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  • Slow US retail growth filters through to Asia

    Slow US retail growth filters through to Asia

    Retail sales for April in the US rose slightly to 0.4%, up from 0.1% in March. Although this growth is some cause for encouragement, it was expected to be as high as 0.6% for last month. The fragile picture for the retail sector in the US is having a noticeable impact on many of its key trading partners throughout Asia.

    China, South Korea and India are amongst the US’ biggest trade partners. Exporting goods such as electronics and clothing, they all see the country as a major export market. With demand for Asian goods sluggish, there are tentative signs that the picture for retail sales across the region are beginning to slow down.

    For April, Chinese retail sales grew by just 0.79%, down from 0.84% in March. In January, sales growth stood at an even more unimpressive amount of just 0.51%, so there has at least been a small upturn. Part of that is down to other factors, most notably industrial production.

    Industrial output

    Elsewhere in Asia, industrial output figures seem to correlate with the slow rate of retail growth in the US. Japan is a prime example, with output figures for March contracting. In that month, industrial output nationwide shrank by 2.1%, coming soon after a rise in output for February. Concerns over the historically strong Japanese tech sector have been prevalent for a while.

    The picture in other major Asian markets for industrial output is mixed. Growth in India is erratic – contraction in output was recorded in five of the last 12 months. In South Korea, figures for March are positive, but contraction occurred in January and February.

    Low demand for home-made products, alongside similarly low demand from the US and sluggish industrial output could all hint at a more prolonged economic malaise. When spread betting, the most sensible choice would be to back against share price rises for major Asian retailers.

    Malaysian recovery 

    One possible ray of light for Asian retail is Malaysia. Despite some of its’ neighbours not performing too well, retail sales growth is pretty healthy. The most recent monthly figures saw month-on-month growth of 4.7% for March, jumping from a position of slight contraction for both January and February.

    Among the reasons behind the growth include wider economic growth exceeding expectations for the first quarter of 2017 and increased consumer confidence. Interest rates have remained steady, but the bad news coming from across the Pacific Ocean is likely to dent confidence going into the summer months.

    The future for retail in Asia is a little uncertain. The contractions and slow growth experienced in Malaysia, China and Japan may return, with one eye focused on how events are unfolding in the US and Europe.

    Should all go to plan and retail sales in the US return to more favourable levels, there is a possibility that the feelgood factor will move to Asian markets. More demand from consumers would equate to higher sales to US firms by Asian manufacturers, but it remains to be seen how this scenario would be played out.

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  • Vietnam sees rise in mobile e-commerce

    Vietnam sees rise in mobile e-commerce

    By January 2017, Vietnam was home to almost 47.2 million mobile internet users, half of the country’s population, according to the report “Vietnam Digital Landscape 2017” by We Are Social.

    Some 39 percent of the population have purchased products or services online, of them 29 percent have placed at least one online order via a mobile device.

    The total value of the country’s e-commerce market was estimated at about 1.8 billion USD in 2016, the report said.

    The 2017 Vietnam e-Business Index by the Vietnam e-Commerce Association (VECOM) shows that the internet has been a great tool for local enterprises in cross-border trade.

    They can communicate with overseas partners via the internet and can access online public services, for example, e-customs and e-certificate of origin.

    It also found that 45 percent of domestic enterprises own a website but only 19 percent of the websites are compatible with mobile devices, down from 26 percent in 2015.

    To succeed, domestic firms must catch up with mobile e-commerce trends to maintain a competitive edge over the others, said VECOM Vice President Nguyen Ngoc Dung at the Vietnam Mobile Day last weekend.

    Dung suggested that selecting a suitable domain name should be the first step in building a reliable online presence for a business as a domain name is not simply an address on the internet but is closely attached to the enterprise’s operations and branding.

    A mobile-friendly website will draw more customers to the brand name and improve its competitiveness, he added.

    For those who wish to reach out to the global markets, the domain name “.com” indicates credibility thanks to its popularity and stability over the past 18 years, said Executive Director of Mat Bao Corporation Huynh Ngoc Duy at the event.

    Sharing this view, Nguyen Tu Hong Quan, Director of the Nhan Hoa software company, noted that many international companies, including those listed in the Fortune 500, use “.com” for their website, aiming to reach new customers outside their regions.

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  • Only 57% of consumers feel rewarded with their loyalty programmes

    Only 57% of consumers feel rewarded with their loyalty programmes

    And here are three ways on how financial firms can improve their loyalty services. A research from Collinson Group research revealed three things ways on how financial services loyalty programmes could be improved.

