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Tag: Malaysia

  • Swiss watchmaker opens new boutique at Suria KLCC

    Swiss watchmaker opens new boutique at Suria KLCC

    Swiss luxury watch manufacturer Omega has opened its fourth boutique in Malaysia, at Suria KLCC, to cater to growing demand for its timepieces.

    The event kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a traditional lion dance performance.

    Omega president and chief executive officer Raynald Aeschlimann said the brand had established a strong presence in this country, and enjoyed excellent reception in the last 11 years.

    “We are delighted to further extend the boundaries of our retail experience in Malaysia, and are confident that now is an ideal time to open a new boutique in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

    “With this boutique, we look forward to sharing our full range of products with our customers in this house of Omega,” he said.

    Located on level one of the mall, the new boutique is an important part of the retail strategy of Omega, which opened its first boutique in 2006 in Starhill Gallery, Kuala Lumpur.

    The Omega Seamaster Collection is one of the brands popular selections.

    The Omega Seamaster Collection is one of the brand’s popular selections.

    This was followed by a store in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and Gurney Plaza, Penang.

    Not only does the location of the new retail store reflect the increasing popularity of Omega in the region, it also strengthens the brand’s relationship and commitment to Malaysia’s luxury market.

    Just like Omega’s other boutiques, the new store’s setup was inspired by the natural elements of air, water and sunlight – depicted using cream and champagne in the interior design, along with exotic reconstituted zebrawood furniture and chiselled glass surfaces.

    With a team of professionally-trained sales associates at hand to help customers, the boutique offers an elegant and comfortable shopping experience.

    Among the guests at the store’s opening were Malaysian jazz queen Datuk Sheila Majid and fashion enthusiasts and celebrities Nazim Othman, Jojo Goh, Tasha Shilla, Siti Saleha, Daphne Charice and Serene Lim.

    Apart from its collections of watches, the store also offers fine jewellery, quality leather goods and sunglasses for both men and women.

    Founded in 1848, Omega is a brand within the Swatch Group, the world’s leading watch manufacturer, synonymous with excellence, innovation and precision.

  • Fluff Bakery taking cupcakes international

    Fluff Bakery taking cupcakes international

    Four years after opening cupcake shop Fluff Bakery, a Singapore couple plans to launch franchises in Indonesia and Malaysia.

    Ashraf Alami and Nursyazanna Syaira Mohammad Suhimi left their jobs to set up in a shophouse four years ago, and from 600 cupcakes a day they now sell double that.

    Their venture has been highlighted in Parliament by Minister for Trade and Industry S Iswaran when talking about bright spots in Asean countries and the potential for small businesses in the region.

    “A rising middle class has created demand in sectors such as retail and food and beverage,” he said. “The digital economy also presents unprecedented opportunities for companies – no matter how small – to reach out.”

    Fluff Bakery’s social-media presence has found fans as far away as Malaysia, where it has launched some pop-up stores. The first saw all 500 cupcakes snapped up in 30 minutes, and the second time around they sold 1000 cupcakes in about an hour.

    Ashraf says they hope to open a store in Kuala Lumpur in May.

    Meanwhile, it its latest budget Singapore’s government has pegged S$600 million (US$424.5 million) to establish an international partnership fund to help Singapore firms scale up and internationalise.

    “As an SME, expanding overseas is very daunting, because you don’t have many resources,” says Ashraf. “Any assistance or guidance – financial, networking – is more than welcome.”

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  • AirAsia to introduce fourth daily flight to Trichy from Kuala Lumpur

    AirAsia to introduce fourth daily flight to Trichy from Kuala Lumpur

    Low-fare carrier AirAsia will introduce its fourth direct daily flight between Kuala Lumpur and Trichy from April 26th.

    This will make the Tamil Nadu town the receiver of the highest number of flights in India from the Malaysian capital.

    The Trichy-Kuala Lumpur-Trichy sector will now have 46 weekly flights–four daily by Air Asia and 18 weekly by Malindo Air.

