Tag: Stores

  • Sears Opens Multiple New Stores

    Sears Opens Multiple New Stores

    Embattled US department-store icon Sears is about to open three new-format stores.

    Rescued from bankruptcy by its former chairman Eddie Lampert last month, the company closed a further 300-odd stores – those on top of the 1700 it has shuttered since April 2007.

    It has just 425 remaining now.

    But in its new trimmed-down guise, the company plans to open an unspecified number of new shops which will not stock any apparel, focusing instead on categories such as appliances, home services and mattresses.

    The first three of the new stores – branded Sears Home & Life – will open on Memorial Day (May 27). They will open in Overland Park, Kansas; Lafayette, Louisiana; and Anchorage, Alaska.

    A tenth the size of Sears’ traditional big-box department stores, the new ones will range in footprint from 10,000sqft to 15000sqft (900sqm to 1400sqm).

    Sears and Kmart chief brand officer Peter Boutros declined to specify how many of the new-format outlets are planned across the US, but he did confirm sites had been secured.

    A core feature of the Sears Home & Life outlets will be the company’s Kenmore brand, arguably the loss-making retailer’s greatest asset. That brand is likely to be extended beyond appliances into categories such as kitchen accessories and even crockery.

  • Zarraffa’s Coffee Open Two New Shops

    Zarraffa’s Coffee Open Two New Shops

    Coffee chain Zarraffa’s Coffee will open two new stores this month, one in Clarkson, WA, and the other in Bankstown, NSW.

    The chain’s Clarkson store, which will be the retailer’s first purpose-built location in the Perth area, will feature a comfortable in-store environment and a full-service drive through.

    Zarraffa’s new drive through brings the total to six in Western Australia, with the other five stores located in various suburbs across Perth, including Ellenbrook, Canning Vale, Currambine, Peppermint Grove and in Kalgoorlie.

    “The Clarkson store typifies what Zarraffa’s customers experience on the East Coast where the brand has been built steadily since 1996,” said founder and managing director Kenton Campbell.

    The Bankstown store will be the retailer’s fourth store under the NSW area developer arrangement, Zarraffa announced.

    The retailer said more stores have been proposed this year for the company.

    “We are not interested in growth for growth’s sake,” Campbell said.

    “Zarraffa’s has built its reputation on creating small business opportunities, through specialised training, operational consistency and great products and service – year on year.”

  • Rent reductions causes Bonjour Holdings a big loss

    Rent reductions causes Bonjour Holdings a big loss

    Bonjour Holdings sales fell 7.3 per cent last year as the health and beauty products retailer reorganised its store network.

    The company reported a loss attributable to shareholders of HK$39.6 million (US$5 million), which was a significant improvement on the previous year’s loss of $202.3 million.

    Same-store sales crept up 0.8 per cent, albeit that is a slower rate than the 2.3 per cent of 2017.

    The Hong Kong-listed group finished the year with 39 stores in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangzhou, a reduction of just one. But during the year it relocated some stores and negotiated more favourable rental deals from its landlords on others. That strategy saw rent, as a proportion of turnover, fall from 19.1 per cent in 2017 to 15.5 per cent last year, the total rent bill down from $368.8 million to $277.6 million.

    “Although the high-street shop rents started to raise slightly last year due to the recovery of the retail sector in the first half, the group has adopted an optimistic cautious strategic planning in its store network in response to the market changes,” the company said in its results announcement.

    “Stores were deliberately chosen at both tourists shopping hotspots and community districts or residential areas with high population density to cater to both tourists and local communities’ needs which also helped the group to increase the market penetration.”

    Tourist demographics change

    The structural change to the mix of mainland tourists during the last few years has impacted on the average ticket size at Bonjour Holdings’ stores. An increasing number of arrivals are now coming from lower-tier cities with less spending power. In addition, the weak RMB and uncertain economic environment dampened the attractiveness of Hong Kong goods to mainland shoppers that they became more cautious in their spending, the company said.

    Bonjour Holdings said pressure on profitability remained last year, despite the group increasing its profit margin by 0.3 per cent.

    E-commerce expansion

    One bright point in Bonjour Holdings’ results was the increase in online sales, up 9 per cent year on year.

