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Tag: Hong Kong

  • Taschen debuts in Asia, starts with Hong Kong

    Taschen debuts in Asia, starts with Hong Kong

    German publisher Taschen is selling a book about Ferrari for HK$250,000 (US$32,000) in its first-ever Asian bookstore.

    The Ferrari book is just one of the special-edition volumes on offer in the store, and contains a collection of rare images that traces more than 70 years of the Italian car manufacturer’s history.

    While the book alone costs $47,000, buyers who pay full price will receive a copy sealed in an aluminium case bearing the Ferrari horse logo and mounted on a podium designed to evoke the cylinders of a race car engine.

    Opening in Hong Kong’s Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts, Taschen’s 1700sqft store operates a books-only retail model, which aims to distinguish it from competing stores trading in the region’s troubled print publishing market. Different sizes and editions of the same books, exclusively image-driven volumes, are being sold to be affordable to people of all income levels.

    The firm’s MD Marlene Taschen said that Hong Kong constitutes a tentative first move into the region for the publisher. “We want to make the Hong Kong store a success first before going to the next market in Asia,” she said. Taschen Hong Kong is the firm’s 14th location.

    Hong Kong’s book market has been beset recently by multiple store closures in a high-on-overheads retail environment that now contends with digital products. Prominent book stores Page One and Dymocks are recent departures from the market.

    CLSA’s head of China education and Hong Kong consumer research Mariana Kou said that limited and special print editions would attract book fans in an industry that has been transformed by consumers’ ability to cross-check prices conveniently online.

    “These books can become collectibles,” she said, noting Amazon’s moves to launch physical bookstores. “I am optimistic about the book industry.”

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  • Esprit HK suffers a huge loss

    Esprit HK suffers a huge loss

    Distressed fashion chain Esprit has warned of a massive HK$2.2 billion (US$280 million) loss based on write-downs, exit costs – and a continuation of falling sales.

    The Hong Kong-listed company filed a profit warning with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in which it said, based on the first 11 months figures for the year – it expected a loss before interest and taxes of between $2.170 billion and $2.270 billion for the full financial year to June 30. Last year, Esprit lost $102 million.

    A just over half the Esprit loss results from non-cash items and one-off costs due to store closures, the company says it expects to post an operating loss as high as $950 million due to plummeting sales. It reported a “decline of customer traffic” to its brick-and-mortar stores, higher than it projected.

    The one-off costs listed were:

    • A full impairment and write-down of the value of the China business, of HK$ 794 million before taxation.
    • The divestment of its stores in Australia and New Zealand, which will cost between $180 million and $200 million in provision for store closures and impairments.
      • Additional provisions and impairments due to the weaker than expected sales performance of directly managed retail stores for the year, including provisions for store closures and onerous leases, ($175 million to $185 million) and impairment of fixed assets of directly managed retail stores, ($11 million to $16 million).
    • A write-down in the value of inventory of between $80 million and $90 million arising from a change in the way it estimates the value of aged inventory.
    • Impairment of between $30 million and $35 million associated with obsolete SAP applications.

    The company said it would present final results for the year in September.

    Esprit has been struggling to achieve profit for the several years. In late April it warned shareholders its third-quarter performance was “well below expectation” and announced it would not renew the lease on its Causeway Bay flagship store.

    In March, it announced Jose Manuel Martínez Gutierrez would step down as group CEO and executive director of the company on June 1. Anders Kristiansen has since officially taken over the role.

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  • New flagship “K11 MUSEA” opens in HK in Q3 2019

    New flagship “K11 MUSEA” opens in HK in Q3 2019

    New World Development announced the naming of the most ambitious project to date from its ground-breaking K11 Group: K11 MUSEA, a new museum-retail complex situated in the heart of Hong Kong’s US$2.6 billion Victoria Dockside development.

    The new landmark K11 MUSEA – a name inspired by A Muse by the Sea for its retail concepts – will anchor the 3 million-square-foot, art and design district Victoria Dockside in Tsim Sha Tsui, described by US media as “Hong Kong’s Hudson Yards” and “Hong Kong’s most anticipated opening”, while also doubling as a new ultra high-end experiential retail, art, cultural and dining destination. It is set to reinvigorate the Tsim Sha Tsui harbourfront, one of the most notable pieces of real estate in Greater China, when it debuts in 2019.

    K11 MUSEA (pronounced: meu-see-ah) is Adrian Cheng‘s creature, Executive Vice Chairman of New World Development and Founder of K11 Group, who has developed a number of innovative museum-retail malls across Greater China and invests in tech, retail, fashion, property, entertainment, media and design globally.

    Helming the architecture of K11 MUSEA is James Corner (James Corner Field Operations) and Forth Bagley (Kohn Pederson Fox). The 10-storey K11 MUSEA will house an extensive selection of international brands – many of which will be flagships – and is the crown jewel of K11’s museum-retail concept, curated to offer visitors the best-in-class immersive retail experience.

    In fact, the journey will begin from its exterior. Designed with content-driven global millennials in mind, K11 MUSEA will greet visitors with its rotating world-class art collection. Its façade will feature one of the world’s largest living walls of over 50,000 square feet, while a one-of-a-kind outdoor amphitheatre space and a large LED screen will also be in place for a slew of cultural happenings.

    “K11 MUSEA, anchoring the newly designed Victoria Dockside, marks a significant milestone in retail development. And as K11 approaches its 10th anniversary this year, I’m delighted to announce the naming of K11 MUSEA, K11’s proudest project since the brand’s inception in 2008,” said Cheng, who is reinventing New World Development as a “cultural enterprise”.

    “Its location, scale and concept are unique, the project involves leading architects as well as over 100 local and international designers and artists. K11 MUSEA will also bring great cultural content back to Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, which has lost its legendary charm since the late 90s. K11 MUSEA will be Hong Kong and Asia’s new cultural destination, where global millennials can come together and discover their muse.”

    Pioneering a new immersive experience for global millennials, K11 MUSEA takes inspiration from research that highlights Asian millennials as “Super Consumers”, a prominent driver of global consumption with spending power set to reach US$6 trillion by 2020 as they grow to account for 45% of Asia Pacific’s millennial population.

    Travel will continue to be a key lifestyle feature of Asian millennials, who are expected to see an 11% annual growth in outbound tourists. Chinese millennials, in particular, see travel and luxury as part of an indulgent lifestyle reflective of social status. K11 MUSEA caters to their sophistication and preference for exclusivity and bespoke products while positioning itself as an aspirational global destination merging art, culture and commerce.

    A new spatial design and curation by Hong Kong’s Iconic Harbourfront represents a world-class public art collection, which will be curated and displayed throughout K11 MUSEA’s premise, establishing it as the next cultural destination, while among K11 MUSEA’s architectural highlights is the 2,100-square-foot Sunken Plaza, modelled on Roman amphitheatres.

    The space features a façade with conical-shaped glass panels, the largest of which stands over 19 feet tall. Programmed water patterns and a misting system will also be installed. Together with an LED screen, measuring at 63 feet by 25 feet, Sunken Plaza will become an immersive venue for a slew of cultural events such as film festivals and live music events.

    Sustainability is at the core of K11 MUSEA’s offerings. The Project’s core and shell has achieved green building pre-certifications including the Hong Kong BEAM Plus (Gold) and the U.S. LEED (Gold).

    Boasting extensive greenery and over 50,000 square feet of living walls, equivalent to the surface area of 18 tennis courts, K11 MUSEA sets a new benchmark for green design in Hong Kong. Its interior features natural materials such as limestone and wood.

    Other highlight features include rainwater harvesting which provides for 100% of irrigation water and a seawater-cooled, oil-free HVAC chiller system, which reduces over 12% of annual energy consumption compared to the baseline of the stringent U.S. ASHRAE 90.1 standard.

  • Sasa Hong Kong and Macau profits soar

    Sasa Hong Kong and Macau profits soar

    Sasa profits soared 34.7 per cent in the last financial year, as sales at Hong Kong and Macau stores posted solid gains.

    Sasa’s parent Sa Sa International says group sales rose 6.2 per cent to HK$8.018 billion (US$1.022 billion), driven by a 7.9 per cent increase in Hong Kong and Macau, which accounts for 82 per cent of its business. Profit for the year was $440.1 million.

    The increased profit and sales were achieved despite the closure of the Taiwan business, with all 25 stores closed by year end, March 31 resulting in a loss of $25.1 million.

    Hong Kong and Macau

    In its results announcement, Sa Sa International said the reasons for the recovery of Hong Kong sales were various. “The satisfactory economic environment, high employment rate, stable property and stock market, and bullish local consumer sentiment are all driving robust growth.”

