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Tag: Hong Kong

  • Moschino launches limited edition for Hong Kong

    Moschino launches limited edition for Hong Kong

    November 15, Harbour City welcomed a new pop-up store by Moschino with an exclusive collection designed  by Jeremy Scott, Creative Director of the brand, for Hong Kong only. Colorful, ironic, super glamorous and absolutely Moschino: these are the qualities of the collection made exclusively for Hong Kong. The collection represents the vibrant city and reflects the pop soul of Moschino’s Creative Director.

    It is a triumph of colors. 12 pieces each adorned with fun multicolored patches: two T-shirts and a T-shirt dress, a hoodie, a sweater, a bomber jacket, 4 denim pieces, a backpack and a bag.

    The Moschino logo is revisited in a super colorful version along with iconic graphics like the peace sign. Each letter and each symbol becomes a silk satin patch, applied to the pieces using a special zig-zag stitch technique and made even more ironic with graphics created in thread and crystals.

    Moschino Hong Kong Exclusive Collection is available exclusively at Moschino stores in Hong Kong.

    It is an incredible moment for the brand, that has been gaining popularity among Millennials and GEN Z thanks to the ironic touch brought by Jeremy Scott.

    Earlier this year, Moschino gathered attention globally for its capsule collections in collaboration with H&M and Disney with celebrities such as Gigi Hadid and Naomi Campbell.

    In the run-up to the official release, Moschino’s Creative Director Jeremy Scott put on a celeb-tastic fashion show in New York. During the show, Gigi walked the runway in a hoodie printed with Moschino’s signature chain-print alongside her sister Bella in a zip-front black leather mini dress. Naomi Campbell closed the show in a silver sequinned hoodie dress and over-the-knee black quilted boots.

    To catch momentum with the success of capsule collections, Moschino has also announced the launch of a new retail concept starting from the stores in Paris, which focuses on the creation of a design that facilitates the rotation of different collections throughout the year.

    The design, thought to be a blank canvas ready to host diverse concepts at the same time, will be experimented in Europe to appeal to the new generation of customers.

    If it is true that in the digital era,  the instant generation is no longer attracted by what is the promise of timeliness, limited editions aimed to satisfy a short-term desire of being among the happy few to win, it might be the key to steal the heart of GEN Z.

  • Le petit h by Hermès launched in HK

    Le petit h by Hermès launched in HK

    Hermès presents a workshop of metamorphosis for materials and the invention of forms themed from now on till 9th December in Hong Kong. From a giant elephant pouffe to a target mirror, the Landmark Price’s store is transformed with scenography designed by Hong Kong artist Kevin Cheung. Once upon a time, there was a meeting of materials, their inimitable mix, their singular hybridisation. Petit h shares with upcycling product designer Kevin Cheung a passion for slumbering materials, from bamboo to silk, cashmere and many more.

    The staging is inspired by daily life and everyday objects. A tree and its bubble-like buds unfurl across the three levels of the store where new petit h inventions appear, paying homage to the diversity of Hermès materials and know-how, and to the dreams that take shape during our daily lives.

    Petit h was founded in 2010 by Pascal Mussard, who had the idea of bringing leftover materials from all over the house under one roof and giving them new life through Hermès craftsmanship and know-how.

    Godfroy de Virieu, creative director since January 2018, is now leading the dialogue between artisans, designers and artists from all backgrounds.

    Together, they create dreamlike, playful, poetic and surprising objects from noble materials as either unique pieces or limited editions.

    Petit h permanent home remains in Paris, in the Hermès store at 17 rue de Sèvres, as well as Hermes.com.

    Petit h will be traveling Asia in 2019.

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  • The Powerful Tycoon You Have Never Heard of Before

    The Powerful Tycoon You Have Never Heard of Before

    Many billionaires have no problem flaunting their wealth, whether through naming skyscrapers after themselves, yacht parties on the other side of the world, fancy ostentatious car collections and private jets, fake rehearsed smiles on camera and lots of media coverage.  But a subset prefers the trappings of obscurity, content to preside over their empires away from the public’s gaze.

    Reading the recent Entrepreneur piece on Calvin Lo, the CEO of R.E. Lee International and Founder of R.E. Lee Capital, one theme emerges: he hates fame.  Even though Forbes estimates Lo’s personal networth at $1.7 billion, he manage to elude any wealth rankings and live his life in what seem like secrecy.


    Life insurance tycoon Calvin Lo, CEO of R.E. Lee International. Photograph: Apple Daily Hong Kong

    The intriguing thing about Lo is not that he’s a billionaire, but a billionaire who managed to slip under the radar for so many years.  Like many wealthy people, he is very private, avoiding public scrutiny of any sort. Hong Kong media describes Lo, known as 盧啟賢 in Asia, as “supremely private” because he doesn’t need a glitzy public persona to help impress anyone, and because he loathes self-promoting egomaniacs.

    That is not uncommon among the upper echelon of the world, where it’s better to be anonymous and rich than loved and famous. That is the hierarchy in the finance culture: the more important you are, the less you need to be seen.

    Garden-variety fame? That is a nasty symptom of being very wealthy that unfairly puts you in the same category as reality TV stars. Those who work at the top of their industry are not that, certainly not in their minds.  That sort of fame is like a skin rash that needs to be treated. And as with all things billionaires, that treatment comes by throwing money at the problem. Not only does Lo never allow his picture be taken in public, there are reports that he has attempted to buy up the rights to photographs of himself, limiting their availability.


    The rarely seen Lo (right) travels with his own security whenever possible. Photograph: Apple Daily Hong Kong

    Many in the financial sector have a similar policy, especially top CEOs.  They flee from cameras, flee from being interviewed, and certainly flee from ever being on Page Six.  Unflattering news, unflattering photos, are either bought with money, or buried via legal action. But even media-shy billionaires will occasionally surface in the public eye.  Earlier this year, Lo was romantically linked to Hong Kong actress Bernice Liu, better known as 廖碧兒, and it piqued the interest of many people across Asia. After all, everyone loves a fairytale story where an unknown billionaire and a famous former beauty pageant can go hand in hand.  With the combination of extreme wealth, good looks and killer work ethics, it’s safe to say Lo and Liu redefined the meaning of “power couple” making them a perfect match. But true to form, Lo never did any interviews or made any statements regarding the matter.

    Hong Kong actress Bernice Liu (left) romantically linked to media-shy billionaire Calvin Lo (right). Photograph: Oriental Daily

    The distaste of fame often morphs into outright secrecy, especially amongst the mega rich.  If fame is a sign of weakness then secrecy is a sign of success. True masters of the markets don’t need anyone else’s help. They can divine the secrets behind the frenzy of blips on the screen, finding the hidden order in randomness, and turning that into gold. If you think you have that secret it’s nonsensical to tell others about it for free. Much better to charge huge fees to share in the benefits of your special knowledge. People on TV giving investment advice? Either they are fools who don’t know anything and pretend to know it all, or they’re fools who know something and are giving it away for free. Either way, fools.

    Every generation or two produces a mysterious, behind-the-scenes tycoon of enormous power and influence, fundamentally different from even the wealthiest corporate titan. Lo is most certainly one of them who is mastering and reshaping entire economic landscape right under all our noses.

    Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on The London Economic

  • Five Guys and Shake Shack go head to head in Central HK

    Five Guys and Shake Shack go head to head in Central HK

    American burger franchises Five Guys and Shake Shack have opened new stores in Hong Kong this week. Launching on Johnston Road in Wan Chai this week, in premises formerly home to Tommy Bahama, Five Guys is known for its made-to-order beef burgers, creamy shakes and thick-cut Cajun fries.

