Retail News CRM

Tag: lifestyle

  • Nykaa launches Drew Barrymore’s cosmetics in India

    Nykaa launches Drew Barrymore’s cosmetics in India

    Nykaa, India’s largest beauty retailer, has exclusively launched international cult beauty brand, FLOWER Beauty, in India. FLOWER Beauty was developed and created by award winning actress and entrepreneur, Drew Barrymore and her philosophy that woman everywhere deserve the best quality makeup at an affordable price. The makeup line will be launched in mid March’19.

    The combination of cruelty-free, luxury-quality formulas, premium packaging, and an affordable price have made FLOWER Beauty one of the fastest growing makeup brands in the US. Having grown up in the makeup artist’s chair, Drew brings her years of experience to FLOWER, with a mission to encourage women to look and feel great in their own skin. The brand’s tag line – Beauty is for Everybody – reflects Drew’s philosophy of inclusivity and positivity.

    Speaking of India’s launch, Drew commented: “I’ve always believed that beauty is for everybody, and that women everywhere should have access to great quality products at an affordable price. That has been our mission at FLOWER Beauty since day one, and now to be able to bring our story and products to women around the world is so incredibly exciting.”

    Addressing the partnership/ launch, Nihir Parikh, Chief Business Officer, Nykaa.com quotes, “At Nykaa we are always trying to include a range that satisfies audiences across different age group and interests. The brand reflects Drew Barrymore’s passion for cruelty-free products with premium formulas. We are very excited to bring this brand exclusively to India.”

    FLOWER Beauty launches in India with a range consisting of award-winning Flower Pots Powder Blush, bestselling Shimmer & Shade Eyeshadow Palettes, Lash Warrior Mascara, and many more. All the products will be exclusively available at Nykaa.com and Nykaa retail stores.

  • Ride-Hailing Firms Enjoy Growth in Indonesia, but Face Fraud Challenge

    Ride-Hailing Firms Enjoy Growth in Indonesia, but Face Fraud Challenge

    Grab and Go-Jek, two of Southeast Asia’s biggest technology startups, have successfully grown their food delivery and ride-hailing services, but both must pay special attention to better detection of fraudulent orders, a recent study by Spire Research and Consulting Indonesia showed.

    The local unit of the Tokyo-based research company surveyed driver partners and customers to establish what ride-hailing services they prefer, based on various criteria, including consumer awareness, usage frequency and the use of e-money.

    Grab Leads in Product Usage

    Based on Spire’s consumer awareness survey, 75 percent of respondents said they used Grab’s services over the past six months, while 61 percent indicated that they had done so in the past three months.

    For Go-Jek, it was 62 percent and 58 percent, respectively.

    “Regardless, 50 percent of respondents agree that both Grab and Go-Jek are their favorite brands,” the consultancy said.

    Regarding product usage frequency, customers more often used Grab’s services than those of Go-Jek in the last quarter of 2018.

    The survey also found that 34 percent of GrabCar customers were more likely to use the service three to four times a week on average, while for Go-Car, 25 percent of customers were more likely to use the service once or twice a week on an average.

    Grab Leads in Four-Wheel Segment, Go-Jek Leads in Two-Wheel

    On the other spectrum of the survey, it found that Go-Jek’s Go-Ride was still the customer favorite, with 64 percent saying that they use the service once or twice a day, while for Grab it was 58 percent.

    “When it comes to food delivery, Go-Food is in the lead with 35 percent of respondents saying Go-Food was the brand they most often used, but Grab is catching up quickly with 27 percent saying they used GrabFood the most,” Spire said in a press release on Tuesday.

    E-Money

    As of 2018, both services introduced the use of e-money to facilitate digital payments.

    Grab launched an e-payment service in cooperation with OVO, while Go-Jek established its own, Go-Pay.

    “Based on the survey results, OVO usage exhibits strong O2O [online-to-offline] usage, while Go-Pay’s strength is in Go-Jek’s mobile app ecosystem. For example, OVO is the preferred payment for offline items like phone balance, parking bills and bills for nonfood merchants, while Go-Pay is used to pay food-merchant bills [Go-Food] and electricity bills through the Go-Jek app,” Spire said in the statement.

    Natural Selection

    Indonesia has seen monumental growth in the ride-hailing sector over the past few years, with the mergence of dozens of startup companies. However, natural selection resulted in only two surviving and dominating the market.