    As well as upgrading its own online store, Bonjour has opened flagships on e-commerce platforms Tmall Global, Kaola and Xiahongshu to increase brand visibility, provide customers with more information on products, and launch timely promotions.

    “E-commerce keeps growing and social media continues to play a bigger role,” the company said in its results filing.

    “The group put more effort into digital media by distributing promotional videos on Facebook and Weibo pages and regularly launched online promotional activities and special events, including “Double Eleven”.

  • Big W to shut down 30 stores over 3 years

    Big W to shut down 30 stores over 3 years

    Department store chain Big W will close approximately 30 stores and two distribution centres over the next three years in an effort to create a more profitable and sustainable store network in a changing retail environment.

    This is less than the 60 store closures that Macquarie Wealth Management predicted in a report last month, before Big W’s parent company Woolworths Group had completed its internal review of the discount department store business.

    The decision, which will see the number of Big W stores shrink by about 16 per cent, will cost the business $270 million in lease and store exit costs. This will impact Woolworths Group’s FY19 full-year result, alongside a $100 million cash impairment identified in the review.

    “While the recovery in trading for Big W is encouraging, and there remains further opportunity for improvement, the speed of conversion to earnings improvement is taking longer than planned,” Woolworths Group chief executive Brad Banducci said in a note to investors.

    “This decision will lead to a more robust and sustainable store and DC network that better reflects the rapidly changing retail environment. It will accelerate our turnaround plan through a more profitable store network, simplifying current business processes, improving stockflow and lowering inventory.”

    In its report last month, Macquarie noted that half of Big W’s stores are located in challenging centres, many of which are regional, and that these locations are unlikely to give the brand the sales it needs to return to profitability.

    Woolworths expects its department store business to record a loss before interest and tax for FY19 of $80 to $100 million, slightly below the $110 million loss felt in FY18.

  • Mister Donut China to close down Stores

    Mister Donut China to close down Stores

    Mister Donut China will soon be no more, Japan’s largest donut chain calling time there after losses mount.

    All 10 remaining Mister Donut stores in Shanghai will close their doors on April 1, victims, the company says, of rising labour costs and other overheads.

    Mister Donut China launched in 2000, its parent the Japanese cleaning services company Duskin foreseeing huge potential for sweet treats in the fast-growing economy. While it expanded quickly at first, rising competition and costs saw the company begin to trim its store network in recent years.

    After Mister Donut China announced it was closing via its Chinese website, a Duskin spokesperson told the Nikkei that while the company was leaving for now, it may pursue other opportunities in Chinese food retailing in the future.

    “China’s desserts market holds the promise of further growth. This is without a doubt an attractive region.”

    In Asia, Mister Donut will continue to operate in Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines and Indonesia.

  • Sogo department stores see strong sales growth

    Sogo department stores see strong sales growth

    Sogo department stores parent Lifestyle International has reported a 50 per cent drop in net profit for last year, despite increased sales.

    While turnover rose 16 per cent to HK$4.36 billion (US$555 million), net profit fell to $1.69 billion ($215 million).

    However, the company explained the fall was largely due to comparison with 2017 when the company received a one-off gain from the sale of a majority stake in its subsidiary, netting $420.8 million. On a trading basis, the department stores it operates posted solid results.

    Sales at its Sogo Causeway Bay flagship store rose by 10.5 per cent last year, and mainland tourists underpinned a 30.3 per cent increase in sales at the Sogo Tsim Sha Tsui store.

    CFO Terry Poon Fuk-chuen said the improved turnover was due to the company enhancing the shopping experience at its stores.

    Lifestyle International executive director Kam Shim Lau predicts this year will be challenging for retail as declining wage growth and weakening asset values may dent consumer sentiment.

    “Looking ahead, the group predicts a single digit growth in the first half of 2019 and adopts a cautious approach for 2019,” he said.

  • New retail stores to open at Changi Airport

    New retail stores to open at Changi Airport

    Changi Airport has added new restaurants and stores to its retail offer. In the transit area, Irvin’s Salted Egg has opened a kiosk at Terminal 1. In the public areas, new eateries have opened at Terminal 3’s basement 2 including three by the Pezzo Group: Crave, Coffee Boy and Stuff’d. Mr Teh Tarik Express and multi-concept gourmet food hall, Terminal M, featuring a mix of Korean, Chinese and Japanese foods, are also available at this terminal.

    Visitors can now shop a new outlet of casual clothing retailer The Blues or confectioner The Cocoa Trees.

    Singapore Changi Airport handled 5.62 million passenger movements in January, a 6 per cent year-on-year increase.

    Passenger traffic growth during January was broad-based with increases recorded for all regions except the Middle East.

  • Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Tokyo opened door

    Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Tokyo opened door

    This week, Starbucks celebrates the opening of the Starbucks Reserve® Roastery Tokyo, a four-story tribute to premium coffee quality, innovation and human connection. This will be the fifthRoastery globally, opening to the public on Thursday, February 28, at 7 a.m. JST, reaffirming the company’s 23-year commitment to Japan. The Roastery pays tribute to the important role that Starbucks Japan has played in shaping the foundation of the Company’s international growth. The Roastery introduces customers to more than 100 unique coffee and tea beverages and merchandise, as well as a menu of artisanal Princi Italian fare for the first time in Japan.

    It also celebrates the Japanese culture of connection and craftsmanship through the first AMU Inspiration Lounge –from the Japanese “amu,” meaning “knit together”–to host community gathering events and is planned to become Starbucks first Specialty Coffee Association certified training location in Japan.

    “As the first international market outside of North America, Starbucks Japan has contributed 23 years of innovation for the company globally,” said Kevin Johnson, CEO, Starbucks Coffee Company.

    “The opening of the Tokyo Roastery will further amplify what Starbucks Japan has done across all stores in the market for more than two decades—innovating and delivering the finest quality coffee one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.” Takafumi Minaguchi, CEO, Starbucks Japan, added, “The Roastery will amplify and inspire coffee passion across all Starbucks stores, and will serve as a catalyst for a new wave of growth centered on the customer experience and passion for coffee and service. Beginning with the “Make it Yours” campaign that will commence at every store in Japan upon the opening of the Roastery, customers will be invited to experience the first Starbucks coffee roasted exclusively in Tokyo, for Japan, and available in a variety of coffee beverage styles.”

    Collaborative Design Highlights Japan’s Natural Beauty

    Located in Tokyo’s vibrant and creative neighborhood of Nakameguro, the Roastery’s enchanting design was inspired by the famous cherry blossom trees lining the Meguro River.

    The building’s glass walls and terraced floors seamlessly fold into the fabric of the neighborhood, bringing visitors eye-level with the cherry blossoms and the four seasons of the river to reflect the natural beauty and sense of harmony found across Japan.

    The Tokyo Roastery is the only Starbucks Roastery location designed in collaboration with a local architect from the ground up.

    The exterior was brought to life in collaboration with renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. Envisioned by Liz Muller, Starbucks chief design officer and lead designer for all five Roasteries globally, the Roastery highlights the work of local craftsmen and women to create an enchanting destination for coffee exploration and discovery.

    The Tokyo Roastery merges traditional and modern design to deliver a unique and inspired experience across all four floors. Upon entering the Roastery, customers are greeted by the world’s largest Starbucks Roastery coffee cask, four-stories and over 55 feet of blush-tinted copper adorned with hand-crafted copper cherry blossoms, which changes hues throughout the day in different lights.

    The expansive cask was built using the technique of tsuchime, a tradition of copper beating, where each person involved in the building of the Roastery was offered the chance to hammer a portion to create its texture and pattern. The cask’s unique color is balanced against the light wood which has been carried into the interior to give the store a brightness found throughout traditional Japanese architecture.

    Throughout the Roastery, local craftsmen and women were brought together to incorporate their expertise and traditional craft into the design elements.

    The wood-tiled ceiling was inspired by the art of origami, providing a stunning visual experience. The light and airy space carries the light wood used on the exterior to the inside, giving the experience an enchanting aura.

    The wood, sourced locally, has been treated throughout with a traditional technique which prevents it from aging, ensuring the brightness is maintained inside and outside in the years to come.

    Enchanting Immersive Coffee, Tea and Mixology Experience

    The coffee journey at the Reserve Roastery Tokyo is an immersive experience and education in coffee, and its process—from green bean to cup—which begins at the Main Bar on the first floor.

    The open floor plan draws customers into the immersive experience, introducing them to the skilled art of roasting, brewing and hand-crafting beverages. The Reserve Roastery serves the freshest cup of coffee and it is here on the first floor that customers can taste Reserve coffee beverages such as Barrel-Aged Cold Brew.

    The Princi bakery serves handcrafted, authentic artisanal Italian fare that is baked fresh in the Roastery throughout the day. For the first time in Japan, customers can enjoy freshly-baked breads, cornetti, focaccias, pizzas, salads and more.

    An airy staircase leads to the second floor, where customers will be transported into the tradition of Japanese tea at the world’s largest Teavana Bar.

    Exclusive tea beverages, such as the Pop’n Tea Sakura Jasmine, featuring a vibrant hibiscus and cherry popsicle atop a floral jasmine tea, will delight customers with their charming appearance, Japanese ingredients and unique flavor combinations, modernizing the tea experience. On the terraced third floor, Starbucks Japan’s first cocktail bar, Arriviamo™, puts innovation, mixology and cocktail craft on full display.

    The two walls of spirits bring together the Arriviamo menu, featuring coffee and tea-inspired cocktails only available at the Tokyo Roastery, including the Nakameguro Espresso Martini made with chestnut liqueur, crème de cacao and espresso, then paired with decadent chocolate  from Nakameguro’s “green bean to bar CHOCOLATE” brand. Wine, beer and classic mixology beverages will also be available.

    Conversations with an Impact

    Starbucks Japan has more than two decades contributing to the communities it serves.

    The fourth floor of the Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo is home to AMU Inspiration Lounge–a dedicated space for the community to gather for hosted social impact conversations. The concept of “AMU,” which means “to knit together” in Japanese, is founded on human connection and passions coming together, something Starbucks has long believed in. For the first time at any Starbucks location in the world, this intimate space will serve as a platform to host change-makers and creative thinkers from across Japan. The first event in April will celebrate the role of women leaders in Japan.

    The Roastery is planned to become Starbucks first certified Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) location offering training for coffee professionals in the near future.“We believe that where passions connect, the future is sparked, and we will offer the Tokyo Roastery as a gathering space to spark new ideas and create an impact,” said Minaguchi.

    “The Roastery signifies our commitment to fostering moments of human connection over a cup of coffee and using these moments to create positive social impact in the communities we serve.”

    With more than 37,000 partners who proudly wear the green apron across Japan’s 47 prefectures and 250 at the Roastery itself, Starbucks Japan will amplify coffee craft and innovation by freshly roasting small-batch coffees from around the world every day in Tokyo and introducing new beverages, concepts and inspiration to all 1,400 stores across Japan. This amplification will begin with Tokyo Roast coffee, a Starbucks Japan-exclusive coffee, available throughout the market on opening day.

  • Build-A-Bear to open more stores in next 10 years in India

    Build-A-Bear to open more stores in next 10 years in India

    For more than 21 years, U.S. based personalized experiential toy retail brand Build-A-Bear has been sharing hearts and bear hugs globally, and after a long wait, Tablez – the retail arm of LuLu Group International, has launched the first Build-A-Bear store in India, at Toys”R”Us, Phoenix Marketcity in Bangalore. Build-A-Bear is a global customized stuffed-animal retail entertainment brand that aims to reach as many as 9 million households in the top 15 cities in India by 2025. Besides standalone stores, shop-in-shop formats of Build-A-Bear would be launched within Toys“R”Us.

    On this special occasion, Adeeb Ahamed, MD, Tablez said: “The Build-A-Bear concept is a one-of-a-kind retail experience, and we are thrilled to open the first store in Bangalore. Build-A-Bear is synonymous with creativity and novelty for children. I am sure that each child that enters our store will cherish their experience and leave with an indelible memory.

    “From standalone stores to shop-in-shop formats, Build-A-Bear is ready to reach out to families and kids in India and help loved ones create memories and spend more time together. We plan to open 20 standalone stores of Build-A-Bear across key cities in India over the next 10 years, along with shop-in-shop formats across all our Toys”R”Us stores as well.”

    Dorrie Krueger, Build-A-Bear Workshop Chief Strategy Officer, said, “Together with Tablez India, we are excited to open the first Build-A-Bear store in India and continue to expand into this important global market. We look forward to introducing the Build-A-Bear brand and sharing the joy of making a new furry friend with millions of families.”

    Build-A-Bear is a global brand that kids love and parents trust for fantastic family experiences. The ‘Choose Me’ wall at every Build-A-Bear store is where the empowerment journey begins as each guest chooses an unstuffed animal to bring to life. Accessories give customers the freedom to customize their creation. The heart ceremony is where one can add special wishes to their friend. During the stuffing process, a heart is placed in the bear along with special wishes, and the guest promises to care for their new furry friend once they are given the birth certificate. This signature ceremony brings each stuffed animal to life in a personal way, further ensuring a greater attachment.

    Established in 1997, Build-A-Bear has helped millions find their own meaning in a new furry friend. The brand has nearly 500 stores worldwide and more than 180 million furry friends have been made globally in its 21-year history. Build-A-Bear helps guests mark special occasions, start friendships, and inspires people to make their own adventures. At Build-A-Bear, one is empowered to feel that anything is possible.

    Further, a Build-A-Bear shop-in-shop format will follow in Vega City Mall, Bangalore; City Centre Mall, Mangalore and Phoenix Marketcity, Pune. Build-A-Bear plans to expand to as many as 65 shop-in-shop format stores and 20 standalone stores in India over the next 10 years.

  • Newest Esprit stores reveals new concept

    Newest Esprit stores reveals new concept

    Two new Esprit stores opened in Europe this month give an insight into the new direction of the embattled brand as it rebuilds. In the historic centre of Liege in Belgium a new 400sqm boutique stocks only womenswear. According to an understated news release issued in Germany, the “modern and bright store design creates a pleasant and warm atmosphere”.

    A standout feature is a denim wall standing in front of a brick wall painted in light grey. The floor comprises terrazzo tiles and oak parquet.

    The new store also reflects a growing focus on Esprit’s e-commerce offer, with a click & collect area for customers to pick up items they have ordered online.

    The second of the Esprit stores to open in Europe this month is an outlet store at Wolfsburg in Germany.

    The 400sqm store is described by Esprit as “an important location” in its outlet portfolio. It offers both women’s and men’s apparel.

    Michael Ernst, centre manager of Designer Outlets Wolfsburg, says customers have been asking for an Esprit store at the centre for several years.

    “We are delighted to be able to fulfil this wish now. The new store offers an attractive range of fashion at excellent value.”

    Designer Outlets Wolfsburg is the first inner-city outlet centre in Germany, home to more than 70 designer and lifestyle brands.

    After ongoing losses, Esprit last year launched a massive overhaul of its business with a new management team at the helm, promising changes to product, its retail network and its e-commerce offer.

    The company is due to release its interim results this week.

  • India’s V-Bazaar opens 1st outlet in Lalitpur

    India’s V-Bazaar opens 1st outlet in Lalitpur

    V-Bazaar has announced the launch of its 1st store in Lalitpur and 30th in Uttar Pradesh. V- Bazaar is a complete family fashion store which brings trendy and fashionable merchandise to every category of people, at reasonable prices by eliminating the middleman between manufacturers and customers. The store is spread over 8,856 sq.ft. area.

    Announcing the launch, Hemant Agarwal, CMD of V-Bazaar said, “It is a very happy and proud moment for us to open our 1st store in Lalitpur. Looking at the overwhelming response of our other store, we thought of providing the convenient shopping experience to the customers of the city. It has been our attempt to provide our customers the superior merchandise, service and the overall international shopping experience. This 1st new store in Lalitpur is a significant achievement for us. Our new store is fashionable and individualistic, showcasing a collection of the finest quality merchandise at unbelievably pocket-friendly prices.”

    The new showroom has been spread over large area with spacious interiors. The new store offers a vibrant trendy line for the youth which includes shirts, pants, sherwanis, kurta pyjama, jackets for men and fancy wedding sarees, wedding designer suits, cotton suits, pants, half sleeve and full sleeve t-shirts for women. There is large variety of dresses for your young ones too.

    The range offers funky, stylish, and incredibly comfortable garments that are a must in every teenagers and young adult’s wardrobe. Created while keeping current international trends in mind, the collection is trendy, fashionable and is available at unbelievably low prices. Customers can make their shopping fun with special opening offers at V-Bazaar as on every purchase they get assured gifts.

    V-Bazaar primarily operates in Tier II and III cities. It is chain of value retail fashion stores offering apparels for men, women, kids, home furnishing, footwear and accessories catering to the entire family.

  • Seoul to get its first Emart Traders branch next month

    Seoul to get its first Emart Traders branch next month

    Emart, a Shinsegae Group company, will open a new branch of Traders, its big-box warehouse chain, in Seoul next month. It will be the first branch in the capital. The outlet will be located in Wolgye-dong, Nowon District, northern Seoul, with the opening scheduled for March 14. The Wolgye Traders is being built in the parking lot of Emart’s Wolgye store. The warehouse store will be 9,917 square meters (106,746 square feet) in size, with 45,302 square meters of floor area.

    Emart said the annual sales goal for the first Seoul branch of Traders is 140 billion won ($12.6 million). The company is planning to raise the new branch’s competitiveness by offering instant and fresh food at prices that could be 45 to 50 percent lower than the average price at department stores.

    There are currently 15 Traders branches nationwide, and Emart is planning to expand the number to 18 by the end of this year.

  • H&M launches collection with artist Nathalie Lete

    H&M launches collection with artist Nathalie Lete

    H&M has unveiled a collaboration with Paris-based artist Nathalie Lete on a children’s clothing and accessories capsule collection. The collection, which will be available online and in selected stores worldwide from March 7, features several of Lete’s fantasy-land-inspired artworks as prints.

    The H&M collaboration is a childrenswear collection for babies and children with a wide range of t-shirts, jackets, jeans, dresses, jumpsuits, shorts and swimsuits. The colourful animal and floral prints created by artist Nathalie Lete start with paintings in acrylics by hand, which are then artfully arranged together to create an imaginative story. For this collaboration, Lete brought a tropical jungle to life with chameleons and tigers, along with her iconic representation of flowers with cats, birds and rabbits.

    “In my work, I create a fantasy land for myself,” said Lete. “A land that I want to share with other people to make them dream. It’s all about flowers, animals, birds, naivety and colors. I want to create a cocoon that brings happiness and harmony all around. The relationships between the different elements tells stories, stories that create a beautiful atmosphere. I ‘m happy to share my world through this collaboration, all around the world, together with H&M.”

    “Natalie Lete and her work is something we have admired for a long time, and we are thrilled to be collaborating with her for this kids’ collection,” said H&M kids’ division designer Jennifer Helmer.

    “The collection is playful and inviting and the pieces truly makes you feel like you’re in a botanical dream. We cannot wait to share this collection with our youngest fans.”

  • OnTheList to launch in Taiwan

    OnTheList to launch in Taiwan

    Founded in 2016, OnTheList is a members-based flash sale company that offers premium goods at unbeatable prices. As of March 2017, OnTheList has called its showroom on Duddell Street, home. In 2018, OnTheList opened pop-up showrooms in Hong Kong, launched in Singapore, and is now ready to expand into other countries in Asia.

    In 2019, OnTheList is jetting off to another Asian city to host the first Flash Sale in Taiwan in March.

  • Jollibee Malaysia plans 100 Stores

    Jollibee Malaysia plans 100 Stores

    Philippine restaurant chain Jollibee has announced plans to launch more than 100 Jollibee stores in Malaysia within the next 10 years. According to a report, the openings will include 50 stores in Sabah and Sarawak. President and head of JFC International Business for Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia Dennis Flores said that Jollibee would be a “welcome addition to the diversity of the food scene in Kota Kinabalu,” the Sabah state capital.

    “We believe that we can appeal to the diversity as we have seen in other countries where Jollibee has been successful, such as Vietnam, Brunei, Hong Kong and Singapore,” he said at the official inauguration of the Jollibee Malaysia grand store (which has been trading since last year) at Centre Point Sabah this week.

    Chairman and founder of JFC Tony Tan Caktiong said the company was happy with the enthusiastic welcome to the store’s opening from local customers.

    “This has given us an encouragement to reach more Malaysians with our delicious menu and friendly service,” he said.

    Jollibee operates 14 brands in 21 countries with more than 4500 stores worldwide.