Retail

Japan's GU is opening a pop-up store in Manhattan in a first step into the U.S. market (Photos by Jack Stone Truitt)
Retail

Uniqlo sister brand GU opens first U.S. store in New York

Japanese retailer looks to expand global footprint after COVID downturn

7 October 2022
Customers can apply for loans through the FamiPay app around the clock, with no need for a co-signer or collateral.
Finance

Japan's FamilyMart branches out into fintech with instant credit

Convenience store chain crunches borrowers' purchase histories to help set interest rates

7 October 2022
The Go! hypermarket, pictured here in Vietnam's Lao Cai province, is one of several chains Central Retail operates in Vietnam. (Photo courtesy of Central Group)
Retail

Thailand's Central Retail leads rush of global retailers to Vietnam

Vietnam's exceptional economic growth draws retailers of all stripes

4 October 2022
A Seven-Eleven store in Japan. The second half will prove a test of whether the retail can keep up its momentum in the face of high inflation. (Photo by Makoto Okada)
Retail

Seven-Eleven, Speedway to drive record profit for Japan's Seven & i

Retail group's convenience stores enjoy post-pandemic rebound

2 October 2022
Lazada Group CEO James Dong says Alibaba's financial support has given the platform an edge over Southeast Asia's other e-commerce players. (Source image by Tsubasa Suruga and Lazada)
Technology

Alibaba funds give Singapore's Lazada confidence on post-COVID growth

E-commerce giant's CEO sees competition easing after pandemic's boom

27 September 2022
A worker arranges staple goods inside a Reliance supermarket in Mumbai, India. The company wants to get its consumer brands on the shelves of retailers around the nation.
Business Spotlight

From soap to soda: India's Reliance ramps up consumer goods push

Adani Wilmar, Unilever, ITC face fresh competition from massive conglomerate

23 September 2022
An Aeon Mall in Chiba, east of Tokyo. The company operates shopping centers in over 20 locations across China as well. (Photo by Kosuke Imamura)
Startups

Japan's Aeon Mall seeks Chinese startups for accelerator program

Retail group offers support with eye on innovations in shopping center management

23 September 2022
HappyFresh has staff layoffs, a financial review and other efforts to streamline operations amid mounting debt. (Screenshot from HappyFresh Facebook page)
DealStreetAsia

HappyFresh resumes Indonesia grocery deliveries after new funding

Embattled startup to halt operations in Thailand and Malaysia

22 September 2022
Amazon's Indian arm and Walmart-owned Flipkart are battling to lure customers with sales starting Sept. 23. (Screenshots from Amazon and Flipkart websites) 
Retail

Festive frenzy: Indians clamor for online bargains ahead of Diwali

Analysts expect brisk business for likes of Amazon, Flipkart despite headwinds

22 September 2022
Li is known as the "Lipstick King" for selling 15,000 lipstick tubes in five minutes on Taobao.
Media & Entertainment

China's livestream king resurfaces after mystery disappearance

Austin Li's low-key return to Alibaba's Taobao tests government reaction

21 September 2022
The My Closet fast-fashion brand debuted at an Aeon Mall in Ho Chi Minh City.
Retail

Japan retailer Aeon tries on fast fashion in Vietnam with $6 T-shirts

New private brand is part of growth strategy in 'most important' overseas market

10 September 2022
A strong supply chain and deft marketing are behind Shein's rapid rise to success. 
Startups

How China's fast-fashion app Shein beat Uniqlo's market value

Network of local suppliers and focus on overseas markets pay off

8 September 2022
Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin attends a groundbreaking for a commercial complex in Ho Chi Minh on Sept. 2. (Photo courtesy of Lotte)
Retail

Lotte makes fresh Vietnam start after China exit and '5 lost years'

$900m shopping center paves way for No. 3 market after South Korea and Japan

7 September 2022
A Hotmaxx store in Guangzhou. The chain has grown to more than 500 locations since it was founded about two years ago. (Photo by Yusuke Hinata)
Retail

China's economic uncertainty fuels boom in soon-to-expire food

Middle-class shoppers hunt for bargains as concern grows over jobs and pay

7 September 2022
Central plans to extend its online channels and loyalty program to Selfridges, introducing the British retailer to customers in Southeast Asia.
Retail

Thailand's Central Group leans on Selfridges amid U.K. recession risk

Retail giant to invest in London flagship store, hotel development

6 September 2022
Amazon.com is considering entering the prescription drug sales business in Japan, a move that could shake up the business.
Health Care

Amazon eyes Japan's online prescription drug market

E-commerce giant considers creating platform with local pharmacies

5 September 2022
Shoppers inspect Walton refrigerators at a showroom in Dhaka. (Photo by Sumanta Chakraborty)
Companies

Bangladeshi Walton Group CEO eyes top 5 consumer brands club

Appliances-to-electronics conglomerate ramps up global expansion push

5 September 2022
Pinduoduo's shopping platform Temu went live for U.S. users on Sept. 1. (Screenshot from Temu website)
China tech

China's Pinduoduo launches U.S. e-commerce site in first foreign push

Tencent-backed platform is up against Amazon and Shein for slice of massive market

2 September 2022
Workers in a Lazada warehouse in Indonesia pack items for delivery.
DealStreetAsia

Alibaba invests another $912m in Singapore-based Lazada

E-commerce company Lazada faces stiff competition from local startups

1 September 2022
Customers line up at a cash register in this J.C. Penney store in Illinois. Toshiba Tec will develop a point-of-sale platform for U.S. retailers.
Technology

Toshiba Tec to develop POS platform for U.S. retailers at new Texas hub

Japan's industry leader targets American foothold to enhance services abroad

26 August 2022
Vietnam's Masan weighs a sundry mix of businesses: a smartphone app, a tungsten mine and an Amazon-style blend of e-commerce with stores it took over from Vingroup. (Photo by Lien Hoang) 
Retail

Can Alibaba-backed Masan be Vietnam's 'everything' company?

Retail giant juggles boring but profitable businesses with AI and IPO ambitions

24 August 2022
Cafe Amazon is one brand under PTT Oil and Retail Business, an arm of state energy group PTT. (Photo by Keiichiro Asahara)
Business deals

Thailand's Dusit hotel group teams on food with PTT gas stations, cafes

Subsidiary agrees to sell 25% stake to state oil major's retail arm

24 August 2022
The Long Chau chain of drugstores has roughly 700 locations in Vietnam. (Photo by Tomoya Onishi)
Business trends

Vietnam sees chain drugstores boom during COVID pandemic

New health-conscious consumers look for quality, deals outside mom-and-pop shops

24 August 2022
Employees load parcels into an autonomous delivery vehicle at JD.com's smart logistics center in Beijing.
Retail

JD.com delivers surprise as it beats earnings expectations

Rivals Alibaba posts flat growth while Tencent records revenue drop

24 August 2022
Jaipur Rugs' more than 20,000 designs range from traditional Indian patterns to modern abstractions. (Photo by Moyuru Baba)
Business trends

Indian handcrafted carpet-maker opens first store in Milan

Family-run Jaipur Rugs weaves reputation for high quality, design in 70 markets

21 August 2022