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  • KL Gateway has been launched

    KL Gateway has been launched

    Kuala Lumpur has a new mall, KL Gateway, with a gross floor area of about 500,000 sqft (46,451 sqm).

    Connecting with corporate office towers, KL Gateway has a 10,000 sqft outdoor landscaped garden and offers free Wi-Fi internet access in its common areas. A 100m link bridge connects the mall to the KL Gateway-Universiti LRT station.

    Tenants at the mall include Daiso, H&M, Home’s Harmony, Mr DIY, Times Bookstores and Village Grocer.

    Korean fashion brand The Twee will be opening its first flagship store for Southeast Asia on the ground floor. The store, with more than 929 sqm of retail space, will stock a broad range of trendy Korean apparel, accessories and footwear for both men and women.

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  • 7-Eleven Malaysia sales grow 4.8 per cent

    7-Eleven Malaysia sales grow 4.8 per cent

    Despite the impact of GST and subdued consumer sentiment, 7-Eleven Malaysia recorded 4.8 per cent sales growth last year.

    It had the same percentage growth for its fourth quarter. But profit fell.

    The average spend per customer grew by 3 per cent for the year, with 204 store openings giving a total network of 2122 outlets as at December 31.

    “We remain confident that continuous store expansion, refurbishment, promotional activity, improved merchandise mix and expanded in-store services will continue to deliver positive results despite the challenging headwinds,” says CEO Gary Brown.

    “It has been a difficult year for everyone involved in the FMCG retail and manufacturing sector with weak consumer confidence and spending, as well as rising costs. However, we have continued to grow and expand our sales.”

    For the fourth quarter, the group’s revenue grew to RM523.6 million (US$117.7 million).

    Gross profit of RM160.7 million was in line with the corresponding period in the previous year, albeit with the positive impact of non-recurring one-off tobacco sales as a result of change in excise duty.

    The profit before tax of RM7.8 million was a 39.3 per cent drop from RM12 million for the same period a year ago, despite positive sales growth.

    For the 12 months to December 31, revenue grew to RM2.1 billion, while gross profit improved by 4.6 per cent.

    Profit before tax of RM70.8 million dropped by 9 per cent despite the revenue growth, attributed to higher selling and distribution expenses from store expansion as well as the impact of the minimum wage increase from July 1.

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  • SK Planet and Samsung sign for online partnership

    SK Planet and Samsung sign for online partnership

    Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania has signed a memorandum of understanding with global platform innovator SK Planet on an eCommerce partnership in Southeast Asia.

    Signed in Singapore, the deal aims to promote Samsung’s brand presence and provide increased convenience and access to the Korean company’s products in Southeast Asia through online shopping sites 11street Malaysia, 11street Thailand and Elevenia in Indonesia.

    This follows Samsung and SK Planet collaborating in the South Korean domestic market.

    During the past four years, SK Planet has grown in overseas markets by leveraging its expertise from 11street Korea. SK Planet has launched its eCommerce platform into new markets every year, beginning in 2013 with Turkey’s N11.com, where it became market leader in two and a half years, followed by Elevenia in Indonesia, 11street Malaysia and, this month, 11street Thailand.

    “Our official launch was a great success with more than 3000 partners, customers and media joining,” says 11street Thailand CEO Hong Cheol Jeon. ‘This collaboration with Samsung will help to strengthen our partnership in Thailand and enhance our customers’ online shopping experience.”

    Samsung has an official shop-in-shop page on 11street, complemented by delivery and installation by authorised distributors. The page lets consumers search, browse and buy Samsung products easily, as well as access online-only products, pre-sale offerings and promotional discounts.

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  • AirAsia warns of fake ticket sales on Facebook, Instagram

    AirAsia warns of fake ticket sales on Facebook, Instagram

    Discounted AirAsia and AirAsia X tickets sold on social media platforms are likely fraudulent, the airline warned the public today.

    The low-cost carrier today said it has already encountered several complaints from consumers who procured the tickets from unauthorised resellers who advertised these at heavily discounted rates on Facebook and Instagram.

    “The airline would like to remind the public to book their flights only through official channels such as the website airasia.com, official websites of its affiliates (such as AirAsiaGo.com) and official sales centres listed on our website,” it said in a statement today.

    It then urged the public to verify such third-party offers via the airline’s social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Ask.

    The low-cost carrier said that its popularity in the region made it an attractive target for such scams, further warning that it may take legal action against those involved, in addition to the police report it has already lodged.

  • Malaysian bubble-tea stoush now question of loyalty

    Malaysian bubble-tea stoush now question of loyalty

    Malaysia’s Chatime bubble-tea stoush continues, with a fresh argument regarding outlet loyalties.

    Taiwanese Chatime franchise owner La Kaffa International says nearly 50 outlets will stay with it, while former Malaysian master franchisee Loob Holdings claims that only four outlets have opted to keep the Chatime banner.

    Loob CEO Bryan Loo says more than 95 per cent of the total 165 Chatime outlets in Malaysia have decided to quit the brand and adopt Loob Holding’s new brand.

    “Only three franchisees, who run a total of four stalls, do not want to move on with us. They will be handed back to the franchise owner,” he told journalists at Kuala Lumpur’s Pavilion Shopping Mall after launching his new brand, Tealive.

    He did not name the franchisees or pinpoint their outlets.

    Loo says the new name was chosen to appeal not only to Malaysians, but across the other regions – and internationally.

    “So we felt like we had to find a very good name; and it had to be different from Chatime. We started with over 300 names and over three days, we shortlisted it down to 30 names and then the last one. In the end, we wanted a name that was simple and easy to digest no matter who you are.

    “While shortlisting, we felt that we exceptionally liked the names that had different pronunciations.

    People used to pronounce Chatime in so many different ways and it stirred conversation. So we wanted the same spirit; and that’s how we landed on the name Tealive (live pronounced similar to ‘a live show’). Some people could pronounce it tea-live (as in live at home) but the important thing is the underlying meaning to it – we want to bring a new life to tea.”

    Loo said in an interview that Tealive will be very different to other brands in the crowded bubble-tea market.

    “We want to be the brand that protects the weak and isn’t afraid of the strong; but also the brand that embraces changes. On the other side, with our hands untied, I believe that over the next quarters there is going to be a lot of innovation in terms of products, which we couldn’t do before.

    “When we used to collaborate with local brands, we were served warning letters; so moving forward that’s something we don’t have to worry about, so we can be innovative. I would also like to establish a regional R&D centre to come up with more creative drinks that will excite the market. Also, we’re looking to carry on with our aggressive expansion and move into other regions. We were already planning to do that with the previous brand, but now we get to do it with Tealive,” Loo said.

    La Kaffa contradicts claims

    At a press conference in a Kuala Lumpur hotel earlier this month, La Kaffa International executive VP Teresa Wang said the company was confident that nearly 50 franchisees would continue to collaborate with Chatime.

    At the same time, La Kaffa claimed Loob Holdings had stopped ordering the halal ingredients it supplied from Taiwan for Chatime’s Malaysia outlets. Loob Holdings has denied this, with Loo saying its products are certified by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).

    The dispute bubbled to the surface in early December when the Taiwanese company terminated the master franchise agreement between the two parties, even though there was more than 20 years left on the deal.

    Loo has lodged a police report over the sudden termination, and both companies have taken the dispute to the Singapore International Arbitration Centre.

    Vietnam foray

    Meanwhile, Loo says Tealive will be opening its first overseas outlet in Vietnam before October.
    “We plan to deliver five outlets in Vietnam this year, and hope to increase that with another 20 outlets by the end of next year,” he says.

    Chatime is already in Vietnam with seven outlets in Hanoi, two in Ho Chi Minh City and one in Di An, Binh Duong province.

    Loo says Tealive will also venture into other Asean countries within the next few years.

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  • AirAsia to run Bhubaneswar-Kuala Lumpur flights from April 26

    Malaysia-based low-cost airline AirAsia has added Bhubaneswar to the list of destinations in India with four weekly direct flights from Kuala Lumpur. It will commence operations on April 26, 2017, making AirAsia Group’s 16th route into India.
    On February 17, the low-cost carrier had signed a pact with the Odisha government for running direct international flights from Bhubaneswar to Kuala Lumpur.
    This new route is operated exclusively by AirAsiaBerhad (flight code AK) and will offer guests an experience of the rich culture, tantalising food scene and multi-faceted sights of the country’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur, the company said in a statement
    “With Bhubaneswar now added to our extensive network, AirAsia is unlocking the potential of international air travel from Kuala Lumpur to Eastern India and its surrounding areas. We are thrilled to be serving Bhubaneswar direct, a huge market that no other airline is serving directly from Malaysia. Now, everyone from across the region can connect to Bhubaneswar with AirAsia via Kuala Lumpur. At the same time, the people of Odisha can use Bhubaneswar as a gateway to our extensive route network to Asean and beyond, where they will have access to over 120 destinations across our extensive route network”, Aireen Omar, chief executive officer of AirAsiaBerhad said.
    AirAsia Group also connects Bengaluru, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, New Delhi directly to Kuala Lumpur, and from Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi and Kolkata directly to Bangkok in Thailand.
    AirAsia was selected through competitive bidding to start operations from Odisha. The state government had invited an Expression of Interest (EoI) from the scheduled air carriers for running flights to destinations in South East Asia like Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. To woo the air carriers, the state government had agreed to provide reasonable Viability Gap Funding (VGF) in the form of subsidy grant.
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  • PGEON delivers eCommerce orders to convenience stores

    PGEON delivers eCommerce orders to convenience stores

    Malaysian eCommerce customers have a new last-mile delivery service, PGEON, which lets them pick up their parcels at any MyNews.com convenience store.

    PGEON is a partnership between eCommerce delivery service EasyParcel and MyNews.com owner Bison Consolidated, which started out as a print media retailer. There are 320 MyNews.com outlets throughout Malaysia.

    Pgeon delivery. 1

    EasyParcel co-founder/CEO Clarence Leong says the need to deliver items quickly – ”on time” or “same-day delivery” – was the main reason for EasyParcel to initiate the partnership with MyNews.com.

    “We want to enable the mailing of their parcels with minimum stress or worries, allowing more flexibility for consumers to manage their deliveries,” says Leong. “More often than not, consumers are not home to receive deliveries.”

    PGEON is also a win-win for both courier companies and postal service users. Couriers do not need to go to individual doors to collect or deliver parcels, instead visiting only the designated MyNews.com outlet. This also ensures customer privacy.

    Pgeon delivery

    EasyParcel was launched by Exabytes in 2014 as Malaysia’s first integrated logistics service platform connecting logistics and shipping suppliers such as Airpax, DHL, Nationwide, Poslaju and Skynet to businesses and consumers.

    “Logistics plays a huge part in eCommerce,” says Leong. “It can be the defining factor for success for eCommerce companies.”

    Bison executive director/CEO Dang Tai Luk says the company is looking at opening 70 outlets in Malaysia by the end of this financial year. “A parcels pick-up and drop-off service will be a great addition to our outlets, as the eCommerce industry is growing in Malaysia.”

  • AirAsia inks pact with Odisha to run direct flights to Kuala Lumpur

    AirAsia inks pact with Odisha to run direct flights to Kuala Lumpur

    Malaysia-based low-cost carrier AirAsia on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Odisha government for running direct international flights from Bhubaneswar to Kuala Lumpur.

    The agreement was signed between Nitin Bhanudas Jawale, Director of tourism department in the state and AirAsia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Aireen Omar.

    “AirAsia’s engagement is very important for Odisha. This pact marks the culmination of our efforts and very soon, we will be starting international flights. We have asked for permission to ply two to three flights per week. The state government is offering subsidy in the form of Viability Gap Funding (VGF)”, said Jawale
    AirAsia CEO said an announcement would be made shortly regarding the commencement of international flights from Bhubaneswar — a development industry experts feel could attract other players to launch operations from Odisha’s capital.
    “Sometime in April,  the services will start but it may be in the first or the last week. The exact date will be known in a week’s time. Air Asia will also be starting another flight to Bangkok in the next three to four months. With Air Asia launching its operations, we are hopeful that other players will be attracted to start their operations from Bhubaneswar. Invest Bhubaneswar has been pursuing Air Asia for the past five years to start operations from the city”, said Debasish Patnaik, convenor of the Invest Bhubaneswar event.
    AirAsia has selected through competitive bidding. The state government had invited an Expression of Interest (EoI) from the scheduled air carriers for running flights to destinations in South East Asia like Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. To woo the air carriers, the state government had agreed to provide reasonable VGF in the form of subsidy grant.
    The state government has offered to provide the subsidy grant initially for six months with the possibility of extending it for a year from the date of starting commercial flight operations. The continuation of subsidy grant would depend on the trend in passenger traffic.
    If an operator is already running flights from an Indian city to Singapore, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur and is keen to use Bhubaneswar as a hopping destination, the state government would offer subsidy grant. However, the grant would be released on the condition that the operator reserves 30 per cent of seats for passengers flying from and to Bhubaneswar.
    The subsidy would be provided on a monthly basis and would be given if there are regular flights on scheduled days irrespective of the passenger flow. If the operator chooses to increase or decrease the frequency as per demand, the state government would vary the subsidy grant accordingly. Despite getting the international tag since October in 2013, international flight operations are yet to take off from Bhubaneswar except for Air India, which currently routes international passengers from the city via New Delhi.
    To incentivise global flight operations, the state government has announced the complete waiver of VAT (value added tax) on aviation turbine fuel (ATF).
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  • Digi.Com plans to raise $1.12b through Islamic bonds

    Digi.Com plans to raise $1.12b through Islamic bonds

    Malaysia’s Digi.Com has secured approval to raise 5 billion ringgit ($1.12 billion) through via sukuk (Islamic bond) programs.

    The company’s unit Digi Telecommunications will issue the bonds, and the proceeds will be used to finance the company’s capex, working capital and other funding requirements.

    In a statement to the local stock exchange, Digi said the company plans to use the funds to invest in data and digital growth opportunities, as well as expanding its LTE-Advanced network, the digitization of the core business as well as investments in spectrum and other strategic assets.

    The operator said the sukuk program will allow it to tap into opportunities in the debt capital market with a wider and more diverse base of investors.

    Malaysian bond market credit rating service provider RAM Holdings has assigned the sukuk programs a AAA/Stable rating.

    Digi.Com is 49% owned by Telenor Asia. The operator reported a net profit of 1.63 billion ringgit in 2016, down 5.2% from the previous year, and its total debt increased by 988 million ringgit to 2.3 billion ringgit, due largely to upfront spectrum costs.

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  • Parkson Retail sales continue to slide

    Parkson Retail sales continue to slide

    Parkson Retail Asia has flipped from a S$2.9 million (US$2 million) net profit a year ago to a net loss of $2.23 million for its second quarter.

    This is despite a 7.4 per cent year-on-year rise in revenue to $111.14 million, with Parkson attributing its red ink to weak same-store sales growth as well as losses by some new stores and businesses.

    For the six months to December 31, the department-store group had a net loss of S$7.42 million, compared to a net profit of $52.36 million for the same period the previous year. Revenue rose 4.2 per cent to $204.48 million.

    Parkson Retail Asia says its performance in Malaysia will remain muted because of “fragile” consumer sentiment, while rising competition will make Vietnam challenging.
    Meanwhile, its business in Indonesia could be affected by the changing retail landscape in Jakarta, it says.

    In Myanmar, its store at FMI Centre in Yangon will be closed in the third quarter for property redevelopment by the landlord, with a replacement store scheduled to open later in the year.

  • Malaysia’s shooting-star bauxite industry faces burn-up

    Malaysia’s shooting-star bauxite industry faces burn-up

    Already under fire for widespread environmental damage, Malaysia’s once lucrative bauxite mining industry is facing a likely death knell from neighbouring Indonesia’s move to allow a resumption of exports.

    This time last year, Malaysia was the world’s biggest supplier of the aluminium-making raw material to top buyer China, but its exports tumbled after government action aimed at reining in the little regulated industry.

    The latest move could spell the end for a sector that only sprang to life in late 2014 after Indonesia banned ore exports, and illustrates the risks facing miners across South-East Asia from increasingly uncertain government policy.

    Copper giant Freeport-McMoRan Inc warned last week it could slash output from Indonesia amid a long-running dispute with the government, while the Philippines has ordered the closure of more than half the country’s mines on environmental grounds.

    “Policy risk is huge in mining right now,” said Daniel Morgan, mining analyst at UBS in Sydney. “In supplier policy, you’ve got changes to Indonesia’s mining policy, the Philippines and Malaysia.” A host of mining operations sprang up along Malaysia’s bauxite-rich east coast to fill a supply gap after Indonesia in 2014 barred exports of mineral ores in a bid to push miners to build smelters.

    In 2015, Malaysia shipped more than 20 million tonnes to China, well ahead of nearest rival Australia and up nearly 700% on the previous year. In 2013, it shipped just 162,000 tonnes.

    But the dramatic rise came at a cost as largely unregulated miners failed to secure stockpiles of bauxite. The run-off from monsoon rains turned rivers and coastal seas red, contaminating water sources and leading to a public outcry.

    The government imposed a mining moratorium in early 2016, and shipments to China from existing stockpiles fell to 165,587 tonnes in December, with little indication the government is set to change its mind.

    Malaysia’s natural resources and environment ministry said any decision to lift the moratorium would be based on how well miners follow regulations to preserve the environment rather than economic gain.

    Recent rains in Kuantan have caused some bauxite runoffs from existing stockpiles, minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar told Reuters.

    “The heavy rains proved that the mitigation was not adequate. Now by having this before me, I am not yet prepared to allow them to start the operations,” he said, declining further comment on the topic.

    Indonesia introduced new rules last month that will allow exports of nickel ore and bauxite and concentrates of other minerals in a sweeping policy shift, but did not specify when it would resume exports.

    The announcement could be the final nail in the coffin for Malaysia’s industry, as its miners expect China to switch to Indonesia’s better quality and cheaper ore, due to lower production costs.

    “Indonesian bauxite miners kept a lot of stockpiles … They can sell cheap,” said a miner from local company based in Kuantan, a key bauxite mining area in the state of Pahang.

    “If the volume coming out of Indonesia is over 10 million tonnes, Malaysia has to say goodbye.”

    Unlike recent ructions in nickel supply from Indonesia and the Philippines that pushed up prices, Malaysia’s near exit from bauxite has had little impact on the supply chain as new suppliers emerged, particularly in Guinea in West Africa.

    “Some of these commodities are pretty plentiful, like bauxite for instance,” noted UBS’s Morgan.

    “When we talk to aluminium companies in China, we haven’t detected that they’re worried about a bauxite shortage.” The greater effect may be on Malaysia’s export-based economy where bauxite surged to become a key mineral shipped to China, its largest trading partner. At a bauxite price of US$50 a tonne, Malaysia’s 2015 exports were worth over US$1bil.

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  • Aveda Malaysia launches in Kuala Lumpur

    Aveda Malaysia launches in Kuala Lumpur

    Aveda Malaysia has opened a store in Kuala Lumpur, its second outlet in Asia Pacific.

    At Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, the store has a new retail concept and is described by the US beauty product company as an “experience centre”.

    Instead of run-on shelving and glass store front, the outlet features six “experience zones” where consumers can explore products such as hair care for either men and women, skincare and bodycare.

    Founded by Horst Rechelbacher in 1978, Aveda is now owned by Estee Lauder Companies with its headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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