Retail

Bangladesh is one of the most fragmented retail markets in Asia, relying on neighborhood shops across the country that ShopUp wants to get online. (Photo courtesy of ShopUp)
DealStreetAsia

Bangladesh tech startup ShopUp nets $65m in new funding

Peter Thiel's Valar Ventures leads latest round for mom-and-pop platform

27 June 2022
Stripe is introducing new terminals as digital payments grow in popularity in Southeast Asia with the rise of e-commerce. (Photo courtesy of Stripe) 
Technology

Fintechs fuse ASEAN's in-store, online payments as shoppers return

Stripe to expand with launch of cashless terminals in Singapore

22 June 2022
An ad promoting China's "618" shopping event. Company sources at JD.com say its community group-buying business, Jingxi Pinpin, is unsustainable. (Photo by Shunsuke Tabeta).
Caixin

JD.com retreats again from money-losing group-buying business

Early gains prove transitory; e-commerce giant to end service in 7 provinces

21 June 2022
Pan Pacific International opens its fifth Don Don Donki store in Thailand on June 20, expanding to the suburbs of Bangkok.
Retail

Japan's Don Quijote opens 5th discount store in Thailand

Retailer targets Bangkok suburbs in expansion, looking beyond tourists

20 June 2022
Pola's tax-free shop in the Sydney international airport features its upscale B.A brand.
Consumer

Japan beauty brand Pola looks overseas to tap post-COVID travel boom

Supplier opens tax-free shops in Australia, Vietnam and Malaysia

20 June 2022
An advertisement for China's "618" online shopping festival outside a shopping mall in Beijing. The blitz is the country's second-biggest retail event after the end-of-year Singles' Day.
Retail

China's COVID-hit shoppers focus on value as retail blitz wraps up

'Prudent' spending during '618' festival expected to top last year's event

17 June 2022
Waiting in anticipation of thirsty foreign tourists.
Travel & Leisure

Japan's hotels and retailers eagerly await return of tourist cash

Lack of staff risks hindering companies from tapping estimated $120bn economic boost

11 June 2022
The apparel industry dumps 92 million tons of textiles a year. The European Union hopes new rules will increase recycling, repair and second-hand retail. (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi and AFP/Jiji)
Business Spotlight

From China to India, Asia braces for EU plan to kill fast fashion

Supply chains may have to shift to recyclable, durable clothes -- with uncertain consequences

10 June 2022
Top online sales host Li Jiaqi is known as China's "Lipstick King" for selling 15,000 tubes in five minutes on Alibaba's Taobao livestreaming platform.
Media & Entertainment

Disappearance of China's online sales king is blow to Alibaba

Li Jiaqi is latest superstar livestreamer to go silent amid crackdown on sector

8 June 2022
Founded in 2010, Blibli has been an online shopping pioneer in Indonesia. (Screenshot from Blibli website)
DealStreetAsia

Indonesian startup Blibli aims to raise around $500m in imminent IPO

E-commerce company looks to go public in local market over coming weeks

3 June 2022
Alibaba is building up its home delivery service through logistics platform Cainiao to stem a loss of business to rivals including JD.com and Pinduoduo.
Retail

Alibaba boosts local warehouse network to speed up daily orders

Online shopping group seeks to better match rivals' home-delivery offerings

2 June 2022
Evering's smart payment ring eliminates the need to take out a credit card or smartphone for purchases. (Photo courtesy of Evering)
Startups

One ring to pay them all: Itochu teams with e-payment startup

Japan's Evering nabs capital injection and client access from trading house

31 May 2022
The fallout from the war in Ukraine has caused the price of beansprouts to spike in Japan. (Photo by Nozomu Ogawa)
Food & Beverage

Even Japan's 'star student' bean sprouts feel inflation pinch

Producers caught between higher costs and customers refusing to pay more

29 May 2022
A GS25 store in downtown Ho Chi Minh. (Photo by Tomoya Onishi)
Retail

South Korea convenience stores seek fresh growth in Southeast Asia

Japanese incumbents like FamilyMart face new challenge in Vietnam and Malaysia

28 May 2022
Alibaba quarterly revenue rose but its share price is down by a third so far this year.
China tech

Alibaba skips earnings guidance as chairman warns of 'uncertainties'

Revenue in March quarter beats estimates, but growth still at record low

27 May 2022
Ken Wakasa, right, and Mohan Bhatkar will serve on the board of Mercari's Indian unit. (Photo courtesy of Mercari)
Technology

Mercari's development center in India to seek IT talent

At least 50 workers to be hired in first year, says executive

22 May 2022
Indian startups such as Swiggy, Zomato and Zept are making aggressive moves to deliver groceries in less than 20 minutes. (Source photos by Reuters, Getty Images and Zept webpage)
Startups

India's 'quick commerce' delivery expands beyond groceries

Emerging sector attracts startups looking to challenge Walmart and Tata

18 May 2022
Sea has lost steam in online sales and engagements as more Asian economies emerge from the pandemic.
Technology

Singapore's Sea warns on inflation risk for e-commerce

New York-listed tech group posts $580m loss for Q1 as economies reopen

17 May 2022
Coupang has a nationwide distribution network in South Korea. (Photo courtesy of the company)
Retail

Coupang raises membership fee, Amazon-style, in pivot to profit

SotfBank-backed e-commerce company narrows loss for 1st quarter

13 May 2022
An artist's rendition of Wongamat Beach Village, Central Group's planned mall in the Thai resort area of Pattaya.
Retail

Thailand's Central Group to build beachfront mall in Pattaya

$86m park and shopping attraction targets post-COVID tourism recovery

12 May 2022
Lawson and Ryohin Keikaku have been working together since June 2020, with Muji items available at 110 Lawson stores in the Tokyo region.
Retail

Lawson to offer Muji brand goods at all Japan stores

Convenience store chain hopes popular 'no-brand' brand pulls in customers

27 April 2022
Although many Workman locations are in suburbs, the company plans to double its count of urban shops to 100 over the next decade. (Photo by Yutaro Tahara)
Retail

No e-deliveries: Japan's Workman opts for in-store pickup only

Apparel chain targets fulfillment costs while supporting brick-and-mortar network

27 April 2022
Electric scooters are attracting attention as an environmentally friendly and convenient means of transportation. (Source photos by Manami Yamada and Shihoko Nakaoka)
Transportation

Japan's FamilyMart plans 600 rental sites for electric scooters

Convenience store chain teams up with sharing service Luup with laws eased

21 April 2022
"The challenge we face is whether we can become a global platform in the true sense of the word," said Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani. (Photo by Maria Sangroulla) 
Interview

Rakuten will double e-commerce turnover by 2030: CEO Mikitani

Money-losing wireless business to reach profitability milestone in 2023, tech exec says

20 April 2022
Residents wait for a food delivery behind a gate to a residential area in Shanghai. The city lockdown has taken a severe toll on consumer spending. 
Coronavirus

From Sony to 7-Eleven, Shanghai lockdown hits companies hard

Supply chain ripple effects close Mazda plants in Japan

15 April 2022