Retail News CRM

Tag: Hong Kong

  • Nike footwear supplier Yue Yuen to make HK$6.7b from retail arm’s privatisation plan

    Nike footwear supplier Yue Yuen to make HK$6.7b from retail arm’s privatisation plan

    Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings, the world’s largest footwear maker which supplies global brands including Nike and Adidas, is set to receive HK$6.76 billion (US$860 million) from the proposed privatisation plan of its retail arm, according to a stock exchange filing on Sunday.

    Yue Yuen plans to sell its 62.41 per cent stake in Chinese footwear retailer Pou Sheng International (Holdings) to its Taiwan-listed parent Pou Chen Corporation in a HK$10.9 billion privatisation plan. Pou Chen in turn owns a 49.99 per cent stake in Yue Yuen.

    Pou Chen is offering Pou Sheng shareholders HK$2.03 per share, which represents a 31.82 per cent premium over the HK$1.54 per share closing price on Friday.

    The privatisation offer, which needs shareholders’ approval, is expected to be completed by May 30 after which Pou Sheng will cancel its listing status in Hong Kong.

    Pou Chen said it intends to finance the offer from internal cash resources and loans. Its financial adviser Citigroup is satisfied the company has sufficient financial resources for the offer.

    Yue Yuen said it plans to return part of the HK$6.76 billion as a one-off special dividend to its shareholders while the rest will be used for general working capital.

    Pou Sheng was spun off from Yue Yuen and listed in Hong Kong in 2008. Since trading in the shares was not active it made the “listing status ineffective in providing a sufficient source of funding for Pou Sheng’s business and growth”, the filing said.

    Pou Chen said turning Pou Sheng into a wholly owned subsidiary would allow the retailer to be more flexible in developing a new business model to better compete in China’s retail market where it faces increasing competition from online stores and aggressive marketing from sportswear companies.

    “Pou Sheng needs to be very flexible in transforming its operations in a timely fashion; Pou Sheng will enjoy more advantageous financing and coordinated internal treasury management under Pou Chen;

    and Pou Sheng will benefit from a streamlined corporate and management structure and an enhanced sharing of expertise,” the announcement said.

    Yue Yuen, which has been listed in Hong Kong since 1992, owns factories in China, Vietnam and Indonesia, producing 300 million pairs of shoes a year for Nike, Adidas, Reebok, New Balance, Puma and Timberland.

    Lees ook:

  • Alibaba’s Hema supermarket chain to open more stores

    Alibaba’s Hema supermarket chain to open more stores

    Alibaba’s Hema supermarket says it will open three stores in the Chinese city of Xian by the end of this year.

    The offline supermarket’s expansion into the northwestern Chinese city follows an announcement that it will add 30 locations in Beijing by year-end, rapidly expanding its store count in the capital to 35 from the current five.

    The Beijing and Xian expansion, together, more than doubles Hema’s presence – currently 26 stores in seven Chinese cities, including 14 in Shanghai, five in Beijing, two in Ningpo, two in Hangzhou, and one each in Shenzhen, Suzhou and the Southwest city of Guiyang.

    Launched in March 2015, the ‘new retail’-driven supermarket is the purest manifestation of Alibaba’s ambitions to marry online with offline, offering consumers a “more-efficient and flexible” shopping experience.

    It starts with a mobile app that allows for researching of products while consumers browse the store. All payments are handled through Alipay, the mobile-payments platform owned by Alibaba’s related company Ant Financial. To improve consumers’ experience, the data collected from transactions is used to personalise recommendations, while geographic data helps to plan the most efficient delivery routes. Residents living within a 3km radius of a Hema store can have their groceries delivered to their doors as quickly as 30 minutes after ordering.

    Government partnership

    Expanding Alibaba’s Hema supermarket in Xian is part of a series of pacts Alibaba Group signed with the city government on Tuesday, including a memorandum of understanding for Alibaba’s new Silk Road headquarters, which the company will build in the city in the next few years. The two parties signed a total of 11 strategic partnership agreements spanning cloud computing, smart logistics, New Retail and financial services.

