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Tag: flagship

  • Starbucks opens online with a JD flagship store

    Starbucks opens online with a JD flagship store

    Starbucks, the world’s largest coffeehouse chain, launched a flagship store on JD.com on March 3.

    The online store is bringing Chinese consumers the brand’s new spring mugs, such as the Sakura Blossom Collection, together with its classic series, including the core classic series, and Starbucks Heritage. In addition to physical products such as mugs, the store also sells physical gift cards, seasonal foods (such as rice dumplings and mooncakes), and their corresponding gift certificates, bringing more quality choices to JD’s customers. A Super Brand Day will kick off on the store’s opening day to help promote sales for the newly opened Starbucks store.

    JD’s consumers are a strong match with Starbucks’ target consumers, and JD’s nationwide logistics network will ensure high efficiency and speed of deliveries for consumers who purchase Starbucks products on JD.

    “JD’s years of experience and good reputation in authentic products, logistics, and after-sales services will also

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  • Muji opens largest Hong Kong flagship store

    Muji opens largest Hong Kong flagship store

    Despite struggling with suspended operations and inventory problems during the Covid-19 pandemic, Japanese home-and lifestyle-goods retailer Muji is set to open its 21st store in Hong Kong later this month.

    Taking over the former Uny-owned Piago department store space in Telford Plaza, the new flagship will span 24,000sqft with all ranges including home, electronics, apparel, cosmetics, and food.

    The Telford Muji flagship will largely focus on food, expanding its range with packaged goods, groceries, fresh baked goods, and a new coffee and tea bar in addition to its existing cafe and Meal Muji restaurant.

    Muji is also expected to make its debut in Vietnam later this year.

    In May, Muji Japan launched a store on Amazon, seeking to mitigate the impact of its 280 stores in the market being forced to close due to Covid-19. That marked the first time Ryohin Keikaku has sold Muji products via an online platform outside its own e-commerce store.

  • Gentle Monster unfolds Hongdae flagship with ‘Sacrifice’ theme

    Gentle Monster unfolds Hongdae flagship with ‘Sacrifice’ theme

    Gentle Monster has unveiled its new Hongdae flagship with a religious-inspired design theme it calls ‘Sacrifice’.

    “The new theme introduces the sacred story of the Earth God and the sacrificial rituals that are offered to him,” the company said.

    The first floor houses a grand gray statue holding a white sphere which is described as the ‘God’s Eye’. Adjacent to the statue is a “kinetic” object representing the brand philosophy of Gentle Monster which is “constantly observing and studying the world”.

    A giant dark horse, which the company named as “a sacrifice to God”, is situated in the center of the second floor.

    Under the theme of “craftsmanship”, the third floor features “eye-capturing offerings to the God” and relief-sculptures which exemplifies the brand’s story. Gentle Monster’s eyewear collections can be found on this floor.

  • Missoni opens flagship store at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands

    Missoni opens flagship store at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands

    Luxury fashion retailer Missoni has launched a flagship store at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore

    The 150sqm store stocks a range of womenswear, menswear, beachwear and accessories. A central product featured at the launch is the brand’s new M Missoni collection, created by designer Margherita Maccapani Missoni.

    The launch was celebrated with a cocktail party, attended by local media and celebrities as well as the firm’s creative director and president Angela Missoni.

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  • Kenneth Cole India opens first flagship store

    Kenneth Cole India opens first flagship store

    Kenneth Cole India has opened its first flagship store.

    The American fashion house’s 1200sqft store, located at Infiniti Mall in Malad, Mumbai, carries the brand’s men’s and women’s clothing, footwear and accessories.

    Kenneth Cole India is operated by its local partner Brandzstorm, which will work with the brand to design, manufacture, distribute and retail Kenneth Cole products not only in India but also in neighboring countries including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

    Brandzstorm plans to open 10 flagship stores across India during the next three years, with a focus on major cities. On top of that, the company also plans to take its presence online via e-commerce platforms, as well as selling through department stores and multi-brand boutiques.

    “We are pleased to bring the brand to the Indian customer and believe there will be a high degree of acceptance from our esteemed patrons in Mumbai. The new store will provide irresistible shopping experience giving customers access to a wide choice of Kenneth Cole New York products under one roof,” says Brandzstorm MD Ujjval Saraf.

    Besides Kenneth Cole, Brandzstorm also manages brands including Giordano, Superdry and Furla in India.

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  • Samsung China’s first flagship opens, in front of Apple store

    Samsung China’s first flagship opens, in front of Apple store

    Samsung China has opened its first flagship experience store in the market – and it is right opposite its archrival.

    The almost 1000sqm Shanghai store is the brand’s largest in Asia, and stands opposite Apple’s Nanjing East Road store. The store has two sections and stocks Samsung’s full range of mobiles as well as featuring a 5G experience zone for customers to participate in large-scale cloud games and watch HD video broadcasts.

    Samsung has recently readjusted its strategy in the territory, shifting all mobile device manufacturing to India and China. The experience store is the latest development in the new strategy.

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  • Huawei’s global flagship opens in Shenzhen

    Huawei’s global flagship opens in Shenzhen

    Huawei’s global flagship store has opened in Shenzhen’s MixC World as the brand’s first direct-sale store globally.

    The 1300sqm store, which has been in preparation since 2017, allows customers to explore Huawei’s latest and most comprehensive product range, as well as experience a fast 5G connection, relax and meet up with friends.

    “Shenzhen is an international technology and innovation centre, we believe that Huawei Global Flagship Store will become the new connecting hub between Huawei and customers,” said Huawei Consumer Business Group CEO Richard Yu. “MixC World is a gathering place where fashion, technology and liberal art meet together and Huawei’s global flagship store will become Huawei’s city living room connecting the consumers.”

    The three-storey building combines traditional Chinese and Western architectural philosophies, with a facade that adopts a large area of high transmission glass with rounded corners and a unique semi-open staircase connecting the square and the surrounding environment.

    Free courses are offered by the Huawei community covering topics such as photography, videography, sports and health care. Technical enthusiasts and app developers can learn how to build the Huawei global ecosystem from technical experts.

    “We no longer call it a retail store, we call it community plaza, an open community for everyone,” said Huawei Consumer Business Group CMO Herman Zhu. “Consumers can come and create, learn about the most advanced technology and trends, or just connect again with one another.”

    Huawei’s global flagship uses a large number of environmentally friendly and recyclable materials. The felt used for ceilings and walls is made of recyclable plastic parts; the table uses nanoboard, which can be used for more than ten years; the floor is made of marble with natural ingredients and zero resin.

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  • Thinkware dash cams opens flagship store in Singapore

    Thinkware dash cams opens flagship store in Singapore

    Dash cam firm Thinkware is opening a flagship store in Singapore.

    The Thinkware Singapore store will provide a suite of services including troubleshooting, warranty services, dash cam maintenance and repairs. In addition to after-sales services, Thinkware will also exhibit its top dash cams at the venue – including the X700 and latest U1000 models that feature the firm’s Cat-M1 Internet of Things technology and Thinkware Cloud. Customers will also be able to access other enhanced recording and supplementary smart car technologies such as alarm systems and Apple carplay head units, among others.

    The Serangoon North Ave launch comes at a time when the company is on its international business expansion phase within the automotive industry.

    “Thinkware has long been a trusted name in dash cam technology and we believe that Singapore is an ideal market with dash cams steadily growing in popularity amidst advancements in connectivity, recording quality and improved vehicle safety,” said Thinkware Singapore MD Kenneth Low. “We are excited to bring the very first Thinkware premium store to Singapore and look forward to serving our customers.”

    Thinkware is the highest selling dash camera company in the competitive Korean market and its devices are available across 800 cities worldwide.

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  • Apple plans three flagships and own online store in India

    Apple plans three flagships and own online store in India

    Apple India reportedly plans to open three brick-and-mortar outlets as well as an online store as it finally enters the world’s second-most-populous market.

    The US-headquartered tech company’s plans coincide with a further relaxation of government regulations affecting foreign retailers, easing the requirements of local sourcing and scrapping a law making it mandatory for brands to open physical stores before launching online.

    Apple has already taken steps to manufacture products in India, partnering with Taiwanese company Wistron to make the iPhone 6S and 7 models there.

    India’s population is growing at such a fast rate it will overtake China as the world’s most-populous nation within only a few years. Its rapidly growing middle class is making it an attractive destination for mobile phone brands as well as many large global retailers. But their ambitions have until recently been tempered by a raft of government laws protecting local ‘ma-and-pa’ retailers and Indian brands.

    According to sources privy to Apple’s submissions to Indian regulatory authorities, first reported by The Press Trust of India, Apple has confirmed its plans to open a physical store network of its own. It already operates single-brand stores in partnership with local partners but the new ones are likely to be of a scale of flagship Apple stores in major international cities

    As yet, there is no official word where the First Apple India store will open, but multiple sources are confident it will be in Mumbai.

    Brands wanting to develop their own retail networks in India must commit to manufacturing some products within the country. Several years ago, this may have been considered an encumbrance, but with the mounting Sino-US trade war, manufacturers reliant on Chinese factories are looking for alternative low-cost manufacturing bases. Indian government officials are keen to work with brands to help them relocate.

  • ‘Sporting idol experience’ unveiled inside Puma NYC flagship

    ‘Sporting idol experience’ unveiled inside Puma NYC flagship

    A “unique and immersive” retail experience awaits visitors to the new Puma NYC flagship store unveiled on Fifth Avenue.

    The athletic footwear and apparel brand have opened a two-story store which features an industry-first multi-sport, multi-sensory Skill Cube, designed and developed by human experience design studio Green Room.

    The creative platform integrates global Puma brand ambassadors into an immersive experience, positioning them as virtual training buddies – an approach established, through behavioral research, as key to better engaging the lifestyle traits of Puma’s Gen Z target audience.

    Respected for their training regimes and prowess, athletes Lewis Hamilton, Antoine Griezmann and Romelu Lukaku host coaching sessions that transport customers either to a virtual football stadium or a disused warehouse; an experience specifically designed to deliver the best authentic footwear trial whilst still in store.

    “Facilitating unique and immersive experiences is central to our long-term commercial strategy and the Skill Cube New York delivers on this in every way,” said Puma’s global head of commercial marketing Jason Isenberg. “This is truly a one-of-a-kind experience, and we are confident that our shoppers in the Puma NYC flagship store will find it extremely engaging and compelling.”

    Once inside the Skill Cube, visitors are immersed in a multi-sensory environment incorporating 270° floor to ceiling LCD content screens, graphic projection, motion sensing devices, dynamic lighting and surround sound. The floor covering is a high-quality, multi-sport, synthetic turf, designed to bring the footwear benefits to the fore by simulating authentic trial conditions, further enhancing a life-like experience.

    Converging analog and digital worlds, the Teamsport experience kicks off in a virtual Puma locker room with footballers Griezmann or Lukaku; trialists are transported to a CGI replica of a capacity-filled San Siro Stadium. Reconstructed to a superior level of detail and adaptability – featuring an impressive 5 million individual blades of grass – the virtual environment offers full flexibility and control over 152 lights, independent movement of all 80,000 football fans in the crowd and updatable sponsorship boards, TV screens and pitch patterns.

    Visitors to the Puma NYC flagship’s Skill Cube are scored on their performance and at the end of the experience, the stadium comes alive with confetti cannons, fireworks, and a cheering crowd. The training experience then transports participants into a warehouse to train with Lewis Hamilton, who takes them through three trials; ladder, jab and jump.

    “Our approach was to encourage engagement and disrupt ‘autopilot customer’ browsing,” said digital experience director Martyn Palmer. “By introducing a highly curated approach to the experience zone, we have succeeded in creating a harmonious customer journey that mixes physical and digital interactions to elevate a positive product experience.”

  • Musee flagship in Beijing Designed by Studio8

    Musee flagship in Beijing Designed by Studio8

    Shanghai design and development studio Studio8 has recently completed the design of Musee’s flagship store in Beijing.

    A store for consignment luxury goods, Musee delivers an open platform for luxury accessories – a point that inspired the designers to create a flexible space with “soft boundaries” and a diverse colour palette.

    The firm’s “soft boundary” design leaves no clear boundaries in the functional division of the entire retail space for Musee, which is translated into two main features: the mobile multi-functional counters and the central consignment room.

    “Every accessory that people possess is an abstract object that serves a certain function or purpose,” said principal designer Shirley Dong. “This changes when people place more importance and value on the object, whether through the brand, colour, material, or handcrafting process. Luxury goods then become time travellers, with an ever-increasing value and preciousness while still maintaining their initial presence.”

    The idea of enriching the significance of an accessory stands behind the concept of Musee’s new flagship store, where shopping is envisaged as an unconventional experience that allows customers to know more about the item they are buying and re-evaluate it with the support of professional consultants.

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  • Huawei opens flagship store outside of China

    Huawei opens flagship store outside of China

    Chinese tech firm Huawei has launched its largest international flagship store in Madrid.

    The new centrally located 1100sqm store showcases the company’s 5G and AI technologies as well as its range of smartphones and computers. More than 1000 people attended the launch.

