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Tag: Store

  • Danish fashion label Hummel Opening in India

    Danish fashion label Hummel Opening in India

    Hummel India has signed up a Bollywood actor to help promote its launch in the country.

    Kartik Aaryan, described by one local media outlet as “the nation’s heartthrob and nation’s crush” has been appointed Hummel’s chief ambassador in India for the Danish sportswear label.

    Founded in 1932, Hummel produces clothing ranging from swimwear to casual streetwear and sneakers. It has already opened five stores in India and plans another 10 by the end of the financial year.

    The first five stores are franchised and have opened in Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai, Surat and Amritsar.

    Aaryan made his debut for the brand at a recent launch event in Bangalore.

    “In Hummel, I see a perfect fit. Hummel appeals to my style sensibilities, it is bold, fashionable, creative and youthful,” the actor told the audience.

    “I am excited that Hummel has entered the retail space and I am sure that the Indian audience will love the designs that Hummel has brought to India.”

    Soumava Naskar, MD of Hummel India, says the brand’s merchandise was available on Jabong and Myntra in 2016 but the company stopped selling directly to both the platforms in 2017 because it had no pricing control.

    “Three months ago, we listed our merchandise on Amazon and Flipkart via our partner ND Commerce, which manages our online stores and handles pricing control too. Which means, if customers receive discounts on our end-of-season products on Amazon or Flipkart, they will receive the same discounts in our physical stores as well. This is our first promise to Indian customers.”

    Hummel, owned by Thornico Group, is currently sold in more than 35 countries. It has more than 250 mono-brand stores and expects to achieve US$1.5 billion in turnover this calendar year.

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  • Sigma chairman Resigns after remuneration protest

    Sigma chairman Resigns after remuneration protest

    Brian Jamieson, chairman of Sigma Healthcare, has said he intends to step down within the next 12 months after shareholders protested the remuneration report at Sigma’s annual general meeting on Wednesday.

    Shareholders delivered an 18 percent vote against the report during the meeting, while also opting to re-elect Jamieson, as well as David Manuel, as directors.

    The vote signalled shareholders’ frustration over Sigma’s decision to reject a takeover offer by rival healthcare business Australian Pharmaceutical Industries, as well as a protest against the remuneration report itself, which included bonuses for board members in a year that has seen Sigma’s share price fall from 80 cents per share in June 2018 to 53 cents per share.

    “This has been a defining year for Sigma,” Jamieson told shareholders at the business’s AGM.

    Over the course of the year, Sigma walked away from a supply contract with Chemist Warehouse Group, causing a major fall in the business’s share price hasn’t been recovered.

    Sigma also walked away from the proposed merger with API, which Jamieson told shareholders was “somewhat opportunistic, with Sigma at its most vulnerable” after dropping the Chemist Warehouse Group supply contract.

    “To agree to proceed may have been the easy decision, but our detailed analysis supported our view that it was not the right decision for mid to long-term shareholder value,” Jamieson said.

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  • India’s Nappa Dori Opening Store in UK

    India’s Nappa Dori Opening Store in UK

    Indian luxury handcrafted-bags and luggage retailer Nappa Dori has launched in London.

    The firm’s 1400sqft location in Seven Dials on Monmouth Street is its first in Europe, adding to its seven-store network in India and an outlet in the Maldives. It features an in-store cafe serving traditional beverages such as chai tea.

    “The high volume of tourists and locals who frequent the stylish streets of Seven Dials made it the obvious choice for our first UK and European venture,” said Nappa Dori founder Gautam Sinha.

    “This opening reflects the increase in brands selecting this unique West End destination for debut UK and European stores,” said Shaftesbury senior retail portfolio manager Addy Williams, “following in the footsteps of leading brands such as Away and Beast.”

    Nappa Dori has previously engaged in collaborations with Kiehl’s and Qatar Airways, among other partnering businesses.

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  • The Loft heads to China with new store Opening

    The Loft heads to China with new store Opening

    Japanese household goods store The Loft is preparing to open a new store in China’s Chengdu with local superstore business Chengdu Ito-Yokado.

    The Loft holds a 90 percent stake in the new joint venture, which has registered capital of RMB45 million (US$6.54 million).

    Chengdu Ito-Yokado is a subsidiary of fellow Japanese general merchandise retailer Ito-Yokado, which has 14 stores in Chengdu and Beijing. The Loft entered discussions with the company to form a partnership while it was evaluating opportunities for a long-term corporate strategy in Mainland China. The new joint venture now paves the way for The Loft to prepare to open its directly managed stores in Chengdu and elsewhere in China.

    The Loft, which specializes in display and layout arrangements for household accessories, cosmetics, and stationery, is one of Japan’s largest retailers of household goods with more than 100 stores in Japan. It also has a presence in Thailand. As many Chinese tourists have been visiting Loft stores, particularly Shibuya Loft in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the firm believes its stores in China will be able to attract new local customers.

    The new store is expected to launch in spring next year.

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  • Maruti Suzuki Inaugurates 400th Arena Showroom

    Maruti Suzuki Inaugurates 400th Arena Showroom

    Maruti Suzuki India Limited announced that it recently inaugurated its 400th Arena showroom and the milestone comes in less than two years. Maruti Suzuki Arena retail showrooms sport a modern look and are now present in 278 cities and towns in India. The company’s total sales network has crossed 2,940 showrooms covering more than 1,860 towns and cities.

    Commenting on the landmark, Shashank Srivastava, Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Limited said, “We launched Maruti Suzuki Arena with a strategy to transform our network and meet expectations of young, dynamic and evolved Indian customers. It is an important step in our journey of transformation. In less than two years, we have opened the 400th ARENA showroom. This transformation is built on continuous research, listening to the customer and anticipating future trends. The effort is to align with ever-evolving customer and offer experiences at par with global benchmarks.”

    The Arena dealerships come with modern amenities and sport a large touchscreen panel that potential customers can access to check out specs, features, colors, etc. The touch panel will also offer buyers a 360 view of the car along with iCreate configurators for vehicles like the Brezza and the Swift. Owners will also be able to reload pre-configured variations of cars that they might have customized on their own computers, iPads or phones directly onto the screen here. All Maruti Suzuki showrooms across India will progressively adapt to the new ARENA for to provide enhanced customer experience

  • Gucci store closed after staff Measles

    Gucci store closed after staff Measles

    Gucci’s Harbour City store has been closed for disinfecting after three staff members fell ill with measles within the last week.

    A Harbour City spokeswoman told that store staff advised mall management about the infections last evening and the Canton Road store was closed early.  Gucci’s office at Ocean Centre has also been closed.

    “We are carrying out thorough disinfection and extra cleaning throughout the mall,” the spokeswoman said. “The two washrooms near the store have also been temporarily suspended for disinfection and cleaning.”

    Hong Kong health officials are on high alert as the territory has witnessed a rapid escalation in the number of measles cases reported in recent weeks. Last year, 15 people were reported to have contracted the highly infectious disease, but already this year there have been 73 cases, including 29 people working at Hong Kong International Airport.

    According to the SCMP, the first Gucci staff member, a male aged 30, became ill last Tuesday after flying to Tokyo. He is now back in Hong Kong and recovering in hospital.

    The second and third victims, both women aged 25, have since developed symptoms and are also recovering in hospital.

    The incubation period of measles lasts from seven to 21 days before symptoms are obvious.

    None of the three staff had worked at other Gucci shops and none of their family members have developed symptoms.

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  • JJJ Superstore opens at M3 Shopping Mall in Malaysia

    JJJ Superstore opens at M3 Shopping Mall in Malaysia

    Bok Marketing will open its fourth preloved goods superstore Jalan Jalan Japan (JJJ Superstore) at M3 Shopping Mall in Gombak Kuala Lumpur.

    The phrase “Jalan Jalan” in the name means “going for a walk” in Malay.

    All goods sold in the store are “pre-loved” and imported from Japan. Items are sold under three categories: “Preloved in Japan” (indicating good quality); “Hargagiler” (meaning “crazy low price”); and “Large Stock” (indicating “treasure hunting” shopping).

    Bok is a subsidiary of Bookoff, which operates more than 800 preloved goods stores in Japan – purchasing more than 400 million items from customers every year for resale.

    Each JJJ Superstore stocks around 200,000 SKU under a wide range of categories, including its latest range of traditional Japanese kimonos.

    The firm plans to open JJJ Superstores all over Malaysia.

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  • Sephora confirms Auckland Flagship Opening This Year

    Sephora confirms Auckland Flagship Opening This Year

    Beauty retailer Sephora has confirmed long-standing rumors of an Auckland flagship set to open on Queen Street in 2019. While the retailer launched a local online offering in 2015, the bricks-and-mortar location will be Sephora’s first in New Zealand and is part of a larger push into Asia that will see Hong Kong and Korea added to the brand’s retail locations.

    “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 the 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.”

    Prior to its official announcement earlier this week, Sephora posted a series of job ads on Seek in April, looking for assistant store managers, category coordinators, stockroom managers and supervisors to fill out the Auckland flagship.

    The positions all indicated that prospective employees would need to be available for a recruitment event between May 7 and 8, pointing to an opening in the near future.

    Sephora interim general manager of Australia and New Zealand Pedro Coutinho said the store would be a beauty destination “like no other.”

    “We are so excited to introduce our renowned service offering, a suite of the most sought after beauty brands from around the world and a fun place for our clients to experience and explore their own beauty journey,” Coutinho said.

    “The Sephora client is the future – our customers are ahead of the trends, up to date with the latest brands and they want new products, now. We’ve listened to what our online clients want from Sephora, and this new Auckland location will help us deliver it.”

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  • SK-II brings Future X Smart Store to Singapore

    SK-II brings Future X Smart Store to Singapore

    Japanese beauty brand SK-II has partnered with The Shilla Duty-Free to bring Future X Smart Store to Changi airport. According to SK-II, the smart store merges the latest digital technology with in-store experience to deliver “a convenient and pressure-free shopping experience”.

    “Travellers from all over the world now have the chance to experience the brand’s unique physical retail concept, merging the latest digital technologies with in-store elements to provide travelers with a convenient and pressure-free way to shop for skincare,” the brand said in a statement.

    The store consists of physical features such as the Discovery Bar, smart product scan and ‘Skincare GPS’ that help time-conscious travelers locate, learn about and buy SK-II products in the shortest time possible.

    At the Discovery Bar, consumers will learn more about SK-II’s range of skincare products at the touch of a button.

    The smart product scan tool uses advanced image-recognition technology to help customers locate products quickly. By scanning the SK-II product images they download to their mobile devices, travelers will be directed to the location of their desired product.

    The Skincare GPS facility lights up the location of the product on the store shelf to make it quicker and easier for shoppers to find items.

    The smart store is a part of SK-II’s foray into retail innovation “and the start of a global transformation to connect with a new generation of consumers who are yearning for more meaningful experiences with the brands”, the company said.

    SK-II has launched Future X Smart Stores in Tokyo, Shanghai, and Singapore.

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  • Apple India shortlists first flagship store Presence

    Apple India shortlists first flagship store Presence

    Tech retailer Apple may be close to opening its first retail outlet in India. People familiar with the plans said Apple India will decide within weeks on a premium location in Mumbai from a shortlist it is examining now. The hardware manufacturer has previously been unable to open in the territory due to regulations governing local sourcing, which prompted Apple to shift some manufacturing to India. The move will also result in the removal of the 20 percent tariff currently placed on iPhones because they are imported.

    While local preferences are for cheaper Chinese handsets, India still represents a vast potential market for Apple as it loses ground in China.

    “India is a very important market in the long term,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook. “It’s a challenging market in the short term, but we’re learning a lot. We plan on going in there with sort of all of our might.”

    With India currently being the fastest-growing smartphone market in the world, Apple has placed greater emphasis on gaining market traction there in recent years. A new country chief was named last November after previous efforts yielded disappointing results. The firm now commands an estimated 1 percent of the country’s smartphone market.

    “Its own retail store might be just what Apple requires to reinforce its premium image,” said Rushabh Doshi, an analyst at global research firm Canalys. “A store just before the next launch will be the perfect timing for Apple to restart its Indian growth story.”

  • Online food store Grain Expanding Rapidly

    Online food store Grain Expanding Rapidly

    Singapore-based online food store Grain has raised US$10 million in series B funding. The cash will be used to accelerate growth in Singapore, and expand into Thailand.

    To do that, the company will be cooperating with Thailand’s Boonrawd Brewery group’s subsidiary Singha Corporation.

    Singha will help Grain gain clearer insights into the target audience in Bangkok, and develop better products and services.

    “Grain will work with Singha by using Singha’s extensive F&B network across the country, including logistics and distribution, to bring delightful innovations to consumers,” said Bhurit Bhirombhakdi, chairman of the executive board at Singha Ventures.

    The collaboration between the two companies aims to help online food store Grain expand in Southeast Asia and realize its regional vision.

    “We want to disrupt the F&B landscape and evolve with consumer preferences, but also have solid fundamentals,” said Yi Sung Yong, Grain’s co-founder and CEO.

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  • Apple looks to open its first store in India

    Apple looks to open its first store in India

    India is a great place for certain phone manufacturers to sell their products, and for others, it is a contradiction that is hard to figure out. With approximately 1.4 billion people in the country, it is the second largest smartphone market in the world after China. But with a per capita income in the country of $1,670 as of 2016, the consumers in the country usually favor lower priced handsets. That explains the success that Xiaomi, with its value for money policy, has had in the country.

    Apple’s business in India has been driven by demand for lower-priced models like the discontinued iPhone SE. To avoid a 20% tariff on imported phones, Apple had manufactured the iPhone SE in India and still produces older devices such as the iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 in the country.  Starting this year, it will also manufacture some of its high-end handsets in the region. Contract manufacturer Foxconn is said to be running quality tests of the iPhone XR in India with mass production of the device expected to start soon.

    More than ever, Apple is looking toward India to generate sales in light of the troubles the company has had over the last year selling iPhones in China. But business now is not booming. Research firm Canalys recently reported that during the first quarter of 2019, iPhone shipments in India declined by 75% year-over-year leaving the firm with just 1% of the country’s smartphone market. But Apple CEO Tim Cook is optimistic. He said during last week’s earnings call that “We have made some adjustments in India and we’ve seen preliminarily some better results there.”

    To help generate sales in India, Apple is planning to open its very first retail store in the market. Expanding the local production of iPhone models in the country is expected to help pave the way for government approval of India’s first Apple Store. The green light could come at the end of this month or early next month when a new government takes over in the country. Canalys analyst Rushabh Doshi says that opening a store before the launch of the 2019 iPhone models later this year will help Apple “restart its Indian growth story.” Doshi says that Apple is caught in a bind in India. On one hand, it wants to lower its prices in order to compete with the likes of Xiaomi and Vivo, but it also wants to maintain its “premium” image.

    “India is a very important market in the long term. It’s a challenging market in the short term, but we’re learning a lot. We plan on going in there with sort of all of our might.”-Tim Cook, CEO, Apple

    Still, last month Apple cut the price of the “more affordable” iPhone XR in the country by 17,000 rupees (equivalent to $244 USD). That phone is now priced in India for 59,000 rupees ($846 at current exchange rates).

    Apple is apparently planning to open its first Apple Store in India at one of several upscale locations in Mumbai, according to anonymous sources cited in the report. Apple will decide on the exact location in the next few weeks. No matter which location it selects, the Indian Apple Store will be in a prestigious area of the country comparable with Apple’s Fifth Avenue store in New York City, the Regent Street location in London and the store on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. This might be part of the game plan designed to keep promoting the iPhone as a premium device in India. But again, for Apple to succeed in the country, it will have to be mindful of its pricing.

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  • Forever New Building Ouit Presence in North America

    Forever New Building Ouit Presence in North America

    Australian retailer Forever New is ramping up its presence in North America, with plans to launch a standalone website in the US, sell through major department stores, including Bloomingdales and Nieman Marcus, and open two new stores in Canada.

    The news, announced on Monday, is the latest sign of Forever New’s global aspirations. The brand has formed a string of partnerships with retailers around the world, including Asos and Next in the UK, Zalora in Singapore and Zalando in Europe, and last year, it revamped its website to better serve international customers.

    “Forever New has a unique product offering and our handwriting is not only relevant to the markets in the Southern Hemisphere but also in the Northern Hemisphere. We offer a real point of difference,” Carolyn Mackenzie, managing director of Forever New, told Inside Retail.

    Focus on third-party expansion

    According to Mackenzie, the retailer’s presence in the Canadian market over the last few years has sparked interest from American retailers.

    Forever New, which trades as Ever New in North America, appears to have four bricks-and-mortar stores in Canada – three in the Vancouver area, and one in Toronto. The retailer plans to open a second store in Toronto a new location in Calgary this year.

    The retailer started selling in the US market via Nordstrom.com in 2018, and on Monday, it announced it will launch a standalone website in the coming months. It will also launch offline in Bloomingdales and Nieman Marcus department stores, and expand its online presence via Nordstrom, Lulus, South Moon Under and Amazon.

    Mackenzie said the privately-held business is currently focusing its efforts on third-party and digital expansion, but that it may open standalone stores in the US in future.

    “Being an agile and fast-moving business means there is always the possibility…” she said.

    Broader transformation underway

    The ramp-up overseas is just part of the multi-faceted transformation currently underway at Forever New.

    In late 2018, it overhauled its global e-commerce platform to make the online shopping experience more seamless, and in 2019, it unveiled two first-to-market digital initiatives: a reserve-in-store option and visually-similar product recommendation tool.

    It has also launched a new high-end store concept designed by Hecker Guthrie, featuring terrazzo tiled floors, brushed brass detailing and fluted glass panels.

    “[T]he new store concept embodies the feminine signature of the brand,” Mackenzie said, calling it “the perfect backdrop to the brand’s distinctive designs and prints”.

    Next up for Forever New? More inclusive sizes.

    “Following on from the success of Forever New Petite and to ensure the accessibility of Forever New for all, we’re planning on expanding our category offering with ‘Forever New Curve’,” Mackenzie said.

    “Stay tuned for more details on these exciting initiatives.”

  • Sincere Fine Watches opening in Changi

    Sincere Fine Watches opening in Changi

    Sincere Fine Watches has opened a multi-brand boutique at Jewel Changi Airport.

    The only luxury multi-brand watch store at the newly opened airport shopping center spans 183sqm and was inspired by Jewel’s dome-shaped facade and modern architecture.

    Glass and rose-gold elements are used throughout the boutique, combined with warm-brown hues on the wooden panels and shades of copper to create a welcoming aura.

    The new boutique brings together 20 international labels, some of them relatively new to the market. They include Armin Strom; Baume & Mercier; Blancpain; Bremont; Graham; Hamilton; IWC Schaffhausen; Longines; Maurice Lacroix; Mido; Montblanc; Panerai; Omega; Rado; TAG Heuer; Tissot; and Tudor.

    Sincere Fine Watches plans more brands and timepieces exclusive to the Jewel Changi store soon.

  • Philipp Plein opens First Single Brand Store in Singapore

    Philipp Plein opens First Single Brand Store in Singapore

    Switzerland-based fashion house Philipp Plein has opened its first single-brand store in Singapore.

    Located at Marina Bay Sands, the two-level flagship store spans ​​236sqm with separate entrances for the men’s and women’s areas.

    Menswear is located on the first floor, which is decorated with the brand’s distinctive crystal skull design. Clothing is arranged on the right-hand side of the shop, with accessories on the left.

    The womenswear collection of clothing and accessories is located on the second floor.

    The store is part of a broader expansion by the fashion house in Asia: more new stores will soon be opening in Seoul and Bangkok and another in Kuwait.

    Founded in 2008, Philipp Plein now has 250 single-brand stores worldwide.

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