Retail

Hainan's promotion as a duty-free zone and China's move to raise the amount its citizens are allowed to spend at duty-free shops have helped boost the number of tourists to the resort island.
Business trends

China grabs global top spot in duty-free shopping amid pandemic

State-owned operator benefits from 'Hainan' effect during travel slowdown

17 September 2020
Malaysians wait to enter a Uniqlo store in Petaling Jaya amid the coronavirus outbreak on June 12. 
Retail

Uniqlo boosts investment in e-commerce in Japan and China

Automated warehouses and new 'click and collect' service speed deliveries

15 September 2020
The floating Apple Store offers a scenic view of Marina Bay and Singapore's financial district. (Photo courtesy of Apple)
Retail

World's first 'floating' Apple Store opens in Singapore

Tech group prepares for post-pandemic rebound with third location in Asian hub

10 September 2020
A 7-Eleven outlet in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward. The chain will launch home delivery of items from its convenience stores. (Photo by Yuma Ikeshita) 
Retail

Seven-Eleven Japan to start home delivery from convenience stores

Chain eyes eventual extension to 1,000 stores in challenge to Amazon and others

9 September 2020
Reliance Industries, India's most valuable conglomerate, is focused on expanding its consumer business, such as telecom and retail, as drivers of growth.
Business deals

Ambani's Reliance retail arm to raise $1bn from Silver Lake

Indian conglomerate fills war chest after $20bn Jio fundraising

9 September 2020
It is said that about 5 million tons of fabric are disposed of around the world annually. (Photo courtesy of coxco)
Environment

Japan startup to sell dresses made from leftover fabrics

Kobe-based coxco wants to highlight waste and mass disposal in apparel industry

5 September 2020
Amazon and Flipkart are expecting their sales to peak during the festive season sale which begins in September.
36Kr/KrASIA

Indian e-commerce market estimated to top $100bn by 2024

Smaller cities seen driving growth as people get used to online shopping

2 September 2020
Seiyu has faced inventory shortages at individual superstores from the surge in online orders. (Photo from Seiyu's Twitter account)
Retail

Walmart unit Seiyu streamlines deliveries for online shoppers

Japanese supermarket chain mirrors parent's strategy with automated warehouse

1 September 2020
Rakuten founder and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani, one of Japan's most prominent tech investors, speaks at a past Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Technology

Rakuten books $240m write-down as Mikitani exits Lyft's board

Japanese group weakens its involvement in US ride-hailing app

1 September 2020
CP All operated about 12,000 7-Eleven stores in Thailand as of June, making the company a clear leader in the industry. (Photo by Akira Kodaka) 
Retail

Thailand's CP Group to open first 7-Eleven store in Laos in 2022

Leading conglomerate expands its retail business in neighboring ASEAN countries

31 August 2020
Future Group has long been a leader in India's modern retail industry. In recent years, the group has been battling competition from up-and-coming players including e-commerce companies.
Business deals

Ambani's Reliance buys India's Future Group businesses for $3.4bn

Acquisition sets up showdown with Amazon over country's 1.3bn consumers

30 August 2020
Amazon's Jeff Bezos, left, and Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries have taken their companies into India's growing online pharmacy market. (Nikkei montage/photos by Reuters)
Business trends

Bezos and Ambani battle for India's online pharma crown

Entry of giants Amazon and Reliance rocks brick-and-mortar establishment

27 August 2020
Japanese convenience chains are retreating from aggressive store openings and pursuing efficiency instead.
Business trends

Japan convenience chains retreat from scale in first store cuts

Sales growth lowest in decade as industry seeks new ways to grow

27 August 2020
Lawson looks to roll out digital analysis technology at its 71 convenience stores in Indonesia. (Photo from Lawson Indonesia's Twitter account)
Retail

Lawson tracks customer habits in Indonesia store to hone selection

Cameras analyze shopper traffic at convenience chain in NEC tie-up

25 August 2020
Workers load goods onto a jet owned by SF Express, one of the largest logistics companies in China. In recent years it has stepped up operations of its transshipment platform, SF Buy.
Business trends

Asian shoppers turn to online sellers abroad amid pandemic

E-commerce boom powers transshipment and middleman platforms

23 August 2020
A woman pushes a stroller in front of a Rakuten Cafe store in a Tokyo shopping district. Rakuten's attempt to obtain a bank charter in the U.S. has met with stiff opposition from the industry.
Finance

US banks slam door on Rakuten, fearing Amazon entry

Japanese e-retailer to reapply soon despite industry resistance

22 August 2020
Takashimaya Nihombashi in Tokyo reopened on May 18 after being closed for more than a month due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Makoto Okada)
Business trends

Japan's department stores struggle for direction in age of COVID

'Kings of retail' seek new growth, but experts warn online shift is not enough

21 August 2020
Alibaba Group Holding's headquarters in Hangzhou, China.
21 August 2020
Conveyer belts transport crates filled with packed bags inside the Ocado Customer Fulfilment Centre in Hatfield on the outskirts of London. Aeon will tap the British company's expertise. 
Retail

Aeon to build smart warehouse with aid of UK grocer Ocado

Chiba facility, slated to open in 2023, will utilize AI and robots

19 August 2020
A nearly empty intersection during the afternoon rush hour in Beijing on Mar. 6: with little debate, the government was able to lock down hundreds of millions of people in their homes.
Opinion

How China reversed the new Great Game of strategic competition

Beijing changes global governance in its own image rather than the other way around

18 August 2020
Yusaku Maezawa established Zozo's predecessor company in 1998 and stepped down as president in 2019.
Business deals

Zozo founder Maezawa takes big stake in Japan apparel makers

Entrepreneur bought 8% of United Arrows and 6% of Adastria

13 August 2020
(Photo by Arisa Moriyama)
Markets

Most Asian stocks climb as global rally strengthens

Japan's Nikkei Stock Average at 6-month high and pan-Asia index erases losses for year

13 August 2020
Tencent's headquarters in Shenzhen: The U.S. only accounts for a small fraction of the group's top line, executives say.
Companies

Tencent tries to ease investor fears over US ban as earnings grow

Confident in core China market, tech group 'patient' about its international strategy

13 August 2020
A turnround in valuations at SoftBank is a relief for Masayoshi Son, founder and chairman. (Screenshot from SoftBank website) 
SoftBank

SoftBank posts $11.8bn net profit in first quarter

Sale of T-Mobile stake helps Japanese conglomerate rebound from record loss

11 August 2020
People lined up at newsstands around Hong Kong to buy copies of Apple Daily in the early hours of Aug. 11, some for the first time. 
Media & Entertainment

Hong Kongers buy stock and newspapers to support Apple Daily

Arrest of founder spurs activists to drive Next Digital shares to 12-year high

11 August 2020