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Tag: Singapore

  • Multi-label boutiques stand out with mix of local and Asian labels

    Multi-label boutiques stand out with mix of local and Asian labels

    A handful of retailers here are out to prove that home-grown and Asian fashion designers can hold their own against their international counterparts. These multi-label boutiques carry either purely Singapore and Asian brands, or a selection of such labels mixed with international ones. Such stores include SocietyA, Revolte x SheShops, L'armoire, Keepers and W.E. Workshop Element. Trixilini, previously at Millenia Walk, will reopen at Scotts Square on Saturday, carrying a handful of home-grown labels alongside international ones. Ms Pek Lay Peng, 31, says she set up SocietyA because "we saw a growth in Asian designers well trained in the fashion industry, but under-represented. We want to dispel the misconception that Asian designers are not of international standards". SocietyA, which started as an e-commerce site in 2014, has a showroom in Race Course Road. It started with 13 home-grown and Asian brands. It now has 25, including Singapore womenswear label Aijek and jewellery brand Diliya B, and South Korean labels Soulpot Studio and Grace Raiment. Jewellery designer Carolyn Kan, 43, who started design collective Keepers in 2011 and recently opened a permanent space for it at the National Design Centre, says the market is ripe for concept stores to cast the spotlight on Asian and Singapore designers. She says: "There are more strong Asian designers to choose from and a growing pool of Singaporeans who seek home-grown brands with unique and well-made designs." She names womenswear brand In Good Company, bag designer Ling Wu and watch brand Hypergrand as home-grown brands to watch, as they "know how to balance unique design aesthetic with commercial know-how and are focused on sustainable growth". Ms Vivian Lim, 26, product and brand development manager of Revolte, says Revolte x SheShops gives Singapore designers a platform to showcase and sell their designs. The store is a joint venture set up last year by Singapore retail brand Revolte and SheShops, an SPH Magazines-owned fashion e-commerce site. It carries nine home-grown labels, including Revolte. She says: "Our customers are a mix of Singaporeans and tourists, which gives the labels good exposure." Revolte x SheShops has two outlets, at Wheelock Place and Raffles City. A third is in the works. Designers are all for being stocked at such multi-label boutiques as it helps them save on operating costs and widens their customer reach. Eight Slate designer Savina Chai, 22, says she previously sold mainly to customers who were "more experimental with trends" when her womenswear brand was available only at the brand's online store. But since being carried at Revolte x SheShops, she says her customers now include more "mature women aged 35 to 45 who go for pieces that are timeless and work-appropriate". However, multi-label fashion boutiques championing Singapore and Asian designers say business can be challenging, especially in this tough retail climate. In October last year, 5,000 sq ft multi-label store Mporium opened at Suntec City, carrying more than 35 Asian and Singapore brands such as Aijek, Amos Ananda and Q Menswear. It closed in April. Owner Jennifer Yii declines to share why it closed, but says she is moving into e-commerce. Mr Alfie Leong, 46, founder of W.E. Workshop Element, which has branches at Suntec City and 313@Somerset, says there are times when the retailer does not turn in a profit, especially when the brands it carries do not have new stock to sell, leading to a sales dip. He says: "It boils down to time management and decisions on production and design. If designers have no stock to sell, they might miss out on peak periods such as Chinese New Year or Christmas." Mr Leong, like other boutique owners interviewed, declines to give sales figures. Another challenge these retailers face is that Singaporeans are reluctant to shell out money for homegrown and Asian designers. Ms Lim says: "Many shoppers would rather pay a high price for established international brands or pennies for fast fashion." Founder of L'armoire, Mr Rocco Wu, in his 30s, agrees: "The majority prefer to spend money on a brand they are familiar with. Only a few would follow their heart and pay for a design that they like, regardless of the brand." Mr Walid Zaazaa, 38, director of multi-label shop Manifesto at Capitol Piazza, feels that to win customers and compete against global brands, Singaporean and Asian designers "have to be original and retail business ready". He says: "The only way for Asian designers to compete with international brands is to come up with original concepts and designs and not copy or follow their favourite brands. The most important factor is to not compromise on quality." His 14-month-old store carries only one Singapore label: biro. He says the menswear brand was chosen because "it has a timeless aesthetic and its focus on quality complements the rest of our international labels". Advocates of home-grown and Asian labels feel there is a demand from consumers who are bored with mass-market brands and want to stand out from the crowd. Operations manager Jade Khoo, 28, is a regular patron of SocietyA. She says: "The styles carried are not commonly seen in other stores, but yet are easy to pull off. I feel unique when I wear the clothes." Public relations freelancer Alicia Ali, 28, who shops at Keepers and lists Hypergrand and Malaysian womenswear designer Cassey Gan as her favourites, says: "Compared with mass-market brands, Singapore and Asian designers cater more to the Asian silhouette and because they produce their designs in limited quantities, I find that they are more exclusive." Six boutiques housing Asian brands 1 SocietyA What it carries: Modern and contemporary apparel and accessories from Singapore and Asian designers. Shop feminine lace dresses and jewellery from home-grown designers Aijek and Amado Gudek, or more colourful and graphic separates from South Korean label LIE. The store also carries PH5, a New York-based brand of knitwear by Chinese designer Mijia Zhang. Prices start from $39 for accessories and from $79 for apparel and shoes.
    Best buys: 3D-printed gold stainless steel earrings (above), $129, from Amado Gudek; and polyester jumpsuit (top), $519, from South Korean label Ti:Baeg Where: 452 Race Course Road, Level 2; open daily from 9am to 6pm, by appointment only
    2 W.E. Workshop Element What it carries: Mostly apparel and accessories for women from home-grown brands such as Sabrina Goh and the store's in-house label BSYM, which was formerly known as MU Apparel. It also carries Japanese label Nocturne #22 In C Sharp Minor , Op. Posth, as well as South Korean brand Headline Seoul. For men, there is a selection of shirts from Singapore menswear brand Sixth Empire. Prices range from $14 for a pair of socks to $249 for a polyester dress from home-grown brand Ying The Label.
    Best buys: Pleated multi-colour dress (top), $59.90, from MU Apparel; and striped tote bag with leather handles (above), $159, from Good Feel Where: 313@Somerset, 313 Orchard Road 02-25, open daily from 11am to 10pm, tel: 6509-1500; 438 Suntec City Tower 5, 3 Temasek Boulevard, 02-433, open daily from 11am to 9.30pm,
    3 Revolte x SheShops What it carries: Casual and slightly more dressy apparel and accessories from nine home-grown brands such as Eight Slate, Soigne and in-house label Revolte. There is also a small selection of skincare from South Korean brand Algovital Angel and menswear from home-grown label The Authority. Prices start at $35 for an envelope clutch from home-grown brand Pleatation to $796 for a lattice coat by Taiwanese label Nude made by Suoi.
    Best buys: Sleeveless grey knit top (top), $99, from Revolte; and red camisole (above), $52, from Soigne Where: Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road, 02-32, open daily from 11am to 10pm,
      4 Manifesto What it carries: Singapore menswear brand biro, which is known for its casual wear of cotton T-shirts and jeans, is stocked alongside Japanese labels such as menswear brand Omiyage, and cult European brands such as French labels Maison Kitsune and Lemaire. Luxury British eyewear label Linda Farrow and sneakers from brands such as adidas and Swear London are also stocked here. Prices range from $65 for a pair of plastic bathing shoes from British brand F-Troupe to $2,788 for a wool-knit winter jacket from French designer Isabel Marant.
    Best buys: Men's denim jacket (top), $519, from Japanese brand Talking About The Abstraction; and women's hibiscus print cotton shirt (above), $325, from Maison Kitsune Where: Capitol Piazza, 13 Stamford Road, 02-19; open: 11am to 9pm (Sunday to Thursday) and 11am to 10pm (Friday and Saturday)
    5 Trixilini What it carries: Womenswear from a range of international brands, such as New York-based Yumi Kim and Bali-based Uma & Leopold, and home-grown brands Aijek, Stolen and underwear brand Perk by Kate Intimates. Prices start from $129 for a top to $549 for a dress. Best buys: White sleeveless dress (top), $159, from Bali-based Paulina Katarina; and blue maxi dress (above), $469, from Yumi Kim Where: Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Road, 03-08; open: 10am to 8.30pm (Monday to Saturday), 11am to 8pm (Sunday and public holiday)
    6 L'armoire What it carries: Cutting-edge apparel, shoes and accessories from Asian and Western designers, such as Paris-based Korean designer Moon Young Hee and American fashion designer Rick Owens. About 60 per cent of the merchandise is for men. Prices range from $75 for a pair of cotton ankle socks from 11 by BBS, the contemporary diffusion line of Barcelona-based menswear designer Boris Bidjan Saberi, to $5,560 for a blue horse leather jacket, also by the same designer.
    Best buys: Cotton vest with plastic knit overlay (top), $1,550, from Moon Young Hee; and detachable patterned jogger pants (above), $615, from South Korean label D. Gnak Where: Raffles Hotel Shopping Arcade, 328 North Bridge Road, 02-25; open daily from noon to 8pm

  • Singapore economy grows 2.2% in Q2, beating expectations

    Singapore economy grows 2.2% in Q2, beating expectations

    The Singapore economy grew 2.2 per cent on a year-on-year basis in the second quarter, marginally higher than the 2.1 per cent expansion in the previous quarter and in line with analysts’ expectations, according to advance estimates from the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) on Thursday (Jul 14).

    On a quarter-on-quarter, seasonally adjusted and annualised basis, the economy expanded 0.8 per cent, an improvement from the 0.2 per cent growth in the first quarter.

    The figures were in line with analysts’ forecasts, with economists in a Reuters poll predicting a 2.2 per cent year-on-year growth and a 0.9 per cent growth on a quarterly basis.

    The manufacturing sector expanded by 0.8 per cent on a year-on-year basis, a reversal from the 0.5 per cent decline in the previous quarter. Growth was supported by an increase in the output of the biomedical manufacturing and electronics clusters, MTI said. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the sector grew at an annualised rate of 0.3 per cent, following the 18.4 per cent growth in the preceding quarter.

    The construction sector grew by 2.7 per cent, easing from the 4.5 per cent growth recorded in the previous quarter. The moderation in growth was largely due to a slowdown in private sector construction activities, the ministry said. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the sector expanded at an annualised rate of 0.6 per cent, lower than the 3.5 per cent expansion in the preceding quarter.

    Growth in the services-producing industries came in at 1.7 per cent, the same pace of growth as in the previous quarter. Growth was driven mainly by wholesale and retail trade, and the transportation and storage sector. Within the retail trade sector, growth was supported by strong motor vehicle sales. On a quarterly basis, the industry grew by 0.5 per cent, reversing the 4.8 per cent contraction in the preceding quarter.

    The advance GDP estimates were computed largely from data in the first two months of the quarter – in this case, April and May. They are intended as an early indication of the GDP growth in the quarter, and are subject to revision when more comprehensive data become available, said MTI.

    The preliminary GDP estimates for the second quarter, including performance by sectors, sources of growth, inflation, employment and productivity, will be released next month.

    GROWTH IN LINE WITH EXPECTATIONS, BUT LIKELY TO DETERIORATE: ANALYSTS

    Mizuho senior economist Vishnu Varathan said manufacturing primarily drove the improvement for the second quarter.

    “Manufacturing snapped six consecutive quarters of year-on-year contraction, to come into an expansion. It’s a modest expansion, but nonetheless a poignant one,” he said.

    The improvement of the economy in the second quarter, after the numbers for the first quarter were upwardly revised from 1.8 per cent to 2.1 per cent, probably framed a “stabilisation story” in Singapore’s growth, if not a slight improvement, added Mr Varathan.

    However, economists told us the recovery is likely to be tentative, with the volatile pharmaceuticals unlikely to sustain the lift in industrial production, while sectors like transport engineering and petrochemicals continue to show signs of weakness.

    On the external front, the impact from UK’s vote to leave the European Union is likely to be felt in the coming months, said Mr Brian Tan, Nomura Singapore’s Southeast Asia economist.

    “The Singapore economy is so open, not just to trade, but also from the financial market channels because we’re an international financial centre, so both these channels could have a very negative impact on the Singapore economy once Brexit has happened,” Mr Tan said.

    He added the impact may possibly be apparent in the July and August trade data, saying that “because of this, we worry that the growth outlook for Singapore will deteriorate over the coming quarters, especially when we get into the third quarter when the impact of Brexit might be a bit more visible.” 

    Amid ongoing macroeconomic risks and currency market volatility, observers also said the Monetary Authority of Singapore is likely to actively review the need to weaken the Singapore dollar.

    For the full year, the Government’s forecast is for Singapore’s economy to grow by between 1 and 3 per cent.

  • Chicken rice restaurant Pow Sing suspended for link to gastroenteritis outbreak

    Chicken rice restaurant Pow Sing suspended for link to gastroenteritis outbreak

    Pow Sing Restaurant along Serangoon Garden Way, known for its chicken rice, has been suspended due to links to several cases of gastroenteritis between Jul 4 and 11, the Ministry of Health (MOH), National Environment Agency (NEA), and Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said in a joint press release on Wednesday (Jul 13).

    As of Tuesday, 29 reported gastroenteritis cases have been verified and further investigations are ongoing, the authorities said.

    MOH, NEA and AVA were first notified of the cases on Jul 4 and had immediately conducted joint inspections of the restaurant’s premises the next day, they said.

    Several hygiene lapses, including a failure to maintain temperature records and allowing an unregistered food handler to prepare food, were observed, and the restaurant had been instructed to rectify them immediately, the agencies added.

    “There is reason to suspect that there might be a continuing source of infection in the premises,” the authorities stated, noting that they were alerted to another four cases on Jul 11, after checks were conducted.

    NEA suspended the 33-year-old restaurant starting Wednesday to protect consumers from public health risks, the agencies said. Pow Sing has also been instructed to dispose of all ready-to-eat and thawed food as well as perishable food items, conduct thorough cleaning and sanitising of its premises including equipment, utensils, work surfaces and toilets, and review and rectify the lapses in food preparation processes identified during the joint inspections.

    Meanwhile, AVA has collected food samples from the restaurant and is conducting laboratory tests on them, and MOH is screening stool samples from the affected cases and the restaurant’s food handlers. Only food handlers who are tested to be free of food poisoning pathogens and have re-attended and passed the Basic Food Hygiene Course will be allowed to resume work, the authorities said, adding that MOH and NEA will continue to monitor the situation closely.

