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Tag: China

  • Bellabox expands to China

    Bellabox expands to China

    Australian beauty subscription service and e-commerce platform, Bellabox, has confirmed its expansion into China in partnership with Australia Post’s Tmall store-front platform.

    The move is part of the beauty company’s growth strategy to become the dominant beauty e-commerce platform across Asia.

    Supporting its push into China, Bellabox will be moving away from its subscription-based model and introducing limited edition themed beauty boxes exclusively for the Chinese market.

    According to the company these will feature “the best of Australian beauty and cosmetic brands” to provide discerning and brand aware Chinese shoppers with more choice and variety.

    “Chinese consumers are sophisticated shoppers who are selective about the brands they use and buy. We are seeing strong demand for Australian brands as they are perceived to be higher quality and environmentally friendly, for this reason the market represents a huge opportunity for our business,” said Bellabox, CEO and co-founder, Sarah Hamilton.

    Hamilton adds that China is a key market in the company’s continued expansion across the region.

    “The market potential is huge with analysts[1] predicting the cosmetic market will become a US$113.9 billion industry by 2017, of which 25 per cent coming from online sales fuelled by tech savvy millennial. China has a high adoption rate of smartphones and online shopping, it provides the perfect platform for growth and we look forward to working with Australia Post to build our position in the market. ”

    Australia Post’s Tmall service opens the door for local e-commerce players to access China’s traditionally challenging market by crossing language and cultural barriers, and cutting through red tape to sell on a unique marketplace.

    With an audience of more than 300 million estimated Chinese consumers who, in 2014, spent more than half a trillion US dollars online, Tmall presents a strong opportunity for Australian e-commerce businesses.

    Ben Franzi, GM global e-commerce platforms and digital at Australia Post said, “We’re focused on delivering e-commerce solutions that make it easier for Australian retailers to grow, compete and succeed online.

    “Australia Post’s Tmall storefront (auspost.tmall.hk) is helping home grown businesses, like bellabox, sell into China – one of the world’s largest consumer markets.”

    “Bellabox has a tremendous opportunity to benefit from the trust, broad reach and revenue opportunities that comes with Tmall’s reputation and high visitor traffic. We’re excited to partner with bellabox to launch this exclusive offer that ticks the boxes against China’s growing consumer demand for authentic, quality, Australian-made beauty products,” said Ben.

    Bellabox is now one of 36 Australian brands with a virtual storefront on Australia Post’s Tmall store, which this month celebrated its first birthday.

    Bellabox is headquartered Melbourne and works with more than 900 beauty brands to create monthly-customised boxes for 40,000 subscribers.

  • Chinese shoppers still spending on luxury goods

    Chinese shoppers still spending on luxury goods

    China’s share market plunge and currency devaluation have not resulted in Chinese shoppers cutting back their spending on luxury goods as had been feared, a top-ranked HSBC analyst said this week.

    Mr Erwan Rambourg, HSBC Global’s co-head of consumer and retail, said the declines in stock prices and in the yuan need to be put in context.

    “The Shanghai composite index has been down roughly 40 per cent since its peak. On a 12-month view, if you had invested 12 months ago, you would still be up about 30 per cent,” he said.

    And while the yuan’s devaluation of about 2 per cent last month instantly made everything more expensive for travelling Chinese shoppers, the currency is still up in value relative to the euro compared with last year, he noted.

    “Purchasing power of the Chinese in Europe is still a lot stronger today than it was just 12 months ago,” said the Hong Kong-based Mr Rambourg, who has been covering the luxury and sporting goods sectors for 10 years.

    “The reason we look at euro-yuan and not (the US) dollar-yuan is because Chinese consumption abroad is mostly taking place in continental Europe, places like France and Italy. So obviously I don’t see that as a big negative.”

    It is the appreciation of the euro that could be a bigger issue than the decline in Chinese equity markets, Mr Rambourg said.

    He said the recent correction of the equity markets in Asia “has had a much bigger impact on Hong Kong than it has had on mainland China”.

    Reuters reported last month that Hong Kong retail turnover fell for the fifth straight month in July, as a slowdown in tourist arrivals further battered sales of big-ticket items such as jewellery and watches, while a plunge in the stock market hurt consumer sentiment.

    Mr Rambourg believes that luxury sales fell in Hong Kong because Chinese spenders have moved to more “fashionable” destinations such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

    HSBC Global Research’s latest report estimated about 70 per cent of luxury revenue in Hong Kong comes from Chinese consumers.

    One of the issues in Hong Kong and Macau is the lack of diversity – Hong Kong is all about shopping, Macau is all about gaming, and there is not a lot that is offered beyond that, said Mr Rambourg.

    But when Chinese tourists go to Japan, they return home to tell people about the culture, creating a snowball effect which goes beyond just the price arbitrage, where some destinations become fashionable and other destinations become less fashionable.

    About 10 per cent of luxury revenue in Japan now comes from Chinese tourists and Mr Rambourg believes this figure will rise as it did in South Korea, which saw an increase from 10 per cent to 30 per cent.

    About 25 per cent of luxury revenue in Singapore comes from Chinese tourists.

    Mr Rambourg suggested that Singapore should look at providing more diversity in terms of the brands represented here in order to draw in more Chinese shoppers.

    While there will be ups and downs, he foresees Chinese consumers becoming dominant over the next decade.

    About 35 per cent of today’s luxury consumers come from China and the figure could double over the next 10 years, he said.

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  • China’s fake Apple Stores alive and well, look to profit on iPhone 6s launch

    China’s fake Apple Stores alive and well, look to profit on iPhone 6s launch

     Thanks to lax copyright enforcement policies, growing demand for all things Apple and a lack of official retail channels, China’s fake Apple Stores are experiencing a resurgence on the back of iPhone 6s preorders.

    In electronics manufacturing mecca Shenzhen, a major cog in Foxconn’s iPhone and iPad production machine, a multitude of counterfeit Apple stores are popping up to take advantage of Friday’s iPhone 6s release, reports Reuters. According to publication estimates, more than 30 storefronts bear Apple’s iconic logo, with some unauthorized outlets kitting out personnel with Apple Store-style blue t-shirts and lanyard name tags.

    As they have in the past, these counterfeit stores are taking advantage of China’s seemingly insatiable iPhone demand. Just hours after iPhone 6s preorders went live last week, Apple’s allotment for the Chinese market sold out, pushing buyers loathe to wait an extra two to three weeks toward unauthorized stores that buy stock from official resellers and flip them for a hefty profit.

    With iPhone viewed as a status symbol in China, many consumers are willing to pay more than double retail prices to get their hands on one the day it comes out. For some buyers the high costs are apparently worth the added cachet that comes with nabbing a copy on day one. Consumers in other markets are also keen to get their hands on Apple’s latest smartphone, but Chinese customers are especially zealous.

    The benefits are more concrete for resellers, who risk minimal retail overhead and an upfront investment by smuggling iPhones in from Hong Kong, the U.S. and other far-flung markets. If successful, however, they stand to haul in huge returns.

    Apple has for years dealt with counterfeit stores, an issue that gained media attention in 2011. While Chinese officials ultimately ordered a handful of operators to shut down, the unauthorized resale industry was never completely wiped out. Now with iPhone 6s, resellers are back in business.

    Part of the problem stems from an inadequate official retail presence in the region. Apple only had 22 stores serving all of China as of June. By comparison, there are 53 Apple Stores in California alone. The disparity is stands in contrast to China’s market potential, which is widely viewed as vital to Apple’s growth and sales sustainability. The company has plans to expand its retail footprint to 40 stores by 2016, however, the most recent being a second Hangzhou location in April.

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  • Superdry to launch in China

    Superdry to launch in China

    Superdry was paraded down a catwalk in Beijing to officially launch the company in China.

    The launch event showcased some of the key product lines at the British Embassy Residence.

    The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills was at the event, as well as a strong representation of a number of current and former Chinese government officials.

    Mr Javid said: said: “We are delighted to see British brand Superdry join forces with Trendy International Group as they continue to further their international expansion in mainland China.

    “For decades, fashion has been at the core of British culture, something Superdry knows only too well. 2015 marks the UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange and both markets have a great deal they can share with each other.

    “Chinese consumers have a huge appetite for British brands so Superdry is well placed for success. Good luck to both SuperGroup and Trendy International as they embark on this auspicious partnership.”

    The agreed partnership to bring Superdry, the premium British lifestyle brand to China, will see an investment of up to £18 million (180 million RMB), on a 50:50 basis across a minimum period of 10 years. The joint venture was evolved from an initial introduction from the UKTI.

    The Chinese apparel market, with a current total retail value of $351 billion, presents an immense opportunity for the Superdry brand, particularly as it is forecast to become the largest apparel and footwear market in the world, overtaking the US this year.

    Euan Sutherland, CEO of SuperGroup, said: “Today marks a significant milestone in our joint venture with Trendy.

    “We are excited at the prospect of entering this market with such an established and experienced partner. We look forward to gaining a deep understanding of the Chinese market and customer, and this launch marks another significant step in Superdry becoming a global lifestyle brand.”

    The partnership with Trendy, a highly experienced retailer which already operates 3000 stores across China, will offer invaluable market insight and knowledge.

    Trendy will utilise their expertise and knowledge of the Chinese market and consumer to manage the joint venture, with a focus on operations and logistics in China, whilst SuperGroup will provide support from the UK, concentrating on brand guidance and merchandising.

    Both Trendy and SuperGroup believe Superdry has the potential to flourish in this market as it already has the appropriate product offering, pricing model and infrastructure for effective delivery in China.

    For Superdry customers it is about attitude, not age nor demographic. The Superdry product is contemporary and fuses vintage Americana and Japanese-inspired graphics with a British style. With an increasing demand for British brands abroad, Trendy sees Superdry as well-placed.

    Jacky Xu, founder and chief executive of Trendy International Group said: “We are delighted to be working with the SuperGroup team to launch Superdry in China.

    “Superdry is an innovative British brand, which we believe will sit well amongst our existing brands and have great appeal in the Chinese market.

    “Today, there is an increasing shift in consumer tastes in China, as individuals are moving away from the luxury brands to those more influenced by pop culture.

    “We believe Superdry is well placed to take advantage of this shift, presenting an excellent opportunity for our new partnership.”

  • ANZ expands retail footprint in China

    ANZ expands retail footprint in China

    The Qingdao branch will cover the entire Shandong Province and will offer products and services for ANZ’s corporate customers.

    Mike Smith, chief executive of ANZ, said that with a significant and growing presence in China and a network across 34 markets in the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and America, the bank is uniquely placed to support its clients looking to grow in Qingdao and the Shandong Province.

    Mr Smith said Qingdao and Shandong Province have established long-term relationships with Australia, and highlighted “major potential” for further growth in bilateral trade and investment.

    “This includes opportunities in industries such as natural resources and agriculture, and the opportunities created through the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement,” he said.

    “With our new branch, we look forward to enhancing cooperation in the Qingdao and Shandong government, and to continuing to support the development of the local financial industry.”

    Huang Xiaoguang, chief executive of ANZ China and head of greater China, said opening the new branch in Qingdao is another step in continuing to grow the bank’s Chinese footprint.

    “As the only locally incorporated Australian bank in China, we will further enhance our capability to provide comprehensive solutions and services to support local enterprises to go abroad,” he said.

    ANZ announced in July the opening of a new branch in Gurgaon, India, to better service its business customers in the country’s north.

  • UPS expands Chinese operations

    UPS expands Chinese operations

    UPS has expanded its presence in 13 additional cities in China improving transit times and extending cut-off times.

    Customers in the cities, situated in Jiangsu, Shandong, Zhejiang, Guangdong provinces, and in Chongqing Municipality, will have direct access to UPS’ full portfolio of services.

    Nando Cesarone, president of UPS Asia Pacific, said: “As China continues to liberalise its economy, balance growth across the country, and improve its infrastructure through initiatives such as ‘One Belt, One Road’, UPS is committed to expanding our presence in China and enabling more businesses to achieve their cross-border pursuits. This expansion is part of UPS’ long-term Asia Pacific strategy to facilitate trade growth within and beyond Asia.”

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  • Apple IPhone 6s, IPhone 6s Plus To Be Available At Retail Stores From Friday

    Apple IPhone 6s, IPhone 6s Plus To Be Available At Retail Stores From Friday

    Apple Inc. said Monday that its latest smartphones, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, will be available at the technology giant’s retail stores at 8 a.m. local time on Friday, September 25.

    The company also noted that more than 50 percent of existing devices have upgraded to iOS 9, its newest mobile operating software that was rolled out last week, marking the fastest iOS adoption ever.

    Apple said its retail stores will have the new iPhones available for walk-in customers, who should arrive at a store early. Both models will also be available on Friday from AT&T Inc. ( T ), Sprint Corp. ( S ), T-Mobile US Inc. ( TMUS ), Verizon Wireless, additional carriers and select Apple authorized resellers.

    Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing said, “Customer response to the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus has been incredibly positive, we can’t wait to get our most advanced iPhones ever into customers’ hands starting this Friday. iOS 9 is also off to an amazing start, on pace to be downloaded by more users than any other software release in Apple’s history.”

    In early September, Apple unveiled its iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus smartphones with a faster processor, new 3D Touch capabilities and an improved camera, seeking to woo customers ahead of the holiday season and to assuage investors that its flagship device still has the mojo to sustain growth.

    The phones, which look like their predecessors, are powered by A9 chip, have a new feature called 3D Touch that lets users make commands as well as avail shortcuts and menus by pressing down on the screen.

    Last Monday, Apple said it is on track to beat last year’s record for first weekend sales of iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, when sales breached the 10 million mark within just three days of its sales launch on September 19, 2014.

    The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus will be available in gold, silver, space gray and the new rose gold metallic finishes for $0 down, with 24 monthly installment payments that start at $27 and $31 respectively, from Apple’s retail stores in the U.S., Apple.com, select carriers and Apple authorized resellers.

    Both the smartphone models will also be available from Friday in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the UK and the U.S. The iPhone will be available by reservation only in China, Hong Kong, Japan and U.S. stores in tax-free states.

    Starting this Saturday, September 26, customers will be able to visit Apple.com to reserve their iPhone for pick-up at their local Apple Store, based on availability. Apple noted that most Apple stores will also have iPhone available for walk-in customers each day.

    Every customer who buys an iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus at an Apple retail store will be offered free Personal Setup to help them customize their iPhone by setting up email and show them new apps from the App Store.

    Apple-designed accessories, such as leather and silicone cases in different colors and Lightning Docks in color-matched metallic finishes, will also be available.

    While unveiling the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus earlier in September, Apple had said that the devices will come with iOS 9, which would be available as a free software update.

    iOS 9 brings more features to iPhone with a Proactive assistant that is similar to Android’s Google Now service, powerful search and improved Siri features, along with an improved security feature.

    Built-in apps on iOS 9 feature redesigned Notes app, detailed transit information in Maps, and a new News app that displays news from several sources.

    AAPL is trading at $114.33, up $0.88 or 0.78 on a volume of 4.44 million shares.

     

     

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  • China’s shopping mall operators struggle against e-commerce

    China’s shopping mall operators struggle against e-commerce

    China’s accelerating slowdown has put shopping mall operators already struggling to fight off the inroads of e-commerce under the gun. But not all is doom and gloom as a wave of consolidation may allow some to thrive.

    “The supply of mall space in China is outpacing demand, as growth in retail sales slows because of the country’s lower GDP growth, and in cities where mall space is abundant, vacancy rates have risen substantially,” Marie Lam, an associate managing director with ratings agency Moody’s, said in a report.

    A raft of figures pointed to waning demand at home. China’s retail sales for the first half of the year grew by just 10.4 per cent from a year earlier, the lowest rate since 2004, data released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed.

    Although acknowledging that the outlook will continue to be murky for China’s traditional retailers, Bank of China International analysts led by Tang Jiarui noted consolidation may sweep across some of the major players in the sector, discarding the weak players and leaving the stronger ones as the survivors. “The distress, on the other hand, may give birth to a mergers-and-acquisitions boom. We see some of the leading regional shopping mall operators, including Wuhan-based Zhongbai Holdings, the potential buying targets of industrial powerhouses eyeing expansion,” she said.

    Unfazed by a flagging economy, Chinese developers’ headlong rush to branch out and build more shopping malls show no signs of dying down.

    China made up of 44 per cent of total global shopping mall completions in 2014, data from real estate consultancy CBRE said. The amount of mall-space in the pipeline is even more massive, representing 60 per cent of the total worldwide.

    In 2014, the retail space under construction in China soared by more than 50 per cent year-on-year, compared with a 21.8 per cent rise of the global total for the same period.

    “Demand for mall space from retailers in China is not catching up with supply,” Lam said.

    Adding to the burden on those brick and mortar retailers are their e-commerce rivals that managed to post robust results even as the economy grew at its slowest pace in a quarter century. Online retail sales registered a 48.7 per cent jump in the first six months of 2015 from a year earlier, according to the China e-Business Research Centre.

    A study by Fung Business Intelligence Centre found department stores in China were the worst performers among all retail formats last year with many forced to close shop.

    “Fragile global and domestic economies …competition from speciality stores and online retailers were major reasons for stores’ weak performances,” the Fung report said.

    Many of traditional retailers have been shifting to asset-light business models or exploring the online-to-offline business mode to get by.

    But a transformation can be painful for any company with more uncertainty the rule going forward.

    “Success also depends on whether the changed mall can differentiate itself from other malls that have also undergone facelifts,” said Lam, who saw rising difficulty for some shopping mall property developers in refinancing the loans they took out to shift gears.

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  • UNIQLO Opens World’s First MAGIC FOR ALL Store in Shanghai

    UNIQLO Opens World’s First MAGIC FOR ALL Store in Shanghai

    UNIQLO is set to open its MAGIC FOR ALL store on the fifth floor of the UNIQLO Shanghai Global Flagship Store on Huai Hai Road, its largest UNIQLO store in the world, on September 27. The MAGIC FOR ALL line of LifeWear apparel is part of a global collaboration with Disney Consumer Products that aims to surprise and delight customers of all ages.

    Customers begin their MAGIC FOR ALL journey at the store’s main entrance, where a 180-centimeter-tall Mickey Mouse statue and 100 Mickey Mouse figurines await. Known as the Mickey 100 Series, the inspiration for these iconic figurines was taken from 100 exclusive new designs for Mickey Mouse, which will be on display for the first time in Shanghai. Fifteen of the designs were reproduced on colorful UTs (UNIQLO T-shirts), including five designs for children.

    Inside the MAGIC FOR ALL store, customers are treated to a series of unique and immersive experiences found only at UNIQLO in Shanghai. Tinker Bell can be seen flying across wall monitors accompanied by music, and in a world first, the store features Shout Mickey, a special area that captures joyful moments. When a customer shouts ‘Mickey’ toward the lens of a digital camera, the moment is captured and a digital image can be sent to the customer’s mobile device as a memento of the visit. The store also features a Future area, showcasing UNIQLO’s UT range of fashions, and the Colorful Fairy Tale realm for little princesses.

    Unique and innovative being central to the overall shopping experience, the store is the first in China to offer MAGIC FOR ALL options for UTme!, a custom T-shirt design service, and for MY UNIQLO, which enables customers to add special touches to items of clothing.

  • China luxury spend offshore will double

    China luxury spend offshore will double

    The Chinese already account for 27 per cent of the world’s total luxury spending – and a staggering 80 per cent of that is spent outside the Mainland.

    China luxury spending outside China will double by 202 according to a report by China Luxury Advisors, presented to last week’s Luxury Retail Summit: Holiday Focus 2015.

    “What we’re really seeing is that [the Chinese slowdown is] just really not changing the amount of travel, it’s just changing the nature of it,” said Avery Booker, partner at China Luxury Advisors in a presentation reported in detail here by Luxury Daily.

    “We’re seeing fewer long haul trips among the middle class, and more people going to places like Japan and Korea to do shopping,” he said. “The purse shopper spending will remain strong even though average spend is going to decrease, and of course that’s just a volume issue.”

    Booker said the devaluation of the Chinese currency was so far having no perceptible effect.

    Chinese shoppers spend US$229 billion a year outside the mainland – which China Luxury Advisors predicts will double by 2020, based on the theory the $8000 per year per capita GDP is “the tipping point” at which outbound tourism booms. China has just reached that level.

    The Luxury Retail Summit was organised by Luxury Daily.

    In reaching its estimates China Luxury Advisors surveyed 1000 Chinese consumers 18 years and older, with a variety of incomes.

    Their most common destination outside the mainland is still Hong Kong, mainly due to its nearness and visa-free travel.

    China Luxury Advisors urged retailers to make their stores “Chinese consumer-friendly” to make the most of the booming trend. Mandarin speaking associates, Chinese dining options and accepting Alipay, Tencent or China Union Pay can make them feel at ease.

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  • Lama Hourani opens Shanghai boutique

    Lama Hourani opens Shanghai boutique

    Jordanian jeweller Lama Hourani has opened an exclusive boutique in Shanghai.

    But it’s been positioned as so exclusive, customers cannot enter without a prior appointment.

    Lama Hourani’s exquisite silver and gold jewellery creations are creating a stir in Asia, underpinning her rising fame as a celebrity designer in Asia. Her creations are worn by royalty, the glitterazzi and even the Pope.

    The new store is on the ground floor of a historic house in Shanghai’s French Concession. Its decor is like something from a book celebrating Arabian design: gold and marble plinths, deep blue carpet, black and white images on the walls depicting minorities, gold framed mirrors.

    “I opened [the boutique] because people in China were just so curious…The handmade aspect is special, and it’s a major plus for me to have a proper presence here.”

    Hourani these days lives in Shanghai so it is no surprise she chose the vibrant, modern city for her first retail presence. But she is also a regular visitor to Hong Kong, presenting exclusive curations of her designs to customers – again by appointment only.

    “My clients are from all over the world and are usually independent, self-established, culturally curious women… China has so much of that,” she said in a recent interview.

    “If you are talking about demographics, those who are well-travelled, the crème de la crème, they all want to wear a statement piece that says something, rather than something that makes them belong somewhere. A lot of customers in China are beyond that first stage.”

    In Hong Kong, Lama Hourani’s luxury jewellery is sold through Joyce and the website Plukka.com – as well as her own website.

    Having established a solid reputation in jewellery, Hourani says her next focus is to expand the brand into other categories: homewares is an obvious first extension.

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  • Bossini strong in retail storm

    Bossini strong in retail storm

    Apparel retailer Bossini has weathered Hong Kong’s retail downturn by achieving strong growth offshore.

    The Hong Kong based company has revealed its annual results in the year to June 30, reporting a mere one per cent decline in sales to HK$2.523 billion, and a three per cent decline in gross profit to HK$1.264 billion with gross margin down one per cent to 50 per cent. profit attributable to shareholders fell nine per cent.

    “During the fiscal year 2014/15, despite facing challenging retail conditions in Hong Kong and Macau, its segmental business, which includes the export franchising operations, registered record-high sales with flat same-store sales growth for the directly managed stores,” the company said.

    “The operations in mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore all experienced improvements in segment results, resulting from the continuously improving shop productivity and stringent cost control measures. Mainland China segment achieved six per cent same-store sales growth and also recorded nine consecutive quarters of positive same-store gross profit growth. Taiwan segment saw a same-store sales growth of seven per cent, representing seven consecutive quarters of positive same-store sales growth.”

    Bossini ended the year with a presence in 35 countries and regions and a store count of 938 (down 24). Of those, 257 were directly managed stores and 681 were franchised.

    One factor in the group’s improved operational efficiency was a small reduction in inventory turnover timetable from 84 days to 83.

    Looking forward, CEO Edmund Mak said the group will benefit from lower production cost if US dollar remains strong versus Renminbi.

    “Besides, it is estimated that rents will fall in certain areas in Hong Kong as retailers are generally suffering from sales downturn, which could help partially offset the group’s ongoing difficulties. The group will be proactive in taking stringent measures to control costs, including rental costs, and continue to improve shop productivity. The group aims to remain flexible and responsive to changing market conditions.”

    Mak said Bossini sees grounds for “considerable optimism” in its overseas operations.

    “Therefore, we will focus more on expanding operations outside Hong Kong and Macau, in order to achieve a more balanced portfolio. Furthermore, we will continue to expand kids’ line, particularly in Mainland China, while launch co-branded and licensing programmes of clothing and accessories via partnerships that reinforce the core brand value ‘be happy’, striving to build “bossini”’s reputation as a vibrant, valued and competitive go-to brand.”

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  • China online shopping sales soar

    China online shopping sales grew a staggering 48.7 per cent during the first six months of this year, according to data from the China e-Business Research Center (CECRC).

    Online retail sales hit 1.6 trillion yuan (US$250 billion) and accounted for 11.4 per cent of total retail sales in China in the period.

    The number of online shoppers rose 19.1 per cent to 417 million, said the Hangzhou-based eCommerce trend tracker.

    Cross-border eCommerce has become a new driver of retail sales as online retailers connect domestic consumers with an increasing number of overseas brands, according to CECRC analyst Mo Daiqing

    Alibaba’s online marketplace Tmall continues to dominate China’s online business-to-consumer market, with 57.7 per cent of the market. Its rival JD.com comes in second, at 25.1 per cent, followed by a distant third by Suning.com, at 3.4 per cent.

    CECRC also said that more transactions are being made on mobile Internet as online retailers move to encourage consumers to shop with their mobile apps on smartphones and tablets.

    Robust online sales also boosted the revenue of China’s courier services by 33.2 per cent during the same period, to 120 billion yuan. CECRC estimates revenue will top 290 billion yuan for the whole year.

    China’s rural areas, Mo said, have emerged as the next source of growth for retail sales and online retailers are seeking deeper integration with offline retailers, reported Chinese press agency Xinhua.

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  • Alibaba promises faster deliveries to US

    Alibaba promises faster deliveries to US

    Cainiao, Alibaba Group’s logistics affiliate, has agreed to work with the US Postal Service to speed delivery of merchandise ordered by US consumers on Alibaba’s international online shopping platforms.

    Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Cainiao and the US’s national mail carrier agreed to collaborate on the development of enhanced shipping solutions for cross-border eCommerce. In addition to helping provide more efficient shipping channels into the US for Chinese merchants and manufacturers selling on Alibaba’s AliExpress global-shopping website, the USPS will also work with Cainiao to expand its worldwide shipping capabilities, especially in South America, according to a press release.

    The global B2C cross-border eCommerce market is expected to grow from $230 billion in 2014 to $1 trillion in 2020, according to a report from global consulting firm Accenture and AliResearch, Alibaba Group’s research arm. To reduce barriers to shipping small parcels quickly on a global scale, Alibaba and related companies have been working with several national mail carriers including Singapore Post and Spanish Post.

    Cainiao VP Wan Lin cited the agreement with the USPS as “a key part of Alibaba’s globalisation strategy and our vision to enable consumers around the world to enjoy the convenience and benefits of e-commerce”.

    With more than 600,000 employees, the USPS is the leading postal and shipping service provider in the US, the world’s biggest consumer market.

    Cainiao and the USPS said by working together they are aiming to make it easier and more efficient for Chinese companies to sell and deliver goods directly to the homes of US consumers by improving the way goods purchased from China are processed and handled during international shipping.

    “As cross-border eCommerce grows rapidly, it is critical that we evolve shipping services to the next level, with shorter delivery times and easier methods to track a shipment,” said Wan in a statement.

    “The collaboration between Cainiao and USPS will enable us to create new solutions and ultimately improve the overall customer experience.”

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  • Lawson to accept UnionPay

    Lawson to accept UnionPay

    Japanese retailer Lawson has installed 1000 ATMs in a new network to help Chinese tourists access their cash via UnionPay cards.

    And from September 24, customers will be able to pay for purchases using UnionPay credit cards at all Lawson stores in Japan – that’s 12,195 stores, trading under the Lawson, Natural Lawson and Lawson Store 100 banners.

    From September 28, customers can also withdraw Japanese yen by UnionPay credit or debit card on the newly introduced ATM network which will eventually be expanded to more than 2000.

    During the Chinese National Day holidays, a large number of Chinese tourists are expected to visit Japan. During this holiday season, Lawson will launch a coupon campaign for customers who use the UnionPay credit card for settlement. Customers who have purchased over 2000 JPY worth of goods using a UnionPay credit card can get a 200 JPY coupon ticket which can be used for their next purchase.

    The campaign runs through the month of October and the coupons can be used until November 7.

    At Lawson stores in Japan, the average shopping amount per payment is 600 JPY. Spending on credit cards is more than twice as much, at around 1300 JPY. Furthermore, in some pre-launched stores where payment by UnionPay card is already available, the average shopping amount made by UnionPay card jumps to about 3000 to 4000 JPY.

    Foreign visitors going to Lawson stores buy not only rice balls and drinks, but also confectionery and daily goods as souvenirs. This campaign will be able to meet a wide range of needs from foreign visitors to Lawson stores.