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Tag: Malaysia

  • Damiani Malaysia opens in Pavilion

    Damiani Malaysia opens in Pavilion

    Italian luxury jewellery group Damiani Malaysia has opened a boutique store in the Pavilion shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur.

    Damiani Pavilion Malaysia

    Precious materials are used in the store’s interior to create a sophisticated environment to enhance the tradition and modernity of Damiani’s jewellery. The interior features taupe satin wallpaper and bronzed brass details.

    Founded in 1924, Damiani designs, manufactures, distributes and sells jewellery and luxury watches. The company manages 55 direct and 20 franchised points of sale internationally.

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  • Mastercard Appoints President for Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei

    Mastercard Appoints President for Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei

    Now he will also be in charge of encouraging the implementation of digital payment technology.

    Previously based in Kuala Lumpur, Khan and his division will now be headquartered in Jakarta. Mastercard considers this a move towards recognition of Southeast Asia’s developing countries, whose economy has been predicted to be worth billions of dollars.

    The move was also triggered by the formation of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), where the ongoing economic integration gives a potential for Mastercard to gain influence.

    “AEC stands as a landmark to integrate the region’s economy. Safdar Khan’s appointment would serve as evidence of Mastercard’s focus in building a strong, relevant and influential business in Southeast Asia. This appointment shows our continuing commitment to empower the great leaders who can encourage innovations and inclusion in a meaningful and interconnected way,” Mastercard Asia Pacific co-president Ari Sarker said.

    Sarker also appreciated Khan’s profound knowledge about the customers, regulators and government bodies.

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  • McDonald’s Malaysia, Singapore ‘buyer found’

    McDonald’s Malaysia, Singapore ‘buyer found’

    Twenty-year franchise rights for McDonald’s Malaysia and Singapore outlets have been conditionally sold to a Saudi Arabian group for up to US$400 million.

    Reza Food Services, which owns McDonald’s restaurants in Saudi Arabia, is seeking finance from Malaysian bank CIMB to finance the transaction, insiders say.

    McDonald’s is moving to bring in partners as it switches to a less capital-intensive franchise model in Asia, and has said it wants regional family-owned groups and local tycoons as long-term partners.

    Insiders say the basic terms of the agreement with Reza have been finalised, with the deal expected to be completed by the end of the year.

    McDonald’s, which has about 260 restaurants in Malaysia and about 120 in Singapore, is also selling its China and Hong Kong outlets, and has received final bids from at least three groups.

  • McDonald’s Malaysia ‘not in hurry’ to sell

    McDonald’s Malaysia ‘not in hurry’ to sell

    Despite shortlisting several bidders for the McDonald’s Singapore and McDonald’s Malaysia franchise rights, Malaysian subsidiary Golden Arches Restaurants says it is not in a hurry to sell.

    MD Azmir Jaafar says the deal is being discussed with the shortlisted bidders, but no time frame has been set to complete the transaction.

    “We want to find the right partner who understands the local market and can ensure continuity of McDonald’s value and tradition, as well as be backed by strong capital.”

    He says it has always been the group’s idea to sell the franchise rights to a local partner, which would be more efficient than management by a corporate entity.

    McDonald’s Corp announced a revamp of its ownership models throughout Asia in July, including plans to offload its China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea master franchises.

    CEO Steve Easterbrook’s plan covers about 4000 restaurants with an ultimate goal of having at least 95 per cent of the group’s restaurants franchised.

    Meanwhile, Azmir says that as the Malaysian deal is a business transaction “we will ensure the valuation is done properly”.

    “Still potential”

    There are 260 McDonald’s restaurants in Malaysia, with Golden Arches managing 200 and the rest in the hands of a third party. Though Malaysia has a population of only about 30 million people, which is relatively smaller than China and Indonesia, Azmir still sees huge potential in the market.

    “There are still many underserved areas,” he says. “As the government is improving the infrastructure in Sabah and Sarawak, I think we can expand our footprint into Kota Kinabalu and Kuching and other cities.”

    Azmir says the company intends to open 30 stores in the Klang Valley, Johor, Melaka and Penang as well as Sabah and Sarawak in the next three years. Five to seven new stores are targeted for this year, with one in Presint 2, Putrajaya, and another in Chukai, Terengganu, already open.

    “Our expansion plan is focussed on stand-alone stores as this model works very well, especially in terms of accessibility and convenience. Our ultimate goal is to have 500 stores in the country.”

    Azmir says the company also intends to renovate and remodel up to 30 outlets, each to cost about RM1 million (US$241,700). They have been open for nearly 30 years and will also have their technology upgraded.