    The company said demand for middle- and high-end cosmetic products in Mainland China is soaring on the back of strong retail growth driven by the improved purchasing power of Mainland residents living in the third and fourth-tier cities.

    “This, in combination with a weak US Dollar and the strengthening of the Renminbi, is encouraging outbound travel and greater consumption by mainland tourists.”

    When those tourists visit Hong Kong, they typically shop at Sasa and its rivals. The growth rate of total transactions to Mainland Chinese visitors shopping at Sasa during the full year was 4.6 per cent, well ahead of the 3.3 per cent to local shoppers. But tourist transactions rose 8.5 per cent in the second-half year alone.

    With same-store growth up 3.9 per cent, a review of locations clearly paid off. Sa Sa’s sales rose in every quarter, by 21 and 23 per cent in the first two and by 28 per cent in each of the last two.

    Mainland China

    Sa Sa International’s Mainland China sales, measured in local currency, increased by 5 per cent to $298.7 million.

    Thanks to better cost control and increased store contributions, the group’s loss for this market reduced to $10.2 million. Group sales in the mainland rose by 6 per cent in the second half, compared to 3.9 per cent in the first half.

    Singapore

    Sa Sa Singapore sales rose 1.9 per cent for the year to HK$211.5 million, measured in local currency terms, but rose by 8.7 per cent on a same-stores basis.

    Sales declined in the first quarter because of three store closures near the end of the previous financial year, however, same-store sales turned into positive territory in the second quarter, improving further in the second half.

    Malaysia

    Sa Sa Malaysia sales rose 6.1 per cent to HK$362.5 million, but same-store revenue declined 1.2 per cent.

    The company said the more traditional brick-and-mortar retail market in Malaysia has been affected by the rapid development of digital media and e-commerce. “In addition, many new shopping malls have opened, diluting the traffic to the group’s existing stores, especially in the capital Kuala Lumpur, and indirectly affecting stores’ turnover.”

    The group’s turnover growth declined from 9.2 per cent in the first half to 3.4 per cent in the second half.

    Store network

    At the end of March, Sasa had 265 retail outlets, including 118 in Hong Kong and Macau, 55 in Mainland China, 20 in Singapore and 72 in Malaysia. But within Hong Kong and the mainland, 22 stores were closed and 23 opened as the company moved to improve locations and reduce rents.

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  • KLASSE14 celebrates time in its one-of-a-kind concept store

    KLASSE14 celebrates time in its one-of-a-kind concept store

    KLASSE14 has officially landed in Hong Kong with its one-of-a-kind concept store.

    KLASSE14 retail space incarnates the value for time, key element that defines the brand ordinarily unique experience.

    KLASSE14 is a fashion & lifestyle brand with an Italian soul fed by Mario Nobile’s creativity. The brand, established in 2014, has rapidly enchanted millennials across different markets such as Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Australia, and also Italy and Switzerland through hundreds point of sales and kiosks with major retail partners.

    In 2018, the brand decided to open its first concept store Ciao Hong Kong in HK to pay homage to the city, where the company started its journey and it is still headquartered.

    The store is the result of years of activity that forged the brand identity and personality of the brand, which found its ultimate materialization into a bright white canvas in Wyndham Street aimed to host dreams and love for its aficionados.

    The retail concept has been created by Paolo Giannelli, Founding Partner at Area-17 exclusively for KLASSE14, in close collaboration with Mario Nobile, the Creative Director of the brand.

    Shiny “winged hands”, KLASSE14’s emblem, welcome the visitors. KLASSE14 logo has its root in a photo with a couple shaking hands and wearing “Volare”, the brand’s top item. The photo became viral on the Internet and couples started sharing the same photo as symbol of their love, so that KLASSE14 decided to transform it into its symbol in order to highlight the important role that the community of fans has played in the brand development.

    The store resembles a museum space, where timepieces are exhibited in a series of elements distributed diagonally in a narrow and deep room. The inspiration of the retail concept comes from KLASSE14 watches. The layout of the store is conceived as a canvas to host the visionary and essential product design, which led the research of materials, colours, shapes and lights that work as a natural extension of the products.

    The store is divided into two levels. The ground floor is dedicated to the product, with showcases inspired by the design of the flared dial of the watches, with cuts of light on the edges display the products. The two plain walls, deliberately left free to let the products stand out, host very unique elements, such as the wall-mounted showcases, mixed with a lighting-box and a series of electronic devices that enable the customer to interact directly with the brand and use social media to share the moment, a touchscreen grafted in the wall also enables the visitors to explore the brand content online while waiting to be served.

    Walking up to the second floor visitors’ attention is caught by split monitor tiles, on which the photos of the advertising campaign are looped, making a coloured waterfall that descends from the first floor to the ground floor. The first floor is an experiential space, where the brand invites its customers to a small lounge to know them better. The same space is also dedicated to packaging, which becomes a ritual as customers can personalize cards for their beloved ones.

    The store is overall a celebration of white colour and light, and features as interior design elements masterpieces such as Tolomeo lamps by Artemide and Colubi armchairs by Viccarbe.

    As the store is conceived as museum space, it will host different workshops to engage HK community. KLASSE14 is a very young brand which finds its muses in young tech-savvy generations setting fashion trends. The brand owes its popularity to its community of fans that post after post built a strong branding discourse around it made of moments of shared happiness.

    KLASSE14 is positioned in the market as a fashion brand releasing different collections throughout the year inspired by global fashion trends, but also its community of fans’ new needs. KLASSE14 is a gifting company, its watches celebrate moments and are chosen to be a symbol of togetherness and connection with the beloved ones.

    View the gallery below (4 images) :

  • Confectioner Sugarfina to debut at Harbour City

    Confectioner Sugarfina to debut at Harbour City

    Californian luxury confectioner Sugarfina is to open its first store in Asia – in Hong Kong’s Harbour City mall.

    Sugarfina is being brought to Hong Kong by Upper East Holdings, which launched Lady M in Hong Kong in 2015 and plans to open several Sugarfina stores in the territory.

    Upper East founders Stephen Yeung and Tammy Wu says the new 900sqft Sugarfina Hong Kong boutique will give shoppers “a taste of candy heaven” with a selection of packaged confections for every occasion, from hostess gifts to Lunar New Year gifts to the trademark Sugarfina Candy Trunk which holds 20 Candy Cubes.

    The store will be designed to encourage Instagramming, featuring Sugarfina’s signature aqua and white colour scheme and photogenic merchandising.

    Sugarfina describes itself as a disruptor in the US$200 billion global confectionery market for creating luxury treats for adults, including a cocktail candy collection with Champagne Bears, Single Malt Scotch Cordials, and Rose All Day Bears whose popularity led to a waiting list of more than 18,000 customers in the US.

    The boutiques feature a collection of candies artfully displayed in modern Lucite cubes, including an area dedicated to “top shelf” candies – exotic, premium offerings from around the world such as Golden Truffle Eggs from Italy and interlocking chocolate wedding rings from Greece.

    “We’ve been dreaming of expanding Sugarfina globally since the early days of the brand,” said Rosie O’Neill and Josh Resnick, co-founders and co-CEOs of Sugarfina.

    “Hong Kong is the window into Asia and Upper East Holdings is the ideal partner to establish our brand in the region. We’re excited to partner with them to bring Sugarfina to life in one of the most vibrant cities in the world.”

    Wu and Yeung say they were “mesmerised” by Sugarfina’s sophisticated concept and innovative candy flavours when visiting stores in New York, where they used to live.

    “It’s exciting to introduce a fresh concept to the sweet tooths of Hong Kong. We have always been passionate about finding the perfect luxury confections experience to bring over from the US and we look forward to working with the creative minds of Sugarfina.”

    To mark the Sugarfina Hong Kong opening, Sugarfina has created a two-piece Candy Bento Box exclusive to the store, inspired by the Hong Kong trams. The gift box will include Sugarfina’s Rose All Day Bears & Fuji Apple Caramel candies.

    Harbour City is the first step in the retailer’s larger global expansion strategy, with O’Neill and Resnick planning partnerships in other foreign markets.

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  • TUMI reopens at Harbour City in HK

    TUMI reopens at Harbour City in HK

    TUMI, the leading name in premium travel, business and lifestyle accessories, re-opens its Harbour City store in Tsim Sha Tsui to unveil a new store redesign.

    The recently refurbished 990 square feet space features multiple enhancements including a new seating area and upgraded digital touchpoints for customers to enjoy.

    To celebrate the TUMI store re-opening at this iconic retail destination, TUMI is also pleased to announce the prelaunch of two highly-anticipated assortments at Harbour City for a limited time only.

    Earlier this year, we had met Adam Hershman, TUMI Mainland China, Hong Kong & Macau General Manager to aks him about his plans to enhance offline customer experience.

    “We have recently done some big things in Hong Kong to offer customers an exceptional TUMI experience. We renovated two stores in ifc mall and Pacific Place and opened a new boutique at Elements in September 2017. All of these stores have been upgraded with our Madison Store concept. This concept was developed by award-winning designer and architect Dror Benshetrit for TUMI’s flagship store on Madison Avenue in New York and has now been rolled out at select locations worldwide,” he explained.

    “The concept helps make our stores the right canvas to tell the TUMI story with a premium, sophisticated environment. The stores are brightened up so that the products really stand out on their displays. The store also seamlessly incorporates digital technologies, like touchscreen and video displays. With our monogram booth, we can also customize products on the spot for another interactive touchpoint,” he continued.

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  • AirAsia to transfer International flights to MCIA’s new Terminal 2

    AirAsia to transfer International flights to MCIA’s new Terminal 2

    With the opening of the new Terminal 2 of the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) next month, AirAsia Philippines has announced its transfer of international flights to and from Cebu at the new terminal by July 1.

    In an interview on Tuesday morning, AirAsia Philippines CEO Captain Dexter Comendador said they are excited to transfer to the new P17.5 billion terminal.

    “We are delighted to be moving to a new terminal, which will provide our guests with enhanced travel experience. The relocation to the new terminal also provides us with great capacity for long-term growth and expansion in Cebu as AirAsia’s hub,” he said.

    The low-cost airline is advising their passengers traveling from Cebu starting July to be at the Terminal 2 at least three hours before their scheduled flights.

    Currently, AirAsia already operates several international flights in Cebu including Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Taipei, Incheon, Shenzhen, Hangzhou.

    They will also be having their inaugural flight from Cebu to Shanghai in China this coming July 7.

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  • 3 HK calls for transparent 5G spectrum roadmap

    3 HK calls for transparent 5G spectrum roadmap

    Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings’ (HTHKH) mobile division 3 Hong Kong has joined the call for reforms to the market’s spectrum policy and roadmap to expedite the launch of 5G services.

    In a submission to the government’s consultation on arrangements for the allocation of spectrum in the 3.4-GHz to 3.6-GHz band, 3 Hong Kong urged the government to introduce a transparent and long-term spectrum policy with a 10-year rather than 3-year spectrum supply plan.

    The operator raised concerns about issues including the Communications Authority’s proposal to establish large scale 5G restriction zones to minimize interference to the satellite services operated in the band for satellite remote testing, tracking and control.

    3 Hong Kong said such zones would have a negative impact on both 5G communications and the deployment of M2M connectivity across Hong Kong, which will be a key component of the HKSAR government’s smart city ambitions.

    Mobile operators have proposed a number of alternatives to the restriction zones, including relocating the telemetry, tracking and control station from Tai Po Industrial Estate to a remote area, adding shielding coverage to telemetry stations and optimizing radiation from mobile base station antennae.

    The operator also opposed a suggested spectrum cap of 100MHz at the upcoming auction, citing concerns it may lead to a scenario of only two successful licensees dominating 5G markets.

    Meanwhile the reserve price should be set at a minimal level to encourage 5G infrastructure investment, the submission states.

    Finally, 3 Hong Kong joined HKT in urging the government to provide operators with a right of access to enter buildings, shopping malls, MTR premises and road tunnels to install 5G equipment.

    But in its own submission, Asia’s top satellite operator AsiaSat has expressed significant concerns about the proposal to reallocate the C band to 5G services, and argued that the proposed exclusion zones are not an adequate solution.

    The C-band provides a variety of services including contribution and distribution of TV services, broadcasting data and information such as meteorological data, maritime/aeronautical related safety, disaster relief and emergency communications services, AsiaSat said.

    Reallocating the band will significantly limit Hong Kong and Greater China’s satellite operators’ ability to control and monitor their satellite fleet and earth stations, the submission states.

    Links for safe monitoring and operation of satellites may be lost and numerous satellite TV dishes mounted on buildings across Hong Kong would need to be readjusted.

    AsiaSat has recommended that the government require operators to find alternative mitigation methods to minimize interference, and that operators should bear the cost of implementing these methods.

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  • UPS broadens delivery options in Hong Kong

    UPS broadens delivery options in Hong Kong

    UPS Hong Kong will partner with EF Lockers or SF Stores to offer greater flexibility for cross-border e-commerce deliveries, with the introduction of alternative delivery locations (ADLs).

    Shoppers will receive a text alert as the shipment arrives in Hong Kong, and be given the option to collect it from a designated alternative location – either an EF Locker or SF Store.

    “Our retail-industry research tells us that 81 per cent of Hong Kong’s online shoppers are interested in having their purchases shipped to an ADL with extended hours if fees are less than shipping the package to their home,” says UPS Hong Kong and Macau MD Lauren Zhao.

    “Cross-border e-commerce is accounting for an increasingly large proportion of all e-commerce sales in Asia, particularly with the growing popularity of online marketplaces,” says UPS Asia Pacific president Ross McCullough.

    He says it is crucial to develop the necessary infrastructure now, with the Apac e-commerce logistics market expected to more than double from US$108 billion to $232 billion by 2021.

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  • De Beers Diamonds expands into Kowloon

    De Beers Diamonds expands into Kowloon

    De Beers Diamond Jewellers Hong Kong has launched a retail location, its fourth, in Kowloon.

    The 1000sqft store features bridal diamond jewellery including engagement rings and wedding bands, as well as high jewellery and iconic collections such as Talisman.

    The opening brings the chain’s global store count to 34. De Beers launched its retail chain in 2001 in partnership with LVMH. The miner last year bought out the luxury jeweller’s 50 per cent stake.

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  • Operation Goalkeeper World Cup against Counterfelt Goods

    Operation Goalkeeper World Cup against Counterfelt Goods

    In a sting to thwart criminal attempts to sell 2018 FIFA World Cup fakes, Hong Kong Customs’ Operation Goalkeeper has so far resulted in about $15.3 million worth of suspect merchandise being seized, plus five arrests.

    Aimed at preventing such items crossing the border, Operation Goalkeeper launched at the end of April with a focus on finding infringing items being trafficked through passenger and cargo channels at airport, seaport, land boundary and railway control points on the eve of the matches.

    Launched at the end of April 30, the sting has so far resulted in about 259,000 pieces of suspect items in 21 cases being seized.

    Items include about 180,000 pieces of apparel and accessories, 50,000 pairs of shoes and 29,000 bags. There are also about 57,000 suspected counterfeit jerseys, including 50,000 pieces bearing suspected forged FIFA trademarks.

    The items were seized from 12 seaborne containers, four goods vehicles and a batch of air parcels.

    Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

    Operation goalkeeper continues.

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  • Redesign looms for Bulgari Hong Kong flagship

    Redesign looms for Bulgari Hong Kong flagship

    Bulgari has reimagined its Hong Kong Landmark Chater flagship with a design concept specially developed by American architect Peter Marino.

    Opened in 2002, the flagship has been restyled to now occupy more than 3000sqft of the facade of the Landmark Chater.

    The design draws inspiration from architectural elements of the brand’s flagship store on Via Condotti in Rome, including a reproduction of the iconic door complete with a hand-crafted replica of the lantern that hangs over the entrance.

    Incorporated in the floor at the entrance is the brand’s signature eight-pointed Condotti star in red porphyry – a universal symbol of balance, harmony and cosmic order, and also a graphic representation of the saying “Roma caput mundi” (all roads lead to Rome).

    “Entering the store is like a walk in the city of Rome, kissed by the sunlight; with a central main ambiance that resembles a promenade or Italian piazza, then opening up the view to other spectacular rooms,” says Bulgari. “The round ceiling vault pays homage to the Pantheon dome, as well as to the cupolas of typical Baroque churches.”

    In the main entrance, a light bronze oval-shaped counter in galvanized iron, inspired by the Italian architect Carlo Scarpa, is an invitation to browse the store and to explore Bulgari’s iconic collections.

    Jewellery is presented on original Eros marble tables designed by Angelo Mangiarotti. The High Jewellery Room, custom-designed by Marino himself, is enriched with Imperial Saffron silk.

    A stairway in Pavonazzetto marble leads to the Happening Lounge, a VIP area that echoes the lounge originally dedicated to Elizabeth Taylor, where the Hollywood actress would spend hours after escaping from the paparazzi through a secret door to chat with Gianni Bulgari. Today, Hong Kong shoppers can have aperitifs in the lounge.

    On the other side of the store, the Bridal Room welcomes couples in an intimate atmosphere.

    Meanwhile, the High Jewellery Room, designed specially by Marino, features windows covered with saffron-coloured silk to recreate the earthy colours of Italy, and four majestic marble columns that divide the interior, reminiscent of Rome’s baroque architectural style.

    Until August 31, Bulgari has Aperitivo at the store, offering complimentary Italian beverages and snacks.

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  • China Mobile Hong Kong plans more 5G trials

    China Mobile Hong Kong plans more 5G trials

    China Mobile Hong Kong has participated in the Hong Kong 5G Industry Forum 2018 organized by the Communications Association of Hong Kong.

    The forum addressed Hong Kong’s 5G mobile development roadmap and the crucial role that mobile operators will play in supporting the HKSAR government’s smart city and 5G development plans.

    At the event, CMHK principal engineer for network planning and implementation Alex Cheng said the company commenced 5G testing in March after being assigned trial permits and since launching its China Mobile 5G Innovation Center Hong Kong Open Lab.

    He said the operator plans to continue rolling out more 5G lab tests and demonstrations from the open lab, and expects to be able to release results from the first round of tests from the second half of the year.

    Cheng also expressed support for the government’s 5G spectrum release plan, which is expected to be announced as early as next year.

    The company is working with business partners on constructing a trial 5G network environment and testing applications over the network. In addition, CMHK intends to collaborate with local universities to promote the development of 5G applications. These activities will cover areas including 5G technical research and IoT application innovations.

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  • Sotheby’s introduces ‘Instant’ fine wine cellars

    Sotheby’s introduces ‘Instant’ fine wine cellars

    In the US, these cellar ‘starter packs’ range from a simple introductory cellar costing US$5,000 to a collection costing US$25,000, with two further options in-between; while only two options are, currently, available in Hong Kong.

    The number of wines, choice and average bottle price changes from cellar to cellar and includes a consultation with a specialist in order to arrive at a final selection that suits the tastes of the individual.

    The selection of wines available also differs slightly between the US and Hong Kong but covers all the basics of French, Italian, Australian and US fine wine

    All of the cellars, once chosen, can be delivered to select US cities or within the Hong Kong SAR in 24 hours.

    The options available in the US include:

    • Cellar 1 – ‘Introductory’: 50 bottles of wine with an average price of $115; the customer chooses 25 wines, two bottles of each. $5,000
    • Cellar 2 – ‘Intermediate’: 72 bottles of wine with an average price of $150; choose 36 wines, two bottles of each. $10,000
    • Cellar 3 – ‘Enjoyment’: 165 bottles of wine with an average price of $165; choose 55 wines, three bottles of each. $25,000
    • Cellar 4 – ‘Investment’: 90 bottles of wine with an average price of $300; choose 15 wines, six bottles of each. $25,000

    The full list of wines for each cellar will be added to a following page but include:

    • Cellar 1 – 2004 Dom Ruinart; Bernard-Bonin 2015 Meursault Vieilles Vignes; 2009 Branaire-Ducru; 1996 Calon-Ségur; 2005 Langoa Barton; 2009 Montrose; 2014 Denis Bachelet Gevrey Chambertin Vieilles Vignes; 2013 Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia; 2013 Ulysses
    • Cellar 2 adds – 2008 Louis Roederer; 2010 Climens; 2013 Pavillon Blanc; 2014 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne; 2011 Comtes Lafon, Volnay; 2006 Forts de Latour; 2013 Ornellaia; 2013 Claude Dugat, Gevrey Chambertin
    • Cellar 3 adds – 2009 Dom Peerignon (Tokujin Yoshioka edition); 2002 Pol Roger Winston Churchill; 2013 Aile d’Argent; 2015 Domaine Leflaive, Puligny Montrachet Clavoillon 1er Cru; 2009 Hosanna; 2001 Léoville Las Cases; 2005 Vieux Château Certan; 2005 Montrose; 2007 Prieuré-Roch, Nuits Saint Georges Clos des Corvees; 2011 Solaia and 2013 Araujo.
    • Cellar 4 – 2012 Angélus; 2009 Pontet Canet; 2014 Geroges Roumier, Chambolle Musigny; 2009 Pavillon Rouge; 2008 La Mission Haut-Brion; 2015 Robert Groffier, Chambolle Musigny Les Hauts-Doix 1er cru.
    Lees ook:

    Lees ook: