Retail News CRM

Tag: Malaysia

  • Legion Concept Store to Open Soon in Kuala Lumpur

    Legion Concept Store to Open Soon in Kuala Lumpur

    Technology company Lenovo Group plans to open a Legion concept store in Kuala Lumpur.

    Skewed toward gaming, the store will also offer an experiential area where customers can try Legion’s gaming products.

    Lenovo central Asia Pacific GM Ivan Cheung says a site has already been chosen and renovation work has started. The opening is expected to be within the next quarter.

    With the Legion brand established just a year ago, the company believes it is important to give customers the chance to test and experience the products. The portfolio includes gaming laptops and desktops as well as peripherals such as specialised mice, keyboards and even backpacks.

    Lenovo has identified Malaysia as a high-potential market for gaming.

    Lees ook:

  • Korea’s Caffe Bene sees the end

    Korea’s Caffe Bene sees the end

    Korean coffee chain Caffe Bene has collapsed, filing for a court-led restructuring scheme on Friday.

    Yonhap news service reports the court will soon decide whether to put the ailing coffee chain under its receivership or commence liquidation.

    The legal move follows a protracted slump and mounting losses, the company said. In 2016, the company lost about US$32 million on sales of $73 million, down 32 per cent on the previous year. At that time it operated 800 stores in Korea, a figure it said would shrink as it restructured, and about 50 in the US.

    Launched in 2008, Caffe Bene expanded to become one of South Korea’s largest coffee franchises, opening more than 1000 stores in five years, but lost ground in the saturated coffee market. While its US website claims it has opened 1600 stores worldwide, the exact number still trading is difficult to ascertain. It has opened in Vietnam, the US, China, Canada, Brunei, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Cambodia and Mongolia.

    But the international foray has met with mixed success. The Cambodian store has already closed and the last Facebook post by the Singapore cafe is dated February last year. In Vietnam several stores have opened and closed, including its downtown flagship which drew huge queues when it opened in 2014. Three outlets remain trading there, but it is not clear if they are franchised or company-owned.

    The company also appears to have exited the Canadian market.

    While rapid growth in the consumption of brewed coffee drove up the Korean coffee industry’s overall expansion, Caffe Bene was unable to match the growth rate at home.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Indian jeweller Malabar Gold & Diamonds to break a record

    Indian jeweller Malabar Gold & Diamonds to break a record

    Indian jewellery chain Malabar Gold & Diamonds today added 11 showrooms across six countries to its network.

    Taking its retail store count to 208, the showrooms include AMK Hub in Singapore, Ampang Mall in Malaysia and Warangal in Telangana, India. Other showrooms are in malls across the UAE. The brand has 90 showrooms in India, and last year opened 27 showrooms internationally.

    As well as another 50 showrooms in different formats internationally, the Malabar Group plans to add more manufacturing units this year, says chairman MP Ahammed. “This will fuel our vision to become the top jewellery retailer in the world.”

    The company will expand into new countries such as Brunei, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the US, says Malabar Gold international MD Shamlal Ahammed.

    The expansion will generate more employment and enhance such initiatives as the government’s Made In India, says Malabar Gold & Diamonds India MD O Asher. The group has earmarked 5 per cent of its annual profit for CSR activities in five key areas: housing, health, environment, women’s empowerment and education.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Sa Sa International looking good, thanks to tourists

    Sa Sa International looking good, thanks to tourists

    Stronger store traffic drove overall sales for cosmetics retailer Sa Sa International for its third quarter to the end of December.

    This was in line with expectations, says the company.

    Total transactions increased by 5 per cent year on year to 5.1 million, while the number of transactions with local and mainland tourists grew 6.6 and 4.1 per cent respectively. The average transaction value also rose, by 4.2 and 2.8 per cent (to reach $367) respectively.

    The group’s total turnover grew by 6.5 per cent to HK$2.2 billion (US$281 million), led by Hong Kong and Macau where the growth was 8.1 per cent to reach $1.8 billion, while same-store sales increased by 3.7 per cent.

    Overall retail sales and same-store sales had 9.5 and 5.6 per cent growth respectively during December.

    Turnover in Mainland China, Singapore and Malaysia grew 13, 3.6 and 3.9 per cent respectively, while the turnover for Taiwan and e-commerce dropped by 5.5 and 21.9 per cent.

    Total turnover for the nine months to the end of December was $5.9 billion, up 3.4 per cent. For Hong Kong and Macau the figure was $4.8 billion, up 4.5 per cent.

