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Tag: Store

  • H&M opening fourth retail store in Auckland

    H&M opening fourth retail store in Auckland

    Swedish fashion giant H&M announced it will open its fourth store in Auckland at Westfield Newmarket on December 12.

    The 2300sqm store, the retailer’s ninth store in New Zealand, will have two levels and will feature a range of apparel and accessories for men, women, youth, kids and baby, as well as the retailer’s home concept.

    “We are thrilled to be a part of the much-anticipated Westfield Newmarket.” said Daniel Lattemann, Country Sales manager for H&M New Zealand.

    Lettemann said they are also delighted to be able to finally offer a second Auckland location for their H&M home concept.

    “We have seen such a demand since launching the concept in our Commercial Bay store last year,” he said.

    According to H&M, recruitment for approximately 50 employees is underway.

    The fashion retailer, which entered the New Zealand market in 2016, now has seven stores nationwide located in Sylvia Park, Commercial Bay, and Botany Town Centre in Auckland, The Crossing in Christchurch, Queensgate in Wellington, Tauranga Crossing, and Chartwell Shopping Centre in Hamilton.

    The recently announced store opening is the eighth and is set to open in Westfield Riccarton on November 7, 2019.

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  • All 7-Eleven Philippines stores now sell Bitcoin

    All 7-Eleven Philippines stores now sell Bitcoin

    Bitcoin purchasers can now buy the cryptocurrency in all 7-Eleven Philippines stores.

    The move has been introduced by Cryptocurrency investment app Abra in partnership with ECPay payments firm, making the coin available in more than 6000 locations in the territory. The purpose of the new strategy is to simplify access to Bitcoin investment.

    “Using new digital tools that open up financial access shouldn’t be hard,” said a spokesperson for the firm to Cointelegraph, “and they shouldn’t be complicated. Moving cash to crypto and other digital assets should be simple and fast. That’s why we are really excited to announce our new partnership.”

    Bitcoin purchase is being made available under the “Bills Payment” option at Cliqq ECPay kiosks in stores, or use the mobile app.

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  • Hong Kong retailers may close as protests impact sales

    Hong Kong retailers may close as protests impact sales

    “Dozens” of smaller Hong Kong retailers may be forced to close their doors as ongoing protests – now into their 15th week – impact trade.

    The Hong Kong Retail Management Association has repeatedly been warning of critical impact on the retail sector as store owners in areas frequently hosting protests have had to shutter their shops for safety reasons.

    Now, the South China Morning Post has reported that “several dozen small retailers are likely to shut shop as soon as the end of this month” because overseas shoppers have been deterred from entering Hong Kong by news of protest activity.

    Alexa Chow Yee-ping, MD of AMAC Human Resources, told the SCMP her clients were considering laying off staff to keep afloat.

    “It is just too hard to survive,” she told the paper, saying she feared “thousands of layoffs”.

    Annie Yau Tse, chairman of the HKRMA said last month that damage to retail business has directly impacted the frontline staff’s take-home income. “Some member companies reported that their staff’s income, which is paid on a commission basis, has also declined accordingly because of the tremendous sales drop caused by significant business disruptions,” she said in a message posted on the association’s website.

    “Furthermore, retail-related industries, such as the import and export trade, wholesale, transportation and storage sectors, will also suffer from the subdued retail market.”

    Tse was commenting after the release of June’s retail sales data for Hong Kong, which showed a 6.7 decline year on year. Since then July figures have shown an 11.4-per-cent drop. There is a widespread expectation that sales in August will be down even further, given 851,000 fewer passengers used Hong Kong International Airport and the number of mainlanders entering through land-based border crossings continues to decline while the protests roll on.

    The HKRMA has called on landlords to extend relief to embattled retailers given the circumstances.

    “As the recent incidents have made an immediate and profound impact on the retail industry, the Association has issued a letter to call for all landlords to collaborate at these critical moments by offering rental and management fee relief measures,” Tse wrote.

    “Facing such an unprecedented crisis, retailers are in critical need of the support from our stakeholders to sail through the challenges without going out of business or cutting headcount.”

  • First Miniso store in Ghana opens

    First Miniso store in Ghana opens

    The first store for Miniso in Ghana has opened its doors as the Chinese discount merchandise continues its rapid global rollout.

    The chain’s outlet at Marina Mall in Accra will join the brand’s global network of more than 3600 stores worldwide. Miniso is currently expanding at the rate of up to 400 new stores every month.

    “Miniso’s rapid development since its establishment five years ago is not only based on its great business model, but also about its unique product design,” said Miniso chief designer and co-founder Miyake Junya. “Good design must come from good designers, and Miniso does not only train the internal designers but also recruit excellent designers from all over the world such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark and South Korea. We welcome excellent local suppliers to cooperate with us, including those from Ghana.”

    “We are happy to join Ghana’s retail market,” said Miniso Ghana country manager Edinam Akpakli. “Miniso is not just a brand, but a way of life. To us, trendiness and vibrancy means developing products that anticipate your needs and delivers beyond that expectation.

    “It is for this reason that Miniso Ghana, for instance, has made it a point to only serve customers with paper bags. In the near future, you will see Miniso leading and contributing to programs and initiatives that support and resonate with our social values.”

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  • New Look same-store sales down

    New Look same-store sales down

    Same-store sales fell by 10.1 percent in the first quarter for UK-headquartered fashion retailer New Look.

    For the 13 weeks to June 29, the company says it was affected by bad weather which led to lower footfall in stores, compounded by consumer uncertainty surrounding the Brexit crisis.

    Combined UK and Ireland retail sales fell by £35.5 million (14.1 percent) to £210.3 million for the quarter.

    Pippa Stephens, a retail analyst at GlobalData, says the retailer is continuing to struggle as it progresses with its transformation process, which includes closing stores, axing menswear from physical locations and attempting to revive the broad appeal of its products.

    She said that with falling like-for-like sales in its core business, the company must continue to focus on improving its remaining stores to boost footfall.

    “With like-for-like sales rising 2.2 percent for the first eight weeks of the second quarter, New Look is starting to show signs of green shoots. While its ‘Revive’ program for refurbishing its smaller destinations will help to attract shoppers, it should also improve its visual merchandising by displaying products more clearly to enhance the shopping experience, as its stores often feel cluttered – making them difficult to browse,” said Stephens.

    While consumers are shifting to shopping online, New Look’s e-commerce sales have continued to decline, with group sales (excluding third-party e-commerce) falling £1.3 million to £38.1 million.

    “Although its digital channel outperformed versus total sales, New Look must drive more traffic onto its site through increased digital marketing, and by offering more affordable and convenient delivery options,” said Stephens.

    “Although the high prices of its fulfilment options will make its online channel more profitable, uncompetitive prices are off-putting for shoppers, hindering conversion. Its delivery-saver scheme is priced at £19.99, double that of other value players like PrettyLittleThing and Boohoo.com, so this should be lowered to become more competitive.”

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  • Le Saunda CEO resigns and on the search

    Le Saunda CEO resigns and on the search

    Le Saunda CEO Cheng Wang has resigned and will leave the company on October 16.

    According to a stock exchange filing, Cheng is leaving in order to pursue “his other personal affairs”. The Le Saunda CEO will also vacate his seat on the shoe retailer’s board.

    On the same date, another director, Marces Lee Tze Bun will also resign. The company said there was no matter with respect to either person’s departure that needed to be brought to the attention of the company’s shareholders.

    The statement coincided with a positive profit warning issued by the company.

    Based on unaudited management accounts, the company expects a consolidated profit attributable to shareholders for the first half-year of RMB 2 million (US$280,000), compared to a loss of RMB 9.585 million ($1.34 million) in the same period last year. The turnaround was due to improved sales Mainland China stores, reduced administrative expenses due to a restructuring of regional offices and the closure of underperforming stores across its network.

    Sales in Le Saunda’s self-owned stores (excluding e-commerce) were down by 6.5 percent in the second quarter, but same-store sales were up 17.5 percent, reflecting a streamlined store network. Online sales, however, plunged 28.4 percent.

    Le Saunda has shuttered 156 outlets between the end of the second quarter last year and August 31 this year, leaving its with 465 outlets in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. All but 56 of those are self-owned, as opposed to franchised.

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  • Zimmermann opens another US store

    Zimmermann opens another US store

    Australian designer brand Zimmermann has opened its 12th store in the US and its third in New York City with the launch of a new boutique on the Madison Avenue.

    The prestigious shopping street is home to the likes of Carolina Herrera, Christian Louboutin, Ralph Lauren, Valentino and other designer brands.

    The 160sqm store, which opened last week, was designed by Australian designer and architect Don McQualter of Studio McQualter to create the feeling of a local apartment, with each room in the heritage-listed 1940s building styled to frame the collection.

