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  • Starbucks China plans massive expansion

    Starbucks China plans massive expansion

    Starbucks China is planning to open a further 1400 cafes by 2019, the company has revealed.

    Currently, the US headquartered coffee giant has about 2000 locations in 100 Chinese cities – and it uses Alibaba’s Tmall to sell giftcards and coupons to Chinese customers, at the same time boosting its brandawareness and appeal.

    Starbucks said its Tmall Global virtual store collected 300,000 registered fans in the past month and launched a “social gifting” feature that allows users to send those cards and coupons to friends and family through the Tmall platform. On top of its digital push, Starbucks said it was aiming to boost its overall store count to 3400 by 2019.

    “As Starbucks’ second largest and fastest-growing market globally, China represents the most important and exciting opportunity ahead of us,” Schultz said.

    The news followed a milestone meeting between Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and Alibaba founder Jack Ma who said afterwards they sought to “redefine the roles and responsibilities of a for-profit public company, one that invests in its people, giving back to the local communities in meaningful ways, and creating unique developmental opportunities for the youths of today.”

    Alibaba and Starbucks share a similar vision, according to the two businessmen: building a company that’s doing more than just generating profits.

    During a speech in Chengdu at an annual Starbucks event celebrating the company’s Chinese employees, Ma emphasised the point by highlighting the important role that young people play at both companies. At Alibaba, the average employee age is 26, while at Starbucks it’s 26.

    “Alibaba hopes to work together with Starbucks to create even more opportunities to develop Chinese youth because they are our future,” Ma said at the Starbucks China Partner-Family Forum, sharing the stage with famed Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. “All of you at today’s event represent China’s future.”

    The China Partner Family Forum celebrates Starbucks’ 30,000 Chinese employees, reinforcing the company’s commitment to what it calls “conscious capitalism.” The goal is to boost company productivity by enhancing the work experience for those employees.

    Starbucks launched its Tmall Global, store in December. The platform allows foreign companies to sell into China without having a physical presence in the country. Already major brands such as Costco, Macy’s and Nike, Japan’s Uniqlo and Germany’s Metro Group operate stores on the platform. Some of these companies, including Nike and Metro Group, do have physical stores in China, but they are selling through Tmall Global because the continued growth of eCommerce gives them another way of reaching consumers.

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  • Starbucks Will Be Bigger In China Than In the US

    Starbucks Will Be Bigger In China Than In the US

     

    The future of Starbucks is in China. The company opened nearly 1,000 new stores in the country over the past year, bringing the total to about 2,500 stores. It’s still opening more than one store per day, and expects to open 5,000 stores by 2021.

    At the company’s investor day in December, CEO Howard Schultz said he expects profits in China to exceed those in the United States eventually.

    Starbucks China CEO Belinda Wong expects several factors to contribute to the coffee company’s ability to grow revenue and operating income threefold over the next five years: the growing middle class and their increasing demand for coffee, global improvements to Starbucks’ core retail business, and digital partnerships with local companies like Tencent.

    A market that will be double the size of America in six years

    China’s middle-class growth isn’t slowing down. Over the last decade, the number of people considered middle class in China grew from 66 million to 300 million, according to reports collected by Wong. By 2022, Starbucks expects China’s middle class to double in size again to 600 million. For reference, the entire United States has about 324 million people.

    While the growth of China’s middle class is important, a bigger driving factor may be that Chinese are still developing a taste for coffee. As such, the demand for Starbucks will grow even faster than the rapidly expanding middle class.

    Over the next five years, the demand for specialty coffee in China is expected to grow at a rate of 15% per year, according to Euromonitor. What’s more, Starbucks already holds the lead in market share.

    More reasons to visit a Starbucks store

    One of the biggest organic drivers of store visits is Starbucks’ loyalty program, My Starbucks Rewards. Wong says new signups for MSR increased 63% per year from 2013 to 2016. Gold membership increased 53% per year. Importantly, members are “very intentional about their path to gold,” and as a result MSR members visit stores more frequently.

    Additionally, Starbucks plans to invest in new reasons to visit Starbucks. The company plans to expand its lunch menu in all of its stores globally, introducing things like soup and other food items. It expects lunchtime revenue to double over the next five years.

    Starbucks also has an opportunity to capitalize on Teavana in China, which has a huge tea culture. Incorporating more Teavana products into its stores could bring in customers who aren’t particularly fond of coffee, but still want the experience Starbucks offers.

