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Tag: Korea

  • Korea Fashion Week extends Alibaba’s trade cooperation

    Korea Fashion Week extends Alibaba’s trade cooperation

    Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group launched its Korea Fashion Week with its Taobao, Juhuasuan and Tmall online platforms in Seoul.

    Alibaba pledged to strengthen its exploration of overseas markets and to ink agreements with overseas brands to jointly explore the market, the report said.

    Imported Korean products have achieved annual sales of more than 10 billion yuan (US$1.6 billion) on Alibaba’s online retail platforms, according to statistics released by the company. Best-selling imports include beauty products, women’s clothing, daily life goods and baby products, accounting for 60% of the total market for imported Korean goods, according to statistics.

    The two nations have repeatedly announced moves to boost bilateral trade. In March, the two signed a free trade agreement. In addition, South Korea became one of the top destinations for Chinese tourists traveling abroad, the report said.

    In mid-May, Alibaba chair Jack Ma visited Seoul for the opening ceremony of the group’s Korean shop, indicating more Korean brands and products can reach Chinese consumers through the Alibaba platform.

    Samsung C&T, South Korea’s largest conglomerate with interests in construction, electronics, chemicals, finance and numerous other fields, has already moved three of its apparel brands — Beanpole, Rapido and Mvio — into the Chinese market through Tmall. It plans to cultivate China as its second domestic market, Samsung said.

    Samsung has annual revenue of US$30 billion.

    South Korea’s Eland Group began cooperating with Juhuasuan and Tmall in 2013, and reached sales of over 300 million yuan (US$47 million) last year. The group is expected to double sales to more than 600 million yuan (US$94 million) this year.

    The popularity of Korean TV dramas in China has sustained demand for Korean clothing, with 80% of the 4.32 million Chinese tourists to South Korea in 2013 shopping for clothes, shoes and bags.

    More than 200 Korean fashion brands have joined the Alibaba fashion week in Seoul, with most of them aiming to enter the Chinese market via the Alibaba retail platform. Zhang Jianfeng, president of Alibaba’s retail group, said he hopes to introduce Korean brands to Chinese consumers through their cooperation.

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  • SHOW DC Invests US$265 million to Open Thailand’s First Retail & Entertainment Mega-complex

    SHOW DC Invests US$265 million to Open Thailand’s First Retail & Entertainment Mega-complex

    SHOW DC Corp Ltd., recently, announced it will open Thailand’s first retail and entertainment mega-complex in June 2016 with a total investment of US$265 million and aims to attract 100,000 visitors a day. The landmark development combines spectacular entertainment facilities with a rich mix of retailing and food & beverage. Located on almost 4.5 hectares in the heart of Bangkok’s Rama IX entertainment district, the project has a massive 150,000 square metre gross floor area that also includes the world’s largest ‘K-Town’ outside of Korea.

    Mr. Chayaditt Hutanuwatra, Chairman of SHOW DC Corp Ltd., said, “We are the first to bring to Thailand the ‘Shop & Enjoy’ concept that combines great shopping and eating with mega-entertainment, in a single complex. Visitors can indulge in the best of shopping, eating and culture from Thailand and the region. At the same time, they can enjoy Thailand’s most sophisticated entertainment offerings with a state-of-the-art Performance Hall for 5,000 people, and a 5,000 square metre Sports Arena for Asian sports entertainment that seats 1,500 people. There is also a 5,000 square metre Fantasy Dreamscape cultural walk-through phenomenon called ‘Himmapan Avatar’ that brings to life dazzling Thai legends through immersive 4D experiences using the most advanced light, sound and holographic technologies.”

    Mr. Chayaditt said that 60% of the lettable space at SHOW DC has already been leased. Among its anchor tenants is YG Entertainment – one of Korea’s top star-maker entertainment companies which is behind global K-Pop sensations such as BIGBANG, Psy, and 2NE1. YG Entertainment will operate a 5,000 square metre rooftop K-Pop culture and entertainment park with hip bars and eateries.

    “As part of our emphasis on presenting the richness of Asia, SHOW DC has an expansive 10,000 square metre Asian Food Street dedicated exclusively to restaurants. Next to that, inside the K-Town are large areas devoted to Korean fashion (K-Fashion), Thailand’s most extensive offering of Korean beauty products and services (K-Beauty), as well as celebrity food and beverage outlets, such as Psy’s ‘Psy Ramen’, and ‘After Rain’, inspired by global K-Pop sensation ‘Rain’,” Mr. Chayaditt said.

    Ms. Praparwarn Waeladeevong, Vice Chairperson of SHOW DC Corp Ltd., said, “We are the first in Thailand to design facilities on this scale specifically to handle a high number of international travellers. We have invested heavily in building generous bus parking facilities as well as carefully mapped people flows within the complex to ensure comfort and convenience to all visitors, all the time.”

    Ms. Praparwarn said that visitors to Thailand are expected to reach 37 million people a year in the next five years, and that the creation of landmark lifestyle destinations such as SHOW DC give international visitors an exciting one-stop destination for shopping and entertainment.

    One of SHOW DC’s special facilities for international visitors is a large VIP Traveller Lounge where visitors can spend time on their last day after they check-out from their hotels.

    “They can leave their bags, take a shower, or rest after checking-out from their hotel and prior to a night flight. In addition, travellers can use SHOW DC’s complimentary shuttle transport services to Bangkok’s airports,” Ms. Praparwarn said.

    Vice Chairperson added that because SHOW DC is a major new landmark in ASEAN it will help boost Thailand’s position as the shopping and entertainment capital of the ASEAN Economic Community.

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  • Korea more active than Japan in Southeast Asian tech

    Korea more active than Japan in Southeast Asian tech

    In a region where masses of users are newly armed with smartphones and more spending power, Southeast Asia is a new gold mine for tech enterprises.

    China’s quickly saturating market for all things tech has pushed Asia-bound start-ups to seek new territory, and global companies like Rakuten, eBay and Rocket Internet are vying over Southeast Asia with no clear winner ― meaning plenty of opportunities still abound for new players.

    Those conditions drew Korean-Japanese entrepreneur Tesong Kim, who led e-commerce at Japanese investor Rakuten’s offices in Tokyo and Jakarta, to launch his own discount retail start-up VIP Plaza for fashion goods in Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s biggest market, in 2014, and recently expand to Malaysia.

    And Korea’s start-ups are joining the rush, he says.

    They seem to be making bigger waves there than in Japan. He cannot list any Korean start-ups with a big presence in the country, a closed, conservative market that is a nut nearly impossible for foreign companies to crack. But in expanding to Southeast Asian markets like Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, he says they are far more active than their Japanese rivals.

    “Korea is quite aggressive in Southeast Asia, I think more aggressive than Japan in terms of e-commerce start-ups,” he told The Korea Herald in an interview on the sidelines of tech start-up conference Tech in Asia Tokyo 2015 last week.

    “Korea is very crowded. The population is very small, geographically the landscape is very small, and there’s a lot of start-ups. So it’s quite packed, but I think Japanese investors think Korean start-ups can go global more than Japanese start-ups.”

    Indeed, SK Planet’s e-commerce retailer 11st is seen harnessing the region’s demand for Korean fashion and beauty products, while couples messenger Between and crowdsourcing translation app Flitto are also gaining traction in markets like Indonesia, Taiwan and Thailand.

    Meanwhile, Kim says Japanese start-ups are trapped at home, falling hard when they try to copy and paste their successful domestic strategies into new markets.

    But competition in Southeast Asia is heating up fast. Kim believes Korea’s KakaoTalk lost the messenger app war in the region to rivals like BlackBerry, WhatsApp, LINE ― one successful Japanese exception in the region ― and WeChat because it entered too late.

    That’s why it has pivoted to commercial services such as e-commerce when targeting markets like Indonesia, he said.

    Not that e-commerce is any easier, as Kim knows from his experience with Rakuten’s Indonesian e-commerce venture and starting his own online discount retailer. Handling logistics, acquiring products and dealing with fragmented, cash-based payment systems takes immense effort.

    But due to the region’s overall cheaper costs, he believes Korean and Japanese start-ups underestimate the investments they need to gain ground ― a mistake that will get them steamrolled in the market. “They think that with $1 million-$2 million, they can go to Indonesia, try to develop ― with that kind of mindset, they will never succeed,” he says. “All the very aggressive companies are investing into Southeast Asia with a very big amount of money.”

    Even for Korea’s prized e-retailer Coupang, which received a $1 billion boost from Japan’s SoftBank Ventures this year, it might already be too late to test the region’s waters, he said.