    The store includes a mix of vintage pieces, such as a 1960s Murano glass Italian chandelier and 1930s De Coene desk, with handmade floor and wall tiles and custom metalwork, light fixtures, display tables, millwork and virtual merchandising fixtures designed by Studio McQualter.

    The store is meant to be a physical embodiment of the Zimmermann brand, conveying a relaxed femininity, air of freshness and light and unyielding optimism.

    Co-founders Nicky and Simone Zimmermann celebrated the new Madison Avenue store and upcoming Spring 2020 collection by co-hosting an in-store cocktail event followed by an intimate dinner nearby at Flora Bar at the Met Breuer with VIPs and close friends of the brand.

    “New York is like a second home for us. I have spent a lot of time in the city over the years and we’ve always loved the energy Madison Avenue brings. We are excited to now be a part of the Uptown community,” Nicky Zimmermann, creative director and co-founder, said.

    The brand plans to open a second boutique in Florida in Palm Beach in November 2019.

  • Lululemon launches free coursed for store managers

    Lululemon launches free coursed for store managers

    Lululemon is partnering with Swinburne University of Technology to offer a free diploma of business for store managers, regional managers and training managers.

    The course, which Lululemon is fully funding, is comprised of eight units covering personal skills for leaders, HR and staff management, marketing, operations, finance, and strategic skills.

    The units have been adapted from Swinburne’s existing course, so content can be immediately applied to participants’ day-to-day work at Lululemon, and employees are able to take the 18-month course on a 21-month time-frame to focus on their business during the busy peak trading period in Q4.

    Lululemon Australia and New Zealand managing director Paul Tinkler said the course provides an opportunity for its team leaders to develop long-term retail careers.

    “The course reinforces the skills they already demonstrate and addresses any potential gaps in their learning, setting them up for success over the long term,” Tinkler said.

    The move follows a similar partnership between Battery World and TAFE institutions in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria to make it easier for staff to earn a Certificate II qualification in auto electric technology.

    The franchisor worked with TAFE to develop an accelerated course that takes into account the practical tasks staff do in-store on a daily basis and offers classes outside of normal office hours, so employees can continue working while earning the qualification.

    Battery World expects the tailored courses to lead to an increase in the number of qualified employees in its franchise network and higher staff retention rates, as employees get the opportunity to upskill and feel more valued.

    “We know that employees who feel valued and are given the chance to extend their knowledge tend to want to stick with an employer,” Coralee Haskew, Battery World’s operations trainer said.

    “It’s not just younger staff who want to extend their skills. We have younger and older staff who want to grow their strength in the business. It’s not just a millennial thing.”

    The Lululemon x Swinburne diploma of business was offered for the first time this year, with a total of 14 eligible managers commencing study in March. They are expected to graduate at the end of October 2020.

    Intake will occur yearly and will be available to Lululemon store managers, regional managers and training managers who have been with the business for a minimum of 12 months.

    Following the successful completion of the course, students are eligible to apply for an undergraduate degree with up to eight credits. Store managers who successfully complete the course and have three years of full-time employment will be granted entry into Swinburne’s graduate certificate of business administration, which leads directly into a master of business administration.

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  • Superdry licensing deal signed with IMG

    Superdry licensing deal signed with IMG

    British fashion brand Superdry has appointed IMG to develop a strategic licensing program to extend the brand into select new product and lifestyle categories.

    The Superdry licensing deal will see IMG negotiating partnerships which broaden its product portfolio into such items as luggage and travel-related goods, personal accessories, consumer electronics and sporting goods, in accordance with Superdry’s brand ethos.

    “We look forward to working with IMG and partnering with other brands as Superdry enters the next stage of its growth,” said Superdry CEO and founder Julian Dunkerton. “IMG’s extensive licensing experience with fashion brands makes it the ideal partner and we are excited to explore creative opportunities that best resonate with Superdry’s brand.”

    Superdry is known for its distinctive designs blending vintage Americana with Japanese-inspired graphics. It is a fast-growing brand with a geographically and demographically diverse customer base.

    “With an instantly recognisable identity and a powerful brand personality that embodies fun and individual empowerment,” said IMG’s SVP of licensing Matthew Primack, “we see many opportunities to apply the Superdry style and philosophy to products of relevance and we are delighted to be working with the Superdry team.”

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  • Karen Millen stores closing down

    Karen Millen stores closing down

    Administrators have been appointed to wind down the Australian arm of Karen Millen, after the business fell into administration in Britain last month.

    The UK fashion brand, which turned over approximately $19 million in Australia last year, operates seven independent stores and eight concessions in David Jones and Myer department stores.

