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Retailing

Retailing
Latest news and features on retailing with a particular focus on Hong Kong, mainland China and Asia, covering consumer goods and services, retail strategies, shopping habits, sales results and trends.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
Products of Maison 21G is displayed in the store at Hysan Place, Causeway Bay. 01NOV24 SCMP/ Fan Chen
Beauty

What perfumes do Chinese like? New trends as industry surges

With the Chinese perfume market far outpacing the global one, experts reveal note trends in mainland China and Hong Kong, and in Singapore.

E-commerce

Beijing puts e-commerce sector’s ‘refund-only’ policy and PDD under scrutiny

Banking & finance

China’s Urban Revivo takes global fashion push to Bangkok, New York, London

Luxury & Gaming

Over half of mainland Chinese luxury consumers plan to increase spending: report

Report says 56 per cent of mainland Chinese luxury consumers plan to increase their purchases from domestic brands.

Women danced outside a Prada store in Beijing. Photo: Getty Images
TikTok

TikTok Shop opens in Spain, Ireland in e-commerce expansion as US ban looms

The Spain launch is TikTok Shop’s first foray into continental Europe, coming three years after opening in the UK, its first European market.

E-commerce

No Black Friday windfall for Chinese online shops selling overseas

Cut-to-the-bone pricing is eating into the profit margins of Chinese merchants selling online to global shoppers.

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Christmas

Can AI chatbots really make your Christmas shopping easier?

Generative AI technologies that can give people assistance and advice when shopping online are fast becoming a feature of the e-commerce experience.

Technology is shaping the future of shopping with more advanced AI chatbots being employed to help people buy what they are looking for and get the best deals, but it is not perfect yet. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong economy

Can mainland bargain-bin grocery stores push out Hong Kong’s dominant chains?

New entrant HotMaxx is winning customers by offering prices at a fraction of what ParknShop charges, bringing mainland sales tactics to Hong Kong.

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Hong Kong

Editorial | Buying local now may save Hong Kong much pain later

Shenzhen is not attracting all Hong Kong shoppers, who are opting for quality and convenience at a time when outlets are closing.

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Smartphones

Huawei premium smartphone shipments surge, as Apple leads segment in China

Mainland shipments of Huawei’s premium-priced smartphones – handsets that cost more than US$600 – rose 34 per cent in the third quarter.

Apple and Huawei are the two-biggest vendors in China’s high-end smartphone segment. Photo: Shutterstock
K-drama news

How Netflix plans to make a killing selling Squid Game merchandise

Similar to Disney, the streaming giant is merchandising its popular shows, and will open Netflix House retail centres in the US next year.

Netflix, like Disney and other production companies, is making money from merchandise, including these Squid Game Crocs. Photo: Netflix
China trade

China cutting e-commerce red tape to ease export of small packages, support jobs

New policies aim to shore up China’s competitiveness in global manufacturing and e-commerce while alleviating worrisome youth-unemployment pressure.

Hong Kong property

Amid 2025 headwinds, Hong Kong landlords cut rents for Five Guys, global tenants

Analysts say brands with international appeal or unique selling points are driving new demand for retail space in the city.

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Why are Jellycat soft toys so popular? Fans on why they are special

They are squishy, cuddly – and pricey – and come in all different shapes and sizes. What makes a Jellycat plush toy so universally loved?

Jellycat soft toys at a pop-up store in Lane Crawford’s Causeway Bay store in Hong Kong. What makes Jellycat toys so universally loved? Photo: Austin Zhang
China economy

Opinion | What China can do to make the best of an escalating US trade war

Beijing should shift the engine of economic growth from exports to consumption with bolder monetary and fiscal measures.

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Illustration: Crag Stephens
Luxury brands

Swiss luxury watch brand Audemars Piguet makes timely entry in Macau

The watch maker is sprucing up its showroom in Hong Kong and opening more in Shanghai, Beijing and Taipei, CEO Ilaria Resta says.

IPO

C-beauty brand Mao Geping to debut in Hong Kong with US$270 million IPO

Namesake founder rose to prominence as a make-up artist who helped Liu Xiaoqing play an empress who aged from 15 to 80 years in a TV drama.

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International Property

Hongkongers pour fresh capital into Japan’s booming hospitality sector

The favourable view of Japan’s hospitality sector is underpinned by the country’s improving economic prospects.

Skiers take a view of snow-capped Mount Yotei in Niseko, a town in Hokkaido, Japan. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong retail sales fall for 8 straight months, with 2.9% drop in October

Authorities express optimism despite dip in sales, saying levels to rise with return of multiple-entry visas for Shenzhen residents, among other moves.

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E-commerce

Meituan’s quarterly revenue soars 22% on local commerce growth

The Chinese food delivery giant’s revenue for the September quarter reached 93.6 billion yuan.

E-commerce

Temu, Shein branch deeper into selling toys during holiday shopping season

The two popular budget-shopping platforms are looking to win a bigger slice of the global market for toys.

Both Temu and Shein are seeing increased international demand for toys. Photo: Shutterstock
ByteDance

Chinese retailer Miniso slams ByteDance-owned Douyin for exorbitant fees

This marks the second high-profile bashing of Douyin over the past several days, involving some of the wealthiest individuals in China.

The social media and e-commerce operations of ByteDance-owned Douyin have been subject to strong criticism. Photo: Shutterstock
TikTok

Exclusive | TikTok Shop expands to Spain, Ireland amid global e-commerce push

The short-video app and its owner ByteDance is under pressure to search for new revenue sources amid slowing growth.

Hong Kong property

Hong Kong university pays US$334 million for Chen Hongtian’s seized office tower

Hong Kong Metropolitan University makes its second purchase in six months in this year’s biggest commercial deal.

E-commerce

Most Hong Kong SMEs believe in the power of e-commerce, poll finds

The World Bank estimates that global business to consumer e-commerce sales will reach US$6 trillion by 2024.

A woman using a smartphone and a credit card for shopping online. Photo: Shutterstock
Banking & finance

China’s multidecade dairy boom sours as population ages, sales slump

Sales of top dairy firms like China Mengniu and Inner Mongolia Yili fell between 9 and 13 per cent in the first half, S&P said.

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China’s falling birth rate is affecting sales of the dairy industry. Photo: AFP
Apple

Apple’s Cook makes third trip to China in 2024 amid iPhone slump

The CEO lauded the importance of Apple’s Chinese partners at the International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing.

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China economy

Shanghai banks on top international artists to draw tourism spending

A recent month-long arts festival drew 20,000 visitors from abroad, according to organisers, boosting officials’ confidence in the strategy.

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