Retail News CRM

Tag: bangkok

  • @Cosme cosmetics debuts in Bangkok

    @Cosme cosmetics debuts in Bangkok

    Japanese company istyle cosmetics is partnering with Siam Piwat to open @Cosme stores in Bangkok.

    The joint venture in which istyle holds 70 per cent is called istyle Retail Thailand and will operate five @Cosme stores in the country.

    The first Thai @Cosme store is set to open at the new development IconSiam by the end of this year, and the second will open at Siam Center.

    “We have studied the Thai market and found that Bangkok’s GDP is high and consumers in Bangkok, compared with consumers in other countries in this region, are the top spenders on beauty and cosmetic goods,” said Kei Sugawara, director, CFO and senior VP of global at Istyle Inc.

    “The @Cosme retailing concept that merges online consumer engagement with offline sales is extremely innovative and will be exciting for Thai consumers. Next to that, this joint venture will facilitate the arrival in Thailand of many new, high quality Japanese beauty brands that have not been available to consumers in Thailand,” said Usara Yongpiyakul, CEO of Siam Piwat Retail.

    The joint venture expects the total sales earned by @Cosme stores to reach Bt300 million (US$9 million) in the first three years.

    Currently, @Cosme has stores in Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan.

    Thailand is among several new markets istyle is planning to expand in during the next three years with a goal of 50 to 60 new stores planned.

    Lees ook:

  • Lacoste’s new travel retail store in Bangkok

    Lacoste’s new travel retail store in Bangkok

    The crocodile shifts to the South and chooses Bangkok as a prey.

    One week after the opening of its new space in Tokyo, the brand just inaugurated its latest travel retail outlet at the King Power Srivaree Duty Free Downtown Complex in Bangkok.

    Pursuing its Asian expansion, the 150sq m boutique also houses the unique and novel “Le Club” retail concept. It debuted in the Asia Pacific travel retail market with the Lotte Duty Free shop in Ginza, Tokyo, earlier this month.

    Le Club goes to the very core of Lacoste’s philosophy as it plays on a fusion of the values of the brand and its creator.

    The architecture of the store was designed and thought for customers to feel, from the second they step into the space, the peculiar tennis court atmosphere. With a green concrete panel as a nod to René Lacoste’s tennis practice wall and an open shopfront, clients can at the first sight relate to the brand’s values.

    Lacoste’s CEO Asia Pacific and global Travel Retail Jean-Louis Delamarre thanked King Power Thailand for their ongoing partnership and said they are “thrilled to open this store in Bangkok Srivaree” which further enhances their presence in Asia.

    Lees ook:

  • Bangkok retail rents shows bright outlook

    Bangkok retail rents shows bright outlook

    Bangkok retail rents rose in prime downtown locations in the second quarter, yet there was a decline in midtown locations, despite retailers migrating there.

    According to research from real estate specialist Edmund Tie & Company, occupancy rates in both downtown and midtown remain strong as supply in the downtown area was limited.  While tenants started to take space in newly launched retail malls in midtown areas, rents dropped to THB1610 (US$47.82) per square metre per month in the midtown area. They remained stable downtown, up 1.15 per cent year on year at THB2630 per sqm (US$78.60).

    However, retail occupancy rates decreased to 94 per cent in downtown and 89.8 per cent in midtown during the quarter.

    Three upcoming retail developments are scheduled for completion in midtown this year: IconSiam (51,500sqm), the adjacent Takashimaya Department Store (36,000sqm) and Ari Hills on Pahonyothin Road, (1500sqm).

    Edmund Tie & Company said developers have been more cautious in recent years in the downtown market, partly because many Thais have put spending on hold in light of household debt.

    “Tourism continues not to be a significant source of customers for many retailers beyond prime downtown locations. Although several downtown developments have been delayed previously, there has been some progress recently. EmSphere established a projected deadline of 2020 as the site has been cleared for construction.”

    EmSphere is adjacent to the Emporium and EmQuartier shopping centres on Sukhumvit Road, interlinked with the Phrom Phong Skytrain station.

    “The downtown retail market in Bangkok is dominated by a small number of landlords but with a growing number of mixed-use developments with key retail components, the number of retail landlords will increase,” concluded the report. “Food and beverage tenants remain keen to expand in the Thailand market and there is increasing competition for choice units in new mixed-use developments.”

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Jumbo Group to expand in Bangkok

    Jumbo Group to expand in Bangkok

    Singapore restaurant chain Jumbo Group has entered into a 10-year franchise agreement with Thailand’s C J Seafood.

    The agreement authorises C J Seafood to establish and operate a Jumbo Seafood restaurant in Bangkok, which is expected to open by the end of this year.

    A company announcement stated that this new agreement forms part of the group’s plans to expand and strengthen its presence in Asia. It has already established franchises in Vietnam and Taiwan, making Thailand the group’s third franchise outpost in the region.

    Lees ook:

  • Pomelo Fashion to open first-ever physical store

    Pomelo Fashion to open first-ever physical store

    Thai online fashion retailer Pomelo Fashion will open its first physical store location outside of Bangkok, as it seeks to expand its online-to-offline business model in Southeast Asia.

    Marking the JD.com-backed company’s online-to-offline commerce international debut, Pomelo will open a micro-retail store in Singapore. The company has previously operated a pop-up store in the city and is now looking for a space to open its first permanent site there. Exact details have not been given.

    The move means Pomelo shoppers will be able continue to browse online and send their top choices to the physical store to try on, before purchasing, significantly cutting down on the number of returns.

    In addition, the smaller retail space means the cost of rent in high-profile shopping districts is reduced. And without stocking all the products known to Pomelo online, the retailer avoids cannibalising its online sales with offline stores.

    “Discovery for fashion is going online, where you’re not constrained by having to display the entire catalogue,” David Jou, Pomelo co-founder and CEO, said last month.

    “But e-commerce for fashion is plagued by the problem of returns because the clothes don’t fit or they don’t look good. Having the online-to-offline model cuts down returns because the consumer only buys what they have tried on.”

    The micro-site is the firs international one for Pomelo, after opening its first two in Bangkok, one at Interchange 21 at Asok and the other at All Seasons Place in the central business district. The company said it has identified 800 locations for potential micro-retail sites in Thailand.

    Chinese e-commerce operator JD.com led a US$19 million investment round last year into Pomelo, which also counts investors like 500 Startups, Hong Leong Group and Jungle Ventures.

    Founded in 2013 by David Jou – the former managing director of Lazada Thailand – Pomelo Fashion delivers to over 50 countries globally from its studios in Bangkok.

  • The Marvel Experience Thailand opens in Bangkok

    The Marvel Experience Thailand opens in Bangkok

    The Marvel Experience Thailand opens in Bangkok.  South East Asia’s first Marvel Experience-branded attraction has launched at Bangkok’s Mega Bangna mall.

    The Marvel Experience Thailand stretches over two hectares. It’s sited at the Mega Bangna (Bang Phli) mall, halfway between Suvarnabhumi International Airport and the centre of Bangkok.

    “From our success with the launch of The Marvel Experience (TMX) in the United States of America and elsewhere, a number of countries have reached out and invited us to bring TMX to them,” said Rick Licht, CEO of Hero Ventures. “As Thailand is a major fan base for Marvel, we believe that Thailand is the perfect country to which we should bring this adventure.”

    The new attraction has two major zones – a reception building and the Attraction Zone. As visitors enter they will find themselves at the ticket office. F&B options The Avengers Café and the Super Hero Snack Bar are on hand. The Marvel Adventure Zone offers play for smaller children. Guests can also browse the Marvel Experience Super Store, with a wide range of Marvel licensed products. The Marvel Experience Thailand merchandise is exclusive to the venue.

    Guests then enter the Holding Zone Beta, a prepping area before guests move into the main Attraction Zone. Once inside the Attraction Zone, guests are invited to become S.H.I.E.L.D agents. They then join Spiderman, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Black Panther and other Marvel heroes in a two-hour campaign. The immersive battle offers a compelling combination of hyper reality, interactive and multimedia technology games. It also includes AR and VR simulations.

    The Marvel Experience also offers a 4D motion ride and a 360-degree 4D stereoscopic projection dome. Guests also have the opportunity for meet and greets with Marvel heroes.

    TMX is collaborating with their local partner Hero Experience to manage the attraction. Surakiat Thienthong, co-CEO of Hero Experience, says he hopes the new attraction will become a key tourist focus in Bangkok, helping to boost overall numbers of tourists for Thailand.

    “We plan to communicate with both Thai people and international tourists,” says Thienthong. “For Thailand, our strategy is to integrate marketing communication across all media channels: TV, radio, online, out-of-home media, including marketing activities every month.”

    He adds that, for the international market they will “promote through media and key influencers in each country as well as find the right travel agent partners to broaden our target groups.”

    The addition of branded retailtainment is in line with current trends in retail.

    It seems the world can never get enough of Marvel. Earlier this year Blooloop reported on the opening of a £1million Marvel Super Heroes attraction at Madame Tussauds Blackpool.  Meanwhile the Marvel Summer of Super Heroes is in full swing at Disneyland Paris.

    View gallery below for more pictures of the venue (7 images) :

    Lees ook:

  • Omotesando Koffee Opens First Store in Bangkok

    Omotesando Koffee Opens First Store in Bangkok

    Upscale Tokyo cafe Omotesando Koffee may have closed its original location in Japan – but it survives in other markets and will soon be launched in Bangkok, Thailand.

    The cafe has been signed up by Siam Piwat to take space in Siam Paragon shopping centre, amidst up-market furniture stores on level 3.

    In Tokyo, Omotesando Koffee was renowned for serving espresso-style coffees from a 3m x 3m space inside a Japanese house. It closed in 2015 when the building was demolished.

    Founder Eiichi Kunitomo has opened a new cafe in the same spot (but new building) under the name Koffee Mameya.

    Omotesando Koffee has outlets in Hong Kong and Singapore and another store is planned for the UK after the Bangkok opening.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Thailand on the Verge of Becoming a Cryptocurrency Heaven

    Thailand on the Verge of Becoming a Cryptocurrency Heaven

    Following the Royal Decree by Thailand’s regulatory authorities on May 14, 2018, that cryptocurrencies are formerly digital assets, the Asian nation is set to take its local blockchain-based digital currency industry to the next level by showing five Initial Coin Offering (ICO) projects the green light to operate in the area, out of the 50 startups that filed for approval.

    A Crypto Giant in the Making?

    The Thai Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is looking to register five ICO projects later in June when the cryptocurrency decree takes effect.

    According to the SEC director of equity finance Thawatchai Kiatkwankul, of the 50 firms that filed to launch their crypto-based fundraisers, only five meet the set standards of the SEC. As such they will fall under the regulatory watchdog’s approval.

    Amidst that backdrop, the SEC is looking to hire more staff and expand its operations to enable it to handle both Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and ICOs.

    ICOs Must Have Real Use Cases

    While many startups have succeeded in developing products and services to solve real-life problems via the ICO route, the sad truth remains that there are a vast array of projects that have no real use cases but are merely interested in deceiving people with technical grammatical jargons and cart away with their funds.

    The regulator has also hinted on easing the rules governing crypto investments and transactions provided investors become more educated concerning the risks involved in the burgeoning industry.

    Bitcoin, Six Altcoins, 90-days Ultimatum, and Token Sale Information

    The Thai authority’s guidelines also entail that only seven established cryptocurrencies including bitcoin, ether, XRP, litecoin, stellar, ethereum classic and bitcoin cash could be used as trading pairs.

    With the latest development, the SEC has mandated all “stakehodlers” in its crypto space including exchanges, brokers, ICO organizers to endeavor to come under its umbrella within 90 days.

    Additionally, all market participants are required to seek approval from the Thai Finance Ministry before carrying out activities in the virtual currency industry. Interestingly the SEC has also made it clear that retail investors are not allowed to purchase ICO-generated tokens worth more than 300,000 baht ($9,000), while institutional investors and high net worth persons can pump in an unlimited amount of funds into any project. At a time when crypto-related businesses and digital currency exchanges are migrating to Malta due to the nation’s amenable regulation for cryptos, this latest move by the Thai authorities could also lure more blockchain startups to the region.

  • Line Thailand launching theme park in Bangkok

    Line Thailand launching theme park in Bangkok

    Line Thailand, a Japanese company that started off as messaging app and has since expanded its services across food delivery to finance, will open its first digital indoor theme park in Bangkok’s Siam Square One on Friday.

    Line Village Bangkok: The Digital Adventure will cover 1300sqm across three floors of the mall. The visitor experience will begin with a mystery: finding a key to get in to Line Village. From there, guests proceed one stage at a time from a space tunnel to a library, then to a kitchen, theatre and rooftop, where the games and Line characters await.

    One of the highlights is for fans to see the world of their favourite chat stickers via a VR headset, and the attraction also includes a merchandise store and a themed restaurant.

    While several Asian cities already have Line stores, Bangkok will be the first to have a permanent indoor park.

    Lees ook:

  • Thailand Post to launch e-commerce service offering local products

    Thailand Post to launch e-commerce service offering local products

    Thailand Post is to add e-commerce to its logistics services, offering locally made products from across the country.

    From the fourth quarter, the enterprise will pilot exports of community-made products to Japan by collaborating with Japanese online marketplaces. The move aims to capitalise on cross-border e-commerce to compete with Chinese internet giants dumping their products in Thailand.

    “The company spent 10 million baht to launch Thailandpostmart.com, helping local communities sell their products in a marketplace with special delivery costs,” says Thailand Post president Samorn Terdtampiboon. The website, co-developed with BEC Tero, gathers local products nationwide into a “digital community”, aiming to be the largest distribution channel for agricultural products, crafts, food and One Tambon One Product items.

    The site’s eight categories are halal products, health and beauty, mail products, best cuisine in Thailand, best provincial products, locally made products, home and garden, and automotive.

    In the next phase, the site will integrate with at least 5000 points of sale in communities by year-end through collaboration with the Ministries of Commerce, Industry, Interior, Energy and Agriculture, as well as the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives, to bring more local products to the e-marketplace.

    After the official launch, there will be an estimated 12,000 stock-keeping units of locally made products by April next, with THB200 million (US$6.2 million) in sales revenue through the website.

    Products can be delivered to buyers within two days after order and payment, and mobile apps for both Android and iOS will be available soon.

    By the fourth quarter, Thailand Post will pilot cross-border products to Japan’s largest e-marketplace for items like crafts, jewellery and locally made goods.

    Thailand Post will next month launch an e-wallet developed with partner 2C2P.

    Lees ook:

  • Central JD to launch online marketplace in Thailand

    Central JD to launch online marketplace in Thailand

    A JV between JD and Thailand’s Central Group, Central JD Commerce will launch online marketplace www.jd.co.th in August.

    A soft launch is scheduled within the next few weeks.

    “Thailand is our second-biggest market in Southeast Asia following Indonesia, with Vietnam in third place,” says JD corporate VP Gloria Li.

    She says Southeast Asia became part of JD’s overseas expansion strategy two years ago. “We will bring our technology expertise and transfers to local teams, building an innovative retail industry.”
    Li says Thailand is an attractive market because of its preference for high-quality products and the rising number of middle-income consumers.

    A partnership with Central Group will enhance the customer experience for online shopping and logistics, as well as warehouse and delivery capabilities.

    The marketplace will provide goods from qualified merchants, most of whom are brand owners and small- and medium-sized enterprises.

    Li says the JV will export Thai products where the company has a footprint, such as China and Russia.

    “Our big-data analytics technology will provide customers insights into products for which there is high demand, helping them run promotions for targeted customers,” says Li. The return on investment with such marketing campaigns can be measured.

    Globally, JD has 301 million customers, with 82 per cent of its orders made via mobile. It is the largest retailer in China with revenue of US$55.7 billion last year.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Giorgio Armani Beauty launches in Thailand

    Giorgio Armani Beauty launches in Thailand

    High-end fashion brand Giorgio Armani Beauty has launched its first boutique for southeast Asia, at Central Lat Phrao.

    Part of the L’Oreal Group, the store stocks Luminous Silk Foundation, Maestro Foundation and My Armani To Go Cushion, as well as the Lip Maestro line. Also available are skincare products and floral fragrances.

    On the second floor of Gaysorn Village, the first Jurlique Concept Store in Thailand offers skincare products and treatments including the all-natural creams and lotions for which the ingredients are grown at Jurlique’s organic farm in Australia’s Adelaide Hills.

    Spanning 170sqm, the store uses natural materials in its five full-scale treatment rooms.

    Also in stock are Pandora’s new necklaces in sterling silver and leather. And, for the first time ever, the collection includes tassels combined with sterling silver inspired by Native American culture, plus handcrafted feather earrings in sterling silver finished with turquoise enamel.

    As it celebrates the 10th anniversary of the first Cosmolite case, Samsonite is releasing an exclusive gold/silver limited edition to mark this milestone. It has golden embellishments and special executions.

    The pull handle, the zipper pullers and details are accentuated by traces of gold and it has a black embossed lining.

    Lees ook:

  • World’s first LINE digital theme park to open in Bangkok on Friday

    World’s first LINE digital theme park to open in Bangkok on Friday

    Line Thailand, a Japanese company that started off as messaging app and has since expanded its services across food delivery to finance, will open its first digital indoor theme park in Bangkok’s Siam Square One on Friday.

    Line Village Bangkok: The Digital Adventure will cover 1300sqm across three floors of the mall. The visitor experience will begin with a mystery: finding a key to get in to Line Village. From there, guests proceed one stage at a time from a space tunnel to a library, then to a kitchen, theatre and rooftop, where the games and Line characters await.

    One of the highlights is for fans to see the world of their favourite chat stickers via a VR headset, and the attraction also includes a merchandise store and a themed restaurant.

    While several Asian cities already have Line stores, Bangkok will be the first to have a permanent indoor park.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts to open in Bangkok

    Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts to open in Bangkok

    Luxury is more and more looking at SEA, and Thailand, among others is one of the most promising markets. Besides, sectors such as fashion, jewellery , accessories, in the era in which studies reveal that millennials are more interested in experience rather than possession, hospitality wins their pockets.

    Hilton’s luxury brand, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, will welcome its first guests in South East Asia in the third quarter of 2018 with the opening of Waldorf Astoria Bangkok.

    One of the region’s most anticipated hotel openings this year, the grand debut will introduce the brand’s iconic experience to discerning travelers in the vibrant Thai capital, in the heart of the bustling Ratchaprasong intersection.

    With a global portfolio of 30 hotels and resorts, Waldorf Astoria is known for its relentless commitment to personal service and culinary expertise in landmark locations around the world.

    Waldorf Astoria consistently offers a strong sense of arrival and impressive public spaces worthy of hosting history. Numerous historical figures – from Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra, to world leaders – have been associated with the brand.

    “Waldorf Astoria Bangkok will mark the brand’s first foray into South East Asia and herald the introduction of Unforgettable Experiences in Bangkok and beyond,” said Daniel Welk, Vice President of Operations, Luxury and Lifestyle, Hilton, Asia Pacific. “The hotel’s timeless environment and exclusively crafted guest experiences, combined with the brand’s unparalleled True Waldorf Service, will set a new benchmark for luxury in Asia.”

    In tribute to the owners of the property, Magnolia Finest Corporation Limited, the building has been designed to give the effect of springing from the ground like a Magnolia flower. Towering above the city, the dazzling sculptural appearance of the property cuts a dramatic profile in the skyline of Bangkok.

    The hotel will boast 171 luxuriously appointed and spacious guest rooms and suites, which reflect the artistry and craftsmanship of award-winning architect André Fu and his design studio AFSO.

    Globally recognized for high-profile, high-end hotels, art spaces and fashion collaborations, the studio has been involved in curating the holistic hotel experience that brings together the building’s contemporary architecture with Thai artisanal tradition.

    The hotel’s crown jewel, meanwhile, will span the top three floors from levels 55 to 57, comprising three distinctively curated dining outlets by world-renowned design and concept firm AvroKO, headquartered in New York.

    In line with Waldorf Astoria’s culinary heritage, Waldorf Astoria Bangkok is primed to be a dining destination in itself; it will feature three unique restaurant concepts, a lounge and two bars. Acclaimed chef Rungthiwa Chummongkhon, or Chef Fae, will bring her experience of working at Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe to head the restaurant Front Room, which will present an elegant new blend of “new Nordic” and Thai flavors in a relaxed setting.

  • ICSC picks Siam Piwat’s ‘Siam Discovery’ as world’s best designed

    ICSC picks Siam Piwat’s ‘Siam Discovery’ as world’s best designed

    Bangkok’s Siam Discovery shopping centre has won the top Viva Award from the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) for its “cutting-edge design”.

    Siam Discovery, owned by Siam Piwat, was chosen from hundreds of projects around the world for the honour, awarded during the ICSC’s annual leasing convention in Las Vegas.

    Siam Piwat CEO Chadatip Chutrakul said the award proves “Thai creativity and collaboration can take the country’s flag to the top, even on the world stage”.

    “Siam Piwat’s strategy for growth is to do things in retail and retail development that have never been done before in Thailand or even the world. We are committed to being a thought-leader on the global stage through co-creation with retailers and other partners in our developments.”

    The ICSC’s Viva Awards are presented annually, judged by an independent jury to “recognise the best-of-the-best in the world of retail development”. The judges praised Siam Discovery for being transformative.

    “Siam Discovery is a highly imaginative project that gets away from individual stores and walls and into an immersive open experience. It is the first mall development that makes retail an experience as well as the spaces in between being exciting and stimulating. Siam Discovery brings the latest digital technology offerings to create an interactive and experiential retail environment,” the judges agreed.

    Chutrakul described the centre as “a game-changing, hybrid retail destination where products, services, and activities are brought together in a way that suits the lifestyle of millennials”.

    “Products are grouped without the constraints of a particular brand or school of design, in a way that puts the needs of the customer at the centre. Millennials want to discover their own style while exploring new experiences with other people. Here, they can experiment and discover what they like and what expresses their own identity best,” said Chutrakul.

    Siam Discovery opened its doors to visitors in 1997 and underwent a THB4 billion rebuild before reopening in 2016 in its new, award-winning guise.

    During the past two years, Siam Discovery has won six global awards from prestigious competitions in the world of retailing, including World Retail Awards – Store Design of the Year 2017, for being world’s best designed development.

    View the gallery of Siam Discovery’s interior below :

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook: