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  • DFS to Celebrate Eighth Prestigious Masters of Wines and Spirits Event in Singapore

    DFS to Celebrate Eighth Prestigious Masters of Wines and Spirits Event in Singapore

    DFS Group (DFS), the world’s leading luxury travel retailer, in partnership with Changi Airport Group, will host its eighth annual Masters of Wines and Spirits event in Singapore at the end of March. The most celebrated and prestigious event in the industry, Masters of Wines and Spirits will showcase a curation of 140 of the rarest and finest whiskies, wines, Cognacs and Champagne from around the world, all under one roof.

    The 2019 edition of Masters of Wines and Spirits will take place on Saturday, 23 March and Sunday, 24 March, bringing together esteemed guests from around the world. The event is an annual testament to DFS’ leadership in global travel retail, as well as highlighting the expertise of DFS’ merchants who spend a year of extensive research to selectively curate a world-class, bespoke collection of wines and spirits.

    Hosted at Infinite Studios, Singapore’s state-of-the-art studio, this year’s edition of Masters of Wines and Spirits explores the theme of “Masters at Work” – an homage to those who have acquired complete knowledge or skill in a subject, technique or artform and whose passionate commitment to their task continues to raise the bar for all others in the field. DFS celebrates six masters across a spectrum of backgrounds. Guests will be taken on an interactive and immersive journey through activations and experiences that explore each brand’s heritage and which ignite the senses.

    The six “Masters at Work” comprise: Brooke Supernaw of DFS as Master of Curation, Ewan Gunn of Diageo as Master of Whisky, Sarah Burgess of The Macallan as Master of Malt, Fabrice Papin of Château Lafite Rothschild as Master of Wine, Hidetsugu Ueno of Bar High Five as Master of Cocktails and DJ Arthur Bray as Master of Music.

    “The eighth edition of Masters of Wines and Spirits will showcase another outstanding collection of more than 140 masterpieces from 60 of the world’s most legendary wine and spirits houses,” said Brooke Supernaw, Senior Vice President Spirits, Wine, Tobacco and Gifts, DFS Group. “Here at DFS, we take pride in curating an ever-growing collection of wines and spirits that become more exclusive, bespoke, rare or limited-edition each year, and which capture the heritage and craftsmanship of each brand.”

    The 140-piece strong curation – featuring collectable items such as the oldest whisky ever released by The Macallan, The Macallan 72 Year Old in Lalique – The Genesis Decanter; a set of three extremely rare vintages, The Château Lafite Rothschild Double Magnum Collection; and an exceptionally unique bottle produced from the owner’s original stocks – Port Ellen’s 39 Year Old. The collection will also be showcased and celebrated at Changi Airport through a series of activations at Terminals 2 and 3 until the end of April.

    DFS’ Masters of Wines and Spirits 2019 Collection

    More than 80 Cognacs and Whiskies make up this year’s collection and include The Dalmore Constellation Vintage 1973 Drinking Cabinet, a very special bespoke and handcrafted cabinet commissioned by Richard Paterson, containing The Constellation Vintage 1973 (cask no.10). The Bunnahabhain 39-Year-Old Spanish Octave Finish, an exclusive limited edition piece that forms part of the new Bunnahabhain Element Series which is crafted around the importance of various elements impacting on the character of each Bunnahabhain whisky, and the DFS Exclusive, Caol Ila 35 Year Old boasting a fine freshness, cleanliness and precision for its age.

    The Glenfiddich 45-Year-Old, an exclusive blend for DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits, honors a whisky-making tradition dating back to 1887 and is a true reflection of the passion and innovative spirit passed down through all five generations of the Grant family. Possibly the last ever cask of Karuizawa Single Malt to be bottled in Japan is the Karuizawa Single Cask 1995. Port Ellen 39-Year-Old is an elegant complex 39 year old Single Malt Whisky, unlocked from the heart of Port Ellen and expertly married from a selection of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry refill casks.

    Macallan presents The Macallan 72-Year-Old In Lalique – The Genesis Decanter, the oldest whisky ever released by the Macallan family in commemoration of the opening of its new Distillery and Visitor Experience. Presented in a bespoke limited-edition crystal decanter handcrafted by Lalique, this exceptional whisky celebrates the collaboration of masters from across the fields of whisky, crystal, architecture, construction and craftsmanship. Also from the Macallan family comes The Macallan Fine & Rare Decades Collection. Created exclusively for DFS, the collection features five Fine & Rare vintages from 1938, 1947, 1954, 1965, 1976, each drawn from a single unique cask, denoting key historical events for the year.

