Retail News CRM

Tag: CentralWorld

  • Tagi Breaks International Barriers with First Retail Store in Bangkok’s CentralWorld

    Tagi Breaks International Barriers with First Retail Store in Bangkok’s CentralWorld

    Chinese lifestyle brand Tagi has embarked on its first international venture with the launch of a physical retail outlet at CentralWorld in Bangkok. Positioned on the second tier of the mall’s Eden Zone, this store presents a broad selection of the Shanghai-centric brand’s accessory collection to the Thai consumer market. This includes their signature bulky phone cases and puffer laptop bags, along with an assortment of other lifestyle products.

    Tagi, an acronym for ‘Timely access of gripping imagination’, was established in 2019 in Shanghai. The brand builds everyday accessories that incorporate an element of fun into their design. Tagi’s product lines are recognized for their vivid color contrasts, checkered motifs, and natural shapes, transforming functional items into statement fashion pieces.

    This brand has steadily grown in popularity, especially among Generation Z and young millennial consumers in China. This is largely credited to Tagi’s distinct visual branding and its effective use of social media platforms.

    The opening of the store in Bangkok denotes the beginning of Tagi’s global growth strategy. This strategic move also offers Thai customers direct access to the brand’s collections, thereby eliminating the need for cross-border pre-orders or shipping procedures.

    In addition to this, Tagi opened a temporary pop-up store at Changi Airport earlier this year.

    Questions & Answers

    What is Tagi known for?

    Tagi is known for its playful and colorful designs of everyday accessories, including phone cases and laptop bags. They incorporate bold color blocking, checkered patterns, and organic silhouettes into their designs, transforming functional items into fashion pieces.

    Who is Tagi’s primary consumer base?

    Tagi mainly targets Generation Z and young millennial consumers. Its distinctive visual identity and effective use of social media have helped it gain popularity among these demographics.

    What is the significance of Tagi’s store opening in Bangkok?

    The Bangkok store marks the first step in Tagi’s international expansion, giving Thai shoppers direct access to its collections. This eliminates the need for cross-border pre-orders or shipping, making it easier for customers to get their hands on Tagi products.

  • Starbucks opens its largest coffee store in Thailand

    Starbucks opens its largest coffee store in Thailand

    Starbucks today celebrates 20 years of delivering the Starbucks Experience to customers throughout Thailand with the recently opened Central World store– its largest store in Bangkok. Located on the first floor of CentralWorld, the store features a Starbucks Reserve Bar and, for the first time in Asia, Starbucks® DRAFT beverages infused with nitrogen.

    Starbucks CentralWorld is Thailand’s largest Reserve Bar store composed of Starbucks traditional coffee bar as well as the Starbucks Reserve Bar, which invites customers to deepen their coffee knowledge. Featuring the Black Eagle espresso machine for unique, espresso-forward beverages and various brewing methods such as the Siphon, Chemex, and Pour Over, customers can taste Starbucks Reserve, small-lot coffees for a premium coffee experience specially-crafted by Starbucks Coffee Master partners (employees) whose passion and knowledge of coffee is highlighted by their black aprons.

    Starbucks DRAFT makes its Asia debut in the store on a four-tap system delivering Starbucks Cold Brew and nitrogen-infused Starbucks Cold Brew, tea and milk. This latest beverage innovation draws in customers with its velvety texture cascades from the taps causing a sensory experience to both taste and see. The Starbucks DRAFT counter, found on the first floor of the store, highlights select nitro beverages including Nitro Cold Brew, Nitro Peach Tea, Nitro Green Tea Latte, Nitro Caramel Macchiato and Nitro Flat White.

    “From the success of Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew coffee, we continue to search for beverage innovation to elevate the customer experience. Today, we are pleased to launch Starbucks® DRAFT, an innovative cold beverage offering a rich, creamy texture for each beverage.” says Nednapa Srisamai, managing director of Starbucks Coffee (Thailand) Ltd. “This is a new cold beverage experience not to be missed.”

    This beverage innovation is the first-of-its-kind in Starbucks across Asia further elevating the cold beverage experience. Starbucks® DRAFTis also available today at one location in the U.S.

    As customers enter the space for the first time, their eyes will be drawn to the high, gold ceiling inspired by the natural terraces where coffee is grown, paying homage to the landscapes of coffee-growing terrain. The ceiling begins the coffee journey for customers by inviting them to come in from the outside and move towards the central Starbucks Reserve bar where the aroma of coffee can be enjoyed all around.

    The 760 metre store has more than 230 seats and two large rooms is designed to host community events or small gatherings surrounded by locally-relevant art installations throughout the store. Local artists Rukkit Kuanhawate created a feature piece highlighting the various coffee growing regions through regional wildlife including, the Sumatran Tiger, Kenyan Elephant and Guatemalan Quetzal bird. Similarly, Irin (Ann) Ariyatanap and her team handpainted murals using drawings of coffee botanicals and Thai floral motifs alongside imagery of the Starbucks Reserve coffee silos found exclusively at the Reserve Roasteries.

    Continuing on the coffee journey, customers are delighted upon entering the store with wooden coffee scoops engraved with messages and colorful motifs describing the various parts of the coffee tree. Similarly, the walls of both meeting rooms serve as tribute to the bean-to-cup story through natural hemp woven art, hand painted ceramics and a floor-to-ceiling wood carving.

    Lees ook:

  • Thailand’s Supersports stores rebranded as fashion shops

    Thailand’s Supersports stores rebranded as fashion shops

    Thailand’s CRC Sports has rebranded its Supersports business as a sports fashion store in a move targeting millennials. Last month’s rebranding modernises the business’s image and transforms the performance store model into the fashion world. The logo has also been revised with green motifs to suggest environmental awareness.

    Three Supersports stores have already been updated with the new look, including the CentralWorld location, with 50 stores scheduled to follow early next year.

    President Tony Morton said: “Our new motto is ‘The new Supersports, where Sport is fashion’, in response to the trend of millennials being fashion-conscious, cool, healthy and cheerful.”

    The firm will also expand its online sales efforts in the coming year, with the total market size for sporting goods in Thailand expected to be worth THB30 billion (US$916.3 million) by the end of this year.

    Supersports drew in THB300 million ($9.163 million) in online sales last year – 3.5 per cent of Supersports’ THB8.5 billion ($259.78 million) total revenue – and expects online sales to reach THB500 million ($15.28 million) next year.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Now tourist can claim VAT refund in downtown Bangkok

    Now tourist can claim VAT refund in downtown Bangkok

    According to the announcement by the government’s Reveue Department regarding ‘Downtown VAT Refund for Tourist’, the campaign has kickstarted an initiative to set up counters in numerous locations across central Bangkok to help tourists proceed with VAT refund upon shopping at permitted VAT refundable retailers. VAT refund will be returned to tourists in the form of cash in Thai Baht, encouraging them to continue shopping in Thailand with ease and convenience. Apart from helping tourists, the campaign is initiated to promote growth and balanced income distribution to small businesses.

    As one of the founding parties of VAT Refund Center (Thailand) Co.,Ltd, Siam Piwat Co., Ltd. is proud to be the official partner and the representative to assist tourists with VAT refund processes in these 5 locations across Central Bangkok; Siam Paragon, CentralWorld, Central Chidlom, Robinson Sukhumvit,  and The Emporium. As one of the partnering department stores, Siam Paragon has completed all preparations to help and service incoming tourists at the highest capacity.

    Senior Executive Vice President for Siam Piwat Co., Ltd. retail business development division Charnchai Cherdchoowongtha-nakorn said, “Siam Paragon is delighted to fully support the government’s policies and work with the Revenue Department. ‘Downtown VAT Refund for Tourist’ is set up to be a key area on G Floor where tourists can find conveniently, as it is located by one of our entrances connected to BTS Skytrain and taxi stops. Additionally, adept, knowledgeable and service-minded staff have been assigned to accomodate tourists with paperwork and essential procedures in order to fully and successfully comply with policies from the Revenue Department.”

    “Not only will shopping tourists of Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery find it convenient to proceed with VAT refund at Siam Paragon, all tourists who have purchased goods, in accordance with all policies by the Revenue Department are welcomed to complete all necessary procedures at our department stores. The convenience of VAT refund at Siam Paragon is extremely helpful for those who have purchased in the popular shopping destination Siam as hundreds of SME businesses, small retailers and corporations are located in the area, covering an vast space of 2,000,000 sqm, with over 20 hotels to accommodate international tourists in more than 3,000 rooms available – with extra support from Bangkok’s BTS Skytrain system, connecting Ratchathevi and National Stadium to Siam station.”

    “According to statistics, out of 400,000 – 500,000 shopping tourists per day at One Siam, an average of 938 VAT Refund Form ( P.P. 10) have been filled each day from shops and retail spaces in Siam Paragon, totaling to a signification amount of 342,494 applicants.”

    “Based on Siam’s all-round advantages, we are confident that our VAT refund counter on G Floor of Siam Paragon will be the key point of service for all international tourist groups. Not only will these counters help tourists in making better decisions about visiting Thailand, the amount of amount refuned back to them will potentially be spent on additional purchases in Thailand. Consequently, it would help boost our economy. I can see this initiative having positive influence on the number of Thailand-bound tourists – more by volume and frequency,” Charnchai stated.

    The initiative of establishing VAT refund counters directly impacts the tourism industry on multiple levels: 1. Amount of retained money which tourists have spent after receiving VAT refund helps small retailers and businesses, which, in turn, strengthens Thailand’s economy; 2. The growth in sales volume and sales value is proportional to the rate of economic growth and revenue from tourist spending; 3. A significant decline in VAT refund at Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang Airport reflects positive a sign of service improvement; 4. VAT refund for tourists promotes better opportunities for local retail shops to generate more sales.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Copperwired adding .Life stores next year

    Copperwired adding .Life stores next year

    Gadget retailer Copperwired is set to invest THB165 million (US$5.036 million) opening 30 new .Life stores by the end of next year. The new .Life stores include a new 310sqm flagship at CentralWorld, described as the “largest gadget lifestyle shop featuring Internet of Things (IoT) technology in Thailand”, which opened in September.

    The brand’s public listing on the Thai exchange is expected next year.

    “With the adoption of 5G, the number of connected devices will increase, and IoT in the form of connected toys, smart homes and smart transport and new demand for product categories will rise accordingly,” said Copperwired CEO Paramate Rienjaroensuk.

    The company expects .Life stores to boost its income by more than 20 per cent in the current financial year to more than THB800 million (US$24.414 million).

  • Long queues in Apple Bangkok store opening day

    Long queues in Apple Bangkok store opening day

    The first official Apple Bangkok store is now trading, located in the heart of the new US$1.6 billion IconSiam project. Queues formed overnight as Thai Apple fans vied to be among the store’s first customers and the company says “thousands” of shoppers visited the store in the first day of trading on Saturday.

    Inside Retail understands Apple’s designers, London-based Foster + Partners, worked with the architecture team from IconSiam to make the store stand out from the centre’s curved river-facing facade. The result is a clean, open square profile fronting a large outdoor courtyard, giving the store a ‘high-street feel’ despite being inside a larger mall structure.

    The interior features living trees and floor to ceiling glass facing both into the mall and out of it.

    For opening weekend, the store hosted local band Polycat performing live and the company also gave its iconic Apple logo a Thai-style makeover to celebrate its debut in the country.