    Three in five, or 60% of respondents in Singapore said they want a simpler user experience, whilst 52% noted that they would want the ability to combine points with cash. Forty-nine percent indicated that they want a larger selection of rewards.

    “This indicates that usability and accessibility of rewards are top of mind for financial services loyalty programme members,” Collinson Group said.

    The study said the two of the strongest categories of reward that are most popular with global financial services customers are travel and leisure.

    It added, “In Singapore, customers consistently place a high value on benefits such as airport lounge access, concierge services and unique social and cultural leisure experiences. Collinson Group research reinforces that customers value products and experiences offered outside of company core inventory as part of a financial services loyalty programme.

    Meanwhile, the research also revealed that only 57% of bank and financial service loyalty programme members in Singapore feel rewarded for their custom. Customers are looking for more opportunities to earn loyalty currency and more choice when redeeming their points.

    Here’s more from Collinson Group:

    Reward and recognition are becoming increasingly important for customer retention and revenue growth. As regulators encourage greater competition in the financial services market, new competitors emerge and consumers are given more opportunities to compare and switch services. Brands must consider how best to remain attractive to this sophisticated set of consumers who have a greater access to information and are always after the best value for money.

    The Collinson Group research with 2,250 consumers across the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore and the UAE revealed that more than three quarters of respondents (77 percent) look for loyalty programmes with a greater choice of rewards. Furthermore, four in five respondents (82 percent), said that the value of a programme decreases when there is only a limited range of rewards available.

    An enhanced redemption experience is delivered through a programme that offers the customer the ability to redeem in retail outlets and leisure stores, as well as an e-commerce platform. Survey respondents were clear that the value of a loyalty programme decreases if points cannot be redeemed in physical retail outlets, with 49 percent in Singapore agreeing.

    Chris Rogers, Director at Collinson Group said: “Traditional financial services models continue to evolve, with a focus on improved digital services and experiences, but a key area brands need to consider is how they recognise and reward existing customers. Other sectors such as travel and retail are demonstrating new ways of offering more personalised, timely and relevant rewards.

    “A key element in enabling this is providing customers with more ways to earn and redeem loyalty currency. Offering the opportunity to ‘spend’ points against non-financial products such as travel, leisure or more altruistic rewards is increasingly attractive to programme members. The chance to redeem points in physical stores such as retailers and to part-pay with loyalty points and cash all make programmes more relevant and therefore more valuable to consumers.”

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  • Vietnam’s retail market is promising, but there are pitfalls

    Vietnam’s retail market is promising, but there are pitfalls

    Family Mart has had losses in Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. Reuters quoted Koji Takayanag, president of FamilyMart UNY, which now owns the second largest convenience store chain in Japan, as saying that the chain has decided to stop injecting more money into Family Marts in Vietnam.

    According to Tri Thuc Tre, Parkson reported another loss of VND20 billion in Vietnam in the first quarter of the year, which means a total loss of VND50 billion in the last nine months of the fiscal year.

    Parkson Retail Asia has two subsidiaries in Vietnam – Parkson Hai Phong Co Ltd and Parkson Vietnam Company Ltd. The latter has two subsidiaries – Parson Vietnam Service Management Company Ltd and Parkson Hanoi Company Ltd.

    Parkson Hanoi which manages two buildings Parkson Keangnam and Parkson Viet Tower. Both shopping malls have shut down (the former in January 2015 and Viet Tower in mid-December 2016). Also in 2016, Parkson Paragon in HCMC also stopped operation.

    Though FamilyMart has taken a big loss, it will stay in Vietnam. While some retailers have left, others have arrived. Aeon Mall has announced the construction of a second mall in Hanoi.The Malaysian retailer’s fiscal year will end in three months, but analysts don’t think the business performance of the year will be satisfactory. Parkson’s managers have admitted that it is more and more difficult to do business in Vietnam as the market is getting more crowded.

    Other retailers have left, including Metro Cash & Carry, Best Carings, Wonderbuy, HomeOne and Sapomart.

    Meanwhile, market analysis firms, in their latest reports, say that Vietnam is a lucrative market.

    Phap Luat quoted Pham Thanh Cong from Nielsen Vietnam as saying that it is among the top three markets of investors.

    David Tan, CEO of Abeo Vietnam, said the Vietnamese retail market in 2016 was valued at $118 billion with the 10 percent growth rate. Of this, revenue from food service reached acrecord high of $41 billion.

    In fact, though the Vietnamese market is attractive, it has become ‘cramped’ with the presence of many retailers, both foreign and Vietnamese.

    According to Cong, there are 20 supermarket brands in Vietnam, while other countries have only five.

    A report of the Ministry of Industry and Trade shows that Vietnam has more than 700 supermarkets, 132 shopping malls and hundreds of convenience stores. By 2020, Vietnam is expected to have 1,200-1,500 supermarkets and 180 shopping malls, while traditional markets still exist.

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  • Demand for People Counting Systems Stirs up With Increasing Retail Stores

    Demand for People Counting Systems Stirs up With Increasing Retail Stores

    Globally, the increasing number of supermarkets, shopping malls, and retail stores is triggering the deployment of people counting systems. There is a strong need for retailers to monitor footfalls in order to remain competitive.
    Traffic to sales ratio can help retailers in accurately comparing stores on the basis of sales volume. A report by TMR Research, titled “People Counting System Market – Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Trends, Analysis, Growth, and Forecast 2017–2025,” offers a comprehensive study of the market. It provides a detailed analysis of the various parameters of the global people counting system market, including trends, opportunities, geographical segmentation, and competitive scenario, for the forecast period between 2017 and 2025.

    The availability of easy set-up and low-cost solutions is stoking the growth of the global people counting system market. The snowballing demand for people counting solutions in the transport sector is also contributing to the overall revenue generation of the market. Rapid technological advancements and robust growth of the retail sector, particularly in emerging countries, are likely to provide a significant push to the market.

    On the flip side, the expansion of the worldwide e-commerce industry and the growing popularity of online sales channel are challenging the growth of the brick and mortar commerce, which in turn is hampering the growth prospects of the market.

    Geographically, Asia Pacific will account for a large chunk in the revenue pie of the global market. The rising number of shopping malls, retail stores, and supermarkets are prompting global participants to invest in the region. Besides this, favorable government initiatives are promoting the presence of foreign retailers in India, which is also leading to the widening pool of retail stores in Asia Pacific. Countries such as Hong Kong, China, Japan, India, Malaysia, and Singapore will be the sites of high growth rate throughout the forecast horizon.

    Other developing regions such as Latin America and the Middle East and Africa are likely to witness similar growth conditions. The presence of infrastructure such as airports, train stations, and bus stations along with a substantial number of upcoming projects are boosting the adoption of people counting systems. The robust growth of the hospitality industry is also supporting the growth of the regions.

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  • JD.com swings to profit first, revenues surge 41%

    JD.com swings to profit first, revenues surge 41%

    E-commerce giant JD.com said on Monday first-quarter revenues lifted 41% for fiscal 2017, as the second-biggest online retailer in China recorded its first profit as a publicly listed company.

    JD.com reported net income of 239 million yuan ($35 million) for the three months ended March — its first time in the black since listing in 2014. Sales rose 41 percent to 76.2 billion yuan, also topping the 73.6 billion yuan projected.

    JD, which bought Walmart’s Yihaodian local shopping platform in 2016, saw a rapid expansion into household supplies and food, as well as fashion and homewares during the last quarter, which increased users.

    JD also dipped into data, cloud and artificial intelligence services – moves that saw it swing to a profit from a loss in the previous quarter.

    “Margins benefited from our rapidly growing scale across all of our product categories,” JD’s chief financial officer, Sidney Huang, said in a statement.

    In November, JD.com said that it would seek to split off JD Finance, its financial unit, making it a fully Chinese-owned entity. The move allows JD to apply for licenses that Chinese laws forbid foreign-listed firms from holding, including mutual funds and securities. Under the restructuring, CEO Richard Liu will be one of the buyers and JD.com will receive 40% of any pre-tax profit.

    In the financial statement, JD forecast second-quarter revenues to lie between 86.6-89.1 million yuan excluding JD Finance, representing a growth rate of 33-37%, in line with analyst predictions of 36%.

    However, Huang cautioned future investments, such as the construction of warehouses, would “significantly increase” capital expenditure resulting in falling free cash flow.

    “Our quarterly earnings will likely be lower in one or more of the next few quarters,” he said. “The Chinese e-commerce market remains highly competitive and we remain committed to returning a meaningful portion of our incremental gains from scaled economies onto our customers.”

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  • Australia’s retail slugout adds to worry over weak inflation

    Australia’s retail slugout adds to worry over weak inflation

    A fierce price war among retailers is threatening to keep a lid on improving inflation in Australia, compounding the problems of policymakers struggling to support still-weak domestic demand.

    An uptick in consumer inflation has lowered the chance of another rate cut this year, but competition from global retailers such as Amazon.com Inc is set to keep prices under pressure – good news for shoppers but worrying for the central bank.

    The country’s biggest retailers are suffering from a long spell of deflation that is unlikely to subside soon. Amazon and German supermarket chain Kaufland want to fortify their global presence Down Under and will join recent entrants such as H&M, Uniqlo and Aldi.

    The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) said on Friday that “heightened competitive pressures” in the retail sector were among key factors keeping inflation subdued.

    “The arrival of further new foreign retailers will be an important influence on final retail prices over the next few years,” the RBA said in its quarterly statement on monetary policy in which it expects underlying inflation may only fully return to its 2-3 percent target band by mid-2019.

    Worried about deflation risks, the RBA slashed rates twice last year to a record low 1.50 percent. It is widely expected to hold rates until mid-2018 but subdued consumer prices could become a trigger for a move lower, and push the Australian dollar weaker.

    “While consumers will benefit from lower prices, ongoing weakness in retail inflation is a key factor weighing on the broader inflation outlook,” said ANZ economist Jo Masters.

    There was some relief headline consumer prices rose in the first quarter, taking the annual pace to its fastest since 2014 at 2.1 percent. But five of 11 sectors – about 30 percent of the CPI basket – saw price falls. Prices for women’s clothing, for example, were at their cheapest on record.

    A study by Capital Economics shows price increase in what it classifies as ‘luxuries’ – clothing, alcohol and recreation – halved to 0.6 percent from 1.2 since the start of last year. Inflation in ‘essentials’ – food, electricity and insurance – accelerated to 3.4 percent from 1 percent.

    “In other words, it now costs much more to live, but not much more to have fun,” said economist Paul Dales, adding that this situation was hitting household spending on discretionary items. “It implies that consumption growth will be a little bit weaker.”

    Clothing and homeware prices have fallen due to cut-throat competition among major retailers, which only intensified with the arrival of foreign chains to Australia.

    While there are few details on how Amazon will position itself, the retail giant’s expected entry this year will worsen the pain of a retail industry that has been largely insulated by a housing boom and pick-up in global growth, analysts said.

    Jefferies expects Amazon to capture between A$3 billion to A$8 billion ($2.25-$6 billion) of sales in Australia – about 30 percent of current online retail sales.

    Australian retailers are already being forced to change their business models but four major firms going into voluntary administration in the first two months of the year highlights the deepening crisis.

    Not surprisingly, the sector has been shedding jobs, with more workers lost in the year to November 2016 than any other industry.

    “Foreign retailers are attracted by relatively high margins in Australia and will continue to enter the market as long as that additional margin is on offer,” said Masters of ANZ.

    So far, only 16 percent of the world’s top 250 retailers have a physical presence in Australia, according to Deloitte.

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  • Singaporeans feel ignored by retailers 40% of the time

    Singaporeans feel ignored by retailers 40% of the time

    Qualtrics conducted a recent survey of 1,700 shoppers including respondents from Singapore. Findings show that 40% of the time, shoppers in Singapore believe that feedback never reaches the relevant department or right employee that would be able to assist them, while online shoppers believe the same holds true 39% of the time.

    Singaporean shoppers see little distinction between the efficiency of feedback channels and believe that complaining via social media, surveys or directly to an employee has no significant impact to their feedback reaching the right people within the company.

    Despite that, Singaporeans still expect retailers to respond promptly to their questions and complaints especially on social media. When sharing feedback on an offline retailer’s social media page, 31% of shoppers expect a response on the same day, and 78% expect a response within a few days. For online retailers, 36% of shoppers expect a response on the same day and 74% expect a response within a few days.

    Creating a positive retail experience for shoppers is key to customer acquisition. With 61% of shoppers stating that their expectations of offline retailers are shaped by social media, friends and family referrals, retailers need to be able to live up to customers’ perceptions. When it comes to online retailers, 68% of shoppers indicated that their expectations are influenced by social media, friends and family referrals.

    The Qualtrics survey reveals that delivering an ideal brick-and-mortar experience lies in the availability of a wide selection of products and the least important is automatically emailed receipts. The most important element that makes for a stellar online shopping experience is easy-to-see product pictures and details while the least important factor is the ability to receive email support.