    Based on the findings of the joint inspections, NEA will take necessary enforcement actions against the restaurant for hygiene infringements, the authorities said.

    “Food operators are also reminded to ensure that all food handlers are registered with the NEA and that they do not engage in any food preparation if they are sick. Food retail outlets are inspected regularly and strict enforcement action will be taken against any errant food retail outlets,” they added.

    Members of the public can report incidents related to food hygiene by calling the 24-hour NEA Contact Centre at 1800-CALL-NEA (1800-2255-632).

    RESTAURANT CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS: OWNER

    When Channel NewsAsia visited Pow Sing on Wednesday at around 8.50pm, the restaurant was shuttered and had notices outside indicating it was “closed for renovations” starting Wednesday.

    “We will resume our business once the renovation finishes. If there are any further delays we will keep you up to date,” the restaurant said in the notice.

    One of the two founders of the Pow Sing group, Lee Chin Soo, said the renovations of the restaurant had nothing to do with the gastroenteritis incidents and that he only found about the suspension on Tuesday morning.

    “It has already been so long; we have never done any sort of renovation. I took this chance and I wanted to change the seats and change the look of the restaurant. I took the chance to clean out everything that looks dirty,” he said.

    Mr Steven Tan, the other founder of the brand, is said to be overseas.

    Mr Lee said he wished to find out why the hygiene lapses happened, as it was the first time such a thing had happened at the restaurant in its 30-plus years of operations.

    “NEA and MOH have not gotten back to us about the cause, and I really do not have much information but I would like to know more. I will take more steps in future to look at everything more closely,” he said.

    He added that he would not “run away” and would face his responsibilities.

    “The employees here have been with me for a very long time, I also stop by often … I have been serving chicken rice since I was young,” Mr Lee said.

    Meanwhile, a manager of Pow Sing Kitchen, also under the Pow Sing group, said it had a separate kitchen from Pow Sing Restaurant and was run by different management, even though they reported to the same bosses. Pow Sing Kitchen, which was still open on Wednesday night, is not affected by the closure, said the manager, who only wanted to be known as “Tommy”.

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  • Welcoming Australian FreakShakes in Asia

    Welcoming Australian FreakShakes in Asia

    Milkshake treats known as FreakShakes, devised by suburban cafe in the Australian capital of Canberra, have started making inroads to Asia.

    Patissez became a social-media sensation last year when it introduced its signature milkshakes piled with cookies, pretzels and even slabs of cake. Also known for its cakes and desserts, the family-owned patisserie was besieged by queues, so a second store was opened in the centre of the city.

    Now its first store outside Australia has been attracting crowds since opening in Kuala Lumpur last month.
    “We’re thrilled. The team in Kuala Lumpur is excellent,” says owner Anna Petridis. “The store is on Jalan Talawi, Bangsar Village, and it’s beautiful – everything a Patissez store should be. I plan to use that store as the model for all future outlets.”

    Patissez has also just opened in Singapore, in the new Raffles Holland Village. “It’s totally different to Kuala Lumpur but has its own flavour, which definitely suits the area and local market,” says Petridis.

    Now the company is planning more store locations in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, plus expansion into Bangkok, Beijing and Shanghai. As part of this growth, it is setting up the “Patissez Exchange” which will enable staff members at any level to have the chance to work in the international stores.

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  • Innovate or die: Singapore retailers advised to reinvent as brick and mortarshops lose luster

    Innovate or die: Singapore retailers advised to reinvent as brick and mortarshops lose luster

    Some brands are even advertising via Snapchat.

    In a fast-paced and technologically-savvy city-state such as Singapore, brick and mortar shops of retailers, however traditional, may not be adequate anymore.

    According to a report by Cushman and Wakefield, Italian luxury brand Prada, for example, has announced plans to advertise via Snapchat, and will be offering their range of goods online.

    Additionally, the Singapore Tourism Board is using WeChat and Baidu Connect, and other online travel services and social review sites to reach out to independent Chinese travelers.

    “Thus, it is essential for all major stakeholders to reinvent their operations to drive the retail scene forward,” the report noted, highlighting the inevitable paradigm shift.

    Meanwhile, to combat the surge of e-commerce, the report said retailers are increasing F&B components in shopping malls and department stores, as such experience-based concepts are irreplaceable by online retail.

    “For instance, Muji Café and Meal will be opening their second outlet in Raffles City, and a cluster of 16 restaurants will open in Wisma Atria’s Japan Food Town. In addition, Robinsons the Heeren welcomed Angela May Food Chapters in this quarter,” the report added.

     

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  • Bespoke Club celebrates new flagship store

    Bespoke Club celebrates new flagship store

    Tailoring brand The Bespoke Club has launched its flagship store at Suntec Boutique, hosting a celebration attended by VIP clients, celebrities and other special guests.

    The Bespoke Club specialises in bespoke suits and shirts. Club patrons have complete governance over style, cut and materials, with access to more than 5000 European fine fabrics, haberdashery and accessories.

    bespoke

    It takes up to 50 hours of manual work to create a bespoke garment. Rolling the lapel, felling the collar, setting the canvas and sewing the buttons are all done by hand at The Bespoke Club. Its new store offers the style of a Savile Row boutique, and includes a personal shopping suite for privacy and discretion.

    However, clients do not need to visit the store – The Bespoke Club offers a personalised tailoring service at the client’s home or office.

    A range of packages is available, and there are special rates for corporate partners. Also available at The Bespoke Club are accessories, leather goods and custom-made shoes.

    Meanwhile, at the opening party, brand ambassador Srikant Ramaswami gave the opening speech on the essence of bespoke, while Buro 24/7 Singapore editor Norman Tan gave a presentation on the art of fine tailoring. As guests mingled over canapés, wine and champagne, Tan hosted a tie-a-bowtie competition with prizes for participants.

    Srikant Ramaswami - The Bespoke Club

    Reflecting the colours of the brand, the venue was dressed in blue and white.

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  • The Salvation Army joins start-up ShopBack Singapore on its Social outreach

    The Salvation Army joins start-up ShopBack Singapore on its Social outreach

    The Salvation Army partners ShopBack Singapore, one of the top Cashback sites in Southeast Asia, to introduce the #ShopBackGivesBack outreach. The budding start-up’s first foray into social responsibility encourages shoppers to shop and do good.

    From now till 31 August 2016, ShopBack Singapore will make a $10 donation to The Salvation Army for every first purchase made by users who sign up for a free account at https://www.shopback.sg/salvationarmy. No minimum spend is required from user to initiate the gifting.

    “The name #ShopBackGivesBack was chosen as it serves as an apt representation of both our business and social responsibility outreach,” said Ms. Josephine Chow, Country Head of ShopBack Singapore. “The backbone of our business involves giving cash back to the online shoppers. In line with GSS, we invite Good ShopBack Samaritans to indulge in shopping while doing good for The Salvation Army.”

    The international charity organisation has been serving the underprivileged in the local community without discrimination. Throughout its 81 years of establishment in Singapore, The Salvation Army has launched several diverse social programmes to cater to a wide range of needs in society.

    “The Salvation Army has come a long way in identifying social needs and doing our best to help people who truly need relief from difficult circumstances. We are pleased to partner ShopBack Singapore in its initiative to give back to the community. With the support of ShopBack Singapore and its kind shoppers, we can continue to provide better care for abandoned and abused children, families in material need, elderly requiring nursing care, and other needy segments in Singapore,” said Colonel Lyndon Buckingham, Territorial Commander, The Salvation Army, Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory. ShopBack SG 2

    To foster the spirit of giving and buying this GSS, ShopBack Singapore will be raising the Cashback tier from up to 30% to 40% for the Good ShopBack Samaritans. They will also get to enjoy exclusive voucher codes to help them save more as they shop from over 500 online stores such as Taobao, Guardian, Expedia and Cathay Cineplexes.

    Injecting social responsibility into a company’s core at an early development stage

    Most people tend to associate social responsibility with large corporations. They are more entrenched in their respective fields and tend to have more resources to execute social responsibility on a greater scale, which translates to a bigger impact.

    “In spite of resource constraints, ShopBack Singapore is keen to tighten its belt, step forth and give back to society,” said Mr. Henry Chan, Co-Founder of ShopBack. “We applaud this initiative and give the team our full support to take #ShopBackGivesBack further. This social responsibility outreach will serve as a good initiative to explore different ways of giving back while maintaining a sustainable business.”

    Currently less than two years old, ShopBack is seeing a steady 20% month-on-month growth across the region in five markets, garnering at least six orders per minute for its online retail partners. The desktop-first Cashback site just launched its mobile app last week, which topped the Shopping Category for free apps in less than 24 hours.

    Moving forward, ShopBack Singapore will look into the option of Cashback donation to involve over 250,000 local users in the #ShopBackGivesBack outreach. With the integration of charity organisations such as The Salvation Army as one of ShopBack’s payout options, shoppers will then be able to donate their accumulated Cashback straight to the desired organisation without forking out cash from their wallets.

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  • Singapore’s EDB, MasterCard enter smart city alliance

    Singapore’s EDB, MasterCard enter smart city alliance

    The Singapore Economic Development Board has entered an agreement with MasterCard to help Singaporean companies build innovative solutions in urban mobility, tourism and trade.

    The announcement was made at the World Cities Summit 2016 being held this week at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

    The two parties said they will focus on tackling some of the biggest urban challenges of our time in the next two years: how to promote mobility, tourism and trade while enabling seamless experiences and sustainable growth.

    MasterCard and the EDB in partnership with other Singapore-based companies plan to work together to design and build technology platforms in the three mentioned.

    In tourism, the goal is to help Singapore residents and visitors navigate the city state’s attractions easier and in a more connected way. In urban mobility, the platform will strive to ensure that residents and visitors have an easy time using the local transit system. In trade, the goal is to digitize and automate how companies buy, sell and pay each other.

    For each of these three areas, solutions will be designed and developed out of Singapore, further enhancing Singapore’s ability to create innovative products and services which are exportable and can be globally deployed.

    “We are happy to work with MasterCard to enable the creation of new solutions in the identified themes. This is in line with EDB’s drive for Singapore to be a hotbed for innovation and creation of new businesses, which in turn will contribute to economic growth and the creation of good jobs,” said Kelvin Wong, assistant managing director at EDB.

    In major cities around the world including London, Athens and Bogota, MasterCard is already working with local authorities and other technology companies to make public transport more accessible and more efficient.

    Ari Sarker, co-President MasterCard Asia-Pacific: “For many years, Singapore has been setting the benchmark for what it means to become a smart city and a smart nation.

    Since 2012, Singapore has been one of MasterCard’s global R&D Centers (MasterCard Labs) – which most recently launched the first commerce application for SoftBank Robotics’ humanoid robot Pepper.

    Earlier this year, MasterCard also teamed up with IBM to offer smaller merchants in Singapore and across the Asia-Pacific region market insights that integrate IBM Watson Analytics with insights based on aggregated and anonymized transaction data through MasterCard Advisors Local Market Intelligence (LMI).

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  • New Ippin mall offers Japanese goods

    New Ippin mall offers Japanese goods

    An eCommerce company that sells printer inks and sanitary napkins, C-Connect, has launched Ippin, an online shopping mall that specialises in direct sales and distribution from Japan to other countries.

    Ippin not only sells products made in Japan, but also “Produced by Japan” and “Popular in Japan” items. Customers can buy directly from 18 regions and countries, though the initial target is mainly China and Southeast Asian countries.

    Categories include food, fashion, cosmetics, children’s and baby items, and electric appliances.
    Independent websites are provided for each country, such as China, Singapore and Malaysia, with recommended item rankings and payment methods (16 currencies) to suit the market, such as credit cards, Alipay and Paypal.

    Users can choose from three languages (English, Chinese and Japanese) with more to be introduced.

    C-Connect was founded in 2009.

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  • Singtel launches Singapore’s first OTT video portal app

    Singtel launches Singapore’s first OTT video portal app

    Singtel has expanded its media content portfolio with the launch of Singapore’s first OTT video portal app, open to the operator’s postpaid mobile customers.

    The operator’s new Cast portal will offer content from major providers including Viu and Nickelodeon, delivered over Singtel’s nationwide 4G network.

    Cast offers a choice of four content packs – premium, kids, Asian hits and Hallyu – with each priced at S$4.90 ($3.63) per month for a 12-month contract or S$6.90 per month contract-free. Customers can choose to pay an additional S$3 per month for an add-on pack including 1GB of data

    The premium pack offers a range of Korean and Japanese dramas, while the kids pack includes programming from the Nickelodeon and Nick Jr pay TV channels.

    Asian hits include popular movies from Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China, while Hallyu offers the most popular Korean entertainment.

    “Our customers are huge fans of entertainment on-the-go and we know that they want greater flexibility with what they watch and also when and how they watch it,” Singtel managing director of home consumer Singapore Goh Seow Eng said.

    “We are forging ahead in the OTT space through more strategic partnerships with strong content providers such as Viu and Nickelodeon. We look forward to partnering more top content providers to offer an ever-growing selection on Cast that will give our customers greater choice and the best entertainment experience.”

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  • SGX announces independent research paper on retail sector

    SGX announces independent research paper on retail sector

    The Singapore Exchange (SGX) has launched an independent research report. The research paper covers the retail sector in four Asean countries, namely Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

    Titled “Asean Retail: Overview, Trends and Outlook, with a focus on SGX-listed Companies”, the report evaluates the growth potential for ASEAN’s retail industry in response to rising middle-class consumers, increasing spending power and rising e-commerce sales.

    The report is segmented into six retail subsectors and for each, covers an in-depth analysis of the key sector drivers and an overview of the SGX-listed companies that are in these sectors.

    There are currently 43 retail companies listed on the SGX, with a market capitalisation of $30 billion.

    According to the report, retail sales in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia are projected to collectively reach US$1 trillion ($1.3 trillion) by 2018. Asean consumers also have higher purchasing power propelled by fast-growing incomes while the e-commerce space has expanded, offering new opportunities for retailers.

    “Despite headwinds facing the retail sector recently, we recognise the need to keep investors informed of the sector’s longer-term growth outlook in ASEAN, which continues to be backed by strong demographic and macroeconomic fundamentals. The emergence of e-commerce also presents an exciting growth opportunity for the sector,” says Simon Lim, SGX Head of Equity Capital Market (Sectors).

    To download a copy of the research report, go to sgx.com/retailcluster.

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  • Singapore Tourism Board Launches Travel Privileges Exclusive for Thai Visa Cardholders

    Singapore Tourism Board Launches Travel Privileges Exclusive for Thai Visa Cardholders

    Thai travelers to Singapore will benefit from exclusive offers, courtesy of Visa and the Singapore Tourism Board, throughout 2016. With a variety of attractions, Singapore offers something for every family member. This campaign, a collaboration between Visa and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB),  includes exclusive offers from airlines, hotels, and attractions, aiming to augment the unique experiences for Thai visitors in the vibrant island city. 

    Participating partners include Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), Sentosa Leisure Management, Gardens by the Bay, Asiatravel.com, ION Orchard, Mount Faber Leisure Group, Wildlife Reserves Singapore and many more.

    “For Thais, Singapore is a destination that is easy to plan and travel, offering a mixture of cultures, and great experiences for leisure and business travelers alike. Hence, Thailand is one of our key markets. Over half a million Thais visited Singapore last year spending an average of THB 30,000 per trip. They stayed for around 4 days each time,” said, Edward Koh, Executive Director, Southeast Asia, Singapore Tourism Board.

    The island country is full of events and festivals year round, as well as packed with concerts and exciting entertainment options. Families can enjoy world-renown attractions such as Singapore Zoo, River Safari, Universal Studios Singapore and S.E.A Aquarium. It is also regarded as a shopper’s paradise with options aplenty for all budgets. 

    “Singapore has so many fun activities for both business and leisure travelers – people of all ages and backgrounds. Even though you might be frequent travelers to Singapore, there will always be some new activities and experiences that are worth exploring. Under the partnership, VISA and Singapore Tourism Board want Thais to have memorable treasured moments in Singapore,” said  Ms. Sherleen Seah, Area Director, Thailand & Myanmar, Singapore Tourism Board. 

    “As the preferred card for Thai travelers Visa is delighted to work with Singapore Tourism Board and our merchant partners in the city-state to offer special privileges and discounts exclusively to Visa cardholders. Singapore is a family-friendly destination. Our offers add crucial values for everyone on all touchpoints during travel from purchasing air tickets to booking accommodation and all the way to shopping and dining,” said Suripong Tantiyanon, Visa Country Manager, Thailand. 

    Key highlight for the promotion is the lucky draw. Thai visitors to Singapore who spend more than THB 30,000 during a calendar month between July and September will have the chance to win a premium travel package worth THB 250,000 for that month. A total of 3 premium travel packages will be given away. Key events in Singapore during this time include the Great Singapore Sale between June 3 and August 14, the Singapore Night Festival on the last two weekends in August, and the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix on September 16 – 18.

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  • Ksubaka’s PlaySpots Deliver Friso Gold Engagement Campaign

    Ksubaka’s PlaySpots Deliver Friso Gold Engagement Campaign

    Ksubaka today announced that it has successfully delivered an interactive in-store engagement campaign in CRV, WuMart and MerryMart retail stores in China for Friso Gold.

    The objectives:

    The campaign objectives were to attract in-store shoppers to a Friso Gold interactive experience and communicate to mums that Friso helps prevent heat and constipation in babies because the Friso Gold molecules are smaller and easier to digest.

    Equally as important, was to collect data through an onscreen shopper survey to verify that the Friso Gold Interactive Experience was effectively reaching the target audience and educate new potential customers about the product benefits.

    The campaign experience:

    Ksubaka designed a Friso Gold interactive experience, which was provisioned over-the-air to 231 playSpots across 37 retail stores (comprising a mix of CRV, WuMart and MerryMart) within the Ksubaka media network. The gameplay involved catching as many small Friso molecules as possible within 30 seconds, while avoiding the larger molecules falling from a competitor’s product. Shoppers caught the molecules by moving a baby back and forth on bottom of the screen. To emphasise the difference between small and large molecules, when the baby caught the Friso molecules they smiled and raised their hands in happiness and when they caught the large molecules the frowned and cried. 

    At end of the gameplay, key product messages were reiterated along with a pack shot and the shopper was offered a 1 for 1 discount by scanning a WeChat QR Code to get a coupon. The short survey was then displayed on-screen asking shoppers for a little information on their preferences.   

    The results:

    Working to a set of agreed KPIs, the Ksubaka Friso Gold 31 day campaign delivered:

    • Campaign Exposures – 4.4 million +193% on KPI
    • Shopper Impressions – 6.6 million +200% on KPI
    • Mojo engagement – 82K +64% on KPI (Mojo is a completed shopper brand engagement that ends at the reward screen)
    • Total number of surveys completed 1.3k

    “The Friso Gold campaign is an excellent example of how Ksubaka is able to drive mass consumer engagement at the point of purchase while, at the same time, giving live and meaningful insight for brands,” said Julian Corbett, CEO and founder, Ksubaka.

