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Tag: Philippines

  • NTC extends migration date to eight-digit landline numbers

    NTC extends migration date to eight-digit landline numbers

    The Philippines’ National Telecommunications Commission has extended the migration to eight digit landline numbers in the Greater Metro Manila area by six months, at the request of the banking industry.

    The Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) and the Credit Card Association of the Philippines (CCAP) have requested more time to prepare for the introduction of eight digit landline numbers by implementing the necessary changes to their operations and systems.

    As a result, the NTC has ordered local operators to extend the migration date to October 6 from March 18.

    Both Globe Telecom and PLDT have announced they will comply with the demand and informed customers of the delay.

    Globe Telecom has stated that until January 5, customers still incorrectly dialing an old 7-digit number will hear a special announcement stating that the format has been changed to 8 digits.

    The company has also pledged to continue remaining customers of the upcoming migration over all available channels – including SMS, email and social media – up to the deadline.

    “We will make the necessary adjustments when it comes to our internal systems and communication efforts to ensure smooth service continuity for all of our affected customers,” Globe general counsel Froilan Castelo said.

    “Our teams are continuously working closely with the NTC and other telcos to assist affected customers before, during, and after the migration.”

  • AirAsia announces ‘Red Hot’ sale started Monday

    AirAsia announces ‘Red Hot’ sale started Monday

    AirAsia Philippines said it would offer seats for selected domestic and international flights for as low as P16 starting on Monday.

    AirAsia will offer fares from as low as P16 for flights from Clark to Iloilo, Tacloban, Puerto Princesa, and Cagayan De Oro; P201 for flights from Manila to Kalibo, Cebu, Davao, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur; and P316 for flights from Cebu to Cagayan De Oro, Davao, Caticlan, Singapore and many more destinations.

    The sale will run from March 11 to 17 for travel from September 1, 2019 to June 2, 2020.

    AirAsia BIG members will also enjoy 24-hour priority access to the sale from March 10.

    Aside from discounted fares, AirAsia will also be offering discounts on its inflight meals and pick-a-seat options.

    Bookings can be made on AirAsia’s website and on its mobile app.

  • Fintech helps the informally employed to access to finance

    Fintech helps the informally employed to access to finance

    The real scale of informal employment in developing countries is incomparably higher than the volume of goods and services produced in the informal sector. The longer traditional methods of assessing the real earnings of the population fall behind, the more customers alternative lending can expect, found Robocash Group.
     
    The share of the informal economy in Indonesia stated by the IMF in 2015 amounted to 14.8% of GDP, which was close to the level of many Western countries (e.g., Latvia had 16.6%). However, surveys of BPS-Statistics Indonesia showed that in the non-agricultural sector in 2017, there was 38.5% of the population informally employed in urban areas, and 54.8% in rural areas.
     
    There is a similar situation in the Philippines. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, in April 2018, 56.2% of all self-employed worked in the service industry and 39.1% in agriculture. The number of family enterprises was 60.9% in agriculture and 30.3% in services.
     
    The utter lack of unemployment benefits across the region facilitates a high level of employment among the population. However, official earnings are often low that makes people look for an additional source of income. In turn, this situation brings forth a common problem for the entire lending industry in developing countries — a qualitative assessment of the real income of borrowers.
     
    The Philippines is a bright example where the underperformance of traditional banking methods has led to a decrease in bank lending and an increase in customers for alternative lending companies using new methods for assessing solvency.  According to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, only 0.6% of the adult population had a bank loan in 2017 (2015 — 2.1%). At the same time, there was an increase in the number of clients of microfinance organizations, which include fintech firms providing alternative lending, to 7.6% in 2017 (2015 — 4.7%).
     
    Commenting on the findings, Sergey Sedov, CEO of Robocash Group said, “The experience of Robocash Group in Asia has shown that the use of algorithms based on artificial intelligence and machine learning serves as a bridge between the interests of business and society. We collect and study scattered information about customers to provide them with an opportunity to access to finance and accumulate credit history. In turn, this helps to overcome the paradox when people cannot borrow because of any credit history, which they cannot have due to the inaccessibility of loans. Speaking long-term, the expansion of fintech in Asia will significantly boost financial inclusion and thus accelerate subsequent economic growth by increasing the penetration of financial products into people’s lives.”
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  • Retail brand Penshoppe signs deal with Kendall Jenner

    Retail brand Penshoppe signs deal with Kendall Jenner

    Global fashion retail brand Penshoppe has unveiled the latest addition to its roster of international ambassadors – 23-year-old world’s highest-paid supermodel and one of the most followed celebrities on social media, Kendall Jenner.

    The model initially appeared on Penshoppe’s DenimLab campaign in 2015, and is now headlining the brand’s Spring Summer 2019 Campaign with Zayn Malik, Paris Jackson, Nam Joo Hyuk and Sandara Park.

    “As we move from strength to strength, we couldn’t think of a better addition to our growing list of global ambassadors”, said Golden ABC’s VP for brand management Jeff Bascon. “It’s good to have you back, Kendall!”
    Penshoppe has more than 400 locations across Bahrain, Cambodia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. The brand is available online in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Indonesia.

  • First Lenovo Legion store in Philippines

    First Lenovo Legion store in Philippines

    The first Lenovo Legion concept store in the Philippines has opened as the tech company strengthens its gaming business.

    The Quezon City outlet, at less than 40sqm on the fourth floor of the Annex Building, showcases the brand’s Legion gaming machines in a setting that allows customers to personally examine and experience the products. Lenovo intends to host mini tournaments at the venue to “engage the local gaming community,” according to its statement on the opening.

    Lenovo Philippines GM Michael Ngan expressed the firm’s intentions to open as many such stores in the territory as possible, depending on available spaces, with a possible four outlets planned for this year. He added that the Philippines is seen as a strong growth space for the company’s Lenovo Legion gaming sub-brand. He hinted that the firm’s Legion of Champions e-sports tournament may be held in the Philippines.

    “We’ve had a lot of customers asking why don’t we host in the Philippines … so I’m lobbying that we can have the opportunity to host the fourth edition here in Manila,” he said.

  • Lazada Excels cross-border business across Southeast Asia

    Lazada Excels cross-border business across Southeast Asia

    Lazada is boosting its cross-border operations for international brands and merchants to after its cross-border sales quadrupled over the last three years The Alibaba-owned company says it plans to bring onboard more quality international brands and will identify and nurture the top 300 brands in each of the six. countries that Lazada operates in: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. This will allow those brands to grow their business and enjoy benefits such as higher visibility of their products when users search and browse the site.

    “We want to serve as that bridge between our quality cross-border merchants and some 560 million consumers in Southeast Asia,” said Lazada Group’s co-president Jing Yin, speaking in Shenzhen at the company’s first cross-border seller conference for this year.

    “Backed by the best expertise and infrastructure from Alibaba, as well as our in-depth understanding of Southeast Asia, we are able to equip our cross-border sellers and brands with the knowledge and tools to ride this massive growth in the region,” Yin told more than 1000 merchants at the event.

    What Lazada describes as “a meteoric rise in e-commerce spending in Southeast Asia” reflects the increasing demand for cross-border products as the GMV from Lazada’s cross-border category grew by 4.6 times between 2016 and 2018. According to industry estimates, Southeast Asia’s e-commerce market is on track to hit US$240 billion by 2025, surpassing earlier estimates by $40 billion.

    Among the key initiatives announced at this week’s conference was a revamped Global Collection: a dedicated channel showcasing an assortment of Lazada’s cross-border merchants from all around the world. Global Collection 2.0 taps on algorithm-based search functions to filter the wide cross-border assortment to spotlight sellers offering popular and good quality products so customers can find them easily.

    “With the new Global Collection, customers will get their parcels much faster,” said a Lazada spokesperson. “They can get their parcels within seven working days from the day they place their orders if they choose the standard shipping option.”

    First launched in 2013, Lazada’s cross-border business has grown to become one of the most diverse marketplaces featuring brands and merchants from all over the world. The top five markets which cross-border sellers come from are Mainland China, Hong Kong, Korea, the US and Europe, with women’s fashion, home and living and kids’ fashion ranking among the most popular cross-border items. Lazada is now looking at launching new categories, offering bulky products like furniture and home appliances.

    Last year, Lazada set a new record, with its last-mile delivery fleet across Southeast Asia delivering more than 1 million parcels in a day.

  • Japanese eatery Botejyu opens in Manila

    Japanese eatery Botejyu opens in Manila

    Japanese eatery Botejyu, a restaurant chain specialising in okosoba and okonomiyaki dishes, has opened a flagship at One Bonifacio High Street in Taguig City.

    The new branch is the largest of 12 Botejyu locations in the Philippines, with more outlets expected to open later this year. All branches feature an open kitchen and a private meeting room at the back of the venue.

    The brand is the second concept imported by Viva International Food & Restaurants.

    “Most Japanese restaurants only specialise in one item like ramen, or just tempura,” said Viva International senior VP Vicente Raphael “VR” del Rosario IV. “But for Botejyu, though we specialise in okosoba and okonomiyaki, the main selling point is that technically, we carry the best of each place in Japan.”

    Botejyu is a legacy brand in Japan, credited as the first to use mayonnaise as a dressing on okonomiyaki pancakes, as well as inventing the okosoba by wrapping traditional stir-fried noodles in the okonomiyaki batter.

  • Popeyes Philippines to launch with seven new locations

    Popeyes Philippines to launch with seven new locations

    Popeyes Philippines has revealed the location of its first seven stores.

    Kuya J’s Restaurant Group confirmed it was bringing the popular New Orleans brand to the Philippines in August, prompting widespread interest from landlords.

    The brand – best known for its fried chicken menu – has confirmed seven locations where they will be opening: Arcovia in Pasig, Eastwood and Vertis North in Quezon City, Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa, SM San Lazaro and SM Manila in Manila, and Kroma Tower in Makati.

    “The Philippines is a large and growing market and we are looking forward to servicing the high-quality food that Popeyes offers to the country’s more than 100 million people,” said Kuya J chairman Lowell L. Yu.

    The Popeyes brand has operated since 1972, serving “authentic New Orleans-style fast food”.

  • Philippine Seven chief wins retail award

    Philippine Seven chief wins retail award

    Jose Victor Paterno, president and CEO of Philippine Seven Corp, has been named the NACS Asian Convenience Retail Leader of the Year.

    The award, endowed by PepsiCo, recognises and honours “the most successful and influential convenience industry leader of 2019” in the region.

    It was presented before an international audience of convenience retailers and suppliers at the NACS Convenience Summit Asia this week in Shanghai, China. Paterno joins last year’s winner Richard Yeung, CEO of Circle K Convenience Stores Hong Kong, and Tomoyasu “Tommy” Marutani, president of Secoma, which operates Seicomart in Northern Japan, the year before.

    Paterno was recognised for navigating Philippine Seven through the implementation of one of the most complicated supply-chain networks in Asia. The company operates 13 warehouses nationwide and overcomes the country’s geography to deliver daily to 2600 stores across the Philippines, which comprises more than 7000 islands. The warehouses carry 3000 items. His company uses the network to offer store pick-up points for items ordered online through their CLiQQ Shop and Rewards Program, making the Philippines convenience chain a true online-to-offline retailer.

    “Not only is the dynamism of Philippines Seven’s drive to redefine convenience impressive (eg, the CLiQQ Shop), but Victor’s personal commitment to and support of our global convenience-retail industry is widely respected,” said Henry Armour, president and CEO of NACS.

    A one-time technology entrepreneur, Paterno believes in the potential for technology to transform small-format retail. He is an engineer by education who fell into retailing when he joined the company at his father’s invitation as construction and maintenance manager in 1993. Although the position was supposed to be temporary, Paterno was intrigued by the complexities of retailing and stayed on longer than planned. He was appointed president and CEO in 2005 by majority shareholders President Chain Store of Taiwan.

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  • Little Caesars Pizza Philippines ready to launch

    Little Caesars Pizza Philippines ready to launch

    Little Caesars Pizza Philippines will launch with its first restaurant next month. The move continues the expansion of the brand’s international footprint with new restaurants in Southeast Asia. The first restaurant to open under the new franchise relationship with local operator Palmtree PH Foods Corp will be located at the Metrosquare Building in Manila.

    Senior VP of International for Little Caesars Pizza Paula Vissing said he believes the Philippines is a perfect fit for the company’s international expansion due to its strong affinity for both pizza and value.

    Palmtree owner James Kodrowski, who manages a group of companies that operate in the region, said: “Little Caesars Pizza is exactly what this market needs … We believe that the Hot-N-Ready concept will have undeniable market appeal, as well as our commitment to excellent guest service, and superior value. It is our ambition to make Little Caesars the new favorite pizza of the Philippines.”

    Little Caesars is the third largest pizza chain in the world, currently operating in 23 countries and territories. It will also open its first location in Singapore in January.

  • Toby’s Sports flagship opening in BGC soon

    Toby’s Sports flagship opening in BGC soon

    A new Toby’s Sports flagship store just opened in BGC is the chain’s largest yet. The 1000sqm store, which takes up two floors, was designed by German architectural firm Blocher + Blocher and Philippine-based Sonia Olivares and Associates. The interior design was inspired by Manila’s “raw aesthetics” with larger-than-life graphics and bursts of color that reflect “the vibrant nature of sports”. Interactive touch screen displays throughout the store use RFID tags to provide shoppers with information about products.

    “We harnessed the latest technology to bring our store experience to the next level,” said Toby’s Sports president Toby Claudio. “We wanted to create more than just a store, but a space that tells stories about the latest sports innovations and inspire people to play; an iconic store, a pinnacle shopping experience in the heart of Metro Manila.”

    On the outside, a large LED display rises over Fifth Avenue.

    The store stocks a premium collection of footwear, sports apparel and equipment from multiple international brands.

    “The new Toby’s Sports flagship store is a statement we wanted to make, that even after 40 years in the business, we are still looking for ways to improve. It has allowed us to provide new and exciting experiences and best-level products for our customers. My hope is that the flagship can become an epicenter for sports and sneaker culture in the Philippines,” said Claudio.

    The store features several zones to provide an experiential component to shopping.

    An interactive PlayZone hosts events and doubles as a basketball court, featuring a professional-grade basketball shooting machine.

    LaunchZone will showcase new products and double as a space for pop-up installations, VIP events and guest appearances by athletes.

    Toby’s Custom Lab on the second floor, offers apparel customization services for customers, and is able to create team uniforms of personalised products for individuals.

    The BGC store is Toby’s Sports 55th shop in the Philippines and more are in planning.

  • Hong Kong’s Hui Lau Shan launching in Philippines

    Hong Kong’s Hui Lau Shan launching in Philippines

    Hong Kong dessert chain Hui Lau Shan will launch in the Philippines in February. The franchise, best known for its mango-based treats,will open at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City with a range of desserts that are expected to draw on local fruits.

    Mango desserts have proven popular in the region recently, with prominent social media coverage of long queues for mango floats.

    Hui Lau Shan is a heritage brand originating from a herbal tea & tea trolley that traded in Hong Kong’s Yuen Long back in the 1960s.

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  • Alfamart Philippines opening 200 new stores this year

    Alfamart Philippines opening 200 new stores this year

    Mini-mart chain Alfamart will open 200 new stores in the Philippines next year, according to a Fitch Ratings report. It said Alfamart Philippines stores already has 400 stores in the country, of which 180 were opened this year in partnership with local operator and majority stakeholder SM Group. The 200 new stores will take its total network to 600 locations in the Philippines by the end of next year.

    “Alfamart’s investment risk for its Philippine expansion is mitigated by the strong presence of SM Group in the country … Fitch expects Alfamart to have access to SM Group’s large business network and tap its widely known brand”.

    SM Retail operates 1729 stores nationwide. Alfamart’s Indonesian parent has a 35 per cent stake in the Alfamart Philippines business.

    According to the report, “Both Indonesia and the Philippines are consumer-driven markets with young populations and expanding middle classes. Both economies have similar income levels of GDP per capita of US$3000-$4000. Consumers in both markets also prefer to buy small amounts of bundled products rather than filling grocery carts”.

    It described the mini-mart sector in the Philippines “as untapped and having limited competition … the existing players mostly operate convenience stores that carry more limited products. Alfamart’s stores offer additional products, such as fresh and frozen food, personal care and small household appliances, giving the company some competitive advantage in grabbing market share.

    “Alfamart chose to expand in the Philippines as it believes it has more potential than other Southeast Asian markets, such as Thailand and Vietnam.”

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  • Bo’s Coffee acquiring new Shops

    Bo’s Coffee acquiring new Shops

    ilipino cafe chain Bo’s Coffee plans to more than double its store network within four years and is also eyeing expansion into the Middle East.

    In an interview, founder Steve Benitez says the ambitious growth plan has been fuelled by strong local demand. With 103 cafes currently, Benitez is targeting between 200 and 250 by 2022.

    “Our job is to make sure that we are able to popularize coffee and be able to supply so much, not only in the Philippines but globally,” he said.

    In its home market, Bo’s Coffee, which was founded in 1996, will be targeting Luzon, especially given the brand has “only scratched the surface” there to date.

    In the Middle East, Bo’s Coffee plans to open a second store in Qatar shortly, followed by three more within two years. Other markets in the region are now in its sights.

    The expansion plans will be accelerated following an investment by Philippine-focused Navegar Fund which was attracted to Bo’s Coffee by its efforts to support local coffee-growing communities.

    “Seventy to 80 per cent of our coffee beans are sourced locally,” said Benitez. “We were trailblazers. We started featuring Philippine coffee and the other shops followed after.”

    Bo’s Coffee recently opened a 300sqm flagship store in Cebu which supports social enterprises by partnering with local micro-small entrepreneurs in their store interiors, products, and merchandise inside.

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  • H&M names first Philippine ambassador

    H&M names first Philippine ambassador

    H&M has named Nadine Lustre as its first Philippine ambassador.

    The endorsement deal comes with a special swimwear collection to be launched in the Philippines next week.

    Nadine Lustre has more than 5.9 million followers on Instagram, and is considered to have a highly visible presence among today’s youth.

    “It was a whole new experience working on the campaign. It didn’t feel like we were working at all. I felt creative the whole time, and that, for me, is one of the best feelings ever,” Lustre told.

    H&M has previously worked with some of the biggest names in pop culture including Beyonce, David Beckham, Diane Kruger and Namie Amuro.

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