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Tag: christmas

  • Singapore Christmas village planned for Orchard Road

    Singapore Christmas village planned for Orchard Road

    Drawing inspiration from Europe, a Singapore Christmas village featuring pop-up stores from 25 brands, will make its debut at the annual Orchard Road light-up this year.

    Outside Ngee Ann City from November 25 to Christmas Day, the village will feature such brands as Fish & Co, Starbucks and Toast Box, with Singapore’s first-ever duplex carousel.

    “Christmas villages are very popular in Europe,” says Orchard Road Business Association (Orba) chairman Mark Shaw. “It will be a good opportunity for retailers to reach out to customers.”

    Running from November 11 to January 1, the ninth edition of Christmas on a Great Street will be themed “Endless Wonder”. Highlights will include the event’s highest-ever main arch, reaching 12m, outside Ion Orchard and a 5m Enchanted Tree installation outside Wisma Atria.

    Activities along the 2.8km stretch between Plaza Singapura and Tanglin Mall will start earlier this year, at 3pm rather than 6.30. There will be daily performances from bands, carol singers and roving cosplayers.

    Shaw says LED lights will enhance the installations even in the afternoon. Each of the 1200 hanging globes to be strung on trees comprise coloured fabric intertwined with LED fairy lights.

    Other attractions include the Walk of Wonder, a 12m-high 20m tunnel outside Forum the Shopping Mall made from reflective fabric and fairy lights.

    A 4.5m Tree of Time in front of Ngee Ann City will be topped with a countdown-to-Christmas Day clock, and will be the backdrop to a Christmas Eve concert featuring bands and a midnight pyrotechnics show.

    Orba expects the event to draw 3.6 million visitors this year. While this appears to be a sharp drop from the 6 million visitors counted last year, the association says it is introducing a new calculation method. In previous years, anyone who entered the event area would be counted as a visitor, but from this year visitors will be asked if they are there specifically for the event.

  • AHDB Reports Beefy Christmas in Hong Kong

    AHDB Reports Beefy Christmas in Hong Kong

    The two pre-packed premium steak lines are listed in Park N Shop, Fusion, Taste and International stores in the territory and Macau and are available now. The launch is supported by publicity and PR.

    This launch comes after major successes for UK lamb, beef and pork products in 2016 with Hong Kong supermarket chains such as Welcome, Aeon and City Super. UK beef exports year to end of October are up 18 per cent in value, making the territory the largest destination for UK beef outside the EU.

    Jean-Pierre Garnier, the Head of Meat Exports for AHDB says: “We are delighted with the level of retail interest for our products. Hong Kong is a very competitive market for meat and, at the top end, congested with offer from all over the world.

    “Nonetheless, we offer a unique, grass-fed, tender and flavoursome product that is attracting a high premium against beef from other origins. The Hong Kong lamb market is smaller but we are leader at the top end of the market.

    “Premium pork, sausages and pork pies have also strong and growing sales. AHDB is consistently investing in promotion in Hong Kong. In 2017, we are planning a large presence at the Hofex and Restaurant & Bar food shows as well as food service and retail promotions.”

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  • 70 percent train tickets for Christmas season already sold

    70 percent train tickets for Christmas season already sold

    Seventy percent of the regular train tickets for travel during Christmas and New Year 2017 holidays have been already sold, Bambang Eko Martono, the Director of state railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia, said here on Monday.

    “We are targeting 258 million passengers this year,” Bambang Eko Martono stated.

    “PT KAI will offer new additional train tickets that could be ordered on Tuesday (Nov 15) at 12 noon,” he added.

    PT KAI has will make available 13,892 additional train seats during the Christmas and New Year 2017 holiday period.

    “We have made available 212,564 seats per day with 328 regular train trips and 28 additional train trips during Christmas and New Year holidays, about 11 percent more than last year,” he noted.

    The number of passengers travelling by train during the holiday season increased by six percent, from 4.3 million in 2015 to 4.5 million this year.

    PT KAI estimates that revenue during the holiday season could increase up to 10 percent, compared to last years figure for the same period.

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  • Shoppers spent more last Xmas than in 2014

    Shoppers spent more last Xmas than in 2014

    Economic growth in Singapore may have slowed to about 2 per cent last year, but that did not dampen the spirit of shoppers last Christmas.

    Overall Christmas spending has grown from a year ago, say credit card companies.

    There was a 16 per cent increase in overall spending last December from the same month in 2014, said Mr Vincent Tan, head of cards at OCBC Bank. Visa also saw a 10 per cent growth in the volume of overall transactions.

    At the same time, the rise in spending on online platforms outpaced that at brick-and-mortar shops. In-store transactions grew by 8 per cent, said MasterCard, while e-commerce transactions grew last month by 25 per cent from the previous year. It did not give absolute figures.

    Online spending over the festive period also grew by 36 per cent last year at OCBC, compared with a 13 per cent gain at physical shops.

    At Visa, there was a 20 per cent year-on-year growth in online transactions in November and December last year. The number of Visa cardholders shopping online has also grown by the same proportion.

    Spending patterns over the festive period mirror wider trends.

    According to a study commissioned by PayPal in partnership with market research firm Ipsos, online shopping growth in Singapore is expected to hit 16 per cent next year, the third fastest in the Asia Pacific after India and China.

    Consumers are attracted to the convenience of shopping online, as well as the competitive prices offered by online retailers, according to a survey of 500 people by Visa.

    These trends have brought good news for local online retailers, which have seen a huge growth in profits from festive sales last year.

    Local e-commerce platform Shopback, which has 200,000 customers and sells a wide range of goods, enjoyed a tenfold growth in profits last month, as compared with December 2014. It declined to give absolute figures.

    Sales performance in early to middle of last month was also better than the days right before Christmas, said a spokesman. This could be due to the buffer period required for shipping, he added.

    Online fashion retailer Zalora, which has its headquarters here, also saw a growth of 73 per cent for a four-day online shopping extravaganza held last month, compared with the same event a year earlier, said a spokesman.

    Teacher Lye Pin Quan, 28, spent about $1,000 online on gifts for friends and family, as well as on Christmas decorations. He shopped on local e-commerce sites like Qoo10 and Lazada, as well as overseas ones like Taobao, purchasing mainly electronic products.

    “The long queues at retail stores are quite off-putting during the festive period, and I also find that there are better sales and discounts on items online. Sometimes, you can save as much as 50 per cent or more,” he said.

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  • Retail suffers in HK Christmas season

    Retail suffers in HK Christmas season

    Christmas is all around, but this holiday season, Hong Kong is expected to suffer as both locals and tourists are reining in their spending.

    Christmas is in the air!

    Usually, this time marks the peak of consumption but NOT this year.

    Retailers are expecting a grimmer picture.

    A study shows that Hong Kong shoppers are cutting their Christmas budget, with 64 percent saying they won’t spend more than HK$1,000 on Christmas shopping and 52 percent saying they won’t buy any Christmas gifts this year.

    The survey, conducted by Hong Kong Research Association, found Hong Kong citizens are rather cautious about this year’s Christmas consumption, as only 16 percent of 1,084 interviewees expect to spend more money than last year, while 23 percent said they would reduce spending.

    “Even Hong Kong residents prefer to buy overseas, consumer products are much cheaper in Japan and South Korea.”, Hong Hao, the chief strategist of Becom International said.

    Luxury stores are feeling the crunch as shoppers minimize their spending.

    “In this popular shopping district, you would usually see customers waiting in lines for purchases but not this year. Some shops have fewer customers, while others have closed their doors due to high rents. The traditional shopping season is also challenged by the declining tourist arrivals in last six months. ”

    The Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong says, the number of Chinese mainland tourist groups traveling to Hong Kong has dropped 20 percent so far this year.

    “The sharp decrease is partly because the anti-parallel trading protests earlier this year, and the death of a mainland tourist in HK in October, and also some anti-mainland China sentiment.”Jason Wong Chun Tat, the chairman of Travel Industry Council of HK said.

    In October, a Chinese mainland tourist died after he was allegedly beaten unconscious by four men while trying to mediate a dispute between a fellow visitor and the tour group leader.

    “That gives people the perception of HK doesn’t welcome tourists.”,Hao said.

    “We are calling for the diversification of Hong Kong’s tourism development.” Wong said.

    Wong said the travel industry council was trying to attract more overseas tourists by regulating market operations.

    Despite their efforts, it appears a gloomy picture for the retail and travel business industry is expected to continue.

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  • More than half of Hongkongers surveyed say they plan to buy no Christmas presents

    More than half of Hongkongers surveyed say they plan to buy no Christmas presents

    Christmas holidays are usually the peak consumption season for both tourists and local residents, but this year retailers are expecting a grimmer picture amid the economic downturn affected by the slowdown in China and strong local currency.

    A study shows that Hong Kong people are cutting their Christmas budget to tackle the difficult economic environment this year, with 64 per cent people saying they won’t spend more than HK$1,000 on Christmas shopping and 52 per cent saying they won’t buy any Christmas gifts this year.

    The survey, conducted by Hong Kong Research Association, found Hong Kong citizens are rather cautious about this year’s Christmas consumption, as only 16 per cent of 1,084 interviewees expect spending more money than last year, while 23 per cent said they would reduce spending .

    Adding to the problem, it seems that even if Hongkongers do plan to go shopping for Christmas, they prefer to buy overseas.

    “Even local people wouldn’t buy stuff in Hong Kong ,” said Mariana Kou, retail analyst at brokerage CLSA, adding consumer products are much cheaper in Japan and Korea, as they benefited from weaker local currencies.

    She expected the poor consumption this year will further dampen sales during Christmas, the traditional shopping season, which has already been challenged by the declining tourist arrivals in last six months.

    “The Christmas sales this year will decline for sure” she said, adding the luxury sector would be the one suffering the most.

    Even though most Hong Kong people are cutting their Christmas shopping lists to save money for rainy days, the enthusiasm for shopping is still running high among top earners in the city.

    The same research showed that the wealthiest social class was the only one among the four that has responded with growing budgets for shopping this Christmas, with 13 per cent more interviewees planning to increase Christmas consumption this year than those who plan to reduce spending.

    “Despite the volatilities in the financial and property markets, rich people still have a decent wealth base.” said Wyman Ng, research officer at Hong Kong Research Association, adding “ their behaviour is less affected”.

    Meanwhile, holiday shoppers in Causeway Bay who looked up yesterday would have seen seven people climbing above the huge screen in Times Square to make a statement against the fashion of wasteful consumption during holiday seasons.

    The Greenpeace activists unfurled a huge banner across a big television screen at the iconic shopping mall, featuring the message “Buy Smart Buy Less”.

    The group said Hongkongers trash garments at an alarming speed, which has put a heavy burden on the environment. It urged shoppers to step up and break the cycle of overconsumption

    The Census and Statistics Department also revealed yesterday that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for November rose by 2.4% over the same month a year earlier, the same as that in October 2015.

  • HKIA celebrates Xmas with shopping rewards

    HKIA celebrates Xmas with shopping rewards

    Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA)is marking the Christmas run-up with series of festive special offers and promotions, including cash coupon redemptions up to HK$5,200 ($671) alongside more than 2,000 surprise gifts for travellers.

    The new promotion begins this Thursday (17 December) with travellers spending more than HK$2,000 ($258) by electronic payments qualifying for redemption coupons. HKIA adds that passengers using their UnionPay cards stand to reap even more rewards.

    HKIA Xmas od=ffers Dec 2015

    A ‘glamorous gift-themed exhibition’ will also be featured on Level 6 of the Departures East Hall allowing travellers to experience the spirit of Christmas, while prompting them with gifting ideas.

    Various music performances will also take place here and there will also be miniature installations on display showing how different countries around the world celebrate Christmas.

    Xmas at Hong Kong Dec 2015
    Travellers spending over HK$1,000 ($129) in a single transaction at HKIA can also enjoy free local delivery service. Free delivery service to Mainland China, Macau and Taiwan is also offered to travellers who spend over HK$2,500 ($322) on clothing, bags and accessories in a single transaction.

    At the same time, HKIA is partnering with its retailers to provide travellers with shopping and dining offers. More details are available at: https://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/shopping/special-offers.html

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  • Philippine supermarkets revamping stores ahead of Christmas

    Philippine supermarkets revamping stores ahead of Christmas

    The Philippine high street is getting a facelift, as retail titans hope to benefit from Southeast Asia’s most reprobate customer spending area during this Christmas. The nation’s biggest supermarkets including Ayala Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and SM Investments Corp. are burning through billions on shopping centers to increase their vicinity throughout the nation, while worldwide brands, for example, Swedish retailer Hennes and Mauritz AB, which once overlooked in Philippines, are announcing their arrival in the region.

    For retailers looking for development, the Philippines has risen as an uncommon spot. National GDP developed at a sound 6.1% a year ago, filled by $27 billion in abroad settlements and over $18 billion in outsourcing incomes—and a lot of that cash was spent in shops.

    A stroll to a tolerantly air conditioned shopping malls is a national leisure activity in this tropical nation and drives family unit utilization, which broke even with 72% of GDP a year ago, as per the World Bank. The Philippines has likewise demonstrating resilience to outside factors, from China’s monetary lull to discouraged product costs. That stands as opposed to its neighbors: Thailand’s family utilization was just 53% of GDP, not a long ways behind Indonesia’s 57% and Vietnam’s 64%.

    With stores being the chief receiver of the surging economy, the Philippines has risen as the star retail entertainer in Southeast Asia, posting segment development of 6% in 2014, as per Nielsen—the most elevated in the locale, and the main execution in light of strong development in both volume and worth terms.

    “The Philippines has had reasonable development driven by customer putting in for a couple of years now,” said Stuart Jamieson, Nielsen’s overseeing executive in the Philippines. “That makes it exceedingly alluring, and puts it on the radar of enormous remote players.”

    Such vigorous development is driving a multiplication of general stores, shopping centers and accommodation stores. From 2012 to mid-2015, the quantity of markets grew 53% to 644, as per Nielsen, while the quantity of accommodation stores rose 60% to 2,270—a number set to twofold again by 2018.

    Swedish design retailer H&M is one of the numerous worldwide brands belatedly grasping the Filipino buyer. Having opened its first Philippine store only one year back, it will have 13 before the end of 2015, empowered by the development of a style cognizant youth market with discretionary cashflow, said an organization representative. Zara, possessed by Spain’s Inditex, and Uniqlo, claimed by Japan’s Fast Retailing Co, have likewise entered the business sector here. Japanese chains Lawson Inc. what’s more, FamilyMart Co. as of late entered the Philippines’ accommodation store part, every arranging many branches, even as settled in players like 7-Eleven increase.

  • Japan Kit Kat store wraps chocolate in gold

    Japan Kit Kat store wraps chocolate in gold

    The Japan Kit Kat store Chocolatory is selling the ultimate indulgence this Christmas: chocolate bars wrapped in real gold.

    And yes – they’re safe to eat… which essentially means consumers will quite literally end up flushing gold down the toilet.

    Nestle’s Kit Kat Chocolatory boutique store stocks a constantly changing array of flavoured Kit Kats produced for the fickle Japanese market, including at times strawberry, green tea and wasabi.

    The gold bars are essentially aimed at the Christmas gift market – but its release coincides with the one millionth customer of the single-brand store.

    The special bars – a limited run of 500 – will also be sold at eight selected upmarket department stores in several Japanese cities.

    Dubbed Sublime Gold Kit Kat, it will sell for 2016 yen (US$16) per finger. It is described (apparently without irony) as having “a rich, bitter chocolate taste”.

    “We have made it a luxury product,” said Nestle Japan spokeswoman Melanie Kohli.

    “Not like you probably remember from your childhood. It’s a special occasion, to celebrate the end of the year.”

    The bars come wrapped in a super thin layer of 24-carat gold foil.

    Kitkat store Japan

     

    It’s not the first time gold has been added to foodstuffs: several limited edition alcoholic beverages have been marketed with gold flakes inside, including cinnamon schnapps Goldschläger.

    Gold is harmless when ingested, passing through the body undigested.

  • Lazada launches online Christmas sale

    Lazada launches online Christmas sale

    The country’s biggest online retail firm, Lazada Philippines, has announced the launch of its month-long Christmas sale, bubbed as Lazada Online Revolution, from November 11 to December 12, slashing prices of over 200,000 goods  across 13 product categories up to 95 percent.

    November 11 or 11/11 is known in China as “Singles’ Day” celebrating bachelors and bachelorettes and e-commerce retailers have turned it into the world’s biggest online shopping event.

    Last year, they sold over $9 billion worth of products on “Singles’ Day”.

    Lazada introduced the 11/11 holiday in the country to mark the start of the Christmas shopping season and has hauled record sales since then.

    For 2015, Lazada Philippines expects to break new records, with over two million visitors to its website and mobile app on the date.

    Big brands and merchants in electronics, fashion, kids and toys as well as home goods are joining the sale.

    Online merchants will also come up exclusive items on flash sales and P99 deals on November 11.

    Participating brands include ASUS, Lenovo, Alcatel, Cherry Mobile, Bosch, Belo, Huggies, Mamy Poko, Timex and Giordano watches.

    As an early treat for Lazada shoppers, the retail firm will sell special items for P11 each.  Lazada bestsellers, such as Sandisk 8GB flash drives, 5600 mAH Powerbank and 4-layer shoe racks could be purchased for P11 starting today until 11/11/

    The P11 deals will be announced everyday at 11:11 a.m. on one of Lazada’s social media channels (Twitter: lazadaph, Facebook: lazadaph, Instagram: lazadaph).

    “We’ve been working hard with our merchants and suppliers to bring these deals to our customers,” according to Lazada Philippines CEO Inanc Balci. “We  believe that online shopping will provide a lot of convenience to shoppers especially during the holiday season.”

    “By shopping online, they can avoid heavy traffic, long lines and crowded areas,” he pointed out.

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