    Combined, McDonald’s Singapore and McDonald’s Malaysia have enjoyed record sales in the past few months and is still targeting higher double-digit growth this year.

    Even following the introduction of the goods and services tax in Malaysia in April last year, Azmir says the company raised its selling prices by only about 1 per cent to offset the higher raw-material cost.
    He believes McDonald’s has captured up to 42 per cent market share in the Malaysian fast-food market.

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  • Shoopen Malaysia wows locals

    Shoopen Malaysia wows locals

    The official opening of Shoopen Malaysia attracted well over 1000 locals – lured by the chance to meet a celebrity.

    Shoopen Malaysia 3

    The store, which has actually been trading since June this year, is located in Fahrenheit 88 shopping centre in downtown Kuala Lumpur.  It has a prominent corner location facing one of downtown’s busiest streets, leading to the Pavilion shopping centre.

     

    Shoopen Malaysia 5

    Saturday’s grand opening event was attended by Korean variety show cast member Song Ji Hyo, who posed for selfies surrounded by hundreds of shoppers lining the mall’s balconies, overlooking the central atrium event.

    Shoopen Malaysia 1

    Shoopen Malaysia 2

     

    Shoopen is Korea’s largest shoe retailer and the Kuala Lumpur store is described as a flagship for the brand.

    Taking up some 11,800 sqft (1096 sqm)of space over two floors, it showcases footwear for men, women and children.

  • Jimmy Choo Asia sales rises

    Jimmy Choo Asia sales rises

    Jimmy Choo Asia sales are soaring, despite the downturn in the luxury market.

    While the company does not break down its Asian sales figures by market, analysts are reporting “record growth” in Hong Kong and China, in part aided by the opening of a new store in Macau.

    Total revenues from Asia (excluding Japan) rose 22.1 per cent on a reported currency basis in the six months to June 30, reaching £27.1 million. Jimmy Choo opened two new stores of its own in Asia during the six months and six franchised stores.

    Next year the company plans new flagships in Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing.

    Sales in Japan increased by 18.2 per cent on reported currency basis with men’s footwear sales and the strong yen driving growth.

    The company plans 200 stores Asia-wide to take advantage of the region’s “untapped growth potential”.

    The UK-based company recently marked 20 years since it was founded by Malaysian cobbler of the same name, who was later forced out of the business in controversial circumstances and now runs his own exclusive, unrelated Jimmy Choo Couture boutique in London.

    One of the reasons for the brand’s success in Asia is its unconventional marketing activities.

    Last September, brides in the Philippines were able to order customised shoes from its stores, selecting texture, style and colour and adding a personal monogram. This year, the concept was expanded to include handbags.

    In Malaysia, customers can customise the color, texture and finishes of their heels and add names, initials or even dates to their handbags.

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  • FJ Benjamin posts third loss in row

    FJ Benjamin posts third loss in row

    Singapore-listed lifestyle brand FJ Benjamin has posted notice of its third consecutive year of losses.

    The listed company made its announcement after Tuesday’s market closing, saying its latest six-month average daily market capitalisation was S$38.8 million (US$28.5 million).

    FJ Benjamin says it will make an immediate announcement should it be placed on the Singapore Exchange watch list.

    Companies are placed on the list if they record pre-tax losses for the three most recently completed consecutive financial years, and an average daily market capitalisation of less than S$40 million over the previous six months.

    Dating back to 1959, FJ Benjamin Holdings specialises in brand building and management through distribution and retail. With offices in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, it manages more than 20 brands and has 226 stores. In August it announced it had secured the Singapore and Malaysian rights to Marc Jacobs.

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  • LeEco India ready to roll out 1000 stores

    LeEco India ready to roll out 1000 stores

    Chinese tech firm LeEco India plans to open 1000 outlets across the subcontinent by the end of this year.

    Expecting half of its revenue in India to come from physical stores, LeEco filed an application five months ago with the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to open single-brand retail stores.

    These will be a mix of company-owned stores as well as franchise outlets, says LeEco India COO for smart electronics business Atul Jain. “This is in line with our aim to be among top three brands in the country by 2018.”

    LeEco, which also has an offline presence in China, has not revealed the cost of setting up the stores. However, it will be spending nearly US$10 million on marketing in the three months starting October.

    Already the company has tied up with multiple distributors across organised and unorganised channels in India and is already available in about 3000 outlets in cities including Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Varanasi. It expects to reach 65 cities and have a presence in 6000 to 8000 outlets by December.

    No longer exclusive

    Launched exclusively on Flipkart, LeEco’s products will now be available on other eCommerce marketplaces such as Amazon India and Snapdeal. Flipkart has contributed nearly 75 per cent of LeEco’s sales in India.

    LeEco has invested Rs.50 crore (US$500 million) in setting up a smartphone assembly plant in the Greater Noida area, in partnership with Compal Electronics. The factory has an initial capacity of 60,000 units a month but this will be ramped up to 200,000 by the end of December.

    By the second half of next year, the company plans to start exporting products to Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Russia and Singapore, says Jain. LeEco sold more than 70,000 phones and 2000 televisions last month alone.

    Other plans include a partnership with Hungama to offer music services from next month.
    Founded by billionaire Jia Yueting in 2004, LeEco positions itself as the Apple, Netflix and Tesla of China. Apart from smartphones and online content, the company sells TVs, electric vehicles and virtual-reality headsets.

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  • Owndays Europe marks first foray outside Asia-Pacific

    Owndays Europe marks first foray outside Asia-Pacific

    After rapidly building a network of stores across Asia, Japanese eyewear retailer Owndays has made its European debut.

    Owndays Europe has opened its first store in the Netherlands, the design largely true to its Asian format and its simple pricing model seamlessly converted into local currency with frames and lenses paired at between 98 euros and 198 euros.  A 20-minute “quick processing” promise is also included in its in-store marketing, two two promises being the eyewear chain’s unique selling points.

    Owndays Netherlands 1

     

    The 80 sqm Dutch store opened last week in a traditional street-front location, rather than a shopping mall, where most of its stores are located in Asia; at Passage in The Hague, a trendy area bustling with retail and food & beverages establishments.

    Owndays Europe plans to open 30 stores in the Netherlands in the next three years.

    The brand began its international expansion just three years ago and is already trading in Singapore, the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia, making the Netherlands its 10th market.

    owndays-netherlands

    Owndays Europe stores carry more than 1500 designs of frames ranging from basic and functional to stylish and fashion-forward so customers can pick the right pairs of glasses to suit their lifestyles or to match occasions and functions. With a team of in-house designers based in Japan, the brand regularly adds new designs to its existing collections so customers always see something new each time they visit the shop.

    Owndays already has more than 170 shops in Asia-Pacific and sells more than 1.5 million pairs of glasses a year. It is one of the few optical retailers internationally which has adopted an entirely private label system, managing the entire process from design and manufacturing to inventory management and retail.

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  • Sunway Malls recruiting flight attendants

    Sunway Malls recruiting flight attendants

    In a bid to soar above the growing competition in the Malaysian mall industry, Sunway Malls is hiring former flight attendants to work in customer service.

    As well as experience in delivering quality service, the former flight attendants have training and experience in safety and handling emergencies.

    Customer care - Sunway Pyramid 3

    So far nine former flight attendants have been recruited from a local carrier to work in both Sunway Pyramid and the soon-to-be-opened Sunway Velocity Mall. Similar recruits are also being sought for Sunway Putra Mall in Kuala Lumpur and Sunway Carnival Mall in Penang.

    “With increasing competition, it is imperative the creation of good customer-service experience in malls takes precedence as both a strategic differentiator and a loyalty tool in a saturated market,” says Sunway Malls COO Kevin Tan.

    customer-care-sunway-pyramid

    Earlier customer-service initiatives have included a carpark guiding system, powered wheelchairs and child distance monitors. Sunway Pyramid received a My Branded Service Award for outstanding customer service in 2009.

    Customer care - Sunway Pyramid 2

    Tan says the company still welcomes others who have not been flight attendants, with the most important criteria being passion and willingness to serve customers.

    Competition is expected to intensify in Malaysia’s mall industry as another 27.28 million sqft (2.5 million sqm) of new retail space is about to enter the market, according to data from the National Property Information Centre.

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  • Bangkok tops Global Destinations Cities Index

    Bangkok tops Global Destinations Cities Index

    Bangkok is the top-ranked destination city by international overnight visitor arrivals, according to the annual Mastercard Global Destinations Cities Index.

    Ranking 132 cities, the index projects visitor volume and spend estimates while delivering insights into how people travel and spend around the world.

    As cross-border travel and spending continue to grow at a faster pace than the world GDP, the world’s cities continue to be engines of broader economic growth, says Mastercard.

    According to the study, Bangkok is projected to receive 21.47 million international overnight visitors this year, just ahead of London (19.88 million visitors).

    Also in the top 10 cities are:

    • Kuala Lumpur, 12.02 million visitors

    • Paris, 18.03 million visitors

    • Istanbul, 11.95 million visitors

    • Dubai, 15.27 million visitors

    • Tokyo, 11.70 million visitors

    • New York, 12.75 million visitors

    • Seoul, 10.20 million visitors

    • Singapore, 12.11 million visitors

    Hong Kong was 11th.

    “The way people travel and spend across borders indicates just how interconnected and important the world’s cities are,” says Mastercard president of international markets Ann Cairns.

    As well as the top 10 cities, Mastercard names the top 10 fastest-growing destinations, which indicates the increasingly importance of Asia Pacific to the global economic landscape.

    Osaka new star

    Osaka has shown the strongest growth in international visitors (24.15 per cent) over the past seven years. Other cities that make the fastest-growing list:

    • Chengdu, 20.14 per cent

    • Taipei, 14.53 per cent

    • Abu Dhabi, 19.81 per cent

    • Xi’an, 14.2 per cent

    • Colombo, 19.57 per cent

    • Tehran, 12.98 per cent

    • Tokyo, 18.48 per cent

    • Xiamen, 12.93 per cent

    • Riyadh, 16.45 per cent

    For the first time, the index explores whether visitors travel for business or leisure, giving broader insights into spending on dining, lodging and shopping. The index shows that more people are travelling to the top 20 cities for leisure with Shanghai being the sole exception.

    Visitors to the top 20 cities overwhelmingly spent more on shopping, as opposed to dining, says the index.

    Asia Pacific dominates both the global top 10 (five cities) and top 10 fastest-growing destination cities (seven cities).

    Public data is used in deriving the international overnight visitor arrivals and their cross-border spending in each of the 132 destination cities for the index. Mastercard volumes or transactional data is not considered.

    The full report can be downloaded here.

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  • ShopBack Joins MDEC’s #MYCYBERSALE As Official Cashback Partner

    ShopBack Joins MDEC’s #MYCYBERSALE As Official Cashback Partner

    ShopBack Malaysia, the most popular Cashback platform in the country, today announces that it is joining the much-awaited #MYCYBERSALE as its official Cashback partner to give away real, hard cash for online shoppers.

    Organised by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), #MYCYBERSALE, the largest annual online sale event, is scheduled to be held from 26-30 September this year. The 5-day national event will see e-retailers like Groupon, Hermo, Lazada, Zalora, Qoo10, Photobook Malaysia, and more to collectively customise their products as well as services to surprise shoppers with best value deals and up to 90% discounts.

    Ms Wee Huay Neo, Director of eCommerce Enablement at MDEC says, “#MYCYBERSALE is all about providing value-added experience to online shoppers and having ShopBack on board as one of our partners will add-on more value and savings to buyers everywhere.”

    Sharmeen Looi, the Chief Operating Officer of ShopBack Malaysia expresses, “It’s our pleasure to be part of #MYCYBERSALE this year. As the leading Cashback platform in the country, ShopBack collaborates with e-retailers to give away up to 50% Cashback on top of the promotions they offered.”

    ShopBack brought the triple-win Cashback model that benefits all parties – shoppers, e-retailers, and Cashback provider – into Malaysia in February 2015. It has enabled Malaysian shoppers to cash out RM5.4 million so far, of which the top shopper received more than RM17,000 in his account.

    “Cashback can be obtained every time when shoppers click through ShopBack and make a purchase from any of our 500 over online sites, thereafter transfer the accumulated savings into their bank account. We believe that via this practical approach, the number of online shoppers will eventually increase and lead to a sustainable digital economy growth here,” Looi further explains.

    The company took the initiative to raise Cashback offerings since early this year to help Malaysians save more on their daily purchases, whereby approximately 300,000 savvy shoppers are getting Cashback incentives from ShopBack every month. 

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  • Sunway Malls Adopt New Strategy in Elevating Customer Service

    Sunway Malls Adopt New Strategy in Elevating Customer Service

    Malaysia’s mall industry, already faced with stiff competition is expected to intensify as another 27.28 mil sq ft of new retail space will be entering the market according to National Property Information Centre (Napic) data.

    Of the 27.28 mil sq ft supply, 16.2 mil sq ft is at various stages of construction while the remaining 11.08 mil sq ft is are being planned. This will add on to the 148.85 mil sq ft of existing retail space in the market and brings Malaysia’s total retail space supply to 178.13 mil sq ft.  

    The increase in retail space comes at a time when retailers are already hard pressed with slower retail sale growth and lower margin amid weak consumer sentiments.

    In the latest quarter results by Retail Group Malaysia (RGM), Q2 2016 registered a growth rate of 7.5% against the forecast of 9.9% – 24% lower than expected. RGM termed the results as ‘below market expectation’. In contrast, retail sales fell 4.4% in Q1 2016.

    In a bid to increase, sustain and retain footfall and sales, Sunway Malls re-strategise their human capital enhancement by recruiting ex-flight attendants into the customer service division to better serve its shoppers.

    While known for delivering quality service, the hiring of ex-flight attendants also allows Sunway Malls to leverage on the crew’s training and experience in safety and emergency handling which serves as an added advantage for group’s front-line service.

    The initiative has so far seen the recruitment of nine ex-flight attendants from a local carrier in both Sunway Pyramid and soon- to-be-opened Sunway Velocity Mall. Recruitment effort is also underway to place more ex-attendants in Sunway Putra Mall in Kuala Lumpur and Sunway Carnival Mall in Penang.

    “With increasing competition, it is imperative that the creation of good customer service experience in malls takes precedence as both a strategic differentiator and a loyalty tool in a saturated market,” says Kevin Tan, Chief Operating Officer of Sunway Malls.

    “From the moment a customer steps into the mall, we strive to provide world class service through our touching hearts philosophy to create a warm, welcoming and wholesome lifestyle experience. We value the different needs of each and every customer in spite of background, gender and age hence we are creating diversity in the Concierge so they can engage with the various shopper profiles we have and extend assistance every time it’s necessary,” he continues.

    The group’s effort in delivering good customer service was also acknowledged by Professor Philip Kotler, the Father of Modern Marketing when he awarded Sunway Pyarmid with My Branded Service Award in recognition of its outstanding customer service back in 2009.

    Its earlier customer service initiatives among others included carpark guiding system, powered wheelchairs, child distance monitors and auxiliary police force were known as the mall industry’s firsts.

    Although Sunway Malls is hiring ex-flight attendants as part of their new retail strategy, the brand still welcomes all who have interest in the service line.

    “Some of our best customer service employees are not from the airline industry but they have the passion and the willingness in serving customers and that’s the most important criteria of all,” says Kevin.

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  • Makansutra brings Singapore street hawker food to Manila

    Makansutra brings Singapore street hawker food to Manila

    Singapore food culture company Makansutra has created what it describes as one of the most modern but retro looking heritage food halls in Manila.

    Founded in 1997 by entrepreneur-photojournalist, KF Seetoh Makansutra aims to celebrate and promote food culture through food guides, online content, eateries, specialised events, projects and TV shows. Now it has brought 11 stalls and a refreshment and snack station to a 14,000 sqft prime retail space in the SM Megamall.

    “It has been a year coming, fraught with complex building issues, ingredients sourcing problems, lack of proper local equipments and expertise… among others,” explained Seetoh. “But Makansutra Hawkers has now launched in Manila.”

    Five famous hawkers and street food restaurants from Singapore and Malaysia made their international debut there: Geylang Claypot Rice, Alhambra Padang Satay, HK Street Old Chun Kee, Jin Ji Braised Duck and Kway Chap and the iconic Donald and Lily from Malacca. All, except for Geylang Claypot Rice which is a stall requested by show host Anthony Bourdain for his Bourdain Market in New York, were featured at the recent World Street Food Congress held in Manila.

    Makansutra

    The other stalls were new hawkers licensed under Makansutra and trained by the hawkers in the team. There’s Mian Ji (fried Hokkien prawn mee and soup version), Baoji Xiang (Chicken rice and paper wrapped chicken), Ah Tee (oyster omelette and carrot cake), Adam’s Ribs ( bak kut teh), and Curry Flurry (roti prata, fish head curry and nasi briyani).

    “The hawker centre’s design is a throwback to the era when street food was de rigueur and was like a treat, back in the 1960s and 1970s. We used corrugated zinc sheets for a ceiling and plain polished concrete floor with graffiti on the walls, construction beams smack in the middle of the eatery and the furniture don’t match,” explained Seetoh.

    Makansutra Hawkers is located on the second floor of SM Megamall Building A in Mandaluyong City. It is open from 10am to 10pm.

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  • Oppo Malaysia launches KL concept store

    Oppo Malaysia launches KL concept store

    Chinese smartphone brand Oppo Malaysia has launched a concept store in Kuala Lumpur, in the centrally located tech hub Plaza Low Yat.

    Oppo Low Yat plaza MYS 1

    As well as providing sales, the store has a focus on service. Its service centre will lend customers a temporary smartphone if their own unit is in for repair.

    Customers who spend more than MYR100 (US$24) in the store receive free VIP membership of the O-Club. This allows the to accumulate points through purchases, convertible into cash discounts.

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