    Deloitte partners Richard Hughes, Tim Norman and Michael Billingsley, who have been appointed joint and several administrators, said they would conduct a controlled wind-down of the business in the coming weeks.

    Approximately 80 employees, many of them casuals, will be impacted by the closure.

    “If quick, shoppers can expect some bargains with discounted stock being sold from stores and online until the end of this month,” administrators said in a statement.

    The local shut-down follows the collapse of Karen Millen in the UK last month. Administrators there are in the process of closing more than 200 bricks-and-mortar stores, putting at risk more than 11000 jobs. Head office staff have already been made redundant.

    Karen Millen’s online business was bought by global e-commerce fashion giant Boohoo for £18 million, a move that left some scratching their heads.

    “I don’t get it,” the CEO of an upmarket fashion retailer said, contrasting Karen Millen’s relatively high-priced garments with the £5 fast fashion items sold by Boohoo.

    Boohoo has a local online presence in Australia. It is unclear whether it will launch a local online presence for Karen Millen going forward.

    Karen Millen has stores in:

    • DFO South Wharf, VIC
    • Emporium, VIC
    • Chadstone, VIC
    • Doncaster, VIC
    • QVB, NSW
    • Chatswood Chase, NSW
    • Burnside Village, SA
    • David Jones concessions in Sydney and Melbourne CBDs
    • Myer concessions in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane CBDs, Bondi, Chadstone and Perth

    Customers holding gift cards or who are members of loyalty programs will have their benefits honored. Administrators advise those consumers to refer to the Customer FAQ section of the Karen Millen website for further details.

  • Zara in defense mode after IFC mall store closure

    Zara in defense mode after IFC mall store closure

    Fashion retailer Zara has reassured customers that its decision to close its IFC mall store in Hong Kong on Monday was not related to protests currently taking place in the city.

    The statement emerged after social media users in Mainland China speculated that the store closures were a show of support for the demonstrators and to allow staff to participate.

    “Zara has never made any comments or undertaken any actions related to a strike in Hong Kong,” read the firm’s statement on its Weibo account. “Zara does not back a strike and supports ‘one country, two systems’.”

    The controversy was sparked after an image of a sign posted on the IFC mall store’s shutters was circulated online, apparently going viral.

    Major businesses have come under close scrutiny for their actual or suspected support of the protestors, including Cathay Pacific, HSBC and PWC.

    The protests have been held in the city over the past three months, and have become seen as a challenge to Beijing’s sovereignty over the territory.

    Zara has declined to offer any explanation as to why the majority of its Hong Kong island stores were closed during the time in question.

    However, the store reopened yesterday with new interior design to coincide with the opening of the Sephora store in a space carved out of Zara’s previous footprint in the mall.

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  • Costco China plans more store openings

    Costco China plans more store openings

    Within days of opening its first warehouse store, Costco China is already talking about its plans to expand the new network.

    As happens in many new market Costco enters, the new Shanghai store grew thousands of people, some of who queued for hours to shop, and then check out, while others spent a similar time in their cars circling the suburb seeking somewhere to park. In the afternoon, the store was closed due to crowding.

    Costco CFO Richard Galanti confirmed with analysts a second store is already in advanced planning and he hopes construction will start as soon as possible.

    The first store opened on August 27 in Shanghai’s Minghang district. It followed a four-year program by Costco to build brand awareness among local consumers through a presence on Alibaba’s Tmall Global. The company has a target of signing up at least 100,000 members to make the venture viable.

    While Costco expected to draw large crowds to the opening, the sheer numbers exceeded even the company’s most optimistic projections. A record number of customer membership registrations were taken for an opening day, however Galanti did not release the actual number.

    Costco China is looking to establish a beachhead in Shanghai before expanding into other tier-one cities.

    Trade tensions between China and the US appear not to be affecting the store’s early success, with Costco switching sourcing of some products from the US to Australian suppliers.

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  • Lucasfilm to launch LEGO Star Wars Battles mobile game

    Lucasfilm to launch LEGO Star Wars Battles mobile game

    To be successful, you’ll have to collect and upgrade characters and vehicles, build LEGO towers to combat, defend and capture territory, as well as create both light and dark side armies.

    LEGO Star Wars Battles includes heroes and villains that have never been featured in any other LEG Star Wars game, such as Rey and Kylo Ren, the First Order’s BB-9E, and a Duros rebel trooper inspired by Star Wars Battlefront.

    There will be more than 40 units featuring characters, vehicles, and troops from Star Wars films and animation that can be collected in LEGO Star Wars Battles. Now, the bad news is the game won’t be available any time soon, as Lucasfilm announced LEGO Star Wars Battles will be available in 2020 on the App Store and Google Play, so we’ll just have to wait at six months.

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  • Apple plans three flagships and own online store in India

    Apple plans three flagships and own online store in India

    Apple India reportedly plans to open three brick-and-mortar outlets as well as an online store as it finally enters the world’s second-most-populous market.

    The US-headquartered tech company’s plans coincide with a further relaxation of government regulations affecting foreign retailers, easing the requirements of local sourcing and scrapping a law making it mandatory for brands to open physical stores before launching online.

    Apple has already taken steps to manufacture products in India, partnering with Taiwanese company Wistron to make the iPhone 6S and 7 models there.

    India’s population is growing at such a fast rate it will overtake China as the world’s most-populous nation within only a few years. Its rapidly growing middle class is making it an attractive destination for mobile phone brands as well as many large global retailers. But their ambitions have until recently been tempered by a raft of government laws protecting local ‘ma-and-pa’ retailers and Indian brands.

    According to sources privy to Apple’s submissions to Indian regulatory authorities, first reported by The Press Trust of India, Apple has confirmed its plans to open a physical store network of its own. It already operates single-brand stores in partnership with local partners but the new ones are likely to be of a scale of flagship Apple stores in major international cities

    As yet, there is no official word where the First Apple India store will open, but multiple sources are confident it will be in Mumbai.

    Brands wanting to develop their own retail networks in India must commit to manufacturing some products within the country. Several years ago, this may have been considered an encumbrance, but with the mounting Sino-US trade war, manufacturers reliant on Chinese factories are looking for alternative low-cost manufacturing bases. Indian government officials are keen to work with brands to help them relocate.

  • ‘Sporting idol experience’ unveiled inside Puma NYC flagship

    ‘Sporting idol experience’ unveiled inside Puma NYC flagship

    A “unique and immersive” retail experience awaits visitors to the new Puma NYC flagship store unveiled on Fifth Avenue.

    The athletic footwear and apparel brand have opened a two-story store which features an industry-first multi-sport, multi-sensory Skill Cube, designed and developed by human experience design studio Green Room.

    The creative platform integrates global Puma brand ambassadors into an immersive experience, positioning them as virtual training buddies – an approach established, through behavioral research, as key to better engaging the lifestyle traits of Puma’s Gen Z target audience.

    Respected for their training regimes and prowess, athletes Lewis Hamilton, Antoine Griezmann and Romelu Lukaku host coaching sessions that transport customers either to a virtual football stadium or a disused warehouse; an experience specifically designed to deliver the best authentic footwear trial whilst still in store.

    “Facilitating unique and immersive experiences is central to our long-term commercial strategy and the Skill Cube New York delivers on this in every way,” said Puma’s global head of commercial marketing Jason Isenberg. “This is truly a one-of-a-kind experience, and we are confident that our shoppers in the Puma NYC flagship store will find it extremely engaging and compelling.”

    Once inside the Skill Cube, visitors are immersed in a multi-sensory environment incorporating 270° floor to ceiling LCD content screens, graphic projection, motion sensing devices, dynamic lighting and surround sound. The floor covering is a high-quality, multi-sport, synthetic turf, designed to bring the footwear benefits to the fore by simulating authentic trial conditions, further enhancing a life-like experience.

    Converging analog and digital worlds, the Teamsport experience kicks off in a virtual Puma locker room with footballers Griezmann or Lukaku; trialists are transported to a CGI replica of a capacity-filled San Siro Stadium. Reconstructed to a superior level of detail and adaptability – featuring an impressive 5 million individual blades of grass – the virtual environment offers full flexibility and control over 152 lights, independent movement of all 80,000 football fans in the crowd and updatable sponsorship boards, TV screens and pitch patterns.

    Visitors to the Puma NYC flagship’s Skill Cube are scored on their performance and at the end of the experience, the stadium comes alive with confetti cannons, fireworks, and a cheering crowd. The training experience then transports participants into a warehouse to train with Lewis Hamilton, who takes them through three trials; ladder, jab and jump.

    “Our approach was to encourage engagement and disrupt ‘autopilot customer’ browsing,” said digital experience director Martyn Palmer. “By introducing a highly curated approach to the experience zone, we have succeeded in creating a harmonious customer journey that mixes physical and digital interactions to elevate a positive product experience.”