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Tag: Shanghai

  • Corrupt Chinese supermarket exec jailed

    Corrupt Chinese supermarket exec jailed

    The former chairman of China’s Bright Food Group has been found guilty of embezzling US$31 million between 2000 and 2006 when he was chairman of Shanghai Lianhua Supermarket Holdings Ltd.

    Corrupt Chinese businessman Wang Zongnan was sentenced by the People’s Court in Shanghai on Tuesday to 18 years in prison for embezzlement and accepting bribes.

    According to the court hearing, Zongnan had accepted 2.69 million yuan in bribes, hiding the money through the purchase of two villas.

    In 2003, Wang’s parents bought two villas in Shanghai for 2.08 million yuan, 2.69 million yuan below the market price. The sellers were associated to a subsidiary of a company that had owed Wang a favor, according to the verdict. Wang sold the two villas in 2010 and 2013 for 14.8 million yuan in total.

    In the ruling, the court ordered that 1 million yuan of Wang’s personal property be confiscated and more than 12 million yuan in bribes and illegal earnings be returned.

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  • After 165 years, Lane Crawford looks forwards

    After 165 years, Lane Crawford looks forwards

    To mark its 165th birthday, luxury department store Lane Crawford invited its community of leading and emerging brands and creative talents to share their vision of the future.

    Their perspectives are transformed into a series of exclusive designs, capsule collections, artistic installations and uniquely curated product showcases that engage customers to imagine what the future may bring.

    With more than 600,000 square feet of retail space, Lane Crawford has 11 points of sale across Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. With an online store, purpose built for China while also shipping globally, Lane Crawford is China’s first luxury omni-channel fashion retailer. Featuring the largest designer portfolio across Womenswear, Menswear, Cosmetics, Home and Lifestyle, and Fine Jewellery in the region, Lane Crawford showcases more than 1000 international brands.

    Innovative Beijing-based architecture and design firm People’s Architecture Office presents its vision of the future of modern living through giant twisting metal tubular structures that customers can climb inside to explore a whole other landscape. Hong Kong-based architectural design studio Sky Yutaka has created a mesmerising kinetic installation where the future is a haunting rendition of machine-made beauty, featuring robotic rain flowers that gently furl and unfurl their petals in response to a flowing stream of water. Musical wunderkinds Mimi Xu and Rosey Chan continue to inspire the future of sound with their distinctive take on classical electronica music accompanied by a stunning multisensory visual narrative. Other creative luminaries such as Li Lihong, Angel Chen and Alan Chan have also contributed their visions of what the world will look like in 165 years.

    Limited Editions

    The store has also collaborated with an array of brands to offer a selection of exclusive editions as part of the 165 celebrations. Womenswear designer and Chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Diane Von Furstenberg has redesigned her signature wrap dress with a Chinese twist. There are also capsule collections from T by Alexander Wang, MSGM, Ms Min and Chictopia Fine Jewellery exclusives come from Nathalie Melville and Tasaki, and there is an exclusive watch design from Mad.

    Menswear designers including Haider Ackermann, Neil Barrett, Paul Smith, Rick Owens, Uma Wang and Ziggy Chen have been invited to develop the Silk Capsule collection, incorporating the traditional Chinese fabric in refreshing styles.

    In addition, there are limited editions from a number of cosmetic and lifestyle brands. Shanghai Tang presents an exclusive lacquer box set with its signature women’s fragrance collection, including a personalised engraving service. Valmont offers the Elixir Tribute to Lalique in a sublime red lacquer box topped with Lalique crystal.

    On the local front, Tom Dixon brings another global exclusive to the party with the launch of his new coffee range, “Brew”, and the maverick British product designer also curates the “Living Room of the Future” installation, which offers a vision of home entertainment in years to come. Another iconic British brand, Fortnum & Mason has created the exclusive Lane Crawford 165 tea blend special edition. Other home products include a limited-edition “165” scented candle from L’Objet; a specially made game table by Chinese architect and designer Naihan Li; a digital printed rug from Dutch brand Moooi; neon light décor with Chinese characters meaning ‘prosperity’, ‘fortune’ and ‘home’ from Italy’s Seletti; and an Asia-exclusive launch of a new lamp in taupe and brass from Anglepoise.

    Lane Crawford will hold its 165th Anniversary Celebrations Party at the IFC Mall store on September 9. The festivities continue with a weekend of shopping privileges and anniversary-themed prizes across all Lane Crawford stores in Hong Kong from September 11 to 13.

    Who Is Nick Wooster

    Having worked with highly respected fashion brands and renowned retailers around the world, street style guru Nick Wooster demonstrates his flair for fashion and eye for detail by co-curating a dedicated space for modern men’s wardrobe essentials at Lane Crawford IFC Mall, where Wooster + Lardini, his eclectic collaboration with Italian brand Lardini, is also showcased.

