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Tag: Hong Kong

  • “Startup” Zone a hotbed for inventors to showcase innovations

    “Startup” Zone a hotbed for inventors to showcase innovations

    Electronics pioneers in Hong Kong’s flourishing startup ecosystem will be the focus of a dedicated zone at next month’s Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition).

    Organiser HKTDC has launched the Startup Zone providing around 100 startups from around the world an opportunity to showcase their innovative products in categories such as smart home, wearable electronics, 3D printing, IoT devices and e-health and fitness.

    A series of events including pitching, mentoring, sharing sessions and product launches over the four-day event will connect startups with prospective partners, investors and customers from all over the world.

    Anyone can attend the Startup Zone, and – if you register through this link – you can save $100 as a reader of Inside Retail Hong Kong.

    At an earlier edition of the Hong Kong Electronics Fair, the zone received high praise from participants.

    “We brought together over 20 angel investors here to listen to presentations by various startups at pitching session,” explained Dr Samson Tam, chairman of the Hong Kong Business Angel Network. “The session drew some strong responses. The Startup zone is getting more exciting with a lot of activities coming into play to gain exposure.”

    Steven Kayalicos, director of The Product Group from Australia, said he was impressed by the zone’s broad offer of new technologies, ideas and products.

    “It is likely that I’ll co-operate with two to three startups that I met at the pitching event,” he said.

    The HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) 2017 will be held from October 13-16 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

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  • The Kooples is looking to Asia for expansion

    The Kooples is looking to Asia for expansion

    Parisian fashion label The Kooples is looking to Asia for expansion, starting with two monobrand stores in Hong Kong in November.

    It is about to sign a partnership deal with a regional retail group, with its Hong Kong stores to be in the Harbour City and Pacific Place shopping malls.

    This will build on the handful of retail outlets it currently has in Asia, stores and retail corners mainly in Thailand and South Korea.

    Above all, the new partnership will lead to the opening of the label’s first stores on Mainland China, from next year. The Kooples’ only presence in China is a retail corner at the Galeries Lafayette department store in Beijing. Similar formats could follow as Galeries Lafayette is a partner, and is planning further stores in China.

    Meanwhile, The Kooples is evaluating the launch of a dedicated China e-commerce site.

    Following Hong Kong and China, the Parisian label and its local partner are also considering Japan.

    In the fiscal year to August 31, The Kooples’ revenue was around €220 million (US$263.1 million), on par with the previous year, and the company sees Asia as a crucial growth driver for the 400-store brand.

    “Asia’s the next challenge” says GM Nicolas Dreyfus.

    The Kooples has appointed the director for its Asian subsidiary: former Balmain Asia COO Laetitia Mergui.

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  • Hero Entertainment signs deal with K11 mall

    Hero Entertainment signs deal with K11 mall

    Hong Kong shopping mall K11 is expanding into the e-sports business by signing a deal to become the exclusive partner of video-gaming brand Hero Entertainment for 10 years.

    Under the partnership, the Hero Pro League mobile e-sports competition, and other animation, comic, game and novel franchises, will appear at K11 projects in at least nine cities, including Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

    K11 founder Adrian Cheng Chi- kong says the e-sports sector is fast becoming the next big growth market. “Since being officially named by China’s General Administration of Sports as the country’s 99th sporting event, e-sports has in the past 15 years grown at an unprecedented pace.”

    Market intelligence company Newzoo estimates that e-sports is set to grow into a US$1.5 billion industry by 2020.

    Through the partnership, K11 Hong Kong will become the leading mobile-gaming venue to host large-scale, international e-sports competitions. The mall will also offer pop-up virtual-reality spaces and e-sports zones for the live broadcast of competitions.

    “City by city, project by project, K11 and Hero Entertainment will jointly promote the development of e-sports in China,” says Hero Entertainment chairman Dino Ying.

    Hero Entertainment has more than 400 million registered users.

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  • Kent & Curwen launches Pacific Place concept store

    Kent & Curwen launches Pacific Place concept store

    Fashion house Kent & Curwen, known for its cricket and rugby apparel, has launched a new concept menswear store in Hong Kong showcasing a collaboration between creative director Daniel Kearns and business partner David Beckham.

    The former England soccer star has a key role with the brand under a deal he signed with its owner, Trinity International Brands. Kearns was previously with Alexander McQueen, Façonnable, Louis Vuitton and Yves Saint Laurent.

    After an international rebrand, the British heritage label is aiming at a younger, more fashionable consumer.

    Its new store concept at Pacific Place focuses on a central cube built from aged metal and hand-blown green glass, reminiscent of a decorative Victorian pub or orangery. Painted brick walls are a nod to the streets of London, from where Kent & Curwen draws much of its aesthetic.

    Displays and storage is influenced by vintage school-gym apparatus, referencing the brand’s heritage of supplying sporting attire to British schools such as Eton and Harrow. And to mark the brand’s long association with Cambridge and Oxford, university-style panelling is reinterpreted into ceiling detail.

    Kearns has taken the helm of the design of the collections, stores and packaging, working alongside Beckham.

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  • British Essentials, the first Hong Kong online British supermarket

    British Essentials, the first Hong Kong online British supermarket

    British Essentials is Hong Kong’s first online British supermarket that has the largest British grocery range of any supermarket in the city.

    It is also the exclusive online retailer of the Morrisons brand, which is one of UK’s leading grocery chains with almost 500 stores.

    The online supermarket in a one-stop shop meets all daily needs as it sells a broad range of groceries at competitive prices.

    It offers shoppers a complete wealth of choice between branded British groceries and Morrisons own label range, including dairy-free, gluten-free, and organic products.

    British Essentials is also a very convenient grocery shopping solution for busy Hongkongers. They can place orders anytime in the comfort of their homes and have it delivered to them across Hong Kong at their own convenience.

    As a zero-waste company, the online supermarket delivers in reusable crates and cardboard boxes which can be returned.

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  • Thomas Sabo Hong Kong opens flagship

    Thomas Sabo Hong Kong opens flagship

    Thomas Sabo Hong Kong has opened a flagship store at Hong Kong Ocean Terminal, with the German jewellery brand’s founder/designer Thomas Sabo officiating at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

    He was helped by guest of honour Korean pop star CL, and also in attendance was Korean singer/celebrity Lee Chae Lin.

    The boutique’s fresh colour palette of warmer and lighter colours marks a new era of shop-fitting for Thomas Sabo stores in Asia. Its new design concepts incorporate mid-century elements with simplistic decoration, says the company.

    After the official opening, guests were given a special preview of the exclusive Dragon Nights Edition, available from next month. The collection’s key pieces include dragons as a sign of happiness and the “Shou” sign as a symbol of long life.

    Decorated with feathered dragon heads and intertwined ornaments, the handcrafted collection draws on Far Eastern mythology and is also available at selected Thomas Sabo shops in Hong Kong.

    Established in 1984, Thomas Sabo has about 300 branded shops across all five continents and also collaborates globally with about 2800 trade partners as well as airlines and cruise companies.

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  • Star turn as Armani Box pops up in Central

    Star turn as Armani Box pops up in Central

    Originally launched in Paris last year, Armani Beauty’s red Armani Box pop-up store has arrived in Hong Kong.

    The brand’s latest product, My Armani to Go cushion foundation, was launched at the cocktail party to celebrate the opening of the store. Guests were welcomed by a giant red gorilla named Uri, created by Italian designer Marcantonio Raimondi Malerba and a reproduction of the gorilla in Giorgio Armani’s lounge in Milan.

    Inside the red box, guests tried out the latest makeup products including the new foundation, the Ecstasy Shine lipstick and the signature Lip Maestro lip gloss.

    Attending the party were such celebrities as Elva Ni, Janet Ma, Kary Ng, Sammie Yu, Shu Qi, Yvonne Kung and Zelia Zhong.

    The pop-up runs through to September 21 at the IFC Mall in Central.

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  • Hong Kong Post issuing shopping-street stamps

    Hong Kong Post issuing shopping-street stamps

    Hongkong Post is issuing a set of special stamps with Hong Kong’s shopping streets as their theme, together with associated philatelic products.

    The six stamps introduce shopping streets with a special local history and culture – in Mong Kok, shops in the Goldfish Market and others in the Flower Market; Chinese Medicine Street in Sheung Wan, which is more than a century old; Yau Ma Tei’s Jade Market; the wholesalers in Kitchenware Street; and the Yau Ma Tei Wholesale Fruit Market.

    The official first-day covers are available now at all post offices, while the stamps and associated products will be displayed at the General Post Office, Tsim Sha Tsui Post Office, Tsuen Wan Post Office, Sha Tin Central Post Office and Tuen Mun Central Post Office.

  • CSL launches inflight roaming day pass

    CSL launches inflight roaming day pass

    Hong Kong’s CSL has launched a new inflight day pass service offering a daily fixed charge for data roaming while on board a plane.

    CSL is offering the service for a promotional rate of HK$98, to be increased to HK$178 from October 1.

    The service will be available on supported aircraft of a number of major international airlines including Cathay Pacific, Air France, British Airways, Emirates and Singapore Airlines, and CSL plans to add support for additional airlines in the future.

    “Hong Kong people are frequent travelers and they want to stay connected wherever they go. To best serve our customers, we are proud to add aircraft as a new day pass destination,” commented Richard Midgett, managing director of CSL parent HKT’s wireless business.

    “Customers can even set their own preference of when to start using data and when to be reminded of their usage via the CSL app. Data roaming is made easy, worry free and economical, even in the air.”

    In-flight Wi-Fi is becoming a hot commodity internationally, with two in three APAC travelers responding to a recent Inmarat commissioned survey indicating that they feel that the service is no longer a luxury but a necessity. The survey found that 79% are willing to pay for inflight connectivity even on short leisure flights.

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  • Hypebeast pop-up store opens in Hong Kong

    Hypebeast pop-up store opens in Hong Kong

    Digital streetwear publication and e-commerce portal Hypebeast has opened a pop-up store in Hong Kong at The Landmark.

    Located in the Men’s Atrium, the HBX x Places+Faces pop-up store runs until September 27 and will feature weekly drops of limited-edition merchandise — including t-shirts, long sleeves and pouch bags and a special Hong Kong cap  — as well as snapshots by the London-based Places + Faces photography duo Ciesay and Soulz (Imran Ciesay and Solomon Boyede).

    “We’re constantly keeping our eyes and ears on what’s cool and trending, and showcasing different inspiration in this culture,” Kevin Ma, the founder of Hypebeast, told WWD at the official launch party, held in The Landmark’s basement.

    “We want to bring the energy of P+F, a brand we always admired and respected, turning that personality into a firsthand experience and space for more people.”

    Founded 12 years ago, Hypebeast went public last year and was recently incorporated in the U.K. and U.S.

    In 2012, it debuted HBX, an e-commerce arm that curates more than 300 streetwear brands to sell it Hypebeast readers.

    Hypebeast is looking at plans to delve into its own product directly, and will launch Hypekids for children soon.

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  • Tommy Hilfiger taps Hong Kong actor Shawn Yue

    Tommy Hilfiger taps Hong Kong actor Shawn Yue

    Tommy Hilfiger has tapped Hong Kong actor Shawn Yue as its first Asian brand ambassador for its menswear range.

    Yue, 35, a former model and star of Internal Affairs II, among other movies, will represent the brand in marketing across the mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

    China is a key driver of Tommy Hilfiger’s increasing sales globally after parent PVH bought back a 55 per cent controlling interest from its Chinese JV distribution partner in April last year. While the company did not reveal specific Chinese market data in its latest earnings report, it said China and Europe drove a 6 per cent improvement in the brand’s worldwide revenue, despite  North American sales sliding 5 per cent. It is targeting 405 stores in China by the end of this year.

    Fashion industry commentators says Yue’s appointment illustrates Tommy Hilfiger’s increasing commitment to Asian consumers.

    The first advertisements featuring Yue were due to appear today, (September 1). He features on a series of videos and in print commercials.

    Yue has 3 million followers on Instagram in China and 13 million on Weibo.

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  • Marks & Spencer Hong Kong may be sold off

    Marks & Spencer Hong Kong may be sold off

    The Marks & Spencer Hong Kong and Macau business is expected to be sold to the UK department store’s long-established Middle Easter franchise partner Al-Futtaim.

    M&S issued a statement overnight confirming the two parties were in talks over a deal where the existing business would be sold to Al-Futtaim which would then become a franchisee.

    “A successful conclusion to these discussions would see Al-Futtaim become the new sole franchisee for M&S in Hong Kong and Macau,” the London-headquartered company said.

    Al-Futtaim has partnered with M&S since 1998 when it opened the first MS store in Dubai. Today, Al-Futtaim operates 43 Marks & Spencer stores across seven markets in the Middle East, as well as in Singapore and Malaysia.

    Most recently Al-Futtaim has extended the reach of M&S’s popular chilled food to three markets, and will shortly be opening the first standalone M&S Food store in the Middle East.

    Marks & Spencer Hong Kong launched in 1988 and currently operates 27 stores, a mix of department stores and standalone food stores. It has three in Macau, two of them located in Sands properties.

    The fact that M&S has issued a statement confirming the talks are underway suggests a deal is effectively complete.

    M&S said the discussions follow a strategic review of the company’s international business last November, where the company proposed to have a greater focus on its established franchise and joint venture partnerships and operate with fewer wholly-owned markets.

    “M&S and Al-Futtaim have now entered into discussions on the potential purchase and franchise which includes commencing a period of due diligence, which is expected to take several months to complete. M&S employees will be kept informed of any developments throughout the process and M&S stores in Hong Kong and Macau will continue to trade as normal,” the statement said.

    Paul Friston, M&S’ international director, described Al-Futtaim as a key partner of M&S in Asia and the Middle East.

    “We are both committed to putting the customer at the heart of everything we do. With significant scale and retail expertise in the region, we are looking forward to discussing the potential extension of our partnership to Hong Kong and Macau as we continue to grow and develop our business together.”

    Stephen Rayfield, senior MD of fashion & lifestyle division with Al-Futtaim said the company was delighted to be working with M&S to explore the potential expansion of their partnership to Hong Kong and Macau.

    “M&S and Al-Futtaim share values, and an approach that focuses the customer at the heart of our businesses. Al-Futtaim looks forward to building on our solid foundations as we continue to enrich our customers’ lives and aspirations through the provision of quality products and services in Hong Kong and Macau – these are among Marks & Spencer’s most successful and important international markets,” he said.

  • SmarTone FY17 profit falls 16%

    SmarTone FY17 profit falls 16%

    Hong Kong mobile operator SmarTone has reported a 16% decline in group net profit for the financial year ending in June to HK$672 million ($858.8 million) as a result of falling revenue amid a challenging competitive environment.

    Service revenue fell 6% to HK$5.16 billion as handset revenue declined due to increased migration to SIM only plans, as well as weakness in the prepaid segment and falling voice roaming revenues.

    But without the effect of handset subsidy amortisation, underlying postpaid service revenue remained flat and local mobile postpaid service revenue increased by 2%. Roaming revenue declined due to ongoing OTT substitution, but its percentage of service revenue remained 14%.

    SmarTone lifted its local customer base by 4% to 2.06 million. The operator reported a churn rate of 1% and mobile postpaid ARPU of $285.

    As a result of the operator’s operational efficiency efforts, opex remained flat while capex fell by 14%.

    “While it is clear that the environment has been challenging and our profitability has been impacted, we have taken proactive measures to reposition our business for future growth,” SmarTone CEO Anna Yip said.

    “Active measures are in place to drive productivity improvements and we are taking a long-term view to investing in our business. Our focus remains on delivering the best experience for our customers.”

    But the operator warned it expects the challenging operating environment to continue, due to factors including higher spectrum costs, ongoing declines in voice roaming revenues, lower handset costs and severe competitive pressures.

    As a result, SmarTone is focused on improving productivity and accelerating growth of new revenue sources, such as IoT and M2M applications, AI and ICT services.

  • Fitbit Hong Kong to roll out vending machines

    Fitbit Hong Kong to roll out vending machines

    Fitness product company Fitbit Hong Kong is aiming to grow its B2B sales via smart vending machines.

    Offered by SmartRetail, the machines accept cashless payments, and not only track sales and inventory in real time, but can also scan consumers to provide personalised recommendations.

    “For example, the machine may recommend a light-coloured wrist band to a young woman, while recommending a darker one to an older man,” says SmartRetail founder/director Adam So.

    The visual data will enable Fitbit to respond more rapidly to consumer tastes through accessing transaction data, says So. Marketing messages can also be delivered on a screen.

    IBM Hong Kong, which provides the technology for the units, says the visual and transaction data can also be used to enhance Fitbit’s sales analysis.

    “They can analyse the traffic at different time periods, the weather of a specific location, and how these environmental factors can affect sales,” says IBM Hong Kong CTO Samson Tai. “It is also possible to integrate transactions with loyalty programs. The potential with this real-time data is huge.”

    Showcased at the Hong Kong Computer Festival, the unit is still being tested, says local agent Leader Radio Technologies head of operations Ida Lee.

    She says there has been positive feedback, leading to Fitbit planning to introduce the machine in gyms or corporate offices.

    Lee says Leader sees potential for the units as the company has more B2C customers than B2B clients. “We have a stable retail and distributor ecosystem, and we wish not to disrupt it. Rather, we want to tap into the fitness, banking and corporate industries by placing our machines in their places.”

  • After 20 years, Pacsafe goes it alone

    After 20 years, Pacsafe goes it alone

    Hong Kong’s first stand-alone Pacsafe shop has opened at Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan.

    Starting almost 20 years ago with one product, the company has expanded its range of travel gear featuring proprietary anti-theft features.

    Products include Carrysafe straps, Pacsafe RFID-safe pockets to safeguard credit cards from being scanned, the new Roobar locking system, Snap & Lock bag mechanisms to deter thieves, Turn & Lock security hooks, and the company’s original product, Exomesh to protect backpacks.

    “There is now soaring demand for smart and secure travel gear that can navigate the streets of Hong Kong and the globe,” says Pacsafe MD/co-founder Magnus McGlashan.

    To mark its opening, the store is offering a 15 per cent discount to customers until the end of next month.

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