Retail News CRM

Tag: asia

  • Car registration fee cut by half again

    Car registration fee cut by half again

    A government decree has cut registration fees for locally made cars by 50 percent for six months starting December 1.

    This is the second time in the last two years such a cut is being made to mitigate the difficulties faced by the auto industry due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    In the first six months of last year, 17,600 cars were bought on average each month. In the second half, when the 50 percent cut took effect, sales doubled.

    The registration fees are calculated based on car prices in each locality.

    The rates are 12 percent in Hanoi and Hai Phong, and 10 percent in HCMC.

    Last year, car sales had fallen by 8 percent to 296,634 units as the Covid-19 pandemic badly affected the economy, hitting people’s incomes and discretionary spending.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Kawasaki To Unveil Three New Electric Motorcycles In 2022

    Kawasaki To Unveil Three New Electric Motorcycles In 2022

    Kawasaki Motors President and CEO Hiroshi Ito have announced that the Japanese brand will introduce not one, but three new electric models in 2022. Addressing the assembled crowd at the EICMA 2021 show in Milan, Italy, Hiroshi Ito laid down a broad outline for Kawasaki’s immediate future plans, including alternative fuels, as well as new products. What is clear from the comments from EICMA 2021 quoted by several sources, is that Kawasaki intends to fully embrace a carbon-neutral society. And what is important is that Kawasaki seems to be almost ready with several new electric models.

    “I would like to share a new commitment with you now. Next year, in 2022, we will show a minimum of three electric vehicles globally. That is a promise,” said Hiroshi Ito, President and CEO, Kawasaki Motors.

    The news seems to be part of Kawasaki’s plans to introduce 10 electric and hybrid motorcycles by 2025. But what is also interesting is Kawasaki’s plans to evaluate other forms of cleaner transportation. In his address, the Kawasaki Motors President and CEO also made mention of the Japanese brand’s commitment to exploring other power sources, including hydrogen, hybrids, and eFuels.

    “In addition to electric vehicles, Kawasaki is looking at all options as we work towards achieving a carbon-neutral society. One example is a hydrogen engine. In Japan, all industries supported by the government are making great efforts to make hydrogen a practical domestic alternative are currently moving forward. The Kawasaki Group is taking on a key role in this project, leading the way in hydrogen production, transport, storage, and use.

    “And just recently, on November 13, Kawasaki Motors decided to take the first steps in developing a hydrogen-powered motorcycle engine with Yamaha. Of course, we will look at the possibilities of other alternative fuels, like biofuel and eFuels,” added Hiroshi Ito.

    The announcement is a clear indication that Kawasaki is serious about cleaner transportation and is leading the development and pursuit of alternative power sources. And it will be interesting to see what the three new electric products will be, but even more interesting will be the development of alternative fuels, including hydrogen power.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Apple warns Thai rapper of state hacking

    Apple warns Thai rapper of state hacking

    Apple has sent messages to a Thai rapper and at least five other government critics warning that state-sponsored hackers could be accessing their data remotely, as well as accessing their iPhones’ camera and microphone.

    Previously arrested for sedition but subsequently released, Dechathorn “Hockhacker” Bamrungmuang from the Rap Against Dictatorship group, expressed shock of a possible hack. He posted a screenshot of the message that read: “Apple believes you are being targeted by state-sponsored attackers who are trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID.”

    On Tuesday, Apple filed a lawsuit against NSO Group, an Israeli company, for surveilling and targeting Apple users. Apple is also seeking a permanent injunction to ban NSO Group from using any Apple software, services or devices to safeguard the interests of its users.

    After Dechathorn spoke out on this, two political activists in Ghana, an opposition politician in Uganda, and a dozen journalists from Salvadoran have stepped forward with similar warning messages from Apple.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Uber To Halt App In Brussels, Belgium From Friday After Court Ruling

    Uber To Halt App In Brussels, Belgium From Friday After Court Ruling

    Uber Technologies Inc. said it would halt operations in Brussels from Nov. 26 after a court ruled that a 2015 ban on private individuals offering taxi services also applies to professional drivers.