    The move is part of an aggressive global expansion plan for the US fast-food chain. Founded in 1986 in Virginia, Five Guys first expanded outside the US in 2003 and now has almost 1500 outlets worldwide, in the US, Canada, UK, Europe and the Middle East.

    The company says it has another 1500 outlets under development as the brand has built “a cult-like following around the world”.

    New York’s Shake Shack opened at the Pacific Place Admiralty yesterday to queues of more than 200 fans and local residents. The first 200 people in line were awarded Shake Shack tote bags in celebration of the launch. It’s the chain’s second store, the first located at IFC mall.

    Shake Shack is a modern day “roadside” burger stand known for its Angus beef burgers, chicken sandwiches and flat-top Vienna beef dogs. The franchise also serves craft beer and wine. It was brought to Hong Kong by Maxim’s Group.

    Shake Shack originally opened in 2004 in Madison Square Park, and has since expanded to more than 180 locations in the US and more than 70 international locations.

  • Oriental Watch sales slide, but profit rises

    Oriental Watch sales slide, but profit rises

    Oriental Watch Holdings sold fewer watches in the six months to September, but at a higher margin, boosting profit by 39 per cent. Group turnover decreased by 21.7 per cent to HK$1.181 billion compared with $1.508 billion during the same period last year.

    Gross profit increased by 13.4 per cent to $288 million while gross profit margin increased to 24.4 per cent. Oriental Watch says rent negotiations contributed to lower overheads, helping profit attributable to shareholders rise 39.1 per cent to $64 million.

    As at September 30, the group operated 62 retail stores in Greater China: 11 in Hong Kong, one in Macau, three in Taiwan and 47 in Mainland China.

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  • Hong Kong’s Most Under-the-Radar Billionaire: Calvin Lo

    Hong Kong’s Most Under-the-Radar Billionaire: Calvin Lo

    While Jack Ma and Li Ka Shing can’t avoid the spotlight, other fantastically rich people do manage to slip under the general public’s radar, often because they built their wealth through privately held companies and keeping it off public records. Take how the extra-secretive Lo family in Hong Kong keep a low profile.

    The largest independent life insurance broker, R.E. Lee International, is still 100% privately owned by the Lo family. Unlike Ma, who must disclose his Alibaba stock holdings in public filings, Los’ under no such obligation.

    The media-shy billionaire Calvin Lo. [source: Apple Daily Hong Kong]

    Calvin Lo, the heir of the family, is the CEO of R.E. Lee International, a life insurance brokerage providing estate planning and business succession services for ultra high net-worth individuals and businesses. It’s estimated that his group places $1 billion of premiums annually. Under Lo, the company formed R.E. Lee Capital providing wealth management and advisory services with a few billion dollars under management. He is also a successful investor whose massive, far-reaching business has its fingers in industries as diverse as pulp and paper, real estate and wineries.

    Forbes estimates Lo’s personal net worth to be $1.7 billion, making him one of the wealthiest people in Asia, yet he chooses to lead a private life and has never appeared on any wealth ranking. This can be pretty common. A desire for security and a life free from the pestering of luxury retail companies and philanthropic organizations are motivations for keeping extreme wealth under wraps.

    Despite managing to stay virtually unnoticed by the rest of the world, even media-shy billionaires will occasionally surface in the public eye. It was only when the Hong Kong media uncovered Lo’s visit to Champagne, France, earlier this year that the world start noticing him. It turns out that Lo is Asia’s biggest purchaser and collector of champagne, and his most recent transaction was forking out $230 million for his champagne collection.

    Led by his bodyguard, Lo made an appearance at the VIP area of a French winery. [source: Oriental Daily]

    Other than being in the ultra exclusive billionaire club, Lo and Ma does share something else in common: they both keep a residence in Hong Kong’s most prestigious address. Every city has that neighborhood, an address that signifies wealth. New York City has Fifth Avenue, London has Kensington, and Miami has South Beach. Hong Kong has The Peak, a neighborhood that has been synonymous with prestige, luxury, and exclusivity since the colonial era. It’s the kind of neighborhood that consistently breaks records for the most expensive real estate in the world. Lo’s mansion is estimated to be worth $70 million, not a small amount by any stretch of the imagination.

