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Articles by J S Shin
The Macallan opens flagship concept store in Hong Kong
Scottish whisky brand The Macallan has opened a premium flagship concept store – The Macallan House – in Hong Kong’s Central district. Located on Stanley Street, The Macallan House Hong Kong covers 6000sqft across three floors. The store includes an exclusive retail space, a dining and exhibition area, a private engagement and entertainment lounge, a high-end bar, and a showroom.
Parisian lifestyle brand Paul & Joe to exit Hong Kong after 22 years
French-inspired lifestyle brand Paul & Joe is exiting the Hong Kong market later this month after 22 years of business in the region. The decision to leave comes as its distribution agreement in China and Hong Kong with Paul & Joe Beaute is going to be terminated. Paul & Joe currently runs two retail shops in Hong Kong, with the store in Langham Place Mong Kok closing on June 23 and the other in Sogo Causeway Bay on June 30.
MBK Partners to sell Homeplus’s supermarket chain unit
Private equity firm MBK Partners is set to sell the supermarket business unit of Homeplus Co., a discount store chain in South Korea, according to financial sources on Monday. MBK Partners, which owns 100 per cent of Homeplus, has put Homeplus Express up for sale, appointing Morgan Stanley to manage the transaction. Morgan Stanley is expected to reach out to some 10 major domestic and international retail companies and e-commerce platforms, the sources added.
Michael Kors names Qin Shen as president of Asia Pacific
Michael Kors has named Qin Shen as its new president in Asia Pacific, responsible for strengthening the brand’s growing strategy in the region. Shen, who has more than 20 years of experience in multinational retail, luxury and hospitality, used to hold leadership roles in big companies including EO, VF Corp, Club Med and LVMH. “The Apac region has seen great success, offering significant growth opportunities. I look forward to bringing energy and innovation to the region,” said Shen.
Lovisa names new CEO - poached from Smiggle
Jewellery chain Lovisa has appointed John Cheston as its new CEO and MD, effective June 4 next year. The retailer, owned by Australian billionaire Brett Blundy, has also announced its current CEO Victor Herrero has agreed to an amended employment contract through to the end of next May. “John is a highly successful Global retailer and will join Lovisa at a very exciting time as we continue our global growth,” Blundy said in a statement.
Inditex to launch Massimo Dutti flagship on JD
Chinese e-commerce giant JD has partnered with global fashion retailer Inditex to launch a flagship store for fashion brand Massimo Dutti. The digital store will bring an exclusive 1000-product collection, including men’s and women’s wear, accessories, and specially curated items. Xiangying Kong, VP of JD.com and head of JD Fashion, said the collaboration aims to establish the company as a platform for international brands and meet the growing demand for high-end goods in China.
Leveraging mobile data can make retailers smarter, faster and more efficient
Sophisticated personalisation and seamless shopping processes available online are raising consumer expectations at physical retail stores – but new research shows that in-store technologies currently fail to measure up. Left underwhelmed, consumers are questioning the security and accuracy of in-store technology – but retailers have an opportunity to address that issue, according to a retail technology expert, Michael Dyson, VP of sales, Apac at Soti.
Jo Malone opens its first flagship store in Japan
London-based scent retailer Jo Malone has launched its first global flagship standard store in Japan. Located in Harajuku, the store features a modern style with a white-dominating colour scheme. A glass frontage allows passersby to see the interior’s unique lanterns and a large Jo Malone box model. Customers can access the full range of Jo Malone products, including fragrances, candles, and bodycare items.
Yum China’s Little Sheep and Huang Ji Huang mark birthdays with new formats
Chinese business Yum China is expanding the retail portfolio of its brands Little Sheep and Huang Ji Huang with new outlets and store formats. Nine Little Sheep stores have been added around China, and the brand returned to the US market in March with a location in the American Dream Meadowlands shopping complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The brand has created a new store format with one-person hotpot modules for smaller group sizes.
Hong Kong’s retail sales revival ran out of steam in January
January Hong Kong retail sales rose by a meagre 0.9 per cent according to data released by the Census and Statistics Department on Friday. That followed a revised estimate of a 7.8 per cent increase for December. A government spokesman attributed the “moderated pace” of January’s growth in part to a change in the timing of the Lunar New Year.
Alibaba's South Asian e-commerce platform Daraz announces layoffs
Alibaba-owned e-commerce platform Daraz Group has announced layoffs across the group to “adopt a more streamlined and agile structure”, acting Chief Executive Officer James Dong said on Tuesday in an internal memo to employees reviewed by Reuters. The memo did not mention the number of people affected by the layoff. Daraz declined to comment on the percentage or absolute number of employees impacted across its operations in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
MarketingPulse promises marketers crucial insights into the AI revolution
With Hong Kong on the cusp of an Artificial Intelligence boom, it is fitting that the burgeoning technology is a leading topic at Asia’s top marketing and e-tailing conferences, MarketingPulse and eTailingPulse. The coinciding events will be held at the HKCEC on March 13 offering Asia’s marketers, agencies and e-commerce experts a knowledge exchange and partnership-building platform to capture the business opportunities in the region.
Fair Trade Commission rebukes luxury brands for unfair terms of service
South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has determined that clauses in the terms of service of certain brands that prohibit individuals from reselling purchased products amount to a violation of consumer rights. On November 29, the FTC announced that it had scrutinized the terms of service of three renowned brands, namely Nike, Chanel, and Hermes, identifying and rectifying ten types of unfair clauses.
For women, by women: Marketplace Artisan Nook launches with purpose
An e-commerce platform called Artisan Nook has launched in Singapore, selling products of women-led businesses as it aims to help women achieve financial independence and work-life balance. The platform also intends to donate 30 per cent of its profits to charities such as the Singapore Cancer Society. “Artisan Nook is about giving women an opportunity to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, create their own legacies and at the same time, leave a positive impact that lasts for future generations.
Retail industry expands paid membership benefits to attract loyal customers
South Korea’s retail industry is expanding benefits for paid membership customers in order to increase the number of loyal customers and secure profitability. Shinsegae Group on Thursday unveiled the Shinsegae Universe integrated membership service, which includes six online and offline affiliates such as E-Mart and Starbucks.
Convenience stores use online platforms to boost offline sales
South Korean convenience store industry’s strategy to maximize offline sales by utilizing online platforms is gaining momentum. Convenience store chain CU placed a hangover relief jelly at its physical stores after the product gained popularity among young people when it was released on its mobile application Pocket CU in January. The decision paid off, with the product experiencing a 20 per cent growth in monthly sales and becoming CU’s representative differentiating item.
Korean retailers take online payment solutions in store
After establishing a presence in the online payment market to foster loyal customers for their platforms, South Korea’s major retailers are now attempting to make their payment solutions available through offline channels. Gmarket’s Smile Pay is now available at Shinsegae Group’s offline stores after the company was acquired by discount retailer E-Mart in 2021.
Secondhand market emerges as battlefield for South Korean retailers
South Korea’s retail giants are invigorating efforts to dominate the second-hand transaction market, and this focus is expected to accelerate further with Naver Corp poised to make an entry. The internet portal giant is reviewing the idea that its recently acquired Poshmark Inc., a US social commerce platform specializing in secondhand apparel trade, could step into the South Korean market, according to industry sources.
Popularity of virtual-fitting services surges in Korea
One in four South Korean consumers has used either an augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) based fitting service that enables them to try on fashion items virtually. The figure comes from a survey of 831 consumers who had purchased fashion items online, conducted by the Korea Federation of Textile Industries. Among the respondents, 25.3 per cent said they had used a virtual-fitting service at least once.
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