  • Changi Airport bookstore concessions up for grabs

    Changi Airport bookstore concessions up for grabs

    Ten Changi Airport bookstore concessions are up for tender across four terminals.

    Changi Airport Group (CAG) has issued documentation seeking bids to operate books/magazine/stationery concessions spread across terminals 1 to 4 at Singapore’s airport.

    Three store premises are being made available for each of the T1 (departure/transit lounge East and West, and departure/check-in-hall East), T2  (departure/transit lounge North and South, and departure/check-in-hall South) and T3 (departure/transit lounge North and South, and departure/check-in-hall North). One T4 store will be made available in departure/transit lounge North.

    CAG says the concession requires that companies have “a good track record” in the business of retailing books, magazines, newspapers, postcards, pens and stationery items.

    The contract is for three years, with a two-year option to extend at the discretion of CAG.

    Meanwhile, concept stores Avenue Kids and Pure Gold Jewellers have launched in T2 in the public areas. It is Avenue Kids’ second full-fledged airport store following the opening of its first outlet in the T2 transit area last month.

  • ShopBack Singapore enhances the “Shop-and-Save” lifestyle with mobile app launch

    ShopBack Singapore enhances the “Shop-and-Save” lifestyle with mobile app launch

    Before ShopBack Singapore hits its two-year mark, the local start-up revs up its presence with a mobile app launch today. From now onwards, shoppers are able to shop with greater convenience, at anytime, anywhere from computers and tablets to Apple iOS and Android apps.

    Expanding its move beyond desktop and mobile-optimised sites, ShopBack aims to make the “Shop-and-Save” lifestyle ubiquitous and accessible not only in Singapore, but in the rest of its markets. Currently, ShopBack is present in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and India.

    “Today, we help consumers save on their shopping with up to 30% Cashback offering. When we give shoppers Cashback, we’re returning them some of the money that they’ve used for their purchases via ShopBack,” said Ms. Josephine K Chow, Country Head of ShopBack Singapore. “An average shopper can save about $500 a year with just an extra click on desktop.”

    ShopBack SG - Mobile App - Pic 2

    “With ShopBack app, shopping smart just gets simpler. Now you only need to download one app to shop and access offers at over 500 online stores like LAZADA, Groupon, ASOS and more,” said Ms. Chow.

    Key Features of ShopBack Singapore Apple iOS and Android apps

    • Cashback Shopping – Earn up to 30% Cashback at over 500 stores.
    • Upsized Cashback – View stores offering upsized Cashback to access better deals! Simply look out for the money bag icon on the top left corner of the store front.
    • Coupon Codes – Get access to unique coupon codes that can be easily copied and applied before checkout.
    • Popular Stores – Check out what other ShopBack Singapore users frequently shop at.
    • Staff Picks – Staff recommendations of the latest stores as well as latest deals served in a tab.
    • Highest Cashback – Find out the shops that offer the highest amount of Cashback to gain the most out of shopping trips.
    • My Total Cashback – Access ShopBack wallet to view the amount of savings earned. Consumer can also easily trace their Cashback using this function.
    • Notification Settings – Stay updated with trending deal, Cashback earned and payment alerts.

    To encourage user adoption of the “Shop-and-Save” lifestyle, ShopBack Singapore is offering a $5 cash bonus which can be unlocked with a minimum purchase of $25 for any necessities and niceties from 4 July 2016 (midnight onwards) to 5 July 2016 (before the clock strikes twelve).

    Topped with up to 80% in-store clearance offers as well as ShopBack’s up to 30% Cashback, users can achieve as high as 50% savings for their steals using a single app.

    Cathay Cineplexes, Guardian and Uber amidst the latest stores riding the “Shop-and-Save” wave

    With more than 250,000 ShopBack Singapore shoppers championing the “Shop-and-Save” lifestyle, the start-up begins to see more online retailers joining the league. ShopBack Singapore refreshes its store offerings with new partnerships of up to three stores per week, including the traditionally brick-and-mortar brands that are seeking effective ways to get a piece of the growing e-commerce pie.

    “Our retail partners pay us on a performance-driven commission model. If we don’t channel sales to them, they’re not required to pay us,” said Mr. Henry Chan, Co-Founder of ShopBack. “This attractive business proposition allows us to bring actual measurable value to our retail partners in the online space.”

    Apart from brands that are established in the brick-and-mortar realm, renowned online stores like Naiise and Honestbee are the latest additions to ShopBack Singapore – all signing up to provide the “Shop-and-Save” way of life to shoppers.

    Entirely developed in-house in Singapore, the mobile app has gone through several rigorous rounds of testing before its launch as a power-up to boost ShopBack’s status as The Smarter Way to Shop.

    With the app, ShopBack Singapore expects users to double their engagment with the brand and aims to achieve app downloads from at least 20% of ShopBack Singapore’s users within the first day of launch.

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