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Tag: Living

  • Ikea Philippines debut imminent

    Ikea Philippines debut imminent

    The launch of Ikea Philippines is a major step closer after the Swedish furniture giant’s local partner won Board of Investment (BOI) approval to set up business.

    News of the BOI pre-approval of a bid by Ikano Pte Ltd, the operator and franchise-rights owner of Swedish furniture brand Ikea in key Asian markets, was broken by the Business Mirror, which cited BOI documents dated last November.

    Ikea has always wanted to establish a presence in the Philippines, especially Manila, and there have been reports of planning for a launch as far back as 2013.

    The Business Mirror points out that under current law, before engaging in retail trade business – or investing in an existing store in the Philippines – all foreign retailers must have a net worth of either US$200 million or $50 million, depending on its classification as a foreign retailer.

    “The foreign retailer must also have five operating retail branches or franchises in global locations, unless it owns at least one store worth $25 million, and a five-year track record in retailing,” the publication explained.

    Ikea is already operated in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Taiwan by a subsidiary of Hong Kong-headquartered Dairy Farm International, which also owns the Guardian chain of health and beauty shops, and pharmacies.

    It is run by a separate franchisor in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.

  • Molteni&C opens Osaka store

    Molteni&C opens Osaka store

    Molteni&C has officially opened its new Japan flagship store in Osaka.

    Covering 400 square metres, the space is located in the fashionable Shinshaibashi shopping district. The high-end store comes inspired by western interior design, with an open feel, which features a broad terrace and chic lighting.

    Describing the store fit out, the Italian brand said the new boutiques boasts “sophisticated and natural materials, such as glass, oxidized wood and resin, Grès stone, the chiaroscuri of the sands and the warm greys alternate with luminous touches of colour.”

    Key elements on display are the latest Molteni&C collection and Dada’s VVD kitchen, which dominates the large terrace overlooking the main street.

    The Osaka store is the second in Japan after the first opened in Tokyo in 2016.

    The luxury Italian furniture designer continues its ten-year partnership with Arflex Japan, a well-established distribution company in the Asian nation.

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  • Singapore named 9th most economically vibrant city globally

    Singapore named 9th most economically vibrant city globally

    Singapore has shot up by 12 places in a league table that ranks cities on opportunities for property investment. The index, launched last August, looks at factors such as retail sales, household income, adult population size and gross domestic product to determine how economically vibrant a city is.

    Singapore was ranked ninth, up from 21st last December, by asset manager Schroders, which compiles the index of 161 cities.

    Los Angeles took the top spot, with London second, a move up from eighth place in December.

    “One of the key strengths of Los Angeles’ economy is that it is well-diversified across multiple industries, including financial services, media, trade and technology,” said Mr Hugo Machin, co-head of global real estate securities at Schroders.

    “The technology sector, in particular, has grown substantially over the past few years, and this has not only boosted demand for office space but also for residential property, much of it due to the increased hiring of millennials.”

    On London, he said the firm believes it “has a competitive advantage in location, language, scale, infrastructure and cultural diversity”, adding: “If we add the global strength of its universities, London remains a favoured place to invest.”

    Schroders said university rankings, which were taken into account this time for the first time, were the main reason behind changes in cities’ positions.

    “Universities are critical in powering city economies. Innovation and education provide a better trained, more productive workforce. Knowledge-based hubs are growing in economic strength with a positive knock-on to real estate markets in those locations,” Mr Machin noted.

    The new methodology gave a boost to US cities, which filled 16 of the top 30 slots. Boston, where the greater metropolitan area houses academic institutions such as Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, jumped from 24th to third place.

    But Chinese cities were hard hit, after taking four out of the top five spots in December last year.

    Beijing fell from pole position to 11th place, with Shanghai dropping from second place to 10th and Shenzhen plummeting from third to 24th. Tianjin, which came in fourth last year, is no longer in the top 30.

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  • Landmark Hong Kong launches a new Beauty & Wellness space

    Landmark Hong Kong launches a new Beauty & Wellness space

    Hong Kong’s luxury shopping centre Landmark has opened a new beauty and wellness space, in a bid to bring a lifestyle concept of health to customers.

    Located on the third floor of Landmark Atrium, the newly named Women’s Beauty & Wellness Concept offers a “selection of specialists” to visitors, as part of Landmark’s ‘A Year of Wisdom’ campaign for 2017.
    “Wisdom is one of the essential qualities that defines beauty; after all, the modern view is that beauty stems from within,” said Landmark, in a press release.

