Retail News CRM

Tag: Japan

  • Kendrick Lamar’s ‘DAMN.’ pop-up travels to Asia

    Kendrick Lamar’s ‘DAMN.’ pop-up travels to Asia

    After hitting 17 cities across North America, Kendrick Lamar‘s DAMN. pop-up tour heads to Asia. First stop: Tokyo, Japan, at monkey time‘s flagship store in Harajuku.

    Monkey time’s clean neutral interior was filled with vibrantly-hued DAMN. merch pieces such as lime green and yellow T-shirts, burgundy hoodies, and a range of streetwear staples in essential black, white and grey colorways.

    The product designer Jide Osifeso joined the opening of the pop-up  and shared bit more about the DAMN. collection.

    The DAMN. Tokyo pop-up took place at monkey time’s Harajuku location from 18 TO 19 November 2017, and it will travel to monkey time’s Osaka store on 26 November  2017.

    The product designer explained how this pop-up is aimed to bring the damn stuff to the fans who were not able to see the shows, especially people in Asia with the first one being in Tokyo. The pop-up will travel to Korea next and China afterwards.

    The graphics are all inspired by the music. The album has so many layers and textures.

    It is easy to draw inspiration from Kendrick and there is so much depth to everything he does.  What the merch was going to look like and how it would be represented is the result of a close collaboration. It is an easy process when you have the kind of music that Kendrick makes.

    Jide Osifeso’s favourite piece is the “Pray For Me” t-shirt, more specifically,  the “Nobody Pray For Me” verbiage throughout the album and how it was done.

    “At the live show”, Jide explains, “it really translates because there’s this echo of different people saying “Nobody Pray For Me” between two songs in the set. That’s just really gripping and amazing”.

    Lees ook:

  • Japan’s FamilyMart to go to Outer Space

    Japan’s FamilyMart to go to Outer Space

    Japan’s FamilyMart is going to great heights for promotion – in fact, as far as space.

    The Japanese convenience store franchise is joining airline JAL as a sponsor for an artificial “shooting star” project that involves a satellite dropping pellets that will make a display as they burn up on re-entering the atmosphere.

    It will be a world first produced by Ale, a company founded and run by former investment banker and mother-of-two Lena Okajima, who has a PhD in astronomy. A trial run of its satellite will likely be held in 2019 over the Setouchi (Seto Inland Sea) area of Hiroshima prefecture.

    Its pellets will be designed to burn brighter and longer than natural shooting stars in a colour of the client’s choosing. The display, lasting between five and 10 seconds, will be visible within a 100km radius.

    For its “Shooting Star Challenge”, a satellite will be placed in orbit about 500km above Australia. From there it will release pellets toward Japan. These will take about 15 minutes to fall to a height of 60km above Setouchi and begin to burn. This part of Hiroshima was chosen as the test site for its popularity, scenery and clear skies.

    A single 60cm satellite is expected to hold up to 400 pellets, which it is hoped will last until the end of the craft’s year in orbit. As well as providing a pyrotechnic display, the project will also gather data on upper-atmosphere physics.

    Lees ook:

  • Owndays Philippines opens flagship store in Manila

    Owndays Philippines opens flagship store in Manila

    Owndays Philippines has opened its largest optical shop yet, at SM Megamall in Manila.

    With 1500 frames to choose from, the Japanese eyewear retailer can provide prescription glasses in 20 minutes.

    Its 280sqm flagship has a children’s department featuring the Junni brand. With its open module system, it is easier to try on glasses. Its pricing model is simplified, being inclusive of frames, ultra-thin multi-coated lenses and the eye examination. All products come with a warranty and lifetime cleaning and maintenance services.

    Owndays SM Megamall also has three refraction rooms for eye tests (there are usually two), and as well as the spacious shopping area offers a lounge. At the shop’s centre is the space where spectacles are assembled.