    From the world of wine, DFS presents more than 60 collections including The Château Lafite Rothschild Double Magnum Collection, a rare opportunity to collect three of the great vintages produced by the estate in big formats and The Château Mouton Rothschild Magnum Collection, a unique six-vintage magnum set of exceptional vintages from 1988 to 2009.

    The Penfolds 2015 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon Imperial is one of the world’s most iconic Cabernet Sauvignons and a true representation of the Penfolds ‘House Style’ and has shown its ability to age with grace and finesse since the first vintage in 1964. All great wines begin with a great site, and the Continuum Tim Mondavi Library Vertical Selection is a unique collection offering an opportunity to enjoy a vertical flight of Continuum vintages from 2010 through 2015.

    Giving reason to celebrate is the Rare Le Secret Magnum Vintage 1997 With Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire from Piper-Heidsieck. Inspired by the muse of both Maisons, Marie- Antoinette, Queen of France, Rare Le Secret High Jewellery is royally embellished with a one- carat precious stone, interwoven golden bands set with 510 diamonds. Presented in a majestic box, this spectacular edition has been for more than 20 years in the cellar of Régis Camus, Rare  Champagne’s Cellar Master.

    DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits is part of the DFS Masters Series, a signature program of exhibitions around the world. The Masters Series is a showcase of the pinnacle of DFS’ leadership and innovation in curating and creating exceptional experiences across its five pillars of luxury: Wines and Spirits, Beauty and Fragrances, Watches and Jewelry, Fashion and Accessories, and Food and Gifts.

  • Grand Opening of Elizabeth Arden White Tea House In The Shilla Duty Free Changi Airport

    Grand Opening of Elizabeth Arden White Tea House In The Shilla Duty Free Changi Airport

    Elizabeth Arden has partnered with Changi Airport Group and The Shilla Duty Free to open a world exclusive pop-up concept celebrating the travel retail prelaunch of two new fragrances – White Tea Wild Rose and White Tea Vanilla Orchid.

    The Elizabeth Arden White Tea House opens on Sunday 3 March and sits beside The Shilla Cosmetics & Perfumes Central Store at Singapore Changi Airport’s Terminal 1 Transit Departure Hall until 13 April 2019.

    Elizabeth Arden’s first White Tea fragrance launched in 2017 with the aim to capture the feelings of simple pleasures, a carefree afternoon, a good book or the first sip of tea in a pure and uncomplicated fragrance. Today, Elizabeth Arden is expanding the experiential collection with the launch of White Tea Wild Rose and White Tea Vanilla Orchid.

    Experiential

    The White Tea House is part of Elizabeth Arden’s commitment to present memorable and coveted travel experiences and presents travellers with the opportunity to embark on a #WhiteTeaMoments experiential journey.

    Fragrance and skincare sampling are presented to travellers in a “degustation style” – customers get to experience the three scents of White Tea, White Tea Wild Rose and White Tea Vanilla Orchid before deciding on their complimentary cup of tea, inspired by each of the fragrances.

    Elizabeth Arden’s best-selling skincare products are presented in sampling portions, and plated in degustation style. Customers will be able to share their experience with other travellers via the Tea House message board and photos against a specially designed floral wall to share with friends and family on social media via hashtags #WhiteTeaMoments #Changi 1st. They will also receive a free hardcopy polaroid photo.

    Stephane Bonnet, Elizabeth Arden Vice President of Global Travel Retail explained: “The White Tea House is an excellent way to kickstart the launch of our new White Tea fragrances. The tea house integrates beauty and lifestyle elements beautifully with various memorable touch points during the service journey. We hope the travellers will attach this pleasant memory to the subtle yet enchanting scents of Elizabeth Arden’s White Tea Fragrances.”

    Exclusive gifts

    Customers are rewarded with a Changi Airport-exclusive magnet and postcard set designed in collaboration with Grace Ciao, an illustrator globally recognised for her delicate and chic fashion illustrations using real flowers and watercolours.  The design depicts a modern woman in a dress created from wild rose, posing elegantly against a backdrop of pink roses and white vanilla orchids, symbolizing the two new pre-launch fragrances. Elizabeth Arden also provides free mailing service for travellers who want to post the postcard to their loved ones.

