Reporting and analysis on retail, e-commerce, and consumer trends in Korea, updated continuously by our newsroom.
Increasing numbers of Chinese tourists are travelling alone – and retailers in Asia seeking to cash in on their growing spawning power need to find ways to embrace the trend. Traditionally, Mainland Chinese tourists have travelled in groups – sold packages…
The United States, South Korea, and the United Kingdom ranked as the three countries in the G20 most ready to contribute to and benefit from the IoT, according to IDC. The research firm said the US scored particularly well on measures such as ease of doing…
WearYouWant, Thailand’s leading online fashion and beauty marketplace, is launching a premium, Korean fashion range in Thailand, designed and made in Korea, to satisfy the ever-growing love of Korean brands in the Kingdom. Developing a close relationship with…
Asia has proven the major driver of All Saints growth in the last year’s reported sales. A stellar set of results was led by international sales growth of 12 per cent to £108.2 million, as it opened 23 new stores internationally in countries including Japan,…
Korea Aerospace Industries, the country’s sole aircraft manufacturer, said Wednesday it had signed an initial agreement with an Indonesian company to sell its products in the global market. In the 2016 Indo Defence Expo and Forum set to run from Wednesday…
And in the simultaneous divestment process for the 20-year McDonald’s China franchise rights, TPG Capital has reportedly withdrawn leaving two rival private equity firms in the race – Bain Capital and Carlyle Group – competing with two Chinese companies…
BMW is recalling 154,472 vehicles registered in the United States and Canada for a fuel pump problem that could cause stalling, according to a filing with U.S. safety regulators and BMW. BMW told regulators that no injuries have been reported. Since 2014, the…
Korean internet company Kakao, known for its chat app KakaoTalk, plans to jump into the food-delivery sector. The Kakao food-delivery service is planned for launch by January, and it is expected to be incorporated into the app, which has four menu buttons.…
Following a bidding process, Shinsegae Group has become the manager for Coex Mall and the adjacent CALT shopping arcade in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul. An official signing has taken place with the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), which owns the…
The Chinese government’s forced reduction of tourists visiting Korea by 20 percent is already dealing a blow to businesses. “Even today, tourism offices in several provincial governments are acknowledging they are lowering the numbers of tourists going to…
Duty-free sales from South Korea’s retailers increased 36.4% year-on-year to W8.9trn ($7.9bn) in the first nine months of 2016, according to local media reports. This is compared with W6.55trn a year ago. Sales growth in particular is driven by the rise in…
The data may be a little dated, but Asian cities are holding their own in the retail rent rankings. New York’s Fifth Avenue still tops the list with an average rent of US$3500 per sqft per year. Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay is cemented in second place at $2399…
Apple Inc’s iPhone 7 went on sale in South Korea yesterday, seeking to fill a void left by archrival Samsung Electronics Co on its home turf following a damaging recall fiasco over the Note 7 smartphone. The South Korean electronics giant discontinued the…
Bubble tea brand Gong Cha Korea is planning international expansion. Aided by the global passion for Hallyu, or the so-called Korean Wave, Gong Cha plans to open stores in the Middle East and Europe. It will also buy more than 1380 stores in 18 countries,…
Chinese visitor numbers to South Korea in August climbed by +70.2% year-on-year to 873,771, according to the Korea Tourism Organization. The figures are distorted by the 2015 MERS health crisis which ravaged inbound tourism in 2015, prompting a -32.3%…
Samsung Electronics said Tuesday it would compensate suppliers hit by the decision to scrap its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones because of safety fears with exploding batteries. The South Korean electronics giant announced a week ago that it was discontinuing the…
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