The broad sweep of Asian retail: chains, consumers, policy and the deals that move the market.
Indonesia’s retail sales grew by a surprisingly high 10.4 per cent in January, fueled by sales of IT and communication equipment, food and beverages. Bank of Indonesia data released Tuesday showed the growth considerably higher than December’s 3.3 per cent,…
Snapdeal.com, India’s online marketplace has entered into a partnership with IndiVillage – a social enterprise that works on creating economic opportunities for women and youth in rural India. Under the partnership, sellers on Snapdeal can cost effectively…
Reported retail sales in South Korea’s largest department stores rebounded in February from the dismal January figures. Analysts say the turnaround is related to the later timing of Lunar New Year in 2105 – the same reason given last week for a 14 per cent…
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd appointed Jeff Zhang to oversee its main services on Monday, bringing Taobao, Tmall and Juhuasuan into a newly created “China Retail Marketplaces” division. The appointment marks one of the highest-profile personnel shuffles since…
UK department store John Lewis has chosen Singapore as the first of 15 new international markets it will expand into during the next few years. Founded in 1864, John Lewis has never opened its own stores beyond England, Scotland and Wales. But in 2012 it…
Google has unveiled its first ever shop in shop concept at Currys PC World, in the technology hub of London’s Tottenham Court Rd. This is the first Google Shop experience anywhere in the world. There will be two more later on in the year in Currys PC World’s…
Japanese retail giant Seven & I Holdings is to partner with an Osaka supermarket chain in product development and supply chain initiatives. Its new partner, Mandai Co, has about 150 stores in Osaka and four other prefectures in Kansai and achieved ¥279.3…
Online marketplaces management solution provider Neteven has partnered with China’s Tmall Global to help European brands sell to Chinese consumers online. The partnership with Alibaba Group’s Tmall Global marketplace will allow European brands to launch their…
China’s retail sector is continuing to expand faster than in any other major market in the world – but the growth rate continues to slow. The National Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday that China retail sales grew 10.7 per cent year on year to 4.8…
Philippine Seven Corp, which operates the 7-Eleven Philippines network, has reported a 27.9 per cent jump in income for 2014. Its income rose from P682.6 million in 2013 to P873.3 million (US$19.7 million) last year, according to a statement filed with the…
Listed Hong Kong shoe and handbag retailer Le Saunda says same store sales rose in the last quarter. In the final three months of Le Saunda’s financial year, which ended on February 28, the group achieved a 3.9 per cent same store sales growth in its…
Gap, H&M and Levi’s are the three fashion brands that have been named on the Ethisphere Institute’s ninth annual list of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. The New York-based research firm listed 132 groups and companies that it believes foster a culture of…
Store closures lie ahead as the parent of Robinsons Singapore and the local M&S franchise refocuses on its key flagships. Dubai-based Al-Futtaim Group will close several stores in the city state and revamp others. The Marks & Spencer store at Centrepoint will…
Online shopping in Vietnam was continuing to increase and was well-positioned to hold the key to success for e-commerce in Vietnam, according to the MasterCard Survey on Online Shopping 2014. The MasterCard Survey is commissioned annually and was conducted…
Samsung Electronics will freeze wages in 2015 for employees in South Korea for the first time in six years, after the world’s biggest smartphone maker saw profits fall in the face of rising competition. The cost-cutting move is the latest by Samsung…
Lego A/S, the world’s second-largest toy maker, said on Wednesday that annual revenue rose by 13 percent, boosted by its blockbuster movie and toys from its Star Wars and Friends ranges. Chief executive Joergen Vig Knudstorp danced on stage and sang the theme…
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Read by retail operators, investors and brand teams across Asia.