Retail News CRM

Tag: China

  • China grocery boom accelerates

    China grocery boom accelerates

    The China grocery boom is accelerating – but India and the so-called MINT countries are chasing.

    Chinese grocery sales are set to grow by a third between now and 2020 and reach US$1.5 trillion per year, according to new forecasts from IGD. While China will comfortably retain its position as the largest grocery market in the foreseeable future, other markets will grow faster.

    IGD predicts:

    • The grocery sector in India will grow by nearly 80 per cent and be worth just over US$900 billion by 2020.
    • Nigeria’s grocery market will achieve the fastest growth of the largest markets, increasing in value by 85 per cent to hit just over US$300 billion by 2020.
    • The other ‘MINT’ countries will also experience rapid growth – grocery sales in Mexico, Indonesia and Turkey will increase by nearly 40 per cent, 63 per cent and 61 per cent respectively.
    • Indonesia’s grocery market will be worth almost as much as the UK’s (ranked seventh in the world) at US$351 billion by 2020.

    IGD CEO Joanne Denney-Finch says while grocery industry growth prospects appear limited in Europe at the moment, this is a time of tremendous opportunity for grocery companies further afield.

    “The vast majority of global grocery growth will come from Asia, Africa and the Middle East supported by increasing affluence, urbanisation, and rising population. With many European products and brands highly regarded in these regions, this will be a boom time for companies with export skills.”

    On China, she observed: “Although the Chinese growth rate is slowing, it’s still very impressive, particularly in ‘tier three and four cities’. These are regional, medium-income cities, undergoing rapid development. There are many more opportunities for retailers and Western brands. For example, online grocery will enjoy explosive growth in China, though from a modest base, tripling in size between now and 2020. This will be powered by more Chinese having access to the internet through smartphones and other devices.”

    Denney-Finch said in India, while traditional stores will continue to take the lion’s share of the grocery market, consumer spending per capita in real terms will grow faster in the subcontinent than in any of the top grocery markets.

    “Combined with an expanding working-age population this will support the growth of modern convenience and supermarket retailing. Retailers are also rapidly setting up online grocery services hoping to tap into the potential of India’s half a billion smartphone users. Despite restrictions on foreign direct investment (FDI), international retailers continue to see the potential of investing in India.

    “If the expected effects of inflation are stripped out, then India would be the fastest growing of the largest grocery markets while most of the MINT countries would also appear higher up the growth rankings,” she said.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Coach Canton Rd flagship opens

    Coach Canton Rd flagship opens

    US fashion brand Coach has opened a new flagship in Kowloon.

    Coach Canton Rd is the company’s second flagship store in the territory and gives it one superstore on either side of the harbour; the other one is located in Central.

    The new 4000 sqft flagship store spans a whole three floors in the Harbour City complex.

    Designed by Coach executive creative director Stuart Vevers, in partnership with world renowned creative firm Studio Sofield, which has also completed projects for Gucci, Bottega Veneta and Tom Ford.

    Store features include a ready-to-wear shop with custom furniture.

    To mark the opening, Coach has released a limited edition Suede Coach Swagger bag available in Navy and Black Cherry, for a limited time exclusively at the new store.

  • E-Land to launch Coffee Bean China

    E-Land to launch Coffee Bean China

    South Korean retailer E-Land has sealed a deal to launch Coffee Bean China by the end of 2015.

    The California-headquartered cafe chain, also known by its full name Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, says China will be its 28th international market. The China joint venture plans 700 cafes across the country.

    It has already achieved considerable success in Asia, especially in Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand.

    E-Land operates a vast network of 7000 fashion stores in China and about 20 restaurant brands.

    “Together with E-Land’s vast retail experience and success to ensure our continued growth in China, we’re proud to put our Southern California style of hand roasted coffee and whole leaf teas on the map in yet another country,” said Jeff Schroeder, senior VP of operations at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, in a statement.

    Coffee Bean has more than 1000 cafes in 28 countries and earlier this year opened its first stores in Japan.