    The shopping experience in the White Tea House is further elevated by a tea blending activity where customers can customise their own White Tea blend to bring home in a personalised sealed tea bag upon purchase of a White Tea fragrance.  This customisable gift is available only at the White Tea House in Changi Airport.  “Personalisation of gifts, either for yourself or for your loved ones is becoming increasingly important in the competitive and congested retail environment. Customers want to be part of the process of creating something unique for themselves,” shared Yumie Chia, Senior Regional Director of Asia Pacific Travel Retail Division at Elizabeth Arden.

    “Multi-level engaging expereience”

    “Changi Airport is honoured to host the world’s first Elizabeth Arden White Tea House experiential pop-up concept and be the first airport to launch the two new beautiful fragrances ahead of the rest of the world. Passengers flying through Terminal 1 can take a moment to indulge in the fragrance of white tea to ease the stress of travelling, and bring home some elegant mementos from Changi Airport,” said Teo Chew Hoon, Group Senior Vice President of Airside Concessions, Changi Airport Group.

    Phil Yoon, Managing Director from The Shilla Duty Free added: “As The Shilla Duty Free continues to seek for innovative partnership launches, this collaboration with Elizabeth Arden provides a multi-level engaging experience that will delight even the weariest travellers.  A traveller’s buying behaviour has evolved in marvellous ways.  The concept of a Tea House is a great way to appeal to our increasingly sophisticated travellers and engage with them on both olfactory and gastronomical levels.”

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  • Iuiga defends use of Muji brand on its website

    Iuiga defends use of Muji brand on its website

    Singaporean retailer Iuiga says it has done “nothing wrong” using the Muji brand name on its website.

    “The information on our website is factually accurate and our manufacturing processes are legal,” said Jaslyn Chan, Iuiga chief growth officer.

    Iuiga says it works directly with Original Design Manufacturers (ODM), who produce for large international brands including Muji. Under the ODM business model, the exterior, aesthetics, materials, dimensions and patented technologies are developed by the ODM and these product and design rights belong to them.

    “There is no direct ownership of the product by any single brand entity, allowing the ODM to produce for more than one brand. This is what Iuiga means when it says a certain product is from the “same manufacturer as Brand A”.

    Based on this, Iuiga maintains it is working with ODMs that also work with Muji.

    “Iuiga is also preparing a list of manufacturers that both Iuiga and Muji work with to be released to the media later,” Chan added.

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  • CTG, Global Switch, Daily-Tech open Singapore data center

    CTG, Global Switch, Daily-Tech open Singapore data center

    China Telecom Global, Chinese data center infrastructure developer and operator Daily-Tech and the UK-based Global Switch have jointly open a data center in Singapore’s Woodlands district as part of their three-way partnership.

    The S$280 million ($206.4 million) Global Switch Singapore Woodlands data center spans 25,000 square meters and has been constructed to operate to Tier III+ standards.

    The Singapore data center is the second to be built under the three-way partnership after the HK$5 billion data center in Tseung Kwan O that opened in December 2017.

    The Singapore Woodlands data center is designed to a power usage efficiency of just 1.34, making it the most power efficient data center available to customers in Singapore. The data center services are powered by 30MVA of utility power supply capacity and backed by a 24/7 networks operations center.

    The data center will connect to China Telecom Global’s network of subsea and terrestrial cables as well as other data centers around the world. It is Global Switch’s 12th data center globally.

    “This is a milestone entry into the Southeast Asian countries’ market for Daily-Tech through our strategic business partnership,” Daily-Tech chairman Li Qiang said.

    “Customers in the region – particularly those looking to expand through China’s Belt and Road projects, will now find more convenient connections and access to well-managed services to support their business growth. This partnership offers customers commitment, a track record in servicing and bespoke services, and best practice management.”

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  • Pizza Hut Singapore appoints BLKJ as Singapore creative agency of record

    Pizza Hut Singapore appoints BLKJ as Singapore creative agency of record

    Pizza Hut Singapore appoints BLKJ, an independent creative agency, as Agency of Record to resonate with young adults while maintaining its strong heritage among families. BLKJ, one of the fastest growing independent creative agencies in Singapore, was established in 2017. BLKJ will be managing all Pizza Hut’s upcoming campaign launches. They will lead all marketing efforts in content creation, creative designs and art direction. BLKJ will be tasked to deliver innovative ideas and refresh the Pizza Hut brand in Singapore.

