Retail News CRM

Tag: partnering

  • “Pomelo’s Fashion Revolution: Partnering with FJ Benjamin for Malaysian Market Domination”

    “Pomelo’s Fashion Revolution: Partnering with FJ Benjamin for Malaysian Market Domination”

    The Thailand-based fashion label Pomelo recently entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with FJ Benjamin for operations in Malaysia. The arrangement, set to last an initial five years with an option for a five-year extension, provides FJ Benjamin with the authority to oversee the brand’s operations and store management within the country.

    Online Launch and Physical Stores

    Pomelo plans to make its initial foray into the Malaysian market via e-commerce marketplaces before the year’s end. This digital debut will be followed by the opening of physical stores within major shopping centres in Kuala Lumpur in the early part of next year.

    Collaborative Effort

    David Jou, CEO of Pomelo, highlighted the collaboration’s potential, combining Pomelo’s digital-first fashion and technology-driven retail model with FJ Benjamin’s extensive expertise in brand development and retail operations. He sees this partnership as an opportunity to reshape the fashion retail experience not just in Malaysia, but beyond its borders as well.

    Expansion of Pomelo

    Earlier this year, Pomelo expanded its reach by entering an exclusive distribution agreement with the Kolao Group, marking its first store opening in Laos. In addition to its home base of Thailand, Pomelo has a presence in Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, and the Philippines, and plans are underway for a future debut in Vietnam.

    Pomelo, founded in 2013, has carved out a niche for itself as a leading destination offering a curated selection of women’s wear that includes both emerging local designers and international brands. The company had projected an initial public offering (IPO) in 2022, but this plan has not yet been actualised.

    Questions & Answers

    What are Pomelo’s plans for entering the Malaysian market?
    Pomelo plans to launch online on e-commerce platforms before the end of this year, followed by the opening of physical stores within key shopping centres in Kuala Lumpur in the early part of next year.

    What does the partnership with FJ Benjamin entail?
    The partnership gives FJ Benjamin the authority to manage Pomelo’s operations and stores in Malaysia for an initial five-year term, with an option to extend for another five years.

    Where else does Pomelo operate?
    In addition to Thailand, Pomelo operates in Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Laos, with plans to debut in Vietnam in the future.

  • Singtel Dash partners Zip for buy now, pay later options

    Singtel Dash partners Zip for buy now, pay later options

    Singtel and Zip, a leading global buy now, pay later (BNPL) player, announced an exclusive partnership to launch Zip’s pay later service in Singapore on the Dash app. This new service provides an alternate payment option for Dash customers, giving them the flexibility to choose between paying for their purchases immediately with Dash or paying later with Zip.Larry Diamond

    Dash customers can use Zip’s pay later service for in-store or online purchases from merchants such as Klook, Omnidesk, OSIM and Singtel. Zip’s current payment scheme offers four interest-free installments across six weeks. Over the next six months, Zip will be rolling out more payment schemes and bringing onboard more than 2,000 merchants through partner agreements with AsiaPay, Razer Merchant Services and HitPay.

    Gilbert Chuah, head of financial and lifestyle services at consumer Singapore, Singtel said, “Many of our customers want greater choice and control over managing their finances and our partnership with Zip provides just that with an alternative payment method that is transparent and flexible. This collaboration adds to Dash’s rapidly growing financial services business and we are working on expanding our suite of financial products and services to meet our customers’ diverse needs.”

    According to FIS’ 2021 Global Payment Report, BNPL is projected to be the fastest-growing payment method for Singapore, with transaction volume expected to increase from US$210 million in 2020 to US$1.3 billion by 2024. A study commissioned by Zip also showed that 56% of e-commerce users in Singapore have used or will consider using a BNPL service.

    Larry Diamond, CEO and co-founder of Zip said, “We are thrilled to be launching in Singapore through an exclusive partnership with Singtel Dash, one of the country’s most widely-used mobile apps for everyday financial and lifestyle needs. This partnership is consistent with Zip’s strategy to build a truly global BNPL business that supports regional and global partners operating in multiple markets. Our move into Singapore is an opportunity for us to tap into the country’s growing BNPL market and expand our presence in the Southeast Asian region following our strategic investment in BNPL provider TendoPay in the Philippines.”