    Lastly, Starbucks is expanding its consumer goods business in China. It just released its bottled Frappuccino nationwide. That could give potential customers a taste for Starbucks, inviting them to visit a store.

    Partnering with digital leaders

    One of the biggest announcements Starbucks made regarding its operations in China is its new digital partnership with WeChat, the messaging app owned by Tencent. WeChat has 864 million monthly active users, and its built-in wallet is often used to pay for goods in stores. Starbucks shoppers can now use WeChat to pay for their food and drink orders in store as well.

    Starbucks loses about 5% to 10% of sales in China due to long lines where customers are unable to pay fast enough, according to Shaun Rein, managing director of China Market Research Group. The partnership with WeChat should help speed up the checkout process, driving more sales.

    Starting early next year, WeChat users will be able to send each other Starbucks drink certificates or gift cards through the app. The service will operate in the same way as WeChat’s digital red envelopes, which allow users to send each other money. It’s one of the most popular functions of WeChat in China, and Starbucks will be smart to get the service launched before Chinese New Year, when red envelopes peak. The move provides a social marketing benefit to Starbucks as well, as it aims to attract new customers to its stores.

    The overall opportunity for Starbucks in China is huge. The company’s efforts to capitalize on the growing demand for specialty coffee from the middle class should fuel growth for many more years. Add in the company’s global efforts to expand into other parts of the day, plus its willingness to work with native digital leaders like Tencent, and Starbucks’ Chinese operations could surpass the U.S. sooner rather than later.

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  • Digital Push In China: Can This Impact Starbucks’ Revenues In The Region?

    Digital Push In China: Can This Impact Starbucks’ Revenues In The Region?

    Recently, Starbucks Corporation China announced the opening of its first online store in China’s popular ecommerce site, Tmall, which will feature unique and specially designed e-cards, Starbucks cards and coffee vouchers providing an easy gifting option. [].While this initiative is part of the company’s increased focus on digital presence, it could tap into the significant growth of retail ecommerce in China. According to eMarketer, retail ecommerce sales in China are projected to grow at more than 30% each year, over the next three years and reach more than $1500 billion by 2018. []. While mobile is expected to account for nearly half of the total ecommerce sales in China in 2015, this figure is expected to increase to 70% by 2019. []. We believe Starbucks’ ecommerce initiative in China should benefit from the growing internet users in the region and the online shopping habits of Chinese consumers.

    More Than 16% Of Total Retail Sales In China Through Ecommerce By 2018

    It is estimated that in 2015, ecommerce sales will account for nearly 7% of the total retail sales in the U.S., while this number is much higher at 12% for China. By 2018, it is estimated that these figures will increase to nearly 9% for the U.S. and more than 16% for China.

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    Given the preference of Chinese consumers towards online shopping, we believe Starbucks’ initiative to expand its digital presence in the region is the right strategy.  China is a growth market for Starbucks. For the fiscal year 2015, comparable store sales in the China Asia Pacific region grew by 9% compared to a 7% number for the Americas. This growth was driven by a 8% increase in traffic while the corresponding number for Americas was 3%. []. The company plans to double its store count in the China Asia Pacific region to 10,000 stores in the next five years, with the store account in China projected to be 3,400 by the end of 2019. As the Chinese economy shifts from an export focussed industrial region to one relying on services and domestic demand, we believe Starbucks will benefit from this trend with the urban middle class increasing and becoming well off. With aggressive expansion plans in China, which the company expects will be its biggest international market; we believe the ecommerce entry could drive growth in the region and also provide a boost to the Starbucks loyalty program.

     

  • Starbucks volunteers joined 500 middle and high school students

    Recently, Starbucks volunteers joined 500 middle and high school students for the Youth Skill Development and Food Sustainability Project in partnership with the Books for Children Foundation. The event took place at the Bumrung-Raviwan Wittaya School, which promotes healthy food and living, grows vegetables for school and home meals, and sells leftover crops to student families. Combined, 330 volunteer hours impacted nearly 5,000 students and their families, along with others in the community.

    “At Starbucks, our long-term commitment is to make a positive and sustainable change in the areas of environment, society and economy,” said Murray Darling, managing director of Starbucks Coffee Thailand. “The community event allowed us to reaffirm the company’s long-term commitment to local communities.”

    For part of the day, students practiced project planning, leadership and communications skills during a food sustainability project. Students and volunteers built nursery shelves for vegetables, created an organic shade plot for crops and repaired the pier for a small fish farm.

    The majority of the community project focused on skills development through an English conversation class. Starbucks Thailand partners helped students hone their English-speaking skills through songs and word games.

    Starbucks volunteers also read stories to a kindergarten class with Ruangsakdi Pinprateep, managing director of the Books for Children Foundation and author of “Ping Pong, Will You Come with the Bear.” This children’s book was funded by a portion of sales from Starbucks Thailand Barista Bears.

    “It was such an honor for Starbucks to join us in service,” said Naiyana Aua-amnueychai, director of Bumrung-Raviwan Wittaya School. “We place a great deal of emphasis on English skills development and food sustainability at our school and Starbucks volunteers helped our teachers and students in these areas. We are pleased that Starbucks and our school share the same goal to contribute back to our society.”

    Starbucks Thailand has collaborated with Books for Children since 2005. Together, they have collected more than 400,000 books through an annual Christmas book drive and completed a library renovation at Silapadech community. In addition, they completed the Bookstart for Intellectual Disability Children’s Project at Rajanukul Institute and renovated the Wat Kla Cha-um School library and playground.

    “By working with Books for Children for the past 10 years, we have delivered educational opportunities to both public and private organizations nationwide,” said Sumonpin Jotikabukkana, marketing and communications director of Starbucks Coffee Thailand. “We realize that literacy is an essential element for children’s development and we aim to do our best to continue to promote and support these areas for Thai children in every sector of the society.”

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  • Starbucks barista Ryan Wibawa took top honors in the first ever Indonesian Brewers Cup

    Starbucks barista Ryan Wibawa took top honors in the first ever Indonesian Brewers Cup

    For Starbucks barista Ryan Wibawa, mastering coffee artistry was the key to becoming a champion.

    “I’ve worked really hard to hone my craft,” he said. “I’m now seeing the results of my hard work.”

    Wibawa took top honors in the first ever Indonesian Brewers Cup Championship finals held in central Jakarta. The competition, which occurred in stages over four months and wrapped up in November, featured 79 competitors from Bali, Jakarta and Semarang. Participants were judged on their coffee-brewing expertise, presentation skills and customer service. As the first place winner, Wibawa will represent Indonesia at the World Brewers Cup Championship in Dublin, Ireland next year.

    “This experience has given me another level of confidence to share my skills and knowledge about coffee,” said Wibawa. “I’m honored to represent Starbucks Indonesia at the World Championships in February.”

    Wibawa was first exposed to coffee when he joined Starbucks two years ago. He learned quickly and developed an enthusiasm for all things coffee. In 2014, he was selected as his district’s coffee master and earlier this year he won Starbucks Indonesia’s Barista Championships. He will also represent Indonesia at the China and Asia Pacific (CAP) region’s Starbucks Barista Championships in Hong Kong in February 2016.

    Ryan works at Indonesia’s first Starbucks Reserve store in Jakarta, where he delights customers with his coffee craft. He has also shared his expertise by training other Starbucks partners at Indonesia’s third Starbucks Reserve location in Bandung, which opened earlier this year.

    “I am proud to be a Starbucks partner,” said Wibawa. “At Starbucks, I can do what I love and what I’m passionate about, which is coffee.”

    To prepare for the Indonesian Brewers Cup Championship, Wibawa practiced twice per month with Mirza Luqman, Starbucks Indonesia’s learning and development manager.

    “Ryan was very eager and committed to learning everything about coffee,” said Luqman. “I couldn’t be happier for him.”

    “I can’t believe I will compete in the world championships,” added Wibawa. “I am so happy and proud to represent Starbucks and my country.”

    Starbucks barista Ryan Wibawa took top honors in the first ever Indonesian Brewers Cup Championship finals

    Starbucks barista Ryan Wibawa took top honors in the first ever Indonesian Brewers Cup Championship finals

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  • Starbucks Korea to launch ‘Startup cafe’

    Starbucks Korea to launch ‘Startup cafe’

    Starbucks Korea is to launch a ‘startup cafe,’ in partnership with the country’s government, to stimulate innovation.

    The South Korean arm of the world-famous coffee chain Starbucks and the country’s ICT ministry said Tuesday the “startup cafe” will be a place where visitors can share experiences and ideas on starting a new company.