    “We were bowled over by the boldness of their ideas, their appreciation for the brand challenges and spot on solutions to win the hearts of the Millennials. Most of all, it was a meeting of minds and we believe this is fundamental to any successful partnership,” says Joyce Tan, Senior Director, Marketing & Food Innovation, Pizza Hut Singapore. “We launched ‘Your Slice of Simple’ campaign last year and believe that BLKJ is a strong partner to help reinforce and cement this positioning for our brand.”

    The appointment was made following a three-way agency pitch. Pizza Hut was particularly drawn to BLKJ’s good grasp of the category and the Pizza Hut brand. The decision to partner with BLKJ was made after a stringent evaluation process which involves key marketing and senior stakeholders.

    “We are very excited to be working with Pizza Hut. Firstly it’s a great brand with the potential for creating ground-breaking work. Pizza Hut’s positioning of ‘Your Slice of Simple’ is a great place to start from. Secondly, from the word go the chemistry between the two parties was great. Both of us want to make Pizza Hut more successful than it’s ever been before,” says Rowena Bhagchadani, CEO and Co-Founder, BLKJ.

    The appointment will be further enhanced with the launch of Pizza Hut’s new brand campaign in March 2019. With the addition of BLKJ, Pizza Hut will continue to rekindle the simple and delicious pizza experience, further emphasising an alternative to “foodie complexity”. The partnership with BLKJ will elevate Pizza Hut brand among millennials in Singapore and brings captivating ideas to life.

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  • UNIQLO to Open its Second Largest Store in Singapore at Jewel Changi Airport

    UNIQLO to Open its Second Largest Store in Singapore at Jewel Changi Airport

    After opening its Global Flagship Store at Orchard Central in 2016, UNIQLO will welcome its second largest store in Singapore on 11 April 2019, as it sets foot in the iconic Jewel Changi Airport. Aspiring to showcase its LifeWear ethos to the world, UNIQLO aims to leverage Jewel – a choice lifestyle destination that will draw in both locals and visitors globally – to share its brand experience that champions Simple Made Better through constant innovation.

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  • Singtel to invest a further $536m in Bharti Airtel

    Singtel to invest a further $536m in Bharti Airtel

    Singtel Group has revealed plans to subscribe to Bharti Airtel’s 250 billion rupee ($3.57 billion) right issue, taking up its full entitlement for its direct stake of 15%.

    Airtel will take up 170 million new shares at an issue price of 220 rupees per share for a total of 37.5 billion rupees ($535.7 million).

    Airtel major shareholder Bharti Group has also committed to taking its full entitlement under the issue, while fellow major shareholder Bharti Telecom has renounced part of its entitlement in favor of Singapore sovereign investment fund GIC Singapore, which will invest around 50 billion rupees.

    The major shareholders and GIC have together committed a total of 67% of the rights issue. The renunciation to GIC will take Singtel’s effective interest in Airtel to 35.2%, with the operator maintaining its position as Airtel’s largest shareholder.

    “Our participation in this rights offering with our partners and a leading investor such as GIC reflects our long-standing commitment to Airtel and the confidence in the future of the Indian market,” Singtel International CEO Arthur Lang said.

    “Airtel has performed well despite business headwinds and is consolidating its position in a more sustainable market. Our partnership with Airtel spans some two decades and we continue to take a long-term view of India, having recently invested in Bharti Telecom and Airtel Africa.”

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  • Dune London about to open in Singapore

    Dune London about to open in Singapore

    Footwear brand Dune London is planning to expand into Singapore and Bangkok this year.

    The brand says expansion into new international markets is one of its core strategies for this year.

    In the UK, the brand will expand its standalone store network by opening a new location in Newcastle Eldon Square and opening outlet stores in Cheshire Oaks, Icon O2 and Kildare Village.

    South America is another focus area, and Dune plans to roll out eight new concessions with its existing partner in Chile. It will also debut in Romania.

    “This is a very exciting time for Dune London, as international expansion is a focal part of our overall growth strategy,” said James Cox, CEO.

    “We will focus our efforts on specific markets with best-in-class support strategies and tactical initiatives that are regionally appropriate and perfectly aligned with our product and marketing investments.”

