Retail News CRM

Tag: expansion

  • Amazon expands anti-counterfeit project to Singapore

    Amazon expands anti-counterfeit project to Singapore

    Amazon has expanded its anti-counterfeit program Project Zero to seven new countries, including Singapore and Australia, taking the number of operational territories to 17.

    The project combines Amazon’s technologies with brands’ knowledge of their own intellectual property to counter the trade in forged products. The system works by scanning the more than 5 billion attempted daily product listings on Amazon for suspicious products, using a machine-learning algorithm that is constantly improving.

    Project Zero also provides a self-service tool allowing brands to directly remove counterfeit goods listings from Amazon stores.

    More than 10,000 brands have already enrolled in the initiative.

    “Amazon is committed to protecting our customers and the brands we collaborate with worldwide,” said the firm’s VP of worldwide customer trust and partner support Dharmesh Mehta.

    “Project Zero has been a leap forward in protecting brands, especially for those that use all three of its components.”

    Brands currently using Project Zero that already have a trademark enrolled in one of the newly added countries can use it automatically in their additional stores.

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  • Aeon Vietnam plans a massive expansion

    Aeon Vietnam plans a massive expansion

    Japanese retail giant Aeon Vietnam says it will invest US$2 billion expanding its presence across the country.

    Aeon Vietnam opened its fifth shopping center in the country last November, its second in the capital city Hanoi. Now, the general director of Aeonmall Vietnam, Iwamura Yasutsugu, says the company is eyeing 25 centers across the country

    Aeon launched in Vietnam in 2013, opening its first mall, Celadon City, in a remote suburb of Ho Chi MInh City, which was expanded last June. More malls have been built in locations including the industrial city of Binh Duong, near Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi’s Long Bien district.

    The latest center, in the Duong Noi commune at Ha Dong, covers 150,000sqm and has about 200 tenant stores as well as the Aeon hypermarket and food anchor.

    Aeon’s strategy to date of expanding in Vietnam is to build centers in suburban districts rather than downtown locations, shaping its offer to local communities and mixing local goods with imported products.

    Aeon Vietnam also has a program to boost exports of Vietnamese goods to stores it operates outside the country. It aims to export US$500 million of goods this calendar year and reach $1 billion within five years.

    Last August, Aeon’s Japanese board held a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City and toured the Celadon City site, further evidence of the company’s commitment to the market.

    At the time, chairman Hiroshi Yokoo described Vietnam as “the most significant market of the company in Southeast Asia”.

    Aeon Vietnam plans US$2 billion expansion

  • Fred Segal looking for Asian expansion

    Fred Segal looking for Asian expansion

    US West Coast fashion and lifestyle retailer Fred Segal is eyeing expansion into China as its new owner Global Icons seeks to revive the 57-year-old brand. In an interview, Fred Segal president John Frierson said the European and Asian markets are big focuses for the company, singling out the growing spending power of Chinese Gen Z and millennial consumers.

    He said the company will be announcing “significant” plans for physical retail within Asia within the next few weeks, led by “big partners” in the region.

    Jeff Lotman, CEO of Global Icons and Fred Segal chairman, said the company was in final discussions with multibillion-dollar trading companies in China, South Korea and Japan. Stores in those markets would follow debuts in Taiwan and Malaysia last year under the company’s previous ownership.

    Global Icons has offices in Hong Kong and the company has secured licensing deals with brands as diverse as Hostess and Lamborghini.

    Fred Segal, a tailor, founded his retail brand in 1961. It peaked in the 1990s and early 2000s when it became the first to sell Kate Spade and Juicy Couture, and was shopped by celebrities including Paris Hilton and the Olsen twins.

    The company operates through licensees in international markets and has already announced plans to open at least 20 stores this year.

    “To really have next-level success means going out and creating our own line of products, and selling the Los Angeles lifestyle to the world,” Lotman said. “We can no longer just be US-centric.”

    He said he wants the international stores to retain Fred Segal’s retail signatures, including multiple brands, emerging designers, events and a restaurant.

    Added Frierson: “We’re lucky in that we’re not trying to harvest the value of the brand, but we’re trying to grow it. And we have a tremendous amount of growth to do in the next 10 years.”

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  • Tealive parent Loob Holding eyes on IPO

    Tealive parent Loob Holding eyes on IPO

    Tealive parent Loob Holding, is planning an IPO to fund ‘aggressive expansion’. The company is looking to open 1000 Tealive stores in 15 countries by the end of next year.

    Along with another 150 new outlets in India by 2024.

    China is still its focus market, with 500 more outlets to come after first outlet opened last November.

    Tealive has more than 200 outlets in its home market, seven in Vietnam, two in China, and one in Australia. About one third of these are operated by franchisees.

    Loob Holding CEO Bryan Loo said the company is building relationships with potential business partners in Japan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Mongolia, and the UAE, while Singapore is also in its expansion plan.

    Apart from Tealive, Loob also runs F&B franchises in Malaysia, including Gindaco, Croissant Taiyaki, Define:food, Define:burgers and Ko Ko Kai.

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  • Malaysia’s Kedai Ayamas Eatery plans 100 more stores

    Malaysia’s Kedai Ayamas Eatery plans 100 more stores

    Kedai Ayamas eatery operator Kara Holdings is looking to establish 100 outlets within four years through its new franchising program, predominantly within peninsular Malaysia. The move into franchising should elevate the company’s finances by 10 per cent this year to about RM40 million (US$9.85 million). Nine franchises have opened so far, with 20 more targeted within the year.

    “As Johor Corp’s wholly owned subsidiary, we complement the KFC business in terms of maximising the use and distribution of poultry products at the farm,” said Kara’s executive director Abd Rahman Md Dawi. “The poultry-relating business has always been a high-demand market for the food and beverage sector in Malaysia.

    “Last year, we registered a revenue of RM35 million [$8.6 million]”, he added. “With the additional franchise business, hopefully, it will amplify our revenue this year, coupled with Kara’s technological adoption of food delivery services such as Foodpanda and Grab-Food.”

    According to Dawi, the company is open to franchisee acquisition of Kara’s 40 corporate outlets. Six of the nine new franchises were acquired from the firm.
    “There are certain criteria that will be considered for us to sell our own shops, but we encourage the newcomers to open a new shop,” he said.

    Kara’s franchising program costs between RM100,000 and RM400,000 ($24,600–98,450), and includes management and operational training sessions.

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  • Lotte Mart Vietnam expands in Hanoi

    Lotte Mart Vietnam expands in Hanoi

    Lotte Mart Vietnam has opened its third Hanoi store in Cau Giay District. The South Korean retailer’s new 2776sqm branch is located in the urban district, near seven local universities. Targeting local students, the branch will offer trendy but inexpensive products. There will be an international zone that sells products from Korea, the US and Europe and  a ‘Delica’ corner will offer baked goods and easy-to-cook food.

    About 35 per cent of the fresh-food products will include harvests from farms near Hanoi to maintain freshness.

    Lotte Mart Vietnam head of overseas business Kang Min-ho said the firm is planning to expand its business in the country, mainly focusing on Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

    Lotte Mart now has 14 stores in Vietnam.

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  • Nest Fragrances opens flagship store in New York City

    Nest Fragrances opens flagship store in New York City

    Luxury-lifestyle brand Nest Fragrances has opened its first retail store in the NoLita neighborhood of Lower Manhattan. For the first time anywhere, the new Nest Fragrances flagship store unites the brand’s entire product portfolio in one retail location, which company founder Laura Slatkin describes as “an enchanted, fragranced garden”.

    “The theme of our first retail store reflects – and was inspired by – our desire to showcase the Nest Fragrances brand in a harmonious and holistic fashion in an environment that, like our fragrances, is artful, sophisticated, and approachable,” said Slatkin. “For the very first time, our new flagship store brings together under one roof our Home and Fine Fragrance collections and our newly launched Lifestyle Bodycare collection.”

    Nest Fragrances partnered with New York-based interior design firm R. Douglas Gellenbeck Studio to conceptualise and build its first retail store. MJ Atelier, an art studio based in Los Angeles, was commissioned to create a hand-painted, sculpted wall covering for the store inspired by early 20th-Century French interior designer Armand-Albert Rateau’s bath design, which he created for the Duchess of Alba.

    “Our brand’s mission is to create exceptional fragrances that shape moods, transport people, and transform spaces,” continued Slatkin. “Since 2008, when I founded Nest Fragrances, I have drawn inspiration from art, fashion, destinations, and literary works combined with the beauty of nature and its natural elements to create fragrances and products to achieve that mission. Now, 10 years later, I am thrilled that we have come full circle by successfully applying that same approach and fragrance-forward philosophy to achieve our mission in our very first retail store. Consumers will see a lot more of it as we continue to expand our footprint at retail in the coming years.”

    The 1140sqft store sells more than 215 SKUs across the brand’s three core product categories. It will also offer limited-edition products and specialty gift sets across its three core product categories – as well as year-round specialty gift sets, the option to create custom-made gift sets, candle accessories, and a concierge delivery service in New York.

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  • Build-A-Bear to open more stores in next 10 years in India

    Build-A-Bear to open more stores in next 10 years in India

    For more than 21 years, U.S. based personalized experiential toy retail brand Build-A-Bear has been sharing hearts and bear hugs globally, and after a long wait, Tablez – the retail arm of LuLu Group International, has launched the first Build-A-Bear store in India, at Toys”R”Us, Phoenix Marketcity in Bangalore. Build-A-Bear is a global customized stuffed-animal retail entertainment brand that aims to reach as many as 9 million households in the top 15 cities in India by 2025. Besides standalone stores, shop-in-shop formats of Build-A-Bear would be launched within Toys“R”Us.

    On this special occasion, Adeeb Ahamed, MD, Tablez said: “The Build-A-Bear concept is a one-of-a-kind retail experience, and we are thrilled to open the first store in Bangalore. Build-A-Bear is synonymous with creativity and novelty for children. I am sure that each child that enters our store will cherish their experience and leave with an indelible memory.

    “From standalone stores to shop-in-shop formats, Build-A-Bear is ready to reach out to families and kids in India and help loved ones create memories and spend more time together. We plan to open 20 standalone stores of Build-A-Bear across key cities in India over the next 10 years, along with shop-in-shop formats across all our Toys”R”Us stores as well.”

    Dorrie Krueger, Build-A-Bear Workshop Chief Strategy Officer, said, “Together with Tablez India, we are excited to open the first Build-A-Bear store in India and continue to expand into this important global market. We look forward to introducing the Build-A-Bear brand and sharing the joy of making a new furry friend with millions of families.”

    Build-A-Bear is a global brand that kids love and parents trust for fantastic family experiences. The ‘Choose Me’ wall at every Build-A-Bear store is where the empowerment journey begins as each guest chooses an unstuffed animal to bring to life. Accessories give customers the freedom to customize their creation. The heart ceremony is where one can add special wishes to their friend. During the stuffing process, a heart is placed in the bear along with special wishes, and the guest promises to care for their new furry friend once they are given the birth certificate. This signature ceremony brings each stuffed animal to life in a personal way, further ensuring a greater attachment.

    Established in 1997, Build-A-Bear has helped millions find their own meaning in a new furry friend. The brand has nearly 500 stores worldwide and more than 180 million furry friends have been made globally in its 21-year history. Build-A-Bear helps guests mark special occasions, start friendships, and inspires people to make their own adventures. At Build-A-Bear, one is empowered to feel that anything is possible.

    Further, a Build-A-Bear shop-in-shop format will follow in Vega City Mall, Bangalore; City Centre Mall, Mangalore and Phoenix Marketcity, Pune. Build-A-Bear plans to expand to as many as 65 shop-in-shop format stores and 20 standalone stores in India over the next 10 years.

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  • Newest Esprit stores reveals new concept

    Newest Esprit stores reveals new concept

    Two new Esprit stores opened in Europe this month give an insight into the new direction of the embattled brand as it rebuilds. In the historic centre of Liege in Belgium a new 400sqm boutique stocks only womenswear. According to an understated news release issued in Germany, the “modern and bright store design creates a pleasant and warm atmosphere”.

    A standout feature is a denim wall standing in front of a brick wall painted in light grey. The floor comprises terrazzo tiles and oak parquet.

    The new store also reflects a growing focus on Esprit’s e-commerce offer, with a click & collect area for customers to pick up items they have ordered online.

    The second of the Esprit stores to open in Europe this month is an outlet store at Wolfsburg in Germany.

    The 400sqm store is described by Esprit as “an important location” in its outlet portfolio. It offers both women’s and men’s apparel.

    Michael Ernst, centre manager of Designer Outlets Wolfsburg, says customers have been asking for an Esprit store at the centre for several years.

    “We are delighted to be able to fulfil this wish now. The new store offers an attractive range of fashion at excellent value.”

    Designer Outlets Wolfsburg is the first inner-city outlet centre in Germany, home to more than 70 designer and lifestyle brands.

    After ongoing losses, Esprit last year launched a massive overhaul of its business with a new management team at the helm, promising changes to product, its retail network and its e-commerce offer.

    The company is due to release its interim results this week.

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  • India’s V-Bazaar opens 1st outlet in Lalitpur

    India’s V-Bazaar opens 1st outlet in Lalitpur

    V-Bazaar has announced the launch of its 1st store in Lalitpur and 30th in Uttar Pradesh. V- Bazaar is a complete family fashion store which brings trendy and fashionable merchandise to every category of people, at reasonable prices by eliminating the middleman between manufacturers and customers. The store is spread over 8,856 sq.ft. area.

    Announcing the launch, Hemant Agarwal, CMD of V-Bazaar said, “It is a very happy and proud moment for us to open our 1st store in Lalitpur. Looking at the overwhelming response of our other store, we thought of providing the convenient shopping experience to the customers of the city. It has been our attempt to provide our customers the superior merchandise, service and the overall international shopping experience. This 1st new store in Lalitpur is a significant achievement for us. Our new store is fashionable and individualistic, showcasing a collection of the finest quality merchandise at unbelievably pocket-friendly prices.”

    The new showroom has been spread over large area with spacious interiors. The new store offers a vibrant trendy line for the youth which includes shirts, pants, sherwanis, kurta pyjama, jackets for men and fancy wedding sarees, wedding designer suits, cotton suits, pants, half sleeve and full sleeve t-shirts for women. There is large variety of dresses for your young ones too.

    The range offers funky, stylish, and incredibly comfortable garments that are a must in every teenagers and young adult’s wardrobe. Created while keeping current international trends in mind, the collection is trendy, fashionable and is available at unbelievably low prices. Customers can make their shopping fun with special opening offers at V-Bazaar as on every purchase they get assured gifts.

    V-Bazaar primarily operates in Tier II and III cities. It is chain of value retail fashion stores offering apparels for men, women, kids, home furnishing, footwear and accessories catering to the entire family.

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  • Wayne’s Coffee debuts in China

    Wayne’s Coffee debuts in China

    Swedish cafe chain Wayne’s Coffee has opened its first outlet in China. The new store on Shanghai’s Nanjing Xi Lu serves coffee, sandwiches and Swedish pastries to consumers. The move represents a courageous first step in a market dominated by international and local competitors. China is Wayne’s second market in Asia after the brand launched in Vietnam in June last year. It currently operates seven locations in Ho Chi Minh City.

    While the brand has been criticised for lacking a distinctive look and presumed by some observers to be a local Starbucks clone, the brand has in fact been running in Sweden since 1994, where it was the first venue in the country to serve cafe latte. It was also the first to serve the latte in Saudi Arabia when it opened there in 2010.

    Wayne’s more aggressive expansion phase was recognised when the brand won “Franchise chain of the year 2017” in Stockholm. It currently operates more than 140 locations internationally.

  • Singapore’s VeganBurg plans US expansion with franchising

    Singapore’s VeganBurg plans US expansion with franchising

    Singapore-based burger chain VeganBurg is seeking new franchisees to expand its business in California. The company will hold a franchising conference in Las Vegas next month, expected to be attended by many Californian companies and individuals evaluating franchise concepts. “VeganBurg has developed a passionate following from customers in Singapore and internationally and we have spent the last few years refining operations and investing in what has made VeganBurg a winner — our juicy burgers, fantastic staff, and world-class customer service,” said Alex Tan, VeganBurg CEO and founder.

    “We are interested in meeting enthusiastic and dedicated people who are passionate about the environment and impeccable people support,” he added.

    VeganBurg’s franchisees can be assured of support from pre-opening and training. An operations team will help new partners establish supplies of proprietary ingredients and products, assist with site selection and interior design, initial training and ongoing training support, product research and development, branding and marketing assets, systems, tools and processes.

    Founded in 2010, VeganBurg has been redefining food pop culture and comfort food in Asia and North America with its 100-per-cent plant-based menu.

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  • Shinsegae to launch SSG.com as separate unit

    Shinsegae to launch SSG.com as separate unit

    Shinsegae Group will launch a brand new entity that specializes in e-commerce next month in an effort to become Korea’s answer to Amazon. Titled SSG.com, Choi Woo-jung, vice president of Shinsegae’s e-commerce division, will be the CEO. “[Through the new entity], we hope to maintain the existing SSG.com brand and maximize brand power by raising [people’s] awareness of our professionality in the online market,” the company said in a statement.

    The latest move reflects Shinsegae’s ambition to become the country’s top e-commerce company by gathering its scattered online businesses.

    Shinsegae Group in December spun off Emart Mall and Shinsegae Mall from Emart and Shinsegae. The board of directors in January voted to merge the two new entities.

    It has already been running SSG.com as an e-commerce website that offers access to its various online malls, but it is currently only a customer-facing interface, not a company in its own right.

    SSG.com’s sales goal for this year is 3.1 trillion won ($2.8 billion), which is 29.1 percent higher than the sales recorded by the online platform last year.

    The company hopes to reach its ambition through aggressive marketing, especially on raising the efficiency of delivery services.

    It will make a heavy investment on raising the delivery speed by establishing an additional distribution center in Gimpo, Gyeonggi. It will be the third distribution center, and is scheduled to open in the second half of this year.

    “With the official launch of SSG.com, we are getting ready to become the country’s top e-commerce enterprise,” said Choi in a statement.

    “Instead of just selling goods online, we are also planning to function as a ‘Linker’ by connecting consumers online and offline like [offering them the platform to] share their lifestyles on the internet.”

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  • Fosun Fashion Group launches company to help brands launch in China

    Fosun Fashion Group launches company to help brands launch in China

    Hong Kong-listed Chinese trading group Fosun has launched Fosun Fashion Brand Management Company (FFBM) to serve brands with ambitions to expand in the Greater China market. The new firm is offering full brand management services, covering retail and wholesale operations, merchandising, marketing and communications management, human resources and complete back office support. With an average of more than 15 years of operational experience in China, the FFBM team has successfully grown a number of fashion brands in China over the past two decades.

    “We are excited about FFBM. This is a major milestone for us at this critical stage in FFG’s development as we continue to expand our in-house operating capabilities,” said Joann Cheng, Fosun Fashion Group’s chairman. “The FFBM team brings a comprehensive set of operational experience spanning retail and digital in fashion, which will be invaluable as we enter this new phase of execution. This new platform provides FFG with a wider scope of competencies, and allow us to maximise control over brands’ performance in our own backyard enabling us to create incremental value for brands outside of their home markets.”

    FFBM’s CEO James Chen said that in recent years, China has become one of the core markets for many brands, and it will continue to thrive to become one of world’s top consumer markets.

    “Having lived and worked in China for the last 20 plus years, I am excited, now more than ever for the vision of Fosun Fashion Group as well as the fashion landscape in China.”

    The news comes less than a week after Fosun’s announcement of a takeover bid for German-listed fashion retailer Tom Tailor.

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  • AirAsia unveils plans to begin international flights to Vietnam city

    AirAsia unveils plans to begin international flights to Vietnam city

    AirAsia will start flying from Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok to Can Tho in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta in the next few months. The budget carrier has announced it will begin the Kuala Lumpur – Can Tho service on April 8 with four flights a week and the Bangkok – Can Tho service from May 2 with three flights, AirAsia said in a recent statement. Tran Viet Phuong, director of the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, told local media that the services would help increase the number of foreign tourists visiting the Mekong Delta.

    He added that visitors from not only Southeast Asia but also from India and Australia would find it easier to reach the city given AirAsia’s network.

    AirAsia Malaysia CEO Riad Asmat said: “We foresee the new route not only contributing to the socio-economic development of the city, but also providing new opportunities for the people in Mekong Delta to connect with ASEAN and beyond through our wide network.”

    According to the Can Tho Tourism Association, 8.48 million tourists visited the city in 2018, a 12.5 percent increase from the previous year.

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