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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.
A Guess outlet in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China. After two decades, the fashion outlet says it is calling it quits in mainland China. Photo: Getty Images
Mainland China

Guess says it will shut all mainland China stores amid retail rethink

US fashion brand tells customers it will close all mainland China stores by end of March as analysts cite weak localisation, strategy gaps.

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China GDP

China’s economy starts 2026 strongly as retail sales, investment rise

China property

China mall shuffle: as EVs exit, who’s filling the ground-floor showrooms?

Chow Tai Fook

Bling it on: Chow Tai Fook’s US$115,000 gold AirPods case sparks online buzz

Gold gadgets and hair clips ignite discussion online as the jeweller looks to the ultra-rich to set the gold standard for luxury spending.

Chow Tai Fook’s diamond-studded gold AirPods case is priced at 788,800 yuan. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong property

Hong Kong developers Swire, Wharf report profit growth amid valuation pressure

Swire’s underlying profit rose on asset disposals, while falling property valuations weighed on results at both Swire and Wharf.

Beauty

Romi Beauty’s founders on creating multitasking products for Asian skin

Arissa Cheo, Yoyo Cao and Lin Ting sat down with Style as the Singaporean make-up and skincare brand lands at Sephora in Hong Kong.

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Hong Kong property

Middle East tensions add uncertainty to Hong Kong retail rents, Wharf REIC says

The landlord of Harbour City and Times Square says retail recovery remains fragile, with higher mall traffic failing to boost spending.

Harbour City generated HK$9.22 billion in revenue in 2025, up 1 per cent from a year earlier. Photo: Jelly Tse
China deflation

China’s inflation rises after holiday spending spree. Is 2% target reachable?

The consumer price index rose 0.8 per cent in the first two months of 2026, though analysts remain concerned about long-term deflation risks.

China property

China’s shoppers head for suburban outlets, a bright spot in retail property

Outlet spending nearly doubles to around US$36 billion over five years, prompting investment surge while urban malls suffer high vacancies.

Fashion

Jeff Staple, designer of the Nike Pigeon, talks hype, sneakers and streetwear

The streetwear icon just opened a Hong Kong store and launched a new line with Kenji Wong – and once pursued his first-ever collaboration with Brooks for 8 years.

Jeff Staple launched his streetwear brand in New York and today has stores in China too, including his latest in Hong Kong. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong’s retail sales rise 5.5% in January as tourists loosen purse strings

Census and Statistics Department says retail sales for January worth HK$37.3 billion, marking ninth straight month of growth since May 2025.

A shopping centre in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong property

McDonald’s sells Hong Kong shop outside disposal plan for US$11.9 million

Latest sale of Hong Kong restaurant site by the Chicago-based food chain reflects a retail valuation reset as rents stay subdued.

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Smartphones

Will Apple’s low-cost iPhone 17e make a splash in China’s smartphone market?

Presales for the new entry-level iPhone start on Wednesday, with a wide release set for March 11.

Australia

The View | 5 reasons Australia’s physical retail is uniquely resilient

Several factors contribute to the outperformance of the Australian retail sector, including its relative insulation from digital disruption.

People shop at Pitt Street Mall in Sydney on September 29, 2025. Photo: Reuters
Mainland China

Warm winter no match: China’s sportswear sector posts surprise growth

Policy support, Chinese New Year demand and Winter Olympics exposure lift China’s sportswear makers, with Li Ning and Anta leading gains.

Anta has provided professional gear for 13 Chinese national teams during February’s Winter Olympics, including for freestyle skier Eileen Gu. Photo: AP
Pop Mart

Pop Mart’s Merodi Hong Kong debut highlights challenges of sustaining IP success

Toymaker’s latest character launch draws tepid demand, raising questions about the company’s reliance on Labubu’s success.

Hong Kong property

SHKP, Hong Kong’s bellwether developer, posts 36% jump in first-half net profit

The company plans to launch many new residential projects over the next 10 months, including the second phase of Cullinan Harbour in Kai Tak.

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Style Edit

Style Edit: Delvaux CEO Jean-Marc Loubier on the new K11 Musea flagship

The former LVMH executive has always been invested in Asia – and the new Hong Kong store is a testament to this.

CEO Jean-Marc Loubier has spearheaded Delvaux’s commitment to and growth in Asia, and particularly Hong Kong. The new flagship store at K11 Musea is testament to that commitment. Photo: Handout
China consumption

China’s weak consumption gets Lunar New Year boost

An 8.6 per cent increase in Lunar New Year spending is a rare bright spot in Chinese efforts to bolster domestic demand.

Artificial intelligence

Demand for AI eyewear surges during China’s Spring Festival

AI glasses form part of the government’s national subsidy programme, which includes smartphones, tablets and smartwatches.

Icons and Influencers

How Amanda Cheung is mixing charity, cocktails and Hong Kong heritage

The community-minded creative on championing Hong Kong culture through F&B and family legacy – particularly her charity work with the First Initiative Foundation (FIF).

First Initiative Foundation (FIF) managing director Amanda Cheung wearing local brand YanYan Knits. Photo: Alex Maeland
China property

Empty shops, falling rents: commercial property suffers in China retail slump

China’s key shopping street rents have fallen to 2018 levels as cautious consumers cut spending and landlords lower prices to fill vacancies.

Retail therapy: Chinese consumers have been spending more cautiously and saving more amid uncertain job prospects. Photo: Xinhua
China travel

Chinese shoppers are Asia’s biggest airport spenders, study finds

China’s travellers outspend even their Indian and Saudi peers, splashing twice the regional average on luxury goods, airport retail study says.

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Gold in Hong Kong

Investment gold retailers move into vacant Hong Kong high-street shops

‘We see overwhelming demand for investment gold coins and bars,’ retailer San Gold Coins’ Sophia Chen says.

Britain

Co-founder of British retailer Asos dies after falling from balcony in Thailand

Quentin Griffiths’ friend told police the Briton had been worried about lawsuits from his former wife, a Thai national.

Asos co-founder Quentin Griffiths’ body is found at the bottom of this residential building in Pattaya on February 9. Photo: Reuters
China consumption

China targets foreign tourists for Lunar New Year ‘consumption feast’

Beijing sees huge untapped potential in spending by inbound travellers as it strives to drive up demand over the crucial nine-day holiday.

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Tourists from Russia take selfies on the Bund in Shanghai. China is keen to drive up spending by inbound travellers over the Lunar New Year. Photo: Xinhua
China economy

Budweiser and Heineken face polar opposite fates in China as punters stay home

Beer drinkers in China are veering away from bars and high-end restaurants, instead opting for cheaper stay-at-home options, analysts say.

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China property

Sofa so bad: China’s home-furnishing sector hits a do-or-die stretch

Falling home prices and relentless price competition are forcing small decor firms into a battle for survival.

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