    Dune has opened 10 new concessions in department stores in Mainland China, two in Macau and one in Hong Kong, as well as new standalone stores in Kuala Lumpur; Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam; and Manila in the Philippines.

    In the Middle East, it trades in more than 50 locations.

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  • Reebonz teams up with Japan’s Komehyo

    Reebonz teams up with Japan’s Komehyo

    Singapore’s e-commerce platform Reebonz has partnered with Japanese offline pre-owned luxury product boutique Komehyo.

    Reebonz is expected to make Komehyo’s products available to an estimated 5.5 million members on its platform, supporting both companies’ missions to bring authentic pre-owned luxury to consumers around the world.

    “The next step for us is to continuously support their growth in sales across Asia Pacific,” commented Nupur Sadiwala, Reebonz CFO.

    “Furthermore, with the growing demand for authentic pre-owned luxury complemented by growing demand for new luxury products, we believe that this partnership will allow us to further deepen our ecosystem strategy of offering the broadest selection of quality new and pre-owned luxury products.”

    “In addition to the opportunity for us to amplify our brand awareness, we believe that by working with Reebonz, we will be able to further improve our consistency in delivering authentic high quality products to aspiring consumers across the region,” added Shinji Kai, Komehyo’s IT department assistant GM.

    Established in 1979, Komehyo currently has 40 retail stores across Japan and an online platform, selling bags, jewellery, leather goods and accessories, to watches, shoes and apparel.

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  • Muji Singapore to offer home renovation products

    Muji Singapore to offer home renovation products

    Muji Singapore is set to expand its offer to include the new Muji Renovation concept. By 2025, Muji Singapore customers might be able to go to the Japanese retailer for a complete home transformation, said Satoru Matsuzaki, president and representative director of Muji owner Ryohin Keikaku.

    “I always want to bring new formats to Singapore first, develop it here, then [take] it out to the region,” Matsuzaki added.

    “Coming soon for Singapore shoppers is the expansion of the Muji Walker active wear range, launched in the 2018 Spring/Summer season and meant for light exercise.

    “This is really a good match for Singapore,” said Matsuzaki, pointing to the island’s year-long warm weather and ageing, health-conscious population.

    It also aims to expand its product range, narrowing the gap between the 7000 items sold in Japan and the 4000 here.

    Store sizes will expand as well, from an average of 6000sqft to some 18,000sqft.

    Strong sales have fuelled the brand’s confidence and the plans to expand store footprints. Despite the local retail sector supposedly being on the downtrend, Muji Singapore’s sales are rising steadily each year.

    Meanwhile, Muji is seeking a court order for Singapore retailer Iuiga to stop its use of the Muji mark and the retailer is launching first store in Vietnam next year.

    Muji Singapore opened first store in 2003, and now has 11 local outlets.

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  • SingPost Looks to Plug Last-Mile with More Delivery Options

    SingPost Looks to Plug Last-Mile with More Delivery Options

    The resurgence of e-commerce in Southeast Asia has helped mitigate the decline in postal mail volumes, but it has also raised last-mile delivery challenges. To address this, Singapore Post (SingPost) is looking to build up its network and offer more options for consumers to receive and send packages.

    Established more than 160 years ago, SingPost in 2016 launched its Regional E-commerce Logistics Hub, which has a sorting capacity of 100,000 parcels a day. Parcel volumes in November 2018 climbed 25% year-on-year and the highest volume of parcels processed in one day clocked at 40,000. During the peak period of November to December 2017, some 2,700 tonnes of parcels were delivered.

    In this Q&A with Retail News, SingPost’s group chief digital and technology officer Alex Tan discusses how the postal service provider has been working to keep pace with the region’s e-commerce boom and address challenges in last-mile delivery.

    In what ways have the rise of e-commerce impacted SingPost and the company’s growth and technology roadmap?

    Alex Tan: E-commerce presents a huge opportunity for us and we are driving a lot more e-commerce traffic through our postal and logistics networks. This mitigates the decline in letter mail volumes that is seen all over the world.

    It’s also why we are progressing on a three-year transformation strategy to shore up our footprint in e-commerce logistics. Our vision is to be the regional last-mile delivery and urban logistics platform of choice for Southeast Asia. Our current suite of e-commerce logistics solutions includes frontend web management, warehousing and fulfilment, last-mile delivery, and international freight forwarding.

    In November 2018, we unveiled our latest next-generation logistics platform Last Mile Platform (LaMP), which consolidates various last-mile delivery services such as courier services, parcel lockers, and brick-and-mortar collection points, onto a single platform. Being technology-agnostic, LaMP can integrate services from different retailers and logistics providers to provide greater convenience, flexibility, and control to customers.

    The platform is also location-agnostic and can connect last-mile partner services across Southeast Asia. Through LaMP, retailers can offer their customers the ability to receive their online purchases via any last-mile delivery node in the network, in any country within the region. Consumers may even redirect en-route deliveries to an alternative delivery node on the platform.

    In 2016, we also opened our SGD$182m (£104.08m) Regional E-commerce Logistics Hub, which is fully automated and harnesses the latest warehouse fulfilment and parcel sorting technologies, integrating warehousing and parcel sortation systems for greater efficiency.

    We are also building on our partnerships with our major shareholders, Singtel and Alibaba Group, working closely with them on cross-border e-commerce and digital innovation, in areas such as big data, warehouse robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI).

    There has been numerous customer feedback on SingPost’s delivery service, most of which revolved around non-deliverables or failed/missed deliveries even when the recipient was home. What challenges does SingPost face in fulfilling the last-mile delivery component, which is especially crucial in e-commerce, and how are you looking to resolve these with technology?

    Providing integrated solutions for last-mile delivery is one of the biggest challenges faced by postal and logistics providers. To improve the last-mile delivery experience, we have installed over 160 POPStation parcel lockers across Singapore. These enable our customers to collect, return, and ship parcels at their convenience. In addition, we are working with the Infocomm Media Development Authority on a pilot for the Locker Alliance, an open access delivery network of 43 lockers in Punggol that residents can use to receive and return parcels conveniently, regardless of which logistics firm handles the delivery. We continue to expand on our network of parcel lockers, installing them in more housing estates and developing new features that facilitate e-commerce services beyond online shopping.

    To enhance customer experience, service quality, and operational efficiency, we launched SmartPost in November 2018, which is an integrated suite of solutions that harnesses mobile and digital technologies. In the current phase, it enables better tracking of deliveries and electronic signing-over of registered mail. It also upskills our postal staff with new tools and technologies that elevate their efficiency and capabilities. To date, we have equipped all of our 1,000 postal employees with a proprietary mobile app that works with Near Field Communication (NFC) tags installed at around 15,000 delivery points across the island.

    Looking ahead, we are working towards providing delivery alerts and status updates to customers via SMS or email, as well as electronic notifications, to collect missed deliveries – replacing physical delivery notes that are currently used.

    In addition, LaMP will augment the online shopping experience, empowering customers with greater choice of delivery options and collection locations, including the option to make changes while a delivery is underway. Leveraging AI, LaMP will soon provide customers with SMS alerts half an hour before their courier arrives.

    With customers today wanting a more seamless, digital experience, we are expanding our Smart Post Office network, which combines our physical branch network with our SAM Omnichannel platform, It comprises self-service kiosks, mobile app, and web portal.

    How has the introduction of drone deliveries improved the last-mile fulfilment? Can you provide an update on SingPost’s deployment of drone deliveries?

    There is huge potential in UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) technology to provide game-changing urban logistics solutions for last-mile e-commerce and mail delivery in the future. We are working with Airbus’ Skyways project to explore how drones can be used to move collect and deliver items autonomously within cities. After a successful flight demonstration in February 2018, we are working towards operating a trial e-commerce delivery service at the National University of Singapore in the coming months.

    Alibaba made significant investments in SingPost in 2014 and 2015. How have the funds been deployed and how has the partnership materialised in terms of the number of deliveries SingPost fulfils from Alibaba’s online marketplaces?

    We have been working closely with Alibaba and its extended ecosystem, which includes Cainiao Network, 4PX, and Lazada.

    Together, Alibaba and its ecosystem have brought in significant cross-border e-commerce volumes for SingPost. We also are collaborating with Alibaba and its technology affiliates on several projects involving AI, warehouse robotics, big data, and cloud computing with the aim to create more opportunities for us to digitally transform our business.

    Alibaba’s investments into SingPost are focused on strengthening our regional e-commerce logistics infrastructure and network, so we can grow and enhance our e-commerce logistics capabilities to better serve the region’s rapidly growing online retail markets.

    What new technologies are you looking at in the next year and how will these be deployed at SingPost?

    We are integrating AI into LaMP to provide parcel traceability and reliability for our customers across Southeast Asia.

    The platform will be able to autonomously plot optimised courier delivery routes based on multiple factors such as parcel destinations, customers’ preferred delivery times, and real-time ground data including traffic and weather conditions. It will be able to analyse and proactively alert all stakeholders on courier movements, and allow customers to receive an alert half an hour before their parcel arrives. This a significant improvement in terms of convenience, especially in dense cities such as Bangkok and Jakarta, where customers are typically provided vague parcel arrival times due to myriad reasons such as traffic jams and extreme weather conditions. On LaMP, all of these will be managed from a single screen called the ‘control tower’, providing enhanced visibility and connecting multiple GPS-tracking systems and APIs.

    On a personal note, when you buy something online, what kind of services do you think these sites should provide in terms of delivery/logistics?

    People want flexibility and control, whether it is choosing the time and location or the mode of delivery, and with the option to change your mind along the way. There is growing agnosticism with regards to geography, where e-commerce shoppers want to be able to shop at online stores in any country and expect a seamless experience no different from buying on a domestic website.

    This calls for a transformation of the logistics industry, and it is why SingPost is harnessing digital technology across the entire supply chain – from transforming our last-mile infrastructure for greater efficiency and responsiveness, to creating agile and open platforms that integrate delivery networks across organisations and geographies.

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  • Vietnamese fresh grad income one-sixth of Singaporean peer

    Vietnamese fresh grad income one-sixth of Singaporean peer

    A newly-graduated college student in Vietnam makes one-sixth the income of his Singaporean counterpart, a report says. The minimum base salary of an entry-level position in Vietnam for the first six months last year was $250 a month, according to job advertising company JobStreet, which operates in five countries in Southeast Asia.

    The corresponding figure was $493 in Malaysia, $605 in Thailand and $1,481 in Singapore.

    Among the five countries surveyed, Vietnam’s minimum entry-level salary was only higher than that of Indonesia, which was $225.

    The report found that an entry-level worker was able to earn the most in the real estate industry, with a minimum salary base of $378.

    Information technology and secretary positions followed at $296 and $286 respectively.

    Fresh graduates who work in food technology and sales earned $280 a month.

    The minimum salary base for four employment levels in Vietnam showed increases from the full salary data of 2017.

    Entry-level salary increased by 11 percent, that of junior executive (with 1-3 years of experience), up 6 percent, manager, up 7 percent, and senior manager, up 30 percent.

    The report said that for non-managerial positions, Malaysian employers offered higher salaries than Vietnam.

    But for manager position and above, the Vietnamese market showed greater increments due to high demand, reducing the gap with Malaysia, compared to 2017.

    Although Vietnamese labor productivity increased across the economy in 2018, 48 percent of employers said they faced difficulties in recruiting qualified skill candidates.

    The report used data from 40,000 job advertisements in 50 industries.

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  • BreadTalk buys out Thai partner

    BreadTalk buys out Thai partner

    Minor Group has sold its half share in BreadTalk Thailand to the bakery’s Singapore-listed owner.

    BreadTalk paid US$5.15 million for the stake, which Minor Group is expected to use to expand its other food and beverage brands in the kingdom, including The Coffee Club.

    The BreadTalk Thailand joint venture, called BTM Thailand, was set up in 2014.

    Minor Group’s other brands in Southeast Asia include ThaiExpress, Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe, Swensens and the Pizza Restaurant Company.

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  • Lazada Excels cross-border business across Southeast Asia

    Lazada Excels cross-border business across Southeast Asia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Pablo Cheese Tart Singapore closes down

    Pablo Cheese Tart Singapore closes down

    Pablo Cheese Tart Singapore has closed all of its stores in the city. After 19 months in operation, the cheese-tart brand’s exit from the city follows the shuttering of its outlets in Malaysia last July.

    The first outlet in Wisma Atria saw long queues when it first opened in August 2017.

    Pablo Cheese Tart has not issued any announcement towards the closings. However, its Facebook pages appear to have been deactivated.

    Reasons for the closure in Malaysia included customer feedback that the tarts had a sub-par taste compared to the Japanese stores’ products, and consumers found them expensive.