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Tag: China

  • Qianhai Centre Shenzhen design revealed

    Qianhai Centre Shenzhen design revealed

    Benoy, the global studio of Architects, Masterplanners, Interior and Graphic Designers has revealed its design of the future China Resources Land (CRL) Qianhai Centre Shenzhen.

    The development will form a core part of the highly publicised Qianhai special economic zone. As masterplanner and retail architect, Benoy says it has “challenged the status quo of a traditional finance district” by creating a multi-layered active city environment for the commercial scheme.

    Located in the centre of Qianhai, the development sits within ‘Neighbourhood 2’ of the district. With a vision to transform the district into the ‘Manhattan of the Pearl River Delta’, Qianhai itself is expected to attract $45 billion in future investment.

    “Our design has aimed to capture how we want our cities to look, feel and function in the future; bringing a new concept to shape this emerging zone,” said Chao Wu, Benoy director.

    Benoy’s masterplan for the 54,000 sqm site aims to create an active 24 hour destination and develop the plot to its fullest potential. The scheme will feature a four-storey podium including a basement retail level which will connect to five towers comprising commercial offices, a five star international hotel and serviced apartment residences.

    Enlivening the heart of the development, and, in turn, the wider district has been a key consideration of the design. As such, Benoy has carved two main ‘spines’ through the development to create a lively internal streetscape. The Financial Valley and the Green Belt thoroughfares open up the podium to create an interconnected environment from the sunken basement levels up to the roof garden on Level 4.

    As Chao explains: “These open-air spines bring the development to life with their fluid form which is accentuated by landscaping, terraces and an eclectic mix of spaces. The design gives human-scale and creates a recreational experience and personality for the emerging financial zone.”

    At the intersection of these internal streets sits the focal point of the scheme – a large, vertically and horizontally connected outdoor event space. This outdoor entertainment area has been designed for year-round enjoyment with a monocoque steel canopy featuring ETFE material. A modern theatre and art gallery have been strategically positioned nearby to support the events programme, reiterating the commitment to inject art and culture into the commercial precinct.

    “This development needs to serve both the living and working needs of the surrounding community. We wanted to create a model which functions as a recreational realm bustling with activities and different environments to form a centrepiece for the wider commercial masterplan,” says Chao.

    The development has not ignored its identity within the financial district with the architectural language respecting both functions of the scheme. The lively designs along the interior spines of the development have been complemented by the formal and clean lines of the street-facing facades which reference the corporate nature of the district.

    Following the vision of the district, CRL Qianhai Centre promotes a strong integration of public transport and a multi-layered pedestrian-friendly environment as a Transit Oriented Development. Three metro lines which include Line 1, Line 5 and the future Line 11 are seamlessly integrated into the scheme. Environmentally aware, the development is targeting both LEED and China Green Building three star certifications.

    CRL Qianhai Centre has broken ground and is due to complete construction in 2018. The development adds to Benoy’s growing portfolio in the emerging Pearl River Delta economic zone.

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  • China to add 200 new international routes in 2016

    China to add 200 new international routes in 2016

    The Chinese Government has delivered an unexpected Christmas present by agreeing to add another 200 international air routes in 2016. Xinuanet, the Civil Administration of China is committed to the new programme, with China’s official news agency referring directly to The China Daily newspaper’s coverage of remarks made by Li Jiaxiang, head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

    Xinuanet reports that Jiaxiang told this month’s Beijing civil aviation industry conference that these new routes will be in addition to the existing 660-plus approved international bi-lateral agreements between China and its foreign partners.

    He said these new initiatives will be based around the highly strategic ‘One Belt, One Road’ (OBOR) initiative announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.

    This consists of new preferred-status free-trade agreements with 65 countries (as opposed to the previous 12) on a line from China to Europe, linking multiple points in Asia and Africa.

    He also predicted that this new initiative should provide yet another strong stimulus to China’s civil aviation sector, although he also apparently warned that pressures on existing infrastructure and air traffic control congestion need to be addressed.

    It is hardly any secret that Chinese air space is already highly congested, with the Civil Administration of China routinely juggling its ability to expand new air corridors without encroaching on the automatic priority given to military-controlled air space corridors.

    As a result, delays at the country’s airports are now the norm rather the exception.

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  • Latest products from China are better than ever

    Latest products from China are better than ever

    Chung Chang-mook recently bought a Tunland pickup truck, made by Chinese automaker Foton. At 33 million won ($27,951), the Tunland is more expensive than local competitor Ssangyong’s Korando, which runs between 21 million won and 28 million won. But Chung liked the fact that Tunland can hold up to 9,000 kilograms (19,841 pounds), which is more than double the capacity of the Korando.

    Tunland entered the local market in October and has already received over 200 preorders, according to an auto industry insider. “We set the sales target at 3,000 in 2016,” said a spokesman for Daewoong Auto, which manages Tunland’s sales in Korea.

    The pickup is just one example of the way in which companies from China, which are making higher-quality consumer goods than ever before, are poised to succeed in Korea.

    Perhaps the most widely recognized case is electronics maker Xiaomi. Once dubbed the “mistake of China” for its ambition to change the negative perception of Chinese goods by offering top-tier products at rock-bottom prices, Xiaomi now has Korean retailers clambering to become official distributors of its popular smartphones when it sends representatives to Seoul next month. Currently, Xiaomi products are imported to Korea independently by small and medium-sized trading companies.

    “Whoever wins an official deal with Xiaomi will be able to make a huge profit,” a retail industry insider said. “We are just waiting for them to contact and choose us.”

    “Chinese manufacturers are spending more money on research and development and getting rid of pre-existing notions about the low quality of goods from the mainland,” said Cho Cheol, a director at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade’s auto department. “A growing number of local consumers now thinks Chinese products are worth what they have paid for them.”

    Xiaomi is adding TVs to that list, with a local importing company recently receiving certification from the National Radio Research Agency to sell Xiaomi’s 40-inch model.

    Xiaomi’s TV is currently 50 percent cheaper than similar models by local manufacturers including Samsung and LG – and that’s worrying to some.

    “It’s significant because Xiaomi has expanded its market from accessory items to actual home appliances,” an employee of a local TV manufacturing company said. “We are discussing how to compete with its mid to low-priced products.”

    Other Chinese companies are making similarly expansionary moves. Most recently, Huawei began distributing its Y6 smartphone on the local market through LG U+ on Tuesday. The Y6 allows its customers to make free phone calls when connected to Wi-Fi, boasts a 360-degree panorama camera and includes face-recognition technology – all for 154,000 won, making it the cheapest smartphone in the local market.

    “More and more consumers are appreciating Huawei products’ low prices, and that’s why we’re doing business with the company,” a spokesman for LG U+ said. “This smartphone is actually free of charge when you take into account government subsidies.”

    Syma’s drones, Novelview’s Bluetooth speakers and UNIC’s micro-projectors are also very popular in Korea, and many Koreans have dubbed them “mistakes of China” as well.

    Chinese auto brands are growing in popularity, too. China’s Sunlong Bus entered the market in 2013 and sold 100 buses that year. Since then, it has sold about 550 in Korea. Other automakers are preparing to enter the Korean market as well.

    But this is just the beginning. The Chinese government have announced new initiatives to boost the economy, such as “China Manufacturing 2025” in May. The plans lay the groundwork for the nation to further develop as a global manufacturing superpower.

    But it’s not just advances in production that are worrying Korean companies – it’s also the narrowing of the technological gap in the IT industries of the two countries. Korean manufacturers had a 2.4-year lead over Chinese companies in 2012, but that has been narrowed to 1.8 years as of last year, according to the Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning. In the energy industry, the gap is only a year, and China now leads in the aerospace industry.

    “The government needs to ease regulations in order for industries to increase the amount they spend on R&D,” said Han Jae-jin, a researcher at Hyundai Research Institute. “Manufacturing companies also have to reform themselves [to compete].”

     

  • Chinese imports of UHT milk continue to grow

    Chinese imports of UHT milk continue to grow

    Imports of liquid milk into China are growing with European countries successfully tapping into the market, according to AHDB dairy.

    China is expected to import 350,000T of liquid milk in 2015, up nearly a tenth from last year and equalling its Whole Milk Powder imports, according to the USDA.

    The AHDB says two-thirds of China’s liquid imports came from the EU in January-September.

    “Prices appear to be supported by strong demand for imported liquid milk in China. Chinese retail prices for imported brands of ultra-heat treated milk (UHT) are nearly 50% higher than the average UK UHT price.

    “Consumer confidence in the safety of imports is reportedly helping drive growing UHT sales, which demonstrates the value of using branding to target consumer needs within the right markets.

    “Chinese retail prices for imported brands of ultra-heat treated milk (UHT) are nearly 50% higher than the average EU UHT price, it says.

    According to the AHDB, consumer confidence in the safety of imports is reportedly helping drive growing UHT sales, which demonstrates the value of using branding to target consumer needs within the right markets.

    The number of potential consumers is also increasing as UHT is becoming more widely available in China’s smaller cities.

    “Online sales platforms are performing strongly, providing easy access and home delivery to more shoppers at prices that are competitive against powdered milk alternatives,” it says.

    The AHDB says China’s imported UHT consumption is expected to continue to grow off the back of these trends.

    “From here the challenge is to stay in favour with Chinese consumers, which means being price competitive and continuing to build a reputation for quality and safety,” it says.

    Both Glanbia and Lakeland Dairies have confirmed sustained growth in UHT milk sales to China and South East Asia as a whole.

    “There is a strong market for both plain and unflavoured milks in China,” said Lakeland CEO Michael Hanley.

    And this demand will continue to grow at a steady rate. Our products have a shelf life of between six and nine months. We export directly from Ireland to China.

    “Lakeland has a strong presence on the ground in that market. This has allowed us develop a good working relationship with distributors.”

    Glanbia launched its Avonmore UHT brand in China 12 months ago with 1L packs reported to be selling for the equivalent of €3.50 in retail outlets.

    “Sales have taken off at a steady rate,” a company spokesman said.

    “Our aim is to target UHT sales growth in both China and South East Asia as a whole. This will be done on the back of the Avonmore brand and own-label contract arrangements with distributors.”

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  • Battle for young customers heats up in HSBC’s Asia stronghold

    Battle for young customers heats up in HSBC’s Asia stronghold

    HONG KONG Banks in Hong Kong are intensifying the battle for young customers key to their future retail profit, offering online perks and mobile banking products in a bid to erode the dominance of HSBC in its Asian stronghold.

    Like peers around the world, banks operating in Hong Kong including Bank of China Ltd (601988.SS) (3988.HK) and Citigroup Inc (C.N) are trying to improve their online banking products to lure tech-savvy students and young professionals as they are about to open their first bank account.

    For HSBC the battle to win the hearts of young Hong Kongers is particularly important as retail banking activity in the Asian financial centre helped drive its overall profit up 2 percent in the first half of this year.

    The London-based bank, which has put China at the centre of its global strategy, is also in the process of deciding whether to move its global headquarters to Hong Kong.

    A survey of 2,500 people conducted in November by specialised research firm RFI, gave Bank of China a bigger market share among bank customers aged 18-24 than HSBC, which dominates in all other categories.

    These customers loathe spending time at bank branches and seek a lender that can allow them to carry out multiple transactions from their smartphone. “I would rate both the online and mobile services offered by Bank of China as good as they allow me to pay my parking tickets instantly, and this is very important to me,” said Chun Hoi Lau, a 23-year-old student at the University of Hong Kong.

    Bank of China, which says the young generation is a key customer segment, allows clients to carry out cross-border payments through an app, uses the popular WeChat social media platform to handle customers’ queries and has introduced a popular virtual securities investment contest for students.

    “We have been developing a comprehensive strategy with a set of products and services delivered through their preferred channels to suit their life styles,” the bank told Reuters.

    BANK FOR LIFE

    The jury however is still out on which lender is making effective inroads among the young, a segment targeted because people often stick with a bank for life once they have made their choice, analysts said.

    In a detailed survey commissioned by HSBC, and conducted by Nielsen last year, the bank said its market share of 18-24 year olds was nearly double that of Bank of China. It said it was aware of the increasing need to offer more online services.

    “We are investing heavily in developing new capabilities to meet customers’ needs,” said Kevin Martin, HSBC’s head of retail banking and wealth management, Asia Pacific.

    HSBC will next year launch more products for smartphones and digital payments as well as new security features, Martin added.

    Citibank is also appealing to younger customers with 19 “smart” branches in Hong Kong that boast the sleek lines of Apple Inc’s retail stores, touch panels, video conferencing facilities and iPads to access a wide range of banking services. Hong Kong spokesman James Griffiths said Citibank was also offering customers discounted fees on stock and forex trading via digital platforms to encourage more transactions.

    The question now for HSBC’s challengers is whether they can convert young people lured by attractive rates or flashy online offerings into lifelong customers.

    “HSBC isn’t that popular among young people,” said John Pang, a 24-year-old civil servant who banks with the lender. “It hasn’t changed a lot in the past 5-10 years, the online interface still looks the same.”

     

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  • China retail sales to increase 10.7 per cent

    China retail sales to increase 10.7 per cent

    China’s retail sales, a key gauge of domestic consumption, is likely to post slower growth this year compared with 2014, commerce ministry said.

    Retail sales may expand around 10.7 per cent in 2015, Shen Danyang, spokesman at the Ministry of Commerce, told a news conference in Beijing today, without giving a reason. Retail sales rose 12 per cent last year.

    In the first 11 months of 2015, retail sales grew 10.6 per cent from a year earlier. In November, retail sales increased by an annual 11.2 per cent — the strongest monthly expansion this year.

    China’s external outlook remains gloomy. Chinese firms said global demand this year was worse than that during 2008-09 financial crisis, as per a recent survey by commerce ministry of more than 6,000 firms in 70 key industries.

    Subdued external demand, rising costs, slowing investment growth and the yuan’s appreciation have all weighed on China’s trade performance this year, Shen said.

    “Feedback from firms showed foreign trade was extremely difficult this year.”

    China’s net exports are likely to contribute around 12.3 per cent to the increase in the country’s GDP this year, he said, citing data from a research unit under his ministry.

    China’s trade remained weak in November with exports falling a worse-than-expected 6.8 per cent from a year earlier and imports tumbling 8.7 per cent.

  • Novotel Zhuhai rebranded as Pullman

    Novotel Zhuhai rebranded as Pullman

    The Novotel Zhuhai has been rebranded by AccorHotels as the “Pullman Zhuhai,” in line with the company’s plans to promote its up-market Pullman brand in China, reported Travel Daily on Sunday. The Novotel Zhuhai opened only last December, but AccorHotels has decided to rebrand the resort. This will take the group’s Pullman portfolio in the greater China region to a total of 25 hotels across 22 cities.

    “We are excited to welcome the hotel to the Pullman family,” said Paul Richardson, the chief operating officer for AccorHotel’s Greater China region.
    “The rebranding of the property is part of AccorHotels’ ongoing global endeavor to further align with its brand architecture to ensure a more consistent brand experience for its guests,” Richardson added.

    The 268-room, rebranded Pullman Zhuhai is situated in Gongbei, close to the major bus stations that connect the city with Guangzhou.
    Facilities at the up-market resort include restaurants, ballrooms, meeting rooms, a wedding chapel, an executive lounge, sauna and steam rooms, and a fitness center and outdoor pool. Both the ownership and management of the hotel will remain unchanged.

    The latest group of Sands Shoppes retail employees graduated at the Sands Retail Academy’s fourth graduation ceremony on Tuesday, at the Venetian Macao.220 graduate at sands shoppes ceremony

    At the ceremony, 220 front-line retail team members were certified to mark the completion of their training courses, designed to improve service quality at Sands Shoppes. The ceremony was also attended by representatives of over 80 retailers from the complex.

    “With this being our fourth graduation, we are pleased to see an increase in both the number of participants and the number of graduates,” said Antonio Ramirez, senior vice-president of human resources at Sands China. “The Sands Retail Academy is part of Sands China’s long-term commitment to developing local talent in Macao, by nurturing locals who are not direct employees of Sands China,” added Ramirez.

    The Sands Retail Academy was launched in 2013 to improve customer service training at Sands Shoppes. Since its inception more than 1,800 retail professionals have joined the academy.

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  • Superdry delivers stunning turnaround

    Superdry delivers stunning turnaround

    SuperGroup, owner of the global lifestyle brand Superdry, has achieved an impressive 22.3 per cent increase in sales for the first half year, to £254.7 million.

    SuperGroup’s retail arm represented its strongest division, generating 30.8 per cent growth to £172.1 million, reflecting the continued expansion of wholly owned stores in the EU. Additionally, retail same store sales saw a major turnaround, increasing rapidly by 17.2 per cent compared to a decline of 4.1 per cent during the same period last year.

    This was driven particularly by a strong eCommerce performance. Online retail sales grew by 19.2 per cent as its digital channel continues to be its fastest growing route to market.

    “That noted, SuperGroup’s core focus remains on significant physical expansion within its key markets – Europe, North America and China,” observes  Anusha Couttigane, senior consultant with retail analyst Conlumino

    As part of its full year strategy, the group has set out to expand own store space by some 130,000 sqft  (12,000 sqm) within Europe. So far, nearly half this target has been achieved, the company having opened 14 net new stores comprising 63,000 sqft (5850 sqm) of new trading space during the first half year.

    Elsewhere, its wholesale arm saw 23 international franchise and licensed stores open during this period, contributing to a 7.8 per cent growth in wholesale revenue. However, the seasonality of its products has caused the group to announce an expected £3 million to £3.5 million operating loss in its North American operation for the full year as it realigns its product offer for its customer proposition on the continent.

    “With a successful first half completed, SuperGroup has positioned itself well for the all-important Christmas trading period,” comments Couttigane.

    “In the run-up, product innovation has been leveraged to encourage new customers, including Superdry’s premium collaboration with Idris Elba and its Superdry Sport and Superdry Snow collections for women, making the brand a strong contender for Christmas wish lists.

    “However, while its first six months have benefited from soft comparatives, the second half is set to be more demanding,” she concluded.

    SuperGroup’s full year pre-tax profit projection remains stable at £72.1 million.

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  • Peru to have Tmall Global shopfront

    Peru to have Tmall Global shopfront

    Peru and China have signed an agreement allowing Peruvian products to be sold directly to Chinese consumers online.

    Peruvian producers will set up stores on Alibaba Group’s Tmall Global via a country shopfront, much like Tmall has created with Germany, Australia, the US, Korea, the Netherlands, Thailand and other nations.

    The agreement will take Peruvian exporters closer to Chinese consumers and the value chain of Peruvian products will be fully developed, said VP of the Peruvian Association of Exporters, Eduardo Amorrortu during Monday’s contract signing ceremony.

    “Ecommerce has been developing very rapid. It has had a great impact on the economy and traditional modes of consumption have changed,” said VP of the Association of Chinese Companies in Peru (AECP), Kong Aimin.

  • FC Schalke opens Asian stores

    FC Schalke opens Asian stores

    German Bundesliga football team FC Schalke 04 has taken the next step in its long term process of internationalisation, opening three online stores for fans in Asia.

    The Royal Blues (as the team is nicknamed) has launched online shops to sell fans club merchandise quickly and easily online. This applies to every country in the Asia-Pacific region. For China and Japan there are separate online shops in the respective languages, while the English site reaches out to supporters in all the other countries.

    S04’s marketing director Alexander Jobst said Asia is an important target market for the team, as it has already gained a lot of support.

    “So we’re very pleased that the online shops are bringing us closer to our fans out there.”

    FC Schalke 04 is currently communicating with more than 1.2 million people in China through the club’s Chinese media channels. Schalke’s Japanese Twitter account has over 90,000 followers making S04 one of the best supported European clubs in Japan. The language-specific Facebook page is also liked by almost 40,000 Japanese fans.

    Jobst says the stores will enable faster delivery, market-specific products and country-specific payment methods.

    To begin with, the online shops will be available in four different languages: Chinese, with both traditional and simplified writing, Japanese and English. Further language options are planned to follow soon.

    FC Schalke 04 is offering a ‘welcome discount’ of 15 per cent off all products to celebrate the launch online.

    Hong Kong based company EZshopnet International  is the club’s official partner in the eCommerce project and help run the online shops of several other clubs including Chelsea, Juventus and AC Milan.

    Perhson Wong, chairman of EZshopnet said FC Schalke 04 is the company’s first partner from the German Bundesliga.

    “Most notable of all it is the first time that three parties from three different countries have collaborated to develop the online shops – a German football club, an eCommerce firm from Hong Kong and a creative web-design agency from the UK,” he said.

    As part of their internationalisation strategy, FC Schalke 04 has long been putting most of its focus on the Asia-Pacific region, and has been able to strike two partnership deals with multi-billion Chinese companies Hisense and Huawei, as well as South Korean tyre manufacturers Kumho Tyre.

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  • Fashion trends in China renew interest in broad wool types

    Fashion trends in China renew interest in broad wool types

    Once a sideline part of the wool industry, cardings have now become the unsung hero of the wool market. Cardings are made up of the wool from the bellies and other parts of the sheep that don’t make the fleece lines. Demand for heavy jackets and coats in China has led to strong returns for Australian wool growers.

    Robert Herman, managing director of Mercado Market Insights, said the demand for cardings was underpinning the entire wool market. It’s not understated to say that the demand for cardings is underpinning the whole wool market at the moment.

    “In this case the most significant driver is this demand for double-faced woollen fabric, which has come and gone in the past, but it’s really started to find a home on the retail shelves in China,” he said.

    “First of all it started in the high end market and then started to show up in the cheaper lines and it’s just something that people seem to like. This fabric is not only made out of cardings but also crossbred wool, which has also had a terrific run [this year]. So it’s a direct connection between the price that’s being paid and the appetite that exporters have for that type of wool.”

    “While it’s a good market signal, I think with fashion though, fashion comes and goes, we don’t think this is changing in a hurry but it will change over time.” As northern hemisphere fashion houses make their decisions for 2016, the future appears bright for cardings according to Mr Hermann.

    “We thought this run was coming to an end but it’s resurrected back over 1,100 cents at a time when the new fashion decisions are being made in the northern hemisphere” he said.

    “So it looks to us like it’s got another season to run at least.”

    There is potential that the trend could have a broad impact of the way consumers feel about buying wool. “It can make people more aware about the intrinsic value of wool, more people wearing wool for whatever reason is good, if it’s just because they are following fashion, it doesn’t matter,” Mr Hermann said.

    In the past the cardings indicator has tagged along with the fleece lines but this year that trend has reversed. “What we’re seeing now is that this strong resilience of the cardings indicator is really putting a strong floor under the rest of the market,” Mr Hermann said. “Even though we like to see the rest of the market have the same types of rallies, it’s not understated to say that the demand for cardings is underpinning the whole wool market at the moment.”

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  • Apple Pay to debut in smartphone mecca China next year

    Apple Pay to debut in smartphone mecca China next year

    Apple and Samsung said Thursday they had secured separate deals with China UnionPay that will let their users in China add credit or debit cards to the respective mobile-payments services. Both companies said their services would launch in China as soon as early 2016 after testing and certification required by regulators.

    “China is an extremely important market for Apple, and with China UnionPay and support from 15 of China’s leading banks, users will soon have a convenient, private and secure payment experience,” Eddy Cue, Apple’s head of Internet software and services, said in a statement.

    A few hours later, Samsung announced a similar partnership with China UnionPay.

    “The collaboration with China UnionPay, coupled with the support from major UnionPay partner banks in China, will bring this secure and easy-to-use mobile payment solution to more Samsung mobile users,” Injong Rhee, the global chief of Samsung Pay, said in a statement.

    Launched last year in the US and then in other countries, Apple Pay enables owners of the iPhone 6, iPhone 6S or Apple Watch to pay for items on the go via the wireless technology NFC (near-field communication). Meanwhile, Samsung Pay, which hit the US this past September, doesn’t require NFC technology needed by Apple Pay and can work with any magnetic-strip card reader.

    Companies are eager to push mobile payments in the belief that the additional service will build consumer loyalty. Users of electronic-payments services might be more likely to stick with their current smartphone if they could store their payment data and use the device to buy shampoo, beer, gum or whatever else.

    As the largest smartphone market in the world, China represents a significant business opportunity for mobile-payments systems. The country’s massive population of 1.35 billion and growing middle class have created a lucrative market for companies like Apple and Samsung. For Apple, China is a key market, accounting for $12.5 billion in revenue during its fourth quarter.

    Apple had been trying to reach an agreement with Chinese bank UnionPay, which is the only bank in China that conducts interbank payments, according to a report in MarketWatch. That monopoly on credit- and debit-card processing effectively locks out MasterCard and Visa.

    Since last year, Apple has also been chatting with at least eight major Chinese banks about adopting Apple Pay. But those talks hadn’t gone well either, a source close to them told MarketWatch. One bank expressed no interest in any deal.

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  • China’s JNBY fashion brand debuts store in Pacific Place

    China’s JNBY fashion brand debuts store in Pacific Place

    JNBY, a big Chinese fashion retailer, now has its shingle hanging at Pacific Place mall.

    The brand has more than 700 stores, mostly in China, but some in Europe, Asia and Canada. Its store here is being heralded by SightClassic LLC, the Seattle retailing company that runs the location, as JNBY’s first in the U.S.

    But it’s more complicated than that: The brand had a pop-up store in New York’s SoHo in 2009, which according to media reports, a few months later turned into something more permanent. That experiment failed: It closed after two years, according to retail website Racked.

    Perhaps it’ll fare better in Seattle, where the recent visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted growing economic ties with the Asian superpower.

    SightClassic says it’s JNBY’s “fully authorized distributor” in the U.S., and that it operates an online JNBY store on Amazon. On Thursday, however, the website featured no products for sale.

     

     

  • China ranked first in the world for online retail trade

    China ranked first in the world for online retail trade

    The period from January to October, witnessed China clinching the world no 1 spot for online retail trade, according to the “Internet Development in China over the Last Two Decades” report, which was published on Tuesday.

    The report was published prior to the World Internet Conference to be held in Wuzhen, China, from 16-18 December, according to the people.cn website.

    The total number of netizens in China reached an estimated figure of 668 million — the world’s largest online population. “The four Chinese companies which made it to the list are Alibaba, Tencent, JD.Com and Baidu,” said head of Chinese Academy of Cyberspace, Yang Shuzhen.

    China’s online retail sales skyrocketed at 2.8 trillion yuan in 2014, as reported by the en.people website. But the figures have more than doubled in 2015, with total transaction reaching 2.95 trillion yuan.

    In the month of November, an online shopping sale was conducted by Alibaba which recorded a sale of 91.2 billion yuan, according to the report.

    Internet has been the biggest boon to the Chinese economy, contributing 7% to the GDP.

    According to statistics, the number of people who shop online now is 307 million.

    China’s cross-border retail transactions reached 449.2 billion yuan in 2014 alone, people.cn reported. China has 321 Internet-related companies (listed) whose market value was estimated at 7.85 trillion yuan—equivalent to 25.6% overall stock market value, according to the website.

    Since the last year, online sales in China have increased 44%.

    Mobile internet is also rapidly developing in China. According to statistics, there were 594 million phone users who accounted for 88.9% of all netizens, as reported by people.cn.

    The development of mobile internet services in China has also brought a boost to travel industry, as well as car rental and medical services.

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  • How native apps complement China’s retail experience

    How native apps complement China’s retail experience

    When planning a retail mobile app strategy for China, there are many options available, including developing a mobile-friendly website, setting up a store on any one of the thousands of Chinese e-commerce platforms and developing a native app. So how do you choose which one is best for your brand?

    The big players

    There are a number of key platforms that retail brands in China can consider. The mighty WeChat, for example, has both reach and resonance with a vast audience (more than 600 million monthly users, to be more precise), as well as built-in, trusted payment facilities. Tmall and JD.com are just two examples of the thousands of e-commerce platforms in China. (Even Amazon has a store on Tmall). They offer easy-to-use, well-established e-commerce functionality that can include logistics, warehousing and payment facilities.

    For retailers wanting to take the quickest route to market, establishing a shop on one of these existing services is an easy solution. And of course, investing in a mobile website is also a good alternative.

    Both of these options have a place in the overall marketing mix and should be part of any robust business strategy. But retailers looking to compete in a complex and ever-changing marketplace like China need to consider the advantages of developing a native app and ‘owning’ a space on consumers’ devices.

    What’s so good about native apps?

    While it’s clear that people love to use the major consumer platforms, it’s important not to underestimate the power of an app specifically developed for a brand’s fans and followers.

    According to a report from The Internet Retailer, 42 percent of all mobile sales generated by the world’s leading 500 merchants in m-commerce last year came from mobile apps. Caixin, one of China’s leading business media groups, backs this up, saying that shopping via app in China grew by 168 percent in 2014, with shopping app users making up 39 percent of all mobile users.

    The numbers stack up, but what about the practicalities?

    Native app versus existing e-commerce platforms

    When working with an e-commerce platform, the brand doesn’t have full control over the user experience. Tencent and Alibaba set the rules for look, feel and layout, as well as e-commerce capabilities and payments. Overall functionality is limited to each platform’s abilities. It might not be possible to implement brand-specific features, innovative activities or marketing campaigns that lie outside of its framework.

    This app from online supermarket retailer Yihaodian is a great example of how to fully exploit smartphone functionality for an engaging customer experience.

    China_Apps_Yihaodian_600

    While there’s usually a way to open basic storefronts for free, other marketing activities, such as advertising and special promotions, tend to come at a cost.

    China’s existing e-commerce platforms are an excellent way to begin market entry, as they offer an instant, fully functional digital storefront within trusted, well-established parameters. However, a native app which gives retailers the freedom to develop unique features and marketing opportunities will complement these advantages, leveraging multiple platforms for a true omnichannel experience.

    Native app versus mobile web app

    A web app has technical limitations based on the browser it was set up for. The app will not be able to fully access smartphone capabilities.

    For example, the phone’s built-in features cannot access the user’s address book, offer an unrestricted integrated camera experience, use location services and the accelerometer, or access in-store beacons.

    Web apps cannot offer a personalized experience. Whereas native apps can store and apply a wealth of user data to deliver targeted alerts, discounts, promotions and loyalty schemes based on store proximity and previous activity.

    Another issue with web apps is that if the Internet connection is lost, the user can no longer access it. Native apps on the other hand, allow for offline browsing.

    McDonald’s McDelivery app is a good example of this. It makes a feature of the fact that people can look at the menu ‘any time, anywhere.’

    Apps_China_McDonald's_600

    Native apps allow retailers to send push notifications, an option not possible via a web app. This is an important consideration when it comes to marketing campaigns. Fashion retailer Milanoo makes full use of this in its app.

    Apps_China_Milanoo_600

    Well-made native apps get additional promotion through platform app stores; they may even be featured in top 10 charts and editor picks. This adds to the credibility and popularity of both the app and the retailer.

    Web apps are a viable, speedy way to get content onto users’ mobiles. But they’re not primarily designed for smartphones and while it is essential to make web content available in a mobile-friendly way, smartphone users expect a specific experience.

    Retailers can reap the benefits from this enthusiasm by developing apps for consumers using their phone capabilities to the full.

    The key to success in the world’s biggest mobile market is to have a well-rounded mobile strategy encompassing all trading platforms – and that includes native apps.

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