    Privacy and security are definitely important when you’re this rich and successful.  Unlike entertainment celebrities, billionaires like Lo simply like to keep a low profile and are not recognised in public except by people who either are familiar with their industry or who know them personally.

    While not brokering deals or buying up chateaus, Lo spends his time with the world renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall to promote the wellbeing of animals, the community and environment. Public filings show that Lo sits on the Jane Goodall Institute board.

    Lo have been good friends with Dr. Jane Goodall since 2004 and supports her cause passionately. [source: Apple Daily Hong Kong]

    Lo’s determination to preserve his privacy while simultaneously emblazoning the NGO he supports with his name (and money) is just one of the many contradictions that make this hidden billionaire fascinating.

    Lo is a hypercar collector and owns the rare Pagani Huayra BC. Pictured here in Vancouver. [source: Ming Pao Hong Kong]

    This article originally appeared on www.entrepreneur.com/article/322745

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  • AlipayHK Appointed QR Code Payment Solution Vendor of MTR

    AlipayHK Appointed QR Code Payment Solution Vendor of MTR

    AlipayHK users will be able to take the MTR by simply tapping their mobile phones at ticket gates at MTR stations starting from mid 2020 as the mobile payment service provider stood out from the many bidding participants and was appointed the QR Code payment solution vendor of MTR on Thursday last week.

    The QR Code solution provided by AlipayHK allows passengers to scan a code in under 0.4 seconds at ticket gates. Furthermore, the QR Code solution will support dual offline solution, so even if internet service is poor or lacking, transactions can be completed to ensure smooth journeys. The plan is to launch the QR Code payment system across  91 MTR stations in 2020. Citizens throughout Hong Kong will be able to enjoy Smart Mobility when commuting on MTR.

    AlipayHK focuses on fulfilling Hong Kong citizens’ needs in shopping, dining, living, and commuting. After its launch into the taxi industry and of the EasyGo technology,, it makes history by hitting another milestone. As Hong Kong people’s number one choice of transport, MTR caters roughly 5.8 million passengers trips every work day. In light of the high volume of passengers, MTR will introduce QR Code as an additional method of payment for passengers.

    Jennifer Tan, CEO of Alipay Payment Service (HK) Limited (APSHK) expressed: “After our collaboration with minibus operators, AlipayHK is thrilled to have won the bid in being MTR’s QR Code payment system provider. Not only is this a recognition in AlipayHK’s technological stability, we feel confident QR Code transit technology will be successfully expanded into more aspects. Commuting via QR Code is the trend for the future. Aside from gradually merging with Hong Kong’s public transports, we will also be exploring smart mobility in outbound travels by entering the most popular travel destinations of Hong Kong people, driving smart mobility across Hong Kong.”

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  • Deliveroo Unveils New Tools to Help Restaurants Grow

    Deliveroo Unveils New Tools to Help Restaurants Grow

    Deliveroo today announced the Hong Kong launch of two new tools for its restaurant partners – Restaurant Home, an online portal which will provide data and insights on how restaurants’ delivery services perform, and Marketer, a key part of Restaurant Home, which will enable restaurants to upload and tailor promotions.

    Restaurants that partner with Deliveroo on average see their revenue increase by up to 30% and the company anticipates that the newly launched tools will see these figures increase even further.

    Brian Lo, General Manager of Deliveroo Hong Kong, said, “Innovation is in our blood and we are always on the lookout for new ways to support our riders, our partner restaurants, and the hungry people who depend on Deliveroo for a great meal delivered fast. The new tools now available in the Deliveroo arsenal will help our restaurant partners to improve their offerings and drive new efficiencies and profits, in turn benefitting our riders and end customers.”