    “It begins with getting to know yourself better and culminates in what we eat, what we wear, even how we travel – in addition to our beauty regimes.

    Encompassing this, the space is made up of four branded categories, designed to cater to women seeking food, fashion, beauty and lifestyle goods and service.

    Super Foods provides shoppers with gluten-free products and juices from retailers such as The Cakery, Catch Juicery and Verde Organic.

    Top-Flight Services offers quick beautification for time-pressed women. Customers can head to the airplay blow-dry bar and get a fast blow-dry or try their hand at an express manicures, before heading over to Careyou Beauty for semi-permanent makeup and eyeliner. Other facilities include facials at N°8 Organic Spa by Beyorg, teeth whitening at Smile Dental Surgeons, as well as lash treatments from Suavislash Couture.

    Finally, the At Home Beauty section will sell electronic tools and beauty gadgets via retailer The Artistry, while customers can pick up apparel and undergarments from the space’s Feel Good Fashion section, most notably with a selection of Caelum Greene activewear, Fogal leagwear and Sheer lingerie.

    To mark the launch of the wellness space, a launch event was successfully held on June 8th by the X2 Creative brand engagement agency, with the attendance of many Hong Kong socialites and bloggers.

    During the event, guests were treated to exclusive trial services and gift or redemption offers from twelve beauty and wellness specialists located within the new Landmark wellness space.

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  • How to Make Post-Truth Work for Tourism Businesses

    How to Make Post-Truth Work for Tourism Businesses

    A political environment of post-truth, confirmation bias and alternative facts can work well for tourism business marketers who are brave and have finely tuned customer antennae.

    She observes that people are more likely to believe things that confirm their existing positions than information that contradicts them. In the last couple of years consumers and voters have stopped feeling the need to apologize for such post-truth biases.

    “So are we saying it is OK to not tell the truth in marketing? No we aren’t!” says Childs. “But if you know who your customers are and what your brand values are, then you can make a decision on what to comment on and, just as importantly, how to comment.”

    Childs says that a good example of this is the response that some US destinations have made to the potential impact from the attempted travel ban on some (mostly Muslim) markets.

    Travel brands that feel they know their customers have responded boldly. “They have identified that they have more to lose than gain by keeping silent. They have therefore launched communication campaigns that reflect their own alternative position on these issues,” says Childs.

    She cites the clever move by San Francisco (You’re #AlwaysWelcome Here) and Los Angeles (#EveryoneIsWelcome) to launch tourism campaigns setting the record straight. Both emphasize that everyone is welcome, regardless of ethnic, cultural and sexual orientation.

    But brands which have a customer base across the political divide can also exploit this trend. Jet Blue’s “Reach Across the Aisle” and Heineken’s Worlds Apart online adverts fight the belief that disagreement and entrenchment are the new normal. The brands celebrate people that put aside personal and political differences. The message? Our brand believes unity is better than division.

    Childs says both Jet Blue and Heineken position themselves as brands that clear up misunderstanding and remind us of our common humanity. “That’s a powerful message for any brand. It’s like taking a stand without taking a stand.”

    However, she warns that companies should not jump on the latest trend bandwagon. Don’t be cynically opportunistic. It could backfire.

    “It’s that tiny sliver in time, when the thorniest, most divisive issues of the day become safe enough – but not so safe that they’re passé – for brands to speak out, take a position and reap endless buzz,” says Jonah Sachs, the CEO of branding agency Free Range Studios.

    Understanding your customers allows you to work out what you have permission to say and what you don’t,” says Childs. “Think about how your customers would react to this issue and what they would expect you to say about it,” she advises.

    MyTravelResearch.com goes into the importance of branding, persona building and understanding customers in clear detail in their Marketing Plan Blueprint and Five-Step Tourism Marketing System.

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  • Business case for IoT in healthcare still wanting

    Business case for IoT in healthcare still wanting

    The Internet of Things (IoT) in healthcare will remain experimental over the 2017-2020 period, according to the latest research from Strategy Analytics.

    Strategy Analytics said IoT has the potential to provide significant benefits but must compete for a share of total technology spend. IoT will grow at 18% on a compound annual basis across 2016-2025, with annual global IoT in healthcare revenues passing $27 billion in 2025.

    However, healthcare will be dwarfed by primary processing, security and automotive segment spending in the broader IoT market over the forecast period.

    Also, security, privacy, training and business case justification for broad deployment “remain elusive.”

    “The beneficiaries of IoT in healthcare will be the patients, for whom IoT has the ability to deliver an experience that is less intrusive, less stressful and faster; but also the medical profession which may be able to operate with higher efficiency, through better knowledge of what is happening at any point in time with patients, professionals, equipment, and processes,” said Matt Wilkins, senior analyst at ABI Research.

    Chris Ambrosio, executive director at ABI Research, said that healthcare providers are actively exploring IoT in how it can help them to improve patient quality of care, lower re-admissions, and shorten visit times; the advantages IoT offers in allowing them to use analytics for things like population health management to identify at-risk patients; and how using wearables to

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  • Carrefour China opens its 27th store

    Carrefour China opens its 27th store

    On March 23rd 2017, Carrefour successfully opened its 27th Easy Carrefour Store in Shanghai, China.

    Sitting on Long Dong Avenue, the newly-opened Easy store covers an area of approximately 332 square meters with over 4,000 items.

    The first convenience store under Easy banner opened its door in 2004, and Carrefour China has now a total of 27 stores in Shanghai.

    At Carrefour, we are committed to facilitate our consumers with a more convenient lifestyle to the surrounding consumers by offering an abundance of goods and quality services to meet the daily necessities of community residents.

  • Indonesia still largest contributor of tourists to Singapore

    Indonesia still largest contributor of tourists to Singapore

    About 2.89 million Indonesians visited Singapore throughout 2016, the biggest contribution of tourists to the city state, about 17.7 percent of the country’s 16.4 million total foreign tourist arrivals, according to a statement released by Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

    The number of tourists from Indonesia grew by 6 percent, which was categorized as a sharp jump from the 10 percent decline in 2015, the statement says.

    STB area director to Indonesia Raymond Lim said on Tuesday in a media gathering in Jakarta that his office would continue trying to attract more Indonesians to visit Singapore.

    “We really hope that we can maintain what we had last year,” he said, adding that about 30 percent of Indonesians who visited Singapore went there for business.

    However, to boost the numbers of tourists from the eastern part of Indonesia, the board will hold roadshows in Palembang in South Sumatra and in Medan in North Sumatra in March and April, he said, adding that it would continue the roadshows in Bali in August and in Sulawesi in September.

    Lim said the board aimed for 16.4 to 16.7 million foreign tourists to visit Singapore in 2017 and expected revenues of between US$25 and $25.8 billion.

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  • China cuts retail fuel prices again

    China cuts retail fuel prices again

    China will cut the retail prices of gasoline and diesel for the first time this year as international oil prices fell, the country’s top economic planner said Wednesday.

    Both gasoline and diesel prices will be reduced by 70 yuan ($10.2) per tonne starting Thursday, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

    Analysts attributed the lower international oil prices to recovery of drilling activity in the United States and a stronger US dollar.

    Under the current pricing mechanism, if international crude oil prices change by more than 50 yuan per tonne and remain at that level for 10 working days, the prices of refined oil products such as gasoline and diesel in China will be adjusted accordingly.

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  • Singapore residential prices continue fall, but signs of bottom emerge

    Singapore residential prices continue fall, but signs of bottom emerge

    Private home prices in Singapore fell and rents continued to soften in the last quarter of 2016 but a decrease in the number of vacant units suggests the market may be nearing a bottom.

    According to Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) statistics for the fourth quarter released Thursday, private residential property prices in Singapore fell 0.5% between October and December 2016, slowing from the 1.5% decline in the previous three-month period.

    For the whole of 2016, private home prices fell 3.1%, compared with the 3.7% drop in 2015.

    Meanwhile, rents for private homes declined 1.0% in the fourth quarter following a 1.2% fall in the previous quarter. For the year as a whole, rents slipped 4.0%, slower than the contraction of 4.6% in 2015.

    Home prices in the city-state have trended downwards over the past three years as the government introduced a series of measures such as caps on mortgage loans and higher stamp duties to check soaring real estate values.

    Residential prices have retreated more than 10% since they hit a peak in 2013, leading many to call for a relaxation of the curbs.

    There were some signs in Thursday’s data that a recovery may be taking shape in the private housing market.

    For instance, according to the URA data, the number of private residential units in the pipeline fell to 40,913 at the end of the fourth quarter, from 43,693 at end September. The vacancy rate for completed units decreased to 8.4% at end December from 8.7% at the end of the third quarter.

    In addition, there were pockets of strength within the residential sector, particularly at the high end of the market. For example, prices of landed homes rose 0.8% during the fourth quarter, turning around from a 2.7% decline in the previous quarter.

    Most people in land-scarce Singapore reside in high-rise apartment blocks and only the wealthy can afford landed property.

    PropNex Realty, one of Singapore’s largest real estate brokers, said activity in Singapore’s residential market picked up in 2016 because prices dropped to levels that home buyers are comfortable with.

    “Despite the uncertain economic outlook and impending interest rate hikes, we are expecting a price moderation in 2017 with possible (decline) of not more than 3%,” PropNex CEO Ismail Gafoor said.

    Turning to the commercial property market, URA said office rents fell 1.8% in the fourth quarter compared with the decline of 1.1% in the previous three-month period. For the whole of 2016, office rents declined at a faster pace of 8.2% compared with the 6.5% drop in 2015.

    As for shopping malls and other retail spaces, URA said rents declined 1.2% in the fourth quarter compared with the decrease of 1.5% in the preceding period. Rents fell 8.3% for the full year, which was more than twice the 4.1% decline in 2015.

    Desmond Sim, head of CBRE Research for Singapore and Southeast Asia, estimates an additional 52,000 square metres of retail space was leased in 2016, which was short of the new supply of 75,000 square metres.

    “Although the magnitude of the quarterly decline in Q4 2016 was lower than previous quarters, we expect rents to remain under pressure,” he said.

  • Singapore inflation rises 0.2% in December

    Singapore inflation rises 0.2% in December

    In a sign of a tepid increase in inflation, the Monetary Authority of Singapore reports that consumer price inflation rose to 0.2% in December from 0.0% in November, due to a larger increase in private road transport cost, which rose 1.7% over the month because of higher petrol prices and parking fees. In comparison, MAS Core Inflation eased to 1.2% from 1.3% in the previous month, because of lower retail goods inflation.

    Services inflation edged up to 1.6% from 1.5% in the preceding month, mainly on account of a faster pace of increase in holiday expenses, which more than offset the larger contraction in telecommunication services fees. Food inflation was 2.0% in December, unchanged from the previous month.

    Price increases for both non-cooked food items and prepared meals were broadly stable. Accommodation cost fell by 3.8% in December, like the previous month, reflecting continued softness in the housing rental market.

    Overall retail goods inflation eased to 0.0% in December from 0.2% in November, largely because a fall in the prices of personal care products following the rise in November. For the whole of 2016, CPI-All Items inflation came in at -0.5% for the second consecutive year.

    CPI less imputed rentals on owner-occupied accommodation (CPI-ex OOA) rose by 1.2% in December Inflation as measured by CPI less imputed rentals on owner-occupied accommodation (OOA) picked up to 1.2% in December from 1.0% in the preceding month, reflecting the stronger pickup in the cost of private road transport.

    For 2016 CPI less imputed rentals on OOA rose by 0.3%, higher than the 0.1% increase in 2015. MAS Core Inflation was slightly lower at 1.2% in December MAS Core Inflation was 1.2% in December, slightly lower than the 1.3% in November, as the decline in retail goods inflation more than offset the increase in services inflation. For the whole of 2016, MAS Core Inflation rose to 0.9%, from 0.5% the year before.

    On the external front, MAS says it expects imported inflation is likely to rise modestly on the back of a turnaround in global commodity markets. Global oil prices are expected to average higher in 2017 compared to last year, “although upward pressures would be capped by existing inventories as well as an anticipated increase in US crude oil output. Domestically, overall cost pressures should be muted,” says the market regulator.

    MAS also reports a pullback in hiring, as conditions in the labour market have slackened. “This will cap underlying wage growth, even as non-labour business costs have eased. The subdued growth environment will also constrain the extent of cost pass-through to consumer prices.

    For the whole of 2017, MAS Core Inflation is expected to average 1–2%, compared with 0.9% in 2016. Energy-related components are projected to contribute positively to inflation in 2017, while the temporary disinflationary effects from budgetary measures will fade.3

    However, the increase in core inflation will be gradual, given the absence of more generalised demand-induced price pressures. CPI-All Items inflation is projected to pick up to 0.5–1.5% this year, from -0.5% in 2016, largely reflecting the rise in private road transport cost,” it concludes.

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  • Actxa named partner for Singapore fitness programme

    Actxa named partner for Singapore fitness programme

    Fitness wearables brand Actxa has been appointed as one of the official technology partners of the second National Steps Challenge (NSC) by the Singapore Health Promotion Board (HPB).

    Fuelled by the nation’s positive response to the physical activity initiative last year, the fitness wearables company has launched three new step tracker models alongside an easy trade-up programme, to help Singapore step up and out for NSC Season 2.

    Launched by HPB on 1st October 2016, NSC brings more fun and prizes in motivating the nation to step up and move about every day, anytime and anywhere. Making a welcome return from last year is the popular steps-for-rewards system, where all NSC participants will be rewarded for leading active lifestyles – the more steps taken each day, the more points earned to redeem rewards as well as lucky draw chances.

    The smart gadget used for this fun physical activity programme is the steps tracker, a pedometer-based fitness buddy designed to motivate even more Singaporeans to lead active lifestyles. A firm advocate of spurring a nation of physically active people, Actxa came on board last year to supply the wearable technology, and 2015 saw HPB handing out over 156,000 pieces of the specially produced Actxa Stride, which can still be used for the second season of NSC.

    In addition, Actxa has produced three enhanced step tracker models: Stride+, as well as the Swift and Swift+, which NSC Season 2 participants can choose to use if they are not using any of the three official trackers, including the Actxa Stride, that HPB issues. These additional models are available for trade-ups or direct purchase this year.

    “Actxa is very proud to be a Singaporean company supporting a nationwide initiative that encourages fellow Singaporeans to be active. In support of NSC, we are excited to launch a series of promotions that aim to put our fitness and activity trackers into the hands of everyone, inspiring them to lead active and healthier lives,” said Joel Chin, CEO of Actxa.

  • Number of Chinese tourists to Bali shoots up 36%

    Number of Chinese tourists to Bali shoots up 36%

    The number of visits by Chinese tourists to Bali shot up 35.84 percent to 741.740 in the first nine months of this year from 546,035 visits in the same period last year.

    “The number of visits by holiday makers from China is now the second largest after those from Australia, which has continued to top the list of 10 largest countries of origin of foreign visitors to Bali,” head of the regional branch of the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) Adi Nugroho said here on Saturday.

    Adi said currently China accounts for 20.38 percent of the number of visits by foreign tourists to Bali.

    There were 3.63 million of visits by foreign tourists to Bali in the January-September period this year or an increase of 21.69 percent from 2.99 million in the same period last year.

    Adi Nugroho Australia contributed 23.36 percent to the total; number of foreign visits to Bali. Japan was the third place contributing 4.94% followed by Britain accounting for 4.52 percent, India for 3.57 percent, France for 3.56 percent, Malaysia 3.55 percent, the United States 3.44 percent, South Korea 3.04 percent, and Germany for 3.22 percent.

    He said the increase in the number of tourists from China was attributable to improved economic condition of the worlds most populous country and second largest economy.

    In addition, the countrys flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has provided direct flight between Bali and a number of cities in China such as Shanghai, Baijing and Guangzhou since 2015.

    China has become a target for market expansion by Garuda Indonesia for its international services.

    More than 100 Chinese travel abroad every year making that country the most potential tourist market which would benefit airlines.

    Chinese Consul General in Denpasar, Bali, Hu Yinquan, asked the government to provide sufficient interpreters for Mandarin to facilitate Chinese visitors, who could not speak in English.

    Hu Yinquan also asked that Mandarin also included in signposts as he believed more Chinese tourist would visit Bali in the coming years.

    In Manado, North Sulawesi, Chinese made up around 50 percent of foreign visitors in the third quarter of this year.

    “Chinese guests contributed 50 percent to the occupancy rate of the Lion Hotel and Plaza Manado,” says Sales Marketing Manager of Lion Hotel and Plaza Manado Anatje Pingkan Pinaria.

    Indonesia, however, is still far lagging behind Thailand in attracting Chinese holiday makers.

    Altogether, Indonesia recorded 8.36 million visits by foreign tourist until September this year or an increase of 8.5 percent year-on-year.

    Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said earlier this week, the increase gave greater optimism that the target of 12 million visits by foreign tourists to the country this year would be achieved.

    “In three consecutive months – July-August and September, the number of visits by foreign tourists exceeded one million. We hope that the number would be larger in October, November and December,” the minister said.

    In September, there were 1,006,653 foreign tourist visits or an increase of 9.40 percent year-on-year from 920,128 in the same month last year, he said in a statement.

    Based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) and the Tourism Ministry, the number of foreign tourist visits in the first nine months of the year was 8,362,963 or 8.51 percent higher than 7,707,034 visits in the same period last year.

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  • Household consumption estimated to increase in third quarter

    Household consumption estimated to increase in third quarter

    Bank Indonesia estimated that household consumption rose in the third quarter of this year from 5.04 percent of the countrys Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in the second quarter of this year.

    One of the factors causing the increase was high consumption during Idul Fitri 2016, Executive Director of Statistic Department of the central bank Hendy Sulistiowati said here on Thursday.

    Increase in household consumption was also attributable to higher Consumer Confidence Index (IKK) that rose to 112.5 points from 111.6 points in the second quarter, Hendi said.

    “The quarterly increase in IKK, normally would result in an increase in household consumption,” she said.

    Household consumption has been the largest contributor to the countrys GDP accounting for 55.9 percent, followed by Gross Fixed Capital Formation (PMTB).

    Though rising quarterly, IKK fell monthly . In September IKK was 110 points down from 113.3 points in August.

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  • Fitness, driver of consumer market

    Fitness, driver of consumer market

    Saturday mornings appear to be ideal for fitness-crazy Shanghai groups to have fun in the form of dance-like workouts outdoors.

    Some 500 lined up last Saturday to join a one-hour event. The venue was disco-like. Les Mills, one of the world’s largest developers of group workouts, kicked off its global tour for 2016 beside the shimmering Huangpu.

    On the dais, five coaches gave instructions to the fitness fanatics, who pushed up weight-laden barbells in sync with the beats of rock-and-roll music.

    “It feels more like a party than an early morning workout,” said Zhang Qiong, 26, who woke up at 6 am to attend the morning’s first class.

    Phillip Mills, CEO of Les Mills, said it is not surprising Chinese people are passionate about group workouts, given the proliferating gyms and fitness programs.

    Les Mills’ programs are provided to 8 million people by 90,000 teachers in more than 17,000 clubs around the world every week.

    The firm is eyeing fast growth in China. “Workouts have become a lifestyle. People believe they are good for work-life balance. As far as I know, China has more than 18,000 brands of gyms and workout programs. Les Mills has been popular around the world. Now, it’s getting increasingly welcomed across the nation,” said Phillip Mills.

    “China’s fitness market, including gyms and program developers, needs consolidation after the fast growth. In the long run, we’re confident the market size is really going to expand to a significant size.”

    According to a research note from Euromonitor International, demand for fitness in China has become one of the top ten drivers of the consumer market. Other drivers include clothing, leisure, entertainment, food and beverages.

    Joey Chio, senior associate director of Savills China Retail Tenant Representation, said that athletics-related leisure, also called “athleisure” by fitness fans, has been gaining market share in clothing in recent years. Brands such as Lululemon and Under Amour have become trendy in the retail landscape.

    Its spillover effect has been that opportunities arose for players in other sectors, like mobile application developers. Keep, a smartphone app which teaches workout tips and training programs through video clips, now boasts 50 million users. It received C round investments from, among others, technology giant Tencent Holding Ltd. This, just two years after launch.

    “Fitness has become popular due to many factors. There is government policy to develop the sports sector. Lifestyles are changing with more focus on health. There is a cultural trend toward sexy six-pack figures. There is middle-class anxiety about the costs of ill health and peer pressure to look better. You want to prove you can afford to hit a gym to stay active,” said Julian Chow, an analyst with Shanghai-based Tang Yue Culture and Communication.

    Fitness market insiders said China’s health clubs and gyms still face some challenges, and measures are needed to make the market more transparent and fair.

    “Piracy of choreography, unsafe exercise instructions given by untrained coaches, and poorly regulated membership pricing are hindering the development of the fitness market. As the market gets more mature and competition fiercer, consumers will have more options, which should improve standards,” said Michael Yip, a coach with Tera Wellness Club.

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