    “What they have is a know-how of how to sell things, of impulse buying. They have a system and good talents, but they are not localizing the region,” he said. “If they tackle some new country now, they need to invest in everything ― the products, warehouse, marketing and user acquisition.”

    But the market is already crowded by Lazada, Elivenia and Rakuten, not to mention 11st and Kim’s own start-up VIP Plaza. “I think it’s already too late in terms of social commerce,” he said. “The better strategy is buying out some local players. It’s not only easier, but much cheaper.”

    Still, Japan’s massive opportunities can’t be ignored, he says. Its app market is the biggest in the world, and gaming companies are seizing opportunities. “So in that sense, I think the market is still very big.”

     

  • Lotte chief vows to improve corporate governance

    Lotte chief vows to improve corporate governance

    By Kim Eun-jung

    SEOUL, Sept. 17 (Yonhap) — The chief of South Korean retail giant Lotte Group pledged Thursday to untangle a cobweb of cross-shareholding among its affiliates and speed up the listing process of its hotel unit.

    Testifying before a parliamentary committee, Shin Dong-bin also ruled out the possibility that Lotte, the fifth-largest family-run conglomerate in South Korea, may be embroiled in another family fight over leadership.

    Shin appeared before a parliamentary audit of the antitrust watchdog the Fair Trade Commission, tasked with assuaging public discontent after a bitter fraternal feud over winning control of the nation’s fifth-largest conglomerate.

    After winning the backing of Japanese shareholders last month, the 60-year-old has vowed to improve corporate transparency and list Hotel Lotte, a hotel and duty-free operator.

    During the nationally-televised audit session, Shin apologized for the family feud and vowed to clean up 80 percent of the cross-shareholding structure by the end of October.

    “We formed a task force to improve the governance structure and restore the brand image,” Shin said.

    Lotte has listed only eight companies and the core units are linked through unlisted Japanese units. Shareholders of the small Japanese firms remain largely shrouded in darkness because they are not subject to Korea’s financial disclosure rule.

    As part of reform efforts, Shin bought 35.8 billion won in Lotte Confectionery Co. shares from Lotte Construction on Aug. 28, clearing up about 34 percent of the cross-shareholding links.

    Shin said the task force is working on the initial public offering for Hotel Lotte, with plans to complete it by the first half of next year. Last week, Lotte selected three lead managers for the planned initial public offering.

    Hotel Lotte is 99 percent controlled by Japanese shareholders, including Tokyo-based Lotte Holdings and other unlisted Japanese companies.

    Lotte said earlier the hotel unit is expected to have a market capitalization of around 10 trillion won ($8.5 billion) when it lists, but market watchers estimate it could reach as much as 20 trillion won, considering its large stakes in affiliates and strong earnings.

    When repeatedly asked about the company’s identity, Shin said Lotte is a Korean company that generates most of its sales locally.

    “Lotte is a Korean company because it pays tax according to the Korean law and its employees are Koreans,” Shin said, noting he will maintain the Korean nationality.

    Founder Kyuk-ho was born in the South Korean port city of Ulsan, 414 kilometers south of Seoul, while his sons were born and raised in Japan by a Japanese mother.

    Lotte has tried to allay public discontent over its historic links to Japan as it could deal a harsh blow to the group that heavily relies on the retail, food and travel industries.

    Lotte was first established as a confectionery store in postwar Japan in 1948. It later expanded into Korea when diplomatic ties between Japan and Korea were normalized following Japan’s colonial rule from 1910 to 1945.

    Although lawmakers’ summoning businessmen has been a longstanding ritual as a way to flex their muscles in front of cameras, it is the first time the head of one of the nation’s top 10 family-run conglomerates, called chaebol, showed up before parliament to face acrimonious questions.

    Shin was called in for a 2013 parliamentary audit, but he evaded it, citing overseas trips and instead paid fines. But this time, negative public sentiment and growing government pressure left him no choice but to clarify issues related to the governance structure and other related issues.

     

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  • Chinese couples spend big in Korea

    Chinese couples spend big in Korea

    Korea is becoming a major destination for young Chinese couples looking to splurge on expensive items for their upcoming marriages.

    Chen Yi, 34, and Chai Xuefang, 30, who recently visited Seoul from Shandong province, China, are typical of the growing number of couples who are sparing no expense to make their big day special.

    The two bought two Vacheron Constantin wristwatches worth 100 million won ($84,350) each at the Hyundai Department Store in Apgujeong, southern Seoul. They also bought a two-carat diamond ring for 60 million won.

    “A lots of Koreans are preparing for their weddings at Cheongdam-dong [near Apgujeong in the posh Gangnam District],” said soon-to-be-wed Chai. “We plan to get wedding consulting [here in Seoul] exclusively for Chinese people.”

    Another Chinese couple, Yang Xiaoliang, 30, and his fiance Xu Jingjing, 27, last month bought a 10 million won Thom Browne suit for men and two Rolex wristwatches for the couple worth 150 million won each at the same Hyundai Department Store in Apgujeong. They purchased the items ahead of a wedding photo shoot at a studio in Cheongdam-dong.

    The Korean retail and hotel industry is taking notice of the growing number of Chinese couples who are spending big in Seoul to prepare for their weddings.

    They have become major customers who are spending large on high-end wedding gifts, including jewelry, wristwatches and designer suits and dresses. Majors stores are already catering to the growing demand.

    Hyundai Department Store’s Apgujeong branch plans to provide a wedding consulting program exclusively for Chinese couples, and have already enhanced other services for young Chinese customers. Since last month, they have provided a free delivery service where electronic appliances and furniture purchased by Chinese couples can be dropped off at their front door in China. The service has a limit of 30 kilograms (66 pounds) per person.

    Lotte Duty Free recently started a service where items purchased at its shops can be delivered from the Chinese airport to their homes.

    “We get a lot of inquires from Chinese tourists who come to Gangnam [District] to get wedding consulting,” said Lee Hyun-sook, a foreigner-exclusive concierge at Hyundai Department Store. “They shop after asking every detail, such as which brand Koreans most prefer for their own wedding gifts.”

    China Union Pay credit card purchases made by Chinese on imported brands such as Tiffany’s and Cartier soared 91.3 percent in the first eight months of this year compared to the same period last year at Hyundai Department Store. Purchases on furniture, electronic appliances and household goods saw a huge growth of 134.1
    percent.

    Shinsegae Group is widening its marketing strategy to attract soon-to-wed Chinese couples in its department stores and other major affiliates, including its discount store E-Mart and its hotel business Westin Chosun.

    Shinsegae Group invited two couples from Shenyang and Tianjin to Seoul, where they will get a wedding photo taken at the Cheongnam-dong studio that took wedding pictures for famous Korean actresses Jun Ji-hyun. They will also get the chance to experience a traditional Korean wedding ceremony at the Westin Chosun Hotel and shopping at E-Mart and the retail group’s other outlets. The cost is 15 million won per person.

    “We plan to secure the lead in grabbing Chinese couples visiting Korea to get wedding services during the most popular wedding seasons for the Chinese, which starts this month and leads up to the end of the year,” said Shinsegae CEO Jang Jae-young.

    Wedding gifts, including high-end wristwatches, jewelry and designer bags, accounted for 60 percent of all sales made by Chinese tourists at Shinsegae Department Store during China’s May Day, from April 25 to May 3.

    Hotels are also recognizing the growing trend.

    Plaza Hotel last month introduced a wedding package where a hopeful groom can make a proposal at the hotel’s restaurant.

    The package includes a studio wedding photo shoot that comes with makeup from a company that many Korean female celebrities like Han Ye-seul and Han Hyo-joo frequently use. The price tag on the three-day package is 7 million won including flight tickets.

    Lotte Hotel is offering a package targeted at Chinese customers that includes not only the wedding photo and makeup but also a proposal ceremony and spa. The cost for the three-day program is 11.8 million won.

     

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  • Online security ‘paramount’ for shoppers

    Online security ‘paramount’ for shoppers

    A sense of security is paramount for nearly one quarter of shoppers when evaluating whether to purchase goods from a retailer online, according to a new survey from Worldpay, a payments provider.

    Assuring customers they are in safe hands throughout the entire payment experience should be a priority for retailers, according to 3500 online shoppers polled globally.

    Similarly, for one in four online shoppers, seeing payment authentication and digital certificate logos displayed prominently on a retail site’s homepage is the single most reassuring element in the purchasing process. Forty-six per cent of consumers globally admit this would help address their concerns.

    Transparency around online security is particularly important in China, where 70 per cent of shoppers said they feel more secure shopping when payment authentication and certificate logos are clearly displayed, indicating that this simple measure will go a long way in addressing the misgivings of online customers.

    Shoppers also want security transparency when retailers store personal and payment details. Thirty-one per cent of shoppers worldwide say they don’t want a retail website to store their payment details, and South Koreans and Australians are most averse to the idea with over 50 per cent saying they don’t want this information stored online. In China and Japan, 65 per cent of shoppers expect reassurance that their details will be kept safe by the retailer and want a clear explanation of how this will be done.

    Stuart Thornton, VP of business development in APAC with Worldpay, said: “Nagging doubts about the security of their payment details can add up over the multiple stages of the purchasing journey for shoppers and stop them from ever clicking ‘buy’, even if they really want a product. When selling online, retailers need to step in and reassure customers that their information is in safe hands, from the second they start browsing a site to the moment they receive an email confirming their purchase”.

    At checkout, shoppers expect the ability to use their preferred payment method and want the process to be simple and intuitive. Sixty-five per cent globally have abandoned their purchase at the checkout stage as a result of not being able to pay how they wish.

    Nearly 60 per cent of shoppers worldwide would drop out of a purchase if their preferred payment method was displayed on a retail site’s homepage but wasn’t available at checkout. Forty per cent of shoppers globally admit they would not take the time to look for their preferred payment method at checkout if it was not easy to find. This figure is even higher in Japan, where 62 per cent of shoppers say they wouldn’t search for their preferred payment method if it wasn’t already clearly indicated on the website.

    Retailers must also manage consumer expectations by clearly indicating what they can expect at each stage of the payments journey, particularly when redirecting them to a third-party website. Ninety-four per cent of shoppers globally say this is important, and one-fifth would instantly drop a transaction if ushered to a third-party site without warning. In Japan, nearly 30 per cent of shoppers would drop out if unexpectedly redirected to a third-party site to enter additional details.

    “Purchasing products online demands a certain level of trust between retailers and shoppers, and making the process simple and transparent is absolutely essential,” said Thornton.

    “Retailers will struggle to inspire confidence in their customers if they cannot deliver on shoppers’ expectations and give them peace of mind throughout the online shopping journey”.

    The need for retailers to act as a source of reassurance for shoppers is equally strong when it comes to handling errors or providing customer support. Nearly two-thirds of online shoppers (64 per cent) want a clear and immediate explanation of exactly what went wrong. When it comes to additional support, 27 per cent want to be able to call customer support, while 24 per cent want the option to email a support representative.

    Clear error messages also head off any potential confusion as to whether a transaction has been processed. Ninety-six per cent of shoppers say it is important they receive an email confirming that their order has been processed and their payment accepted.

    Adds Thornton: “If there is one thing to take away from these findings it is that the online payments journey is inextricably linked to the user experience. If retailers cannot reassure customers that their transaction will be quick, secure, and managed to the highest standard of professionalism throughout the payment journey they will struggle to keep shoppers engaged”.

    The research was carried out in partnership with KAE Marketing Intelligence, which conducted a desktop analysis of 350 top retail sites and surveyed 3500 online shoppers in 14 countries across North America, South America, EMEA, and APAC.

  • South Korea retail sales easing upwards

    South Korea retail sales easing upwards

    South Korean retailers are breathing a sigh of relief as consumers return to stores in the wake of the MERS scare receding.

    South Korea retail sales rose 0.5 per cent in July to 30.14 trillion won (US$25.6 billion) after receding 0.6 per cent in June.

    Statistics Korea said sales rose month on month as well as year on year.

    “The fallout of the MERS outbreak that caused demand to slump seems to have receded in July, leading to a slight rise in consumer spending,” a spokesman for Statistics Korea said.

    “While things have not returned to normal, sales are rising in areas that were most affected by the outbreak.”

    The MERS outbreak hit in late May. Thirty-six people subsequently died and a further 186 were infected before the outbreak was brought under control and confirmed over by health officials in July.

    The value of online transactions rose by 21.2 per cent, driven by sales of food and cosmetics as cautious shoppers opted to have products delivered rather than visit stores and risk exposure.

    Online shopping accounted for 15.8 per cent total retail sales in July.

    In stores, food and beverage sales rose 3.8 per cent year on year in July and electronics sales by 3.2 per cent. Department store sales rose 0.4 per cent, having fallen 12 per cent in June.

    Sales at convenience stores rose 33.6 per cent and at supermarkets by three per cent.

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  • Samsung Electronics unveils ‘future of shopping’

    Samsung Electronics unveils ‘future of shopping’

    The future is here. Pause to window shop and read information about the products displayed on the other side of a transparent OLED “window”.

    Try on outfits through virtual reality, and see how they look from all directions.

    Samsung Electronics will reveal new products using smart signage that will realize futuristic smart shopping at the IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung) 2015, in Berlin in a special space set up so visitors can experience ‘smart shopping’ through smart signage solutions such as transparent OLED and smart LED signage.

    Samsung’s transparent OLED will be revealed for the first time at the IFA. It boasts a penetration ratio of 45 per cent, which is the highest in the world, and full HD resolution.Through smart signage embedded with touch functions, virtual fitting solutions that can be used at apparel stores will also be exhibited. Customers can make a model in the screen try on the clothes instead, and see what they would look like through virtual reality. Information related to accessories that match the outfit can be provided for convenience.

    A mirror display that suggests beauty tips and information on makeup according to the user’s schedule, skin type and weather will also be revealed. The most unique part of the mirror display is that it reflects the user just like a mirror through the use of hi-tech reflecting panels.

    In addition, a smart LED signage solution with higher definition will be exhibited. The product has a high resolution with a pixel pitch (that’s the space between pixels) of 1.5mm and 2.5mm. It can be set up indoors, making it possible to be used in the lobbies of shopping malls or large scale displays.

    Samsung is also planning to show various LED signage products. “

    We are planning to suggest ideas of various usages of our signage products at the IFA. By introducing Europe to LED smart signage, we are determined to push into the global digital signage market,” said a spokesman.

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  • Sandara Park is newest int’l endorser of Pinoy fashion retail brand

    Sandara Park is newest int’l endorser of Pinoy fashion retail brand

    Korean super star Sandara Park whose road to international fame started in the Philippines decided to return to where it all started by endorsing a local fashion retail brand.

    “Hey guys! It’s me Sandara Park. And guess what? I’m the newest member of Team Penshoppe. I had a great time shooting my first campaign and I love the clothes,” Park said in an Instagram clip as she broke the news to her fans.

    The Korean superstar made the announcement Thursday with a caption, saying she’s “happy” to be the newest face of the local retailer.

    She also included a teaser photo of the campaign shot by photographer Cliff Watts who flew in from New York for the shoot.

    The shoot took place last month at Golden ABC’s Studio 1155 and Gallery.

    The long list of international celebrity endorsers include Cara Delevingne, Kendall Jenner, Nina Dobrev, Leighton Meester, Ed Westwick, Josh Bowman, Mario Maurer, Ian Somerhalder and the world’s highest paid male model, Sean O’Pry.

  • Roche Bobois to open in Hong Kong

    Roche Bobois to open in Hong Kong

    French luxury furniture retailer Roche Bobois is to open its first store in Hong Kong.

    The store will be the company’s eighth in Greater China and comes soon after the brand’s debut in the southern Chinese city of Chongqing.

    The new showroom will open in September in the ground floor of Horizon Plaza at 2 Lee Wing St.

    Roche Bobois works closely with renowned designers such as Ora Ito, CĂ©dric Ragot, Sacha Lakic, Christophe Delcourt and Stephen Burks and with Haute Couture fashion houses such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Sonia Rykiel Maison and Missoni Home.

    It offers a broad range of exclusive made-to-order designs, manufactured with a high level of customisation in small European workshops. Its collection includes premium-quality furniture, including sofas, armchairs, cocktail tables, dining chairs, sideboards, beds, wardrobes, storage and accessories including lighting, cushions and rugs.

    The company has 250 showrooms worldwide.

    In Chongqing, Roche Bobois opened in the high-end furniture mall Redstar Macalline in the Yubei district, in the city’s northeast.

    In a taste of what Hongkongers can expect, the fit out features marble floors and a Paris skyline on the wall.

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  • E-Land to launch Coffee Bean China

    E-Land to launch Coffee Bean China

    South Korean retailer E-Land has sealed a deal to launch Coffee Bean China by the end of 2015.

    The California-headquartered cafe chain, also known by its full name Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, says China will be its 28th international market. The China joint venture plans 700 cafes across the country.

    It has already achieved considerable success in Asia, especially in Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand.

    E-Land operates a vast network of 7000 fashion stores in China and about 20 restaurant brands.

    “Together with E-Land’s vast retail experience and success to ensure our continued growth in China, we’re proud to put our Southern California style of hand roasted coffee and whole leaf teas on the map in yet another country,” said Jeff Schroeder, senior VP of operations at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, in a statement.

    Coffee Bean has more than 1000 cafes in 28 countries and earlier this year opened its first stores in Japan.

    While 700 cafes might seem like a large number in China, it would be dwarfed by rival Starbucks which already boasts 1700 cafes.

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  • K-beauty brand Hera uses DFS as testbed

    K-beauty brand Hera uses DFS as testbed

    Luxury duty free and travel retailer, DFS Group, has opened pop-up stores in Hong Kong for the K-beauty brand Hera which the latter is using as a testbed for the global market.

    The T Galleria by DFS on Canton Road houses four pop-ups, with a launch in early August in the presence of Hong Kong actress Charmaine Sheh and Korean movie star Park Eun Hye. Hera’s head make-up artist, Jinsu Lee, was on hand to share beauty tips to achieve the signature K-beauty Seoulista look.

    BRIDGE TO ASIAN MARKETS

    Hong Kong is the largest cosmetics market in Asia and Hera’s first-ever pop-ups are expected to be a bridge to other Asian countries. The DFS units  bestselling fan-favourites, including the Olympia Le-Tan UV Mist Cushion, UV Mist Cushion and Age Reverse Cushion.

    Hera is known in Korea for cutting-edge technology and is popular with women looking to emulate increasingly popular K-beauty styles seen in K-pop music and K-drama TV shows.

    Jinsu Lee will offer Seoulista make-up demonstrations as well as touch-up services to customers with the stores are in place. All four pop-ups will offer a limited supply of product kits to customers with a minimum purchase.

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  • Taiwanese embrace E-Land concept

    Taiwanese embrace E-Land concept

    South Korean retailer E-Land says its first full scale store in Taiwan’s capital Taipei drew 80,000 shoppers in its first week.

    Collectively, they spent US$843,000 in the week-long trial opening.

    E-Land opened its first Taiwanese boutique as a concession inside the Taipei 101 skyscraper last September. That helped build brand awareness in the city.

    Now the company has opened its first standalone store, in a shopping district in eastern Taipei, selling clothes and accessories under E-Land’s Mixxo and Spao labels. The 2800 sqm store also features its Lugo cafe concept

    “The response was very enthusiastic,” E-Land Group executive director Yoon Kyung-Hoon told theChosun Ilbo Daily newspaper.

    E-Land made its Greater China debut in 2013 opening stores on the China Mainland and followed in Hong Kong last year.

  • Korean banks back Samsung Pay

    Korean banks back Samsung Pay

    South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics says the country’s 10 credit card companies have agreed to support its new mobile payment system, slated for launch today, Thursday.

    Korea will be the first market in which the Samsung Pay service is launched. It supports not only the near field communication (NFC) technology like its rivals but also magnetic secure transmission (MST) and bar code technologies.

    The MST technology is significant as it is compatible with conventional credit card devices, and therefore, it can be used in a larger number of shops compared with Apple Pay. Samsung’s progress was made possible as it had bought US mobile technology firm LoopPay, which has patent rights related to MST.

    Samsung Pay is available through the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge+ that were showcased last week, and software upgrades will be provided to the users of the two smartphones.

    The service will officially reach the United States on September 28.

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  • LG Electronics opens Middle East stores

    LG Electronics opens Middle East stores

    South Korea’s LG Electronics is making a strong push into the Middle East, opening premium brand shops in the area.

    The company is deliberately positioning its brand at the higher end of the market to differentiate it from lower cost brands.

    LG says it has opened a premium brand shop in Jordan on Mecca Street, the premium home electronics business district. The shop is the third premium brand outlet to open in the region this year after Tehran in Iran and Beirut in Lebanon.

    The Jordan store is the largest of the brand’s shops in the area. The exterior of the store is made of glass, allowing potential customers to look inside. A video pillar that shows a moving image on an LED screen is set on the outside of the building.

    The latest premium products from LG electronics, such as a 65-inch ultra all-red TV, 105-inch curved surface ultra HD TV, double magic space refrigerator, and premium smartphones are exhibited. Consumers can actually use the devices and learn about their features in the convenience room.

    LG Electronics is planning to expand its premium brand shops to other major countries in Africa and the Middle East.

    “We will strengthen our leadership in the premium market through the premium brand shops that maximise convenience in living,” a company spokesman said.

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