    Starbucks and the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning said they will host venture-related programs, including lectures at one of its stores in central Seoul, in their latest effort to beef up local startups.

    The ministry said around 46,000 startups kicked off in the first half of 2015 in South Korea, adding it is vital to establish an ecosystem where new companies can share their know-how and experiences to keep the trend sustainable.

    The accessibility and openness of cafes are suitable places for startups to gather, the ministry added.

    Starbucks will provide the venue, as well as drinks and food, for participants. It also plans to roll out joint programs, such as a tumbler design competition.

    The Starbucks-supported startup cafes will expand to areas outside Seoul starting next year.

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  • Starbucks Malaysia gives back to Malaysian communities with its Connecting Communities Project

    Starbucks Malaysia gives back to Malaysian communities with its Connecting Communities Project

    Weaving with Mengkuang leaves used to be a leisurely pastime of coastal women in Malaysia. Today, a small Malaysian business is revisiting this craft and selling Mengkuang products in Starbucks® stores.

    “Giving back to Malaysian communities is important to our company as well as our partners (employees),” said Sydney Quays, managing director, Starbucks Malaysia. “Featuring products from small villages provides increased exposure and ultimately contributes to the livelihood of local residents.”

    Earlier this year, Starbucks Malaysia developed a relationship with Craft CT 01 Enterprise – a small company is located on the east coast of Malaysia. The business develops products made from Mengkuang, a tropical plant with tall, thorny leaves. Their products including hot cup sleeves, coasters and placemats are currently sold in 50 Starbucks locations throughout the country.

    “We have seen a great deal of interest in the Mengkuang products since we began selling them in our stores,” Quays said.

    Sourcing of Mengkuang products is one outcome of Starbucks Malaysia’s Connecting Communities Project, which has helped farmers and their families since 2013. As part of this project, Starbucks also purchased a sizable amount of fresh bananas from small farmers in the Kampung Lubak Jaya village on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The bananas were used to develop the Signature Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin and Banana Chocolate Decadence, offered in West Malaysia Starbucks® stores.

             

    “The banana-based food items are quite popular with our customers,” added Quays.

    The first Starbucks® store in Malaysia opened in Kuala Lumpur in 1998. The company reached a milestone of 200 stores in the country this past September.The 200th store, known as Starbucks Ansa, is located in what was formerly the Piccolo Hotel. The store design aims to introduce customers to the Connecting Communities Project through a community table with banana and Mengkuang leaf carvings, a merchandise wall dedicated to Mengkuang products and specially-woven Mengkuang mats that serve as wall hangings.

    “We will continue to find ways to grow our Connecting Communities Project. There is more we can do positively impact the lives of Malaysia’s small farmers and businesses,” said Quays.

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  • Dairy Farm struggles in SE Asia

    Dairy Farm struggles in SE Asia

    Dairy Farm International Holdings says softer sales growth and steep cost increases led to weakened margins in the third quarter.

    In an interim management statement, which does not include financial data, the Hong Kong-based pan-Asian retailer says the group faced more difficult economic conditions, and focused on building market share and investing for the long-term health of its businesses.

    Tighter margins and unfavourable exchange rate movements continued to affect the group’s US dollar reported results and led to lower underlying earnings for the period.

    “The group expects similar trading conditions to prevail for the remainder of the year.”

    Dairy Farm says profitability of its Singapore food business – where it owns the 7-Eleven franchise and Cold Storage supermarket chain – fell, principally due to weak performances from newly opened supermarkets and the impact on 7-Eleven of government restrictions on alcohol sales.

    In Malaysia, the introduction of GST and softer consumer confidence dampened spending at itsGiantstores.

    “In Indonesia, despite good sales momentum in July and August, higher labour costs and price investments to attract customers have reduced margins,” the company said.

    The Health and Beauty Division – led by the Guardian and Mannings brands – continued to perform well in Hong Kong, despite the slowdown in Mainland Chinese tourist arrivals, and has seen improvements in profitability in Singapore. The overall results were, however, held back by poorer performances in Malaysia and Indonesia.

    Both the Home Furnishings and Restaurants Divisions have increased sales and profits. Ikea performed well in both Hong Kong and Taiwan, and the new Ikea store in Indonesia continues to trade ahead of expectations.

    Restaurant group Maxim’s, which operates Starbucks amongst other brands,  maintained its consistent performance.

    The group is to invest a further US$210 million in Yonghui Superstores in early 2016 so as to maintain its 19.99 per cent stake following a placement by Yonghui of a 10 per cent shareholding to internet retailer, JD.com. The investment by JD.com will provide Yonghui with additional opportunities for expansion into eCommerce.

    “With respect to recent investments, there have been positive contributions from [supermarket chain] San Miu in Macau and from Yonghui in China, despite the challenging trading environment. Meanwhile, progress continues on the integration and repositioning of the Rose Pharmacy business in the Philippines,” the company said.

    “Notwithstanding the challenging conditions, Dairy Farm was able to maintain its cashflow from operating activities through better working capital management.

    Dairy Farm operates over 6400 outlets – including supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores, health and beauty stores, home furnishings stores, cafes and restaurants – employing over 170,000 people, and had total annual sales in 2014 exceeding US$13 billion.

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  • Inside Starbucks Taiwan new concept

    Inside Starbucks Taiwan new concept

    The design team behind the new generation Starbucks Taiwan Longmen concept store set out to create a “theatre for coffee”.

    The new store features Starbucks Reserve coffees and is located in one of the busiest shopping and fashion districts in the city of Taipei.

    Starbucks Taiwan new concept 5
    “We wanted to elevate the Reserve coffee experience for customers and inspire them with our coffee passion,” said Wen Lin, project leader, Starbucks Taiwan.

    “A Reserve coffee bar is located in the center of the store or ‘center stage,’ so customers can watch partners handcrafting beverages from every vantage point.”

    Starbucks Taiwan new concept 2

    Behind the coffee bar is a central column with an abstract graphic, created from blackened metal with laser cutouts in a coffee bean pattern. Diffused lighting inside the column creates a lantern effect.

    “The column draws the eye to the bar to offer an extra layer of interest and evokes the romance of enjoying our coffee,” said Claudia Lee, director, Starbucks Store Design.

    Starbucks Taiwan new concept 6

    Visual representations of the coffee journey are featured in select areas throughout the store, highlighting the regions where coffee is harvested. This includes a 14-meter coffee belt map, created by Taiwanese wood veneer artist, Sandy Lee.

    “We want our customers to have a different visual experience every time they visit our store,” said Lin.

    The store’s design takes advantage of existing architectural elements such as an irregular-shaped floor plan and various ceiling heights to create a strong spatial look and feel. Elevated platforms were crafted into seating areas for customers, where they can look down at what’s taking place at the coffee bar. Taiwanese-designed wood tables and chairs round out inside seating and reflect local styles.

    Starbucks Taiwan new concept 3

    “We selected stools and cafe chairs that have a handcrafted quality to complement the store aesthetic,” said Percy Lee, senior design manager, Starbucks Store Design.

    “The terrazzo floor tile is the same that is traditionally found in residential buildings. This connects customers to local culture and provides a sense of familiarity and comfort when relaxing in the store.”

    Starbucks Taiwan new concept 7

    Featuring a variety of coffee brewing methods, the Longmen store is the first Starbucks in Taiwan to offer both Clover and the Black Eagle machines. Baristas will also offer coffee using the Pour Over method with a three-cup station designed and made by Iron Wang, a local Taiwanese artist who specialises in coffee brewing equipment.

    To pair with coffee, the store’s food menu includes creations by Sadaharu Aoki, a Japanese pastry chef, who owns boutiques in Paris, Taipei, Tokyo and additional cities in Japan. Along with sandwiches and desserts, customers will find Opera, a French sponge cake, created specifically for the store and made with Starbucks Colombia coffee.

  • Gloss coming off Starbucks Asia growth

    Gloss coming off Starbucks Asia growth

    Global coffee giant Starbucks has finished its financial year on a high, reporting a 17 per cent increase in annual revenue to a record US$19.2 billion.

    But is the Starbucks Asia Pacific business underperforming?

    Neil Saunders, CEO of Conlumino, believes so. He says the company’s last quarter figures were boosted by the acquisition of the balance of its Japan joint venture from partner Sazaby League. Globally it finished the quarter with 1666 more cafes than in the previous year, an impressive figure in itself.

    “For a company of Starbucks size and scale, such results are exceptional and a testament to the company’s innovative attitude, as well as the continued relevance of coffee across many geographies,” says Saunders.