    The dapper Wooster will also make a personal appearance at Lane Crawford ifc mall for an exclusive styling session and cocktail party on August 13.

  • Hang Lung posts strong result

    Hang Lung posts strong result

    Hong Kong listed Chinese mall owner Hang Lung Group has reported a three per cent rise in turnover in the first half of 2015.

    The group said revenue reached HK$4.893 billion, with rental turnover up eight per cent to HK$4.148 billion. Property sales income decreased 17 per cent to HK$745 million due to the sale of fewer residential units.

    Overall operating profit of the group increased by three per cent to HK$3.725 billion.

    In Mainland China the group says it has benefited from increased investment in the Chinese market by luxury brands.

    “Our seven shopping malls in mainland China collectively posted an 11 per cent rental income growth to HK$1.684 billion,” the company said in its stock exchange filing.

    That portfolio comprises two malls each in Shanghai and Shenyang, and one each in Jinan, Wuxi and Tianjin. The two malls in Shanghai, Plaza 66 and Grand Gateway 66, contributed nine per cent more in rents to HK$1.059 billion and were almost fully let.

    “The young malls outside Shanghai cumulatively contributed 16 per cent more in rents year-on-year mainly attributable to contribution from the Riverside 66 shopping mall in Tianjin which commenced operation last September. All the young malls are going through different stages of gestation period with ongoing tenants or trade adjustments. Their occupancy rates ranged from 80 per cent to 90 per cent.”

    In Hong Kong, rental turnover of our diversified Hong Kong leasing portfolio rose seven per cent to HK$1.816 billion against the backdrop of declining overall retail sales in the local market.

    “All business segments of our portfolio recorded growth with total profit rose seven per cent to HK$1.556 billion. The resulting leasing margin was 86 per cent.”

    Positive rental reversions of Hang Lung’s Hong Kong commercial portfolio generated six per cent more in rents to HK$1.040 billion.

    “All the malls, which are situated in prime locations of Hong Kong, were virtually fully let. Grand Plaza in Mongkok and Amoy Plaza in Kowloon East both enjoyed a 13 per cent rental growth. The Causeway Bay commercial portfolio posted a five per cent rental income growth, despite Hang Lung Centre has been closed for renovation by H&M since January 2015.

    “The properties in Central collected seven per cent more in rents. The Peak Galleria at the

    Peak contributed extra five per cent leasing income to the Group. Kornhill Plaza, our regional mall in Hong Kong East, posted a stable rental growth of four per cent during the period.”

    Hang Lung said final preparations are underway for the opening of its shopping mall at Olympia 66 in Dalian towards the end of the year. This new mall comprises almost 222,000 sqm of retail area and 1200 car parks.

  • Mini ‘ocean worlds’ for China malls

    Mini ‘ocean worlds’ for China malls

    Hong Kong listed theme park operator Haichang Holdings has revealed a plan to open ‘mini ocean worlds’ in China malls.

    In an interview with the South China Morning Post, CEO Wang Xuguang said the company has decided to embark on a new growth strategy rather than copying rival developers pursuing the “bigger is better” course.

    “We had heated discussions when mulling over development, but we decided to follow a light-asset strategy rather than building more large parks like others are doing,” he told the newspaper.

    With more and more theme parks opening outside major Chinese cities – the new Disney World under construction in Shanghai the most publicised example, Haichang is wary of over supplying the market. So rather than build massive parks to attract customers, it wants instead to take the parks to the people.

    “We believe there’ll be projects running into trouble over the coming few years. We will keep a close eye on any acquisition opportunities in the market.”

    Wang said his company also plans to offer its operational experience and know-how to other park operators or shopping centres who want to set up small aquariums.

    “Today in China developers are building their parks bigger and bigger using renowned foreign design companies and purchasing quality equipment from around the world, but a successful amusement park is not just a matter of money,” he said.

    Haichang Holdings currently runs seven marine-themed parks in eastern and southern Mainland China cities, along with another Disney-style attraction. It has two under construction: Dream World in Sanya, on Hainan Island, and Polar Ocean Park at Shanghai, some 30 minutes from the new Disney attraction.

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  • Swire unveils HKRI Taikoo Hui

    Swire unveils HKRI Taikoo Hui

    HKR International and Swire Properties  have jointly revealed the name of their Shanghai joint-venture project: HKRI Taikoo Hui.

    The large-scale mixed-use development formerly known as the Dazhongli project, is located on Nanjing Road (West), one of Shanghai’s major shopping thoroughfares, in the Jingan District of Puxi, Shanghai.  It will have a gross floor area of some 3.46 million sq ft (approximately 321,200 sqm) and comprise a retail mall, two office towers and three hotels/serviced apartments.

    It is served by three metro lines – the existing Line 2 and two planned Lines 12 and 13 due to open in 2015-2016. The development is also close to the Yanan and N-S Elevated Highways, providing good accessibility to downtown locations and Pudong and Hongqiao International Airports.

    “The project is poised to become a landmark development in the heart of Shanghai and will inject new excitement into the retail, dining and entertainment scene in the buzzing Nanjing Road (West) neighbourhood,” the two companies said in a statement.

    “As the founding partner of the project, we have come a long way since acquiring the Dazhongli site in 2002. With great pleasure, we announce the launch of HKRI Taikoo Hui together with Swire Properties, our partner since 2006,” said Cha Mou Zing Victor, deputy chairman & MD of HKR International.

    “We look forward to the imminent completion of the mixed-use commercial development, which is set to become the next focal point for business and leisure activities in Shanghai with its prime location and excellent connectivity.”

    Guy Bradley, Swire Properties CEO, said the project is being built in the most vibrant district of an amazing city and will be the last major development in the Jingan District.

    “We intend to make it a spectacular addition, and I am confident that HKRI Taikoo Hui will become a new lifestyle destination and a premium business address in Shanghai.”

    Hong Kong listed HKR International has diversified interests in real estate development and investment, property management, luxury hotels and serviced apartments, healthcare services and other investments in Hong Kong, Mainland China and across Asia.

    Also listed in Hong Kong, Swire Properties develops and manages commercial, retail, hotel and residential properties, with a particular focus on mixed-use developments in prime locations. Its properties include Taikoo Place, Cityplaza and Pacific Place.

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  • KFC China accepts Alipay

    KFC China accepts Alipay

    More than 700 KFC China stores have started to accept customer payments via Alipay’s smartphone-based payment technology.

    The stores, in Shanghai and Zhejiang Province are the first of some 5000 outlets across Mainland China which will adopt the payment option in coming months.

    The the partnership with Alibaba, KFC China customers can pay for their meals in local KFC restaurants by using the Alipay Wallet app on their smartphones. The cashless payment solution is expected to enhance operational efficiency of the fast food chain.

    The tie-up with KFC is the first major move of the newly established Koubei, a 50-50 joint venture between Alibaba Group and its affiliate Ant Financial that focuses on increasing the availability of local services through O2O (online-to-offline) eCommerce.

    Koubei plans to integrate Alibaba’s existing food ordering and delivery service Taodiandian and Ant Financial’s merchant services.

    KFC China, which launched in 1987, has been upgrading its restaurants for mobile commerce. Wi-Fi is now available in 2200 KFC China outlets and the company has launched a mobile application for food ordering in Shanghai and Hangzhou.

    According to iResearch, Alipay, a subsidiary of Ant Financial, accounted for 82 per cent of China’s third-party mobile payment sector in 2014. In May, 25 Walmart supermarkets and hypermarkets in Shenzhen began accepting Alipay’s mobile payments.

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  • Don’t blame the graft clampdown

    Don’t blame the graft clampdown

    Don’t blame the graft clampdown for falling retail gross sales in China, Hong Kong and Macau, says a number one Shanghai retail professional.

    With a inhabitants of over 1.36 billion and with over 160 cities with a inhabitants of over 1 million, the alternatives that China presents retailers with are monumental. That’s why many worldwide retailers now contemplate it a precedence market.

    During the last 24 months, numerous the world’s most famous manufacturers have introduced that they’re experiencing a troublesome time in China and are both scaling again their operations or closing their China enterprise.

    So why are these retailers struggling when others proceed to develop a worthwhile enterprise?

    Within the report, ‘Nobody stated that it might be straightforward: Methods to crack the China Retail Market’, CR Retail’s MD James Rogers, has hung out analysing retailer’s methods and behavior, figuring out the important thing causes behind these failures.

    “Quite a lot of retailers regularly blame the anti-graft measures for the slowdown nevertheless it’s CR Retail’s view that these are solely partly accountable’ says Rogers.

    “We see the problems beginning quite a bit earlier with the retailers failing to understand the complexities and challenges concerned with opening there.”

    Based on the report, CR Retail consider that there are 15 questions that must be requested previous to getting into the market starting from figuring out one’s audience to figuring out whether or not the model will journey and, whether or not the buyer is definitely prepared.

    “When talking with retailers it’s astounding what number of new entrants haven’t considered a few of these points,” provides Rogers.

    “They consider the parable that a retailer can simply open a retailer just like what they function in different markets and the shoppers will come flooding in. Typically this couldn’t be farther from the reality.”

    There have been numerous examples of shops saying very aggressive enlargement plans however only a few truly obtain them.