    Tianhua Zhong, vice president of Alibaba Group, said the partnership with the city government has been progressing smoothly since talks began last summer, adding that the next stage of collaboration will focus on five areas: e-commerce and new retail, City Brain projects, accessible financial services, smart logistics and culture and entertainment.al

    In addition to being the historic gateway to the Silk Road, “Xian is an important part of the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative, and building our Silk Road headquarters [in the city] will help to expand Alibaba’s reach in the midwest, in addition to economic zones along the [modern-day] Silk Road,” added Zhong.

    The Belt and Road Initiative, announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, is an ambitious, US$90-billion infrastructure project to connect Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa through global trade.

    Earlier this year, Xian became the first city in China to have its entire subway system accept mobile payments via Alipay – passengers can pass through subway gates simply by scanning a QR code. Upcoming collaboration projects with Ant Financial, Alibaba’s related company and operator of Alipay, include allowing cabs throughout the city to receive payments using the digital wallet, as well as providing accessible credit and financing options to the thousands of small and midsized businesses based in Xian.

    “With this agreement, Cainiao will work with Xian City to build a smart logistics hub for the northwestern region, which would serve the needs of the Belt and Road Initiative. Delivery speed in the midwest has a chance of becoming on par with eastern regions,” said Zhong.

    Alibaba’s logistics arm, Cainiao Network, is expected to invest RMB1 billion in the logistics hub, which would house the unit’s cutting-edge technologies such as automated production lines, AGV robots and robotic arms. Constructions are slated to begin this year and to be put into use before the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival comes around in 2019.

  • Positive trend for Burberry sales in Asia

    Positive trend for Burberry sales in Asia

    Burberry sales in Asia rose “by the mid single digits” in the three months to year end, as the company reported a modest 2 per cent same-store improvement gobally.

    Asia Pacific was the strongest performing market for the UK-headquartered luxury retailer, with Mainland China leading the way. Hong Kong sales were “broadly unchanged” year-on-year despite an improvement in domestic trend.

    “Korea saw a better performance from both domestics and tourists, although sales still declined slightly,” the company said.

    “We are making good progress embedding our strategic vision into the organisation and remain on track to meet our full year profit target,” said CEO Marco Gobbetti, in a short statement.

    “We are building on strong foundations and are fully focussed on the successful delivery of our multi-year plan to position Burberry firmly in luxury and deliver long-term sustainable value.”

    Sales in Europe, Middle East, India and Africa decline by a low single digit figure, impacted by unusually strong figures from the UK the previous year.

    While the US was broadly flat, sales overall in the Americas rose marginally.

    Online sales posted solid growth, led by Asia Pacific, with Burberry saying mobile transactions accounted for 40 per cent of turnover online.

    By product, fashion outperformed as customers continued to respond positively to new products across categories.

    Lees ook:

  • Tiffany polishes up outlook on holiday sales rise

    Tiffany polishes up outlook on holiday sales rise

    Tiffany holiday season sales surged 16 per cent in Asia-Pacific, driven by strong performances in Hong Kong, Mainland China and Korea.

    The region accounted for US$232 million of Tiffany’s $1.05 billion global sales in the two months to December 31. The figures were driven by a 7 per cent increase in same-store sales, new store openings and an increase in wholesale turnover, the US-headquartered company said in a statement.

    Management attributed Asia-Pacific retail sales growth primarily to higher spending by local customers.

    On a constant exchange rate basis, total sales and comparable store sales increased 13 per cent and 4 per cent, respectively.

    In Japan, Tiffany holiday season sales increased just 1 per cent to $145 million and comparable store sales were unchanged. Management noted a difficult comparison to exceptionally strong growth in spending attributed to local customers in last year’s holiday period.

    In Europe, Tiffany holiday season sales rose 14 per cent to $136 million and in the Americas by 7 per cent.

    As at December 31, Tiffany operated 316 stores (125 in the Americas, 87 in Asia-Pacific, 54 in Japan, 46 in Europe, and four in the UAE), a net increase of two year-on-year.

    CEO Alessandro Bogliolo, said the company was pleased with the improvement in sales during the holiday period across all regions and categories, both instore and online.

    “While our major fashion jewellery collections continued to perform well, customers were equally excited about our fine jewellery, watches and our new home and accessories collection.

    “This recent return to growth in worldwide comparable store sales, fuelled by a substantial improvement in the Americas and Asia Pacific, is consistent with our commitment to generate solid and sustainable growth in sales, operating margin and earnings that is at least comparable to our industry peers over the long-term.”

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Hermès opens the door of its Orange Box in Hong Kong

    Hermès opens the door of its Orange Box in Hong Kong

    On 11 January 2018, Hermès opened the door of its new store in Hong Kong, the original and first home in Greater China.

    Located in Landmark Prince’s, within the dynamic Central district on the corner of Ice House Street and Des Voeux Road, this new destination marks a significant milestone for Hermès and is a delightful occasion to celebrate the long-standing relationship
    between Hong Kong and our house.

    The relationship between Hermès and Hong Kong started with the first store in the city
    in 1975, followed by a dynamic expansion with a current network of seven shops in key locations. The Hermès homes host outstanding events and exhibitions, whilst encouraging a constant dialogue between  craftsmanship and the effervescent local culture.

    For the opening, Axel Dumas, CEO of Hermès, welcomed the guests and walked them through the three-floor majestic Orange Box.

    Designed and built by the Parisian architecture agency RDAI under the artistic direction of Denis Montel, the edifice draws its stylistic influences from local architecture.

    The design is inspired by bamboo scaffolding construction techniques, the copper-coloured anodised aluminum facade asserts the rhythm and verticality of bamboo.

    Eight kilometres of rectangular tubes align to form a mantle with kinetic effects. This storefront of a thousand reflections allows glimpses of a ground floor, a mezzanine level and an upper floor – three levels totalling 9,167 square feet of retail and reception space.

    The aluminium facade rises a further two storeys, accentuating the presence
    of Hermès at this strategic crossroads in the city. The building’s pre-existing structure – comprising numerous pillars and a low ceiling height – required the architects to draw upon their constructive prowess.

    The building benefits from natural light enabled to penetrate throughout. Staircases and daylight cascade down the openings. The three floor areas have been subdivided using openwork screens and mobile partitions to create small lounges and private salons.

    On the upper level, it gives way to a balcony from which the city, its skyscrapers and its double-decker tram can be admired.

    The store has two entrances. The main door, located on Ice House Street, opens onto spaces dedicated to women’s silk, fragrances, and jewellery accessories.

    Source : Hermès

    The second entrance, on Des Voeux Road, leads to the men’s universe, with silk, shoes, leather goods, ready-to-wear and a private lounge for made-to measure. The mezzanine is formed of a succession of alcoves on either side of the central space, offering an exclusive setting for jewellery. It is home to the women’s universe, with ready-to-wear, gloves, hats, watches, leather goods, and even a powder lounge, a precious and private boudoir.

    The upper floor accommodates the home universe: furniture, lighting, furnishing fabrics and wallpapers, tableware, and offers guests a lounge where to enjoy the comfort of Hermès home.

    Source : Hermès

    The floor, in mosaic on the ground floor and bamboo parquet elsewhere, is in places covered with rugs that incorporate the pattern of bamboo fibres.

    Source : Hermès

    The interior design features lacquered wood, leather, stucco, marble, and woven metal. A palette of warm colours ranging from the sandy hue of the women’s universe to the burnt wood shade of the men’s universe. Elements in champagne-coloured woven metal subdivide the spaces.

    The extensive use of glass on both façades suffuses the store with golden light. Filtered by a forest of bamboo in the heart of the urban jungle, it allows a sophisticated nature to regain its rights and powers. In an ultimate act of celebration, Hermès has invited the French duo of artists ZIM & ZOU to transform the store windows with delicate humour into enchanted paper castles.

    The opening was followed by a party in the West Kowloon Cultural District of Hong Kong to link Hermès to the local artistic culture.

    The Orange Box of Hermès is an interwoven space of the brand heritage. It is a celebration of art and craftsmaship, which stands out for its delicate and warm colours. While walking through the three floor, the retail space resembles an art gallery and the products are showcased as if they were artworks to be appreciated more than purchased.

    Isn’t it the image of luxury we all have depicted in our mind and that today seems to be lost?

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • John Lobb’s new flagship store and exclusive collection in Hong Kong

    John Lobb’s new flagship store and exclusive collection in Hong Kong

    “The most beautiful shop in the world . . .” – that is how Esquire magazine described the wood-paneled splendour of the London premises of John Lobb’s store in St. James’s Street, which has been traditionally the home of coffee houses, gentlemen’s clubs and elegant outfitters; a mecca for the noble and the fashionable for centuries.

    The interior’s exquisite and expert craftsmanship of London’s store travels to Hong Kong and it is fully embodied in the new flagship store opened in Princes’s Building in Central.

    Together with the opening of the new flagship store John Lobb brings to Hong Kong its new SS18 collection for men with exclusive items available in Hong Kong only, such as the colours of the CITY2 shoe line, and launches women’s collection for the first time in Hong Kong.

     

    John Lobb and its commitment to quality in creating the finest footwear.

    The Landmark Prince’s boutique now carries the full John Lobb collections. To celebrate the opening, Paula Gerbase, John Lobb’s Artistic Director and Bespoke artisan, traveled to Hong Kong to meet and share all aspects of the creative vision of the brand and provide customers with a trunk show aimed to deliver bespoke shoes.

    The opening was a celebration of craftsmanship and storytelling about the brand. Guests enjoyed the dialogue with the artisan and asked questions about the old shoe-making tradition.

    Source : John Lobb

    It is very known that men tend to prefer buying fewer items, but of higher quality and customization and are ready to wait for a long time to get it as they want, fitting and functionality of goods seem to be the features they are looking for.

  • Adrian Cheng invests in AI for retail and hospitality

    Adrian Cheng invests in AI for retail and hospitality

    ObEN Inc., an artificial intelligence (AI) company that is building a decentralized AI platform for intelligent avatars, and announced that it has raised $10 million from K11, founded by entrepreneur Adrian Cheng.

    This strategic funding continues the growth of ObEN’s AI technology which enables users to quickly create a Personal AI, an intelligent 3D avatar that is authenticated and registered on the blockchain. This brings ObEN’s total funding to date to more than $23.7 million.

    The funding from K11 will drive product development, deployment on the blockchain, and will help ObEN integrate their technology in retail, real estate and hospitality applications.

    “ObEN is at the forefront of creating intelligent avatars that enhance the consumer experience,” says Nikhil Jain, co-founder and CEO of ObEN. “With this strategic investment from K11, we are able to reach millions of new customers and create experiences that will shape the future of retail.”

    K11, the brainchild of entrepreneur and business innovator Adrian Cheng, is a pioneering multi-faceted brand rooted in culture and interconnected by three core values: art, nature and people. Its ecosystem features the world’s first museum-retail concept, K11 Art Mall. Its Hong Kong and Shanghai flagships opened in 2009 and 2013 respectively. ObEN marks the first AI technology investment from the company.

    Motivated by the belief that the future of retail lives in the worlds of AI, AR and VR, the strategic alliance offers opportunities for intelligent avatars, personal concierge services and new virtual shopping experiences. ObEN’s Personal AI (PAI) quickly creates a 3D avatar that looks, sounds and behaves like the user, and can do things on their behalf. Furthermore, ObEN’s PAI is being deployed on the blockchain, which provides an unprecedented level of security.

    With a PAI concierge, customers are offered up to the moment information, retail guides and endless shopping tips to help keep each outing as fulfilling as possible. In addition, through projects like AI Stars, a joint venture between ObEN and S.M. Entertainment, celebrities will be able to create unique cross cultural experiences for consumers and retail outlets alike.

    “ObEN’s Personal Artificial Intelligence (PAI) platform simplifies the implementation of artificial intelligence technologies for real life applications,” said Adrian Cheng, founder of K11. “K11 is committed to localizing the PAI platform and bringing an immersive AI experience for visitors at all K11 projects.”

    ObEN’s Personal AI technology will be available in early 2018. Learn more at projectpai.com.

    Lees ook:

  • Loro Piana S/S18 collection : when luxury eases people’s life

    Loro Piana S/S18 collection : when luxury eases people’s life

    Last week, Loro Piana previewed 2018 Spring/Summer collection in the Entertainment Suite of The Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong.

    The new collection features unique, sophisticated articles that combine a contemporary look with refined elegance. The collection includes iconic brand items featuring hallmark characteristics enhanced with the latest generation technology, playful colour combinations and unique details.

    The collection blends Loro Piana heritage with the latest trends of casual wear, athleisure, spa and travel outfits, linked by the common thread of the use of the finest natural raw materials , result of tireless research for an extreme sensorial experience.

    Main feature of the collection is the combination of the finest material with the functionality of garmets created to ease people’s life.

    Ladieswear presents a 360 degree collection : from athleisure to spa and travel items, from new “shirt tucked into skirt” creations to fur for Spring. Loro Piana also presented a wide range of accessories for a practical life on the go.

    The menswear selection gains inspiration from a universe that marries dynamics and style. It features a series of loose fitting, contemporary articles designed for urban wear and a life on the go. The main aspects of this range are water and windproof parkas, cashmere coats and jackets with 3L technology, guaranteeing comfort and performance.

    Every item in this range features a combination of materials with contrasting, high-performance technical details, offering weightless, crease resistant, functional articles that guarantee warmth and protection.

    The sea and sailing also feature, in the most sporty context, whether with light, technical items for sailing, such as the new My Song uniform with its windbreaker made from the revolutionary eco-friendly Green Storm System®, or with articles for wearing on land.

    The sea and sailing collection is inspired by Pier Luigi Loro Piana’s passion for sailing, culminated in its new 40 metre yacht a comfortable cruising boat named My Song. My Song is the most perfect example yet of the racer-cruiser species — a top predator as defined by its designers from Baltic Yachts.

    Additionally, another element bridges heritage and innovation in the collection. The line 175LP is the Pantone code for the brick shade, known as kummel, a signature colour for Loro Piana. This colour used on packaging, tags, and the covers of many of our publications and the trim inside the garments themselves carries a connotative meaning.

    This colour was chosen when the first Loro Piana stores opened at the end of the 1990s, and was applied to all the elements of brand identity. It is inspired by the warm shades of the brick walls of the factories built at the beginning of the last century, when Loro Piana was founded, harking back to the company’s original woollen mills and its heritage of time-honoured excellence in the textile industry which is still very much an integral part of the brand’s identity.

    This colour has been selected as the defining element and common theme of the 175LP line, and is deployed in different ways on the different garments and refined styling details. It is a symbol of our ongoing research into materials and our uncompromising vision of style and quality.

    Footwear options are enhanced by new models inspired by the 70s, in vibrant suede tones, with kummel coloured (toasted brown) details, lending them an air of refinement. The focus on authenticity allows Loro Piana to engage with artisans from all over the world to get the best of their craftsmanship, espadrilles from the collection are indeed realized in Spain to be faithful to the country where the product comes from.

    Under the spotlight also the Gift of Kings®, Loro Piana’s most exclusive wool. Just 2000 kg of the purest fibre measuring only 12 microns are produced per year and transformed into deliciously understated, soft, silky, sophisticated mens and womenswear articles, as well as ultralight vests and casual bombers.

    Lees ook:

  • Natuzzi, Kuka signed JV agreement

    Natuzzi, Kuka signed JV agreement

    Natuzzi has signed a preliminary agreement to form a JV with China’s Kuka furniture company with the aim of expanding the Italian brand’s retail network in Greater China.

    “We have known Kuka for many years and have always admired its growth-oriented entrepreneurial spirit and approach,” says Natuzzi chairman/CEO Pasquale Natuzzi. “This partnership will enable Natuzzi and Kuka to become the leading player in the emerging and growing market for branded luxury home furnishings in Greater China.”

    Kuka chairman Jiangsheng Gu says Natuzzi is the right product and brand for the new growth in the Chinese home-furnishing market.

    Subject to certain terms and conditions in the preliminary agreement, and to applicable authorisations, it is expected Natuzzi will contribute exclusive perpetual distribution rights for the Natuzzi Italia and Natuzzi Editions trademarks into a Chinese corporate entity, and that Kuka will invest €65 million (US$77.5 million) to sustain the expansion of the Natuzzi retail network in Greater China, particularly Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao.

    Of Kuku’s investment, €15 million is in exchange for Natuzzi’s trademark contribution. Natuzzi and Kuka will own 49 and 51 per cent respectively of the entity.

    The preliminary agreement also envisages Natuzzi will contribute its existing stores and commercial organisation in China. Further, the venture will employ Natuzzi’s retail management team.

    It is also expected the JV will take over existing distribution agreements related to the Natuzzi network of franchised stores.

    If the parties fail to reach a final agreement by March 31, the preliminary agreement will be voided.

    Lees ook:

  • Xiaomi IPO plan reportedly eyes $200b valuation

    Xiaomi IPO plan reportedly eyes $200b valuation

    Planning to go public late this year, Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp is said to be seeking a valuation of up to US$200 billion.

    Based in Beijing, the electronics and software company prefers Hong Kong over New York for its listing mainly because Hong Kong retail investors are more familiar with its products and founder as reported.

    Xiaomi chairman/founder Lei Jun started liaising with investment banks in November, according to media reports in China. Also, senior executives have told several employees of the impending public issue, reports News.163.com.

    The company was valued at $46 billion in its latest funding round in 2014. After declining sales in 2016, the company managed to revive growth last year, partly by opening offline retail stores and expanding its presence internationally, especially in India.

    In the third quarter of last year, Xiaomi caught up with Samsung to become the largest smartphone brand in India. It had 23.5 per cent of the market with a shipment of 9.2 million units, marking a 300 per cent year-on-year jump, data from research company International Data Corp shows.

    Xiaomi says it topped its annual revenue goal of RMB100 billion (US$15 billion) by the end of October.

    Should it reach US$200 billion valuation, Xiaomi would be the biggest technology IPO after Alibaba Group Holding, which raised a record $25 billion for a $231.4 billion market value in 2014.

    Lees ook:

  • Chow Tai Fook quarterly retail sales flat

    Chow Tai Fook quarterly retail sales flat

    Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group (1929) said retail sales in Hong Kong and Macau in the third quarter ended December 31, remained unchanged from the same period the year before.

    Same store sales grew by 5 percent. Gem-set jewelry sales were up by 22 percent, while gold products sales slipped by 1 percent in the third quarter. In Hong Kong and Macau, same store sales improved as a result of an increase in volume and average sale price to HK$11,800, the jewelry retailer reported today in an update.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • A Novel Fashion Of Minimalism At Your Fingertips

    A Novel Fashion Of Minimalism At Your Fingertips

    Replace complexity with simplicity. Prioritize quality over quantity. As the cosmopolitan life continues at an ever-increasing pace, the pursuit of an exquisite, simple, yet practical lifestyle has gradually been on the rise. And unsurprisingly, the Nordic lifestyle, which embodies the very concept of minimalism, has enjoyed a surging popularity.

    Skandiastyle is presenting Scandinavian cutting-edge design and high-quality lifestyle concepts to Asian consumers in its very first pop-up store in Times Square Hong Kong, until March 2018.

    Located on the fifth floor of Times Square in Hong Kong, the Skandiastyle pop-up store epitomizes the Nordic design and lifestyle. The pop-up store is decorated in the style of iconic Nordic interior design, following two key principles: refined craftsmanship and a natural touch. Incorporating elements that are both stylistic and chic, the store will be a physical and concrete space for consumers to get a taste of Nordic style, tradition and culture, where purchases are made through an ecommerce site built by retail technology partner Red Ant Asia.

    Red Ant Asia’s Regional Director and Co-founder Elisa Harca said, ‘Hong Kong is at the heart of retail innovation, and the Skandiastyle pop-up store turns the traditional concept of physical shopping on its head, to great effect for both the business and its customers. This kind of O2O model, where superbly-designed destination retail spaces can be built for specific periods of time and for specific audiences because they are closely integrated with the reach, range and delivery capabilities of a first-class ecommerce platform, represents the future for retail in a highly-competitive market.’

    Offering a well-curated selection of 30 Scandinavian brands, Skandiastyle is dedicated to bringing to life the essence of this region’s style, which is defined by minimalism and purism. With a wide product range that basically covers every aspect of life, the pop-up store offers men’s and women’s wear, accessories, interior and home ware, all picked from some of the most coveted Nordic brands.

    To name a few exclusive brands, Skandiastyle is presenting Swedish home deco brand Design House Stockholm, a considered and well thought-out interpretation of the Scandinavian design that brings life and inspiration to the forefront. The simple and cutting-edge style of Swedish fashion brand Whyred is rooted in art and music with a modern touch. Danish fashion label Designers Remix’ design manifesto is all about minimalism and architecture and key factors in every aspect of its creative process are organic modernism and functionalism. Oh! by Kopenhagen Fur is a Danish fur brand based in Copenhagen. They focus on creating sophisticated yet commercial styles as everyday must-have items within the accessory (bags & charms) and outerwear categories.

    As the ecommerce platform, developed by Red Ant Asia’s team of talented developers, finds its foundations in connecting carefully selected Nordic fashion brands to Asia and other parts of the world, Skandiastyle aims to break the barrier of distance and language to introduce the lifestyle and ideology it embodies to the Asia Pacific region in an innovative manner. With an emphasis on attentive services and competitive prices, the platform is able to bring the once remote, and somewhat mysterious, life of Scandinavia (traditionally Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland) to millions of Asian consumers.

    Skandiastyle’s first pop-up store opened its doors on 22nd December, 2017 in Times Square, Shop 501, 5/F and will remain open for 3 months. During the pop-up store period, Skandiastyle is offering an exclusive10% discount on all products with promo code tsqpress10.

    Lees ook:

  • Hong Kong Recovery Boosts Jewelry Sales

    Hong Kong Recovery Boosts Jewelry Sales

    Sales of jewelry, watches and other luxury items in Hong Kong rose in the first 11 months of 2017 as tourists returned and local consumer sentiment recovered, the city’s official data authority said.

    Retail sales for the category grew 5% year on year to $8.49 billion (HKD 66.35 billion) for the January-to-November period, Hong Kong’s Census and Statistics Department said in a statement Wednesday. November proceeds jumped 8% to $783.1 million (HKD 6.12 billion), it added.

    Sales across all retail products rose 1.8% for the first 11 months, and climbed 7.5% in November, reflecting the “visible growth in visitor arrivals and the [optimistic] consumer sentiment during the period,” a spokesperson for the Hong Kong government said.

    Hong Kong’s luxury retail sector is largely reliant on purchases by tourists from mainland China. A slump in visitors from that location hit Hong Kong’s retail industry over the last two to three years, with sales of jewelry and other luxury items sliding 17% in 2016. However, the tourist sector recovered this year: Visitors from mainland China rose 3.6% from January to November, to a total of 40.2 million, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

    Meanwhile, the total number of tourists arriving in Hong Kong from all locations jumped 7% to 5 million in November compared with the same month last year. During the first 11 months of 2017, the figure climbed 3.1% to 52.9 million.

    As a result, Hong Kong jewelry retailers saw significant improvements in their 2017 performances. Chow Tai Fook’s same-store sales jumped 9.5% in Hong Kong and Macau in the six months ending September 30, while Luk Fook recorded 13% growth in retail sales for the same region.

    “The near-term outlook for retail sales remains positive, as consumer sentiment is buttressed by the favorable employment and income situation, and as inbound tourism continues to recover,” the government spokesperson noted.

    The upturn in 2017 also affected the diamond trade, with imports of polished stones into Hong Kong growing 7% to $14.07 billion in the first nine months.

     

  • Hong Kong retail sales highest jump in 2017

    Hong Kong retail sales highest jump in 2017

    Hong Kong retail sales in November lept 7.5 per cent, the biggest monthly rise in at least three years.

    Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) data also showed a revised estimate of 3.9 per cent growth in October, fuelling a year-to-date increase of 1.8 per cent against 2016.

    The total volume of retail sales in November, after adjustment for inflation, showed an increase of 6.9 per cent year-on-year.

    A government spokesman described November’s figures as “appreciable year-on-year growth” reflecting rising numbers of visitors and “sanguine consumer sentiment” during the month.

    “The near-term outlook for retail sales remains positive, as consumer sentiment is buttressed by the favourable employment and income situation, and as inbound tourism continues to recover.”

    While jewellery and watch sales led the overall increase, rising 7.9 per cent, not a single retail category showed a decline in November. Cosmetics and medicine sales rose by 12.5 per cent, department store sales by 5.7 per cent, apparel by 3.5 per cent and footwear and accessories by 5.6 per cent. Sales of electrical goods and cameras were up 9.8 per cent.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Lancôme Tour Eiffel decorated Hong Kong Airport

    Lancôme Tour Eiffel decorated Hong Kong Airport

    LANCÔME Travel Retail Asia Pacific, leading French luxury beauty brand, held a monumental finale celebration of its ‘Declaring Happiness’ campaign with the launch of an unforgettable Holiday Wonders pop-up concept at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on 14 December 2017.

    Rounding off the celebrations with a festive flourish, LANCÔME brought a little piece of Paris to the heart of bustling HKIA with a pink dazzling 5-metre high LANCÔME branded Eiffel Tower and a joyous pop-up store inspired by the City of Love, complete with a digital ‘Journey of Holiday Wonder’ game for travelers to receive a digital boarding pass for an opportunity to experience LANCÔME Miracle Secret fragrance right at the feet of the Eiffel Tower.

    Opened from 12th Dec 2017 to 15th Jan 2018 at HKIA Departure Central Concourse, the Holiday Wonders pop-up concept at HKIA is the latest event, which concludes LANCÔME Travel Retail Asia Pacific’s successful run of ‘Declaring Happiness’ events across Asia. The global campaign saw an unprecedented level of brand engagement through exciting events that previously took place in Singapore, South Korea and China.

    Finally landing in Hong Kong, the LANCÔME Holiday Wonders pop-up store celebrates the inaugural partnership of The Shilla Duty Free, commemorating the retailer’s first entry into one of the busiest airports globally. Leading the celebrations, the LANCÔME Holiday Wonders pop-up store brings to life the brand’s manifesto by sharing moments of happiness with all women through its immersive retail-tainment elements.

    Towering over the concourse at an impressive 5 metres in height, the pink holiday-themed LANCÔME Eiffel Tower is a sight to behold and acts as the backdrop for the opening flash mob dance performance during the official launch ceremony for the LANCÔME Holiday Wonders pop-up store.

    Hosted by actress and beauty queen, Sarah Song, dancers dressed in chic pink outfits kickstarted the event with a lively number that entertained both VIPs, guests and airport travellers alike. Guests were also treated to a memerising light showcase at the LANCÔME Eiffel Tower following the official ribbon cutting ceremony.

    Much like the original Eiffel Tower, the LANCÔME Eiffel Tower will continue to sparkle for 30 seconds at each 15-minute interval daily, creating incredible photo-worthy moments for travellers. Creating digital buzz for the event, three beauty KOLs, namely Sharon Yung, Giann Chan and Alice Ha, were also invited for a photo opportunity at the Eiffel Tower and to share their most memorable travel moments with the ‘#travelwithLancome’ hashtag.

    “It has been extremely heartwarming to witness the success and the immense support that women from all over Asia has given our ‘Declaring Happiness’ global campaign over the past three months.

    There is no better way to conclude this campaign than right here in Hong Kong, with this spectacular Eiffel Tower and Holiday Wonders pop-up installations,” says Emmanuel Goulin, Managing Director of L’Oreal Travel Retail Asia Pacific. He further adds, ‘Much like how the Eiffel Tower is a Parisian icon, LANCÔME is also a quintessential luxury French beauty leader that has been making women’s lives more beautiful over the past 80 years through our quality skincare, makeup and fragrances.

    In the years to come, it is our hope that LANCÔME will continue to channel the spirit of the Eiffel Tower by offering the best in beauty to all women, and growing in strength to become the largest French beauty brand worldwide.”

    The fun does not stop at the LANCÔME Eiffel Tower as a series of immersive retail-tainment awaits travelers at the LANCÔME Holiday Wonders pop-up store. Beginning at the Eiffel Tower, a digital map will lead guests to discover the beautiful LANCÔME Holiday Wonders pop-up store and the perfect holiday gifting experience.

    Reminiscent of a LANCÔME Parisian home with classic Parisian windows and chimney, the pop-up is decorated in romantic pinks and whites, complete with a sparkly Christmas tree at its entrance that is fully decked out with Christmas baubles, ribbons and gift boxes.

    Having participated in the ‘Journey of Holiday Wonder’ digital game at the Eiffel Tower, guests were also able to redeem their complimentary gift of Miracle Secret sample at the LANCÔME Holiday Wonders pop-up store.

    Further adding vibrancy to its lineup of retail-tainment, a ‘Fly Me To Paris’ instant print photo booth allowed guests to capture their best Parisian memories. An interactive digital game situated at the storefront kept guests entertained throughout the event, as they took turns playing an opportunity to win LANCÔME’s bestselling L’Absolu Rouge lipstick samples.

    To make gifting effortless this festive season, the LANCÔME Holiday Wonders pop-up store also features a wrapping station with complimentary gift wrapping and personalized greeting cards by the in-store calligrapher.

    Lees ook: