Retail

Official tourism and shopping events are kicking off nationwide on Saturday and the days following in China, in partnership with industry players, to spur private consumption.
Retail

China looks to domestic shoppers for Golden Week boost

Xi's 'dual circulation' model calls for greater emphasis on local consumption

1 May 2021
Alibaba was slapped with a record $2.8 billion antitrust fine by Chinese regulators in April.
Retail

Alibaba 'rectification' marks slowdown of China's internet economy

Big Tech takes nudge to focus on business services for growth

29 April 2021
Reservations for flights and Shinkansen trains during Japan's Golden Week remain far below pre-COVID levels. (Source photos by Toshiki Sasazu and Kosaku Mimura)
Transportation

No fun to be had over Golden Week as COVID rages through Japan

State of emergency hammers travel and retail sectors over key holidays

29 April 2021
361 Degrees said that the China Cotton Industry Alliance will give the  company dedicated access to “the best cotton fields” in the country. 
Consumer

China cotton group promotes Xinjiang crop with 361 Degrees

Sportswear maker shows new shirts to mark co-branding and supply partnership

26 April 2021
China Tourism Group Duty Free is building what it describes as the world's largest duty-free store in Haikou, Hainan Province. 
Retail

China's duty-free champion looks to go abroad via HKEX

Bolstered by Hainan shopping boom, state-owned CTGDF seeks offshore M&A

23 April 2021
Companies such as Reliance, Udaan and Amazon are racing to bring millions of India's mom-and-pop stores, known as kiranas, into their supply chains.
Business Spotlight

Mom-and-pop stores at center of India's $850bn retail evolution

Reliance, Amazon and others race to attract kiranas to expand supply chains

23 April 2021
Companies in Osaka and its surrounding areas are facing a quiet Golden Week due to surging coronavirus cases, after the governor said he would ask for another state of emergency to be declared in the prefecture. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)
Markets

Retail and transport stocks down as Osaka faces 3rd COVID crisis

Hopes for Golden Week sales boost dim as investors grow nervous

19 April 2021
A Rakuten virtual reality demonstration: The Japan's e-commerce group is the country's newest 5G network player. (Photo by Shihoko Nakaoka)
US-China tensions

Ahead of Suga-Biden summit, Japan briefs US on Tencent-Rakuten ties

Talks seek to reassure Washington over China link to telecom network

15 April 2021
A Muji store in Beijing: The Japanese retailer has sought to sidestep a consumer backlash in China against several Western retailers that have voiced concern about human rights in Xinjiang.
Retail

Japan retailer Muji downplays concerns over Xinjiang cotton

Company stresses 'third-party' audits to address forced labor allegations

14 April 2021
Grab's delivery to be the biggest segment over next 3 years. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Startups

Grab CEO takes 60% of voting rights: 5 take-aways from IPO plan

Accumulated losses reach $10bn; Singapore company raises Myanmar risk

14 April 2021
(Source photos by AP, Getty Images and screenshot from Wilson's website) 
Retail

Xinjiang cotton issue divides China's biggest sportswear group

Anta Sports at odds with international unit as consumers wield growing power

14 April 2021
Aeon is having a tough time in the supermarket business due to its inability to capture in-house demand.
Retail

Japan retailers focus on health products and delivery amid COVID

Pandemic-hit Aeon and Lawson set sights on other Asian markets

9 April 2021
Uniqlo's flagship store in Shanghai: Greater China, including Taiwan and Hong Kong, accounts for more than 20% of parent Fast Retailing's revenue. (Photo courtesy of Fast Retailing)
Business trends

On Xinjiang, Japan's brands hold their breath ahead of Biden-Suga

Uniqlo's Yanai says 'no comment,' but will halt business with human rights violators

9 April 2021
Uniqlo operator Fast Retailing reported a rise in half-year profit.
Retail

Uniqlo aims to double rate of Asia store openings

Owner Fast Retailing raises annual profit forecast

8 April 2021
Sinbad, which is tight-lipped about its product and services, operates in a space that has become increasingly crowded in Indonesia. (Photo by Yuki Kohara) 
DealStreetAsia

Indonesia B2B commerce startup set to scoop double-digit funding

Sinbad provides platform for retailers to order from manufacturers and distributors

8 April 2021
VinCommerce operates the VinMart supermarket chain across Vietnam.
Business deals

SK Group takes 16% stake in Vietnam's top retailer

South Korean conglomerate seeks VinCommerce's distribution channels

7 April 2021
Daiei is opening its first unmanned store in Tokyo's Koto area. The bottom half of the photo shows a Cloudpick store in Shanghai. (Source photo by Tomoki Mera) 
Retail

Japan's Daiei to open unmanned supermarket with Chinese startup

Aeon group retailer cuts cost with fewer sensors developed by Cloudpick

6 April 2021
Some Chinese internet users have called for a boycott of H&M while landlords have forced a number of outlets to shut. 
Retail

Chinese netizens reject H&M olive branch in Xinjiang cotton feud

Swedish retailer commits to 'regaining the trust and confidence' of shoppers

31 March 2021
A security guard stands outside an H&M store in Beijing. Chinese consumers have launched a boycott against H&M and other foreign retailers that have ceased using Xinjiang cotton.
Retail

H&M shops in China forced to close amid Xinjiang backlash

Government official lashes out at foreign brands for politicizing commerce

29 March 2021
Workers process online orders at a distribution center inside a Lotte Mart in Seoul.  (Photo by Kotaro Hosokawa)
Retail

Battle for eBay unit looks to reshape South Korean e-commerce

SK Telecom and Lotte among bidders seeking to catch up with market leaders

28 March 2021
Don Don Donki has opened two locations in Thailand, including this Bangkok location. (Photo by Marimi Kishimoto)
Business deals

Super app Grab helps Japanese retailer Don Quijote expand in ASEAN

Donki discount stores to be featured on GrabMart and GrabPay

27 March 2021
Many Chinese internet users have been advocating boycotts of foreign brands. H&M products can no longer be searched on China's major online shopping platforms.
Caixin

China wants foreign brands to stop 'politicizing commercial issues'

Commerce ministry claims some rely on 'false information' for decision-making

26 March 2021
The "new products" section of Muji's China website, as seen on March 25, featured the "Xinjiang Cotton" shirt collection. China is an important market for the Japanese retailer. (Photo by Yuki Kohara) 
Retail

Muji features Xinjiang cotton as Chinese netizens lash its rivals

Japanese clothing retailer's move comes amid calls to boycott foreign brands

26 March 2021
The H&M clothing store is seen in Times Square in Manhattan, New York.
Retail

H&M under heat in China for past statement on Xinjiang labor

Retailer's online store inaccessible on Alibaba's Tmall

25 March 2021
AliExpress has about 100 French hosts who mostly promote imported Chinese products but also pitch local brands such as Auchan's Qilive. (Courtesy AliExpress)
Retail

Alibaba makes growing impression in Europe with livestreaming

Chinese group gains ground on Amazon in Spain and France

22 March 2021