    Owndays has 21 outlets in the Philippines, with six scheduled to open soon.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Shiseido Group brand role for Felicity Jones

    Shiseido Group brand role for Felicity Jones

    Academy Award-nominated English actress Felicity Jones has been appointed the new face of the Shiseido Group’s luxury skincare and cosmetics brand Cle de Peau Beaute.

    Her debut will be in a campaign to launch in January shot by British photographer David Sims.
    “Felicity is aspirational, yet highly relatable, which makes her the ideal face of Cle de Peau Beaute,” says brand director Yukari Suzuki. “She embodies the brand’s DNA: intelligent, uncompromising and exquisite.”

    Jones is best known for her role opposite Eddie Redmayne in James Marsh’s The Theory of Everything, which saw her nominated for four awards. Most recently, she led the cast of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The Oxford-educated actress stars next in the title role of a Ruth Bader Ginsburg biopic, On the Basis of Sex, focusing on the Supreme Court justice’s career struggles fighting for equal rights.

    “It’s important to me that my values align with any brand I’m affiliated with,” says Jones. “Cle de Peau Beaute made it clear they approached me because of my principles and dedication.”

    Her spring/summer campaign was shot over two days in London and will be featured globally in print and online, and Jones will attend exclusive launch events internationally.

    Cle de Peau Beaute means “the key to skin’s beauty”, and the Japanese brand is available in 13 countries including China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

    Lees ook:

  • A new multi-concept Japanese gourmet hall opens at Changi Airport Terminal 2

    A new multi-concept Japanese gourmet hall opens at Changi Airport Terminal 2

    Modelled after airline lounges, the Sora Japanese gourmet food hall opens at Changi Airport’s Terminal 2 today.

    Combining two concessions, the 7760sqft (720sqm) space seats about 300 diners and is the largest restaurant across the four terminals at the airport.

    At the public area on Level 3, the dining enclave houses six Japanese restaurant brands that serve up ramen, sashimi, okonomiyaki and Nippon-inspired desserts and beverages.

    Tendon Kohaku_Kohaku Tendon (Original)

    Sora, which is Japanese for “sky”, marks the first time that ANA Trading, a subsidiary of Japanese airline All Nippon Airways, has opened a food hall outside of Japan.

    “This is part of the company’s strategy to expand in Southeast Asia region,” says ANA Trading project director Kazuhiro Nakao, who is also director of SG Retail Partners, which is running the food hall in a JV with ANA Trading and Komars Group.

    Of the six restaurants in Sora, two are new-to-market brands: Japoli Kitchen and Tsuruhashi
    Fugetsu. From Osaka, Tsuruhashi Fugetsu is an okonomiyaki chain while Japoli Kitchen offers Italian/Japanese fusion cuisine.

    Tsuruhashi Fugetsu_Mix Yakisoba

    The other four restaurants are Tokyo chicken ramen chain Menya Takeichi, Kuro Maguro, which features fish flown in daily from Japan, tempura outlet Tendon Kohaku, and Tokyo Sundubu, which serves Korean stew.

    Sora Bar offers desserts and beverages including Hokkaido milk ice cream, sake and cocktails.
    Diners can order from any of the restaurants and bar to eat at the shared seating area.

    Sora offers both booth and tatami seating, and tables are fitted with charging points for mobile devices. There is also an interactive Kids’ Corner complete with a playground and television screen.

  • Richemont’s half-year is good in APAC

    Richemont’s half-year is good in APAC

    Asia Pacific sales accounted for 39 per cent of group sales for Swiss luxury-goods holding company Richemont for its half-year to September 30.

    Sales in Asia Pacific rose by by 25 per cent, with double-digit growth in most markets led by Mainland China, Hong Kong, Korea and Macau. While all product categories saw growth, the unaudited figures show jewellery and watch sales were particularly strong year on year, with watches benefiting as no inventory buy-backs were needed as in the previous year.

    For Japan, the 7 per cent rise in sales was driven by higher domestic and tourist spending, which benefited from a weaker yen. Jewellery and watches led sales growth, partly supported by the reopening of the Cartier flagship store in September last year and new flagships for Piaget (November) and Van Cleef & Arpels (April), all in Ginza.

    Overall, group sales rose by 10 per cent at actual exchange rates to €5.6 billion (US$6.5 billion) and by 12 per cent  at constant exchange rates. Excluding the previous year’s inventory buy-backs, sales increased by 8 per cent at constant exchange rates.

    Operating profit expanded by 46 per cent to €1.1 billion, with profit for the period up 80 per cent to €974 million.

    Gross profit increased by 13 per cent, representing 65.4 per cent of sales. The 190-point margin increase was mainly because of the non-recurrence of inventory buy-backs and improved manufacturing capacity absorption, says Richemont.

    Profit grew by 80 per cent to €974 million, mainly reflecting the higher operating profit and a €181 million reversal in net finance income.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Longchamp opens the biggest store in Asia

    Longchamp opens the biggest store in Asia

    French leather goods brand Longchamp officially opened its biggest Asian store in Tokyo in October 2017. The move signals a move to attract more Japanese clientele to the Parisian brand, as well as tourist shoppers visiting Japan.

    Dubbed ‘La Maison Omotesando’, the Japanese flagship store is located on Tokyo’s prestigious Omotesando Avenue. Standing 35 metres high and covering 500 square metres of retail floor space, the Asian flagship opened to much fanfare 19 October 2017, with the attendance of French actress – and Longchamp fan — Audrey Tatou.

    Inside, the Tokyo store sells Longchamp’s complete range of leather goods and handbags, as well as footwear, women’s fashion and menswear, the latter a collection-first for the Japanese market, which is located on the basement level of the multi-level store.

    Longchamp opens in ‘Maison Omotesando’ in Tokyo, biggest Asia store yet 2
    Source : prestigeonline.com

    In time for the new store launch, the luxury leather goods company unveiled its ‘Intempor’elle’ collection too. The autumn 2017 collection is composed of ready-to-wear pieces, handbags and boots. Key items include an updated two-tone Pénélope bag, studded and panther-print calf fur versions of the iconic “Mademoiselle Longchamp” messenger, and a clutch sporting a winged-horse motif.

    Speaking at the opening, Jean Cassegrain, Longchamp managing director, said the store will serve as a showcase of the brand’s way of life and collections.

    “This strategic and attractive store, which will serve as a showcase for our brand and our craftsmanship, allows us to welcome more Japanese clientele, but also tourists from across the globe, with whom we will have the pleasure of sharing the French way of life, and the creativity and quality of our collections,” said Cassegrain.

    With 210 sales points in Asia, the Asia market represented 28 percent of Longchamp’s total revenues in 2016.

    Founded in 1948, the Paris brand is sold in 80 countries across 1,500 sales points globally. This includes namesake stores and franchises, department store counters, leathergood retailers, airport concessions and online stores. The firm directly operates 300 stores worldwide.

    Lees ook:

  • Valentino Is Opening Sport-Themed Pop-Up Shops Around The World

    Valentino Is Opening Sport-Themed Pop-Up Shops Around The World

    Athleisure cannot stop, will not stop, and probably will never, ever stop, the proof is on the runway.

    More specifically the Valentino Resort 2018 runway, which saw a parade of athletic-inspired looks featuring everything from silk tracksuits to fuzzy slides to cheerleader-inspired midiskirts.

    Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Resort 2018 collection puts a luxurious spin on streetwear and the combination does not feel forced.

    The show, which took place in New York’s Bond Street, drew inspiration from one of the best American exports – hip hop.

    Sporty zip-up hoodies and tracksuits were given a Valentino touch, with the brand’s signature midi-dress silhouette with pleated details.

    Embroidered varsity jackets were paired with feminine calf-length skirts.

    Piccioli worked with graphic designer Zandra Rhodes again on special prints for dresses and jackets in the resort collection.

    Models carried micro versions of Valentino’s iconic “Matelasse” bags as clutches. We also love the heart-shaped novelty bags with iconic Rockstud straps.

    The collection also elevated flip-flops to runway chic, applying duo-tone fur trims on the thongs of the flip flops for a luxury touch.

    The show was attended by celebrities the likes of Olivia Palermo, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Marisa Tomei.

    Needless to say, the collection was a must-see. And now, lucky for us, here’s our chance to finally buy.

    In a series of pop-up shops in Tokyo, New York, and Hong Kong, Valentino fans will be able to shop the resort 2018 collection  in retail spaces designed to resemble gyms. But, like, chic gyms.

    A release for the new pop-ups even mentions “imaginary metropolitan basketball nets.”

    Aside from the gymnasium aesthetics, expect to be able to shop the resort collection plus more.

    Limited-edition items such as basketballs, yoga mats, and sneakers round out the sport-themed aesthetic.

  • Hermes grows in China

    Hermes grows in China

    Sales momentum in Mainland China helped boost growth for French luxury retailer Hermes in its third quarter.

    Overall sales grew 11 per cent at constant exchange rates, and at the end of September revenues were up 10 per cent to €4 billion (US$4.6 billion).

    Despite a strong comparison basis, sales in Asia (excluding Japan) rose 14 per cent, while Japan achieved a solid performance with a 5 per cent increase in the face of a strengthening yen.

    Hermes says all sectors recorded growth, with a “remarkable” 11 per cent performance by ready-to-wear and accessories.

    The 11 per cent growth in leather goods and saddlery was in line with the annual target of around 10 per cent, says the company, thanks to the success of its collections and diversity of models, particularly the Constance, Halzan, Lindy and Verrou bags, alongside Birkin and Kelly.

    With 9 per cent growth, the silk and textiles business line benefited from sustained demand, the diversity of the collections and the wealth of the creations, says Hermes.

    Strong growth of 13 per cent was posted by the perfumes division, driven notably by the launch of Twilly d’Hermes.

    There was a slight 1 per cent improvement for watches, while other lines grew by 11 per cent, including jewellery, art of living, and table arts.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Uniqlo operator to use IC tags at all outlets worldwide

    Uniqlo operator to use IC tags at all outlets worldwide

    Fast Retailing, operator of casual clothing chain Uniqlo, will introduce IC tags at all its outlets worldwide within a year, President and Chairman Tadashi Yanai said.

    The retailer will be Japan’s first to use the tags on a global basis.

    IC tags will save time for payment and inventory control, allowing the company to swiftly increase production of hot-selling products. The tags will also lessen checkout times, ensure that items are in stock, and provide other benefits.

    Fast Retailing will introduce the tags at all of its approximately 3,000 stores, including Uniqlo’s 2,000 outlets, both at home and overseas. Initial investment is estimated at several tens of billions of yen.

    The move is aimed at better coping with the demands of Amazon.com and other e-tailers, which have boosted their presence in the apparel industry.

    Becuase IC tags read information automatically and wirelessly, they can save more on labor and inventory costs compared to bar codes, which require manual operation. The tags can instantly and accurately gather detailed information on volume, size and color.

    In addition, IC tags take only one-tenth the time to inspect products as some systems currently in use.

    The company will use the tags to obtain detailed sales information analyze consumer behavior, such as when products are handled by consumers and returned to shelves, as well as when and where products are sold.

    Lees ook:

  • Mitsubishi Motors swings to operating profit in second quarter

    Mitsubishi Motors swings to operating profit in second quarter

    Mitsubishi Motors Corp said on Tuesday it swung to an operating profit for the second quarter, beating expectations as it rebounded from a mileage-cheating scandal a year earlier helped by cost cuts and favorable exchange rates.

    Healthy demand in Southeast Asia, Mitsubishi’s top market also lifted earnings with the automaker saying it was seeing strong orders for its new Xpander seven-seater multipurpose vehicles in Indonesia.

    Operating profit came in at 23.6 billion yen ($207.3 million) for the quarter, compared with a loss of 36.2 billion yen a year earlier when it was forced to stop sales of some domestic models due to the scandal.

    That exceeded forecasts for 20.14 billion yen from four analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

    During the first-half, retail vehicle sales at home climbed 48 percent while those in southeast Asia rose 15 percent.

    Mitsubishi kept its forecast for operating profit to surge 14-fold to 70.0 billion yen in the year to March. That reflects the rebound from the scandal as well as expectations of further growth in Asia and cost savings from its alliance with Nissan Motor Co (7201.T).

    The car maker has set ambitious goals for growth in Southeast Asia, China and the United States as well as for a comeback in Japan. Last month, it said it planned to boost global sales by 30 percent over three years.

    Under its new three-year strategy plan – Mitsubishi’s first since Nissan bought a controlling stake in 2016 following the scandal – the Japanese automaker will also ramp up R&D investment and capital spending.

    The company has reorganized the engineering division involved in the mileage manipulation scandal and has improved testing processes and compliance procedures.

    It expects the yen to trade around 105 yen to the U.S. dollar in the year to March.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Blue Bottle Coffee heading for Korea

    Blue Bottle Coffee heading for Korea

    US brand Blue Bottle Coffee is expected to open in South Korea soon, followed by other Asian countries including China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

    “We’re developing our contact here,” CEO Bryan Meehan said while attending the World Coffee Leaders Forum at the Seoul Cafe Show.

    He said Blue Bottle was researching the market and looking for a GM in Korea, with no specific set yet for a launch.

    Meehan said the company headquarters would directly manage its stores in Korea, as it does in other countries.

    “Actually, we had a lot of pressure for a joint venture in Japan. A lot of companies wanted licensed approaches,” he said. “We are very passionate about controlling the quality of Blue Bottle, so we like to do things ourselves. We have never franchised.”

    While local coffee chains in Korea have been hit by losses over the past few years, Starbucks Coffee has alone seen rapid growth, reports The Korea Times.

    “Blue Bottle has grown along with Starbucks in the US. We think we can survive side-by-side,” said Meehan.

    Known for its innovation, Blue Bottle has 44 stores in the US and Japan. Nestle acquired the chain for US$425 million in September.

    “Nestle CEO Mark Schneider has a wonderful vision of where specialty coffee should be in five years’ time, and he sees the value of Blue Bottle,” said Meehan. “Nestle is allowing Blue Bottle to remain a standalone company. I don’t report to anybody at Nestle.”

    Founded in Oakland, California, by musician James Freeman in 2002, Blue Bottle has expanded around San Francisco. Because of Freeman’s interest in Japan, the chain has expanded there and will open its eighth outlet next year in Kyoto.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Microsoft supports Mitsubishi in digital transformation of trucks, logistics operations

    Microsoft supports Mitsubishi in digital transformation of trucks, logistics operations

    Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd. is leveraging its AI, mixed reality and other cutting-edge technologies to support Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) in an initiative to enhance its customer relations, boost employee productivity and drive the digital transformation of its business through digitalising its truck and logistics operations.

    MFTBC is pursuing digital transformation based on its Connected X concept. Connected X seeks to boost productivity and offer further added value through seamlessly connecting employees, customers, devices, trucks and factories. MFTBC launched its Connected X project in July 2017, and is pursuing a wide range of digitalisation initiatives with the goal of becoming a 100 per cent digital manufacturing company by June 2019. At present, the following three key components are in progress.

    1．    AI chatbot

    MFTBC plans to streamline its operations by deploying an Azure-based internal helpdesk chatbot to respond appropriately and promptly to frequently asked questions. The chatbot will enable queries to be answered more uniformly in less time. MFTBC aims to enhance customer services, productivity, and maintenance quality by deploying the chatbot across the whole company and enabling it to also handle customer inquiries and converse with drivers and mechanics.

    2．    Truckonnect operation management system

    MFTBC is using Microsoft Azure IoT Hub for its Truckonnect operation management system that connects trucks and buses to the cloud so as to enable vehicle location and remaining fuel to be monitored in real time, thereby preventing problems before they occur and enabling more efficient transport and smooth vehicle maintenance by sharing information with vehicle dispatch centres.

    3．    Utilisation of Microsoft HoloLens to transform development and maintenance

    MFTBC and Microsoft Japan will make concrete preparations for deploying Microsoft HoloLens, a self-contained Windows 10-powered holographic computer, by the end of this year to revolutionise conventional vehicle design and development, preventive maintenance and other processes by enabling users, engineers, and designers to simultaneously share visualised 3-D data. HoloLens will unlock new possibilities in digital experiences, collaboration and workstyle by leveraging Mixed Reality (MR) technology that combines real and virtual worlds to utilise the best of both worlds by overlaying holograms (3-D virtual objects) on the real world in front of the viewer’s eyes.

    Microsoft Japan’s Enterprise Services will provide full backup for this project. Digital advisors belonging to a special unit dedicated to supporting the digital transformation of Microsoft Japan’s customers will assist with all aspects of the project up to deployment, including identifying issues and suggesting solutions that leverage the latest technology.

  • Muji expansion in Thailand at Siam Discovery in Bangkok

    Muji expansion in Thailand at Siam Discovery in Bangkok

    Muji Thailand has opened another store in Bangkok, its second in little more than a month.

    On Wednesday, Muji opened its doors in the Siam Discovery shopping centre.

    MUJI at Siam Discovery_3

    Yuki Yamamoto, director and GM of Muji’s parent Ryohin Keikaku Co and Naratipe Ruttapradid, senior executive VP operations division with Siam Discovery’s parent Siam Piwat (pictured) performed the opening honours.

    Mr. Yuki Yamamoto, Director and General Manager, Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.  along with Miss Naratipe Ruttapradid, Senior Executive Vice President Operations Division at Siam Piwat Co., Ltd. opened the new ‘MUJI’ store at 2 nd Floor, Siam Discovery. Customers will get special offer and can buy the special exclusive tote bags at Bath of 99 only at MUJI, Siam Discovery branch.

    Muji Thailand reopened its store inside the Zen department store at Bangkok’s CentralWorld shopping centre in September. That store, which originally opened on the fifth floor of Zen in 2012, has been relocated to the fourth floor.

    It is the largest of all Muji outlets in Thailand with a floor area of 878sqm.

    Lees ook:

  • Estee Lauder Companies sales rises

    Estee Lauder Companies sales rises

    Led by double-digit growth in China and Hong Kong, Asia/Pacific sales increased sharply for Estee Lauder Companies for its first quarter to the end of September.

    It says the higher sales in China reflected strong gains for every brand except designer fragrances. Estee Lauder, Mac, La Mer, Tom Ford and Jo Malone led the sales growth.

    Sales benefitted, in part, from continued demand for makeup products, an acceleration in skincare sales and targeted expansion of consumer reach.

    Hong Kong’s increased sales reflected solid domestic growth and a rise in tourism. Growth was primarily driven by Estée Lauder, La Mer and Mac.

    Operating performance was lower in Japan.

    Overall, the company achieved net sales of $3.27 billion, up 14 per cent on the same period last year.

    Incremental sales from the company’s acquisitions of Becca and Too Faced contributed about four points of reported sales growth. Net earnings rose 45 per cent to $427 million.

    “Building on the global momentum of the past fiscal year, we benefitted from continued acceleration in China, Hong Kong, travel retail and global online, strength in several developed and emerging markets in Europe, and incremental sales from Becca and Too Faced,” says president/CEO Fabrizio Freda.

    “Our online and travel-retail channels and most luxury and mid-sized brands posted double-digit sales gains.”

    Lees ook: