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Tag: asia

  • YouTube Music update adds new Smart Downloads feature

    YouTube Music update adds new Smart Downloads feature

    Google’s music streaming service, YouTube Music is bringing users a brand new feature that will allow them to listen to their favorite songs even when they’re offline. The new feature is called Smart Downloads and will automatically download up to 500 songs that a YouTube Music user “liked.”

    That new feature will be available on Android devices first, but only for YouTube Music Premium subscribers. In order for the feature to work, you’ll have to enable Smart Downloads from the app’s menu. All downloads will happen while your phone is connected to Wi-Fi, hence the name Smart Downloads.

    Make sure that you have enough free storage though and if you don’t think your phone can take all your “liked” songs, you can select how many you want YouTube Music to download from within the settings.

    Unlike Offline Mixtape, a feature that’s available for YouTube Music users for quite some time, Smart Downloads doesn’t create a mix of songs that fit your taste profile and makes it available offline but rather downloads exactly the songs you like.

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  • Pirata Group to launch new Japanese concept Honjo

    Pirata Group to launch new Japanese concept Honjo

    Hong Kong dining concepts business Pirata Group is opening Honjo, a modern Japanese restaurant, in Sheung Wan district late next month.

    As Pirata’s second Japanese concept, Honjo will be a 120-seat venue independent from its cosy street-inspired neighbour, TMK, set to launch a few days prior. Realised by interior designer Ben McCarthy of Charlie & Rose, Honjo is designed to remind diners of a modern restaurant set in the 1950s with a retro futuristic vibe, vibrant colours and intricate details from stained glass windows to hanging light fixtures.

    “The interior of Honjo will be demurely and appropriately extravagant, a dream eclectic and quirky home complete with an expansive collection of New and Old World wines,” read press material put out by the firm. “It will be the imaginary backdrop of a typical Japanese person’s dream world, a communal aspiration shared by many. A short reprieve from reality, one enters a fantastical world where he or she lives lavishly in a home resembling a British manor from the 1950’s. Finding joy in traveling the world and being influenced by each vibrant culture visited, the dreamer will craft Honjo’s interior, philosophy and cuisine based on his or her fantasies.”

    The restaurant celebrates the ability of Japanese cuisine to absorb inspiration and concepts from other countries, with a menu that will pay homage to a combination of Japanese people’s passion for exploring new flavours as well as their Japanese origin.

    Pirata Group’s existing restaurants include The Optimist, Pici, Tokyo Lima, Meats, Chifa, Madame Ching, Chaiwala, The Loft and Hugger Mugger.

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  • Perfect Shape Medical sales soar on network expansion

    Perfect Shape Medical sales soar on network expansion

    Hong Kong-headquartered Perfect Shape Medical has reported a 32 per cent increase in sales to HK$1.197 billion in the year to March.

    Profit for the company soared 64 per cent to $319 million.

    The company says the improved sales were in part due to the expansion of its network of new medical concept stores. Under the Perfect Shape brand, the company operates slimming and beauty services and sells slimming and beauty products in Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China.

    Sales in Hong Kong rose 49 per cent to $879 million thanks to an increased spend per customer and the opening of new medical beauty concept stores.

    “As the group continues to grow, it has been closely examining the market trends,” the company said in its results statement. “To cater for different preferences of its customers, the group provided non-invasive medical beauty services to meet customers’ needs. The group has a first-mover advantage and positioned itself as a market leader in non-invasive medical beauty services in Hong Kong.”

    Revenue of $318 million from Mainland China and Macau contributed 27 per cent of the group’s total revenue. The group operates direct service centres in four mainland cities – Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen – and in Macau. Its top-end centres can be found in prestigious shopping malls located in areas regularly frequented by high-end customers.

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  • The Battle is on for fastest shipping worth fighting?

    The Battle is on for fastest shipping worth fighting?

    Consultancy firm AlixPartners has challenged whether the battle to deliver the fastest shipping is worth fighting, following Amazon’s move to free one-day shipping for Prime members from the two-day norm.

    The firm’s Home Delivery Shopping Survey this year found that US customers are willing to wait up to 4.3 days to receive an item if they get it shipped for free.

    AlixPartner’s research notes that while faster shipping translates to a higher perceived value for the customer, sustainability and social responsibility are also important to consumers. The implications of transportation and other shipping logistics on carbon emissions are substantial – some estimates say home deliveries add millions of metric tons of carbon to the atmosphere every year. There are also safety concerns for warehouse workers. Labour unions have questioned whether Amazon’s fulfillment centers can safely accommodate faster deliveries given that they manage 200–300 orders per hour over 12-hour shifts with two-day shipping.

    Then there is the tremendous burden of added expenses. Amazon has spent more than 20 years and an estimated US$150 billion globally to build out its capabilities. It is improbable many other retailers would be able to invest at the same level.

    Competitors have scrambled to follow Amazon’s lead. Most notable was Walmart, which announced that its own next-day shipping program – to be test launched in a handful of cities – would not even require an annual membership fee. Target also appears poised to become similarly competitive in its shipping offerings.

    “Instead of blindly matching Amazon, you may be better placed ascertaining what your customers actually want and expect from you around service and experience and creating strategies to deliver on those expectations,” read an editorial released by the firm.

    “Retailers must mine data insights to understand what’s being purchased in each specific store location as well as what customers expect from shipping options.”

    In-store pickup

    The survey found that more than 60 percent of US shoppers have taken advantage of an in-store pickup program, and one in two are expecting to use such options more often.

    Consumers were shown to sometimes prefer to receive access to all items in their order in one go or prize incentives such as discounts or store credits.

    About 76 percent of respondents said retailers who use more mobile technology provide a faster shopping experience. The best way to harness stores is through a real-time inventory management system, which means having a precise view of what is available in the store and when, including for returns. Target’s Drive Up service, for example, allows online consumers to order items from a local location, pull up to the store’s parking lot about an hour or two later, and then have an employee deliver merchandise directly to their car within two minutes.

    The pressures of maintaining an e-commerce edge have become harder, but trying to jump into battle on every single front can turn out to be counterproductive and, with something like ultra-fast shipping, potentially an expensive mistake. Consumers today have strong opinions and won’t shy away from conveying exactly what they need or expect.

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  • MG Hector Launched In India

    MG Hector Launched In India

    MG Motor had revealed almost everything about the Hector in a series of events but we still awaited the prices. Now the company has announced the price of the Hector and it starts at  ₹ 12.18 lakh  (ex-showroom, India) going all the way up to ₹ 16.88 lakh. These prices are introductory. The Hector will be available in four variants- Style, Super, Smart and Sharp and of course it is the first connected car in its segment. The company has kick-started operations with 120 centers for the convenience of its customers. This figure will go up to 250 in September

    The connected car tech remains the magnum opus and MG Motor has left no stone unturned in its promotion, be it the ‘Internet Inside’ badge on the fender and tailgate or Benedict Cumberbatch talking about connectivity features in TV commercials or conducting a mega event for its technology demonstration. The Hector packs-in the best of connected car tech Indian customers have seen so far. The vertically-mounted 10.4-inch screen comes with pre-loaded entertainment content and allows you to manage complete vehicle settings and some more. The system offers features like – Real-Time Navigation, Remote Location, Geo-Fencing, Emergency Response, and Indian accented voice assist for a plethora of features. The software is updated via over-the-air (OTA) downloads like firmware and features updates like any updates. The SUV also comes with pre-loaded apps like – TomTom IQ Maps, Gaana Premium, and AccuWeather app among others. The system also comes with a first machine-to-machine embedded sim, along with the SUV Internet Protocol version 6 which makes it 5G-ready. The e-Sim will be provided by Airtel and MG Motor will give internet connectivity for free until the SUV is under warranty period. That said, the MG Hector oozes in the features department as well and scores really well with plenty of upmarket features. It gets a panoramic sunroof, premium sound system by Infinity, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Hill Assist, cruise control, MID, powered seats, and wing mirrors and powered tailgate among others.

    Moving to its looks, the design and overall silhouette of the Hector are definitely something buyers in this segment will admire. Though MG is historically a British brand, the outline and impression of the Hector are more American. It has a butch looking front which is dominated by a massive black mesh grille with sleek chrome surroundings and MG has adopted the new, in-trend design where the headlamp assembly is mounted in the bumper and the daytime running lights (DRLs) are positioned at the top, close to the hood. The dimensions of the Hector are a size plus for its segment and it has the largest footprint in its segment at 2750 mm and it is 4270 mm long, 1835 mm wide and 1760 mm tall. On the inside, it gets an all-black treatment and the upholstery is finished in soft-touch leather which feels good. The design of the dash and central console looks minimalistic which is majorly due to the enormous touchscreen which eliminates many buttons. The longest wheelbase has also translated into a spacious cabin.

    There will be three powertrain options and gearbox options to choose from. The diesel variant will be powered by the Fiat-sourced 2.0-liter engine which churns out 168 bhp and 350 Nm of peak torque and is mated to a six-speed manual transmission as standard. The petrol variants will get the 1.5-liter, four-cylinder turbo petrol engine which is also mated to a six-speed manual transmission and develops 141 bhp and 250 Nm of peak torque. However, MG is also offering the same 1.5-liter engine with a 48 Volt mild hybrid system which is mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). A 48-volt lithium-ion battery helps store energy and provides 20 Nm of extra torque when required. The combination also helps in reducing emissions by up to 12 percent using three key functions – Engine Auto Start-Stop, Regenerative Braking, and E-Boost. MG Motor is also planning to launch the seven-seater version of the Hector next year.

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  • AuMake sees online sales growing

    AuMake sees online sales growing

    Online sales now make up 30 percent of AuMake’s total sales, and they are continuing to grow.

    The daigou business announced its unaudited FY19 earnings in an investor presentation on Thursday, reporting an estimated $40-45 million in revenue for the year. That’s more than double the revenue it generated in FY18 of $21 million.

    The company said it is experiencing strong trading conditions even in the traditional low season of June and is anticipating significant growth from its recent Broadway acquisition, which will be effective next month.

    AuMake expects own-brand sales through the Broadway channel to reach $15 million to $20 million in FY20.

    In the presentation, AuMake said most of its online sales come from the Chinese social media app, WeChat.

    In April, the company reported that its online customer database had grown more than six times over from 20,000 in Q3 FY18 to 130,000 in Q3 FY19.

    It continues to invest heavily in its online infrastructure to maintain this growth. This includes a larger online customer service team, improvements to its various online sales platforms, such as WeChat and JD.com, and a new packaging facility.

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  • Erik Buell’s New Electric Bike FUELL Fluid Details Revealed

    Erik Buell’s New Electric Bike FUELL Fluid Details Revealed

    The FUELL Fluid electric bike is the first product from the new company spearheaded by motorcycle engineer Erik Buell. Buell was a former engineer with Harley-Davidson, and had founded his own motorcycle brand, the Buell Motorcycle Company and later Erik Buell Racing. The new company, called FUELL, is a partnership between Erik Buell and two other entities, Vanguard Motorcycles, and Spark Racing Technology. FUELL’s first product is the Fluid electric bike, and has a claimed range of 200 km from its two 1,008 Wh removable batteries.

    The FUELL Fluid e-bike has a mid-drive bofeili 500W pedal-assisted motor, giving it 100 Nm of torque, and comes equipped with a Gates Carbon Drive belt system and a Shimano Alfine 8-speed Geared Hub. The twin batteries can be charged up to 80 percent in just 2.5 hours and a full charge in 5 hours. According to FUELL, both of the Fluid e-bike’s 504wh batteries are removable and have the potential to be upgradable, as and when battery technology evolves. The Fluid e-bike sports a 3.2 IPC colour screen which displays information like speed, distance traveled, battery level and five configurable motor assist settings. The Fluid also comes equipped with adjustable suspension and hydraulic brakes for impressive stopping power. The Fluid e-bike is expected to be available from September 2019 and will be shipped worldwide. It’s priced at USD 2,999 (around ₹ 2 lakh in current exchange rates).

    Erik Buell, the man behind the FUELL brand, is considered to be a pioneer in motorcycle technology and was inducted into the American Motorcyclist’s Association Hall of Fame in 2002. He has over 40 years of engineering experience and founded Buell Motorcycle Company which eventually merged with Harley-Davidson. Erik Buell Racing followed the shutdown of Buell Motorcycle Company, and has an Indian connection as well, with Hero MotoCorp picking up 49.2 percent stake in the company in 2013. Erik Buell Racing was involved primarily in building race-ready motorcycles. Erik Buell Racing eventually shut shop in 2016, and the remnants of the company were sold to Liquid Asset Partners.

    FUELL, Erik Buell’s new electric bike venture is expected to introduce more electric motorcycle models in the coming years. The next FUELL product is expected to be the FUELL Flow, an electric motorcycle featuring a hub-mounted electric motor and side-mounted rear shock. The Flow is expected to be available in two variants – with one variant producing 11kW (around 15 bhp) and the other with 35 kW (around 37 bhp). With a history of motorcycle engineering, and racing, it will be interesting to see how the FUELL brand will evolve in the coming years, particularly at a time when the entire auto industry seems to be focussing on electric vehicles as the preferred choice of technology for the future.

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  • Singapore digital accessories chain Uniq enters the Philippines

    Singapore digital accessories chain Uniq enters the Philippines

    Singaporean gadget and mobile-accessories retailer Uniq has opened its first Philippine store.

    Located at Cyberzone in Quezon’s SM North Edsa Annex, the store targets young professionals who are particular about style.

    Its products known for their “minimalist mobility” and “smart simplicity” to the country’s digitally connected populace.

    “Most of our products are for iPhones and Mac but we also have charging solutions that are more universal,” said Andy Wong, MD and co-founder of Uniq.

    Established in Singapore in 2010, Uniq started out as a phone-case design company.

    The company has entered the Philippines with the help of Macpower Marketing Corporation, which is also partner of Globe, Power Mac Center, and Lazada.

    Uniq products are available in 22 countries via an online store and the company plans to partner with online stores such as Shopee and Lazada.

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  • Docomo Pacific set to launch first VoLTE services for Guam and the CNMI

    Docomo Pacific set to launch first VoLTE services for Guam and the CNMI

    As part of the rollout of the next generation of wireless technology, DOCOMO PACIFIC is preparing to launch the first VoLTE services in Guam and the CNMI.

    VoLTE or Voice over Long-Term Evolution allows customers to place a phone call over your LTE connection instead of the traditional voice network, resulting in high-definition (HD) Voice services providing clearer audio quality.

    VoLTE lets you experience HD Voice calls with minimal background noise, making it much easier and clearer for both people on a call to hear one another. The mixture of voice and data to make calls will produce faster call setup times and quicker connections. Additionally, VoLTE services are less power-intensive than calls being made over a 3G connection, resulting in better battery life.

    VoLTE allows the efficient use of network resources, helping to lower operational costs. With the use of VoLTE, voice traffic is routed over the 4G LTE network used to transmit data, freeing up spectrum for the 5G technology that DOCOMO PACIFIC will launch soon.

    On June 19th, DOCOMO PACIFIC engineers made the first commercial VoLTE call on Guam and the following day they made the first VoLTE call to Saipan. The commercial launch of VoLTE services will begin to roll-out in July 2019 for VoLTE capable devices on DOCOMO PACIFIC’s network. VoLTE services will be an added value to our existing services and will not come at any additional cost.

    “DOCOMO PACIFIC is excited to be the first to bring another innovative service that improves the voice quality of calls for our customers in the Marianas. VoLTE is the future of voice communications and we can’t wait for our customers to have a higher quality experience while talking with family and friends. As we prepare to launch 5G technology soon, VoLTE is another step in our journey to be the technology leader and bring the best and fastest services to our customers,” DOCOMO PACIFIC President and CEO Roderick Boss said.

    In March 2019, NTT DOCOMO was the first to bring 5G to Guam with the opening of the DOCOMO 5G Open Lab Guam. The 5G Open Lab allows worldwide partners including businesses on Guam to test the first 5G environment and co-create practical solutions using 5G.

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  • Bapcor refinances debt, gains access to $520m

    Bapcor refinances debt, gains access to $520m

    Autobarn-owner Bapcor has successfully entered into a new $520 million debt package with existing lenders and new financier Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife) to establish an improved debt platform.

    One of the largest institutional investors in the world, MetLife is joined in the financing by ANZ, Westpac, MUFG Bank and HSBC.

    According to the business, the new package provides increased headroom, improved terms and pricing, as well as a new tranche of long-term debt.

    “The new debt facility has improved terms and pricing and provides significant flexibility for Bapcor going forward,” Bapcor chief financial officer Greg Fox said in a statement to investors.

    “We are pleased to have the ongoing support of our existing relationship banks and the addition of MetLife provides Bapcor with added diversification and an extended debt maturity profile.”

    The package includes funding in three-, five- and seven-year tranches: with a three-year $70 million tranche available for working capital requirements, as well as a three-year $200 million tranche, $150 million five-year tranche, and a $100 million seven-year tranche, all available for general corporate purposes.

    Bapcor said its net debt had reached $350.9 million as of the end of 2018, having increased $61 million compared to June 2018.

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  • How Ferragamo veteran Sofia Ciucchi revived heritage brand Il Bisonte for millennials

    How Ferragamo veteran Sofia Ciucchi revived heritage brand Il Bisonte for millennials

    Luxury label Il Bisonte has come a long way from a family-owned retailer to a landmark flagship store in Harbour City which opened this month.

    Il Bisonte may not be the first Italian brand that comes to mind, but this artisanal leather label has been in existence for more than 50 years, heralding from Florence. For 20 years, the brand was distributed at a nifty mom-and-pop store in the neighbourhood mall of Heng Fa Chuen and had acquired a loyal following from local residents.

    In 2015 British private equity firm Palamon Capital Partners acquired Il Bisonte, seizing back full control from franchisees to begin direct selling. The new owners recruited Sophia Ciucchi from Italian luxury house Salvatore Ferragamo, appointed her CEO of Il Bisonte and charged her with revitalising and reawakening the sleeping brand.

    Proving her success, Il Bisonte has just been sold to Look Holdings Inc for €100 million.

    Originally operating under a wholesale model, Il Bisonte has its footprints on a global level at renowned department stores and through local distributors.

    “A couple of years ago, Japan represented 80 per cent of our sales,” explains Ciucchi. “At the end of last year, it was reduced to less than 50 per cent because the rest of the word was growing so much faster.

    “Europe and the Middle East have made a high contribution and the US is also growing. So, I think it’s a question of rebalancing and making our brand more international in the rest of Asia and the US.”

    For a long time, Il Bisonte has largely been focusing on developing its presence in the US, Europe and Japan and only now has it decided to re-enter Hong Kong with a strong foothold of the market.

    Now with a new flagship at Harbour City, Il Bisonte is also guaranteed strong exposure to Mainland Chinese shoppers ahead of a planned store roll out on the mainland.

    “Hong Kong is a strategic market for Asia, especially China and other Southeast Asia markets,” said Ciucchi.

    The business in Hong Kong is headed by retail manager Charles Lo, who says the company’s initial location at IFC mall ensured high visibility and established a strong market positioning in the territory. That drew approaches from other mall operators wanting the brand in their properties.

    Despite Japan being its best-selling market, Ciucchi has no imminent plans to buy out local partnerships and begin direct selling there.

    Ciucchi says due to the unique nature of the Japanese market and the characteristics of local shoppers often hard to grasp, the brand feels more confident having locals continue the label’s success there. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it is Ciucchi’s mantra.

    Endorsing the circular economy

    Il Bisonte crafts its handbags and accessories from bull-calf leather which ages with time and wear, giving it a distinctive look and making its pieces transgenerational. This inspired the brand to open a secondhand marketplace within its New York flagship store, and online. Consumers can resell their own pieces or purchase from others, embracing the circular economy.

    Not only does this initiative coincide with the brand’s heritage background, but pre-loved goods are much more welcomed by eco-conscious millennials these days. With luxury brands usually unwilling to see their products displayed on second-hand platforms, Il Bisonte’s open embrace of the pre-loved strategy makes it somewhat unique in the sector.

    Future digital plans

    Another of Ciucchi’s innovative strategies is to leverage the brand’s founder Wanny Di Filippo, a cigar-toting, bearded icon of Italian fashion.

    Il Bisonte has animated his character into a cartoon series, titled “Dreams Come True” to connect with the millennials and give the brand a more youthful approach. This storytelling is intended to evoke imagination and creativity, embodying the core values of the brand and share the story of how Di Filippo founded the brand.

    Next, in a clear progression of its revival strategy, Ciucchi is looking into converting Il Bisonte into an omnichannel brand next, starting with a new e-commerce platform by next fall. From there on, she hopes to create a holistic ecosystem by connecting all retail channels together.

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  • Microsoft makes OneDrive more secure with Personal Vault for Android and iOS

    Microsoft makes OneDrive more secure with Personal Vault for Android and iOS

    Microsoft has just announced it’s making OneDrive more secure with the addition of Personal Vault, a protected area that can only be accessed by the owner of the account, which features a strong authentication method or a second step of identity verification.

    The new OneDrive Personal Vault is only accessible through the following authentication methods: fingerprint, face, PIN or code sent via email or SMS. On top of that, Microsoft says that all locked files in Personal Vault have an extra layer of security, but remain easy to access on PC or smartphones.

    If you’re using the Microsoft Authenticator app, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s perfectly usable with OneDrive’s new Personal Vault, so you’ll be able to unlock it using this specific app.

    There’s even a nifty feature that allows OneDrive users to scan and shoot pictures directly into Personal Vault. Simply use OneDrive app to scan documents, take pictures, or shoot video directly from within Personal Vault and they will remain securely locked, but easy to access at the same time.

    Apparently, Personal Vault uses more than just two-step verification to keep files safe and private, but you’ll have to enable encryption your iOS or Android device to benefit from an extra layer of security.

    In the same piece of news, Microsoft announced that it’s increasing the OneDrive standalone storage plan from 50GB to 100GB at no additional charge. Also, all Office 365 subscribers are offered a new option to add more storage when they need it.

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  • Hong Kong and New York options for US$1 billion Miniso IPO

    Hong Kong and New York options for US$1 billion Miniso IPO

    Chinese discount merchandise chain Miniso is reportedly planning an IPO raising as much as US$1 billion to continue its rapid expansion.

    A Miniso IPO was first mooted by the company in January last year but there has been no further activity until now.

    Citing “people with knowledge of the matter,” Bloomberg has reported that Miniso executives are pitching banks to participate in the public offer.

    Miniso was founded by a Japanese designer and a Chinese entrepreneur in 2013. While it has since attempted to pass itself off as a Japanese brand, its products are predominantly sourced from Mainland China and it is a Chinese-headquartered business.

    The company has around 3500 stores in 80 markets across the world. Late last year Chinese e-commerce and tech giant Tencent and Hillhouse Capital invested RMB1 billion (US$146 million) into the business.

    According to Bloomberg’s sources, both Hong Kong and the US are being mulled as options for the Miniso IPO and a timeline has not yet been set.

    Last year Miniso achieved sales of US$2.5 billion.

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  • Maxi-Cash opens its first LuxeStyle outlet in Australia

    Maxi-Cash opens its first LuxeStyle outlet in Australia

    Singaporean pawnbroker Maxi-Cash has opened its first Australian LuxeStyle boutique.

    Located in downtown Melbourne, the flagship boutique offers a variety of pre-loved luxury timepieces, designer leather bags and branded jewellery, including gold, diamonds, precious stones and pearls.

    Shoppers can expect to find luxury items that are handpicked under the “strictest inspection to ensure authenticity and top notch quality”, including Rolex, Cartier, Bulgari, Chanel, Prada, and Louis Vuitton.

    Customers will also have the opportunity to bring in their pre-loved or unused bags, timepieces or jewellery to exchange them for cash or trade in on a newer style or model.

    “As an established and a trusted retailer in Asia, we specifically had our eyes set on one of the world’s most livable cities and the fashion capital of Australia, Melbourne, to open our first Australian Maxi-Cash store,” said Ng Leok Cheng, Maxi-Cash CEO.

    He said 24K and 22K gold, luxury jewellery and timepieces, which all retain their value for years to come, are in high demand the world over.

    “We were quick to recognise a gap and an opportunity for expansion into the Australian market. We look forward to continuing to build our reputation for excellence amongst local shoppers as well as international visitors on holiday in the city.”

    Established in 2008, Maxi-Cash was the first pawnbroker to be listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange. It has 47 boutiques across Asia, including in Singapore and Malaysia.

  • Kogan gets into energy retail market

    Kogan gets into energy retail market

    Online marketplace Kogan.com has announced it is entering into the energy retail market before the end of this year.

    The move is part of the retailer’s multi-year agreement with Powershop Australia, a part of the Meridian Energy group, to offer competitive power and gas services to Australian households under the brand Kogan Energy.

    David Shafer, Kogan executive director, said the partnership with Powershop will help reduce the cost of power and gas for many Australians and offer customers a seamless digital experience.

    “This partnership will enable Kogan.com to offer Aussies low cost power and gas, and a first-class customer experience using technology that will enable customers to easily track their energy usage at any time,” Shafer said.

    “Meridian Energy Group provides world class generation from some of Australia’s leading wind farms and hydro power stations, and Powershop Australia was ranked Australia’s Greenest Power Company from 2014-2018 by Greenpeace.”

    Kogan has already branched out from its core retail operations into mobile communications, home internet, insurance, super and travel.