    Restaurant Home

    Through Restaurant Home, Deliveroo will offer the following data insights:

    Delivered orders, to increase delivered orders

    • Shows the total number of delivered orders and the percentage change over a time period

    Prep time, to speed up delivery times

    • Shows the average time between order acceptance and rider pickup
    • Shows the percentage change in prep time over a time period as well as competitors’ average prep time in a local area

    Order ratings, to improve overall service

    • Shows a line graph of the average customer order rating per day over a time period, as well as how this compares to competitors in a local area

    Nick Lo, owner of Hong Kong restaurant So Far So Good (蘇花餐室), said, “Restaurant Home is another example of Deliveroo’s constant innovation. I’m excited to engage with this tool more, using the data analytics and insights provided to optimise my menu and my business.”

    Marketer

    Part of Restaurant Home, this function allows restaurants to set up their own marketing offers to consumers on the Deliveroo app. Restaurants are asking for more control of their businesses and Deliveroo has listened to this, offering insights gleaned from Restaurant Home to help restaurants tailor different promotions to customers.

    Ms Thi Hang, owner of Bun Cha Vietnamese, said, “The new Restaurant Home tool from Deliveroo gives me real time updates on key business metrics – I’m always logged in. I’m now also able to put up my own discounts, so I have more control over my ability to attract new customers and my visibility on the app.”

    Wider support to restaurants

    Restaurant Home and Marketer are the latest in a long line of measures Deliveroo offers restaurants to support their businesses. Working with 3,500 restaurants in Hong Kong via a team of more than 2,000 riders, Deliveroo is now serving delicious and convenient meals to people in 16 out of 18 of the city’s districts. In the past 6 months, Deliveroo has a 20% growth in riders and an 18% growth in the business as a whole.

    • Deliveroo helps restaurants create ‘Virtual Brands’ to diversify their offerings. Creating virtual restaurants allows existing restaurants to increase revenue by offering new or complementary cuisines from their current kitchen, but under new branding. A virtual brand appears as a separate restaurant with a new identity on Deliveroo.
    • Deliveroo offers ‘Editions’ delivery-only kitchens. Restaurants are able to expand without needing a physical presence in the area, enabling them to reach new customers. Deliveroo provides unique data and insights that allow them to tailor concepts and menu items to the area’s needs and preferences, leading to increases in sales of up to 400% in some cases.
    • Deliveroo stays on top of the trends so that restaurants understand where consumer demands are and where they’re headed next. For example, Deliveroo recently found that the most popular cuisine categories in Hong Kong are local Hong Kong food, Shanghainese, Vietnamese and Italian.
    • Wider support: Deliveroo is available to support restaurants with insights and direction on marketing and social media; menu design; photography; tailored customer acquisition and retention strategies.
    • Partnership opportunities, for example Deliveroo for Business offers a hotel room service so that hospitality groups can provide even more comfort and convenience to their guests.
  • Exclusives for I.T’s 30th anniversary

    Exclusives for I.T’s 30th anniversary

    I.T has been in fashion retail in Hong Kong and China for over 30 years, offering a wide designer portfolio.It is renowned for curating collections across international womenswear, menswear, footwear, accessories, and lifestyle that is tailored meticulously for the Greater China customer.

    At the turn of the century, I.T opened its first China flagship in Shanghai, one of China’s fastest growing markets.

    In 2017, the company launched its multi-brand fashion lifestyle platform ITeSHOP.

    “I.T now sets sight on creating a seamless omni-channel experience that will define the future of fashion” said Kar-Wai Sham, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of I.T Group.

    To envisage the digital landscape that will shape the next 30 years, I.T took the opportunity to invite its community of brands partners and creative talents to share their vision of the future.

    Their perspectives are expressed through a series of exclusive designs, capsule collections, artistic compilations and digital exhibitions that bids the viewer to visualise the future.

    I.T’s 30 th Anniversary Exhibition integrates a see-now-buy-now approach, with live digital kiosks and a shoppable app for exhibition-goers to fully immerse in an authentic digital shopping experience.

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  • Tse Sui Luen Jewellery sales rise boosted by tourist

    Tse Sui Luen Jewellery sales rise boosted by tourist

    Tse Sui Luen Jewellery sales and profit both rose in the first half year – but the company has tempered the good news by expressing concerns about the impact of the US-Sino trade war. Chairwoman Annie Yau said in a stock exchange filing that the improved retail sentiment in Hong Kong since September last year due to increased numbers of mainland tourists and growing consumption appetite of local customers, the city’s retail market has continued to progress “in an L-shape”.

    “However, the recent outbreak and escalation of trade dispute between China and the US has cast some doubts on the economic outlook for both the global and local economies going forward. One consequence has been the devaluation of Renminbi during the period, which could bring certain influence to our business in Hong Kong and Mainland China during the remainder of this financial year.

    “While it is still too early to conclude the actual impact on the group’s performance, we will continue to take a cautiously optimistic approach in our major operating regions, namely Hong Kong and Mainland China,” said Lau.

    Tse Sui Luen Jewellery sales increased by 10.2 per cent to HK$1.91 billion in the six months to July (the company has changed its financial year to September, so comparative figures are based on the six months to August 31 last year).

    Profit attributable to owners of the company increased by 38.9 per cent to $24.3 million.

    Sales in Hong Kong and Macau rose by 15.3 per cent during the half year, while same-store sales growth for all businesses in the territories rose 14.8 per cent. Retail rentals in Hong Kong remained static and “at a more reasonable level than that experienced in past years”, allowing the company expand its retail business in the city and enlarge the shop area of some of its existing stores, including those in Times Square in Causeway Bay and Plaza Hollywood in Diamond Hill.

    “We will continue to identify other suitable high-traffic shopping arcades and on-street stores in order to further penetrate tourist and residential precincts as applicable,” said Lau. “Nevertheless, the ongoing manpower shortage situation in Hong Kong remains a concern in setting the pace of expansion. In respect to Macau, due to a steady increase in tourists from Mainland China and their spending powers, our business in Macau achieved an increase of 8.7 per cent in turnover during the period.”

    In Mainland China, where its self-owned stores account for 37.3 per cent of Tse Sui Luen Jewellery sales, sales rose 4.2 per cent, but fell 3.5 per cent on a same-store basis. The company is expanding its network of franchised stores, adding 25 during the period taking the number to 207. After adding 197 self-run stores, Tse Sui Luen now has 404 outlets on the mainland.

    In Malaysia, Tse Sui Luen has five stores, including the latest to open in Genting. Sales rose 13.9 per cent.

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  • Shake Shack opens in Pacific Place HK

    Shake Shack opens in Pacific Place HK

    Located at Pacific Place, the new branch will give out 200 Shake Shack tote bags on a first-come-first-serve basis. In addition to the Shack classics and the Hong Kong exclusive milk tea shake, the new store will introduce a selection of local menu items, including a new series of “concrete” (custard desserts) – matcha golden bell, open sesame and queensway crunch.

    Shake Shack will launch three holiday shakes – Christmas cookie, chocolate peppermint, and Hazelnut – to celebrate the festive season. All of which are topped with whipped cream and decorated with colourful sprinkles.

    The holiday shakes will be available for a limited time at both Pacific Place and ifc mall.

    Echoing with Shake Shack’s mission to Stand For Something Good®, the Pacific Place store will donate 5% of sales from its matcha golden bell concrete to the i-dArt programme of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, a non-profit organisation that promotes social inclusion by encouraging people with differing abilities to participate in art.

    Shake Shack is ramping up its effort on global expansion.

    In a statement, Randy Garutti, CEO of Shake Shack, said the company entered into licensing agreements to open more than 50 stores in the Philippines, Mexico and Singapore over the next decade.

    The company expects to open its first stores in Singapore and Mexico in 2019.

  • Xtep Sports opens sportswear store in India

    Xtep Sports opens sportswear store in India

    Hong Kong-headquartered Xtep Sports has opened its first Indian flagship store, in Bengaluru. The Xtep group, which specialises in footwear and sportswear, currently has 6035 stores in 31 Mainland China provinces as well as in Vietnam, Nepal, Saudi Arabia and Spain. The company was founded by Ding Shui Po, now its CEO, in 1999 as an original equipment manufacturers for global sports brands. It launched its own label in 2002.

    The company is reportedly planning to open five stores in India by the end of this year and will also sell through local online marketplaces.

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  • Who is Hong Kong’s new luxury shopper?

    Who is Hong Kong’s new luxury shopper?

    As one of Asia’s leading retail hubs, Hong Kong has long been a mecca for luxury shoppers. Despite being home to APAC’s most expensive retail real estate (second globally to New York City’s 5th Avenue), there’s a reason why large, sprawling luxury shopping malls continue to dominate in a crowded city.

    Hong Kongers will be glad to know, though, that it holds its own when it comes to homegrown luxury spending, which recently overtook foreign consumption at 55% of total purchases.

    This figure is staggering when considering the total population of Hong Kong is roughly 7.3 million people, less than a quarter of the 60 million visitors it hosts each year.

    For these locally based consumers, luxury isn’t a one-off, aspirational purchase — it’s an innate part of their lifestyle, which explains why 93% of shoppers intend to maintain or increase spending in luxury goods in the next five years.

    This holds true especially for the younger millennial shoppers who will be driving the majority of the growth going forward.

    Source: Think with Google

    The evolving nature of consumers is a common challenge for many marketers, and the luxury industry is no exception.

    The task at hand for brands in Hong Kong is to understand this distinct group of younger customers and the behaviors that shape their expectations when it comes making high-value purchases.

    A curious and demanding bunch

    Reportedly, 90% of luxury shoppers conduct research online before making a purchase, and brand websites and search engines are the two most popular sources people turn to. In fact, they’ve become the digital storefront for this generation of digital natives.

    Source: Think with Google

    Having grown up with readily available information online, millennial and Gen Z consumers spend more time on research than ever before.

    In fact, 89% of shoppers aged 18-34 spend up to three weeks researching a luxury purchase. And they’re not alone: 64% of consumers over 45 will spend the same amount of time on research leading up to a purchase.

    Source: Think with Google

    Retailers may have once treated online as a separate channel to physical stores, but this notion is quickly becoming outdated.

    Whether customers are online or offline is a distinction made by businesses, not consumers.

    Online and offline consumer behaviors are increasingly blurring, and the respective experiences need to follow suit, particularly when it comes to the inspiration and research phases.

    In short, consistency across the two worlds is key.

    It’s hard to imagine a luxury label leaving a customer linger unattended to in its boutique, so, by the same token, a customer should never be left unanswered or ignored on Google, YouTube, or social.

    More is more

    With a more exploratory consumer mindset, brand loyalty may be more elusive for brands targeting younger shoppers.

    Engaging potential millennial and Gen Z luxury shoppers constantly by trying to stay top of mind and being always on will be crucial to gaining consideration.

    In today’s environment of fast fashion and overnight style sensations — while couture brands used to produce two collections per year, they now produce five to six — one of every three consumers surveyed said they make luxury purchases to keep up with trends.

    The tendency to shop more often is evidenced among shoppers aged 18-34, of whom 52% reported making premium purchases once every three months, compared to just 41% of shoppers 35+ who did the same.

    Source: Think with Google

    In addition to a higher frequency of purchase, our research also shows that millennial and Gen Z shoppers are likely to consider a wider breadth of brands. On average, this group owned products from a repertoire of four to six brands; compared to more brand-loyal 35+ shoppers, who owned between one and three brands.

    Source: Think with Google

    Inspiring online with offline

    When it comes to in-store shopping, the aspects that customers value most are: 1) guaranteed authenticity, 2) the ability to touch and feel the product, and 3) personalized customer service.

    How might these values translate online? With 63% of people expecting the same high-touch brand experience online and offline, the challenge is to emulate these qualities and provide satisfying digital experiences.

    Offering free shipping on returns, for example, gives peace of mind to customers wary of counterfeit goods. Similarly, detailed product videos on the brand site or as a pillar of content on YouTube can help shoppers inspect items for quality while engaging them in a rich experience.

    Leveraging customer data, such as previous purchases, to create individualized interactions and recommendations is no longer a nice-to-have, but a must. Just as consumers expect personalized customer service in store, personalization is fundamental for designing a top-notch digital brand experience.

    Source: Think with Google
    The shopping experience begins online for Hong Kong’s luxury consumers.
    Search and brand sites are key because 90% of purchases are digitally influenced.

    Millennial and Gen Z consumers spend the most time on research, so it pays to provide as much information as possible to this group. They also purchase more frequently, and they consider more brands when they do so.

    To stay top of mind, brands should ensure that they are present at as many touch points as possible and that their media strategies are always on.

    Expectations for online shopping are growing higher by the day, and this is especially true for premium brands.

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  • WHSmith ventures into Hong Kong with new franchise

    WHSmith ventures into Hong Kong with new franchise

    UK bookchain WH Smith is to open stores in Hong Kong after securing a franchise agreement with King Power Group (Hong Kong). The WH Smith Hong Kong outlets will open in travel retail locations such as railway stations – there is no mention in the announcement of the airport.

    “We are currently present in six countries in the region: Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, India and China, with excellent business partners and we are delighted to welcome King Power Group as a new franchise partner,” WH Smith chairman Louis de Bourgoing said.

    “We very much look forward to working together to grow our presence across Asia and bring the WH Smith offer to travelling customers in Hong Kong.”

    King Power Group operates more than 1000 stores in Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, North America and India. King Power Group travel retail MD Sunil Tuli described WH Smith as “an esteemed and leading news, books and convenience brand and operator globally.”

    “We have seen their international travel retail businesses grow over the past years and we trust that our collaboration will see good successes in Hong Kong.”

    WH Smith’s travel retail stores combine its core books and stationery offer, with convenience foods and travel accessories.

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  • The Longines Masters of Hong Kong is back

    The Longines Masters of Hong Kong is back

    Anticipation is building as the countdown to the new Season of the Longines Masters Series enters its final stage. The new season of the international Show Jumping Series will start in Paris, home to the European leg of the Grand Slam Indoor of Show Jumping, on November 29 – December 2, 2018 before it continues its journey across continents to Hong Kong on February 15 – 17, 2019, at AsiaWorld Expo and New York on April 25 – 28, 2019.

    Together with Title Partner and Official Timekeeper Longines and hosted by Founding Partner the Hong Kong Jockey Club, EEM held a Press Conference in Hong Kong this week to kick off the seventh edition of the Longines Masters of Hong Kong, alongside its official partners.

    The Longines Masters of Hong Kong attracts each year the best Show Jumping horses and riders on the planet for three days in six competitions, created course designed by Frank Rothenberger, for a total prize money of US$ 680,620.

    For the first time, show jumping riders from Asia will compete in a world class event alongside the international stars of the sport.

    An array of exhibitors will be present from the likes of Longines who will present time pieces at their boutique.

    A dedicated equestrian corner will bring together the likes of Kingsland, Fieldstone, Horse Pilot and Equict.

    Hermès Sellier will invite visitors to experience the brands historic equestrian goods.

    Technology and art will also be featured with the Maserati Simulation Driving Experience

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