    Huawei recently cooperated with Vodafone Espana to roll out the first commercial 5G service in Spain, which is now offering 5G roaming in four European countries. Huawei has already provided equipment for Britain’s new 5G network.

    The Chinese firm has already won 50 5G contracts around the world, but is at the centre of controversy in the US and Australia, among other markets, over allegations its systems can be used by Chinese government agencies to spy on users.

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  • New Flagship SUV From Audi Reveiled

    New Flagship SUV From Audi Reveiled

    The new Audi SQ8 breaks cover! It is the new flagship SUV from Audi and it gets a massive 4.0-liter V8 turbo-diesel engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid technology. The V8 pumps out a mind-boggling 900 Nm of peak torque. The SUV gets an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Audi hasn’t revealed the power figures yet. The Audi SQ8’s 48-volt mild-hybrid makes up to 10 bhp under braking lets the SQ8 coast for up to 40 seconds without the engine being active, at speeds between 55 kmph to 160 kmph. Also, the diesel engine turns of one of the two turbo-chargers at city speeds to increase the efficiency as well. The Audi SQ8 has a 0-100 kmph sprint time of 4.8 kmph and a top speed of 250 kmph which is electronically limited.

    Built on the Volkswagen Group’s MLB platform, the Audi SQ8 can also be specified with an optional suspension package which also includes a sport differential and an adaptive air suspension. The air suspension can adjust the ride height of the SQ8 by up to 90 mm. The other feature is the electromechanical active roll stabilization which reduces body roll when cornering hard. Audi also offers all-wheel steering as an option on the SQ8.

    As far as looks are concerned, the Audi SQ8 gets a new grille with a silver frame along with re-designed air inlets. The rear end of the car gets a new diffuser in black color and gets quad exhaust tips. The cabin gets Alcantara leather upholstery along with ‘S’ logos embossed on the seats and stainless steel pedals. The Audi SQ8 also gets two touchscreens and the Audi Virtual Cockpit with displays specific to the SQ8.

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  • Pomelo Singapore flagship opening

    Pomelo Singapore flagship opening

    Fast-fashion company Pomelo has launched a Singapore flagship store at 313@somerset.

    The largest Pomelo store to date, and the first outside of its native Thailand, the store boosts the online-to-offline brand’s Southeast Asian presence to nine outlets. The firm’s regional expansion represents a bid to apply its business model to the Southeast Asian fashion and lifestyle industry.

    The more than 6000sqft Singapore flagship will house Pomelo’s full catalog of 8000 products across different lines. Pomelo’s first cosmetics line, Beet, launched in April 2019, will also be sold at the store. The Singapore store will also stock collections tailored to local tastes, including seasonal collections for Ramadan, Christmas, and Chinese New Year.

    “Delivering the best customer experience has always been a key tenet of our business, and what works for one market may not necessarily work for another,” said Pomelo Fashion CEO David Jou. “Our research shows that Singaporeans shop very differently from Thais, with workwear, modest wear, occasionwear and beachwear being particularly popular in Singapore. Responding to this consumer demand, we have made it a point to stock these styles in our Singapore store.”

    While Pomelo has already served the Singapore market for six years, the flagship store rounds out Pomelo’s omnichannel strategy, offering customers a seamless online-to-offline experience across desktop, mobile and offline channels.

    “Our omnichannel strategy is built upon our ability to provide a variety of retail options,” said Jou. “Features like Pomelo Pick Up, which allow customers to try on their online purchases and only pay for what they take home have proven to be extremely successful in Thailand. As a fashion brand with tech DNA that places customer experience at the forefront, we’re excited to finally launch a core tech-driven Pomelo offering to better meet the needs of our Singapore shoppers.”

    Under the Pomelo Pick Up system, customers looking to pick up their online orders can do so by scanning a QR code at a self-service kiosk before proceeding to a fast lane to collect their packages. To check the fit, they can then try on the items they have picked out in a fitting room booked on in-store mini iPads.

  • Oppo India opens first flagship store in Hyderabad

    Oppo India opens first flagship store in Hyderabad

    Oppo India has launched its first premium flagship in South Asia at Sharath Capital Mall in Kondapur.

    The opening coincides with the release of the brand’s new Reno series phone model.

    The new venue has been designed to engage customers while encouraging them to explore and appreciate the craftsmanship and technological features of Oppo’s product range. According to product manager Jithin Abraham, it is divided into different areas that respectively deal with Indian culture and heritage, Oppo’s evolution in the mobile market, the brand’s technologies, and other consumer experiences.

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