    “While the overall numbers are strong, there is an interesting trend in the detail: namely that although Starbucks performed well across many geographies – including in the more mature core Americas territory – performance in Asia Pacific was surprisingly muted.”

    Saunders says while total revenue held up well, rising 110 over last year, this is mainly because of the Japanese acquisition.

    The opening of 767 new stores in Asia-Pacific (which is essentially Asia given Starbucks has only 25 cafes in Australia and 26 in New Zealand, both run by franchise partners) certainly helped.

    “However, on an underlying basis, same store sales only rose by six per cent – a slightly disappointing outcome, and one that is partly attributable to the general slowdown in China,” says Saunders.

    “If the emerging markets proved to be soft, the same cannot be said of the Americas where comparable sales rose by eight per cent. Here some of the menu changes, including the continued growth of the food offer, have helped to push up average ticket within existing stores. However, in our view the various digital initiatives Starbucks has been developing and pursuing have also paid dividends. Its popular digital app is already widely used for payment, and locks in loyalty both by saving customers time at the register and by making Starbucks a destination by virtue of the fact that the card is preloaded with cash. It is also notable that the average ticket from customers using the mobile app for payment tend to be higher. Naturally, some of this is because Starbucks enthusiasts and most loyal customers are more likely to have the app. However, we also believe that the rewards and advertising, which the app supports, help to stimulate add-on sales.”

    Saunders says Starbucks’ plan to drive evening sales through offering alcoholic beverages and an enhanced food menu in US and UK stores is also encouraging.

    “These improvements should be in a quarter of US stores by the end of 2019. In our view, they’re another example of why Starbucks outperforms: it evolves and innovates its in a way that’s relevant to customers.”

    Next year, Starbucks says it plans to open about 900 new stores in Asia-Pacific, two thirds of them licensed. And it says it expects it earnings in the region to be flat or even down.

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  • Starbucks Cards with Swarovski crystals will be available in limited quantities in China, Hong Kong …

    Starbucks Cards with Swarovski crystals will be available in limited quantities in China, Hong Kong …

     Since the first Starbucks Card launched in 2001, designers have created hundreds of varieties of these collectible cards.

    One of this year’s new designs, available at participating Starbucks stores in Asia, is a Starbucks Card adorned with Swarovski crystals. The premium mini Starbucks Card – small enough to fit on your keyring – will be available in select markets across the region.

    The limited-edition mini Starbucks Card creates the feeling of a snowscape for holiday gift-giving. The design, awash in champagne and silver hues, is studded with 29 dazzling Swarovski crystals applied in Austria. This international exclusive will be available starting in November in limited quantities in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand.

    “We continually innovate to find convenient and expressive ways to pay,” said Brady Brewer, senior vice president of Category Brand Management for Starbucks China and Asia Pacific Region. “We’ve featured premium materials like sterling silver, and of course we introduced mobile payment in several Asia markets.”

    Production of the one-of-a-kind Starbucks Card with Swarovski crystals was a collaboration between the Austria-based company for crystal application and a U.S. supplier that printed the cards. The Starbucks Card features a barcode, rather than a magnetized stripe, to enable crystals to be placed across the entire face of the card. The Starbucks Card has a minimum load amount that varies by market.

    “This Starbucks Card is a premium option for customers looking to give a gift to themselves or their favorite Starbucks fan with something special,” Brewer said. “This is just the beginning of what we’re going to see for the holidays at Starbucks.”

    Starbucks Cards with Swarovski crystals will be available in limited quantities in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand this Holiday

    Starbucks Cards with Swarovski crystals will be available in limited quantities in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand this Holiday

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  • The Starbucks Community Store in Daehakro neighborhood in Seoul, Korea celebrates one-year …

    The Starbucks Community Store in Daehakro neighborhood in Seoul, Korea celebrates one-year …

    The Starbucks Community Store in the Daehakro neighborhood in Seoul, Korea, commemorated its one-year anniversary (October 7, 2015) with a community service project, a donation and free brewed coffee and rice cakes for 365 customers as a token of gratitude.
    [embedded content]

    The Starbucks Community Store in Daehakro, like the Langsuan Neighborhood Starbucks in Bangkok, plays a role in supporting education, job training and apprenticeship initiatives by working directly with non-profit organizations to offer local services. In the United States, Starbucks will soon open similar stores that partner with local nonprofit organizations to provide skills training for opportunity youth in underserved, low-income communities in Ferguson, Chicago, Queens, Phoenix and Milwaukee.

    A social hub in the education and arts district of Seoul, the Daehakro coffeehouse hosts workshops and seminars and monthly volunteer activities called “green care” dedicated to improving the environment. The store’s design reflects its vibrant neighborhood. “Community Store messaging can be found throughout the location and it’s a conversation piece that engages customers with store partners,” said Yena Cho, who has been focused on the operation since she joined Starbucks two years ago.

    An art-wall collage, created by university students, and a digital community board that showcases corporate social responsibility efforts are among the distinctive touches that align the store with its surroundings. Also on display is a 3D coffee mug wall that represents students from the Starbucks Comprehensive Youth Leadership Program.

    Yena, who is a global communications manager at Starbucks Korea, said the first year of operation for the Daehakro Starbucks passed by quickly, aided by a flurry of activity around the store, a positive reception by the community and significant media interest.

    Since its opening last October, the equivalent of 30 cents U.S. from each item purchased in Korea’s Community Store has benefited the Green Umbrella ChildFund Korea to support lifelong skills development for youth through the Starbucks Comprehensive Youth Leadership Program. A donation of $100,000 U.S. accumulated from a portion of sales over the past year was presented to Green Umbrella ChildFund Korea at the anniversary celebration. The program offers academic scholarships through graduation for a curriculum that focuses on business skills, collaborative communications and social consciousness.

    Starbucks Korea, which is the company’s fourth largest market outside the U.S., and the Green Umbrella ChildFund Korea maintain an ongoing alliance to address the nation’s social and community needs with an emphasis on assisting young people seeking work. Korean tuition costs are among the world’s highest, creating roadblocks to higher education for the nation’s disadvantaged.

    “Being a relevant part of the community we serve in is an important part of who we are,” said S.K. Lee, ceo and president of Starbucks Coffee Korea. “Our Community Store is a telling example of our commitment to building a different kind of company in Korea that is performance driven through the lens of humanity.”

    The focus on finding jobs for youth is an extension of Starbucks global commitment to hiring Opportunity Youth — those between the ages of 16 and 24 who aren’t in school and aren’t working.  The 100,000 Opportunities Initiative, a coalition of 33 leading U.S. companies including Starbucks, is America’s largest employer-led private sector coalition committed to creating pathways to employment for young people. The businesses will host the next Opportunity Hiring Fair in Phoenix on Oct. 30.

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  • Starbucks execs optimistic on mobile ordering and China

    Starbucks execs optimistic on mobile ordering and China

    Starbucks is investing heavily in ‘mobile order and pay’, with plans to roll out the feature across the US by the end of this month, CFO Scott Maw said at the Goldman Sachs retailing conference on Thursday.

    Previously, the coffee giant had set itself the end of the year as a deadline to finish implementing the service nationwide, with the Android version poised for release a little earlier.

    “We have a winner, and it’s running ahead of our expectations,” Maw told analysts and investors at an investment conference in New York.

    The mobile ordering and pay feature was introduced last year and is gaining traction. In June Starbucks announced it will spend £30m on a technological revamp of its UK business and Starbucks’ UK MD Mark Fox told Retail Gazette that mobile has played a valuable role in the retailer’s success. Last year, the Seattle based chain process over $2bn in mobile transactions.

    Next year, the app will add suggestions for orders based on consumer data.

    Starbucks has recognised the power of e-commerce and is wielding it to allow for its next revolution: delivery.

    Supposedly, the hazelnut latte maker hasn’t been hampered by the economic stagnancy in China,

    the company “is not seeing any material impact on profitability or revenue,” Maw said. “The number of transactions that we’re seeing is good,” and this quarter’s results are “going to stack up really well in China,” he added.

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  • Store’s e-receipts pay off with cash-saving extras

    Store’s e-receipts pay off with cash-saving extras

    Shinsegae Department Store is set to launch a new smartphone app that offers online and offline shoppers e-receipts with extras.

    While the electronic receipt app avoids the hassle of scraps of paper receipts, it can also provide discount coupons and make it easier for customers to park cars.

    Scheduled to launch on Friday, the retailer said the app will help it engage with customers and potentially learn consumer shopping habits from the digital records, and make exchanges or returns easier.

    Retailers outside of Korea have already adopted e-receipts, but local shops have been slow to utilize the system.

    Global marketing company Epsilon International said the e-receipt is “an innovative communications vehicle for retailers that offer limitless marketing possibilities, providing deeper insight into consumer shopping habits, which can lead to more targeted advertising mailers, promotions and emails.”

    On top of offering e-receipts, the platform will provide information about different sales events and discount coupons, the department store chain said.

    The Shinsegae app will also help the store’s parking service. If a customer registers a car number, they can check the length of time they have spent in the parking lot.

    In the Gangnam and Incheon branch, customers can confirm their parking locations on the app and also get their parking ticket validated for free parking.

    The company said that users are allowed to log in with cell phone numbers instead of having to create IDs and passwords.

    Starting in September, users of the app can also receive a list of bestselling products. In addition to the new features – an upgrade to the old app which gave basic store information – Shinsegae said it will add other services to the platform.

    The retailer also unveiled a pickup service that allows online users to pick up their orders at Shinsegae Department Store.

    The new service is part of “omni-channel retailing” which is used by retail giant Amazon, which is a marketing strategy aimed at bridging the gap between online and offline stores.

    “The boundary between online and offline shopping is getting blurry,” said Hong Jeong-pyo, director at the marketing strategy division at Shinsegae. “Shinsegae launched the services that combine the advantages of online and offline shopping.”

    The release is the latest digital service offered by Shinsegae. The group introduced a new mobile payment system called SSG Pay, where consumers can pay with the app at Shinsegae affiliates, including Shinsegae Department Store and E-Mart, WithMe convenience stores, Starbucks, Premium Outlet and SSG.com.

     

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  • Studio City retail tenants revealed

    Studio City retail tenants revealed

    Studio City and Taubman Asia, have revealed the lineup of fashion brands that will open inside The Boulevard at Studio City.

    A mix of fashion-forward labels and internationally-renowned luxury brands include Macau’s first Balmain, Macau’s first Belstaff, and Tom Ford’s largest store in Asia, amongst many others. The selection was assembled by Taubman Asia and Melco Crown Entertainment’s combined team of retail specialists to meet Chinese consumers’ increasing desire to express their individuality through high quality, expertly crafted clothing and accessories. Bespoke and personal services will be offered to ensure our shoppers take center stage.

    Taubman says The Boulevard at Studio City will bring “an unparalleled shopping experience” to Studio City.

    “Unlike any retail offering to be found in Asia, the unique 35,000 sqm ‘immersive’ retail entertainment environment brings shopping to life by ‘transporting’ visitors to high-energy street-scapes and entertaining them at every turn with featured streets and squares inspired by iconic shopping and entertainment locations, including New York’s Times Square and Hollywood’s Beverly Hills,” Taubman said in a statement.

    “At the futuristic Times Square Macau, inside The Boulevard at Studio City, a variety of entertainment from ‘virtual’ musicians to film stars will be shown through holographic projections.

    “Leveraging our global expertise increating extraordinary retail environments, and our exceptional relationships with the world’s leading brands, our talented team in Asia has brought together an exciting mix of brands for The Boulevard at Studio City,” said René Tremblay, president of Taubman Asia.

    “Our merchandising and management services are the industry standard for performance and excellence. We are thrilled to welcome these brands to our latest project and are committed to supporting them for the long term.”

    List of brands:

    Aeronautica Militare
    Balmain
    Bank of China
    Belstaff
    Boss
    Bottega Veneta
    Bulgari
    Cigar Emporium
    Coach
    Cosmos Food Station
    Din Tai Fung
    Dunhill
    Emporio Armani
    Fendi
    Girard-Perregaux
    Givenchy
    Glashutte Original
    Graff
    Gucci
    Hide Yamamoto
    Hublot
    ICBC
    Trattoria Il Mulino
    Image Digital
    IWC Schaffhausen
    Jaeger-LeCoultre
    Jaquet Droz
    kate spade new york
    Kenzo
    Longines
    McCafe
    McDonald’s
    MCM
    Michael Kors
    Montblanc
    Philipp Plein
    Piaget
    Prada
    Rainbow
    Rimowa
    Roberto Cavalli
    Saint Laurent Paris
    Shiki Hot Pot Restaurant
    Starbucks
    Tag Heuer
    T Galleria Beauty by DFS
    Tiffany & Co.
    Tom Ford
    UM
    Vacheron Constantin
    Valentino
    Van Cleef & Arpels
    Versace Collection
    Ermenegildo Zegna
    Zenith

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