    Same-store sales were flat for the nine months, while the average sales per transaction rose 3.3 per cent for to $343. There were 14 million transactions, up 1 per cent.

    At the end of December the company had 290 stores, no change from a year previously. However, the number of stores increased in Hong Kong and Macau (from 115 to 119), while there was a drop in Singapore (from 21 to 19) and in Taiwan (from 25 to 21). China and Malaysia had no change with 56 and 73 stores respectively.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Zodiac dog, pig go missing for Chinese New Year t-shirt

    Zodiac dog, pig go missing for Chinese New Year t-shirt

    There may be 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, but it looks like Giant Hypermarket outlets in Malaysia missed the memo.

    A photo of a festive Chinese New Year t-shirt being sold by the hypermarket chain received flak online from Malaysians because its image of cartoon animals perched around a platter of yu sheng was missing two animals – the pig and the dog, reported Free Malaysia Today.

    Chinese New Year this year, which ushers in the Year of the Dog, falls on Feb 16.

    Instead of a cute cartoon image, the pig and the dog were represented by the Chinese characters “hai” and “xu”.

    People were far from happy about it. In fact, many of them turned snarky.

    Facebook comment by Mynn Liew

    Facebook comment by Magima Raj Pragasam

    Facebook comment by Masihtah Abdul Mutalib

    According to The Straits Times, the T-shirt comes in different sizes and is being sold at a discounted price of RM10.88 ($2.73), down from its original RM15.99.

    But selling it at a discount might not be enough, with many calling for a boycott of the t-shirt altogether.

    Facebook comment by Supachai Phoong

    Facebook comment by Peter Aeria

    Others were simply left speechless.

    Facebook comment by Neelaa Siva

    This is not the first time that the Malaysian authorities have banned or restricted materials containing dogs or pigs – animals considered unclean by the country’s majority Muslims.

    Last February, thousands of paint brushes suspected of containing pig bristles were seized after Malaysian consumers demanded a crackdown.

    In 2016, the Department of Islamic Development of Malaysia (Jakim) even went as far as banning food outlet operators seeking halal certification from using words linked to non-halal references on their menus – and yes, that includes “hot dogs”.

  • 7-Eleven in talks with a ‘few parties’ on food deal

    7-Eleven in talks with a ‘few parties’ on food deal

    7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Bhd is in talks with a few parties on food chain supply after its memorandum of undestanding (MoU) with Brahim’s Holdings Bhd’s subsidiary lapsed after close to two years.

    Last week, 7-Eleven said in a stock exchange filing that the MoU with Brahim’s “has lapsed and accordingly ceased to have any effect”.

    “We’re looking to work with many others. We’re talking to some (a few parties), but it’s not finalised yet,” 7-Eleven Malaysia majority shareholder and Berjaya Corp founder and executive chairman Tan Sri Vincent Tan told a press conference after launching mobile wallet app One2pay today.

    He added that once the company has finalised the decision, it will make an announcement, estimated in the next two to three months.

    Meanwhile, Tan said the group is projecting a 3%-5% increase in sales for the retail businesses under Berjaya Group, on the back of the appreciation of the ringgit and positive signs such as the growing economy and foreign investments in the country.

    He said while retail associations and retailers have lamented the soft retail market, partly due to competition from e-commerce, the situation has been better because the ringgit has strengthened, which augurs well for the retail industry.

    “The retail trade in Malaysia is still okay and is not as bad as painted by some. For our group, we’re optimistic that the retail trade will get better,” said Tan.

    He added that the group witnessed a dip in sales when the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was implemented but now it has stabilised and sales are going up.

    “People have accepted GST. Consumers are back and the sales are up.”

    Lees ook:

  • Axiata Group appoints heads for business service, info security

    Axiata Group appoints heads for business service, info security

    Axiata Group has made two key appointments for its business services and information security, as part of its transformation efforts into a “new generation digital champion.”

    The Malaysia–based telecoms conglomerate has recently appointed Asri Hassan Sabri – Axiata’s group chief business operations officer since January 2016  –  as chief executive officer of its newest subsidiary, Axiata Business Services. His appointment is effective January 1, 2018.

    Asri has 30 years of experience in various management, consulting and entrepreneur engagements in the IT and telecom industries. Prior to joining Axiata, he was a strategic partner with Provident Capital Partners, an established South Asia private equity company.

    Operating under the brand Xpand, Axiata Business Services will drive the group’s enterprise and Internet of Things (IoT) business across all of Axiata’s footprint in ASEAN and South Asia.

