Tag: Sydney

  • The Newly Renovated T Galleria By DFS Sydney Opened Door

    The Newly Renovated T Galleria By DFS Sydney Opened Door

    DFS Group, the world’s leading luxury travel retailer, last week unveiled its newly renovated store, T Galleria by DFS Sydney. The modern interior, which boasts a fresh, clean look, complements the store’s attractive red-brick façade and offers customers a compelling shopping experience from the minute they step through its doors.

    Spanning over 70,000 square feet of space, T Galleria by DFS Sydney has occupied its historic George Street
    location for 29 years and is Sydney’s only duty and tax free destination, mere steps away from The Sydney Opera
    House and Harbour Bridge. Featuring more than 150 of the world’s most desirable brands, the store is a one-stop
    shopper’s paradise which aims to entice customers with its stylish layout and carefully curated collections. It
    showcases an extensive selection of products across all categories – fashion and accessories, beauty and
    fragrances, watches and jewelry, wine and spirits, food and gifts – with many items available exclusively to T
    Galleria by DFS Sydney, such as the Michael Kors x DFS collection and Tiffany & Co.’s Keys.

    Customers begin their exciting retail journey on the ground floor, which is devoted to 11 iconic brands that lead
    the way in global designer fashion. Each of these luxury retailers has created an intimate space in T Galleria by
    DFS Sydney that captures the essence of their respective flagship stores.

    An irresistible mix of fashion and accessory retailers greets shoppers arriving on the second floor. Contemporary
    fashion brands offer a younger, slightly edgier aesthetic to shoppers, whilst smart totes, travel essentials and
    suitcases cater for discerning travelers.

    With its double-height ceiling and black-and-white checkered flooring, Watch World on the third floor is the
    ultimate in retail elegance as befitting the 57 luxury watch brands that are showcased here. Bespoke joinery and
    special lighting accentuate the exquisite watches on display. Still on the third floor, warm wood flooring draws
    customers towards T Galleria by DFS Sydney’s selection of sunglasses, displayed alluringly on floating shelves.
    With 24 of the world’s most prestigious and iconic brands all in one area, travelers can be sure to find their
    perfect look.

    Beauty and fragrance lovers are well catered for too, with some of the beauty world’s biggest names positioned
    next to more niche brands on the fourth floor. Customers will also discover a tempting assortment of international
    and local food products, wine, spirits and gifts from over 50 brands. These include Ovvio organic certified teas,
    Yalumba wine, Steens manuka honey and delicious Tim Tam bites, Australia’s favorite cookies encased in
    Belgian chocolate.

    “The renovated T Galleria by DFS Sydney brings a whole new experience to visitors from all around the world,
    offering them a fresh, one-of-a kind duty free retail space in one of Sydney’s most vibrant and prestigious areas,”
    said Sibylle Scherer, President, Merchandising and Consumer Marketing, DFS Group. “With such a wide
    assortment of brands and products to choose from, we anticipate that many new customers will be eager to
    explore this beautiful city’s latest destination for luxurious shopping.”

    The refurbishment of T Galleria by DFS Sydney began in August 2016 under the direction of Australian design
    company PMDL, which was also responsible for the design of T Galleria Beauty by DFS, Studio City, Macau,
    and T Galleria Angkor by DFS in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

  • Céline opens in Sydney

    Céline opens in Sydney

    French maison Céline has opened its second Australian store in Sydney.

    Located on level four of Sydney’s Westfield Shopping Centre, the 186-square-metre store is designed with clean lines and pared-back simplicity, hallmarks of the brand’s creative director, Phoebe Philo.

    Raw materials such as onyx, fired terracotta, carved lime wood and industrial chipboard mix in with foliage, and bounce off black metal hanging rails, brought to life by a concrete floor in grey.

    A central sculpture wall divides each room, with bespoke furnishings – designed by Danish artist FOS – splattered throughout. Features include mirrors, a jewellery table, sunglasses and jewellery display casing, and a large seating area in ceramic and wood.
    The new Sydney flagship hosts Céline’s autumn/winter 2017 collection, as well as a range of ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories.