    “When retailers announce their enlargement plans for the China market, it is rather shortly obvious how good an understanding they’ve of what lies forward.” says Rogers. “Retailers are sometimes drawn by the numbers and whereas the market is getting simpler to function in, the competitors stays fierce.”

    In 2014, China recorded on-line gross sales of US$427 billion making it the most important on-line retail market on the earth.

    “No matter your on-line technique at residence, if establishing your self in China, you can’t afford to disregard the eCommerce market. It’s a key pillar of China’s retail market.” provides Rogers.

    As with bodily bricks-and-mortar shops, China’s eCommerce market may be equally as difficult. One must firstly decide whether or not you’re to launch your personal native website or have your merchandise bought by way of a 3rd social gathering platform. In that case, which one? How are you to speak with the buyer and draw them to the place your merchandise are being bought?

    “The methods by which a retailer engages with the Chinese language shopper are totally different. A social media presence is vital, nevertheless there isn’t a Fb or Twitter. Retailers subsequently have to familiarise themselves with the native platforms,” continues Rogers.

    With China’s retail market nonetheless considered immature, Rogers advises retailers ought to assume long-term.

    “The US retailers are notably good at this in comparison with their European counterparts. They respect how lengthy it has taken to construct a robust enterprise at residence and are typically extra affected person. Whereas turning into spoilt for selection, the buyer continues to be studying. Rome wasn’t inbuilt a day and nor will a retailer’s China enterprise.

    “It ought to be remembered nevertheless, establishing a profitable presence in China will even drive gross sales in different worldwide markets. Subsequently conceding defeat and retrenching ought to be a final resort.”

    Endurance and a long-term technique are key to succeeding in China. Success won’t simply assist the native market however may even drive gross sales in retailer’s different worldwide markets.

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  • Wangfujing, Bailian to launch 300 retailer China chain

    Wangfujing, Bailian to launch 300 retailer China chain

    Wangfujing Division Retailer, Bailian Group and Li & Fung plan to launch a 300-strong chain of retail shops in China in a three-way three way partnership.

    The businesses say they plan to “rework China’s retail business” by way of enhancing provide chain effectivity.

    Li & Fung Buying and selling (China) Holdings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong listed Li & Fung stated the JV can be based mostly within the Shanghai free commerce zone.

    Li & Fung could have a minority 20 per cent curiosity within the new enterprise, with the bulk evenly balanced between the opposite events.

    The core enterprise of the JV shall be creating and managing personal labels and licensed manufacturers. Within the first three-year plan, the JV will concentrate on menswear, womenswear, childrenswear and residential merchandise, creating as much as three personal labels and as much as six licensed manufacturers. It “might contain” the opening of as much as 300 shops or store-in-stores and realising as much as 1 billion yuan in gross sales.

    Li & Fung will use its international sourcing experience to design, supply and produce personal labels and licensed manufacturers tailor-made to the retail companions’ necessities.

    The corporate says the partnership displays the growing competitors in a fast-evolving retail market and the rising significance of eCommerce that are driving Chinese language multi-brand retailers to look to develop personal and proprietary manufacturers with which to distinguish themselves from rivals, improve margins and enhance buyer loyalty.

    “In the long term, the JV goals to be on the forefront of a brand new breed of brand name improvement and administration corporations giving robust own-brand capabilities to conventional retailers that may contribute to the transformation and sustainable improvement of China’s retail business,” Li & Fung stated in a press release.

    “Via this strategic partnership, Li & Fung is ready to prolong the worldwide provide chain into a considerable retail community that serves a big rising center class in China,” stated William Fung, group chairman.

    “The three way partnership goals to introduce globally sourced merchandise that provide Chinese language shoppers a greater variety of overseas items,” he added.

    Shanghai Bailian Group owns greater than 6 million sqm of economic area, with 5000 gross sales retailers in additional than 20 provinces and cities all through China, masking quite a lot of retail codecs together with malls, supermarkets, comfort shops, purchasing malls, low cost shops and franchise shops. Its basic merchandise division operates 47 department shops in China, together with Shanghai First Division Retailer, Wing On Division Retailer, No. 1 Yaohan Division Retailer, Oriental Division Retailer, Bailian Buying Mall and Bailian Retailers.

    Beijing Wangfujing Division Retailer operates 45 chain shops in numerous retail codecs in 30 cities, together with department shops, purchasing malls, retailers and eCommerce.

  • Disney Shanghai names first mall tenants

    Disney Shanghai names first mall tenants

    The primary tenants of shopping center beneath development on the Shanghai Disney Resort, have been revealed.

    The buying precinct, named Disneytown, will host 50 tenants in a 46,000 sqm outside way of life mall accessible from the adjoining theme park and inside strolling distance of the Shanghai Disneyland Lodge and Toy Story Lodge. The whole improvement is on monitor to open within the second quarter of 2016.

    The tenants simply named embrace well-known native and worldwide manufacturers together with eating places Shanghai Min, Crystal Jade, and The Cheesecake Manufacturing unit operated by Hong Kong Maxim’s Group, in addition to numerous retail choices together with shops beneath I.T group, i.t and Bape Retailer, and a Lego retailer. Different high-profile manufacturers together with Meals Republic, Coconut Paradise, The Eating Room, Hatsune, Blue Frog, Xin Wang Restaurant, BreadTalk, Toast Field, and Chow Tai Fook will even be the primary of a number of dozen tenants that may work intently with Shanghai Disney Resort to supply world-class purchasing and eating choices.

    Purchasing, eating and leisure areas are key options of Disney resorts all over the world, serving to friends take pleasure in an built-in resort expertise alongside world-class theme parks and motels.

    Whereas situated subsequent to the theme park, there can be no entry payment to the mall, making it a vacation spot in its personal proper.

    “Shanghai Disney Resort has labored intently with Chinese language and worldwide companions to develop new, recent and thrilling variations of those manufacturers for visitors visiting Disneytown,” stated Philippe Fuel, GM of Shanghai Disney Resort.

    “This space will supply a particular Disney expertise, treating visitors by each day and night time to nice eating, purchasing and leisure amid lovely open-air promenades and lakeshore allure.”

    With Chinese language friends in thoughts, Disneytown has been designed by a world artistic workforce to exhibit the right mix of Disney traditions and basic Chinese language and Shanghai design and cultural parts, together with conventional Shikumen structure in homage to the distinctive heritage of Shanghai. Disneytown can be composed of 5 distinct districts, together with Lakeshore, Market, Spice Alley, Broadway Boulevard, and Broadway Plaza, to create quite a lot of experiences and distinctive choices inside every district.

    Tenants of Disneytown will work intently with Shanghai Disney Resort to offer unique eating, purchasing and leisure experiences by tailoring each element of the venues – from the decorations to menu design.

    Eating choices will range throughout the districts. Visitors might take pleasure in fantastic eating experiences at upscale desk service eating places within the romantic theatre district, Broadway Plaza, the place Shanghai Min and Crystal Jade will present genuine Shanghainese and Cantonese delicacies with beautiful views of Shanghai Disneyland from each balconies. The primary Asia flagship restaurant of The Cheesecake Manufacturing unit operated by Hong Kong Maxim’s Group and Blue Frog’s new-concept restaurant will probably be featured in Broadway Boulevard. Spice Alley will supply quite a lot of fashionable Asian cuisines in an off-the-cuff, but eclectic and enjoyable surroundings and its eating experiences will supply one thing for everybody, together with distinctive Southeast Asian delicacies and native Chinese language delights from Meals Republic, Thai meals from Coconut Paradise and new Shanghainese dim sum and delicacies from The Eating Room. Informal eating experiences shall be offered in Market by Xin Wang Restaurant, the all-day Cantonese tea home, in addition to recent bakeries BreadTalk and Toast Field.

    Visitors may also be capable of expertise quite a lot of waterfront eating choices within the Lakeshore district reminiscent of California-style Japanese restaurant Hatsune, whereas having fun with views of each the lake and the Enchanted Storybook Fort to the north and the Shanghai Disneyland Lodge to the south.

    Shanghai Disney Resort is a three way partnership between The Walt Disney Firm and Shanghai Shendi Group.

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  • La Chapelle takes Jack Stroll stake

    La Chapelle takes Jack Stroll stake

    Shanghai La Chapelle Style has taken a controlling stake in high quality mens’ style label Jack Stroll.

    The Hong Kong-listed firm has paid RMB 75 million for a 69.12 per cent share of the six yr previous Jack Stroll Shanghai enterprise which produces casualwear, sport, denim and enterprise. attire and has its personal retail chain.

    La Chapelle says the funding is in keeping with its product-oriented technique in addition to its core values of “cost-effectiveness, trend, high quality”, which can assist strengthen the group’s place in mass-market casualwear phase.

    Because the introduction of its male attire merchandise in 2011, La Chapelle has been actively cultivating its menswear manufacturers and continuously looking for for alternatives to develop new model to be able to improve its market share in menswear market.

    “The core administration workforce of Jack Stroll had labored in numerous well-known worldwide fast-fashion corporations together with Uniqlo and possesses ample hands-on expertise within the business,” La Chapelle stated in a press release.

    “The funding in Jack Stroll will additional enrich the product mixture of the group and speed up the implementation of its multi-brand technique. Leveraging on La Chapelle’s in depth distribution channel and aggressive provide chain functionality, the funding is predicted to reinforce Jack Stroll’s speedy enlargement and margin enchancment,” stated the assertion.

    “With the rising male inhabitants in China, the change within the attire consumption preferences for male shoppers and a big improve in buying energy, China’s informal menswear and enterprise informal menswear market has been rising quickly, and is predicted to proceed its secure progress,” stated Wang Yong, government VP of La Chapelle.

    “The core members of Jack Stroll have years of operational expertise in worldwide fast-fashion corporations. They’re the specialists in working ‘brief, cost-effective, quick’ enterprise, which is appropriate for present fast-fashion market. Then again, their in depth expertise in product improvement and model administration allows them to intently comply with market developments and develop merchandise which are according to the wants of mass shoppers.

    “As one of many essential steps in La Chapelle’s multi-brand technique, investing in high quality menswear model Jack Stroll will certainly increase the enterprise progress of the group,” he concluded.

    Based in 2001, Shanghai La Chapelle Trend designs, markets and sells attire merchandise with a give attention to mass-market women’ casualwear. The group has eight manufacturers (5 ladieswear manufacturers, two menswear manufacturers, one childrenswear model): La Chapelle, La Chapelle Sport, 7.Modifier, Candie’s, La Babite, La Chapelle Homme, Pote and La Chapelle Youngsters.

    As of the top of 2014, the group’s had 6887 retail factors in some 2200 places, comprising primarily department shops and purchasing malls, in cities throughout all 31 provinces, autonomous areas and municipalities within the PRC.

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  • Nickelodeon seems to be to comply with Disney into China

    Nickelodeon seems to be to comply with Disney into China

    Childrens’ TV channel Nickelodeon has revealed it might open one in every of its worldwide flagship shops in Shanghai.

    In that case, the US-based subsidiary of Viacom, can be following Disney into China’s business capital, Shanghai. Disney opened in Might and queues have shaped day by day outdoors the shop as consumers take pleasure in each the partaking setting and the merchandise impressed by cartoon characters.

    Nickelodeon owns the cartoon ideas SpongeBob Squarepants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ren & Stimpy and Dora the Explorer, amongst others.

    Subsequent week, Nickelodeon opens a flagship retailer in London’s Leicester Sq., (pictured above in an artist’s rendering) following profitable retail ventures in Riyadh, Honduras and Panama through the previous yr.

    In contrast to Disney, Nickelodeon works with a franchise companion fairly than run its retail operations immediately, nevertheless it stays closely concerned within the design, conceptualisation, match out and merchandising.

    Ron Johnson, government vp of shopper merchandise at Viacom Worldwide Media Networks, informed the Hollywood Reporter the London retailer was its first flagship.

    “That is our first retailer that may be a vacation spot retailer, together with nice shopper interplay on video screens, fixtures like Dora’s tree and a pineapple that’s from Bikini Backside,” stated. “We undoubtedly see flagship shops as a progress car and dealing for us in the proper markets the world over.”

    Three extra Nickelodeon shops are deliberate for 2015. Whereas no announcement has been made concerning the places of these, Johnson confirmed “we’re undoubtedly taking a look at locations like Dubai, Shanghai, Paris and Milan”.

    ‎The London retailer ranges London and UK-themed merchandise that includes the model’s characters – gadgets similar to a SpongeBob toy with a bearskin hat and a T-shirt that includes a SpongeBob-adaptation of The Beatles’ well-known Abbey Street album.

    Nickelodeon’s characters function in merchandise bought by many retailers within the Uk, together with grocery store big Tesco. However Johnson says 80 per cent of the flagship’s inventory might be unique.

    Leicester Sq. was chosen as a result of it has a footfall of greater than 35,000 pedestrians every day, a big proportion of them vacationers, permitting the model to succeed in markets aside from the UK. Such a choice may be an indicator of most popular places for the model in different retail markets like Shanghai.

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  • Metro AG to open imported items retailer in FTZ

    Metro AG to open imported items retailer in FTZ

    German retailer group Metro AG is planning to open an imported items specialty retailer inside Shanghai’s Free Commerce Zone by the top of this yr to seize a slice of the booming imported items market.

    Metro AG stated it expects e-commerce transaction might make up as a lot as 10 % of its general revenue in China inside one or two years.

    “We’ll shift our focus to enlargement from opening new shops to renovating present ones to raised go well with e-commerce consumers. For the web enterprise, we additionally hope to focus on extra company shoppers with a view to assure our revenue margin,” president of Metro Money & Carry China Jeroen de Groot informed a press briefing right now.

    It’s nonetheless discussing the small print with the Shanghai FTZ authorities relating to the availability chain and stock administration amenities.

    The corporate at present unveiled a modern format of its on-line buying website that permits consumers to select their close by department for simpler supply and a real-time reflection of merchandise in inventory.

    Tao Yuan, basic supervisor of Metro Money & Cary’s e-commerce unit, stated supply for particular person consumers might be dealt with by native courier agency SF Categorical and Zhaijisong Categorical Supply.

    By the top of this yr, it hopes to cowl altogether 80 Metro retailers in China in 56 cities. At present it’s obtainable to shoppers in 21 cities.

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  • ​Disney opens its largest store in Shanghai

    ​Disney opens its largest store in Shanghai

    Disney’s first retail store in China is in the Pudong district of Shanghai.

    The Walt Disney Co. has opened its first Disney Store in China, a 9,257-square-feet store in Shanghai that is the company’s largest retail store in the world.

    The new store, opened May 20, comes as Disney strives to tap into China’s growing middle class. The store is in Shanghai’s Pudong district, where Disney plans to open a $5.5 billion theme park next year.

    Disney said an estimated 40 million tourists visit Pudong’s Lujiazui shopping area, where the store is located.

    “We couldn’t be more delighted to open our first Disney Store in China, in Shanghai,” Paul Candland, Disney’s Asia-Pacific region president, said in a statement. “Disney Store plays a critical role in how millions around the world experience our brand and allows kids, young adults and families to have a uniquely fun and immersive experience while shopping for their favorite Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars products.”

    The new Shanghai store showcases a 19-foot castle at the heart of the store, featuring an hourly musical and projection show, and a Marvel-themed area with hand-sculpted statues of superheroes. Its exterior includes a landscaped plaza and Mickey Mouse-shaped roof sculpted with 8,000 LED lights visible from key tourism points such as the Pearl Tower.

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  • China’s on-line cross-border buying growth

    China’s on-line cross-border buying growth

    Guangzhou has taken the lead in a pilot cross-border purchasing eCommerce scheme, offering each challenges and large alternatives for Hong Kong companies.

    Cross-border on-line purchasing is more and more in style on the Chinese language mainland. Generally known as haitao, the apply permits shoppers to order merchandise by way of abroad on-line buying platforms, and have their purchases dispatched by worldwide couriers or collected and shipped to China by forwarding brokers. Its reputation has been spurred by the comparatively restricted vary of abroad items out there throughout the mainland and the premium costs of such gadgets when obtainable.

    A number of mainland cities have been authorised to hitch the pilot program for cross-border e-commerce. However solely six cities – Shanghai, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Zhengzhou and Guangzhou – have been assigned the proper to undertake complete import-export actions. This has given these cities the prospect to determine typical retailers designed to facilitate abroad on-line purchasing. Guangzhou has been on the forefront of maximising this chance.

    Three cross-border eCommerce companies – MeijoyBest (Guangzhou MeijoyBest E-commerce Co Ltd), zero20 (Guangzhou Lingerling Cross-Border E-Commerce Co) and Ieasy (Guangzhou Yangxitai E-Commerce Co Ltd) – lately commenced operation within the metropolis. A fourth, Nansha Cross-Border Direct Purchasing Expertise Centre, will open shortly. On its first day of buying and selling, almost 100,000 individuals visited MeijoyBest’s 230 sqm retailer, a transparent indication of the large demand in Guangdong for imported items.

    1. Decrease costs

    General, costs are typically some 30 to 60 per cent cheaper than comparable items obtainable elsewhere. In line with the procedures for basic commerce, imported items are required to pay three taxes – a customs tariff, VAT and a consumption tax.

    The tax charges differ in line with the class of the products. The tax price for cosmetics, for instance, might be as excessive as 50 per cent. Moreover, each logistics step within the distribution of a product, from the importing agent to wholesalers and retailers, provides to the general value.

    As abroad on-line bodily shops place orders on-line and gather items offline, the one tax payable is on baggage and private postal articles, thus significantly decreasing the general tax burden. Moreover, these shops are entitled to supply tax exemptions for single purchases valued beneath Rmb50. This, along with the shortage of a day by day ceiling (although every buy might not exceed Rmb1000 in worth and the unit worth of indivisible commodities might not exceed Rmb1000), drastically boosts shopper’s inclination to spend.

    The tax on baggage and private postal articles is a type of import tax levied by the Chinese language customs on baggage and articles carried by incoming travellers, in addition to on private postal articles. This tax has 4 tax bands – 10 per cent (meals, toys, and books and periodicals), 20 per cent (textiles, residence electrical home equipment and audio-visual gear), 30 per cent (high-end watches and golf golf equipment), and 50 per cent (tobacco, wine and spirits, and cosmetics).

    2. Peace of thoughts and authenticity

    There have been some situations of eCommerce websites promoting counterfeit items in recent times. There have additionally been many instances the place individuals didn’t obtain items that they had paid for. These incidents have prompted shoppers to return to bodily retail channels, that are perceived as decrease danger. Sometimes, shoppers have larger religion in items they will contact and look at and that they will pay for on the spot.

    Gross sales at abroad on-line bodily shops are monitored in real-time by the related authorities departments. The sources and high quality of products and the monitoring procedures are extra clear than is the case with online-only buying, thus they’re extra dependable. Guangdong shoppers appear to have welcomed these abroad on-line buying bodily shops as a most popular and extra reliable buy route.

    three. On-site assortment

    In accordance with Tao Zili, chairman of Meijoybest E-Commerce Co, on-site pick-up is simply attainable on the firm’s bodily retailer within the Guangzhou Bonded Space. Its Guangzhou Pearl River New Metropolis retailer nonetheless has to dispatch on-line orders to shoppers. Upon customs approval, the acquisition is dispatched from the bonded space and delivered by the suitable logistics corporations. This course of takes as much as 48 hours, quicker than the prevailing supply association for items bought at abroad on-line buying web sites. The corporate is constructing a 50,000sqm abroad on-line purchasing bodily retailer within the Guangzhou Bonded Space, which is because of open subsequent month. This new retailer will permit on-site pick-up and supply buyers with an expertise similar to that of typical purchasing. The power is predicted to offer a further increase to the uptake of abroad on-line purchasing within the metropolis.

    The bodily retailer at Pearl River New Metropolis is, actually, primarily a promotional outlet for its abroad on-line shopping center within the bonded zone. To draw clients, the Pearl River New Metropolis retailer has a “obligation paid part”. All items bought right here have the three taxes pre-paid and can be found for instant on-site assortment. The disadvantage is that costs are similar to typical market costs elsewhere within the metropolis.

    four Eradicating language and transaction obstacles

    Most abroad eCommerce websites, sometimes that includes an English interface, will not be obtainable in Mandarin. If shoppers encounter issues with their purchases, they need to make long-distance calls and talk with the seller who typically doesn’t converse Chinese language. As well as, most of the bank cards issued by mainland banks are usually not accepted by abroad purchasing web sites. Establishing abroad on-line buying bodily shops on the mainland addresses each of those issues.

    When it comes to Hong Kong companies, the emergence of those shops has two clear implications:

    1. Fewer cross-border purchasing journeys by Guangdong residents

    Whereas costs for many items at these shops are greater than these for comparable items in Hong Kong (after taking the tax on baggage and private postal articles under consideration), if journey time and prices are factored in, it’s nonetheless cheaper than buying immediately in Hong Kong. This can inevitably have an effect on Hong Kong’s retail enterprise and scale back commerce between the 2 cities. It might, nevertheless, assist to alleviate Hong Kong’s gray market items drawback.

    2. Larger entry to home gross sales channels

    Provided that there are not any restrictions on the sorts of products bought in these shops, there’s appreciable scope for Hong Kong-sourced gadgets.  Tao, for example, welcomes the chance for elevated cooperation with Hong Kong suppliers. As MeijoyBest will maintain points referring to taxation, promotion, advertising and logistics, this provides Hong Kong companies that haven’t any advertising community in Guangdong a streamlined route into the huge mainland market.

    When it comes to the operation of those shops, Tao believes there are three key parts required for fulfillment – a vendor system (administration of provide and suppliers); a gross sales system (eCommerce platform and cost system); and a logistics system (administration of dispatch and transportation of products). These all require customs approval and should adjust to the related customs monitoring techniques.

    Whereas Tao was reluctant to reveal the precise quantity of funding required to ship this, he did point out that an eight-figure sum went into creating these three techniques over the previous two years.

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  • Disney China to open international flagship

    Disney China to open international flagship

    US leisure icon Walt Disney will open the world’s largest Disney retail retailer in China subsequent week.

    The 5000 sqm Disney Retailer Lujiazui is described as a “state-of-the-art” retail area that includes Disney merchandise.. However only one fifth of the area – 1000sqm – will show merchandise on the market, with the remaining created as an outside plaza and a Disney expertise.

    Disney China government VP and MD Stanley Cheung, who signed the contract for the shop again in 2013 stated the model needed to mix the retail idea with “storytelling, enjoyable and innovation”. He promised a vacation spot which would offer households with a singular leisure vacation spot “that includes its best-loved tales and characters”.

    Households and youngsters will be capable of work together with characters from Disney, Star Wars, Marvel and Pixar.

    “The flagship Disney retailer will function the most important and most numerous assortment of Disney merchandise by native and worldwide designers,” stated Cheung.

    In the meantime, Shanghai’s new Disney Resort is underneath development with a gap date scheduled for the primary half of 2016.

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