    Other data points reinforce the urgency for online retailers to listen to and act upon customer feedback:
    • 16% of shoppers expect retailers to respond to their email question or complaint same day while 22% of shoppers expect the same from online retailers
    • 28% of shoppers will drop a retailer without notice if they experience a major service failure while 29% of shoppers will do the same when it comes to an online retailer
    • 50% of shoppers like a retailer more than before if their problem is quickly resolved while 51% of shoppers would feel the same when it comes to an online retailer
    • 72% of shoppers blame a retailer if one of their employees provides unfriendly or unhelpful service while 68% of shoppers would blame an online retailer for the same incident

    “Companies are witnessing what we call an “experience gap” which refers to the gap between the experience that companies believe they are delivering and the experience their customers are actually receiving, said Bill McMurray, Managing Director for Asia-Pacific and Japan at Qualtrics. “The challenge for companies is to close this gap through the use of an experience management solution, which makes it easy to capture, gain insights and take actions from experience data. There are two sets of data: operational data “O data” and experience data “X data”. X data is the human-factor data, the beliefs, emotions and sentiments that tell you why things are happening and that help predict what will happen next. For too long organisations have only focused on collecting O data, and often fail by not leveraging their X data. To address the experience gap, shown in the survey results above, the retail industry must improve the level of customer experience they provide. When they are able to do this, they will satisfy and retain their customers, generate increased revenues and grow faster than their competitors.”

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  • Singapore to help SMEs compete in the global marketplace

    Singapore to help SMEs compete in the global marketplace

    Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat’s Budget 2017 has placed a strong emphasis on helping businesses stay competitive and grow in an increasingly global marketplace.

    Helping Singapore SMEs Go Digital

    Mr Heng has emphasized the importance of digital capability as the Singapore economy continues to mature. He says it is essential that SMEs in particular embrace the digital age and adopt new and innovative digital solutions. Digital technology has the power to transform all businesses, but many SMEs lack the capability to use digital technology.
    The new Go Digital Programme is a government ‘leg up’ for SMEs and an exciting new addition to a series of strategies to strengthen small and medium-sized businesses in Singapore. More than $80 million will be made available from the government to fund these initiatives.

    Industry Digital Plans

    Industry Digital Plans will be provided by the government to help businesses use technology at each stage of their growth. Sectors targeted by the Go Digital Programme include retail, wholesale trade, food services, logistics, security and cleaning. Mr Heng indicated that he felt these sectors were the ones where digital technology could make the biggest difference to productivity levels.
    Network of SME Centres.

    Start-ups and SMEs can seek basic ICT help in person from SME centres, where advisors can offer help with everyday technology solutions. If businesses need more specialist advice, specialist advice will be made available from new SME Technology Hubs, which are being set up by IMDA and will complement existing SME Centres. SMEs can also seek advice and funding support for pilot ICT solutions already in place.
    Corporations have also been included in the Go Digital Programme. There is support available for them to help them adopt impactful and interoperable digital solutions.

    Cybersecurity Measures

    Mr Heng recognises that SMEs need to strengthen their data and cybersecurity, so the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore will be working with professional bodies to help increase cybersecurity and ensure business networks function smoothly.
    The Singapore government is also keen to promote innovation in technology, and will be creating Regulatory Sandboxes where rules and regulation is suspended, so companies can experiment with FinTech platforms like City Index and self-driving vehicles.

    Technology Innovation

    A Tech Access Initiative is designed to help small companies build prototype products. The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) will work with companies, providing access to its advanced machine tools so small businesses can prototype and test. SMEs will also have access to the Headstart programme so they can co-develop intellectual property licences.
    Most analysts and the majority of SMEs have welcomed the digital initiatives, as they say it fills a gap in the ecosystem, but some experts believe the measures don’t go far enough. However, these changes are definitely a step in the right direction, and with a strong network of SME centres in place throughout Singapore, thousands of small and medium-sized businesses now have access to help as they work to digitise their businesses.

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  • SK Telecom to build O2O platform with Bluebell

    SK Telecom to build O2O platform with Bluebell

    SK Telecom has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Bluebell Korea to cooperate on bringing cutting-edge ICT to the luxury retail industry.

    Bluebell Group is a leading operator of luxury brands in Asia, which also specializes in consulting, and has eight branches in Asia distributing products from over 100 brands. Bluebell Korea is in charge of distributing luxury goods to duty free shops and shopping malls in Asia.

    Under the MOU, SK Telecom and Bluebell Korea will work together to build an O2O (offline to online) platform to enhance travelers’ shopping convenience; bring innovative changes to luxury goods stores and distribution channels; and develop luxury goods based on ICT.

    SK Telecom plans to apply its industry-leading ICT – including its cloud-based digital signage platform “Smart Signage” and IoT-based location tracking solution – to luxury brand stores and goods so as to increase customer loyalty and sales of luxury brands.

    The luxury industry has so far strictly adhered to the craftsmanship of products and traditional sales channels – that is, offline stores. However, a slowdown in market growth coupled with the rise of young, tech-savvy consumers who are taking up a growing share of luxury spending is driving new changes in the conservative industry.

    “Through the MOU with Bluebell Korea, SK Telecom expects to bring innovative changes to the luxury market through the application of its state-of-the-art ICT including IoT technologies,” said Cha In-hyok, EVP and head of IoT business division at SK Telecom.

    “The convergence between ICT and the luxury retail industry will not only create new business opportunities for both parties but also deliver enhanced value and experience for customers.”

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  • Web retailers join hands for membership programme

    Web retailers join hands for membership programme

    In anticipation of the launch of Amazon here, online shopping site Lazada and online supermarket RedMart teamed up with other online services here to launch a membership programme yesterday.

    And retail experts said such moves could work in favour of e-commerce sites.

    The programme, called LiveUp, offers users benefits such as rebates and discounts for Netflix, Uber, UberEats and Taobao Collection.

    Currently, new users will get a 60-day trial. Subsequently, membership costs $28.80 a year for a limited time. Its usual annual membership fee is $49.90.

    Among the benefits are a six- month Netflix subscription, 10 per cent rebate on Lazada, and $10 off every 10th ride on Uber for up to 12 times a year. More partners are expected to come on board.

    The announcement comes after tech news site TechCrunch reported last month that Amazon’s launch here has been delayed to “later this year”, instead of the first quarter as earlier planned.

    60 days of trial period for new users

    $28.80 annual membership fee for a limited time

    $49.90 regular annual membership fee

    While Amazon has yet to make a formal announcement on its plans in Singapore, it is expected to set up a warehouse here for faster shipping and easier returns.

    Yesterday, Lazada Singapore chief executive officer Alexis Lanternier told The Straits Times he believes the LiveUp membership programme will put up a strong competition against the incoming e-commerce giant, which is likely to also offer its Prime membership here.

    In the United States, it costs US$99 a year and offers perks such as free two-day or same-day shipping, streaming of movies, TV shows and music, and unlimited cloud storage for photos.

    Mr Lanternier said: “We have a head start at Lazada as we’ve been here for a longer time… But the membership programme is something that Amazon is strong in, and we didn’t have.”

    “It’s something we wanted to do because it makes sense for our customers, but we also want to give Amazon no chance, so we are bringing something to the table.”

    Mr Lanternier previously headed Amazon France’s video games and software division.

    In 2015, e-commerce was worth US$1 billion (S$1.4 billion and made up 2.1 per cent of retail sales in Singapore, and could increase to US$5.4 billion and 6.7 per cent by 2025, according to a report released by Temasek and Google last year.

    Retail experts told ST that the pre-emptive move to stave off Amazon’s move into Singapore could work.

    Senior lecturer of marketing Geoffrey Da Silva, from Singapore Management University, said: “It’s a lock-in strategy to build a loyal base of customers, and whoever is the first to do it will be the winner.”

    Singapore Polytechnic senior retail lecturer Sarah Lim said the fact that established tech companies here have banded together gives them a good chance of fending off the competition.

    She added: “I wouldn’t be surprised if other retailers are also looking to retain or recapture their market because by the time Amazon arrives, it would be too late to react.”

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  • Mitsubishi open to helping Renault in Southeast Asia

    Mitsubishi open to helping Renault in Southeast Asia

    Mitsubishi is open to rebadging and selling models from alliance partner Renault in Southeast Asia. It’s one way the newest member of the Renault-Nissan alliance could create synergies with its partners, Mitsubishi Chief Operating Officer Trevor Mann told Automotive News Europe.

    “Renault is almost non-existent in Southeast Asia,” Mann said at the auto show here this month. “If it made sense for Mitsubishi to cross badge a Renault product in Southeast Asia that could be an interesting discussion.”

    Mitsubishi also has a more dominant presence than Nissan in much of Southeast Asia. Mann said the company’s strength in places such as Thailand, where it has three factories that have produced more than 3 million vehicles, could be used to help boost Nissan’s market share and its bottom line.

    For instance, Mann told Reuters the two companies are studying joint production of pickup trucks in Southeast Asia. Mitsubishi, which builds the Triton pickup in Thailand, could supply Nissan with its next-generation Navara pickup. Nissan currently builds the Navara for local sales in Thailand.

    “If you look at our cost performance in that region, we are the benchmark within the alliance,” Mann said. “Our cost-base on pickups is better than Nissan’s.”

    Mitsubishi’s pickup architectures are likely to become the basis for future alliance models, added Mann, who was formerly Nissan’s chief performance officer but was dispatched by CEO Carlos Ghosn to help turn around Mitsubishi after Nissan paid $2.3 billion for a 34 percent controlling stake in the scandal-hit company last October.

    Mitsubishi’s admission that it cheated on fuel-economy ratings for several nameplates sold in Japan opened the door for Nissan to make the move. The two companies expect the deal to lead to combined savings of 49 billion yen ($473.2 million) in the 2017 fiscal year that ends in March 2018.

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  • Supply chain group Tigers launches new e-shop marketplace supporting brands entering china

    Supply chain group Tigers launches new e-shop marketplace supporting brands entering china

    Supply chain group Tigers has launched a new marketplace, called eShop, to support brands entering the rapidly expanding China and Southeast Asia e-commerce markets.

    The digital marketplace, part of Tigers’ suite of e-commerce products, offers a one-stop shop solution, from marketing, to taking payments, managing the supply chain, order fulfilment, and returns.

    Up-and-coming Italian designer workout wear Gr1ps, and award-winning golf simulator OptiShot Golf are amongst the first Tigers eShop customers in China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.

    “Tigers eShop offers a cost-effective, scalable enterprise solution for companies of all sizes,” said Andrew Jillings, chief executive officer and group managing director, Tigers.

    “We can provide fiscal representation to SMEs wanting to enter the China market that do not have a presence there.”

    “The logistics industry has the desire to adopt technology, but few providers are offering a real solution that ultimately services every e-commerce business.

    “Rather than being a one-size fits all, Tigers’ IT systems, which work on a cloud-based operating platform, are flexible enough to meet a large variety of demands.”

    Gr1ps, founded in 2011, designs innovative functional training products and has been recognised as a pioneer in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts apparel. “Tigers eShop forms a core part of our sales strategy in acquiring new clients in the Asia market, and increasing brand awareness and exposure through Tigers’ network,” said Katty Fung, chief operating officer, Gr1ps.

    “We look forward to bringing our brand values, of quality and attention to detail, to larger sports and lifestyle communities with this expansion.”

    OptiShot Golf is a golf simulator platform designed by two fans of the game, which allows players to practice and play on replicas of major championship courses, as well as play in global online tournaments, with real clubs and real golf balls.

    “China is an important market for us and the Tigers eShop is an exciting opportunity for us to grow our presence there,” said Kevin Johnston, president and chief operating officer (COO), OptiShot Golf.

    Tigers, which has been operational in Greater China since 1969, has 17 offices across the country and specialises in e-commerce fulfilment, transportation, and supply chain solutions.

    The Hong Kong headquartered supply chain specialist has 65 offices and 32 omni-distribution hubs across China, the USA, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, Malaysia, India, and South Africa.

    Tigers plans to open more eShops across a number of strategic locations.

    “Tigers will continue to focus on our two main assets, our technology and our people,” said Jillings.

    “We are privileged to be working with exciting brands like Gr1ps and OptiShot Golf. They are both dynamic groups with great products and they embrace the online retail space.

    “There is always a learning curve working with companies like these.”

    Tigers can trace its founding origins back to 1888 in the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, where their South African subsidiary was first founded.

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  • New Anchor Travel Retail Concessions Set to Elevate Overall Airport Experience

    New Anchor Travel Retail Concessions Set to Elevate Overall Airport Experience

    Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) has awarded the “Liquor & Tobacco” concession to CDF – Lagardère Company Limited (CDF – Lagardère), and the “Perfume & Cosmetics and Fashion Accessories” concession to Shilla Travel Retail Hong Kong Limited (Shilla) at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), which would open for business from November 2017. The award is a result of the open tender exercise held earlier.

    Cissy Chan, Executive Director, Commercial of the AA said, “As a world-class international and regional aviation hub welcoming over 70 million passengers in 2016, we strongly believe that this collaboration will form HKIA’s signature stores introducing attractive and diverse choices, sought after brands, as well as unique and engaging shopping experiences. We are confident that the new concessions will elevate the overall airport experience and create a new shopping journey for the worldwide passengers.”

    The Liquor & Tobacco concessionaire will have the flexibility to include complementary products and upmarket gourmet food items.  The Perfume & Cosmetics and Fashion Accessories concessionaire will offer a one-stop shopping destination for beauty and fashion accessories, such as sunglasses, fashion watches, small leather goods and handbags.

    CDF – Lagardère, the awardee of the Liquor & Tobacco concession, will be introducing new experiential concepts, which include the widest selection of Chinese liquor assortment, a whisky chamber bringing an extensive offering under one roof, an in-store VIP lounge, tasting bars and more.

    Shilla, who will be operating the “Perfume & Cosmetics and Fashion Accessories” shops, will bring a wide spectrum of beauty products and fashion accessories representing almost 100 brands that are new to HKIA.  There will be a dedicated zone for male-specific products, as well as a “New Generation” zone providing a platform for emerging Korean and Japanese brands

    With the emerging trend of omni-retailing, both concessionaires will bring in new ideas to deepen customer engagement through digital initiatives. Interactive zones with virtual reality (VR), interactive and digital devices, together with iBeacon technology, will be installed inside the shops to enhance in-store navigation and real-time promotional offers.

    Charles Chen, President of China Duty Free Group said, “We are honoured to be awarded the Liquor & Tobacco concession at HKIA. This marks an important milestone in the international development of our organisation’s duty free business. We extend our sincere gratitude to the AA for their trust, and we will join hands with Lagardère Travel Retail to present a world class duty free shopping experience to the HKIA passengers.”

    Dag Rasmussen, Chairman & CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail said, “We look forward to growing our long-standing partnership with one of the world’s finest airports. Our teams across the world are excited to collaborate with our brand partners to bring to life a new benchmark for quality and engagement in travel retail.”

    Roberto Graziani, President, Hotel Shilla Travel Retail said, “This highly competitive win is attributed to our teams’ innovative category insights, our deep understanding of customer needs as well as our long standing operational excellence. We are grateful to the AA for this vote of confidence and look forward to warrant to our customers and all stakeholders, offers, services, and operational performances which will stay abreast of trends and changes in the consumers’ preferences, always maintaining a strong competitive edge throughout the length of the concession.”

    The two concessions will be open for business from November and December 2017 respectively. The AA will also fully assist the two concessionaires for a smooth fitting out and changeover.

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  • DataLase & Xerox Team for Late-Stage Inline Digital Printing Solutions

    DataLase & Xerox Team for Late-Stage Inline Digital Printing Solutions

    Xerox, the global leader in digital print technology and services, has signed an agreement with DataLase, the newly acquired SATO subsidiary and inline digital printing experts, to launch a new inkless printing solution that allows brand owners to connect with consumers with personalisation and late-stage ability to differentiate products and packaging.
    Variprint™ is the next generation of revolutionary inline digital printing solutions from DataLase which uses the new Laser Imaging Module (LIM) designed and built by Xerox. The LIM is capable of printing at higher resolutions than most inkjet digital printing solutions, creating sharper images. The LIM can produce greyscale images with a natural resolution up to 1,200 dpi and can digitally print variable information such as graphics, barcodes and text up to 1 metre per second.
    The patented laser reactive pigments are incorporated into a coating that is conventionally printed onto a variety of products or packaging. When exposed to the LIM, a colour change reaction is generated in the coating resulting in a high definition, premium quality, digital print.
    “Building on the huge interest we generated at drupa 2016, the DataLase solution can deliver a unique way to help connect brands with consumers on a one-to-one basis through personalisation and late stage differentiation of products and packaging – such as adding timely local promotions and marketing material. Real time marketing capability on pack is now a reality,” said Dr. Chris Wyres, CEO of DataLase.
    “The digital print and packaging market is growing at a healthy pace,” said Aanand Parthasarathi, Manager, Packaging Programs at Xerox. “Our new lasers, coupled with DataLase technology, will deliver new capabilities in the fulfilment process such as switching languages or a last-minute change in an ingredient list.”
    DataLase is seeing the development of a range of market applications for its technology on a global basis. Its technology can be used across a wide range of product and packaging applications in the food and drink, pharmaceutical, personal care and household sectors for case coding, labelling, product coding and folding cartons.
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