    While 700 cafes might seem like a large number in China, it would be dwarfed by rival Starbucks which already boasts 1700 cafes.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Carat* opens two new boutiques in Asia

    Carat* opens two new boutiques in Asia

    London jeweller Carat* has opened a new boutique in IFC Mall in Central.

    The store is one of two opened in Greater China in recent weeks – the other being inside IFC Mall in Shanghai.

    Founded by Englishman Scott Thompson in 2003, Carat* describes itself as one of the world’s leading luxury fashion jewellers.

    “Our pieces combine the timeless glamour of a bygone era with a little modern day wearability. Carat* jewellery is about fantasy rather than reality and our jewels are chosen rather than invested, admired rather than shown off. Most importantly, though, our jewels are supposed to be worn rather than hidden in a safe,” the company says online.

    The two new stores feature a “refreshed” Carat* global store model with pale tones and a luxury ambience.

    As well as its stand alone boutiques, the jeweller has shop-in-shops in luxury department store Lane Crawford in Hong Kong, and in Harrod’s in London.

    Carat* designs, develops and assembles jewellery using its own uniquely created gemstones. Each stage of preparation is done by hand – from pre-forming and faceting to polishing and setting.

    The brand has been worn by celebrities all over the world, including Lisa Snowdon, Michelle Williams, the cast of Gossip Girl, Melissa, George, Katherine Kelly, Lucy Jo Hudson, Lydia Bright, Amy Nuttall, Kara Tointon, Juliet Stevenson, and Vicky McClure.

    Lees ook:

  • K-beauty brand Hera uses DFS as testbed

    K-beauty brand Hera uses DFS as testbed

    Luxury duty free and travel retailer, DFS Group, has opened pop-up stores in Hong Kong for the K-beauty brand Hera which the latter is using as a testbed for the global market.

    The T Galleria by DFS on Canton Road houses four pop-ups, with a launch in early August in the presence of Hong Kong actress Charmaine Sheh and Korean movie star Park Eun Hye. Hera’s head make-up artist, Jinsu Lee, was on hand to share beauty tips to achieve the signature K-beauty Seoulista look.

    BRIDGE TO ASIAN MARKETS

    Hong Kong is the largest cosmetics market in Asia and Hera’s first-ever pop-ups are expected to be a bridge to other Asian countries. The DFS units  bestselling fan-favourites, including the Olympia Le-Tan UV Mist Cushion, UV Mist Cushion and Age Reverse Cushion.

    Hera is known in Korea for cutting-edge technology and is popular with women looking to emulate increasingly popular K-beauty styles seen in K-pop music and K-drama TV shows.

    Jinsu Lee will offer Seoulista make-up demonstrations as well as touch-up services to customers with the stores are in place. All four pop-ups will offer a limited supply of product kits to customers with a minimum purchase.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • UAE retail look to local consumers as Chinese and Russian tourists drop

    UAE retail look to local consumers as Chinese and Russian tourists drop

    Spending by Russian and Chinese tourists traveling to the UAE has declined recently and it is hurting not just the luxury shops in Dubai’s sprawling malls but other businesses as well.

    Nasir Mansoor, who manages vehicle rental service company Fast Rent A Car in Dubai, said that this year has been very challenging for them because the number of customers from the two countries has dropped significantly.

    During the peak period, around seven or ten Fast cars would be taken out for a drive by Russian tourists, while Chinese visitors would fill ten tourist buses a week. These days, the rental company is able to rent out, on average, only one car to a Russian customer, while Chinese tourists have dropped to two busloads a week.

    “The Russian tourists play a vital role in [our] car rental [business]. In the past six months, we have seen a noticeable decline in Russian customers who would benefit mostly from our daily and weekly rental services,” Mansoor told Gulf News.

    “Chinese tourists used to bring in business of up to ten bus tours weekly, while today, that number would approximately stand at around two tour trips,” he added.

    The national currency in Russia has been showing its weakness since last year, losing half of its value against the US dollar. The decline has made traveling abroad more expensive for Russians who earn in roubles. At the same time, the economic slowdown in China, coupled with the recent devaluation of the yuan, is not playing well with outbound tourism.

    According to Network International, overall credit or debit card spending by Russian and Chinese shoppers in the UAE dropped by 30 per cent and 22 per cent, respectively, during Ramadan compared to the same period last year. Jones Lang LaSalle noted in its latest report that retail sales in the UAE have slowed down, particularly in the luxury segment, as tourist spending from Russia has declined.

    More visitors are still traveling to the UAE, but arrivals from Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has been weak. The number of Russian passengers arriving in Dubai dropped by 31.7 per cent in March, while those entering via Abu Dhabi declined by 10 per cent in June.

    Dubai Airports attributed the downtrend to the “continuing economic and social concerns in the region, with most major cities including Moscow, Kiev and St Petersburg recording fewer passengers.”

    “[This is] due to the factor that the rouble’s value has gone down in Russia and there is an economic downturn in China due to export slowdown,” noted Karan Patel, marketing manager for Middle East at 2GIS UAE, a map service comprising detailed business listings and public transport guide.

    The app developer provides map downloads to visitors in the UAE and used to attract huge customer traffic from Russian and Chinese travelers. Recently, however,  “application downloads” are on a decline, owing to the slump in tourist numbers.

    Russian and Chinese foot traffic is also declining at Shoexpress shops in the UAE. Jithan Harichand, the company’s retail operations manager, said that, given the rising cost of living in the UAE, domestic spending isn’t enough to make up for the drop in tourist spending.

    “The past year has been tough economically across the Middle East, Europe, especially Russia and China, thus tourism [has slowed down]. Tourists tend to spend cash in value retailers, thus with the [downtrend], we are dependent on UAE residents,” said Harichand.

    “[But] with inflation in UAE, residents have limited disposable income to spend locally.”

    Anuraag Sinha, managing director of Liali Jewellery in Dubai, said they used to get a lot of business from Russian tourists,  but with the decline in visitor numbers,  sales at their outlets in premium locations have slowed down.

    “The actual drop in the sales value in our sector is high because the tourists that have replaced some of the Russian and other high-spending tourists are not spending as much as the Russians did,” Sinha said.

    “While our stores in certain five and seven-star locations and resorts have suffered, our overall sales have grown as our main focus has been on brand building.”

     

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Hong Kong’s unemployment rate rises slightly

    Hong Kong’s unemployment rate rises slightly

    Fall in the number of tourists and depreciation in RMB has led to a slight increase in Hong Kong’s unemployment figures.

    According to the latest labour force statistics released by Census and Statistics Department yesterday, the city-stat’s unemployment rate increased from 3.2% in April – June 2015 to 3.3% in May – July 2015.

    The underemployment rate remained, however, unchanged at 1.4% in the two periods.

    Commenting on the latest unemployment figures, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Matthew Cheung Kin Chung, said an unemployment rate of 3.3% is still at a low level but with a unsteady global financial market and decrease in number of tourist, the situation may get worse.

    The hospitality and retail industries were identified as sectors contributing to this latest rise in unemployment rate.

    The hospitality sector’s unemployment rate stood at 4.4% – a 1.4% year on increase, while the retail sector saw a 0.1 % increase in unemployment compared to  April – June 2015.

    Unemployment rate in the retail sector stood at 4.1%.

    Shedding light into the matter, managing director of AMAC Human Resources Consultants Limited Alexa Chow Yee Ping said the retail sector is currently on hiring freeze.

    “Resigned staff will not be replaced, it will be a quiet market until Christmas,” she said.

    The insurance industry was also found to have recorded a 0.4% increase in unemployment rate to 1.9% in July.

    Roy Cheung Wai Leung from the Hong Kong Insurance Practitioners General Union said high office rent has out insurance companies under a lot of pressure to cut manpower.

    “Take Kwun Tong for example, the rent of Grade-A offices in the area has increased from HK$11 per square feet five years ago to $25 now.  Many companies need to save cost and lay off agents with underwhelming sales performance,” he said.

    Economics academic professor Terence Chong  executive director, institute of global economics and finance  at The Chinese University of Hong Kong had a more positive view.

    He said the end of European debt crisis implies less fluctuation in the stock market.

    “The Hong Kong-Shenzhen stock through train which will take place soon will be a boost to the economy although I expect the employment market to remain weak in the forth quarter, the unemployment rate should go no higher than 3.5%,” he said.

    Lees ook:

  • Estee Lauder travel-retail revenue falls

    Estee Lauder travel-retail revenue falls

    Cosmetics-giant Estée Lauder Companies reported a decline in travel-retail sales in fiscal year 2015 (ended June 30, 2015), despite an increase in global airline traffic and expanded distribution in the channel.

    The company said that a stronger dollar and the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which killed nearly 40 people in South Korea this year, contributed to decline, with travel-retail sales falling by 4% in the last quarter of fiscal year 2015.

    Over 55,000 tourists had cancelled trips to South Korea by the mid-June, according to the World Economic Forum.

    Slower retail growth in Hong Kong and China, as well as a decline in spending by Russian and Brazilian travellers are also expected to impact sales revenue into the 2016 fiscal year.

    The news came as the company also forecasted below-estimated earnings across the whole business for the coming fiscal year, and announced that net sales in the fiscal year ending in June went down to $10.78bn, a 1.7% decrease from $10.97bn the previous year. The company said it missed its 7% growth target because of accelerated sales orders in Latin America and the use of constant currencies to calculate international profits.

    For the three months ended June 30, 2015, the company reported net sales of $2.52bn, compared with $2.73bn the previous year. Skincare products were chiefly affected, with overall sales falling by 16% in Q4.

    However, expanded distribution, including in travel-retail, also helped lift some labels’ revenues. While sales for heritage-brands Estée Lauder and Clinique slumped, the conglomerate’s current global-marketing focus has been on growth for youthful or luxury brands like Smashbox and Tom Ford. Along with Aveda hair-care product, these brands’ expanding travel-retail channels were reported by Estée Lauder Co. to have resulted in year-on-year revenue growth that has helped offset some of this year’s losses.

    The company has said that by adjusting to factors like constant currencies and accelerated orders in the fiscal year 2014, strong underlying growth in the company becomes apparent.

    President and CEO Fabrizio Freda said in the company’s report for the fiscal year 2015 (Q4 and full year): “Together with our powerful brand portfolio and financial discipline we finished our fiscal year with a strong Q4, generating 7% constant currency sales growth, after adjusting for the accelerated sales orders we reported in fiscal 2014.

    He added “For the full year, our adjusted 6% local currency sales growth met our expectations, and we exceeded our earnings per share forecast …Our sales grew at a faster rate than global prestige beauty, due to the success of our multiple engines of growth. Standout performances generated double-digit sales gains in most of our makeup and luxury brands and the online, specialty-multi and freestanding store channels.

    “In fiscal 2016, we expect constant currency net sales growth of 6% to 8% and double-digit earnings per share growth, after adjusting for the accelerated sales orders.”

    Reuters reported on Monday that Estée Lauder Cos Inc shares fell by up to 5.3% to $82.8 per share yesterday, but the value rose to $84.48 today (still down from $90 reported at the beginning of this month). Estée Lauder is currently expanding its travel-retail offering, focusing on colourful, clean brands like Mac and Smashbox, as well as its successful London brand Jo Malone.

    Lees ook:

  • Wal-Mart says heavy e-commerce investments put a crimp on earnings

    Wal-Mart says heavy e-commerce investments put a crimp on earnings

    The retailer’s global online sales increased 16% in Q2, excluding the impact of the stronger U.S. dollar.

    Wal-Mart Stores Inc. says its heavy investment in e-commerce infrastructure is paying off, with online sales growing by double-digit percentages, but that it hit a rough patch in international online sales and that the spending is weighing on its earnings.

    The retail giant, No. 3 in the Internet Retailer 2015 Top 500 Guide, said Tuesday its global online sales, excluding the impact of the strengthening dollar, grew 16% in the second quarter. But investments in e-commerce are estimated to lower full-year earnings per share by between 6 cents and 9 cents, company officials said. With 3.23 billion shares outstanding, that suggests Wal-Mart will spend between $190 million and $295 million on e-commerce this year.

    “The highlight was solid growth in the Walmart.com and SamsClub.com U.S. businesses, while international was soft, due to economic challenges in several of our key markets,” chief financial officer Charles Holley said on the company’s earnings call. The international results led Wal-Mart to revise its e-commerce sales growth forecast for 2105 to the mid to high teens from the previous mid-20s range.

    Wal-Mart also said its e-commerce investments, meant to vie with Amazon.com and other online retailers, are vital given the competitive environment.

    “We’re pleased that the investments we’ve made are helping to improve our business,” CEO Doug McMillon told analysts during the company’s earnings conference call, according to a transcript from Seeking Alpha. “Even if it’s not as fast as we would like, the fundamentals of serving our customers are consistently improving. In this case, our desired changes require investments, which are pressuring earnings this year.”

    Also in the quarter, the retailer opened two automated online fulfillment centers in the U.S., each bigger than 20 football fields, and two more are coming this quarter, said Holley. The centers will serve customers this holiday season and serve as the cornerstones of Wal-Mart’s fulfillment network, he says.

    On the call, Wal-Mart executives discussed its deal, announced last month, to acquire the remaining 49% it did not already own in Yihaodian, a Chinese online grocery retailer that’s been expanding into other categories and is No. 7 in the Internet Retailer 2015 China 500 Guide. Wal-Mart spent $760 million in the quarter to acquire the remaining 49% of Yihaodian, the online retail site in China with 100 million registered users.

    “Our primary goal is to continue to accelerate Yihaodian’s core e-commerce business and maintain strong local Chinese expertise,” Neil Ashe, CEO of Wal-Mart Global e-Commerce, told analysts. “Now that we are the sole owners, we will be expanding our leadership team from within the Yihaodian business, from within Wal-Mart and from the e-commerce industry in China. We will also leverage Walmart’s global reach and scale to better benefit Yihaodian, including global sourcing. China is an exciting, dynamic, large and competitive market. We are excited about our long-term opportunity in China.”

    For the quarter ended July 31, Wal-Mart reported:

    • Net sales of $120.229 billion, relatively flat from $120.125 billion.
    • Wal-Mart did not report online sales but said e-commerce sales increased 16% globally when adjusting for the strengthening dollar, which is reducing the dollar value of sales outside the United States. The total value of purchases on Wal-Mart’s e-commerce sites in 11 countries increased 18% on a constant-currency basis. That includes sales by outside merchants selling on Walmart.com and other sites that offer goods from other retailers.
    • Net income of $3.475 billion, down 15.1% from $4.093 billion in the same period in 2014
    • A decline in operating income in the retailer’s three primary divisions. At Wal-Mart U.S. it was $4.819 billion, down 8.2%; at Wal-Mart International it was $1.277 billion, down 14.2%; and at Sam’s Club it was $428 million, down 13.4%.
  • Hong Kong pop-up mall aims to ease tensions over mainland shoppers

    Hong Kong pop-up mall aims to ease tensions over mainland shoppers

    From London’s trendy Shoreditch to a downtown revitalisation project in Las Vegas, pop-up shopping malls have become all the rage among urbanites keen to sample craft beer and buy designer sneakers.

    But, in Hong Kong, plans for the first temporary mall are designed to assuage popular anger with visiting shoppers from mainland China — derided by locals as “locusts” — rather than cater to the whims of hipsters.

    As political tensions between Hong Kong and Beijing have risen, the semi-autonomous Chinese territory has seen a growing backlash against the thousands of “parallel traders” who come from the mainland every day in search of cheap baby milk, jewellery and other goods they can sell back home for a profit.

    Now two of Hong Kong’s biggest property developers have teamed up with lawmakers to turn a car park near the Chinese border into a mall made out of shipping containers that is meant to serve mainland visitors attracted by the city’s low-tax shopping.

    Wong Ting-kwong, one of the legislative council members promoting the project, said it would “reduce the nuisance brought by excessive mainland tourists and relieve the traffic inside the city”.

    Mr Wong is a member of the main pro-Beijing political party in Hong Kong, which has frequently come under attack for failing to defend residents’ interests in the face of pressure from the central government in China.

    He hopes that the mall, which will be about the size of two football pitches, according to a recently submitted planning application, will open for business early next year.

    The land for the pop-up mall is jointly owned by Henderson Land and Sun Hung Kai Properties, which are controlled respectively by Hong Kong billionaires Lee Shau-kee and the Kwok brothers.

    SHKP said that if the plan was approved by the government, they would lease the land for a nominal HK$1 ($0.13) per square metre to a charitable foundation, which would run the pop-up mall on a non-profit basis for two years.

    After that period, the developers expect to remove the shipping containers and start construction of a permanent mall on the same site.

    The initiative has succeeded in grabbing the headlines in Hong Kong, but those who have organised protests against mainland shoppers are far from convinced it will solve their problem.

    Ray Wong, a member of HK Indigenous, a group that campaigns against mainland Chinese influence in Hong Kong, said that while the pop-up mall could alleviate some pressures, it could also disturb local residents if it generated too much traffic.

    “I think the root of the problem is that mainlanders don’t trust Chinese goods so they have to turn to Hong Kong for guaranteed quality,” he said.

  • Chinese shoppers feel safer online

    Consumers across Southeast Asia and Greater China feel safer paying in a brick and mortar environment as opposed to online; sole exception is China

    According to the inaugural MasterCard Safety and Security Index, consumers across Southeast Asia and Greater China cited identity theft and ATM-related fraud as the top two security concerns when it comes to electronic payments.

    Some 42 per cent of consumers in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore Thailand, and Vietnam) were most concerned with ATM-related fraud such as a stolen card, card cloning or skimming. In the Greater China markets (China, Hong Kong and Taiwan), this figure was 31 per cent.

    But the biggest surprise was in confidence in shopping online. The Index showed that in general, consumers across Southeast Asia, and the markets of Taiwan and Hong Kong still feel safer paying in a bricks and mortar environment than buying online. China differed, being the only market where consumers felt paying online was safer than in a physical store; even more so than in Singapore.

    Almost every consumer polled in the Greater China markets had made an online payment in the past year. Consumers in China (62 per cent) particularly favored the use of digital wallets in online electronic payments over those in Hong Kong (14 per cent) and Taiwan (29 per cent).

    Consumers across Southeast Asia (35 per cent) and Greater China (32 per cent) were almost as equally concerned about identity theft in relation to data breaches. This includes personal data such as bank details, personal IDs, addresses, and signatures that are stolen or compromised through websites. In both regions however, it appears that these concerns do not directly stem from consumers’ own personal experiences but rather, as a result of the perceived severity of fraud based on what was reported in the media.

    MasterCard chart1

    Meanwhile, the Index also reinforced that banks continue to play a critical role in ensuring payment safety and security for consumers in Southeast Asia. This is both, because of the high levels of trust consumers place in banks as well as the reliance that consumers have on banks to help them resolve issues that crop up in this area.  Banks are often the first line of defense and recourse for the affected consumer – nearly half of all consumers in Southeast Asia who experienced ATM fraud first approached their card-issuing banks for advice.

    “The fact that most cardholders have a primary relationship with their banks, has an obvious and deep-rooted correlation to their sentiment, around who they trust most when it comes to ensuring the safety and security of electronic payments,” said Ari Sarker, oo-president, Asia/Pacific, with MasterCard.

    “This was emphatically reflected in the feedback from all the markets in Southeast Asia and Greater China. However, in Singapore in particular, in addition to banks, consumers also placed significant trust in the government, which is a natural outcome given the country’s strong regulatory environment and overall reputation around safety and security.”

    None of the respondents surveyed in Southeast Asia placed any trust in local websites, suggesting that there is still a lot of work to be done by local eCommerce merchants to ensure that they meet global security standards for payments and build consumer confidence on this front.

    In Greater China, aside from banks and governments, merchants were also seen to have a growing responsibility in ensuring payment safety and security, with 28 per cent of consumers in these markets going to merchants as their first recourse in seeking resolution for payment safety and security issues. Furthermore, merchants in these markets were instrumental in solving 40 per cent of all online electronic payment disputes.

    These and other key findings of the MasterCard Safety and Security Index will be discussed at the MasterCard Global Risk Leadership conference in Singapore on August 26 – 27. The 20th edition of this conference will gather global payment risk leaders to share best practices in fighting fraud together, as an industry. The conference demonstrates MasterCard’s commitment in helping partners and customers fight fraud using the latest tools, processes, and technologies so there is no one weak link in the payments ecosystem.

    The survey was carried out across in six markets in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) as well as three markets in Greater China (China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan). A total of 6600 consumers and 100 merchants were polled online and face-to-face between January and May 2015 on questions relating to the payments security landscape, payments in brick and mortar and online, safety and security payment concerns and experience with payment fraud, among others.

  • Lotte.com launches China app

    Lotte.com launches China app

    South Korea’s Lotte.com has launched a Chinese mobile shopping mall service known as ‘china.lotte.com’ to meet demands of consumers chasing the ‘Korean Wave’.

    Growing numbers of Chinese are buying goods online from offshore sources – a practice referred to as ‘Haitao’ locally. And Korean goods – especially in the beauty and fashion categories – are enormously popular among the younger demographic.

    China.lotte.com, launched Wednesday (August 19) is’ exclusively focused on customers from Greater China. After global.lotte.com launched in February last year, Lotte spent a whole year preparing for the Chinese version of the site.

    More than 10,000 lines have been selected for China.lotte.com and another 5000 local Chinese lines are being added progressively.

    Chinese customers can shop using regular payment services including Alipay, UnionPay, Tenpay, PayPal and local Chinese credit cards.

    Lotte.com’s global business team manager Hwang Hyun Jung says China.lotte.com considered even minute details to meet the expectations of the rapidly growing Chinese overseas shopping market.

    “Through meticulous translations and user tests via Chinese supporters, this service is mainly composed of local-friendly user interface,” she said.

    Lotte.com has attracted “hundreds of thousands followers and supporters” via Weibo during the last six months in preparation for the launch.

    The company is also promising to work with Korean small businesses to help expose their brands and products to Chinese consumers via the portal.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Aeon Hong Kong to invest in new stores

    Aeon Hong Kong to invest in new stores

    Aeon Hong Kong is ramping up its store network expansion in the territory and the mainland.

    The Japanese retailer’s locally listed subsidiary has set aside HK$420 million to build new stores and refurbish existing ones, MD Christine Chan Pui Man said in announcing the company’s half year result. The cash – vastly more than the $51 million spent in the first half of this year – will be spent during the second half of 2015 and in 2016.

    Chan said despite a “stagnant” retail industry in both China and Hong Kong, the group improved its sales by 2.4 per cent to $4.499 billion in the six months to June 30, largely from stable growth in the mainland. Gross margin rose from 30.6 per cent to 31.1 per cent due to merchandise enhancement, boosting the core business profit by 20.8 per cent to $43.7 million.

    In the first half of this year Aeon Hong Kong opened four new stores – two in Tsuen Wan, one in Sai Ying Pun and another in Sham Shui Po, giving it a network of 46 on June 30.

    Revenue from the group’s Hong Kong operations was maintained at HK$1.87 billion, down marginally on a year ago, but profit fell from $44.7 million to $23.6 million.

    On the mainland, revenue rose by 6.8 per cent to $2.626 billion and the segment results achieved a turnaround with profit of $20.2 million compared with a loss of $8.4 million last year. Aeon now has 29 stores in south China, no more than at the end of last year.

    With a focus on now expanding the network, Aeon Hong Kong believes the mainland will become a major growth driver of the group.

    “In spite of the unstable macroeconomic environment and the volatile stock market, the PRC is still one of the economies with the largest potential for further business growth,” Chan said.

    In the second half of 2015, a new store will open in Zhongshan and in the first half of 2016, one will open in Panyu and two in Guangzhou and Shenzhen respectively in the second half.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Studio City retail tenants revealed

    Studio City retail tenants revealed

    Studio City and Taubman Asia, have revealed the lineup of fashion brands that will open inside The Boulevard at Studio City.

    A mix of fashion-forward labels and internationally-renowned luxury brands include Macau’s first Balmain, Macau’s first Belstaff, and Tom Ford’s largest store in Asia, amongst many others. The selection was assembled by Taubman Asia and Melco Crown Entertainment’s combined team of retail specialists to meet Chinese consumers’ increasing desire to express their individuality through high quality, expertly crafted clothing and accessories. Bespoke and personal services will be offered to ensure our shoppers take center stage.

    Taubman says The Boulevard at Studio City will bring “an unparalleled shopping experience” to Studio City.

    “Unlike any retail offering to be found in Asia, the unique 35,000 sqm ‘immersive’ retail entertainment environment brings shopping to life by ‘transporting’ visitors to high-energy street-scapes and entertaining them at every turn with featured streets and squares inspired by iconic shopping and entertainment locations, including New York’s Times Square and Hollywood’s Beverly Hills,” Taubman said in a statement.

    “At the futuristic Times Square Macau, inside The Boulevard at Studio City, a variety of entertainment from ‘virtual’ musicians to film stars will be shown through holographic projections.

    “Leveraging our global expertise increating extraordinary retail environments, and our exceptional relationships with the world’s leading brands, our talented team in Asia has brought together an exciting mix of brands for The Boulevard at Studio City,” said René Tremblay, president of Taubman Asia.

    “Our merchandising and management services are the industry standard for performance and excellence. We are thrilled to welcome these brands to our latest project and are committed to supporting them for the long term.”

    List of brands:

    Aeronautica Militare
    Balmain
    Bank of China
    Belstaff
    Boss
    Bottega Veneta
    Bulgari
    Cigar Emporium
    Coach
    Cosmos Food Station
    Din Tai Fung
    Dunhill
    Emporio Armani
    Fendi
    Girard-Perregaux
    Givenchy
    Glashutte Original
    Graff
    Gucci
    Hide Yamamoto
    Hublot
    ICBC
    Trattoria Il Mulino
    Image Digital
    IWC Schaffhausen
    Jaeger-LeCoultre
    Jaquet Droz
    kate spade new york
    Kenzo
    Longines
    McCafe
    McDonald’s
    MCM
    Michael Kors
    Montblanc
    Philipp Plein
    Piaget
    Prada
    Rainbow
    Rimowa
    Roberto Cavalli
    Saint Laurent Paris
    Shiki Hot Pot Restaurant
    Starbucks
    Tag Heuer
    T Galleria Beauty by DFS
    Tiffany & Co.
    Tom Ford
    UM
    Vacheron Constantin
    Valentino
    Van Cleef & Arpels
    Versace Collection
    Ermenegildo Zegna
    Zenith

    Lees ook:

  • Telent to open Malaysia stores

    Telent to open Malaysia stores

    Chinese outdoor apparel brand Telent says it plans to set up retail points of sale in Malaysia as a first step in a broader Southeast Asian push.

    Telent specialises in the design, manufacture, marketing, brand management and distribution of branded outdoor apparel, footwear and equipment. It is China’s second largest outdoor wear brand measured by retail sales value.

    Telent is undertaking an IPO in Malaysia, issuing 103.39 million new shares at ten US cents each.

    The first new store will open in Kuala Lumpur with other Southeast Asian stores will follow as early as the third quarter of this year, in part funded with the funds raised in the IPO

    Telent Group executive director Hui Tang Tat says the product sales mix percentage in outdoor apparel and outdoor footwear respectively posted 43.8 per cent and 49.5 per cent sales growth last year, while equipment products grew by a more modest 6.7 per cent.

    As of October, Telent had 817 retail points of sale and 23 network distributors across China.

    “The Malaysian market is competitive and building our presence there will offer us a platform and opportunity to expand in this region,” Hui said during a media conference.

    “Perhaps in the next five to 10 years, we can go down the road to tap other Asian markets as we want our brand to be globally recognised,” he said.

    Lees ook: