Retail News CRM

Tag: Malaysia

  • 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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  • Axiata may sell up to $700m in shares in three units

    Axiata may sell up to $700m in shares in three units

    Malaysia’s Axiata Group is said to be seeking buyers for stakes in its Asian telecoms assets worth up to $700 million as part of efforts to reduce debt.

    The group may sell around 11% of Indonesia’s XL Axiata and up to 30% each of Sri Lanka’s Dialog Axiata and Cambodia’s Smart Axiata, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources.

    According to the report, Axiata is seeking to cut down its debt, which had grown to 21.5 billion ringgit ($5.2 billion) as of the end of June.

    Axiata Group currently owns 83.3% of Dialog Axiata, 95.4% of Smart Axiata and 66.4% of XL Axiata, on top of its operations in Bangladesh and Pakistan and minority stakes in Singapore and India.

    In a statement responding to the report, Axiata said the company “continuously reviews various strategic options to enhance shareholders’ value.”

    The company confirmed that it has been exploring options to optimize its balance sheet since the middle of last year, “potentially including, but not limited to, the portfolio rebalancing and review of shareholding across subsidiaries.”

    But Axiata added that any reports are “speculative” unless and until any transactions are entered into and disclosed to the market.

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  • Bulgari Malaysia rolls out new concept in KL

    Bulgari Malaysia rolls out new concept in KL

    Italian jewellery brand Bulgari has opened a store at The Gardens Mall in Kuala Lumpur, and renovated its outlet at KLCC.

    Its new store adapts the brand’s fresh architectural concept by architect Peter Marino, launched in London early this year and being rolled out in key locations internationally. It showcases the brand’s origins within its 95 sqm, echoing a street in Rome.

    Elements of this design are also evident in the renovated and relocated boutique at KLCC. The 143 sqm store draws reinterprets the marble and stone theme typical of Roman buildings.

    Both stores are adorned with Imperial Saffron shantung silk, while the walls are decorated with vintage photo endorsements by celebrities.

    At the new store, a mesh grid surrounds a VIP area.

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  • New Challenger subsidiary set-up in Malaysia

    New Challenger subsidiary set-up in Malaysia

    Singapore-based retailer Challenger Technologies has set up a new wholly-owned susbidiary in Malaysisa. The new subsidiary, which is called Hachi MY, has been set up by Challenger Technologies’ wholly-owned Challenge Ventures unit. Announing the incorporation of the new subsidiary, Challenger stated that its principal business would be trading, retail, distribution and online trading if IT and lifestyle products and services.

    Established in 1984 as an IT products retailer, Challenger Technologies now operates 40-plus stores consisting of superstores, mini stores, Valore concept stores and Musica stores across Singapore.

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  • A Leading Malaysian FMCG Distributor Chooses ORION ERP Suite from 3i Infotech

    A Leading Malaysian FMCG Distributor Chooses ORION ERP Suite from 3i Infotech

    Malaysian based Teik Senn (M) Sdn Bhd (TSM), a leading FMCG distributor, recently upgraded to ORION ERP Suite from 3i Infotech. The company was seeking a technology upgrade to support its business consolidation, and wanted a Cloud enabled application with real-time reports for better decision-making.

    With their distribution network spread across Malaysia and Thailand, the company required better visibility among the end users. ORION offered real-time management dashboards, such as Report Designer and Enterprise Content Search to enable TSM to stay updated as well as track the status of various departments & its processes.

    They reported several key benefits after the upgrade. Our client, Ms Chong Sok Chee said, “TSM wanted to move from a Client server setup to a Cloud enabled application. We also wanted a reporting system that enabled an end-user personalisation and customisation of views, along with real-time data for better decision-making. ORION from 3i infotech gave us an overview of the entire business through KPI management as well as a 360-degree view of products, customers and suppliers, thus providing us with user defined scheduled reports with active report designers.”

    As ORION was able to meet all of TSM’s requirements, Suryanarayan Kasichainula, EVP and Business Head (ERP) from 3i Infotech said, “The upgrade empowered TSM’s end users with real-time data to ensure better decision-making. Through this deal, which is the first for Warehouse Management, ORION is expanding its product portfolio further in the logistics space.”

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  • Paradigm Mall Petaling Jaya eyes 100pc occupancy

    Paradigm Mall Petaling Jaya eyes 100pc occupancy

    WCT Holdings’ Paradigm Mall Petaling Jaya hopes to achieve 100 per cent occupancy soon following the opening of 22 outlets.

    It has welcomed new brands such as JDF, MC Vogue, Nathan’s Famous, Vareo and F&B offerings including Hong Kong Sheng Kee Dessert, MyeongDong Topokki, Pho Street, Pizza Hut Restaurant, Seaweed Club & Hot Wings and Taiwan Spicy Noodle House.

    New merchandise and service outlets include Dunlopillo, Majestic Leather Restore, Okashi World, Sunday’s, TMPoint and Wax Zone.

    “Our mall has an occupancy rate of 93 per cent, out of which 8 per cent are new tenants,” says WCT Malls Management GM Vincent Chong. “With the encouraging response, we hope to hit 100 per cent occupancy in the very near future.”

    paradigm-mall-outside
    Paradigm Mall from the outside

    More brands will be coming aboard in the fourth quarter, including DJI, FOS, Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart, Mammamia Gelato Italiano and Sensuous Lingerie.

    Chong says Paradigm Mall PJ is part of WCT’s Paradigm Integrated Commercial Development which also comprises The Ascent Paradigm, The Azure serviced residences and the soon-to-open New World Petaling Jaya Hotel.

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  • Malaysia-Singapore-Indonesia cable commissioned

    Malaysia-Singapore-Indonesia cable commissioned

    A new subsea cable company has contracted Huawei Marine Networks to deploy a 250km cable system connecting Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

    Super Sea Cable Networks (SEAX) has commissioned construction of its SEAX-1 cable, which will connect Mersing on the eastern seaboard of Peninsular Malaysia with Singapore’s Changi and Indonesia’s Batam.

    Construction of the 24-fiber-pair system is expected to be complete by the end of next year. SEAX’s market focus will be wholesale operators in emerging markets, including Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 carriers who want to own but not operate cable systems.

    SEAX’s five-year plan is to target, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar in addition to Malaysia and Indonesia.

    The company has a facilities-based operator license in Singapore, an affiliate company in Indonesia and is partnered with telecoms infrastructure provider SACOFA in Malaysia.

    “SEAX-1 passes through one of the busiest region in the Asia Pacific region, where bandwidth demands are increasing exponentially,” SEAX CEO Joseph Lim said.

    “We believe this new submarine cable system will relieve bandwidth pressures on existing infrastructure and continue to provide this region with high-speed, reliable connectivity that will fast-track its growth.”

    Indonesia’s PT Telkom last week contracted NEC to build a subsea cable system connecting six large Indonesian islands with Singapore.

  • Govt asked to freeze shopping mall licences

    Govt asked to freeze shopping mall licences

    The Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) has asked the government to temporarily freeze issuing licences for new shopping malls to curb the oversupply of retail space.

    Its deputy president, Valerie Choo, said the number of shopping malls was likely to grow between 2017 and 2018 and this would strain the retailers’ margins.

    “There will be over 50 per cent increase in shopping mall space (once the new shopping malls are ready).

    “Too many shopping malls can be tough on the retailers as well,” she told reporters at the “MRCA Engaging with the Media” session here today.

    Choo said the retail industry has been impacted by the economic slowdown and the weakening ringgit had led to an increase in overhead costs.

    “We depend on imported goods, which have increased tremendously. We have been trying our best not to raise prices, but how long can we do it,” said Choo.

    She said Indonesia had decided to freeze shopping mall development to curb oversupply, which has slowed the growth of its retail industry.

    Choo also urged the government to spur the tourism industry to help boost sales of retailers in shopping malls.

    “The tourists can take advantage of the weaker ringgit. It will help to increase spending in shopping malls,” said Choo.

    MRCA represents over 300 retailers in Malaysia covering over 20,000 outlets and who provide over 100,000 jobs.

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  • Singapore flagship leads Uniqlo Asia plan

    Singapore flagship leads Uniqlo Asia plan

    Japanese casual-clothing chain Uniqlo’s new store in Singapore takes up three floors – and marks its biggest gamble in Southeast Asia yet.

    In the Orchard Road shopping precinct, the 2700 sqm Uniqlo Singapore flagship is the brand’s largest store in the region. Its parent, Fast Retailing Co, is opening Uniqlo stores in the US, London and across Asia to help reduce its dependency on its home market where household spending is falling.

    Uniqlo Singapore - Orchard store 1

    Uniqlo has about 130 outlets across Southeast Asia, opening a six-storey China flagship store in Shanghai a year ago. Chairman Tadashi Yanai says he has plans to open 100 stores a year in China on it way to a potential 3000. There are about 30 stores each in Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

    Uniqlo Singapore - Orchard store

    Meanwhile, in Japan Uniqlo closed a net six stores in August, as same-store sales decreased by 1 per cent year-on-year. Sales at company-owned stores slipped by 0.5 per cent, but the company’s increasing online business saw overall sales increase by 0.2 per cent.

    Uniqlo cited cooler temperatures in the first half of the month and heavy typhoons from mid-month onward for the store sales decline.

  • Singapore’s ViewQwest expands to Malaysia

    Singapore’s ViewQwest expands to Malaysia

    Singapore ISP ViewQwest has expanded into the Malaysian market, entering a high-speed fiber broadband joint venture with Malaysian telecoms engineering services company Televenture.

    ViewQwest has launched fiber and managed services for enterprises within Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle commercial hub, Bangsar South and Cyberjaya.

    The joint venture will also offer ViewQwest’s suite of enterprise networking and managed services, including the Direct Cloud Connect Service to allow Malaysian enterprises to access cloud services including AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud which are regionally hosted in Singapore.

    By the end of the year the company plans to launch a 1Gbps fiber service for residences in the same locations, which ViewQwest expects will be the fastest residential broadband service in the nation.

    The company will also offer value-added services including Freedom DNS, which is designed to allow customers to access geoblocked media content such as Amazon Prime, Hulu and BBC iPlayer.

    “We hope to enable businesses in Malaysia to adopt more cloud services by bringing down the cost of bandwidth and to empower consumers to enjoy gigabit-speed internet from their homes. There is also a huge market to tap for businesses who want to have improved connectivity between the two closely-linked nations,” ViewQwest CEO Vignesa Moorthy commented.

    “[Singapore’s] NG-NBN lets any ISP deliver services to 1.4 million homes without the debilitating cost of building its own fibre network infrastructure. Now we have the confidence to export our expertise and experiences from running a nationwide ISP service with uber high speeds of up to 10Gbps to other parts of the world.”

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