    The Sydney store is the brand’s 141st store globally. The first Australian flagship opened in Melbourne’s Chadstone shopping centre in 2016.

    Founded in 1945 by Céline Vipiana, the Paris house is today owned by global luxury conglomerate LVMH group.

  • Sydney Airport to introduce new retailers

    Sydney Airport to introduce new retailers

    Sydney Airport has commenced work on the next stage of its T2 Domestic terminal, which, when completed will see the introduction of new retail tenancies in the precinct.

    Kerrie Mather, Sydney Airport managing director and CEO, welcomed the next phase of terminal improvements, which follows the transformation of the airport’s casual dining precinct.

    “We’ve had such fantastic feedback about our new T2 casual dining precinct and I look forward to seeing the terminal’s continued transformation as part of our commitment to enhance the customer experience,” Mather said.

    “These improvements will deliver a consistent look and feel across the terminal, with a greater sense of space and light.”

    Mather said the new T2 Domestic terminal will have better wayfinding and improved sightlines.

    “Exciting new retail concepts and relaxing dwell areas will create more ambience,” she said.

    The improvements will see the introduction of 10 new retail tenancies to deliver a revitalised mix of lifestyle brands for visitors.

    Areas of the terminal will be expanded and redesigned to create dwell areas with upgraded flooring, columns, lighting, ceiling finishes, and contemporary furniture with textural finishes. There will also be significant upgrades to key bathroom amenities across T2 while a new mezzanine level will offer additional commercial floor space.

    The next stage of retail and dwell area improvements were designed by Australian design firm Landini Associates and follows the revitalised T2 casual dining precinct.

    The precinct features first-to-Australia offerings, sushi brand YO! Sushi and popular Danish juice bar concept Joe & The Juice, as well as Krispy Kreme and Soul Origin.

    The next stage of works are due for completion by end of 2018.

    Last month, Country Road opened its first menswear pop-up store at the domestic terminal.

  • Costco to open third Sydney outlet at Marsden Park

    Costco to open third Sydney outlet at Marsden Park

    Bulk discount retailer, Costco, will open its third Sydney outlet, and ninth store nationwide, at Marsden Park in Sydney’s northwest next week.

    The Costco Marsden Park store, which will span 13,575sqm, will include a Costco fuel station, tyre centre, food court, optometrist, hearing aid services and fresh food production.

    The site is located within the large format retail precinct at Sydney Business Park, in Marsden Park. Costco is the latest major retailer to open at the Business Park, which is one of Australia’s largest large format retail centres, spanning 115,000sqm in floor space.

    Owen Walsh, Sydney Business Park project manager, said Costco is a welcome addition to Sydney Business Park, which, is fast becoming a major shopping and warehouse distribution and logistics destination for the region.

    “We are pleased to be part of Sydney’s rapidly growing northwest, and it is rewarding to see the community growing around Marsden Park and the Sydney Business Park,” Walsh said.

    Walsh said in the last five years, the Marsden Park community has completely transformed with the establishment of major new retailers opening their doors.

    “New retail has created new jobs and that has attracted people to relocate here to be closer to where they work or to find work,” he said. “The next five years will see even more dramatic transformation with major commercial towers to be built as well as a major town centre. By 2025, the surrounding North West Growth Centre is expected to support 177,000 new residents and 61,900 new homes.”

    Sydney Business Park has secured approximately $600 million in investment to date, on track as part of the broader $3 billion project.

    Patrick Noone, Costco Wholesale Australia managing director, said the company was very pleased with the new site and said the store opening marks another significant milestone for the company.

    Costco joins other retailers at the centre including Aldi, Baby & Toddler Town, Beacon Lighting, Bunnings Warehouse, Carpet Call, Coles Express, Costco Wholesale, Forty Winks, Home Consortium Marsden Park, Home Hub Marsden Park, Ikea, JB Hi-Fi Home, Knotts Pine, Lindt Factory Outlet, Reece, Repco, Shell, Snooze, and The Good Guys, among others.

