Whittle, senior VP of global development with Hooters of America.

    “Following the warm welcome of Hooters Phuket, we’re confident our franchise partner will realise continued success as we work together to spread Hooters wings in additional markets.”

    Headquartered in Bangkok, Destination Resorts is also behind DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Phuket t Surin Beach, DusitD2 Phuket Resort, Sri Racha International Golf at Sri Racha Hills, Hard Rock Café Phuket at Patong Beach, Novotel Phuket Karon Beach Resort & Spa, Novotel Hua Hin Cha Am Beach Resort & Spa, Swissotel Resort Phuket and Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok Sukhumvit 15.

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  • Index seals deal for Philippines

    Index seals deal for Philippines

    Thai homewares giant Index Living Mall has signed a Philippines partner as its Asian expansion continues.

    Index will team up with the Philippines largest retail and mall operator SM Group to run the franchise for the concept for at least five years.

    Index managing director Kridchanok Patamasatayasonthi told the Bangkok Post newspaper Index chose the Philippines due to its huge market potential.

    “There’s no furniture or furnishings chain like us in the country, just small local and imported furniture stores.”

    Index opened its first store in Vietnam about three years ago and its first in Malaysia last month, in the capital city of Putrajaya. It plans 30 stores across Malaysia over a 15-20 year timeline.

    The company is also eyeing opportunities in Indonesia and hopes to double its foreign sales within five years. It will soon have 25 stores in its home market.

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  • AmorePacific sold one Cushion product every 1.2 seconds in 2014, driving Asia Cushion frenzy

    AmorePacific sold one Cushion product every 1.2 seconds in 2014, driving Asia Cushion frenzy

    Craze for Cushion, which started in Korea, is now drawing worldwide attention and revolutionising the makeup routine for women around the world.
    Amore Pacific Group said on Tuesday that the global sales of Cushion products under its brands are expected to exceed 50 million units on a cumulative basis during January 2015. With the total sales of Cushion products increasing 105 percent year on year (YoY) to 26 million units, an AmorePacific Group’s Cushion was sold every 1.2 seconds in 2014. In particular, the sales of the Cushion products outside of Korea surged a whopping approximately 140 percent YoY and led a remarkable growth in the global market. The three largest markets outside of Korea comprised Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, where Cushion products have become an essential for every makeup bag.

    According to 2013 survey conducted by the Korea Tourism Organisation, more than 50 percent of the foreign visitors to Korea have purchased Korean cosmetics products, indicating that the influence of K-Beauty (Korean beauty) is ever-growing. Among the Korean cosmetics products, Cushion, which has changed the way Korean women wear makeup, is now creating a global beauty trend beyond its popularity in Korea.
    Another study conducted by the global research firm TNS Korea that interviewed 800 Korean female consumers found that 75 percent of Korean women have used or are currently using Cushion products. The respondents chose the portability and the convenience of creating the natural-looking flawless skin as their reasons for choosing Cushion.

    Moreover, the survey showed that Cushion was in fact has changed the makeup habits of Korean women by reducing the steps and time needed in creating the skin-looks they prefer. 75 percent said that since using Cushion their makeup routine was shortened, and 76 percent replied that they were now easily reapplying makeup and sunscreen with Cushions. 55 percent of women responded that their sole base makeup product was Cushion. The survey showed more than 8 out of 10 most-favoured Cushion brands were from the category creator AmorePacific Group, including IOPE and LANEIGE.

    Cushion refers to a makeup compact built with a specially-designed urethane foam that safely contains and preserves makeup liquid comprised of foundation, sunscreen and skincare formula. Already popular as the “must-have” item in Korea for easy, flawless skin makeup, Cushion has more recently gained keen attentions in the global cosmetics market.

    Amore Pacific Group began its research and development for Cushion in January 2007 and introduced the “IOPE AIR CUSHION” in March 2008. The sales of IOPE AIR CUSHION totalled 3.8 billion KRW in the first year launched and surpassed 200 billion KRW in 2014, which made it one of the best-selling items in the Korean cosmetics market.

    And with the industry-leading technology, AmorePacific has launched numerous Cushion products with different functional benefits through its brands, such as the LANEIGE BB Cushion, Sulwhasoo Evenfair Perfecting Cushion, Innisfree Mineral Melting BB Cushion and ETUDE HOUSE Precious Mineral Any Cushion.

    The LANEIGE BB Cushion series in particular was re-tailored for each global market to meet local skin conditions. As a result of localised marketing strategy, about 1.17 million units of LANEIGE BB Cushion were sold in China in 2014. As of January 2015, AmorePacific Group offers a total of 19 Cushion products from its 13 brands in more than ten countries in the Asian and North American regions, leading the “globalisation” of the Korean-born Cushion.
    “Cushion, created from AmorePacific Group’s innovative technology, is a revolutionary product that is changing the makeup routines of women across the world and is going to be at the centre of global beauty trend in 2015,” said Suh Kyung-Bae, Chairman & CEO of AMOREPACIFIC Group. “AMOREPACIFIC Group will continue to pioneer and lead the global Cushion market with the company’s unparalleled technology and superior products.” he added.

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  • Aussie sushi chain lands in Hong Kong

    Aussie sushi chain lands in Hong Kong

    An Australian sushi restaurant chain has opened its first outlet in Hong Kong.

    And now Wasabi Warriors plans more stores in the city, along with expansion into the Philippines in February and Dubai later in the year.

    Hong Kong ‘Business Warrior’ Elga Wong said response to the first store’s opening was overwhelming.

    “It’s been so busy I haven’t even had a minute to catch my breath.

    “The experience has been phenomenal and we’ve received extremely positive feedback from customers with fresh and tasty being the most common words heard on the opening day.”

    Wasabi Warriors is owned by Australia’s Pacific Retail Brands, which also has Go Sushi and Kick! Juice Bars in its portfolio. The sushi concept is very environmentally focused, carefully sourcing ingredients from carefully selected suppliers. Using sustainable, free range and locally sourced authentic sushi, the brand says in Hong Kong it is staying true to its cause to ‘Eat good, Do good, Feel good’ by honouring their commitment to the ocean, earth and the animals.

    The chain’s menu includes freshly made sushi rolls, packs, gyozas and dragon bites.

    The Hong Kong store is on the ground floor of World Trust Tower, 50 Stanley St, in Central.

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  • Pure Gold for Changi

    Pure Gold for Changi

    Pure Gold has become the first Middle Eastern jeweller to be granted a concession at Singapore’s Changi International Airport.

    It will open a jewellery store in Terminal 1.

    Pure Gold is a private family-owned business founded 20 years ago which now has 125 stores in the Middle East and Asia. It plans to open a further 200 by 2018, selling products sourced from its factories in China and India.

    Chairman and founder Firoz Merchant said Changi airport is one of the busiest and best performing airports in Asia and being awarded a concession to open in the airport terminal is a big boost to Pure Gold’s travel retail business.

    “This achievement is in line with our plans to become the largest travel retailer in jewellery globally. Passengers passing through Singapore Changi International Airport can now choose from our extensive range of gold, diamond, pearls, precious and semi-precious gemstone jewellery in the latest styles and best prices.”

    Pure Gold already has a strong duty free business in the Middle East, operating at all terminals in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi international airports, and within the duty free retail facilities in Jordan, Kuwait, Muscat, Dubai and Sri Lanka.

    CEO and MD Karim Merchant added in a statement: “Travel Retail is a key area of business for us and is becoming an increasingly important sector of our overall operations. Winning the concession at Changi Airport, which has an average number of 50 million passengers per year, will help us to further strengthen our business.”

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