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Tag: Store

  • Singapore supermarket operator Sheng Siong reports profit boost

    Singapore supermarket operator Sheng Siong reports profit boost

    Singapore supermarket operator Sheng Siong boosted its net profit by 7.4 percent in the June quarter, to S$18.42 million.

    Sales rose 11.8 percent to $238.16 million on the back of 13 new store openings.

    However, the company has warned investors that competition in the Singapore supermarket sector is tough, from both online retailers and rival supermarket chains. Worse, consumer spending may be impacted by a soft economic outlook.

    In the half-year to date, Sheng Siong recorded a 6.6 percent increase in net profit to $37.78 million, on sales up 11 percent to $489.59 million.

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  • New Dunhill store opens in Hong Kong

    New Dunhill store opens in Hong Kong

    A new Hong Kong Dunhill store has opened at Lee Gardens as a further step in the brand’s global expansion strategy in Asia.

    The store’s designers have engineered a bright and contemporary space with marble and walnut wood in counterpoint with glass and metal details, used as recognisable codes of the house.

    The use of grey marble takes inspiration from the facade of Dunhill’s 1950s South Rodeo Drive store, while walnut burl cabinets, housing men’s accessories, are inspired by the original furniture from London’s Duke Street and Paris’ Rue de la Paix stores. Fluted glass and metal details together with brown wood panelling recall the textures and finishes of classic Rollagas lighters.

    Featuring a curated selection of luxury pieces by creative director Mark Weston, the Hong Kong Dunhill store is showcasing ready-to-wear garments alongside leather goods and accessories.

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  • Body of Cafe Coffee Day founder discovered after apparent suicide

    Body of Cafe Coffee Day founder discovered after apparent suicide

    VG Siddhartha, the founder of India’s largest coffee chain Cafe Coffee Day, has been found dead, in an apparent suicide.

    Siddhartha had been missing since Monday, last seen by his driver standing on a bridge. He had penned a letter to his board in which he wrote that he could no longer handle pressure from private equity investors and a taxation enquiry.

    “I gave it my all but today I gave up as I could not take any more pressure,” local Indian media have reported the letter as reading. He referred to a “serious liquidity crunch” relating to “harassment” from tax officials and pressure from lenders.

    Siddhartha founded Coffee Day Enterprises in the late 1990s, years before Starbucks made its Indian debut, building a network of 1700 outlets – 10 times the size of Starbucks. The company was listed in 2015. Current shareholders include private-equity company KKR with which has 6 per cent stake after selling a 4.25 per cent stake last February.

    “We are deeply saddened by the developments and our thoughts are with his family at this time,” KKR said in a statement about Siddhartha’s death.

    As news of his disappearance, and later the discovery of his body, spread, the company’s share price plunged by 20 per cent.

    Last month, Coca-Cola was linked to an investment in the coffee chain which would have valued the enterprise at about US$1.45 billion. The status of that deal is unclear.

    Meanwhile, Coffee Day Enterprises board released a statement to the stock exchange pledging to “ensure continuity of business”

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  • Protests take their toll on Watsons outlets

    Protests take their toll on Watsons outlets

    Sales by Watsons stores located in areas affected by ongoing street protests have fallen markedly in both June and July. The protests have been ongoing since early June, largely confined to the island suburbs of Admiralty, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay.

    “Month-to-date July our sales have fallen by a double-digit [percentage] from the same period last year,” the chain’s MD Diane Cheung said during the launch of a diagnostic service at a Hong Kong store yesterday.

    “That said, last year’s comparison base was relatively high and given we achieved favorable first-half sales and that we expect openings of new and renovated stores in the second half, we believe we will fare better than the entire retail market for the full year.”

    Cheung said other factors were also impacting on the group’s sales, a reference to the changing demographics of mainland visitors and general economic uncertainty fuelled by the ongoing trade war between the US and China. However, Watsons stores located in the districts where most of the protests have occurred were worst affected.

    The Hong Kong Retail Management Association warned of the impact the protests were having on some of its members earlier this month.

    “Large-scale parade activities have caused individual stores to suspend business. Not only are the retail companies under pressure, so is the income of store employees,” the organization said in a prepared statement.

    AS Watson expects to open a net 20 new Watsons stores in Hong Kong by the end of this year, taking its network to 260. Globally the group opens a new store on average every seven hours.

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  • Musee flagship in Beijing Designed by Studio8

    Musee flagship in Beijing Designed by Studio8

    Shanghai design and development studio Studio8 has recently completed the design of Musee’s flagship store in Beijing.

    A store for consignment luxury goods, Musee delivers an open platform for luxury accessories – a point that inspired the designers to create a flexible space with “soft boundaries” and a diverse colour palette.

    The firm’s “soft boundary” design leaves no clear boundaries in the functional division of the entire retail space for Musee, which is translated into two main features: the mobile multi-functional counters and the central consignment room.

    “Every accessory that people possess is an abstract object that serves a certain function or purpose,” said principal designer Shirley Dong. “This changes when people place more importance and value on the object, whether through the brand, colour, material, or handcrafting process. Luxury goods then become time travellers, with an ever-increasing value and preciousness while still maintaining their initial presence.”

    The idea of enriching the significance of an accessory stands behind the concept of Musee’s new flagship store, where shopping is envisaged as an unconventional experience that allows customers to know more about the item they are buying and re-evaluate it with the support of professional consultants.

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  • Thailand’s Dohome launches compact ToGo Store chain

    Thailand’s Dohome launches compact ToGo Store chain

    Thai construction materials and home renovation equipment retailer Dohome is set to expand within the territory by an additional 90 branches by the end of next year.

    The move, partially in response to strong demand from DIY consumers, will introduce the firm’s Dohome ToGo brand with a smaller store format of 300–1000sqm.

    “Do-it-yourself is a rising trend,” said COO Puthada Teravetchakarn. “People want to renovate or repair the home by themselves if they can. It is very easy to use Google or YouTube to find out how to repair something or what materials should be used.”

    The firm is currently seeking suitable locations at department stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets for the new small-concept format, with a budget of up to THB2 million (US$64,650) per branch. The stores will stock around 10,000 SKUs, compared to more than 135,000 SKUs at its nine regular branches.

    “We will survey people living within a radius of three kilometers of proposed locations to ensure demand,” said Puthada. “We will review each month which items are best sellers and revise the selection.”

    Ten new Dohome ToGo branches will open this year, including two locations that have already launched in Bangkok.

    Dohome is in the midst of an IPO, offering 465.04 million shares at THB7.80 each, with a trading opening on August 6.

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  • Philipp Plein opens second Bangkok Store

    Philipp Plein opens second Bangkok Store

    Fashion label Philipp Plein has launched its second location in Thailand.

    The new Bangkok store at IconSiam Mall follows the brand’s first outlet in Phuket, which opened in 2016. The opening is in line with Philipp Plein’s general expansion plans in the region, with a store having just opened in Singapore and another to follow in the Philippines later this year.

    The Bangkok store’s shopfront is designed in black marble featuring a giant Swarovski crystal skull.

    The store also displays a Murano skull chandelier, hexagonal tables and metallic displays.

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  • Batman pop-up store at The One marks 80th anniversary

    Batman pop-up store at The One marks 80th anniversary

    Comics label DC and Warner Bros Consumer Products are marking the 80th anniversary of Batman with an interactive exhibit at The One shopping complex in Tsim Sha Tsui.

    The Batman pop-up store offers a sneak peek into the Batman universe going all the way back to his first appearance. Selected Batman comic book covers are being reprinted through modern screen-printing technologies in restoring the comic book aesthetics of different eras.

    Sculptor Keo W. has created a series of 1:1 scale Batman figures based on the most iconic Batman looks in animations, movies and video games, some of which are being shown in Asia for the first time.

    Nearly 100 Batman collectibles are included to present a curated experience to the public. A range of creative merchandise includes some items that are launching in Hong Kong for the first time, such as Batman luminous basketballs and chess games.

    The Batman pop-up store is part of a year-long global celebration showcasing the “World’s Greatest Detective” that includes live events, fan celebrations and exclusive branded products.

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  • Large queues for Sephora store opening

    Large queues for Sephora store opening

    After much anticipation, Sephora’s first New Zealand store opened last weekend on Queen Street in Auckland, with hundreds of Kiwis lining up for the launch.

    Many would-be beauty-buyers camped out overnight to ensure they were the first into the store, which officially opened at 7am on Saturday, July 20.

    Sephora spent an estimated $5 million to fit out the store, which was announced in early May after months of speculation.

    The launch is part of a larger expansion into the Asia-Pacific region, which will see the make-up retailer set up shop in Hong Kong and Korea.

    “We believe that New Zealand will be a key market in building Sephora as the most loved beauty community in Asia, and the world,” said president of Sephora Asia Benjamin Vuchot.

    “This expansion to a new market will allow Sephora to continue to amplify global beauty trends locally, elevate what our clients expect of the in-store experience and bring fresh, digital touch points to the retail environment to create a virtual, client-centric cycle.”

    In the lead-up to launch, Sephora toured the country in a “Beauty Bus”, giving remote customers a chance to trial its products before the local offering officially went online.

    However, not everyone was pleased with the launch. The New Zealand Maori Council called for the Government to investigate the cosmetics company after they were “caught dumping hundreds and thousands of waste paper products embedded with cosmetic chemicals down the drains”.

    “And all, according to a spokesperson for Sephora New Zealand, with the permission of the Auckland Council,” New Zealand Maori Council executive director Matthew Tukaki said.

    “As Maori we consider ourselves as protectors of our whenua and our water ways and I will be damned if I am going to standby and allow Auckland City Council to grant a license for this company to dump their waste directly into our system.”

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  • Luckin Coffee plans expansion into India and Middle East

    Luckin Coffee plans expansion into India and Middle East

    China’s Luckin Coffee wants to expand into India and the Middle East.

    The company has signed a memorandum of understanding to create a joint venture with Kuwait-based Americana Group which will open stores across the Greater Middle East and India. No further details have been released, according to Reuters.

    Luckin, which sells coffee by app from a fast-growing network of stores and pick-up points across China’s main cities, raised US$561 million by listing in the US in May. It says it will open 2500 stores this year.

    Americana Group operates 1800 restaurants and 29 restaurants and food factories in the Middle East. It has franchises for a raft of fast-food and quick-service restaurant brands including KFC, TGI Fridays, Pizza Hut, Hardees, Baskin Robbins, Costa Coffee, Krispy Kreme, Red Lobster, Grand Cafe, Maestro, Longhorn Steakhouse and Chicken Tikka.

    It operates in 20 markets and boasts a payroll of 60,000. Besides the Middle East, the company has KFC and Pizza Hut stores in Kazakhstan and KFC stores in Morocco.

    “This collaboration represents Luckin Coffee’s first step toward bringing its leading products from China to the world,” said Luckin Coffee founder and CEO Jenny Qian Zhiya in a statement.

    Earlier this month, the hitherto coffee-focused company announced it would launch a tea brand, Xiaolu.

  • Starbucks China launches world-first Starbucks Now store

    Starbucks China launches world-first Starbucks Now store

    Starbucks China has opened its first Starbucks Now store – an express retail experience that integrates Starbucks physical and digital customer touch points.

    Centered in Beijing’s financial district, the Starbucks Now store is the company’s first express-retail format location. The service combines the signature Starbucks cafe environment with mobile order and pay and Starbucks Delivers customer experiences.

    “The Starbucks Now store is a testament to our unwavering commitment to delivering innovative customer experiences through new retail formats,” said Starbucks China Retail president and COO Leo Tsoi. “This new retail format and design approach provides us with a platform to offer customers a fast and convenient retail experience to suit their on-the-go lifestyle.”

    Customers entering the store are greeted by a Starbucks barista at an elevated concierge counter to assist with ordering or order pickup. They can choose from a menu of handcrafted beverage options tailored for the on-the-go customer along with an assortment of popular food items. Limited seating is available for customers who choose to stay and relax with their favorite food and beverages in the store.

    For delivery riders, a dedicated area for Starbucks Delivers orders enables fast pickup supported by baristas. Fulfilled Starbucks Now and Starbucks Delivers online orders will be placed in a secure in-wall system with a designated pickup portal associated with each order.

    The store will also have the ability to serve as a centralised dispatch centre for delivery orders within a certain radius, so Starbucks baristas at neighbouring cafes can focus on delivering service to in-store customers at those locations. During peak times, Starbucks Delivers beverage orders will be prepared by baristas from a central kitchen that is part of the Starbucks Now store.

    The company plans to open new Starbucks Now stores across high-traffic areas including business and transportation hubs as well as to new cities in China.

  • Saha Group set to open the first unmanned stores in Thailand

    Saha Group set to open the first unmanned stores in Thailand

    Consumer goods retailer Saha will launch its first unmanned stores in Thailand within three months.

    The move is an attempt to reorient the firm’s business strategy towards a more contemporary model, relying on recent technologies to win a younger target demographic.

    “It’s a must,” said group chairman Boonsithi Chokwatana. “We still need to invest more in order to respond to the new demand of new generations.”

    Saha’s first 100sqm unmanned store “His & Her”, operated by the firm’s retail arm ICC International, will offer close to 300 items from instant noodles to branded clothes. It draws on facial recognition, QR code reading and radio frequency identification technologies invested in by the firm to the tune of some THB10 million baht (US$330,000). The store will also feature multiple payment systems.

    The firm is expected to invest a further THB50 million ($1.62 million) on new servers, applications and big data systems in order to profit from a closer analysis of customer habits.

    “We plan to debut the unmanned store by October,” said VP of ICC’s information & technology division Surat Wong, adding that the company intends to expand further by next year following an evaluation of initial sales results.

    Earnings of around THB760,000 ($24,600) per month are expected from the store, just 5 per cent lower than the average monthly sales of its existing manned stores.

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  • Panerai reopens Macau Galaxy boutique

    Panerai reopens Macau Galaxy boutique

    Italian high-end watchmaker Panerai has opened its renewed Galaxy boutique in Macau.

    The 42sqm store joins the existing locations in Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace and is located at the Galaxy Macau resort on Cotai Strip, where the most prestigious local hotels and entertainment areas are based.

    The concept of the design and materials used for the Panerai area reflects its Italian tradition with an underwater theme. Panerai supplied the Italian Navy with precision instruments for many decades, in particular its specialist diving corps.

    Panerai now has 87 boutiques throughout the world, three of which are in Macau.

  • Michael Kors launches on Tmall Luxury Pavilion

    Michael Kors launches on Tmall Luxury Pavilion

    US fashion brand Michael Kors is to launch a digital flagship store on Alibaba’s Tmall and the Tmall Luxury Pavilion.

    The launch marks Michael Kors’ first e-commerce channel in China, apart from its own site, offering consumers the full line of clothing sold offline, as well as a selection of handbags and footwear. The brand said Tmall would be its main destination for debuting products in China, including new items that will be exclusive to the platform – not sold anywhere else in the world.

    John D Idol, chairman and CEO of Capri Holdings, the parent of Michael Kors, Versace and Jimmy Choo, said consumers are becoming more digitally engaged with luxury shopping in China and Tmall Luxury Pavilion is the perfect venue for the Michael Kors brand to communicate its vision.”

    The label will hold a series of events in the coming months, including during New York Fashion Week in September, to celebrate the flagship’s grand opening. On Chinese Valentine’s Day, on August 7, Michael Kors will launch a capsule collection featuring graffiti-inspired clothing, handbags, footwear, jewellery and wristwatches, samples of which are pictured below

    “Michael Kors is an iconic, beloved brand and we are delighted to partner with it as it looks to accelerate its momentum in the Chinese market. This collaboration will bring both exciting products and elevated shopping experiences to the more than 700 million Chinese consumers on our platforms,” said Jiang Fan, president of Taobao and Tmall.

    Launched in 2017, Tmall Luxury Pavilion now offers more than 115 brands, ranging from apparel and beauty items to watches and luxury cars, including Chanel, Bottega Veneta, Valentino, Burberry, Tod’s, Versace, Stella McCartney, Moschino, Gentle Monster, Giuseppe Zanotti, MCM, Maserati, and LVMH-owned Rimowa, Guerlain, Givenchy, Tag Heuer and Zenith.

    Tmall wants to double that number by the end of next March.

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  • Daiso launches its first Threeppy shop in Singapore

    Daiso launches its first Threeppy shop in Singapore

    Japanese discount retailer Daiso will launch its Threeppy store at Funan mall on Sunday.

    Japanese discount retailer Daiso will launch its Threeppy retail store at Funan mall on Sunday (July 14).

    Known as the ‘premium’ version of Daiso, the first Threeppy outlet in Singapore and Southeast Asia will offer kitchenware, household goods, and stuffed toys, among other items, with prices starting at US$5.80

    The new brand is hoping to attract family shoppers in Singapore with women in their 20s to 40s their main target.

    Daiso currently operates 22 Threeppy shops in Japan, and plans to add 30 stores every year.

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