  • Nike’s opens new three-level flagship in the Sydney CBD

    Nike’s opens new three-level flagship in the Sydney CBD

    Retail Prodigy Group will open the doors to a three-level Nike flagship store at George Street in the Sydney CBD on Thursday morning.

    The new flagship is the first high street store for the brand in Sydney, situated in a heritage building that has been modernised for the new store. The ground floor is dedicated to men’s training and running, sportswear, the Jordan Brand and basketball in the basement. The first floor has been designated for womenswear, in the running, training and sportswear categories, plus a specialised bra fitting service and pant hemming.

    With a focus on running products, the store will feature Nike+ Trial Zones; an immersive space that features a Nike+ Run treadmill dedicated to trialling running footwear.

    In a Nike Australia first, the store also features sneaker cleaning and protection services.

    Brant Hirst, Nike marketing director told us that the vast amount of construction works currently underway in the Sydney CBD had not been a concern in the development of the new George Street location.

    “The heritage facade and multiple levels of the building provided the perfect canvas for a premium shopping experience for our customers,” he said.

    “Having a high street store in an emerging shopping precinct was also a major drawcard of the space.”

    Despite several commentators continuing to forecast the demise of bricks and mortar retailing, Hirst said the new flagship would be “powered by immersive product experiences” and in-store experts.

    “This store centres around elevating every athlete’s potential and offering customers personalised experiences, whether they’re training for a marathon, or want the latest in sports style.”

    When asked if we could expect to see more larger flagships in other locations across Australia and New Zealand, Hirst said that Nike was “always looking at ways to innovate and offer premium shopping experiences for our customers.”

    Nike also recently confirmed it is launching a pilot program to sell sneakers on Amazon, in a move to combat counterfeiters and unsolicited third-party sales conducted online.

    In a call with analysts, Nike CEO Mark Parker said that Amazon would carry “a limited Nike product assortment” of footwear, apparel, and accessories, and that the sports brand was seeking to improve its presence on the e-commerce site while also protect its brand reputation.

    Meanwhile, the race is on within sports retailing in Australia.

    British retailer, JD Sports currently has three stores trading in Australia at Melbourne Central, Pacific Fair on the Gold Coast and Parramatta in Sydney’s western suburbs. Two further stores will open soon at Miranda in Sydney and Highpoint in Melbourne.

    The Lancashire-based company has more than 1,200 stores under a portfolio of sports fashion and outdoor brands throughout the United Kingdom and Europe.

    Decathlon, the French retailer, has established an Australian online sales platform and expects to open its first store in the Sydney suburb of Tempe in October.

    The retailer has more than 1,000 stores in almost 30 countries and has notionally set a target of 100 stores for the Australian market.

    More recently, Super Retail Group decided to discontinue Amart Sports and convert its 65 stores into Rebel Sport as part of a consolidation strategy designed to defend against the entry of Amazon, Decathlon and JD Sports.

  • Equinix links to Oracle Cloud in Sydney

    Equinix links to Oracle Cloud in Sydney

    Equinix has announced the launched dedicated, private access to Oracle Cloud in its Sydney, Australia International Business Exchange (IBX) data center.

    Available via Oracle Cloud Network Service – FastConnect and the Equinix Cloud Exchange, access will be available for Oracle Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) as well as Platform as a Service (PaaS).

    This direct access enables enterprise customers in this growing region to migrate compute, applications and data to Oracle Cloud in a high-performance, low-latency manner for an optimal user experience.

    This builds on previous announcements between Equinix and Oracle to offer direct connection to several Oracle PaaS and IaaS services, including database, Java, integration, analytics, compute and storage – in multiple regions around the globe. The addition of Sydney brings the total number of markets that Equinix is offering private access to Oracle Cloud to five globally.

    Cloud deployments in Asia Pacific, and specifically Australia, are on the rise. According to a recent report by IDC, 67% of all Australian organizations surveyed are embracing cloud, using public or private cloud for more than one or two applications or workloads. Yet, factors such as security and privacy concerns still inhibit public cloud adoption.

    Through the Equinix Cloud Exchange integration with Oracle FastConnect, customers in Australia can establish direct connectivity between their private IT infrastructure and Oracle Cloud. This enables them to fully realize the benefits of hybrid cloud – moving application, middleware and database workloads seamlessly between private IT infrastructure and Oracle Cloud on a private, dedicated connection.

    The Equinix data centers in Sydney are the most interconnected in Australia. Enterprise customers in Sydney are able to establish direct links to both of the continent’s largest peering points, as well as key submarine cable systems, and gain direct access to multiple network and cloud providers such as Oracle via the Equinix Cloud Exchange.

    Oracle Cloud delivers nearly 1,000 SaaS applications and 50 enterprise-class PaaS and IaaS services to customers in more than 195 countries around the world, and supports 55 billion transactions each day. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure is also part of the fast growing sector of cloud computing. According to a recent Gartner report the highest cloud growth is expected to come from IaaS, with a growth of 38.4% in 2016.

    The Equinix Cloud Exchange is currently available in 21 markets globally – Amsterdam, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, New York, Osaka, Paris, Sao Paulo, Seattle, Silicon Valley, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Washington DC and Zurich.

  • Cebu Pacific seeks to increase Manila-Sydney flight frequency

    Cebu Pacific seeks to increase Manila-Sydney flight frequency

    Cebu Pacific (CEB), the only low-cost carrier servicing Manila and Sydney in Australia, has captured the largest market share for both passenger and cargo services on the route as of April 2017 and wants to increase its flight frequencies to this destination.

    Data from Australia’s Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) showed that CEB flew 16,441 passengers in April alone, representing 41.8% of the total market share for the Manila-Sydney route, the highest among the three carriers flying this route.

    This brings the total number of passengers flown by CEB to 59,953 – representing 41.7% market share. Its closest competitor, on the other hand, captured 33.5% market share. Load factor for CEB for the Manila-Sydney route was at an average 80% for the first four months of 2017.

    Year-on-year, total passenger volume for the first four months of 2017 of all three carriers plying the Manila-Sydney route reached 143,765, up 12% versus the 128,352 passengers flown in the same period in 2016.

    For cargo service between Manila and Sydney, CEB captured 43.8% market share of the total 789 tons carried in April 2017. From January to April 2017, CEB had 47.4% market share of the total 3,114 tons of cargo carried for that route. The total cargo volume for the first four months of 2017, however, is 30.6% lower than the 2,128 tons carried in the comparable period last year.

    “Since opening the Sydney route in 2014, we have contributed to the growth of trade and tourism between the Philippines and Australia, through year-round low fares. Today, Sydney is one of our top international routes and bodes well for our future expansion plans in the Australian market,” according to Atty. JR Mantaring, Vice President for Corporate Affairs of Cebu Pacific.

    Cebu Pacific currently offers the most number of seats between Manila and Sydney, operating up to five weekly nonstop services between Sydney and Manila, departing every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from Sydney at 11:35 a.m. and arriving Manila at 5:50 p.m.

    The flights from Manila to Sydney, on the other hand, depart at 12:05 a.m. and arrive Sydney at 10:05 a.m.

    Recently, the airline expressed interest to increase frequency between Manila and Sydney, noting strong demand for this route.

    Cebu Air, Inc. is the largest carrier in the Philippine air transportation industry, offering its low-cost services to more destinations and routes with higher flight frequency within the Philippines than any other airline. It also offers flights to over 60 destinations including Dubai, Tokyo, Beijing, Bali and Sydney.

    CEB’s 61-strong fleet, comprised of 4 Airbus A319, 36 Airbus A320, 8 Airbus A330, 8 ATR-72 500 and 5 ATR 72-600 aircraft, is one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2017 and 2022, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 7 Airbus A321ceo, 32 Airbus A321neo, and 11 ATR 72-600 aircraft.

  • Ksubi returns to retail with global flagship

    Ksubi returns to retail with global flagship

    Ksubi is on a fashion comeback with the opening of its global flagship store in Sydney. Located on the prime shopping strip of Oxford Street in Paddington, Ksubi has set up its return to retail within the coveted ‘The Intersection’ shopping hub in Sydney’s inner east

    The new boutique adds to the current distribution of Ksubi, which sees its jeans, apparel and accessories stocked inside the store walls of youth fashion retailer General Pants Group, who acquired distribution rights to the brand in 2014.

    The new Ksubi store comes after years of financial woes for the Sydney fashion label, after it was rescued twice from administration.

    Ksubi was founded as a streetwear label in 1999 by Gareth Moody, Dan Single, George Gorrow, Paul Wilson and Oscar Wright. Known for its impeccable denim cuts and high-octane aesthetic, the label soared to cult status among trend-lead fashionistas for several years and was stocked globally in niche boutiques.

    However, in 2010, claims of mismanagement and quarrels internally saw it fumble into administration, and it was sold to clothing manufacturer Bleach Group for around A$5 million.

    In late 2013, the Australian fashion label was then placed in receivership again after 14 years in the business, with Bleach Group chief executive Mark Byers blaming challenges in the Asian supply chain. Some 60 staff were fired from the brand’s head office, while its seven stores were also closed.

    US-based firm Breakwater Management Group took on Ksubi soon after and at the time said it would focus on the brand’s online sales. Breakwater then inked a distribution agreement with Australian multi-brand retailer General Pants Co in 2014, to sell Ksubi items from its 40-plus Australian stores, thus reviving Ksubi’s brand reach in store.

    With the news of the latest Ksubi store in Sydney, no information has been disclosed concerning future store openings for the brand in Australia or overseas. Today, Ksubi is sold in the US, Japan, the UK, and New Zealand and in Bloomingdales in Kuwait.

  • AWPL opens outdoor apparel store at Sydney Airport

    AWPL opens outdoor apparel store at Sydney Airport

    AWPL has opened Australia’s first Icebreaker airport store in Sydney Airport’s T1 International Departures.

    New Zealand’s Icebreaker offers a range of outdoor apparel. The Sydney Airport concept store will feature Icebreaker’s merino wool apparel, including socks, underwear, base layers, performance ski gear and travel wear.

    The products are made from merino wool sourced from over 180 stations along New Zealand’s Southern Alps. According to the company, the lightweight fabric breathes in hot weather and locks in heat during icy spells, making the gear suitable for all conditions.

    “We are delighted to be the first airport in Australia to welcome Icebreaker to T1 International Departures, further bolstering our selection of global brands and offering our customers the opportunity to shop a great range of high-performance outdoor clothing,” said Sydney Airport General Manager Retail Glyn Williams.

    AWPL Managing Director Costa Kouros commented: “We at AWPL are proud to further strengthen our relationship with Icebreaker – one of the world’s most wonderful brands. Our commitment to enhancing the customer experience at Sydney Airport is unwavering, and our Icebreaker concept is another step on that journey.”

  • Louis Vuitton and Supreme to host first collaboration pop up in Sydney

    Louis Vuitton and Supreme to host first collaboration pop up in Sydney

    The long-awaited collaboration between Louis Vuitton and Supreme has finally come, and the two labels announced the location of the first collaboration pop up shop.The LVxSupreme collaboration debuted in January at the Louis Vuitton fall 2017 show.
    Louis Vuitton and Supreme fans in Sydney, Australia will be happy to hear that the world’s first LVx Supreme pop up will be located at 95 Roscoe St in Bondi Beach, and the pop up will be open from June 30 through July 13, 2017.

    The fashion world went into frenzy in January when the LVxSupreme collaboration collection debuted at the Louis Vuitton fall 2017 show in Paris.

    Rumors of a New York City pop up began circulating and looked real for a period of time, until a Manhattan community board unanimously voted against the idea, citing preparedness concerns. The board felt that those manning the event would not be ready for the number of shoppers that would line up for the pop up, which was originally planned to be located at 25 Bond Street.

    Since the possibility of a New York City pop up has been shut down, Sydney will host the first pop up for the collaboration, and more pop up locations are to be announced soon.

  • Cebu Pacific dominates Manila-Sydney route

    Cebu Pacific dominates Manila-Sydney route

    he Philippines’ leading airline, Cebu Pacific (CEB) continues to soar high, capturing the lion’s share for both passenger and cargo traffic between Manila and Sydney in the first quarter of 2017. Data from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) of Australia showed that CEB carried over 43,512 passengers, representing 42% passenger market share on the Manila-Sydney route, the highest among the three carriers covering this route.

    The BITRE report noted that from January to March 2017, passenger traffic between Manila and Sydney totalled 104,446, up seven percent (7%) versus the same period last year.  The growth in passenger traffic was dominated by CEB, which carried 16% more passengers from the 37,640 reported in the first quarter of 2016. Load factor for CEB for the Manila-Sydney route was at an average 78% for the first three months of 2017.

    “We are very pleased to see that the Cebu Pacific effect continues across one of our strongest international markets. Our goal is to make flights affordable, accessible and available to a greater number of travellers. These numbers do not only showcase the Philippines as a flourishing destination, but it also shows our strong commitment to remain and further stimulate our key market in Australia,” said Candice Iyog, Vice President for Marketing and Distribution of Cebu Pacific.

    Aside from the growth in passenger volume, Cebu Pacific also reinforced its leadership in the Manila-Sydney airline cargo service. CEB flew 1,131 tons of cargo between Manila and Sydney in the first three months of 2017, covering 49% of the total 2,325 tons carried by the three carriers.

    The growth in CEB’s cargo service tracked the increase in total volumes, from 1,567 tons carried in the comparable quarter last year.

    BITRE, an agency under the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development of the Australian government, “provides economic analysis, research and statistics on infrastructure, transport and regional development issues,” according to its official website. The bureau holds data and statistics on the aviation industry.

    Cebu Pacific offers the most number of seats between Manila and Sydney, covering close to 40% of the route’s total capacity.

  • DHL eCommerce launches Fulfillment Center in Sydney

    DHL eCommerce launches Fulfillment Center in Sydney

    The Fulfillment Center will provide overseas merchants with fast, flexible shipping that integrates inbound freight, inventory, and last mile delivery in a single consolidated service.

    DHL eCommerce, a division of the world’s leading logistics company, Deutsche Post DHL Group, announced the launch of its Fulfillment Center in Sydney, Australia to support booming demand for overseas goods amongst Australia’s online shoppers. International brands and retailers are now able to reach out to the rapidly growing Australia market.

    “Australian shoppers are the second-most likely in the world to buy online from overseas merchants, and the significance of their purchasing power will only increase as cross-border e-commerce grows at an average of 29 percent per year until 2020,” said Damien Sheehan, managing director Australia, DHL eCommerce. “Online retailers need to overcome the traditional problems associated with overseas expansion – finding new suppliers in each market, delivering shipments within days not weeks, and keeping costs in check – if they want to stay competitive in this borderless future.”

    Adding, “The launch of our Australian Fulfillment Center gives our customers immediate access to one of the world’s most mature and fastest growing e-commerce markets, with the scalability and quality needed to reach Australia’s highly savvy online shoppers.”

    The Fulfillment Center will provide overseas merchants with fast, flexible shipping that integrates inbound freight, inventory, and last mile delivery in a single consolidated service. The center also operates using the same service level agreements, management platforms, and customer support as all other parts of DHL eCommerce’s global Fulfillment network, allowing existing customers to expand their sales into Australia with minimal onboarding time and hassle.

    “E-commerce has gone borderless, and order fulfilment needs to do the same,” says Charles Brewer, CEO DHL eCommerce. “Our Australian facility adds another node to our standardized global network of Fulfillment Centers located in US, Mexico, India, Hong Kong and Central Europe, eliminating the need for e-commerce merchants to hunt for new logistics partners as they look to expand their global reach.”

    The center’s design accommodates front-end integration with a range of popular marketplace and web-shop platforms, as well as multichannel order management and last-mile solutions for immediate and highly-accurate deliveries all across Australia. All of the center’s services operate on a pay-per-use model with no capital spend or fixed costs.

    “The value of Australian e-commerce sales is expected to grow by nearly 50 percent between now and 2020, making cost-effectiveness and scalability the critical issues for online retailers in the country,” said Malcolm Monteiro, CEO Asia Pacific, DHL eCommerce. “Whether it’s extending into new channels, offering more delivery options, or simply increasing inventory and warehouse capacity, global brands need fulfilment solutions that can adapt to their needs without requiring hands-on intervention every time a change occurs.”

    Concluding, “Global e-tailers can access our latest fulfillment center for simplified nationwide inventory and last-mile delivery and also as part of a rapid and painless global expansion.”

  • DHL eCommerce has launched its fulfillment centre in Sydney

    DHL eCommerce has launched its fulfillment centre in Sydney

    “E-commerce has gone borderless, and order fulfillment needs to do the same,” said Charles Brewer, CEO of DHL eCommerce. “Our Australian facility adds another node to our standardized global network of fulfillment centres located in the US, Mexico, India, Hong Kong and Central Europe, eliminating the need for e-commerce merchants to hunt for new logistics partners as they look to expand their global reach.”

    According to DHL, the new facility integrates inbound freight, inventory and last-mile delivery into a single consolidated service, operating under the same service level agreements, management platforms and customer support as the rest of the DHL eCommerce fulfillment network. All services will be offered on a pay-per-use basis.

    “Australian shoppers are the second-most likely in the world to buy online from overseas merchants, and the significance of their purchasing power will only increase as cross-border e-commerce grows at an average of 29% per year until 2020,” said Damien Sheehan, managing director of Australia at DHL eCommerce. “Online retailers need to overcome the traditional problems associated with overseas expansion — finding new suppliers in each market, delivering shipments within days not weeks, and keeping costs in check — if they want to stay competitive in this borderless future. The launch of our Australian fulfillment centre gives our customers immediate access to one of the world’s most mature and fastest-growing e-commerce markets, with the scalability and quality needed to reach Australia’s highly savvy online shoppers.”

    Malcolm Monteiro, CEO of Asia Pacific at DHL eCommerce, said that cost-effectiveness and scalability are the most critical issues for online retailers in Australia because the value of the country’s e-commerce sales is expected to grow by almost 50% between now and 2020.

    “Whether it’s extending into new channels, offering more delivery options, or simply increasing inventory and warehouse capacity, global brands need fulfillment solutions that can adapt to their needs without requiring hands-on intervention every time a change occurs,” he said. “Global e-tailers can access our latest fulfillment centre for simplified nationwide inventory and last-mile delivery and also as part of a rapid and painless global expansion.”

  • SIA delays launch of Jakarta-Sydney route after Indonesia withdraws approval

    SIA delays launch of Jakarta-Sydney route after Indonesia withdraws approval

    Flag carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) said on Wednesday (Nov 9) it has delayed plans to launch a new route linking Singapore, Jakarta and Sydney, after Indonesia withdrew its approval due to runway maintenance work.

    The airline had earlier announced that it planned to launch the thrice-weekly Singapore-Jakarta-Sydney route on Nov 23. SIA said Indonesia’s civil aviation authorities had issued written approval, and the airline had secured the necessary airport slots.

    However, Indonesian authorities have informed the airline that they are now unable to approve the flights due to runway maintenance work at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, SIA said. The runway work also affects other airlines, it added.

    In response to media queries, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said it was aware of the delay in the launch of the new route.

    “SIA’s new service will enhance air connectivity between Singapore, Jakarta and Sydney, which will facilitate people and trade flows between these cities,” CAAS said.

    “We hope the Indonesian civil aviation authorities can give approval for this new service as soon as possible so that it can be launched.”

    SIA said it will contact customers with bookings on the route and transfer them to other flights. “The airline apologises for the inconvenience caused to our customers,” it said.

  • Menswear milestone: Hugo Boss opens 200th airport store

    Menswear milestone: Hugo Boss opens 200th airport store

    Luxury menswear specialist Hugo Boss opened its 200th airport store earlier this year at Sydney Airport, as the brand maintains its strong focus on growth in travel retail.

    The store, which opened in April, measures 187sq m and is located at Sydney Airport Terminal 1. It offers Boss menswear including ready-to-wear, shoes, accessories as well as sportswear lines such as Boss Green.

    The opening takes the brand’s total number of airport stores in Asia Pacific to 47.

    Hugo Boss entered travel retail in the 1990s and has four lines: Boss, Boss Green, Boss Orange and Hugo. The company has a dedicated global travel retail team, with offices in Zürich, New York and Hong Kong.

    The company said growth in the channel over the years has been stable apart from 2001/2002 and 2008/2009 when the travel retail and fashion industries were shaken by global events such as 9/11 and the financial crisis.

    Hugo Boss Travel Retail Director Jesper Gustafsson said Hugo Boss had proven a success in travel retail because it offers all three product pillars in men’s fashion: formalwear, sportswear, shoes and accessories. “The share among the three pillars is equal today, with shoes and accessories the fastest growing product segment for the past two to three years.”

    Gustafsson continued: “Last year’s exceptional growth of fashion and accessories in the travel retail industry was mainly driven by womenswear and by the accessories category in particular. For Hugo Boss, this has been a blessing in disguise. On the one hand, it has given us tough times as some airport authorities have been chasing the accessories segment for women blindly, sometimes deciding to dedicate 100% of the available stores in their airports to this product category.

    Hugo2_32 - Copy

    Hugo Boss Travel Retail Director Jesper Gustafsson says there is limited competition in men’s fashion in travel retail

    “On the other hand, it has given us little competition in our area of expertise, namely fashion for the male customer at the airports. Our strategy has always been to be the number one menswear brand in travel retail, a vision we have kept and fulfilled for several years now.”

    The importance of travel retail to Hugo Boss’ business is highlighted in the brand’s investments in new stores and renovations, he said. “On average we finalise between 40 to 50 store projects per year, with a strong distribution network as a result,” noted Gustafsson.

    “We develop both through franchise partners and directly operated stores, which enables us to act fast and balance our distribution in a way that we can learn from direct contact with the traveller. It is imperative to learn how the needs of the travelling customer develop and how we can adapt as a brand to become better, and more responsive in the way we develop our business.”

    Opening Photo

    According to Gustafsson, fashion is not considered a priority by many male travellers. “Fashion, especially for men, often comes after the core categories, food & beverage and sometimes also behind technology. This means that a clear, powerful message is needed in your offer as well as good customer service to enable the purchase to happen within the restricted time limit for the customer.

    “Another important factor is omnichannel. If we can start the buying process before our customer leaves his home, we have a head-start and our airport conversion rates will be affected positively.

    “Like many other fashion companies out there, Hugo Boss is investing heavily in this area and in due time several functions such as click & collect for example will be available at our airport stores.”

    So, where does Gustafsson see Hugo Boss’ travel retail business in five years’ time? “Having 200 airport stores is certainly a milestone, but the road ahead is filled with more opportunities, which does not necessarily have to be more stores. It can also mean new ways of connecting to the customer through an omnichannel approach, or, for example, to offer a deeper customer service with tailoring at the airport and free home delivery of an altered suit.”

    Gustafsson continued: “Airports will develop more and more towards downtown shopping centres, where customer experience takes precedence rather than the spur-of-the-moment or last-minute approach used today by airport authorities when they develop their retail areas.

    “I also think that we will see the fashion & accessories category continue to outpace the traditional airport categories in growth, leading to a welcome shift in focus from how the main duty free stores should develop separately from the rest of the stores and cafes/restaurants, to how the entire airport shopping area should develop to give the customer a better experience.”

    “A brand like Hugo Boss can make gains as there’s still a mismatch between demand and supply for men’s and women’s fashion at airports today if you compare it to downtown,” concluded Gustafsson.