Retail News CRM

Tag: Hong Kong

  • Major push in Kuala Lumpur by HKTDC

    Major push in Kuala Lumpur by HKTDC

    A major promotion for Hong Kong as an international business centre and lifestyle trendsetting city is being run in Kuala Lumpur by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

    “In Style, Hong Kong” includes offers a range of events involving top business professionals and leading brands from Hong Kong.

    Already the campaign has been a success in Jakarta in 2015 and in Bangkok last year, says HKTDC regional director Peter Wong.

    “Malaysia was Hong Kong’s 10th-largest trading partner last year and fourth-largest among Asean countries. Our campaign in Kuala Lumpur focuses on promoting Hong Kong’s professional services and leading brands. Our objective is to forge wider co-operation and to generate more business opportunities for both cities.”

    Key events

    Key events include a symposium, an expo and gala dinner, and a series of citywide promotion events until the end of next month.

    The “In Style, Hong Kong” Symposium at the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur on November 7 main session will be chaired by MaLogic CEO Professor Royce Yuen with speakers from HPA, LF Logistics and Pixels examining how Hong Kong service companies can help Malaysian companies expand their business.

    Five thematic sessions will follow:

    E-commerce Logistics The impact of cross-border e-commerce on logistics will be examined by representatives of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, Lazada Group and Malaysian Chamber of Commerce.

    Fintech Prospects in fintech will be discussed by representatives of Ernst & Young, JP Asia Partners, Malaysian Chamber of Commerce, Maybank and Value Partners Group.

    Smart City Forum Smart city development will be examined by executives of the EID Committee, Hong Kong Public Key Infrastructure Forum, Nexusguard and The Smart City Consortium.

    Innovative Design & Marketing Creative branding will include speakers from LAAB, PricewaterhouseCoopers Hong Kong, Sun Mobile Communication and WE Marketing Group.

    Legal Risk Management

    Legal professionals from Hong Kong feature on this panel including members of The Law Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bar Association committee on arbitration.

    The expo will feature 40 exhibitors showcasing home electronics, gifts, fashion accessories, fine jewellery and watches, and eco-friendly products. Exhibiting brands include Chinese Arts & Crafts, Chow Tai Fook, ECO Concepts and Team Green. There will also be a display of award-winning products from the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards.

    A gala dinner will be held after the symposium will enable 500 of Malaysia and Hong Kong’s political, business and community leaders to network. Michelin Star chef Alvin Leung will create four dishes, and there will be a fashion parade showcasing batik styles from six Hong Kong designers as well as an interactive photography gallery.

    To promote the event to consumers, the HKTDC has launched a series of promotions engaging 140 Kuala Lumpur restaurants and retail outlets, in partnership with 30 Hong Kong and Malaysian brands.

    Activities include fashion and culinary experiences.

    Lees ook:

  • LiHo bubble tea says hello to Hong Kong

    LiHo bubble tea says hello to Hong Kong

    Known for its cheese teas, Singapore bubble-tea brand LiHo has opened its first overseas outlet in Hong Kong.

    Its Yuen Long store will be followed by another in Kwun Tong on November 1, says the parent company RTG Holdings. Both outlets offer the full menu including smoothies and the new Avocado and Summer Passion beverages.

    RTG Holdings MD Rodney Tang says this is a first step in building LiHo into a global brand. It is partnering with Milky Way Synergy for the Hong Kong stores, and is looking at opening 20 more in the territory within the next five years.

    Tang says there has also been “preliminary interest” from potential partners in Japan, Korea and London.

    RTG ventured into the bubble-tea business with the Gong Cha brand in 2009. This year it replaced Singapore’s Gong Cha outlets with LiHo after Gong Cha’s parent company sold the business to Unison Capital, a Japanese private equity firm.

    Lees ook:

  • House of Chanel exhibition for Hong Kong

    House of Chanel exhibition for Hong Kong

    Hong Kong is the next destination for the House of Chanel’s Mademoiselle Prive exhibition – the third chapter after London and Seoul.

    Opening early next year at PMQ, the four-week exhibition will offer an immersive experience that traces the brand’s origins and inspirations over the years.

    It also captures the charisma and irreverent spirit of Gabrielle Chanel as well as Karl Lagerfeld, the two driving forces behind the house, through a narrative tailored especially for Hong Kong. The show highlights Mademoiselle Chanel’s creations as modernised by Lagerfeld, from haute couture to the Chanel No. 5 fragrance to high jewellery including the re-edition of the Bijoux de Diamants collection designed in 1932.

    Running from January 13 to February 10, the Hong Kong edition will be open to the public free of charge.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Cisco launches IoT lab in Hong Kong

    Cisco launches IoT lab in Hong Kong

    Cisco has launched its first smart city pilot program in Hong Kong, the Digital Living Lab.

    The Digital Living Lab is supported by Cisco’s new IoT operations platform Cisco Kinetic, which is designed to help extract, compute and move data from connected things to IoT applications to deliver better outcomes and services.

    Cisco and its partners have established a low-power RAN gateway (LoRaWAN) at Hong Kong Science Park to kick start the IoT program. The gateway will be used to provide demonstrations of IoT-enabled applications that are new to Hong Kong and helpful to the wider community.

    The company is also providing 80 IoT explorer kits to schools, startups and other organizations in Hong Kong to support their teaching and learning in IoT based technologies and facilitate data analytics and R&D development for IoT applications.

    “The ‘Smart Region’ initiative led by HKSTP and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is to make Hong Kong Science Park a testbed and wondrous showcase of the Smart City vision. We are glad that Cisco, as a worldwide leader in smart city technology, is launching ‘Digital Living Lab’ that aligns with our agenda in developing into a smart city,” HKSTP CTO George Lee commented.

    As well as HKSTP, Cisco’s partners in the program include Avnet, Pixel Networks, the Smart City Consortium (SCC) and the Technology Incubation Network (TIN).

  • Goobne grows in Hong Kong after China rebuff

    Goobne grows in Hong Kong after China rebuff

    Korean chicken franchise Goobne has opened a seventh outlet in Hong Kong, in a residential area in Tseung Kwan O.

    It is part of the brand’s strategy to focus on profitable markets as its business in Mainland China has been hit by the Beijing/Seoul dispute over the deployment of the THAAD missile system in South Korea.

    “We had two branches in China but now are left with one in Suzhou,” says a company spokesperson. “Our store in China is not very profitable.”

    Another chicken franchise, BBQ, which has more than 150 stores in China, said in May that it was unable to expand as its local partner refused to invest further in Korean firms.

    Goobne, meanwhile, has 11 stores in  Japan and Macau as well as China and Hong Kong. Its monthly sales overseas reached 1.5 billion won (US$1.3 million) on average this year, with its Hong Kong sales accounting for about 1.3 billion won.

    “We are doing well in Hong Kong,” says the spokesperson. “The first store in Tsim Sha Tsui alone showed more than 400 million won in sales monthly last year.”

    Lees ook:

  • Gift theme for Chow Tai Fook Yoho Mall store

    Gift theme for Chow Tai Fook Yoho Mall store

    Signature gift boxes have inspired the dramatic design for the new Chow Tai Fook Yoho Mall store.

    Rather than the usual gold palette of jewellery store, Hong Kong design practice One Plus Partnership takes a more colourful approach with 1070 stylised gift boxes installed across the 25,800sqft (2397sqm) shop’s walls and ceiling.

    These are echoed in the sub-shaped upholstered seating units as well as display cabinets. The carpets and digital signs reflect the brand’s abbreviated name (FTF) in different colours, while the layout also moves beyond convention to promote engagement between shoppers and staff. Instead of the classic long glass display unit, the shop displays its pieces in cabinets on both sides and in the centre. The display cabinets are  glass boxes with some extending out slightly to serve as mini consultation tables.

    In the centre area, groups of display cabinets are surrounded by the colourful, casual sitting cubes, which are made from different fabrics, patterns and shades of pink to resemble the brand’s gift wraps.

    Digital screens feature graphics and information about the products, while spliced screens at the entrance show motion graphics highlighting the design theme of the store.

    On display in the shop are jewellery production tools, sketches and prototypes. These are not just decoration, but can be used by staff members to explain to customers the production procedures behind every piece of jewellery.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Tod’s Landmark introduces new store concept

    Tod’s Landmark introduces new store concept

    Just opened, Tod’s Landmark flagship introduces the brand’s new store concept to Hong Kong.

    Covering 255sqm, the luxury leather brand’s two-storey boutique features steel vitrines with silver and taupe saddle-stitched leather panels, suspended showcases, high-gloss ceilings and travertine marble floors.

    A cocktail party to mark its opening was attended by its brand ambassador, Chinese actress Liu Shi Shi, wearing the latest Tod’s styles. Other guests included socialites and celebrities such as Gaile Lok,  Jason Chan, Jennifer Tse, Kathy Chow, Pakho Chau and Sarah Song.

    A highlight of the evening was a demonstration by an Italian artisan flown in to showcase the craftsmanship of Made in Italy with the label’s latest icon bag, Tod’s Sella.

    Every Tod’s product is handmade in Italy. The group has six shoe factories and two for leather goods, and also uses a handful of specialised laboratories.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Tumi Hong Kong expands

    Tumi Hong Kong expands

    Travel essentials brand Tumi Hong Kong has opened a boutique store at Elements Mall in Tsim Sha Tsui and unveiled a new look for its IFC outlet in Central.

    On Hong Kong Island, Samsonite-owned Tumi has introduced its new “Madison Concept” store design, originally created by award-winning designer/architect Dror Benshetrit for the brand’s New York City flagship. It features clean lines, light-coloured furnishings and custom shelving to display Tumi’s travel, men’s and women’s everyday bags, business bags and accessories. Angled display bays offer a 360deg view of the bags while ensuring they are more accessible to customers.

    Other features are polished metal fixtures, walnut-finished wood detailing and a flat-screen video wall sharing Tumi videos. There are such details as mirror-polished steel door handles in the shape of the brand’s “T” logo, and tone-on-tone glass panels that subtly reproduce the logo in miniature inside and outside the store.

    As with all other Tumi stores in Hong Kong, there is a monogramming station where shoppers can customise their purchases at no extra charge.

    To mark the Elements opening, the store introduced the new limited-edition 19 Degree travel case in matte black aluminium with rose gold. Exclusive to the store until the end of this month, the case comes in three sizes and features internal dividers and organisational pockets, a patented telescoping handle system and dual recessed wheels.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Esprit Holdings shares worth HK$900m given to sisters

    Esprit Holdings shares worth HK$900m given to sisters

    Former Esprit Holdings chairman Michael Ying Lee-yuen has transferred all 211.8 million shares he owned in the fashion group, worth HK$900 million (US$115 million), to his two daughters.

    Ying, the husband of former movie star Lin Ching-hsia, transferred the shares to the company Total Market, according to a Hong Kong stock exchange disclosure of interests filing.

    His daughters Claudine Lauren Ying, 29, and Eileen Ying, 20, each own half of Total Market. Neither daughter has previously owned Esprit shares, but the transactions makes them jointly the brand’s second-largest shareholder with a 10.97 per cent stake.

    Their 67-year-old father no longer owns any Esprit shares. He joined the fashion group in the 1970s and played a key role in building it into a global brand. He stepped down as head in 2006, and had sold most of his stake by 2010.

    Ying has a net worth of about US$2.4 billion, Forbes estimates.

    Lees ook:

  • Pret A Manger has 39 per cent profit leap

    Pret A Manger has 39 per cent profit leap

    While UK sandwich chain Pret A Manger has not broken out details of its Hong Kong business, it had a 39 per cent jump in global pre-tax profits to a record £75.5 million (US$99.6 million) overall for its latest year.

    Total sales were £776 million as it capitalised on consumer eating trends, including a demand for dairy-free food. It says coconut is its most popular new ingredient, with coconut porridge selling particularly well.

    Research firm Kantar Worldpanel ­reports that flatbread, avocado, halloumi and spinach were among the fastest-selling foods last year.

    Pret A Manger says hot breakfast pots have been popular as well as its refreshed soup range, all gluten- and dairy-free and less than 250 calories.

    Meanwhile, there have been reports the chain is preparing for a partial listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Owner Bridgepoint is believed to want to continue to hold a stake in the company rather than cashing out completely. The European private equity firm bought a majority stake in the business for £500 million in 2008.

    More recently, Filipino fast-food restaurant owner Jollibee expressed an interest in buying Pret A Manger.

    The chain added 31 stores in the UK during the 12 months, including a vegetarian-only shop in London, taking the national total to 329. It has a further 110 branches overseas.

    Lees ook:

  • Sephora to open at Highpoint Shopping Centre

    Sephora to open at Highpoint Shopping Centre

    Global beauty giant Sehpora has today announced its next store location, continuing its extensive retail expansion in Australia, opening at Highpoint Shopping Centre this November.

    It’s the beauty retailer’s 13th Australian store and third in Victoria, (Melbourne Central and Chadstone), and follows hot on the heels of the cosmetic’s chainslatest opening at Erina Shopping Centre on the Central Coast yesterday.

    “The demand for more Melbourne stores has been considerable and we want to be able to meet the expectations of our local beauty aficionados,” said Sephora country manager Libby Amelia.

    “Highpoint Shopping Centre is a great fit for us and we’re looking forward to launching there next month. We have some super exciting activities planned for launch day to welcome Melbourne’s inner western beauties to the wonderful world of Sephora,” said Amelia.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Large Hong Kong enterprises lack cloud expertise

    Large Hong Kong enterprises lack cloud expertise

    Large enterprises in Hong Kong could be losing out on revenue as 84% of IT decision makers say that they don’t have the required cloud expertise.

    Large enterprises across the world are losing out on $258.1 million a year as a result of a cloud skills gap, according to a new report commissioned by Rackspace in collaboration with LSE academics.

    The study also found that this lack of expertise is stifling creativity, with 80% of IT pros saying they could bring greater innovation to their organization with the right cloud insight.

    Beyond innovation and growth, 44% of IT decision makers believe a lack of skills is causing a lag in their organization’s ability to deploy cloud platforms. The wide majority (77%) also believe they need to invest more in their workforce to meet the developmental challenges of cloud computing.

    “While the rise of Artificial Intelligence and automation may cause some to think that human insight is less important, our report shows that this is not the case,” Rackspace CTO John Engates said.

    “With technology and the cloud now underpinning business transformation, the growing technology skills gap means organizations must have a strategy to access the expertise needed. Those that don’t will struggle to be competitive and innovative.”

    The Cost of Cloud Expertise report looks at the wider implications of the cloud skills gap and provides a route for businesses to tackle the realities of modern IT and the resulting skills gap. Consisting of research amongst 950 IT decision makers and 950 IT pros – as well as in-depth conversations with IT leaders – in large enterprises around the world, the study uncovers current and future trends in cloud expertise.

  • YP Basics taking caps to the world

    YP Basics taking caps to the world

    Hong Kong-based YP Basics has launched an online store, YPbasics.com, designed to take its basic caps to the world.

    Since 1974, YP (short for Yupoong) has created and refined a series of headwear styles embracing sport, action and street fashion. Its products have included the Snapback, Dad Hat, and Flexfit.

    YP Basics is the curated selection of Yupoong’s most popular styles, offered as the logo-free alternative to its private-label products. After a test roll-out in Taiwan last year, YP Basics is aiming its redesigned online shopping experience at customers across America, Asia, Europe and Oceania.

    The global online store lets customers compare fits and view lookbooks when making their choice from more than 100 styles of basic headwear.

    YP Basics is managed by Premium Direct Imports.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Hong Kong retail sales rise ‘moderate’ in August

    Hong Kong retail sales rise ‘moderate’ in August

    Hong Kong retail sales continued their steady but sure recovery in August, rising 2.7 per cent year-on-year.

    The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) estimates retail sales totalled

    HK$34.8 billion. After taking into account the revised estimate of 4 per cent for July, retail sales rose 0.3 per cent during the first eight months of this year, compared to last year. That takes the year-to-date figure out of the red after a shaky first two months of the year.

    A government spokesman described August’s growth as “moderate” and said the rise was mainly supported by “the prevailing sanguine consumer sentiment amid a full-employment situation”.

    “The near-term outlook for retail sales should remain positive given the favourable job and income conditions and stabilisation of inbound tourism. However, the various external uncertainties remain causes for concern.”

    Categories to perform well (in order of the category’s impact on the total figure) were jewellery, watches and clocks, up by 7.3 per cent, supermarket sales (up 2.3 per cent),  department store sales (up 5.2 per cent), medicines and cosmetics (up 2.3 per cent), electrical goods and cameras (up 1.4 per cent), books and stationery (up 1.8 per cent), and furniture and homewares (up 3.5 per cent).

    Apparel sales fell 0.6 per cent, food and liquor sales by 3.9 per cent, footwear and accessories by 5.2 per cent, Chinese drugs and herbs by 3.2 per cent and optical shop sales by 0.1 per cent.

    After netting out the impact of inflation and other price changes year-on-year, Hong Kong retail sales rose 3.2 per cent in August.

  • Emporio Armani Hong Kong launches star hunt

    Emporio Armani Hong Kong launches star hunt

    High-fashion brand Emporio Armani Hong Kong has launched its first-treasure hunt app, with augmented-reality technologies to enable users to track down a special quarry, Shanghai actor Hu Ge.

    Until October 17, the EA Collector app can be downloaded to scan AR images on four Hu Ge posters scattered around Harbour City. Users will then be able to take virtual photos with the Emporio Armani brand ambassador for Greater China and Asia Pacific.

    Users who present one of Hu Ge images can redeem a gift at the Harbour City Emporio Armani store, with a limited-edition postcard holder for anyone collecting all four images. There are limited daily quotas for this offer.

    Furthermore, there is a a chance to win an invitation to Emporio Armani’s party to meet Hu Ge by using the app to submit a virtual photo with the actor before October 15. The actor himself will choose 10 winners to attend the party, on October 18.

    To celebrate the event, a limited-edition Hu Ge Octopus Card will be launched at all Emporio Armani stores across Hong Kong.