    Uber said the decision by the Brussels Appeals Court on Wednesday will affect around 2,000 drivers, and it urged the Belgian government to quickly change taxi service laws.

    Lees ook:

  • Spotify is testing a TikTok-like video feed

    Spotify is testing a TikTok-like video feed

    Spotify wants to become more TikTok-like… sort of. Apparently, the music streaming service is testing a new feature called Discover for its app. The feature will allow artists to post vertical videos to their songs and allow listeners to discover new songs more easily.

    The new Spotify Discover feature was spotted by Chris Messina in the music app’s latest iOS TestFlight beta version. The new Discover button is located between the Home and Search buttons. When you Discover, you are presented with a TikTok-style video feed of artists and their songs. You can like the song by tapping on the heart icon or hitting the three-dot button for more information.

    Spotify declined to comment on whether the new feature will make it into the official version of the app or if it will be ditched entirely. A spokesman for the streaming service gave the following statement:“At Spotify, we routinely conduct a number of tests in an effort to improve our user experience. Some of those tests end up paving the way for our broader user experience and others serve only as an important learning. We don’t have any further news to share at this time.” – Spotify spokesperson.

    The new Discover feature could prove very useful for artists as it will allow them to add a visualization to their songs without the need for an expensive music video. The feature will also allow Spotify to differentiate itself more from its biggest competitor, Apple Music, as the latter doesn’t have a video feed section.

    A couple of artists have already made vertical music videos in the past. For example, back in February and April of 2019, British singer MARINA published vertical videos for her songs Handmade Heaven and Orange Trees, which ere posted on all social media, taking advantage of the smartphone form factor. Later, Billie Eilish jumped on the new trend as well. The American music artist posted a vertical video of her hit song Bad Guy in August of 2019.

    If Spotify indeed adds the new Discover section to its app, vertical music videos could become mainstream. If that happens, Apple will probably add a similar feature to its music streaming service too.

    Spotify isn’t the first popular app to work on a TikTok-like video feed. Instagram introduced a very similar feature in its app called Instagram Reels. YouTube also introduced its own version of a vertical video feed called YouTube Shorts.

    Both Reels and Shorts proved to be quite successful, and it isn’t surprising that other big companies want to add similar features to their apps. Netflix also recently introduced a video feed to its app containing comedy content. The new Netflix feature is called Fast Laughs.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • WhatsApp to add built-in sticker maker on the web

    WhatsApp to add built-in sticker maker on the web

    WhatsApp is always improving in order to remain competitive. Although new features aren’t always coming to all platforms, sooner or later all WhatsApp users get to benefit from them. The most recent improvement added to the messaging app, a built-in Sticker Maker, is only available on WhatsApp’s web version.

    It will allow WhatsApp users to quickly create stickers directly within the app, thus removing the need to use third-party apps. The new Sticker Maker can be accessed via the paperclip icon. Simply select Sticker and choose an image to upload.

    The images uploaded can then be edited to your heart’s desire. The picture can be cut and cropped, but you can also add emoji, text, as well as more WhatsApp stickers on top of the ones you create.

    Of course, Android and iOS users must continue to use third-party apps to make their own stickers. Keep in mind that the built-in Sticker Maker announced today won’t be available on the web until next week.

  • PPRO Grows in Indonesia

    PPRO Grows in Indonesia

    The payments infrastructure provider has announced the integration of Indonesian buy now pay later (BNPL) pioneer Kredivo to its platform.

    PPRO is partnering with Kredivo – one of Indonesia’s largest and fastest-growing digital credit platforms – to allow more merchants to reach a large pool of underbanked or unbanked Indonesians.

    The integration is a cooperation between PPRO, Kredivo, and DOKU, a leading payment technology company, and enables PPRO to offer the increasingly popular BNPL payment option, as well as split payment and flexible instant credit offerings via Kredico.

    Indonesia continues to be recognized as the world’s hottest battleground for digital payments. The addition of Kredivo to our platform is a milestone in our Indonesia expansion, Kelvin Phua, PPRO head of global market development, said.

    Kredivo currently has more than 4 million users in Indonesia, representing over 50 percent of the local BNPL market.

    The news follows the recent announcement of the integration of two of the most popular payment methods in Indonesia, Jenius Pay and LinkAja, to the PPRO platform. Other payment methods on PPRO’s wider global network include Alipay, WeChat Pay, GrabPay, Bancontact, iDEAL, BLIK, and Boleto Bancário. PPRO raised $180 million earlier this year, taking the firm’s total value to over $1 billion.

    Kredivo has also been expanding of late – it inked a partnership with Standard Chartered in October to offer BNPL loans to the mass market segment via digital channels. The company also launched in Vietnam in August through a joint venture. FinAccel, Kredivo’s parent company also announced plans to go public via a $2.5 billion SPAC merger. The firm had raised US$90 million in 2019 during a Series C funding round to double down on its Southeast Asian expansion plans.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • AirAsia to resume Bangkok-Phnom Penh flights following Cambodia’s reopening

    AirAsia to resume Bangkok-Phnom Penh flights following Cambodia’s reopening

    AirAsia is resuming flights from Bangkok to Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh starting December 22. The Southeast Asian country recently lifted restrictions to allow fully vaccinated foreign travelers to enter without undergoing quarantine.

    Next month, flights from Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport to Phnom Penh will take off on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Travelers who are considered fully vaccinated under the World Health Organisation requirements within 14 days of departure will be allowed to enter under the quarantine-free travel scheme.

    Visitors will also need to test negative in a RT-PCR Covid-19 test at least 72 hours before departure and take a rapid antigen test on arrival. Those who have not been fully vaccinated will need to undergo a 14 day quarantine.

    For AirAisa BIG members, tickets start at 1,690 baht per trip with pre-booking from November 18 to 28 for flights from December 22 to March 25.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Feeding a Nation – RedMart West Fulfilment Centre, Singapore

    Feeding a Nation – RedMart West Fulfilment Centre, Singapore

    Providing productivity, space efficiency, speed, and accuracy – with the bonus of increased safety and social distancing.

    An Advanced Grocery Online Fulfilment Centre – Scaling Up to Meet Growing Demand

    Occupying 32,500 square metres (350,000 square feet), one of the largest logistics facilities in the country belongs to the biggest online grocery platform in Singapore –RedMart. RedMart is the online grocery service of e-commerce giant, Lazada, which serves all of Singapore. The RedMart West Fulfilment Centre has been able to build up its logistical prowess through automation, thanks to intelligent, innovative solutions from Dematic.

    “At RedMart, we offer over 100,000 assorted products to Singaporeans”, said Mr. Gerald Glauerdt, Co-Founder & Chief Logistics Officer at RedMart and Lazada. “This RedMart Fulfilment Centre is our main hub, seeing a lot of hustle and bustle as we are open 24/7, fulfilling orders for our customers as soon as they are placed.”  Mr. Glauerdt also went on to add that this advanced fulfilment centre for groceries is the first one of this scale and complexity in Singapore.

    RedMart’s West Fulfilment Centre is powered by market leading automation from Dematic to meet the increasing demand for online grocery shopping. The Dematic automated solution includes robotic shuttles, ergonomic high-speed pick stations, an intelligent conveying system, and a high-rate sortation system, all managed by a sophisticated software platform to make processes incredibly easy and efficient for pickers, packers, and management staff.

    In its previous setup, RedMart operators would have to manually travel around aisles and aisles of shelving to pick the items required for orders. In addition to spending a lot of time travelling, pickers would need additional time for receiving instructions, locating products, and loading and unloading trolleys, resulting in a highly inefficient process that was not only time-consuming, but prone to errors. Errors made by the pickers in such a manual process are difficult to detect, hard to prevent and extremely costly to resolve. With the automated solution provided by Dematic, RedMart’s productivity and accuracy have both improved significantly.

    Another key factor in developing the overall infrastructure for the RedMart West Fulfilment Centre was the building footprint. In Singapore, a big component for businesses is the cost of space. When RedMart first started talking to Dematic, they were receiving less than 2,000 orders per day, and had around 5,000 products in their range. However, the RedMart West Fulfilment Centre needed to be designed to handle a significantly greater number of orders and products on a daily basis. RedMart realised they would not be able to find the space or the workforce to meet their growth target using their current practices.

    The COVID-19 Pandemic – Providing Solutions to meet this Disruption

    Online grocery shopping had been experiencing strong growth in Singapore for several years but saw some explosive growth because of the pandemic.

    Mr. Glauerdt mentioned that the decision to install a high level of automation at this facility was made well before the onset of COVID-19, but the importance of the automated solution to RedMart’s business has been underscored by the pandemic, where the rate at which consumers have turned to online platforms to purchase their groceries has grown exponentially.

    According to RedMart, sales jumped by more than four times during the start of the pandemic, with unique visitors to the website rising by more than 11 times.

    “A lot of elements that we designed into these solutions put RedMart in a really good position to adapt and respond to the pandemic”, said Mr. Michael Bradshaw, Senior Regional Director, Sales & Solutions Development, Dematic. “They now have operators working at socially distanced workstations, rather than crossing paths, pushing a trolley around to pick an order. With the pandemic, we saw an incredible surge in demand for online grocery shopping, and the volume that Redmart had planned for several years in the future, was brought forward.  With the capacity they had available with the automated solution, Redmart were able to take on the increased demand and service their new customers.”

    Challenges faced by RedMart – Exponential Growth Required Scalable Infrastructure

    The online market for groceries had seen a growth rate of 300% since 2017, however with RedMart’s previous infrastructure and manual processes, it would not have been able to cost-effectively take advantage of this growth opportunity.

    “Our previous model was no longer working for us as we continued to grow. To meet the demand of consumers when it comes to online grocery shopping, the old method of manually hand-picking an order to pack and send to customers was too time-consuming, inefficient, and low in productivity,” said Mr. Glauerdt. “We knew we needed to scale our model of operations up, and we needed to find a solutions provider who was highly experienced in warehouse and logistics automation. Dematic was chosen as they were able to provide us with highly customisable solutions that would bring us the productivity increases that we were looking for.”

    One of the technologies Dematic has provided as part of the automated solution is the Dematic Multishuttle® system. Products are placed in totes, which are automatically stored in high-density racks by robotic shuttles. The Dematic Multishuttles automatically transport totes between storage locations and operator pick stations, eliminating the need for operators to travel and preventing them from picking the wrong product. These towering racks extend from floor to ceiling, maximising the storage density of the warehouse.

    “The automated solution uses robotic shuttles to store and retrieve products automatically and deliver them to goods-to-person (GTP) workstations where operators can work up to 5 times faster than they were previously”, said Mr. Bradshaw. “This part of the solution covers a huge product range in a small footprint, with an extremely effective picking method. The shuttles are also used to automatically replenish pick locations allocated for faster moving products where we use light picking technology to direct the operators, making the picking process as fast and accurate as possible.”

    Whenever there is an order to be fulfilled from the goods-to-person area, the Dematic Multishuttle system automatically retrieves totes containing the required items. Totes are retrieved in a specific sequence and conveyed to the GTP workstations where they are picked and placed into order containers. The operator stays in one place while items are delivered to their pick station automatically, increasing picking speeds and productivity by eliminating the need for the picker to walk around many aisles of shelving.

    “This example of the GTP brings a highly productive solution in terms of processes, where a picker could now pick and pack 500 items in the same time that it used to take us to pick and pack 100 items in the past using the manual process”, said Mr. Glauerdt. “Dematic was able to offer this customised solution to help reduce the burden on our pickers, whilst boosting productivity and efficiency, helping us to meet the growing demand of online grocery shopping.”

    Dematic’s system also includes order fulfilment of fresh produce in multiple temperature zones including a freezer pick area. Customer orders are transported through the various picking areas of the facility as required using an intelligent routing conveying system and consolidated at ergonomic packing stations in preparation for despatch. Once packed, orders are conveyed and automatically sorted to specific delivery vehicles using one of Dematic’s high rate sliding shoe sorter. The solution minimises customer orders touch points, maximising both productivity and hygiene.

    Challenges met with Challenges – Maintaining Customer Service Levels

    “To make sure that the system keeps running around the clock, Dematic provides service and support that’s available 24/7”, said Mr. Bradshaw. “We have technicians located on-site to help look after the equipment and attend to any issues faced by RedMart during their operations. The early warning system integrated into our software tells us about something that might cause us a problem before it actually does, ensuring that our system runs at the highest level of availability for RedMart and its customers.”

    The whole system is covered by support from the Dematic Software Centre, staffed by a dedicated team of specialist engineers available 24 hours a day, who can be dialled into the system in a matter of minutes to provide help whenever needed.

    RedMart Fulfilment Centre System Benefits

    • Increased productivity with intelligent order routing, paperless picking technology, automated replenishment and Goods to Person picking stations supported by the Dematic Multishuttle
    • Improved ergonomics and safety at operator workstations
    • Reduced order fulfilment times
    • Improved space efficiency and storage capacity, with high-density storage provided by the Dematic Multishuttle.
    • Improved inventory and order accuracy ensures customer orders are fulfilled correctly and reduces the cost of resolving errors and addressing returns
    • Products in multiple temperature zones handled by the one system streamlining the order fulfilment process and speed of delivery to customers.
    • Flexibility to handle a growing product range and diversity of order profiles.
    • Improved operational efficiency with real-time monitoring of inventory, orders, workload progress and system performance.
    Lees ook:

  • Malaysian Tycoon Tony Fernandes’ AirAsia Launches Parcel Delivery Service To Tap E-Commerce Boom

    Malaysian Tycoon Tony Fernandes’ AirAsia Launches Parcel Delivery Service To Tap E-Commerce Boom

    AirAsia Group controlled by Malaysian tycoon Tony Fernandes has launched a parcel delivery service as the loss-making budget airline seeks to tap the e-commerce boom across Southeast Asia.

    The new service, called AirAsia Xpress, is the company’s latest venture as it expands its digital business to shore up the airline’s revenues that have been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, AirAsia said in a statement on Tuesday. The service will initially be available in Kuala Lumpur and other areas around the densely populated Klang Valley, before rolling out to other parts of Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

    Powered by Teleport—the group’s logistics arm—AirAsia Xpress gives its super app users two options: instant delivery to receive their packages in less than an hour or same-day delivery to receive their packages within six hours. The new venture complements the airline’s food delivery and ride-hailing services, which are part of initiatives to build a super app that will compete with Southeast Asia’s tech titans such as Indonesia’s GoTo and Singapore’s Grab and Sea Group.

    “As we move forward with the post-pandemic recovery, we believe that people will remain greatly dependent on efficient and affordable delivery services—one of AirAsia’s core strengths,” said Lim Ben-Jie, head of e-commerce delivery at AirAsia’s superapp. “Combining our ease of usability and network reach across ASEAN and beyond, AirAsia Xpress will support individuals and micro-businesses with fast and convenient deliveries.”Southeast Asia is among the fastest-growing regions in the world, with gross merchandise value from the digital economy climbing 49% to $174 billion this year from the previous, according to a new study jointly published by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company this month. As consumers across the region increasingly embrace e-commerce and other digital platforms, the study predicts the GMV to grow to $363 billion by 2025 and surpass $1 trillion by 2030.

    This strong growth trajectory bodes well for AirAsia, which is seeking to grow the share of its digital businesses to 50% of the group’s revenue by 2025. The group has been pivoting into digital businesses as Covid-19 travel restrictions drag passenger and cargo traffic lower.

    Earlier this week, AirAsia reported its third-quarter revenue declined 37% from the previous year to 296 million ringgit ($70 million). In a research note, Raymond Choo, an analyst at Kuala Lumpur-based Kenanga Research, cut his full-year earnings estimate for AirAsia by 17% to a net loss of 2.41 billion ringgit.

    “As a group, we have taken advantage of the downtime in flying to tap new revenue streams and fully transform ourselves into an investment holding company with a portfolio of synergistic travel and lifestyle businesses,” Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia Group, said in a statement when the group announced its third-quarter results. AirAsia’s superapp, along with Teleport and the group’s fintech unit BigPay, are gaining traction and building a strong presence in key markets, he added.

    Fernandes and his business partner, Kamarudin Meranun, took over AirAsia in 2001 to build a low-cost carrier that would make air travel affordable. Fernandes—who dropped out of this year’s ranking of Malaysia’s 50 Richest people—also has interests in hospitality, insurance, and education.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • 7-Eleven introduces autonomous delivery robot in Seoul

    7-Eleven introduces autonomous delivery robot in Seoul

    Korea Seven, which operates 7-Eleven stores in South Korea, has partnered with Neubility, a South Korean autonomous robot startup, to commercialize autonomous robots for short-range delivery.

    Most large convenience store chains in South Korea offer delivery to customers via third-party food delivery apps. For example, the popular Yogiyo food delivery app delivers groceries and other products from CU and GS25 chains. Typically, third-party delivery services receive about $3.51 per delivery.

    The domestic food-delivery services market hit $19.8 billion last year, according to the South Korean Fair Trade Commission.

    Korea Seven’s agreement with Neubility calls for it to commercialize the autonomous robot Neubie in Seoul and surrounding areas by the end of this year. Neubie robots can navigate deliveries in urban areas in any weather conditions.

    However, it can be difficult for these robots to operate in the Gangnam district because the numerous skyscrapers could block the satellite signals needed for the robot’s GPS system. To overcome this, Neubie robots have cameras and sensors in addition to GPS, so they are more adaptable for those areas.

    “The two companies will cooperate to build a model for [a] next-generation delivery service that brings convenience to store management as well as increased profits,” said Choi Kyung-ho, CEO of 7-Eleven in South Korea.

    Elsewhere in Asia, 7-Eleven Japan this week announced plans to launch national delivery services by 2026. The country’s top c-store chain will mobilize its national network for last-mile delivery to take on Amazon.

  • Virtual retail real estate plot sells for a record US$2.4 million

    Virtual retail real estate plot sells for a record US$2.4 million

    A 566sqm piece of prime retail real estate sold online for US$2.4 million this week – but there’s a catch: it doesn’t exist.

    The land is ‘located’ on Fashion Street, a luxury retail precinct in Decentraland, a metaverse where people can buy land, visit buildings, and walk around and meet people as avatars. The buyer: crypto investor Tokens.com which says it plans to use the space to host digital fashion events and sell virtual clothing for avatars.

    The transaction was settled in a cryptocurrency called Mana and the agreed price of 618,000 Mana equates to US$2.4 million in real money.

    Decentraland said the site was the most expensive purchase of a plot of virtual real estate on its platform to date. It comprises 116 smaller parcels, each measuring 4.9sqm taking the plot said to 566sqm of virtual space.

    Decentraland is a specific type of metaverse that uses blockchain. Land and other items in Decentraland are sold in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), a kind of crypto asset.

    Crypto enthusiasts buy land there as a speculative investment, using Mana.

    Andrew Kiguel, CEO of Tokens.com, said the assets would complement the ‘real estate’ already held by Metaverse Group.

    In June, a plot of virtual land in Decentraland sold for 1,295,000 Mana, worth $913,228 at the time. The buyers built a virtual shopping center to sell digital clothing, but Reuters reports it has visited this site multiple times since and has yet to see any shoppers.

    Environments such as Decentraland have grown in popularity this year, as the pandemic caused people to spend more time online. Interest in the concept surged last month when Facebook changed its name to Meta to reflect its focus on developing virtual reality products for the metaverse.

    Lees ook:

  • Canada Goose names new Asia-Pacific president

    Canada Goose names new Asia-Pacific president

    Canada Goose has appointed Paul Cadman as its new president for the Asia-Pacific region.

    In his new role, Cadman will oversee the business’ activities including commercial, financial, and marketing across Apac markets, including Greater China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

    “Paul is a trusted brand advisor, having consulted for us for years,” said Dani Reiss, president, and CEO of Canada Goose. “His extensive knowledge in the luxury sector and his deep experience in developing brands across the region has provided our team with a valuable perspective.”

    Cadman has more than 30 years of strategic luxury goods experience and held leadership positions with global brands, including Salvatore Ferragamo, Asprey & Garrard, Bvlgari, and Estee Lauder.

    “Paul’s experience, entrepreneurial nature, and regionally-specific industry knowledge make him the best fit for the role as we strengthen our brand presence and further execute against our long-term growth strategy,” said Reiss.

    Cadman also founded PMC Global Hong Kong, a strategic management and business consultancy focused on the luxury goods industry.

    The appointment is in line with Canada Goose’s strategy to deepen its influence in the Apac region, including its recent store openings in Harbin, Nanjing, Ningbo, Beijing, Taipei, and Macau.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Ikea to open its first shopping mall in India

    Ikea to open its first shopping mall in India

    Ingka Centres, part of Ingka Group, is set to open a mixed-use development in Gurugram, Southwest of New Delhi, marking Ikea’s first shopping mall in the country.

    Construction is set to start early next year, with an investment of US$448 million. The project, with a gross building area of around 130,000sqm, is expected to generate more than 2500 jobs for the community.

    Dubbed ‘Livat’, a Swedish word that means ‘a lively happening’, the mixed-use development will house a mix of hospitality, food, and beverage, ‘edutainment’ learning spaces, alongside a wide retail offer anchored by an Ikea store.

    “We know that when it comes to retail and leisure, change is the only constant,” said Cindy Andersen, MD of Ingka Centres. “This is why our first Livat meeting place in India will be adaptable, with multiple offerings to match consumer lifestyles long into the future.”

    “India is an exciting opportunity for us and our partners to bring new experiences to customers and to develop meeting places that bring value to communities and the planet.

    “We want to create destinations that make it easier for people to live even happier, healthier, and more sustainable lifestyles – this will be our goal at Gurugram.”

    The mall’s concept will be focused on health, sport, nature, and sustainability. It is expected to welcome more than 20 million visitors annually. The company said Livat Gurugram will reflect best practices in energy and water efficiency while delivering a seamless omnichannel experience for customers.

    “Delhi NCR will be one of our biggest and most important markets in India,” said Peter Betzel, CEO, and CSO, Ikea India.

  • Dyson ditches Malaysian supplier over labour practices

    Dyson ditches Malaysian supplier over labour practices

    Dyson has terminated its relationship with supplier ATA IMS Bhd following an audit of the Malaysian company’s labor practices and allegations by a whistleblower, the British firm famed for its high-tech vacuum cleaners told Reuters.

    Dyson said it had commissioned an audit of working conditions at ATA earlier this year, the results of which were received on Oct 4.

    In addition, it was informed in September of a whistle-blower making allegations about unacceptable actions by ATA staff and immediately commissioned an international law firm to undertake a further investigation, Dyson said.

    “Despite intense engagement over the past six weeks, we have not seen sufficient progress and have already removed some production lines,” Dyson said in a statement to Reuters. “We have now terminated our relationship with six months’ of contractual notice.”

    ATA, which makes parts for Dyson’s vacuum cleaners and air purifiers, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    According to ATA, Dyson accounts for almost 80 percent of its revenue.

    ATA had in May denied allegations of forced labor at its factories after a prominent rights activist said US authorities were going to scrutinize the company’s work practices.

    Lees ook: