Retail News CRM

Tag: expansion

  • Farfetch announces the first chief fashion officer

    Farfetch announces the first chief fashion officer

    The close relationship between luxury e-tailer Farfetch and Browns, the physical store that it acquired back in 2015, has become even closer with Browns’ CEO Holli Rogers having taken up a new role at the parent company. Rogers will stay on as the senior manager at Browns but has also become chief fashion officer at Farfetch, which will see her working closely with the e-tailer’s marketing, styling and VM teams “to ensure the company’s fashion approach is incorporated into the DNA of the overall customer experience of the brand”.

    Rogers, who was formerly Net-a-Porter fashion director, has had an impressive career at the cutting edge of both luxury physical retail and high-end e-tail. She has also worked at Neiman Marcus and Chanel.

    Farfetch CEO and founder José Neves said she “could bring her unique experience to the broader Farfetch business at an executive level. [Her] reputation, high regard among fashion CEOs, influencers and the wider industry, her relationships and her incredible aesthetic will be a huge benefit to Farfetch.”

    It is clear that she’s highly regarded at the company after having overseen a number of success for Browns from the opening of the Browns East location to the revamped visual image, launching collaborations at home and abroad and continuing to nurture new names.

  • Samsung US stores opens door

    Samsung US stores opens door

    South Korea’s Samsung will launch the first three of a planned network of North American stores this coming week, timed to coincide with the expected release of its next-generation Galaxy smartphone. The smartphone-focused Samsung US stores will open in the Roosevelt Field mall in Garden City; the Americana at Brand in Los Angeles; and Galleria in Houston. The openings have been interpreted as a branding exercise more than a sales driver by some industry experts, given the predominance of Apple iPhones in America. Samsung currently has 24 per cent of the US market, as opposed to Apple’s 44 per cent, with both manufacturers selling most of their handsets through carrier-operated stores.

    “Our new Samsung Experience Stores are spaces to experience and see Samsung technology brought to life, to empower people to do what they never thought was possible before”, said president and CEO of Samsung Electronics America YH Eom.

    “We want to build a ‘playground’ for Samsung fans – a place to learn about and try out all of the amazing new products we have to offer.”

    The Samsung US stores will encourage visitors to linger in-store while experimenting with the brand’s 4D VR and immersive 4K gaming products.

    Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked 2019 presentation, scheduled for San Francisco on Wednesday, is widely rumoured to serve as a launchpad for a new foldable phone.

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  • FamilyMart Malaysia to open 300 more stores by 2022

    FamilyMart Malaysia to open 300 more stores by 2022

    QL Resources, the Malaysian operator of Japanese convenience store chain FamilyMart, is going ahead with plans to open 300 stores by March 2022, despite a slump in the economy. The firm opened 30 FamilyMart Malaysia outlets within the last financial year and plans to reach 90 new stores for the year ending March 31, 2019.

    “We still stick to our plan to open 300 stores in five years”, said QL chairman Chia Song Kun.

    Market leadership in the territory is currently controlled by 7-Eleven Malaysia, which operates more than 2000 stores in Malaysia. A major shareholder in the firm recently announced plans to open another 200 outlets this year.

    Malaysian spending is increasingly focused on domestic trade as exports continue to be affected by the US-China trade war.

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  • 7-Eleven may make India foray with Future Group

    7-Eleven may make India foray with Future Group

    Convenience store chain 7-Eleven is holding advanced talks with India’s Future Group to enter the territory. The parties may announce an agreement to launch a network of 7-Eleven India stores next month, according to inside reports. Future Group would operate small format stores as a master franchisee, with a focus on food retailing. The partnership is expected to help Future extend its reach to buyers beyond its own existing store network.

    “Future Group has a number of neighbourhood stores through their own format launches and through acquisitions”, observed Devangshu Dutta, CEO at consultancy firm Third Eyesight. “Some of them could surely be repurposed to 7-Eleven convenience stores, while there could be other franchisees appointed for specific sites or territories,” he said.

    “However, becoming a franchisee entails costs and restrictions. The question is whether there is enough margin available in the business to allow for so many tiers of stakeholders.”

    7-Eleven India potential partner Future Group runs 1,444 stores in 409 cities, specialising in food and grocery retailing.

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  • Starbucks China unveils new third-place experience concept

    Starbucks China unveils new third-place experience concept

    Starbucks today unveiled its first Starbucks Reserve® Bakery Cafe, featuring fresh Italian Princi food, in China. This brand new third-place (in-store) experience is dedicated to the premium Starbucks Reserve® coffees served alongside artisanal and made-to-order food prepared by Princi bakers onsite every day.

    Each baker has been meticulously trained in the acclaimed Italian baker Rocco Princi’s distinctive method of artisanal craft of baking to perfect the recipes for each food item. The cafe also features an expanded menu of Starbucks signature Mixology, including distinctive coffee and tea-inspired cocktails, Italian classics like Aperol Spritz, fine Italian wines and beers.

    This will be the first-of-its-kind Italian Aperitivo experience (early evening social cocktails paired with small bites) in a Starbucks store location within China.

    “For 20 years, Starbucks has revolutionized, and set new standards, around the third-place for our Chinese customers. Today marks yet another significant milestone as we take everything we have learned around coffee and our relentless pursuit for food innovation, to create a new exciting all-day cafe dining and Italian Aperitivo experience,” said Belinda Wong, ceo, Starbucks China. “Our ability to consistently elevate the customer and brand experience in a meaningful and respectful manner truly reflects Starbucks unmatched energy and operational capabilities to execute against our Purpose-driven Growth Agenda to play the long game in China.”

    As a showcase of Starbucks undisputed coffee leadership in China, the cafe features Starbucks ReserveTM Princi™ Blend as the signature coffee offering for its handcrafted espresso beverages made using the Black-eagle Espresso Machine. This special Reserve blend can also be enjoyed freshly-brewed using the Siphon brewer, Pour-over or Starbucks Draft Nitro.

    Authentic, freshly prepared food is the centerpiece that creates the vibrancy and intimacy within the cafe. Customers can share meals with family and friends at the large community table just feet away from the baking oven and the bountiful display of food creations.

    Inspired by the passion and romance of Rocco Princi’s belief to infuse ‘Spirito di MilanoTM’ into this new retail environment, the coffee theatre transforms into a full mixology bar to offer Starbucks-distinctive coffee or tea-infused craft cocktails, beers, and a fine selection of Italian classics and wines specially curated by Rocco Princi, as the day turns into evening.

    Each day from 5 pm to 7 pm, the store celebrates “Aperitivo Time” where customers can enjoy handcrafted cocktails, wine and beer with free-flow of pizza bites, green olives, and schiacciatine.

    They can choose to enjoy this unique Italian evening social occasion by relaxing at the cafe’s outdoor patio with friends and loved ones, just like Italians would across the streets of Milan.

    “I am excited to work with my Princi partners, and Starbucks, to unlock the infinite possibilities of Princi food elevating every daypart for our Chinese customers, from breakfast, lunch, to the new evening Aperitivo experience. This exceptional opportunity to pair Starbucks Reserve coffees with Princi’s 30-year heritage of serving only the freshest and artisanal food, in a brand new store format, is another dream come true for me,” said Rocco Princi.

    With more than 3700 stores in 158 cities, no other coffee retailer in China has the depth of Starbucks coffee expertise, strength of the most sought-after world-class retail locations, and pipeline of meaningful innovations to elevate the customer experience.

    Building on the overwhelming positive reception of freshly baked Italian PrinciTM food at the Shanghai Roastery, and the continued enthusiasm customers have towards Starbucks portfolio of innovative store concepts, the Starbucks Reserve® Bakery Cafe is yet another reflection of Starbucks holistic approach to build an exceptional third-place experience, further cementing its unparalleled leadership and success in China.

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  • Skechers passes store milestone

    Skechers passes store milestone

    Skechers China has opened a new superstore in Shenyang, the footwear brand’s 3000th globally. The footwear brand’s largest store yet covers more than 32,000sqft, showcasing a diverse range of footwear, apparel and accessories styles for men, women and children. It features shops-in-shops for different categories and a Skechers Kids entertainment zone.

    US-headquartered Skechers says it is continuing to expand its retail, sales and logistic infrastructure and is improving its customer experience with new-generation point-of-sale technologies.

    “We sell in more than 170 countries through our extensive network of distributors and joint ventures, and we have many more opportunities to build our retail store business even further and expand our global presence for years to come,” said Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers.

    China has the largest number of Skechers retail stores at 941, followed by the US at 472, and India at 222.

    To date, there are 690 company-owned stores worldwide, including two opened in the US in the first quarter. The company plans to open another 70 to 80 company-owned stores and another 500 third-party owned stores this year.

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  • Wholesale apparel portal Joor eyes Asia as its gets $16 million

    Wholesale apparel portal Joor eyes Asia as its gets $16 million

    US wholesale platform and data exchange Joor has raised US$16 million in Series C funding. The financing round was led by Itouchu, one of Japan’s leading conglomerates with participation from existing investors Canaan Partners and Battery Ventures. Joor has now raised $36 million since its launch and the new cash will fund ongoing product innovation for both brands and retailers, as well as expansion into Asia.

    Through the partnership with Itouchu, Joor will be able to access more than 150 US and European brands, and accelerate the entry of new overseas brands into Japan.

    “Joor’s dominance in North America and Europe makes it the natural choice for expansion into the Japanese market. We are excited to continue supporting their strategic growth,” said Yoshihiro Fukushima, executive officer of Itochu.

    “At Joor, our focus from day one has been the simplification of the wholesale process for brands and retailers,” said Kristin Savilia, CEO of Joor. “Our mission is to bring the industry together with one platform. The team at Itouchu supports this mission and we are excited to have its expertise and support to enable Joor to expand into Asia, furthering its global dominance.”

    Joor connects 8600 brands within 53 categories and 200,000 retailers in 144 countries into one wholesale platform.

    Luxury companies including Kering, LVMH, Richemont, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Saint Laurent and Marc Jacobs have moved their wholesale business exclusively to the platform.

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  • Bigbasket India expands its offerings to include beauty products

    Bigbasket India expands its offerings to include beauty products

    Bigbasket has made its foray into the beauty and cosmetics category. The company is already a leader in FMCG sales, staples, and fruits and vegetables, has about 10 million subscribers, and is clocking over 1 lakh orders per day. With this new category, bigbasket has cemented its place as the one-stop-shop for all customer needs in groceries.

    The vast range of cosmetic products on the beauty store by bigbasket includes eyeliners, kajal, face creams, nail colors, lipsticks, hair colors, perfumes, deodorants, etc. which can be purchased on the website or through the app. Some of the prominent labels featured include Lakme, L’Oreal, Garnier, Elle18, Lotus Herbals, and Maybelline, among others.

    Customers can make choices based on their skin type, preferred brand, benefits, formulation, etc. There are also exciting discounts of about 25 percent to 40 percent on selected brands and products.

    Speaking about this, Seshu Tirumala, National Head, Buying and Merchandising, bigbasket, said, “bigbasket’s customers can now look forward to far larger variety in our offering with our most recent addition of beauty products. The foray into beauty and cosmetics category comes at a time when we are already growing at a frenetic pace in the market. With this category, we aim to transcend our existing customer base and take the venture a notch higher – both in terms of the customer base and revenue. We will be providing the widest range of affordable and regularly used beauty products to our customers.

    With a dominant share in the market space, bigbasket now aims to raise additional investments up to US$ 200 million over the next few months. The FMCG sales overall (food and non-food) contribute to over 50 percent of its business, another 30 percent comes from staples (including 14.5 percent from private labels) and 18 percent is from fruits and vegetables. The Alibaba-backed company expects to break even in the 10 large cities by next June and aims at becoming a billion-dollar company by the next fiscal year. The company has a presence in 25 cities and plans to launch its operations in Kochi soon.

    Recently, bigbasket acquired Pune-based RainCan and Bengaluru-based Morning Cart to deliver milk to 20,000 customers. The service has been launched in 7 cities and is expected to roll out to another three cities among the top 10 metros. The milk delivery business is expected to clock Rs 10 billion by next year.

  • Largest Nike store planned to open in Singapore at Jewel Changi

    Largest Nike store planned to open in Singapore at Jewel Changi

    SUTL Corporation will open its eighth and largest Nike Singapore store at Jewel Changi Airport in the first half of this year. Located on the second floor, the duplex store will span more than 1000sqm, and boasts the latest and most extensive range of Nike footwear, apparel and merchandise in the city. Shoppers who visit the store can look forward to customising their Nike t-shirt and footwear purchases at the Nike By You customisation area.

    SUTL Corporation  says the store will seek to enhance shopper engagement with multiple touch points offering customers “a fully immersive Nike experience” as they walk through the store.

    “Despite the rise of e-commerce as a viable option for shoppers, we believe that brick-and-mortar spaces remain an important part of the retail landscape. Nike at Jewel Changi Airport reaffirms our confidence in this space and we look forward to strengthening our partnership with Nike on its journey to transform the sporting world,” said Arthur Tay, chairman at SUTL Corporation.

    SUTL operates in more than 18 markets across Asia-Pacific, distributing products ranging from tobacco, liquor, spirits, beer, water and wine to fragrances and cosmetics for airports and seaports in Southeast Asia and the Indian Subcontinent.

    Jewel Changi is a 10-storey mega complex that will feature gardens and attractions, retail and dining, a hotel and facilities for airport operations.

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  • India’s WoodenStreet eyes 15 stores by end of 2019

    India’s WoodenStreet eyes 15 stores by end of 2019

    In 2016, WoodenStreet entered the retail market with its first brick-and-mortar experience store in Bangalore. Established in 2015 as an online platform for quality custom furniture, WoodenStreet expanded its reach by opening 2 stores in 2017 and 9 stores in 2018, totalling to 12 experience stores. What’s next? 15 new experience stores by the end of 2019.

    Lokendra Ranawat, CEO, WoodenStreet expressed his aim to bring customization and quality a step closer to everyone’s home. “It’s not just about an online presence”, he elaborates, “but getting down there and interacting with our customers makes buying furniture a more personal experience, as it should be. We want people to not just visualize, but also feel the quality of furniture that we offer. We want them to see the limitless configurations, combinations and customization possibilities that they can actually get for themselves.”

    2018 was a long but fruitful year for WoodenStreet. Mumbai and Jaipur stores have been established in the last quarters of 2017, and the overwhelming response from these two stores, combined with a financial push from US$ 1 million Series A funding from RVCF, hardened the resolve to expand into further cities. Hence came the first stores of Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Noida, Gurgaon and Indore, with two more stores in Bangalore and Jaipur. This set up a large Omnichannel network, enabling greater penetration into the furniture market with a promise of quality and flexibility.

    “Last year was challenging but fun.”, says Virendra Ranawat, COO of WoodenStreet.com, commenting on the rocking journey. “But this hasn’t stopped us. We want to ensure that 2019 sees the addition of 15 more stores to our ever-growing roster. Which means that by the end of this year, we’ll have 27 brick-and-mortar stores in total.”

    WoodenStreet.com is a custom furniture store, with more than 30 delivery hubs and 12 experience stores spread across India, bringing quality solid wood furniture and the flexibility of customization closer to people and their dream of setting up a home flavoured to their tastes.

  • Japanese megastore Don Quijote to open its first Hong Kong store

    Japanese megastore Don Quijote to open its first Hong Kong store

    Don Quijote Hong Kong is set to make its debut in the middle of this year. The Japanese discount merchandise retailer – which has three stores in Singapore and also plans to make its Thai debut in Bangkok this year – has leased a 15,000sqft space in the basement of Mira Place Two on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui.

    In Japan, most of the company’s 160 discount stores trade 24 hours, but this is unlikely in Hong Kong.

    Helen Mak, senior director and head of retail services at Knight Frank said the basement location would appeal to local consumers and tourists.

    “Don Quijote’s Tsim Sha Tsui location can attract mainland tourists who travel via the high-speed rail and mega bridge. Instead of shopping for luxury items, these same-day visitors usually spend money on cosmetics, health care items and food, products that are most celebrated at [Don Quijote].”

    According to the SCMP, Don Quijote will pay HK$1 million (US$127,000) a month for the space, with the fitout expected to be complete by July.

    Besides its general merchandise and fresh food offer, the Don Quijote Hong Kong store will feature a cafe.

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  • Tissot basketball concept store New York opens door

    Tissot basketball concept store New York opens door

    Swiss watch brand Tissot has opened a sports-themed store in New York City. The Tissot basketball concept store is the brand’s fourth boutique in the city, located at 112 W. 34th Street, a prime location in the Midtown neighbourhood. With a 2800sqft area, the boutique has a wall of multi-coloured basketballs, along with action-styled mannequins wearing uniforms of some of the brand’s nine NBA team partners.

    Hung on the walls are photos of the brand’s sponsored athletes, including three-time NBA Champion and five-time NBA All-Star Klay Thompson, four-time NBA Champion and six-time NBA All-Star Tony Parker and top rookie Trae Young.

    Besides shopping, fans can spend their time playing NBA 2K19, watch an NBA game on the large TV screens or try to beat the clock in a mixed-reality Tissot Buzzer Beater game set to debut at NBA All-Star 2019. A custom art installation debuting at NBA All-Star will then find its permanent home in the store.

    “This is a departure from our traditional merchandising strategy, but with our continued partnership growth and passion around the NBA, we wanted to harness that power to showcase our brand in a different light,” said Francois Thiebaud, president of Tissot.

    “We have seen a tremendous response so far from fans and we are excited to see what is to come.”

  • Officine Panerai makes debut in Malaysia

    Officine Panerai makes debut in Malaysia

    Officine Panerai Malaysia has opened its first store. The Italian luxury watchmaker’s new boutique is the brand’s 81st worldwide and fourth location in Southeast Asia, forming part of Panerai’s strategy to boost its market in the region. It was designed by Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola to depict Panerai’s naval and wartime heritage.

    “Together with partner Swiss Watch Gallery, we look forward to providing an exceptional experience for our clients and conveying our values and Swiss know-how”, said Panerai Southeast Asia and Oceania MD Giacomo Cinelli at the launch.

    “It’s a little exhausting for the local watch collectors here to keep having to travel to a Panerai boutique, so we are here for our existing clients and we provide an entrance and platform for the new ones as well”, he said.

    Submersible timepieces feature prominently in the store’s range, retailing from RM57,700 (US$14,180) to RM168,470 ($41,400).

  • Uniqlo opens Manchester flagship, expands beyond London

    Uniqlo opens Manchester flagship, expands beyond London

    Japanese retail chain Uniqlo is expanding its store network internationally, announcing the opening of its latest store in the UK. Opening in the city of Manchester, Uniqlo is returning the British city after leaving Manchester back in 2004, not long after it entered the UK market. Uniqlo revealed the news this week on its Instagram: “Uniqlo Manchester – opening spring 2019. Tokyo heads up North. Register for updates on our Manchester store opening at the link in bio.”

    The post also gave location details, revealing the store is slated for Manchester Arnadale at 57 Market Street. The address is the former-space of closed down UK retail chain BHS, which shuttered on Market Street in August 2016, after 35 years of service on the city’s main shopping strip.

    The new store will occupy a 22,690 square feet and will sell Uniqlo’s full range of core items for men, women and kids, as well as jeans and t-shirts.

    The retailer said that the expansion north of London was an important step in its UK growth.

    “The launch of Uniqlo in Manchester represents another major milestone for us in the UK, as we continue to expand our presence in this important market for the company worldwide,” Uniqlo chief executive Taku Morikawa said.

    “We are very excited to be able to offer Uniqlo LifeWear to the people of Manchester and surrounding areas for the first time and show how our high quality, comfortable and functional clothing can help improve their everyday lives.”

    It is hoped that Uniqlo Manchester will fair better than BHS, and in turn compete strongly with fellow fast-fashion brands Primark and H&M, which are currently set up in the millennial-heavy city.

    Uniqlo first launched 20 stores in the UK, but then closed 15 sites outside of London three years later, including two in Manchester.

    It currently operates nine stores across London, one in Kent at Bluewater shopping centre and another in Oxford at Westgate.

    In its most recent earnings update, Uniqlo Europe said that in the year up to August 31, 2018, profits rose from €673,000 to €6.3million on a turnover of €533million, up from €410million.

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  • Cle de Peau Beaute debuts in Thailand

    Cle de Peau Beaute debuts in Thailand

    Japanese luxury skincare brand Cle de Peau Beaute has opened its first location in Thailand. Launching in the Helix building, Emquartier, the new store expects to cater to the brand’s cult following in the market. The venue is designed to reflect the luxurious lifestyle of modern women, with a ‘Radiance Wall’ illuminating the entire retail space and a gallery with storied details of selected products.

    The launch is being marked with the announcement of the brand’s new influencer, actress, artist and director Manasnan Panlertwongskul, and the unveiling of its latest lipstick.