Retail News CRM

Tag: Store

  • Scotch & Soda plans new stores in capital cities

    Scotch & Soda plans new stores in capital cities

    Originally a wholesale brand, Amsterdam-based Scotch & Soda is pursuing a broad-based physical expansion that spans across Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America and the Middle East. Scotch & Soda, in March this year, debuted a new brand identity and logo, which will be present in its new locations.

    Ahead of the upcoming holiday season, Scotch & Soda is also expanding its lifestyle categories, including by introducing three new styles of bags and pursuing a deeper presence in fragrance with home, travel sizes and gift sets. Notably, the brand is prioritizing its own channels for the new bags, with those styles available exclusively online, as well as at franchise and directly operated stores, for the first season.

    The company is also opening its first digital store on Tmall in China, which comes after it launched in the country in July. Scotch & Soda has plans to open stores in “key Chinese cities” in the near future, and CEO Frederick Lukoff sees the country as one of the critical markets for the brand.

    “We are very proud to announce that Scotch & Soda is accelerating its growth strategy. It is indeed a very exciting time for our company despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the retail industry,” Lukoff said. “We are pursuing the expansion of our retail network at a global level, strengthening our footprint in markets where we are already present, as well as entering key markets such as China, that we see as full of potential to reach new customers and introduce them to our brand.”

    When Scotch & Soda was acquired by private equity firm Sun Capital Partners in 2011, it was far more of a wholesale brand. The company had approximately 30 company-owned and franchised retail stores, in comparison to 7,000 partnership accounts. Scotch & Soda still boasts some 7,000 wholesale doors, but it now has 235 freestanding stores globally.

    By expanding its own fleet of stores, Scotch & Soda is taking a similar strategy to many other wholesale brands looking to make higher margins by selling more DTC. Well-known retailers like Nike and Adidas are pivoting a higher percentage of sales to the model, while cutting back on wholesale partners, to drive future growth.

  • L’Occitane opens world-first green store concept in Australia

    L’Occitane opens world-first green store concept in Australia

    If you’re a fan of the French skincare brand L’Occitane, then you’ll be happy to know that the retailer has just launched their first eco-friendly shop in the city, as part of their efforts to embrace sustainability and reduce local plastic waste. Located in Pacific Place Mall, the new store is designed to appeal to the growing eco-conscious consumer market. The shop offers products that come in 100 percent recycled bottles, and refillable shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, and hand wash. The new store also launches a new limited edition body care product series called the Happy Shea collection which is exclusively available in the shop and their online store.

    The store aims to engage the public in environmental protection through fun activities with their #MEGA (Make Earth Green Again) Sustainability Reward Program, where shoppers can earn rewards by achieving green tasks such as dropping their empty beauty container – from L’Occitane or other beauty brands – in the store’s recycle bins. Shoppers can also participate in other activities like completing a three-minute personal carbon footprint evaluation or adding their ‘green new year wish or commitment’ to the store’s Tree of Wishes.

    Working in partnership with various eco-conscious organizations, L’Occitane’s MEGA concept store will host a series of sustainability-focused workshops that raise recycling awareness. The company is currently collaborating with A Plastic Ocean Foundation (APO) – a Hong Kong-based charitable organization dedicated to raising awareness against plastic pollution. All PET containers collected through L’Occitane stores go to APO for future recycling into rPET products. L’Occitane has already provided APO with 40kg of PET containers collected from customers for future recycling. Today, APO has created 1,000 pieces of #MakeEarthGreenAgain sandwich bags made from rPET and 1,500 pieces of rPET towels, made from PET plastic waste. Shoppers can receive a complimentary rPET sandwich bag for purchases of over $400 in L’Occitane’s eco-store until February 28, 2021.  L’Occitane’s MEGA concept storefront

    As part of the company’s dedication to lessening environmental carbon footprint and protecting biodiversity, L’Occitane’s Hong Kong and Macau general manager Nathaëlle Davoust signed the Ellen MacArthur Foundation New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. In collaboration with the UN Environment Programme, The Global Commitment ‘unites businesses, governments, and other organizations behind a common vision and target to tackle plastic waste and pollution at its source.’ Companies that signed the commitment represent businesses responsible for 20 percent of all plastic packaging produced globally. So, if you’re dropping by the store and purchasing goods, make sure you bring your own bags as the shop will not be providing you with any plastic or paper bags.

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  • Gentle Monster opens Haus Shanghai

    Gentle Monster opens Haus Shanghai

    Luxury eyewear label Gentle Monster has unveiled the design of its first Haus concept store outside South Korea in Shanghai, the world’s largest Gentle Monster store.

    The launch of the Shanghai store follows the opening of Haus Dosan in Seoul earlier this year, opening chapter two of the Haus project. Featuring a ‘Future Retail’ theme, the four-story Haus Shanghai houses fragrance brand Tamburins’ first physical store in China and dessert brand Nudake.

    “Haus Shanghai provides more than a commercial experience,” Gentle Monster said in a statement. “By inciting emotional provocation in visitors, Haus aims to deliver an unprecedented cultural experience.”

    Gentle Monster combines retail experiences, pop-ups, and art exhibitions inside the 3270sqm retail space. Haus Shanghai’s first floor houses the Nudake store, where visitors can find a variety of artistic desserts. Gentle Monster’s signature six-legged walking robot, The Probe, is located at the centre of the floor alongside kinetic horses, “capturing Nudake’s spirit of experimentation and fantasy”. Visitors can also find various forms of collaged media art and aesthetic furniture here.

    The second floor, Gentle Monster’s largest retail space, is designed under the theme ‘Circulation’ with pliant art pieces cutting through the centre, forcing an unexpected flow of traffic inside the space.

    Meanwhile, the third floor presents a large exhibition space designed for media art exhibitions and collaboration pop-ups. At the heart of the space, a robotic face called ‘The Giant’ is located alongside sculptures and installations, depicting the theme ‘The Giant Who Arrived at the Bird Village’.

    China’s first Tamburins flagship store is situated on Haus Shanghai’s top floor, “expressing elegance and individuality through the delicate balance of spatial elements”. The space is highlighted by a wall art installation ‘Twig’ covered in tree branches, illustrating “the intersection of luxury and rawness through the combination of contrasting materials”.

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  • Ikea Close to You concept opens in Hong Kong

    Ikea Close to You concept opens in Hong Kong

    Home furnishing giant Ikea has launched the world’s first Ikea Close to You concept store inside the Market Place grocer in Hong Kong’s Discovery Bay.

    Spanning more than 3000sqft, Ikea Close to You houses more than 110 home furnishing products together with 120 Swedish signature gourmets ranging from meatballs, salmon, sauces to condiments.

    According to Ikea, the new concept focuses on the digital experience, offering a number of solutions such as self-pick-up lockers that support flexible pick-up time and free shipping. The store features a 2-metre-high interactive screen ‘Digital Experience for Furnishing Inspiration’ that provides 50 home-decorating inspirations and the “Swedish Cooking Interactive Screen” which provides free cooking recipes.

    The new store was opened alongside Bread Pantry at the Market Place Discovery Bay launched last Friday (October 1). Ikea Close to You is also the retailer’s first store located inside a supermarket.

    Owned by Dairy Farm Group, which has the Hong Kong master franchise for Ikea, Market Place is a high-end supermarket chain with stores opened across Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia. The chain entered Hong Kong in 2007 under the name Market Place by Jasons.

    The launch of Market Place Discovery Bay follows the openings of Market Place at Mongkok’s Langham Place and Tuen Mun’s Gold Coast and is part of the brand’s effort to expand its presence in the territory.

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  • Airlines sells in-flight blankets and pyjamas for ‘first-class’ experience

    Airlines sells in-flight blankets and pyjamas for ‘first-class’ experience

    As aviation geeks, many of us have a tendency to want to take some aspects of the flying experience home. For example, this is something United had a huge issue with when they introduced their new Polaris experience, as they found a lot of people were removing the blankets and pillows from the plane, given how comfortable they are.

    United then started selling some of the Polaris amenities online, and I know it has been popular with many. For example, I really love the Polaris duvet, and think it makes a great gift for any aviation geek (and it’s not horribly priced for a duvet either).

    It looks like Emirates is following in United’s footsteps, as Emirates is now selling some of their first-class amenities through their online store.

    The Emirates online store in general has some awesome merchandise for anyone who likes Emirates branded great, but the addition of some first class items is cool as well. Here are the first-class items you can expect to see online:

    Bowers & Wilkins PX Headphones

    The Bowers & Wilkins PX headphones are made to suit every environment you’re in. With 22 hours of battery life, and 3 noise cancellation modes – these headphones have you covered whether you’re in the office, city streets or any flight. Available in two colors with an exclusive Emirates travel case – grab a pair quickly before your next adventure!