    The subsidiary was established in 2017 as a new area of focus for the group, one which is earmarked to achieve double-digit growth and holds great promise as a multi-billion dollar addressable market within the next few years, according to a company statement.

    Axiata has also hired Abid Abdul Adam as group chief information security officer, as part of the operator’s continued focus and commitment to improving cyber security capabilities. Abid will also assume the position of group head of privacy given the increasingly critical nature of data privacy and protection.

    Abid joins Axiata from South Africa where he was the chief information security officer and deputy information protection officer for a leading financial services organization. He brings to the table over 15 years of experience in developing, implementing, and leading an Information security and technology risk management function.

    Commenting on the appointments, Axiata president and group CEO Tan Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim said the move is in line with the group’s hope to build a leading digital company, beyond its core mobile business.

    “Asri’s role as CEO of Axiata Business Services is to scale up this addressable area of growth in the enterprise and IoT space and to ensure that group aggressively capitalizes on the opportunities in the ASEAN and South Asia market, to eventually bring a significant uplift in revenue,” he said in a statement.

    “Abid’s two led functions work in tandem to help us to achieve cyber resilience and data privacy across the group.”

    Lees ook:

  • Mydin puts Sam’s Groceria stores up for sale

    Mydin puts Sam’s Groceria stores up for sale

    Malaysian grocery chain Sam’s Groceria is being sold by owner Mydin Mohamed Holdings as it divests loss-making businesses.

    Mydin values the high-end grocery business at US$12.5 million (MYR50 million). The chain has four outlets: in Gurney Paragon Mall and Straits Quay on Penang island, Sunway Carnival Mall in Seberang Perai, and Nu Sentral in Kuala Lumpur.

    Managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin says the decision to sell followed the realisation that the stores’ patrons were mainly local Chinese and expatriates. “We do not sell liquor, wine, beer or pork, so we have been unable to meet our customers’ needs.”

    Sam’s Groceria, which started in 2013, stocks 60 per cent imported grocery products and fresh food.

    Last year, Mydin disposed of another loss-making unit, MyMydin Convenience, and discontinued its Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) stores.

    For the year ended March 31, 2016, the group posted its first loss, of MYR156.6 million, in 60 years. With an internal re-organisation and cost cutting, the group managed to post a small profit last financial year.

  • AirAsia to close Surakarta-Kuala Lumpur route

    Low-cost carrier AirAsia is set to close on Jan. 16 its route from Surakarta in Central Java to Kuala Lumpur.

    AirAsia Berhad commercial head Spencer Lee told Antara news agency that the closure was due to commercial reasons.

    The airline is currently spreading the news among passengers through email and text messages. Those affected by the closure will receive a full refund or be allowed to change their flight by taking off from Semarang, Central Java, or Yogyakarta.

    Despite the move, Lee assured the carrier was still committed to adding more flights to Indonesia this year.

    Meanwhile, Purwanto, operation and service department manager of state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I at Adi Soemarmo International Airport in Central Java, said the operator had heard about the news, but has yet to receive an official confirmation from the carrier.

    “Based on our data, the average number of passengers for the route is relatively high, up to 70 percent capacity,” Purwanto said.

    Lees ook:

  • Malaysia Gears Up for Election as Najib Targets `Fake News’

    Malaysia Gears Up for Election as Najib Targets `Fake News’

    Malaysia’s political parties are gearing up for an election within months, with the ruling party launching a portal aimed at combating “fake news” and the opposition alliance holding a national convention this weekend.

    Prime Minister Najib Razak, 64, said the portal, called TheRakyat — or “The People” — was a “significant step” for the Barisan Nasional coalition ahead of elections which must be held by August.
    “We know that in the 13th general election, we were victims of fake news,” he said at the portal’s launch on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur. He cited rumors of power outages at voting booths in the 2013 ballot and the suggestion that some votes were therefore not counted. “We believe this will happen again in the 14th general election. That’s why we need a platform to connect to the people.”
    At stake for the ruling coalition is its unbroken rule of the Southeast Asian nation for more than 60 years. Under Najib it suffered its worst showing yet at the 2013 poll, losing the popular vote for the first time and failing to recapture a two-thirds majority in parliament.
    A stronger economy and ringgit could boost Najib’s chances this time, even as his rivals criticize him over rising living costs and corruption allegations. Najib has denied the claims of graft and been cleared by local authorities.