    Indonesia is still a magnet for tech companies, including ride-hailing services, thanks to the high consumption rate and mobility of its citizens.

    The two survivors have seen intense competition, with both drastically increasing their product offerings.

    Their services such as food delivery and ride-hailing are similar in nature, but the two companies’ more unique offerings are distinguishing factors.

    Fraud

    Spire said the most interesting finding of its study was the prevalence of fraud.

    “The most interesting finding by Spire is the existence of fraud and how the drivers perceive it,” Jeffrey Bahar, group deputy chief executive of Spire Research and Consulting, said in the statement.

    Spire said fraud in online ride-hailing services is an open secret among drivers and that most who commit it gave similar reasons for doing so, which is to increase their monthly earnings.

    Fraud is seen as a major threat to the industry as it results in economic losses to the companies and highlights vulnerabilities in their systems.

    Spire’s research showed that nearly 30 percent of Go-Jek’s total transportation orders might be fraudulent, compared with 5 percent for Grab.

    “This is based on an estimation of fraudulent orders against total orders. This is a systemic problem for both companies and one that Go-Jek needs to address,” Spire said in the statement.

    According to Spire’s driver survey, “as of 2018, nearly 60 percent of Go-Jek’s drivers say they commit fraud on a daily basis to boost their order numbers, which affect their bonuses and daily income.”

    The drivers who were surveyed said Go-Jek’s system was easier to trick by using applications that modify their location data. On the other hand, less than 10 percent of Grab’s drivers admitted to committing fraud.

    Grab’s drivers said the company’s system was not easy to trick and that the sanctions imposed for such offenses was a deterrent. Drivers also commented that both companies had been improving their systems to better detect fraud.

    “Overall, both companies are growing rapidly in food delivery and ride-hailing but special attention must be paid to the issue of fraud to ensure the healthy development of the technology ecosystem in the country,” Spire said.

    Lees ook:

  • Amazon introduces self-driving delivery robot, Scout

    Amazon introduces self-driving delivery robot, Scout

    Amazon has introduced self-driving delivery service dubbed Scout – an all-electric self-driving vehicle that will maneuver across sidewalks in order to deliver purchased items to customers. Scout is the size of a ‘small cooler’ and can roll along sidewalks, delivering packages safely to a customer’s doorstep. The device is currently operating in Snohomish County, Washington, the company announced Wednesday.

    “The devices will autonomously follow their delivery route but will initially be accompanied by an Amazon employee,” Amazon said in a statement. “We developed Amazon Scout at our research and development lab in Seattle, ensuring the devices can safely and efficiently navigate around pets, pedestrians and anything else in their path.”

    Customers in Snohomish County can order just as they normally would and their Amazon packages will be delivered either by one of our trusted partner carriers or by Amazon Scout.

    According to the release, Amazon is starting with six Amazon Scout devices, delivering packages Monday through Friday, during daylight hours.

  • India’s jewellery brand opens new outlet

    India’s jewellery brand opens new outlet

    Zoya, the exquisite diamond boutique from the House of Tata, has reopened its flagship store in Delhi, amidst a glittering celebration, graced by connoisseurs of design from Delhi’s high society. Located in the iconic South Extension neighbourhood, the new boutique of India’s homegrown luxury brand spreads luxuriously over 4,600 sq.ft. Designed as a minimalist gallery of fine art, where each piece resonates with reflections of Zoya’s inspirations from its journey around the world, the boutique is home to Zoya’s rare masterpieces.

    In keeping with the brand’s unwavering focus on fine design and impeccable craftsmanship, celebrated designer Gauri Khan was guest of honour for the evening and joined CEO of Titan’s Jewellery Division, CK Venkatraman, and guests, in raising a toast to the boutique’s many treasures.

    A splendid, two-part, fashion showcase by Zoya in collaboration with ace couturier Monisha Jaising showcased her elegant designs and a spectacular array of Zoya’s collections. Embellished gowns and cocktail dresses were paired with Zoya’s dramatic ‘6299 Hollywood Blvd.’, a collection that draws design direction from the panache of three iconic Hollywood eras translating the undying glamour of film into an absolutely unique take on jewellery.

    Fusion lehengas and sarees in pleasing pastels highlighted the mood for Whispers from the Valley, a collection that captures the poetic beauty of Kashmiri seasons and picturesque icons of the land, from the gentle shikara to falling chinar leaves.

    Stark black and navy created dramatic flair for the presentation of ‘Musee Du Luxe’ – Museum of Luxury, a collection that looks towards the sublime architecture, rich culture and inherent joie de vivre of Paris, blending a modern style palette with vintage charisma while summery whites paired with Zoya’s Pezzo D’Arte,a versatile line of 37 pieces inspired by rich Italian history and style. As visionary as art, the collection uses geometry in design, to create an edgy fashion statement, imbued with a distinctly modern vibe.

    The evening gave guests a chance to explore the purposefully planned navigation of the boutique and opportunities to appreciate each splendid piece. With three floors in Zoya’s signature tones of mushroom, champagne and orange, the store opens onto the ground floor presenting guests with its newer collections. A wide staircase or elevator leads to the basement unveiling a gallery of Zoya’s most iconic pieces. The first floor reveals the breadth of Zoya’s fine collections with an exclusive presentation of high value jewellery.

    Zoya travels the world to seek varied inspirations for its fine collections in the culture and art of historic periods like Awadh, Rajputana or the Romanov era. Iconic destinations like Banaras, Kashmir, Italy, Paris, Greece and Spain, are Zoya’s muse as much as legends and myths such as those of Krsna. Guided by a personal jewellery specialist, an indulgent walk-through of the thoughtfully-designed boutique is a tryst with luxury quite unlike any other; an opportunity to be regaled with tales of lands far and near, as the inspiration behind every creation of Zoya is brought vividly to life.

    The showcasing of jewellery with storytelling, visual merchandising, and varied lighting enhances the intricacy and beauty of each piece. Panels and partitions have been created by local artisans to tell the Zoya story, and clean, uncluttered lines and display units, showcase the treasures of this exclusive gallery of fine design.

    Thoughtful touches to make the customer feel special are a hallmark of luxury, and the store is designed to ensure valued guest experience the highly personalised service Zoya is known for. Private viewing areas with sheer curtains add softness while allowing customers to peruse the collections at leisure and with discretion, or to converse intimately with Zoya’s master designers at call to help them customize their favourite pieces. Once seated for a private viewing, chosen pieces of Zoya are individually showcased with an expert designer in attendance to fulfil bespoke desires. All while personally-curated gourmet hors d’oeuvres and sparkling flutes of bubbly flow in abundant luxury.

    CK Venkatraman, CEO, Jewellery Division, Titan Company, says “Zoya is a home-grown luxury brand, with an Indian heart and an eye on the world. It holds a cherished spot in the Titan story. With the aesthetic value of unique design and refined craftsmanship becoming sought after benchmarks of selection, we see great potential in Zoya’s growth. Delhi has always been a very important market for all of Titan’s jewellery brands, and we are delighted to offer our customers this beautiful new space to explore Zoya’s splendid treasures.”

    Added Gauri Khan, “Zoya’s products are very artistic. They are thoughtfully designed and meticulously crafted. This attention to detail and commitment to quality is similar to my own approach to design. I am happy to be here for the opening of Zoya’s new boutique in Delhi.”

    Lees ook:

  • SUVs, Crossovers dominate high-end segment in Vietnam

    SUVs, Crossovers dominate high-end segment in Vietnam

    Among consumers willing to spend at least VND1 billion ($43,135), the preference is for SUVs and Crossovers over sedans. In recent years, high ground clearance vehicles have gradually become the number one choice for the majority of Vietnamese consumers, having grown steadily in number sales and variety over the years. In contrast, the D-class sedan segment has seen low demand and limited variety.

    Sales of SUV and Crossovers (CUV) vehicles around the price of VND1 billion ($43,135) have risen steadily over the years. While 2014 saw only around 13,000 units sold, sales had more than doubled by 2018 at 24,264 units. 2018 only saw a slight increase over 2017, but this was because a decree on import conditions prevented many firms from importing these vehicles for most of the year.

    According to the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (VAMA), consumers have a choice of 10 SUV/CUVs in the VND1 billion price range. Car dealers have noted that almost all brands in Vietnam have at least one product in the SUV/CUV segment.

    Average sales per model was around 3,100 vehicles a year.

    Th SUV/CUV segment is predicted to boom in 2019, as firms get used to the new regulation and find stability in importing new vehicles.

    Meanwhile, from 2014 up to now, the D-size sedan segment has featured the same models, namely, Toyota Camry, Mazda6, Honda Accord, Nissan Teana and the Kia Optima, which was introduced last year.

    In the last 5 years, sales of D-size sedans reached a peak in 2016 at 8,148 units. The introduction of the Kia Optima in 2018 raised the number of models in the segment to 6, but annual sales fell to only 7,612 units.

    In 2018, Toyota Camry dominated the D-segment at over half of the 4,503 units sold, while the remaining models saw little growth. Total sales have nevertheless been fairly stable, hovering around 6,000 or 7,000 over the years.

    Vietnam’s total car sales increased 5.8 percent to 288,683 units in 2018 from a year ago, according to the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (VAMA).

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Yum China to face challenges this year

    Yum China to face challenges this year

    An aggressive store rollout program is helping Yum China achieve sales growth, but its Pizza Hut business continues to struggle. In year-end results released overnight, Yum China said fourth-quarter system sales rose 6 per cent in constant currency, but same-store sales rose by a more modest 2 per cent. The company, which owns the Chinese operations of KFC and Pizza Hut, opened 819 new stores last year, taking its combined network to 8484 stores across more than 1200 cities. The company plans between 600 and 650 additional stores this calendar year.

    For the full year, total system sales grew 5 per cent over 2017, with a solid 7 per cent growth at KFC partially offset by a 1 per cent decline at Pizza Hut, (excluding foreign exchange impacts). Same-store sales increased 1 per cent overall, up 2 per cent at KFC and down 5 per cent at Pizza Hut.

    Full-year revenue reached US$8.42 billion with net Income up 78 per cent to $708 million, from $398 million.

    Joey Wat, CEO of Yum China, said the results marked the ninth consecutive quarter of system sales growth since the company was spun off from former US parent Yum! Brands.

    “This strong growth was led by accelerated new store openings and a robust performance at KFC, which delivered 3 per cent same-store sales growth and 9 per cent system-sales growth during the quarter. Although Pizza Hut’s sales remained soft, we are pleased to see same-store traffic growth of 1 per cent and positive trends in customer feedback.”

    Wat said the aggressive store rollout program last year further strengthened the company’s market position, laying a solid foundation for growth.

    “While the macro backdrop is relatively soft, with our resilient business model and leadership in digital and delivery, we are confident that we have the right strategy and capabilities to maintain our growth trajectory and capitalise on the long-term potential of the China market,” she said.

    Among the highlights of last year was exceeding 160 million members of the company’s KFC loyalty program and 50 million members of the Pizza Hut program, increases of 50 million and 15 million, respectively.

    Mobile payments accounted for 65 per cent of the company’s sales in the fourth quarter, an increase of 11 percentage points year on year. Digital payments accounted for more than 86 per cent of company sales in the quarter, an increase of 14 percentage points.

    And delivery services – now offered in 1118 cities – accounted for 19 per cent of sales in the fourth quarter of 2018, an increase of three percentage points year on year.

  • Daiso to set up regional distribution centre in Malaysia

    Daiso to set up regional distribution centre in Malaysia

    PKT every24 Logistics Sdn Bhd (PKT) signed a service agreement with Daiso Industries Co Ltd (Daiso) to operate the latter’s regional distribution centre (RDC) located in Port Klang, commencing in the second quarter of this year. PKT is a joint venture company between PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd and Daisei every24 Co Ltd. Incorporated in February 2016, it was set up by both parties to explore joint business opportunities in Malaysia.

    PKT said in a statement, in order to serve Daiso in this RDC, it will be constructing a purpose-built warehouse at an estimated investment cost of RM250 million while creating 500 new jobs for the state of Selangor.

    PKT said it shall be providing Daiso haulage, freight forwarding and warehousing services for their transshipment and local cargo, reaching approximately several hundred containers per month.

    Meanwhile, Daiso president Seiji Yano said the group is confident that PKT will be a valuable logistics partner for the group to better serve its outlets and customers across the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

    “We are truly honored by Daiso’s confidence in Malaysia’s logistics capability but most importantly Daiso’s confidence in PKT to deliver quality logistics service to their outlets,” PKT chairman Datuk Wira Jalilah Baba said.

    Daiso is a specialty store retailer of private label products offering a vast lineup of up to 70,000 superior quality products.

    Headquartered in Hiroshima Japan, Daiso has more than 5,270 stores worldwide, served by 17 distribution centers located in Japan, China and Thailand.

    Lees ook:

  • SsangYong Motor narrows loss in last quarter of 2018

    SsangYong Motor narrows loss in last quarter of 2018

    SsangYong Motor, the Korean unit of Indian carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra, said Thursday its net losses narrowed for the October-December period from a year earlier on a strengthened lineup. Net losses reached 3.99 billion won ($3.59 million) in the fourth quarter from 30.25 billion won a year ago, the company said in a statement. Robust sales of the Rexton Sports sport-utility vehicle (SUV) and the Tivoli SUV helped improve the bottom line, it said.

    Operating losses stood at 3.48 billion won in the final quarter from 2.57 billion won a year ago. Sales rose 17 percent to 1.053 trillion won from 902.16 billion won during the same period.

    For 2018, net losses slightly improved to 61.84 billion won from 65.82 billion won the previous year. Operating losses remained almost unchanged at 64.18 billion won compared with 65.28 billion won.

    Lees ook:

  • Starbucks Hong Kong partners with Deliveroo to launch delivery services

    Starbucks Hong Kong partners with Deliveroo to launch delivery services

    Starbucks Hong Kong and Deliveroo Hong Kong, the online food delivery company, announced an exciting partnership to launch a pilot delivery service starting on 21st January 2019. The service will first roll out at 18 participating stores across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories with plans to expand the program to more stores over time.

    To celebrate the launch of Starbucks delivery service, customers can enjoy free delivery from January 28 to February 3 – an exclusive offer for Hong Kong customers to try out this new offering.

    Also, new Deliveroo customers can enjoy HK$25 discount on each of their first four Starbucks orders on Deliveroo with the code “STARBUCKS100”.

    As the first retailer in Hong Kong to launch mobile ordering feature using its mobile payment technology, Starbucks has continued to embrace the relentless pursuit of digital innovations to meet the high expectations and demand for convenience in Hong Kong.

    The introduction of delivery services with Deliveroo will elevate Starbucks Fourth Place experience, the digital and mobile touchpoint that connects Starbucks with its customers. The delivery service is expected to reach over 30 stores in second quarter, offering convenience to more customers in Hong Kong.

    Deliveroo, the largest food delivery platform in Hong Kong, is growing and this year expects to work with 4,000 riders and 6,000 restaurants in Hong Kong. The company is intent on expanding its offer to consumers, in particular with partnerships such as this. Based on its exclusive data insights, Deliveroo knows that customers are increasingly searching for hot beverages and coffee on the platform. Searches surged by 185% in 2018 while orders for coffee and tea increased by a staggering 245%. Therefore, Deliveroo and Starbucks will go together brilliantly.

    As part of Deliveroo’s corporate offering, Deliveroo for Business, for companies across Hong Kong, Deliveroo will offer bulk Starbucks coffee deliveries to meet the rising in breakfast, lunch and teatime coffee orders in Hong Kong’s business districts. Given the rapid growth of Deliveroo for Business to date, Deliveroo believes this will be incredibly popular amongst Hong Kong workers. As part of this, 25 major businesses with more than 100 employees have already expressed interest in the new Starbucks-Deliveroo offer.

    The pilot delivery partnership allows customers to order and customize some of their favorite Starbucks beverage* and food items to their door step, including the option to modify size, number of espresso shots and dairy selections. We target to ensure every order meets the unparalleled experience and quality that customers are accustomed to in Starbucks stores.

    “We are continuously looking for ways to evolve and innovate our features that are relevant to our customers, thus we are happy to partner with Deliveroo who is as passionate as we are in food and beverage, to offer trusted delivery services and bring ease to our customers,” said Andrew Hui, General Manager, Starbucks Hong Kong & Macau. “The pilot delivery program is a seamless addition to our commitment to explore digital solutions, and the perfect complement to our in-store offerings, further extending the holistic Starbucks experience for customers to enjoy wherever they may be.”

    Brian Lo, General Manager of Deliveroo Hong Kong, said: “Deliveroo is constantly looking for new ways to ensure customers have access to amazing food and drink whenever and wherever they want it, and so we are delighted to work with Starbucks. This partnership will again show people that, on Deliveroo, every option and every occasion is catered for. Deliveroo is growing across Hong Kong and across the world, and with exciting new partners and new offers such as this, we are looking forward to expanding our reach even further. This collaboration will be available for our corporate customers on Deliveroo for Business, for workers who want that vital coffee.”

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • China’s SMCP tops 1 billion euros revenue for first time

    China’s SMCP tops 1 billion euros revenue for first time

    Chinese-owned SMCP Group said that total company sales exceeded 1 billion euros in 2018, marking a revenue-first for the French fashion group. “With double-digit sales growth in 2018, SMCP posted a remarkable performance and continued to deliver on its strategic roadmap,” said Daniel Lalonde, SMCP’s Chief Executive Officer. For the year ending December 31, SMCP recorded sales increasing 13%, in line with its previously upgraded full-year 2018 guidance.

    Lalonde said the achievement signalled rapid sales increase was fuelled by online and digital, with the company working hard to fight market headwinds, which have taken out other European retailers in 2018.

    “Our performance throughout the year, and more particularly over the last quarter, demonstrates that SMCP is built on strong foundations and further illustrates the resilience of our business model in the midst of unprecedented market headwinds,” said Lalonde, in a press release.

    “I would also like to place a special emphasis on our significant progress in digital: it has been growing consistently and strongly over the past years and now represents nearly 15% of our total sales,” he added.

    The sales growth included a solid like-for-like sales growth of 3.7% for the twelve-month period “despite challenging market conditions in the fourth quarter,” which saw sales climb less, up 8%.

    Full-year reported sales were up 11.5%, including a negative currency impact of -1.6% reflecting the appreciation of the euro.
    Over the last twelve months, SMCP net openings reached 134 points of sale, including 102 directly operated stores, surpassing its annual target. By region, 59 stores were opened in APAC alone, the zone receiving the most new outlets compared to the Americas and Europe.

    In APAC, the group posted a strong double-digit sales growth of 18.2% at constant currency, driven by mainland China which generated over 20% of sales growth.

    The operator of French fashion brands Sandro, Maje and Claudie Pierlot said Sandro sales grew 6% in 2018, while Claudie Pierlot recorded a 7% increase. Maje was the biggest grower, up 10% for the year.

    For 2018, SMCP confirmed its adjusted EBITDA margin guidance at around 17%.

    Evelyne Chetrite and Judith Milgrom founded Sandro and Maje in Paris, in 1984 and 1998 respectively, and continue to provide creative direction for the brands. Claudie Pierlot was founded in 1984 by Claudie Pierlot and acquired by SMCP in 2009.

    SMCP was acquired China’s Shandong Ruyi in 2016.

    Lees ook:

  • Korean Air swings to net loss in 2018 from 2017 profit

    Korean Air swings to net loss in 2018 from 2017 profit

    Korean Air Lines said Tuesday it swung to a net loss in 2018 from a year earlier due to hefty foreign-exchange losses. The Korean flag carrier posted a net loss of 167.59 billion won ($150 million), after a net profit of 801.9 billion won a year earlier. As the dollar rose to 1,118.1 won at the end of 2018 from 1,071.4 won at the end of 2017, foreign-exchange translation losses reached 363.6 billion won and it cut into the annual earnings results, the statement said.

    The won’s weakness also drove up net interest costs to 454.8 billion won, up 55.5 billion won from the previous year, it said. Operating profit fell 28 percent to 676.33 billion won last year from 939.78 billion won a year ago. Sales climbed 7.7 percent.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • The Sanctuary by Pure Yoga opens at HKIA

    The Sanctuary by Pure Yoga opens at HKIA

    A visit to Cathay Pacific’s Business Class lounge at The Pier in Hong Kong has just become even more beneficial for mind, body and soul following the opening of The Sanctuary by Pure Yoga. Designed in partnership with the Pure Group, The Sanctuary by Pure Yoga is a 700 square-foot area divided into two zones – The Body Sanctuary, which is dedicated to yoga, and The Mind Sanctuary, where travellers can meditate to focus and calm the mind.

    Cathay Pacific General Manager Customer Experience and Design, Vivian Lo said: “Wellness is becoming increasingly important to our customers and The Sanctuary by Pure Yoga in our Pier Business Class lounge is the perfect place for to relax before the flight. We listen to the needs of our customers and continuously evolve to improve their experience with us.

    “Whether it’s dining at our popular Noodle Bar, catching up with some work, or enjoying a drink at the bar or at the Teahouse, there are myriad ways for our customers to spend time at the lounge. Now they’ll also be encouraged to meditate and practice yoga before flying with us.”

    The Body Sanctuary

    Among the wellness offerings, The Body Sanctuary provides travellers with a space for gentle yoga with guided videos led by Pure Yoga teachers. There’s also a secluded space for self-practice. Seated stretching is an alternative option; chairs overlook instructions on how to stretch different parts of the body whilst seated. The exercises are designed to improve circulation, enhance joint mobility, and relax the mind for a comfortable and restful journey.

    The Mind Sanctuary

    Within The Mind Sanctuary there are two types of meditation on offer. The first is audio meditation: four cushioned pods are equipped with noise-cancelling headphones and iPads, and customers can listen to guided meditation sessions narrated by Pure Yoga’s expert teachers. The second is gazing meditation: comfortable cushions overlook graphics placed on the wall ahead and facilitate Trataka yoga practice.

    These practices help to improve focus, memory and visualisation skills, as well as centring the mind in a state of awareness and attention.

    Wellness on the ground and in the air

    The Sanctuary by Pure Yoga is the latest collaboration between Cathay Pacific and the Hong Kong-headquartered Pure Group following the January 2018 launch of ‘Travel Well with Yoga’, a series of inflight videos to help passengers ease into their journeys with meditation and yoga.

    Additionally, Diamond and Gold Marco Polo Club members arriving in Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific or Cathay Dragon flights are given complimentary one-day access to any Pure Fitness centre or a choice of any Pure Yoga class up to 12 times a year.

    Pure Group Regional Marketing Director Gary Wise said: “We’re delighted to extend this fantastic partnership between Pure Yoga and Cathay Pacific, giving people even more chance to feel the benefits of yoga and meditation on their travels. No matter how rushed the trip is, just a few minutes of calm can make all the difference.”

    The Sanctuary by Pure Yoga is open to travellers who have access to Cathay Pacific The Pier Business Class Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport, as well as Diamond, Gold and Silver Marco Polo Club members. Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon First and Business Class passengers will also be able to enjoy the new offering.

    Lees ook:

  • Avery Baker resigns from Tommy Hilfiger

    Avery Baker resigns from Tommy Hilfiger

    Tommy Hilfiger will jettison the chief brand officer role following the departure of incumbent Avery Baker in June, the fashion label has confirmed. Baker has announced plans to step down from the job in June. The marketer will then rejoin the company on a consulting basis, primarily as part of a new brand advisory board staffed by external advisors and chief executive officer Daniel Grieder.

    Baker’s C-suite brand responsibilities will be divided among other senior members of staff. She is currently responsible for global marketing, communications, brand strategy, creative direction for product design, global licensing and creative services.

    The marketer joined the PVH-owned company in 1998. She landed the chief marketing officer title in 2011 after a stint as executive vice-president of global communications and marketing.

    She was named chief brand officer in 2014.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Little Caesars Philippines opens first store in Manila

    Little Caesars Philippines opens first store in Manila

    Pizza chain Little Caesars has opened its first restaurant in the Philippines. Little Caesars Philippines made its debut on Saturday, the first restaurant opened under the brand’s new franchise relationship with local operator Palmtree PH Foods Corp. It opened at the Metrosquare Building in Ermita with a promotional celebration that involved family activities and free pizza offerings.

    “Little Caesars is excited to celebrate the opening of its first restaurant in the Philippines, and to finally share our delicious pizzas with everyone”, said Paula Vissing, senior VP international for Little Caesars Pizza.

    Palmtree owner James Kodrowski, who manages a group of companies that operate in the region, said: “Little Caesars Pizza is exactly what this market needs … We believe that the Hot-N-Ready concept will have undeniable market appeal, as well as our commitment to excellent guest service, and superior value.

    It is our ambition to make Little Caesars the new favorite pizza of the Philippines.”

    Little Caesars Singapore also launched this month as the brand continues to experience growth internationally. The brand is the third largest pizza chain in the world, currently operating in 23 countries and territories.

    Lees ook: