Retail News CRM

Tag: Malaysia

  • Grab Malaysia sees ‘instant retail’ reducing need for physical stores

    Grab Malaysia sees ‘instant retail’ reducing need for physical stores

    Grab Malaysia is expanding its instant retail service after studying customer demand for goods during the nation’s Covid-19-related social-distancing initiative.

    According to Grab Malaysia MD Sean Goh, many convenience stores and grocery retailers were able to treble their sales using the GrabMart delivery service during the lockdown restrictions. Now, as the country’s retailers are allowed to open their doors again and normal trading resumes, Grab believes more consumers are seeking safe, reliable ways to shop for daily needs without visiting stores.

    “While we saw a clear uplift to safe, instant deliveries for food, drinks, snacks and other essential goods via GrabFood, GrabMart and especially ‘Pasar’ on GrabMart, we see a new challenge for retailers,” explained Goh.

    “The ‘new normal’ will potentially affect retailers who traditionally rely on high foot traffic and walk-ins – from health and beauty retailers, toys, gifts and stationery shops to florists. This is a gap where we believe GrabMart is able to step in and address while helping to make the government’s upcoming Shop Malaysia Online initiative a success.”

    GrabMart was launched last November, before anyone foresaw the emergence of Covid-19.

    Goh said that after the government’s movement controls were put in place, many retail chains signed up to GrabMart, not just in the grocery and food categories, but pharmacies, health & beauty, eyewear, books, stationery and gift retailers.

    He believes this has caused consumers to evolve into ‘on-demand shoppers’ who are already accustomed to using mobile technology for their daily needs, and increasingly expect faster speed and safety for their retail purchases. Grab is delivering most goods from retailers in less than 30 minutes for a charge as low as US$1.20 (MYR5).

    Goh believes the convenience of services like GrabMart and the rapidly increasing adoption of apps by consumers to order online will substantially reshape retailing.

    “It is no longer sustainable for businesses to keep expanding their retail presence to get closer to their customers’ homes. Together, we can realize our nation’s vision for a more robust digital economy as businesses adjust seamlessly to the new norm,” he said.

    “We are excited to expand and help more businesses transition seamlessly to adopt instant retail.”

    Grab Malaysia operates GrabMart in Kuala Lumpur’s Klang Valley, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Ipoh, Melaka and Penang.

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  • Malaysian retail sales plunge 32.5 percent in April

    Malaysian retail sales plunge 32.5 percent in April

    Malaysian retail trade sales plunged 32.5 percent year on year in April, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM).

    The significant decline occurred as many retailers were heavily affected by the imposition of the Movement Control Order.

    Retail sectors contributing to the negative growth included consumer goods in specialist stores, cultural & recreational goods, and household equipment.

    Sales of food and beverage rose by a modest 1.9 percent, which is less than in some other Southeast Asian markets during the Covid-19-related lockdowns and temporary store closures

    Despite the dramatic fall, Malaysian retail sales online in April saw 28.9-per-cent growth year on year, as consumers moved online unable to visit physical stores.

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  • Malaysian bookstore MPH shifting focus to online

    Malaysian bookstore MPH shifting focus to online

    Malaysian bookstore chain MPH is closing multiple stores as it moves to a digitally-driven omnichannel business model.

    The company is not closing down, despite much speculation on social media concerning the impending closure of multiple stores.

    A recent Facebook post revealing nine MPH stores in the process of shutting shop went viral, with many users expressing sadness at the presumably imminent disappearance of the brand.

    In a statement answering customer concerns, MPH Group clarified its strategy as a transition into a more e-commerce-focused retail format, consolidating non-performing stores and pooling resources for a digital-business push.

    The company’s new strategy also involves the deployment of high-tech vending machines placed in strategic locations, as well as a social interactive e-learning platform.

    The 114-year-old firm will maintain its key physical locations as it undergoes the transition, in a process that has been largely accelerated following the coronavirus outbreak with a concomitant sharp uptick in online sales.

    The store’s e-commerce platform is due to launch in its revitalized form later in the year.

    “We want to be able to connect with our customers through multiple touchpoints, be it online or offline by adopting an omnichannel approach,” said MPH Group CEO Donald Kee.

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  • Malaysia’s IPC mall launches trash-to-treasure recycling campaign

    Malaysia’s IPC mall launches trash-to-treasure recycling campaign

    Malaysian mall IPC mall has launched a campaign to promote recycling as part of the “new normal”.

    At a time when national recycling efforts have been put on hold, visitors are invited to drop off recyclables at the mall’s Recycling & Buy-Back Centre (RBBC) to enjoy rewards for selected categories.

    The “Trash to Treasure” campaign highlights IPC as the first retail destination in Malaysia to have a facility like the RBBC, which introduces two new recyclable categories – food and fabric waste. While food waste will be bio-recycled and turned into animal feed and organic fertilizer, any collected fabric will be sorted for donations or recycled into industrial wiping cloths and upcycled into wearables.

    “Over the years, our sustainability efforts have shown that responsibly disposing of waste goes a long way in creating a more sustainable environment,” said IPC Shopping Centre PR and digital marketing manager Mark Tan. “As a community-centric shopping center, we want to empower the community to make recycling part of their everyday lives in this new normal. Hence, making the RBBC accessible and safe for all by following the latest health guidelines, and implementing protective measures.”

    The mall is noted for its attention to environmental and sustainable issues, including its use of energy-saving light bulbs, solar panels and rainwater harvesting.

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  • Malaysian startup installs ‘Coffee ATMs’ for frontline medical workers

    Malaysian startup installs ‘Coffee ATMs’ for frontline medical workers

    One-year-old Malaysian startup Coffee Star has provided self-service dispensing machines – dubbed ‘Coffee ATMs’ – to medical frontliners serving free beverages during the coronavirus pandemic.

    The machines were delivered to the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (currently serving as a quarantine and treatment center for 600 patients) and Sungai Buloh Hospital, providing fresh coffee to frontliners for free, serving more than 10,000 cups of fresh coffee since April.

    The unmanned Coffee ATMs are completely automated machines allowing users to select drinks via a touchscreen panel.

    “Our frontliners who are courageously and selflessly serving the nation in the coronavirus crisis represent the best of who we are,” said MAEPS CEO Zaidi Shahrim. “We are honored to support this initiative by partnering, Coffee Star, to provide the heroes in our communities fresh coffees to recharge.”

    “We have tremendous admiration for all of the frontliners fighting in this unprecedented time,” said Coffee Star Malaysia “coffee enthusiastic officer” Raja Ahmad Fauzan bin Raja Hassan. “When we heard that they needed an energy booster to help them through their long days, we were eager to help.

    “We experience the impact of coronavirus directly throughout our business locations in airports, shopping malls and office towers. So, we are redeploying our machines from those locations and utilised for a greater good to serve fresh, free coffee to the frontliners. The machine serves fresh coffee on-demand at the right moment they need it.”

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  • CIMB Appoints Group CEO

    CIMB Appoints Group CEO

    He succeeds Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, who resigned as group CEO of CIMB Group Holdings and CEO of CIMB Bank in March to join the Malaysian cabinet as finance minister.

    CIMB Group, Malaysia’s second-largest financial services provider by assets, has appointed Abdul Rahman Ahmad as group chief executive officer/executive director for CIMB and CEO/executive director of CIMB Bank, effective June 10, the bank announced in a statement.

    Abdul Rahman brings more than two decades of experience in leadership roles across several industries, including as CEO of Malaysian Resources Corporation, CEO of Media Prima, CEO of government-linked private equity firm Ekuiti Nasional, and president and most recently as group CEO of asset management firm Permodalan Nasional.

    As the industry undergoes fundamental changes, he will bring a fresh perspective to lead CIMB’s continued transformation and build upon its successful ASEAN franchise, CIMB chairman Mohd Nasir Ahmad said in the statement.

    CIMB offers consumer banking, commercial banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, and asset management products and services. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, the Group is present in all 10 Southeast Asian nations, with 697 branches as of March 31, 2020.

    Beyond Southeast Asia, the Group has market presence in China, Hong Kong, India, Korea, the U.S., and U.K. CIMB Group operates its business through three main brand entities, CIMB Bank, CIMB Investment Bank, and CIMB Islamic. CIMB Group is also the 92.5 percent shareholder of Bank CIMB Niaga in Indonesia, and 94.8 percent shareholder of CIMB Thai in Thailand.

  • 7-Eleven Malaysia sales surge on store network expansion

    7-Eleven Malaysia sales surge on store network expansion

    7-Eleven Malaysia sales grew by 6.1 percent in the first quarter of this year, largely on the back of 34 new store openings.

    Total sales grew by US$8.2 million during the quarter to $142 million and profit attributable to shareholders rose by 1.9 percent to $2.6 million. Same-store sales were up 1.9 percent.

    CEO Colin Harvey said the company’s strategic roadmap of strengthening assortment, supply chain, operational excellence, store base and digitally enabling the organization continues to bear fruit.

    “Despite challenging conditions ahead due to the Covid-19 pandemic, our continuous discipline in executing our strategic roadmap as well as leveraging and seeking out opportunities from our recent corporate acquisitions whilst remaining flexible to adapt to market changes shall ensure that 7-Eleven remains the nation’s preferred convenience store choice,” he said.

    The company’s revenue growth was driven by new stores, higher same-store sales and better consumer promotion activity. Revenue from fresh food grew by more than 13 percent and from tobacco by more than 7 percent.

    Despite the strong first quarter, Harvey says the group will be impacted by the Covid-19 crisis with stores in its malls closed and others operating under restricted hours during the country’s Movement Control Order

    7-Eleven Malaysia now has 2419 stores across Malaysia.

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  • Malaysia’s Sunway Pyramid launches online portal for Hari Raya

    Malaysia’s Sunway Pyramid launches online portal for Hari Raya

    Malaysia’s Sunway Pyramid mall has launched an online platform to help customers purchase safely during Hari Raya celebrations this year.

    Sunway Pyramid’s online store offers more than 100 brands ranging from beauty, home decor, healthcare, footwear to digital lifestyle. Several online campaigns will be organized including exclusive promotions and interactive content for the Hari Raya celebrations and a three-day flash sale at the end of this month.

    “The past two months have definitely been a challenging period for us all, and we wanted to give our retailers the opportunity to reach their customers within a few clicks,” said Kevin Tan, COO of Sunway Malls. “Not all retailers have the capability to establish an online presence and so, we hope this will help strengthen their business operations for greater survivability post-MCO,” he said referring to Malaysia’s Movement Control Order introduced to fight the spread of Covid-19.

    According to Tan, the online launch is the group’s latest attempt at digital transformation to “provide shoppers with added convenience and help bolster retailers’ businesses”.

    For shoppers’ safety during the festive season, Malaysia’s Sunway Pyramid mall, together with the rest of the Sunway malls have put strict measures including scanning a QR code and registering when entering the mall.

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  • Malaysia’s Mygroser looks to expand as Covid-19 boosts sales

    Malaysia’s Mygroser looks to expand as Covid-19 boosts sales

    Malaysian digital grocer Mygroser is raising its first public funding round as it enhances its delivery capacities in the midst of the continuing coronavirus pandemic.

    The business is targeting profitability within 12 months followed by expansion within the territory. Funding is expected to be used to meet incoming customer demand as the brand extends its grocery delivery services in Malaysia’s US$20 billion grocery and supermarket space. The firm has continuously operated throughout the country’s Movement Control Order (MCO) period.

    “We have seen the demand for grocery delivery locally grow by over 1000 per cent during the first part of this year, and have seen our own revenues and number of deliveries made daily grow ten times during just the past two months,” said Mygroser CEO Stephen P Francis.

    “On the back of this, we are accelerating our expansion plans to better meet the demand for convenient, fresh and affordable produce, everyday essentials and groceries that we are seeing from our consumer and business customers.”

    Working through the MCO, the online-only grocery service has deployed various technology enhancements – as well as daily delivery slot increases – across its cloud-store powered premium grocery service model. Investments in machine learning-based supply chain management, new product offerings, an enhanced grocery list and new membership offerings are currently in planning stages as the firm targets regional coverage within three years.

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  • Shopee Malaysia starts selling Covid-19 test kits

    Shopee Malaysia starts selling Covid-19 test kits

    Malaysian online medical service DoctorOnCall has entered into a partnership with Shopee Malaysia to sell Covid-19 tests online.

    The rRT-PCR tests will be available for purchase at Shopee’s DoctorOnCall store, where customers will also be able to buy vouchers for home-delivered medication. In the coming months, Shopee will work with DoctorOnCall to extend usage of the vouchers to book online consultations.

    The partners will inaugurate the service with a health education and awareness series on the platform’s in-app live streaming feature Shopee Live, beginning tomorrow with a talk on Covid-19 and the various testing options by Qualitas Medical Group, including a home-visit screening program designed by Qualitas in collaboration with DoctorOnCall.

    “DoctorOnCall’s decision to expand its digital reach and offer more Malaysians the accessibility to healthcare services especially during this difficult time is commendable,” said Shopee’s regional MD Ian Ho.

    “At the same time, by leveraging our technology and marketing tools such as Shopee Live, DoctorOnCall is able to bring curated content to viewers at home, educating and creating awareness on the importance of hygiene as well as ideas on having a healthy Ramadan. This is what people need right now.”

    “We believe that DoctorOnCall is the first medical platform to collaborate with a digital marketplace and allow access for Shopee Malaysia’s extensive customer base to digital health seamlessly,” said DoctorOnCall’s COO Chiak Tang.

    “In conjunction with this collaboration, we will also initiate a health education series specifically for Shopee users. We pride ourselves as the leading provider of health-related content in Malaysia and are pleased to work with Shopee and our partners, on this educational initiative to reach a greater audience.”

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  • AirAsia Malaysia starts flying again, passengers need to bring own masks

    AirAsia Malaysia starts flying again, passengers need to bring own masks

    AirAsia returns to the skies with domestic flights in Malaysia starting today (April 29), but passengers will need to follow Covid-19 safety measures.

    Each passenger will need to bring their own mask and wear it properly before, during and after the flight, including during check-in and bag collection. Any guest without a mask will be denied boarding.

    AirAsia chief safety officer Captain Ling Liong Tien said the carrier is stepping up all precautionary measures to ensure a safe journey.

    “First and foremost, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are eligible to travel, be it international or domestic, before booking a flight.

    “We kindly ask that you observe the universally recommended protective precautionary measures, including practicing high personal hygiene, ” he said in a statement.

    Other Covid-19 safety measures include a baggage allowance of only one piece (instead of the usual two), not exceeding 7kg, and earlier arrival at the airport – at least three hours – before departure.

    AirAsia Group president (Airlines) Bo Lingam said the carrier has undertaken a thorough review of guest handling procedures both on the ground and onboard in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    “We have been working closely with the airport authorities to ensure that all relevant precautionary measures are in place to ensure a safe, pleasant and comfortable journey for everyone,” he said in a statement.

    Bo added that AirAsia will adhere to guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to ensure “the highest standards of compliance and conformance”.

    The resumption of services will initially be for key selected domestic routes, which will increase gradually to include international destinations around the network, once the situation improves and governments lift borders and travel restrictions.

    AirAsia also recently made news when reports surfaced of the carrier introducing a new personal protective equipment (PPE) for its cabin crew.

    When contacted, an AirAsia spokesperson said the matter is still being reviewed.

    “AirAsia Philippines initiated a trial run of a customised PPE design. It was first used in a recent recovery flight and a further assessment of the design is underway.

    “The customised PPE is still being reviewed,” the spokesperson said.

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  • Sunway Malls retailers granted flexible operating hours post MCO

    Sunway Malls retailers granted flexible operating hours post MCO

    Malaysian mall operator Sunway Malls is testing a new policy to allow non-essential retailers to implement flexible operating hours following the advent of government movement control orders.

    If the one-month test proves to be effective, Sunway will extend the policy for another two months.

    The move will see participating retailers trading eight hours daily rather than the current 12, yielding a cumulative 30-day saving of 120 trading hours and allowing improved optimization of staffing arrangement from two working shifts to one.

    Market estimates show that 35 percent of tenant retailer costs arise from wages, while rent constitutes 15 percent. Savings from the move are anticipated to be equivalent to a half-month’s worth of rental costs.

    “We foresee after the resumption of business post MCO, there will be a gestation period before full recovery takes place,” said Sunway Malls and Theme Parks CEO HC Chan. “We understand too that the new normal of social distancing and absence of mass gathering will have the greatest impact for the first three months post-MCO. Taking cognizance of this, we have to accord some degree of business flexibility to our business partners.”

    Sunway Malls will continue to operate as usual from 10 am–10 pm daily.

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  • AirAsia to resume flights in Malaysia

    AirAsia to resume flights in Malaysia

    Low-cost carrier Airasia is set to resume local flights in Malaysia on April 29, subject to the authorities’ approval.

    It said yesterday it has also set to commence flights in Thailand on May 1, the Philippines (May 1), India (May 4) and Indonesia (May 7).

    “The resumption of services will initially be for key selected domestic routes, which will increase gradually to include international destinations around the network, once the situation improves and governments lift borders and travel restrictions, ” AirAsia said in a statement.

    The low-cost carrier said flights are already open for booking via the airasia.com website and its mobile app.

    “Guests may use their credit accounts to redeem for these flights, ” it said, adding that further details on more routes and flight schedules will be announced in the coming weeks, subject to approval from the authorities.

    In the same statement, AirAsia Group president (airlines) Bo Lingam(pic below) said the group hopes to resume full operations as soon as possible.

    “We have undertaken a thorough review of our guest handling procedures both on the ground and onboard in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    “We have been working closely with the airport authorities to ensure that all the relevant precautionary measures are in place to ensure a safe, pleasant and comfortable journey for everyone.

    “At AirAsia, the safety and wellbeing of our guests and employees is always our highest priority.

    “We work actively with all our regulators, local governments, civil aviation and health authorities, including adhering to guidance from the World Health Organisation and International Civil Aviation Organisation to ensure the highest standards of compliance and conformance are in place for every single flight we operate in our network.”

  • Carousell supports Small Businesses, hawkers during Covid-19 crisis

    Carousell supports Small Businesses, hawkers during Covid-19 crisis

    Classified-ad service Carousell is offering up to SG$2 million (US$1.3 million) in free advertising for nonprofits serving communities impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

    Organizations in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and the Philippines engaged in initiatives to support those affected by the pandemic will be eligible for the program.

    “This initiative will give non-profit organizations more visibility and offer an alternative platform for advertising that doesn’t require paying premium fees,” said Carousell’s MD for advertising JJ Eastwood. “As a C2C classified  platform, Carousell has a broader vision for our community and users that transcends the current Covid-19 climate.”

    Existing partners include Singapore Red Cross, Give. Asia, Free Food for All in Singapore, Parents Without Partners in Malaysia, Habitat For Humanity in Hong Kong and Caritas Manila in the Philippines.

    Meanwhile, in Singapore, Carousell has launched the #SupportLocal campaign to help business owners impacted by the pandemic, targeting both SMEs and small food & beverage operators. The first phase of the initiative, ‘#SupportLocal F&Bs’, encourages Singaporeans to support the smaller eateries and hawkers in their own neighborhoods.

    Partnering with Unilever Food Solutions, Carousell plans to sign up more than 2500 F&B businesses onto a newly created Local F&B category on its platform.

    “The onboarding process will ensure that business owners who have not had prior experience with online operations are still able to list on Carousell for increased visibility,” the company explains. “With Carousell listings, F&B owners will be able to provide on-demand takeaway services without having to pay a premium or commission to external vendors, and Carousellers will be able to conveniently and directly support the local F&B establishments near them.

    Ivan Lu, MD for Malaysia and Singapore at Unilever Food Solutions, says the company believes Carousell’s initiative will help provide the local F&B community with an additional option to attract the orders they sorely need.

    “It’s a tough time, but the Singaporean F&B community is amazingly resilient. With our Kampong spirit, we can weather any storm,” says Lu.

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  • Shopee Malaysia launching additional support package for Etailers

    Shopee Malaysia launching additional support package for Etailers

    Shopee Malaysia has announced an RM15 million (US$3.5 million) support package for sellers on its network.

    The online retail platform’s package aims to assist around 70,000 SMEs in the territory trading in a range of sectors and is an outcome of engagements between itself, retail associations, business owners and chambers of commerce.

    “These SMEs need assistance or a partner that can provide them a clear instruction set to ensure they succeed with online selling,” said Shopee’s regional MD Ian Ho, who expressed concern that smaller businesses lack knowledge critical to digitalization.

    Benefits in the package include discounts for sellers in promotional programs to help lower operating expenses for business owners.

    “Shopee has allocated RM6 million ($1.4 million) in the form of vouchers and free paid advertising credits,” said Ho. “Sellers stand to benefit from RM100,000 ($23,000) worth of dedicated campaign vouchers every week and receive up to RM400 ($92) each in free paid advertising credits to get more exposure for their products and stores.

    “Shopee wants to drive the digitalization of traditional businesses and bring them online,” he said.

    “The package will support all its sellers by creating sales and growth opportunities, reducing operational costs and facilitating sustainable development through funding, subsidies and education.”