    Available in all Emirates Official Stores and www.emirates.store, these must-have headphones retail at AED 1,799.

    Hydra-active Sleepwear (First Class Pyjamas)

    Relax in the world’s first moisturizing sleepwear range to ever be developed for an airline, and drift off like you’re up at 40,000 feet in hydra-active sleepwear pyjamas. Designed to prevent skin dehydration, you’ll feel rested and refreshed every morning. The fabric is crafted with the use of natural ingredients – Shea Buter and Argan Oil – which are released with every motion, keeping your skin moisturized and protected.  The patented Microcapsule Technology locks in the natural benefits, allowing you to wash the pyjamas and use them again them again.

    Catering to female and male sizes – the pyjamas come in four sizes and in a jersey travel pack. The dark grey men’s pyjamas come with wide leg pant and ribbed collar, while the female’s pyjamas come in a light grey tapered pant and reverse darker color collar.

    Available in all Emirates Official Stores and www.emirates.store, the First Class pyjamas retail at AED 200 per piece.

    First Class Blanket

    As the winter and the festive season approach, grab yourself a warm blanket for those special chilly nights spent at home with family and friends. When open, the cream-colored, furry blanket has armholes and pockets to keep hands and feet warm.  This essential item can also be converted into a travel pillow, providing ultimate comfort and support for the neck.

    Available in all Emirates Official Stores and www.emirates.store, the First Class blankets retail at AED 225.

    The Bowers & Wilkins PX headphones are good, but at the price I think there are better ones out there.

    I find Emirates’ new pajamas to not be particularly comfortable.

    And I also don’t think their blankets are great, and actually prefer the United Polaris duvet, if you are in the market for an airline blanket for home.

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  • Apple set to open newest China store in Changsha

    Apple set to open newest China store in Changsha

    Apple today previewed Apple Changsha, the first Apple Store in Hunan province. Situated in the heart of the provincial capital city, Apple Changsha’s location provides easy access for customers across central China.

    “We are thrilled to be opening in Changsha, a community filled with creativity and profound cultural heritage,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of Retail + People. “So many of our team members already call Hunan province home, and they are ready to welcome and support their neighborhood at Apple Changsha.”

    The new store is located in the popular Changsha IFS shopping mall and faces the bustling Huangxing Road, one of the top urban attractions in the city. Visitors entering the store from outside will encounter the uniquely designed double-height façade, which features a completely new gradient frit and mirrored coating treatment that blurs the transition from top to bottom and shifts in appearance during different times of day or seasons. The all-new glass façade was sustainably manufactured in Tianjin, China, and is the first Apple Store in the world to utilize this façade technique.

    From the interior mall entrance, customers will immediately come across the Forum and the freestanding video wall, home to Today at Apple sessions. Led by Apple Creative Pros, free daily sessions provide creative inspiration, teach practical skills, and help customers learn how to go further with their Apple products. To celebrate the grand opening, Creative Pros will host the exclusively tailored Today at Apple session “Art Walk: Discover the Colors of Changsha” beginning September 5, giving customers an opportunity to explore the city and capture its vibrant colors on iPad Pro. Visitors are able to register for the session today at apple.com.cn/today/event/art-walk-discover-the-colors-of-changsha.

    Surrounding the Forum are display tables and avenues, where customers can explore curated Apple products and accessories or receive personal technical support from Geniuses. Throughout the store, customers can get shopping help from Apple Specialists and learn more about monthly financing options, Apple’s trade-in program, or try the newly launched Apple Pickup service.

    The new store includes nearly 100 highly trained retail team members, who collectively speak many languages including Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, and French.

    Apple Changsha opens Saturday, September 4, at 10 a.m. CST in China. The store will open with the same health measures for both retail team members and visitors as seen in all Apple Store locations across China, including a mask requirement, temperature checks, and social distancing.

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  • Coach Singapore introduces first concept store

    Coach Singapore introduces first concept store

    Coach is launching their first-ever concept store in Singapore, Tomorrow’s Vintage, a pop-up that celebrates Coach’s timeless style and its commitment to a better-made future.

    Inspired by Coach’s commitment to restoring, repurposing, and reimagining, the Tomorrow’s Vintage concept store will be hosted in a conservation shophouse located at 1 Teck Lim Road from today to 12 September 2021.

    In celebration of the brand’s 80th anniversary, the store space will pay homage to Coach stores from the past, with vintage television showcasing films featuring Coach’s renowned leather restoration specialist Debi the Restorer. Bags from Coach’s archival collection will be on display, including iconic designs from Bonnie Cashin’s era such as the Ergo and the Cashin, and a selection of re-released Coach Originals bags.

    Tomorrow’s Vintage will feature a limited-edition pop-up of the famous Coach craftsmanship bar and a dedicated craftsman trained by Mauricio, Coach’s master craftsman in New York City will offer leather cleaning, monogramming services, and customization options.

    From 3 to 5 September, customers can also have their bags customized by local artist Tiffany Lovage. Between 27 to 29 August and 10 to 12 September, professional embroiderer Zoey Wong will be on-site to personalize leather goods.

    Coach has also partnered with Big Crown Records, a Brooklyn-based independent record label that reissues rare vinyl and produces new releases on vintage equipment to curate a playlist for the Tomorrow’s Vintage pop-up store and a selection of vinyl records for display.

    Coach’s Tomorrow’s Vintage also adds a local touch, with a Tikam Tikam game available to play in the concept store. Each visitor can pick a random number from the Tikam board for the chance to win a complimentary Coach Create pin or patch. To drive visitors to the pop-up, Coach will also launch a ‘Digital Tikam’ game (mobile only):https://tomorrowsvintage.coachexperiencesg.com.

    Coach’s Tomorrow’s Vintage concept store will adhere to the government’s advisory and safe distancing regulations. All visitors have to adhere to regulations including Safe Entry check-in, temperature checks and wearing of masks at all times.

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  • Apple recruits more Vietnamese staff

    Apple recruits more Vietnamese staff

    Apple is recruiting 25 people in Vietnam, mostly for posts pertaining to operations and supply chain.

    Most of the job opportunities had been posted on Apple’s career website this month. On July 23 and 29, the U.S. tech giant posted information for the three posts of new product introduction-operation program manager (NPI OPM).

    Most of the 25 posts are for operations and supply chain workers in Hanoi, and sales and business development staff in Ho Chi Minh City. Some posts are for hardware engineers in charge of camera development working in both cities.

    For managerial posts, Apple requires candidates to have five to 10 years’ experience in hi-tech industries and a good command of English.

    Since early 2020, Apple has recruited some engineers and managers for software, screen quality, operation and product management units in Hanoi and HCMC.

    Apple recruitment started when it shifted production of new products to Vietnam, which currently hosts 21 suppliers of the U.S. giant, up 1.5 times against 2018. These suppliers include Samsung, LG Display, Intel, Biel Crystal, Foxconn, Luxshare, Goertek and Compal.

    Many big assembling partners of Apple have factories in the three northern provinces of Bac Ninh, Bac Giang and Vinh Phuc. Many factories assemble AirPod headphones, Apple watches and Homepod Mini speakers.

    Early this year, Foxconn signed a $270-million project on producing laptops and tables in Bac Giang. According to many sources, Foxconn’s new facility would assemble iPads and MacBooks for Apple.

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  • Saigon supermarkets to close at 5 PM

    Saigon supermarkets to close at 5 PM

    All supermarkets in HCMC will close at 5 p.m. starting Monday to comply with the city’s suspension of night-time activities amid its Covid-19 battle.

    Retail chains like VinMart and Co.opMart will operate from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. instead of 10 p.m.

    Big C outlets will open 1.5 hours earlier at 7 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Aeon Malls and Mega Market will also apply the same hours.

    Most supermarkets in the city had shelves full of eggs, meat and vegetables Monday, with no sign of stockpiling.

    Retail chains have been doubling or tripling their supply to fulfill demand. They also have delivery staff ready in case delivery platforms are banned.

    HCMC banned people from leaving their homes except for emergencies after 6 p.m. starting Monday.

    This is the latest effort to curb the spread of the fourth wave of Covid-19, in which over 62,100 cases have been confirmed in the city out of 97,400 nationwide.

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  • 7-Eleven settles franchisee class actions

    7-Eleven settles franchisee class actions

    7-Eleven has agreed to settle franchisee class actions following mediation. A statement from the convenience chain confirmed the settlement but gave no insight into the details of the agreement.

    “7-Eleven can confirm that a non-binding in-principle agreement to settle the class actions has been reached, subject to terms of a settlement deed being agreed and subject to the approval of the Federal Court of Australia.

    “The settlement follows mediation between the parties on 24, 25, and 29 June 2021,” said 7-Eleven.

    It’s been a rollercoaster ride since the class actions were mooted back in 2017.

    In February 2018 Stewart Levitt, senior partner at Levitt Robinson Solicitors which was acting for the franchisees, filed a claim in the Federal Court.

    The group of current and former franchisees alleged misleading and deceptive conduct, unconscionable conduct, and contract breaches by 7-Eleven, and alleged the ANZ bank had provided loans that were unsustainable.

    Levitt Robinson believed “substantial damages” could be available.

    However, the law firm had its knuckles metaphorically rapped when it was forced to retract statements made to franchisees in 2017.

    In 2019 the class action hit a roadblock when the court accepted an undertaking from the convenience chain.

    According to Lawyerly, an in-principle settlement was approved in August 2020 between ANZ and the applicants.

    The class actions against 7-Eleven continued with a trial set for winter 2021. Lawyerly reported in May this year a judge rejected a proposal by the convenience chain for a pre-trial ruling and mediation took place in late June.

  • Sweaty Betty opens first Singapore store

    Sweaty Betty opens first Singapore store

    British activewear retailer Sweaty Betty has made its Singapore debut, more than two years after entering Asia.

    Located in the city’s Ion Orchard mall, Sweaty Betty Singapore offers a full range of its lifestyle and activewear, including Pride Collection and Halle Berry x Sweaty Betty Collection.

    The Singapore launch is part of Sweaty Betty’s plan to expand and strengthen its presence in the Asian market. The brand, often referred to as a rival to Canada’s Lululemon, first entered Asia in 2019 opening a store in Hong Kong’s IFC mall.

    Founded in Notting Hill, London in 1998 by Simon and Tamara Hill-Norton, Sweaty Betty is renowned for its bum-sculpting leggings, innovative prints, and technical high-performance fabrics.

    The retailer now operates more than 60 outlets, mostly across the UK and the US.

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  • Cartier unveils complex, wooden-fronted Osaka store

    Cartier unveils complex, wooden-fronted Osaka store

    Cartier has reopened its flagship in Ginza, Tokyo following extensive renovations. The flagship store covers a surface of 10,764-square-feet.

    The Ginza boutique houses the luxury jewelry company’s men’s and women’s watch collections on the first floor, diamonds, including engagement rings, contemporary designs, and special orders, on the second floor, and fashion accessories and leather goods on the lower level. Interior designer Bruno Moinard created unique spaces for each floor, with the first floor featuring brown tones and soft hues of beige, gold, and champagne, and the second floor featuring feminine contrasting hues of ivory and champagne.

    The façade, which was designed by Sylvain Dubuisson, was constructed in two sections with the lower part being a dark brown, orange-toned granite stone façade inspired by the company’s boutique in Paris on Rue de la Paix, and the second section featuring Japanese screens, or Shoji, made from traditional paper and wood cuts arranged to resemble a Japanese cedar, or Sugi, which is Japan’s national tree.

    Cartier first entered the Asia market in 1970 in Hong Kong and later opened in Singapore in 1973. The jewelry company opened a boutique in Ginza in 1991 and opened the flagship in 2003, which introduced Cartier’s interior design concept by Moinard. The boutique was renovated and reopened in 2007, and it reopens again after being renovated for two years.

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  • Google opens its first NYC store

    Google opens its first NYC store

    Five years ago, Google started making its own smartphones and voice-assisted speakers. Now, Google has a store to sell them in.

    The company is set to open its first-ever physical store on Thursday on the ground floor of its Manhattan headquarters in the Chelsea neighborhood. The store will carry a full array of Google’s gadgets, including Pixel smartphones, Nest home devices and Fitbit’s wearable fitness products, the company said.

    Inside, shoppers can try out devices and subscription services, while existing customers can get on-site repairs of broken products. The 5,000-square-foot store will include rooms where customers can experience “real-life scenarios” in which Google products can be useful, the company said.

    Some non-Google products and Google-branded gear, such as T-shirts, hats and dog toys, will also be sold.

    The store is Google’s latest attempt to give its fledgling hardware division a shot in the arm and an extension of pop-up stores that the company opened in the last few years.

    Since Google started selling Google-branded smartphones in 2016, it has expanded the kinds of devices it sells. It has also acquired Fitbit and integrated Nest, a maker of devices like thermostats. Nest had been a separate subsidiary of Google’s parent company, Alphabet.

    Although Google has invested heavily in the hardware division, it is still an afterthought to the company’s main advertising arm and its fast-growing cloud-computing unit. Google would not comment on whether it had plans to open more stores.

    The track record of technology companies that have opened retail stores is mixed. Apple’s stores stand out as a major success, elevating the brand and offering a showcase for new products. Microsoft, on the other hand, said it was shuttering all of its stores last year, more than a decade after it started opening retail outlets to augment its own push into hardware.

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  • H&M closes Shanghai flagship

    H&M closes Shanghai flagship

    H&M has closed one of its Shanghai flagship stores on the Nanjing West Road. The store, which was open for ten years, was considered a key part of the brand’s retail strategy as it was on a high-traffic shopping street.

    According to a statement made to Chinese media, H&M closed this store due to the lease ending. H&M says they will continue to review locations as business develops in China.

    Both Bloomberg and The New York Times have reported that landlords in China have forced the closure of H&M stores across the country after the controversy in late March regarding the company’s stance on using cotton sourced in China’s Xinjiang region. H&M products currently aren’t being sold on China’s top two e-commerce platforms, Tmall and JD.com.

    It’s been a tough year for H&M. In addition to taking a hit last year due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, H&M also saw a 21 percent fall in sales for Q1 2021. The company is projected to close 250 stores this year.

  • App Store billings and sales hit a whopping $643 billion last year

    App Store billings and sales hit a whopping $643 billion last year

    Based on an independent study of the App Store, the iOS app storefront generated $643 billion in sales and billings last year (which includes Apple’s cut of in-app purchases and ad sales), up 24% from the $519 billion that the App Store brought in during 2019. The study, titled “A Global Perspective on the Apple App Store Ecosystem,” reveals that not only did iOS app developers expand their business in 2020, they also expanded their customer base.

    It also turns out that since 2015, the number of small developers on the App Store has grown by 40%. The definition of a small developer is one with fewer than 1 million downloads and less than $1 million in earnings and 90% of App Store developers fit this definition. And of those small developers, 25% of them have managed to increase their earnings by 25% a year over the last five years.

    The report also shows that close to 80% of small developers have apps in App Stores across different countries. On average, App Store developers get paid from customers located in more than 40 countries. Overall, the App Store is available in more than 175 countries and regions, supports more than 40 different languages, 45 different currencies, and over 200 different payment methods.

    Apple CEO Tim Cook says, “Developers on the App Store proves every day that there is no more innovative, resilient or dynamic marketplace on earth than the app economy.” Cook adds that “The apps we’ve relied on through the pandemic have been life-changing in so many ways — from groceries delivered to our homes, to teaching tools for parents and educators, to an imaginative and ever-expanding universe of games and entertainment. The result isn’t just incredible apps for users: it’s jobs, it’s an opportunity, and it’s untold innovation that will power global economies for many years to come.”

    We should point out that the App Store has also generated conflict between Apple and developers because of the company’s in-app payment system under which Apple snags as much as a 30% cut of in-app transactions. And any developer that offers its own platform to compete with Apple and get around the 30% Apple Tax will find its app removed from the App Store. This is what happened with Epic Games and its popular Fortnite title.

    Last month Epic and Apple wrapped up a two-week trial and we expect the judge to announce her decision sometime during the third quarter. Apple and the App Store have been called anticompetitive since Apple doesn’t allow iOS and iPadOS users to install apps from any other app storefront outside of the App Store. This is one area where there is a big difference between iOS and Android since Android users are allowed to sideload apps from third-party app stores.

    Apple’s in-payment platform did get a thumbs up from the CEO of Snapchat parent Snap, Evan Spiegel. The executive said that Snap is “happy” to pay Apple’s 30% cut noting that Snapchat would not be around if it weren’t for Apple and the App Store. This is the minority view, but another developer has praised Apple’s app ecosystem.

    Wakeout! is an app that offers 1,500 exercises to keep users active and its founder, Andres Canella, called Apple’s in-app payment system “essential” for a small business. He states that “It’s enabled us to expand globally without having to worry about calculating things like local taxes or currency conversion. And using it is so transparent for our customers — we’re able to reach everywhere, China, France, you name it. We get all the benefits of selling globally without ever having to think about it, which is priceless.”

    Still, for every Snapchat and Wakeout! there is a Fortnite, a Netflix, or a Spotify that publicly attacks the App Store and Apple calling the setup a monopoly and anticompetitive.