    A disparate opposition — as well as the four-party coalition known as Pakatan Harapan, there are a number of other major groups including the biggest Islamic opposition outfit — may also help Najib. There’s still the possibility of opposition candidates standing against each other in some districts.

    Pakatan Harapan will meet on Sunday and is expected to name its pick for prime minister, with speculation centered around former premier Mahathir Mohamad, who split from Barisan Nasional and has become one of Najib’s fiercest critics. Mahathir, who at 92 years of age is now chairman of Pakatan Harapan, said the group would announce “our future plans” at the end of its convention.

    The opposition’s de facto leader, Anwar Ibrahim, is in jail on a sodomy conviction, a charge he has denied. Pakatan Harapan would need to install an interim prime minister if it wins the election, then secure a royal pardon in order for Anwar to become premier.

    Lees ook:

  • 50,000 malaysians expected to be laid off in 2018, says report

    50,000 malaysians expected to be laid off in 2018, says report

    MORE than 50,000 employees are expected to be laid off this year as reported.

    The English daily quoted Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bardan as saying manufacturing would be the main sector affected, followed by the services (insurance, banking and retail) and construction sectors.

    He said among the challenges facing the job market were the levy imposed on employers for the hiring of foreign workers and the Employee Insurance Scheme.

    “The increase in maternity leave days, from 60 days to 90 days, as well as the possibility of paternity leave, will also be factors.”

    The report said automation would continue to be another factor for job losses as more companies turned to robotics and information technology.

    “Multinational corporations involved in labour-intensive industries are also leaving due to higher wage costs in Malaysia,” said Shamsuddin.

    “They are moving to more attractive and lower-labour-cost nations, where there are no high social costs.”

    He said Cambodia and Laos were among the countries where wages were below US$100 (RM402.59) per month, whereas in Malaysia, they were about US$250.

    Malaysian Trades Union Congress president Abdul Halim Mansor was quoted as saying that based on information from the Labour Department, between 30,000 and 50,000 people could be retrenched this year, involving those from the finance, construction and manufacturing sectors.

    Lees ook:

  • Irispay launches vending-machine store

    Irispay launches vending-machine store

    Malaysian mobile wallet provider Irispay has rolled out its first e-Concept Store  in Kuala Lumpur.

    In Subang Jaya, the 24-hour store runs without the need for staff as reported.

    Customers buy from a line of vending machines, each one dedicated to the country of product origin, such as China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Malaysia. Products include instant ramen, fruit-flavoured drinks and even condoms.

    There are three steps for customers, who use the Irispay mobile wallet app for access: choose a product, scan a QR code, authorise payment.

    An Irispay spokesman says Subang was chosen for the first store because of its large number of students, the company’s target market.

    Irispay says it hopes to expand to as many as 250 stores nationwide this year.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • M&S sells Hong Kong business to Dubai conglomerate Al-Futtaim

    M&S sells Hong Kong business to Dubai conglomerate Al-Futtaim

    Marks & Spencer has confirmed the sale and franchise of its retail business in Hong Kong and Macau to its long-established franchise partner Al-Futtaim.

    The two companies all but confirmed the sale in August  and settlement took place on December 30.

    Al-Futtaim is now the sole franchisee for Marks & Spencer Hong Kong and Macau, but the deal does not extend to the mainland where M&S has a presence on Tmall, having closed its department stores there.

    The two companies have a partnership dating back to 1998 when Al-Futtaim opened Dubai’s first M&S store in the UAE.

    The addition of 27 Marks & Spencer Hong Kong and Macau stores takes Al-Futtaim’s M&S network to 72 shops in 11 markets in Asia and the Middle East.

    “We have substantially reshaped our International business, which has improved profitability and positioned us for growth,” observed Paul Friston, Marks & Spencer’s international director in a statement confirming the sale.

    “As one of the world’s leading retail operators, with strong logistics capabilities and local expertise, Al-Futtaim is the ideal partner for us to develop and grow our business in Hong Kong and Macau.”

    Stephen Rayfield, VP of M&S and sports & lifestyle with Al-Futtaim said the company is looking forward to “enriching our customers’ lives and aspirations through the provision of quality products and services in Hong Kong and Macau”.

    Pascal Martin, partner with OC&C Strategy Consultants, said the decision to sell and franchise the Marks & Spencer Hong Kong business is consistent with the shift to an asset-light business model that the UK company has adopted for its international business.

    “It did not make sense to support only Hong-Kong and Macau as directly operated international businesses after having pulled out from all other direct markets, such as China and France. By selling its Hong Kong and Macau business to Al-Futtaim, M&S can also raise cash to continue to invest in its core, including product quality, the UK market and e-commerce.”

    At the same time, Al-Futtaim has a strong track record in operating M&S stores in many other markets and a solid investment capacity to continue to expand the M&S international store network, said Martin.

    “Another key factor is that Al-Futtaim’s M&S business is led by ex-M&S’ senior executive, Stephen Rayfield, who knows the business inside-out and can fully optimise daily operations between Al-Futtaim and M&S.”

    M&S now has a simple homogeneous international business: all wholesale to local partners, with the exception of a joint venture in India with Reliance.

    “The brand will be able to leverage Al-Futtaim’s strong investment capacity to accelerate the International expansion. Al-Futtaim can benefit from adding a strong profitable business (HK and Macau) to its already strong international M&S portfolio. They may be able to exert more control on M&S Asia logistics network to achieve better integration across Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Macau. Al-Futtaim will likely have increased negotiation power with M&S on product, store format, pricing and more,” said Martin.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Petron investing $3.5b in Malaysian oil refinery

    Petron investing $3.5b in Malaysian oil refinery

    Petron Corp. is pursuing a $3.5-billion expansion of its refinery in Malaysia that would significantly improve the company’s bottomline, a top executive said.

    “One we complete the expansion there, we are projecting that it will give $600 million a year from $20 million,” Petron president Ramon Ang said.

    Petron acquired Esso Malaysia’s Port Dickson refinery and fuel retail network in Malaysia  in 2011.

    Ang said Petron Malaysia showed consistent strong financial results.

    “We acquire Malaysia before with $20 million Ebitda [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and appreciation]. This year, we will end at $270 million Ebitda,” Ang said.

    Ang said once the planned expansion was given an approval, the construction would be completed by 2020.

    The Malaysian refinery currently produces around 80,000 barrels per day. Petron ranks third in terms of market share in Malaysia.

    “It will add  another 90,000 [barrels] a day,” Ang said.

    “The Malaysia expansion, if we will add 90,000 barrels per day, [would cost] $3.5 billion,” Ang said, adding that most equipment in the refinery needed to be replaced and upgraded.

    Petron is also embarking on a $5-billion refinery expansion in the Philippines that will bring the existing capacity of its Bataan refinery to 360,00 barrels per day in  three years.

    Ang said the expansion of the existing Bataan facility would be done in phases at 90,000 barrels per day for each phase. The first phase is expected to be completed by 2019 and the next phase by 2020.

    “[For] the next expansion of our refinery, we will be adding another 90,000 bpd.  So from 180,000 bpd, we will be hitting 270,000 bpd,” Ang said earlier.

    Petron owns the existing 180,000 bpd refinery in Limay, Bataan.

    “We can start [the first phase] in 2018, to be completed in 2019. We forecast an increase in income,” he said.

    Ang said the first phase of the expansion would cost $1.5 billion while the second phase would amount to $3.5 billion.

    He said the expansion would help produce more  petrochemical products.

    Petron already invested $2 billion to upgrade its Bataan refinery and make it at par with the most advanced refineries in the region.

  • New AirAsia flights set to boost east Malaysia connectivity

    New AirAsia flights set to boost east Malaysia connectivity

    Low cost carrier AirAsia flew two inaugural flights yesterday into Sarawak  from Shenzhen to Kuching and Singapore to Bintulu.

    The two new direct flights are part of AirAsia’s plans to boost the international connectivity into east Malaysia.

    This is in line with the government efforts to improve the tourism industry and flight connections into the state.

    Spencer Lee, head of commercial at AirAsia Berhad said: “We are honoured and humbled to welcome two new international flights into Sarawak today.

    “AirAsia has always been committed towards expanding the markets in Sarawak and these direct flights reiterate our commitment to grow the connectivity in and out of the state.

    “To date, we have flown about 4.8 million guests in and out of Sarawak which is 12.1% more from 2016 with China and Singapore in the top five nationality.

    “We hope the introduction of these new routes will foster the number of visitors into Sarawak next year, and this is only made possible by the continuous support rendered by Sarawak’s state government and tourism authorities.”

    AirAsia now flies to 12 destinations from Kuching with a total of 229 weekly flights one way.

    In addition to Shenzhen, the airline also flies from Kuching to Singapore, Pontianak, Miri, Sibu, Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu, Johor Bahru, Kota Bharu, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi.

    AirAsia also flies to three destinations from Bintulu namely Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Kuching with a total of 39 weekly flights one way.