    A second Apple store is believed to be under construction in the basement of the CentralWorld shopping centre in downtown Bangkok. See how long the queue in the gallery below (4 images) :

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Skechers launched biggest Southeast Asia flagship store in Bangkok

    Skechers launched biggest Southeast Asia flagship store in Bangkok

    Bangkok’s CentralWorld shopping centre is home to the newly opened Skechers Thailand flagship store. The North American footwear company says Thailand represents its fastest-growing market in the region which is why the store, at 275sqm, is its largest yet in Southeast Asia. In the first nine months of the year, sales grew by more than 50 per cent.

    The new store features the Skechers apparel range for the first time in the market, with management hoping that will grow to account for up to 30 per cent of Thailand sales volume.

    Kaimuk Nilsatetee, assistant VP of CRC Sports, the licensee for Skechers Thailand, said the company sold about 400,000 pairs of Skechers across the country last year and is targeting double that number this year.

    “Skechers shoes generate the most sales revenue for CRC Sports,” Kaimuk said. “Its performance has gone well since expanding its business to Thailand in the past several years.”

    CRC Sports sells Skechers in 32 concept stores, two outlet stores, 25 concessions and through 95 resellers. Another 12 stores are planned for next year.

    Lees ook:

  • Apple is opening its first flagship store in Bangkok soon

    Apple is opening its first flagship store in Bangkok soon

    Various Thai media outlets are reporting that not one but two Apple Bangkok stores are under construction. The US tech giant is notorious about not commenting on its store plans anywhere in the world, even when branding appears on barriers covering its construction sites. However, the first Apple Bangkok store is scheduled to open at IconSiam, the massive retail and entertainment destination being built on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, which will officially begin trading on November 9.

    Thai business magazine Positioning Magmeanwhile, is reporting a second Apple Bangkok store is being developed outside the giant CentralWorld shopping centre in the heart of the city.

    This will be constructed underground, in similar style to the Apple store near New York’s Central Park, with a glass canopy above the courtyard through which customers can enter, before descending down a curved staircase.

    The Icon Siam store will bear more of a resemblance to the Apple store on Singapore’s Orchard Road, featuring a two-story high glass frontage and most likely overlooking the river.

    Both stores were probably designed by Foster + Partners which has a long pipeline of unique Apple store designs around the globe. Its most recent work was Apple Macau.

    Apple now operates about 500 of its own stores in 24 countries.

  • Casio G-Shock Bangkok CentralWorld opens door

    Casio G-Shock Bangkok CentralWorld opens door

    Watch brand Casio G-Shock Thailand has opened a store in CentralWorld Bangkok.

    The opening marks the brand’s 35th anniversary and features innovative technology and interactive zones filled with exclusive rare collaborative pieces. The interactive areas include the Tough Test Zone where you can throw your watch at a wall; 3D hyper-visual movies with videos of shock-resistance testing; a G-Shock bar allowing visitors to touch and try every model; and a fast-view giant digital touchscreen catalogue.

    Senior VP of Casio & Hardline Viroj Sukpitak said: “It’s a concept store built with the user-experience in mind. Exclusively for Thailand, G-Shock has created a space that encompasses everything G-Shock, showcasing an extensive product range and the latest inline watches.”

    ‘Absolute Toughness’ is the concept behind the timepieces and the store, which reflects the latest streetwear fashions.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Thai retail developer Central Pattana to rejuvenate Central World

    Thai retail developer Central Pattana to rejuvenate Central World

    Thai shopping centre owner Central Pattana says it is revitalising its premium malls to “pioneer future trends of retail and tackle the digital era”.

    Under a “five-year vision” it calls ‘Co-creating Center for Life” – a name which appears to have lost its actual meaning in translation from Thai – it will invest US$3.1 billion (100 billion baht) on five new and existing centres in Thailand and abroad. They are CentralWorld in downtown Bangkok, Central Phuket, Central i-City near Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, CentralPlaza Ayutthaya and Central Village.

    Preecha Ekkunagul, president and CEO of CPN said the only way to survive In the era of digital disruption currently happening around the world is to adapt.

    “CPN sees this change as a challenge and opportunity that will allow us to create a new chapter of retail industry again, similar to what we have done over the past 38 years. Our new vision for the next five years is to … make CPN’s shopping centers destinations for all, where everyone can live life. The important pieces of the jigsaw are all our business partners and tenants that will co-create these new things for business success and sustainable growth.”

    The renovation of CentralWorld will be launched in November 2018.

    Central Phuket, which will open in September, mixes leisure lifestyles with world-class attractions: ‘Tribhum’ – the Mystery of Three Worlds in a 3D-walkthrough theme park – and Aquaria, which is claims will be the largest aquarium in Thailand.

    CentralPlaza Ayutthaya is a new lifestyle destination in the world-heritage city, which was once Thailand’s capital and is a popular tourist destination. That will open in December next year.

    Central Pattana describes Central Village as “the first international retail outlet in Thailand”.

    Co-creating life

    Meanwhile, the company has described its vision ‘Co-Create Center of Life’ as a blend of three strategies:

    • Create Destination Concepts: “Develop destinations for all customers by lifestyle and preferences and also categorise products and services based on lifestyles.”
    • Create Digital Platforms: “Offer seamless experience by delivering the real-time personalised offers, enhancing the online experience to conveniently and quickly connect customers’ mobile devices to services in shopping centres and integrating market platforms by teaming with Central JD to add a sales channel that is more seamless.”
    • Create Partnerships with business partners such as I-Berhad “to create the I-City ultra-metropolis,” and co-operating with Ikea to create the first in the world of a new store format at one of its largest malls in Bangkok.

    Central Pattana, part of the huge retail and FMCG conglomerate Central Group, currently has 32 shopping centers in Thailand.

  • Thailand’s biggest Starbucks opens at CentralWorld Bangkok

    Thailand’s biggest Starbucks opens at CentralWorld Bangkok

    After months-long renovation, Starbucks on the 1st floor of CentralWorld is now back in operation and, this time, becomes Thailand’s biggest store with the area spanning over 600 square meters.

    Decked out with curvy, bright-colored wood and artsy details, the newest Starbucks cafe also offers a new nitrogen-infused drinking experience. While Nitro Cold Brew coffee has been around for a while, Starbucks sets off a new line of frothy drinks on tap (dubbed Draft) composing of Cold Brew Coffee, Nitro Cold Brew coffee, Nitro milk and Nitro peach tea, from which you can choose to create your choice of eight concoctions. For example, Nitro Green Tea Latte is the creamy foam of matcha with Nitro milk, while Nitro Flat White is composed of intense shot of espresso with Nitro Milk.

    Draft drink starts from B130 for short glass or you can go for a flight of four selections for B600.

    Lees ook:

  • Muji expansion in Thailand at Siam Discovery in Bangkok

    Muji expansion in Thailand at Siam Discovery in Bangkok

    Muji Thailand has opened another store in Bangkok, its second in little more than a month.

    On Wednesday, Muji opened its doors in the Siam Discovery shopping centre.

    MUJI at Siam Discovery_3

    Yuki Yamamoto, director and GM of Muji’s parent Ryohin Keikaku Co and Naratipe Ruttapradid, senior executive VP operations division with Siam Discovery’s parent Siam Piwat (pictured) performed the opening honours.

    Mr. Yuki Yamamoto, Director and General Manager, Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.  along with Miss Naratipe Ruttapradid, Senior Executive Vice President Operations Division at Siam Piwat Co., Ltd. opened the new ‘MUJI’ store at 2 nd Floor, Siam Discovery. Customers will get special offer and can buy the special exclusive tote bags at Bath of 99 only at MUJI, Siam Discovery branch.

    Muji Thailand reopened its store inside the Zen department store at Bangkok’s CentralWorld shopping centre in September. That store, which originally opened on the fifth floor of Zen in 2012, has been relocated to the fourth floor.

    It is the largest of all Muji outlets in Thailand with a floor area of 878sqm.

    Lees ook:

  • MaxMara Thailand opens two spin-off stores

    MaxMara Thailand opens two spin-off stores

    Max&Co and Weekend MaxMara stores have opened at CentralWorld, joining the MaxMara Thailand store at Gaysorn Shopping Centre.

    They have been opened by the Italian fashion house’s sold distributor for Thailand, Pacifica Group.

    On the second floor of the Groove Zone and managed by Opras, Sopana and Prasert Lavichant of Pacifica Group, the Max&Co flagship store attracted a crowd of Thai fashionistas to its opening, revealing the brand’s spring-summer line.

    “We’ve been importing Max&Co clothing for more than a year and have had great feedback,” says chief executive Opras.

    “The store interior is typical of the brand, meant to resemble a cosy Milanese apartment, in subdued tones that convey wellbeing and serenity. It is designed to make women shoppers feel more at home.”

    At Weekend MaxMara, the focus is on leisure and cruise looks with matched blouses, trousers, skirts, shorts, swimwear, bags and shoes. It covers 95 sqm and features strips of walnut wood contrasted with grey glazed Cotto tiling above Italian cementine flooring. Sofas, chairs, lamps on tables and a smattering of books and magazines invite shoppers to linger. Founded in 1984, Weekend MaxMara features mainly outdoors clothing.

    Meanwhile, the main MaxMara store at Gaysorn is showing the spring-summer line from creative designer Lina Bo Bardi, who injects modernism into sensual, sleek and luxuriant clothes that might be athletic or hi-tech, as reported. MaxMara also uses high-performance jersey and nylon for its body-hugging dresses.

    Lees ook:

  • 11street Thailand launched by SK Planet

    11street Thailand launched by SK Planet

    Korean-headquartered online marketplace 11street has launched in Thailand.

    Parent company SK Planet says 11street Thailand is the first Korean-owned eCommerce marketplace to open in the Southeast Asian nation.

    An opening ceremony was held at Bangkok’s CentralWorld shopping centre this week, and prominent advertising livery has appeared on BTS stations to promote the brand.

    Korean actor Song Joong-ki and Thai actress Mew Nittha, who feature in marketing for the business, attended the launch event.

    Thailand is the fourth overseas market for SK Planet, a division of SK Telecom. It follows Turkey, Indonesia and Malaysia.

    11Street Thailand will offer “millions of trendy high-quality products at competitive prices,” the company said.

    “11Street will be a leading eCommerce firm that promotes the Korean wave in retail industry,” 11Street Thailand CEO Jeon Hong-cheol said. “We expect our entrance to Thailand will stimulate Korean manufacturers and ICT firms to make their presence felt in Southeast Asian markets.”

  • Central Pattana plans to enter Malaysia

    Central Pattana plans to enter Malaysia

    Shopping mall developer Central Pattana, which runs 29 malls in Thailand, plans to open its first foreign outlet in Malaysia in 2018.

    It will work through a joint venture with a Malaysian company in which it holds a 60 per cent stake. The new mall, under the Central brand, will be in Shah Alam, west of Kuala Lumpur.

    To be built on about 44,000 sqm of land, the mall will have a net leasable area of 89,700 sqm, and cost about 8.3 billion baht (US$232 million) to build.

    Senior executive VP Naparat Sriwanvit says Central Pattana plans to open 15 malls by 2020, three of them outside Thailand. Indonesia and Vietnam have been listed as potential targets because of their large populations and rising incomes.

    As with Malaysia, the company plans to enter other markets through joint ventures with local partners.

    Naparat says the Thai market is still promising, with room for expansion in the suburban areas of Bangkok and the provinces. The company plans to open a 1.9 billion baht mall in the southern city of Nakhon Si Thammarat at the end of next month, as well as two other locations outside Bangkok next year.

    Central Pattana, with CentralWorld mall in central Bangkok as its flagship, saw its net profit rise 7 per cent last year.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook: