https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/326503/feed 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. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Frank Chen Frank Chen Robin Xing is chief China economist at Morgan Stanley. A famed economist and Peking University graduate, Xing has a PhD in economics from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and previously worked at Goldman Sachs and China International Capital Corp. In his second Open Questions interview, Xing dissects China’s K-shaped economic divergence and why he remains convinced that the “top half of the K” can offset challenges such as deflation and weak consumption. He also discusses Beijing’s real... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371109/robin-xing-how-chinas-two-speed-economy-can-solve-contrasting-problems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3371109/robin-xing-how-chinas-two-speed-economy-can-solve-contrasting-problems?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Oct 2026 22:00:12 +0000 Christina Zhao Christina Zhao When shoppers step into Rokid’s brand new flagship store in Hong Kong, they are greeted not by eager sales associates, but by glowing monitor screens and a robotic system waiting at the exit. In what the Chinese augmented reality (AR) gadget pioneer called an experiment in “no man’s land” retail, customers navigate the entire journey independently: testing artificial intelligence smart glasses, making payments on a screen and receiving their new devices directly from an automated system on their... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3371300/rokid-launches-no-mans-land-retail-experience-hong-kong-flagship-store-opening?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3371300/rokid-launches-no-mans-land-retail-experience-hong-kong-flagship-store-opening?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Oct 2026 09:36:17 +0000 Joseph Sipalan,Iman Muttaqin Yusof Joseph Sipalan,Iman Muttaqin Yusof In hindsight, it was only a matter of time before Esha Yusof joined the growing ranks of Malaysian shoppers being drawn to Chinese e-commerce giant Pinduoduo. Esha is a relative newcomer. She signed up in July, more than half a year after the platform launched in Malaysia – and has been smitten with it ever since. Rock-bottom prices, a vast range of products and seamless payments through a popular local e-wallet make it easy for the 32-year-old to spend an average of 500 ringgit (US$122) a month... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371173/malaysias-shoppers-love-chinese-e-commerce-its-factories-pay-price?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3371173/malaysias-shoppers-love-chinese-e-commerce-its-factories-pay-price?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu French luxury giant LVMH Group kicked off a global open-house event showcasing its craftsmanship in Shanghai on Thursday, as the event’s founder Antoine Arnault hailed a “special bond” with Chinese customers at a launch event in Paris. It came as the group faced pressure from sluggish demand in China and a backlash over a lawsuit against a local tea company. At the launch event at the Samaritaine department store in central Paris for this year’s Les Journées Particulières, first initiated by... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3371145/lvmh-touts-special-bond-china-subdued-backdrop-weighs-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3371145/lvmh-touts-special-bond-china-subdued-backdrop-weighs-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:23:33 +0000 Chris Tsang Chris Tsang Amid Hong Kong’s commercial property downturn, British conglomerate Jardine Matheson has sold a street shop in Causeway Bay for HK$80 million (US$10.2 million) after holding it for more than 50 years, accepting a price HK$10 million below its earlier valuation. The property, a ground-floor shop in H&S Building at 36 Leighton Road, with a gross floor area of about 11,727 square feet, was acquired by Uni Investment Development, according to Land Registry records. Jardine Matheson appointed an... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3370889/how-jardine-mathesons-street-shop-sale-reflects-hong-kong-retail-propertys-struggles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3370889/how-jardine-mathesons-street-shop-sale-reflects-hong-kong-retail-propertys-struggles?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2026 23:00:06 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian LVMH, the world’s largest luxury goods group, has attributed an Asia sales drop in the third quarter – the only regional decline the company reported – to, in part, a slowdown in Chinese demand. The Louis Vuitton, Dior, Bulgari and Fendi parent group said Asia took a hit from a sharp macro-led deterioration in Chinese consumer sentiment, with tangible impact on discretionary expenses, the group said during an earnings call session on Monday. The fall in demand coincided with a string of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3370795/sluggish-chinese-demand-weighs-lvmh-louis-vuittons-molly-tea-case-casts-shadow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3370795/sluggish-chinese-demand-weighs-lvmh-louis-vuittons-molly-tea-case-casts-shadow?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Oct 2026 04:00:13 +0000 Zabrina Lo Zabrina Lo British fashion designer Kim Jones, who spent more than two decades working at some of the world’s most prestigious luxury houses, including Dior, Fendi and Louis Vuitton, has announced the launch of his new eponymous label, selecting Hong Kong for its flagship destination. He is joined in the venture by his long-time deputy, design director Lucy Beeden. Jones describes his label, which focuses on menswear and tailoring with genderless, versatile designs, as “unrestricted by traditional... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3370702/british-fashion-designer-kim-jones-announces-new-eponymous-label-hong-kong-flagship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3370702/british-fashion-designer-kim-jones-announces-new-eponymous-label-hong-kong-flagship?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Oct 2026 07:40:05 +0000 Chris Tsang Chris Tsang King Fook Jewellery Group’s decision to lease a 550 square metre (about 5,920 square feet) retail space at Pacific Place Phase II in Admiralty signals confidence in Hong Kong’s retail market, despite slowing demand for luxury goods, analysts said. The six-year lease for the shop in Hong Kong’s prime business district carries total base rent of about HK$268.5 million (US$34.2 million), or about HK$3.73 million a month, according to a company announcement filed with Hong Kong Exchanges and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370654/king-fook-expands-us34-million-admiralty-lease-despite-slow-luxury-sales-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370654/king-fook-expands-us34-million-admiralty-lease-despite-slow-luxury-sales-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Oct 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren German sportswear giant Adidas is bent on new fashionable outdoor and street dance apparel to sustain its growth in China amid heightened competition against domestic and international rivals, according to its CEO Bjorn Gulden. “We see that there’s a running boom and an outdoor boom [in China],” he told reporters in a media briefing in Shanghai on Sunday. “We see new sports like street dance [becoming] new activities that look to be relevant for the young people in the universities.” He said... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370520/adidas-ceo-taps-outdoor-sport-street-dance-new-drivers-china-competition-heightens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370520/adidas-ceo-taps-outdoor-sport-street-dance-new-drivers-china-competition-heightens?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Oct 2026 06:00:07 +0000 Chow Chung-yan Chow Chung-yan Beijing is building a gold-backed monetary architecture to accelerate yuan internationalisation. In this three-part series, Part 1 traces China’s path as a gold superpower, while Part 2 explores the crucial role of Hong Kong’s offshore vaulting infrastructure. Hong Kong’s ambition to become an international gold trading centre rests not only on serving the nation’s financial needs, but also on China’s booming consumer market for gold. As the world’s largest gold producer and importer, China... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3370195/game-changer-hong-kongs-gold-ambition-shenzhens-jewellery-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3370195/game-changer-hong-kongs-gold-ambition-shenzhens-jewellery-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Oct 2026 01:00:15 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Beijing-based jeweller Laopu Gold has leased an entire mid-floor at One Exchange Square in Central to support its global expansion, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The brand was taking around 13,000 square feet at the flagship Central tower, which houses Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), one source said. The deal comes as mainland consumer firms and financial institutions increasingly anchor their presence in Hong Kong’s core business district. Recent transactions on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3370495/laopu-gold-deepens-hong-kong-footprint-entire-floor-lease-central-tower-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3370495/laopu-gold-deepens-hong-kong-footprint-entire-floor-lease-central-tower-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Oct 2026 23:00:11 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong-headquartered DFI Retail Group, which owns and operates the city’s largest supermarket network, says it will continue to invest in new stores even though consumers remain cautious. Darren Chan, the group’s managing director for food in Hong Kong and Macau, said DFI – whose supermarket chains include Wellcome and Market Place in Hong Kong – was also “looking for opportunities to strengthen” its network where there was “clear customer demand and attractive long-term returns”. “We invest... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3370322/dfi-retail-group-says-it-will-continue-invest-hong-kong-supermarkets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3370322/dfi-retail-group-says-it-will-continue-invest-hong-kong-supermarkets?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Oct 2026 09:00:10 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Fast Retailing, the parent company of Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo, has defied the ongoing political tensions between Beijing and Tokyo and soft consumer sentiment in China to log a rebound in sales and profits on the Chinese mainland. The Japanese firm said the 2026 financial year, which ended in August, had been a period in which its mainland China business had “made steady progress, with encouraging steps indicating a return to growth”, according to its annual report released on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370187/uniqlo-sees-profits-soar-china-despite-beijing-tokyo-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370187/uniqlo-sees-profits-soar-china-despite-beijing-tokyo-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 09:15:41 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Ralph Jennings Sylvia Ma,Ralph Jennings China’s National Day holiday saw travel remain broadly stable as the break – an extended length of time compared with 2025 – supported longer-distance trips, though cinema cooled sharply, offering mixed signals on efforts to revive consumer spending. Over the seven-day break, which ended on Wednesday, China recorded 2.142 billion cross-regional passenger trips, averaging 306 million a day, up 0.7 per cent year on year, according to the Ministry of Transport, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370156/chinas-national-day-holiday-sees-uptick-longer-trips-overseas-travel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3370156/chinas-national-day-holiday-sees-uptick-longer-trips-overseas-travel?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 07:01:14 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian China’s biggest sportswear maker, Anta Sports, has strengthened its challenge to global rivals such as Nike and Adidas by becoming the largest shareholder in Puma, the German brand recognised worldwide for its sports and casual footwear. The Hong Kong-listed company completed the acquisition of a 29.06 per cent stake in Puma from Artemis, the investment vehicle of France’s Pinault family, in an all-cash deal valued at €1.51 billion (US$1.7 billion). “The stake is expected to boost Puma’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370148/how-puma-fits-chinese-sportswear-maker-antas-plan-challenge-global-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370148/how-puma-fits-chinese-sportswear-maker-antas-plan-challenge-global-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:10:59 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng When I took out the US$3,500 Huawei Mate XT 2 over a family dinner during China’s “golden week” – the long National Day holiday in early October – the trifold phone quickly became the centre of discussion: my father and his peers took turns playing with the device, marvelling at the sleek design while debating whether it was true innovation or pure luxury. It wasn’t the first time unfolding its massive 10.2 inch display raised a few eyebrows at dining tables during the week I spent trying out... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3369988/reporters-notebook-my-golden-week-spent-huaweis-new-us3500-trifold-phone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3369988/reporters-notebook-my-golden-week-spent-huaweis-new-us3500-trifold-phone?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 04:00:06 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Japanese, South Korean and Thai brands have increased their share of new entrants in Hong Kong’s retail property market by 7 percentage points to more than one-third in the first nine months of 2026, while the demand for shops from mainland Chinese brands has slipped, according to Cushman & Wakefield. A slew of new brands helped lift the combined share of Japanese, South Korean and Thai brands to a three-year high, according to Cushman, which said it expected the trend to continue. This year,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3369937/hong-kongs-first-store-appeal-grows-more-japanese-south-korean-and-thai-brands-arrive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3369937/hong-kongs-first-store-appeal-grows-more-japanese-south-korean-and-thai-brands-arrive?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:00:08 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li For Toronto-based product designer Alex Vong, buying his first 3D printer was not about experimenting with a niche technology – it was about finding a reliable tool for his creative business. After watching several YouTube reviews, he eventually chose a machine made by Shenzhen-based Bambu Lab. “A 3D printer is something I’d rather buy once, and buy the best,” he said. “I’m not buying multiples unless I have the space for it.” Vong has been using the 3D printer to produce the shell of an... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369914/chinese-brands-drive-global-consumer-3d-printer-boom-ease-use-lower-pricing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369914/chinese-brands-drive-global-consumer-3d-printer-boom-ease-use-lower-pricing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Oct 2026 10:00:11 +0000 Divia Harilela Divia Harilela Ozempic continues to make headlines in the fashion world and not just because everyone is still on some form of GLP-1 weight loss medication. Ozempic-proof wardrobes are becoming a necessity as women are looking for clothing they can keep wearing even when their dress size is in a continual state of flux. Sizing has always been a thorny issue, which is why more brands have expanded their ranges to be more inclusive. This, however, doesn’t address the Ozempic effect, where women may move between... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3369787/how-designers-are-making-adaptable-sizing-ozempic-era?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3369787/how-designers-are-making-adaptable-sizing-ozempic-era?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:08 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s first Chinese-owned department store, Sincere, will close its historic branch in the city’s central business district in December after 126 years of retail history. The company revealed, however, that it would seek a new location in Central or Sheung Wan. Economists cautioned, however, that despite strong retail sales in the city overall recently, the market had changed, and running physical stores had become highly challenging. Sincere announced on Sunday that the flagship store... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369817/sincere-close-central-department-store-after-126-years-lease-expires?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369817/sincere-close-central-department-store-after-126-years-lease-expires?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 11:47:48 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Adrian Cheng Chi-kong, former heir apparent to Hong Kong’s New World Development (NWD), is expanding his K11 cultural retail business in mainland China, launching a venture of his own as his family’s property group grapples with heavy debt. Xiamen K11 Select, developed by Cheng’s K11 by AC Group along with state-owned Xiamen Rail Transit Group in the city in the southeastern province of Fujian, has attracted more than 2 million visits since its opening on September 22, with sales rising 32 per... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3369814/adrian-cheng-former-scion-hong-kongs-nwd-expands-k11-brand-xiamen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3369814/adrian-cheng-former-scion-hong-kongs-nwd-expands-k11-brand-xiamen?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 11:08:10 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal DFI Retail, the food and beverage unit of Hong Kong-headquartered conglomerate Jardine Matheson, is looking to sell its mall at The Peak, one of the city’s wealthiest neighbourhoods. The entire commercial portion of the Dairy Farm Guildford Road Shopping Centre will be sold via a public tender closing at noon on November 19, according to sole agent CBRE. The property is near The Peak campus of the German Swiss International School. The mall consists of a two-storey retail podium with a gross... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3369744/wellcome-operator-dfi-retail-seeks-buyer-fully-leased-shopping-centre-peak?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3369744/wellcome-operator-dfi-retail-seeks-buyer-fully-leased-shopping-centre-peak?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 04:30:06 +0000 Ben Jiang,Xiaofei Xu Ben Jiang,Xiaofei Xu In February 2023, the budget shopping platform Temu announced itself on the world stage in the brashest way possible: becoming one of the youngest ever brands to buy a Super Bowl advertising spot. “Download the Temu app and shop like a billionaire,” a voice proclaimed in the 30-second commercial, as a woman danced on screen and ordered a series of outlandishly cheap items: from a US$8.99 dress to a US$4.99 wig. The commercial – which aired twice during the game, costing Temu an estimated US$14... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3369595/temu-took-world-storm-has-shopping-app-lost-its-thunder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/big-tech/article/3369595/temu-took-world-storm-has-shopping-app-lost-its-thunder?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 02:00:19 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat At a two-day trade exhibition in Hong Kong earlier this week, Vera Nikitina, a representative of Russian confectionery producer Belyov Pastila Manufacture, was looking for new buyers – while also trying to reassure them that the company’s products were genuinely made in Russia. The company made its first attempt to enter China in 2019, before beginning regular shipments and establishing a local office in 2022-23. Its sales grew in 2024 amid booming Chinese demand for Russian consumer goods. That... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3368816/russian-exporters-fight-win-back-chinese-buyers-amid-fallout-over-fake-goods?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3368816/russian-exporters-fight-win-back-chinese-buyers-amid-fallout-over-fake-goods?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Oct 2026 09:00:06 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye As “long-dormant old money” steps back into Hong Kong’s retail property market, McDonald’s has sold the property housing its first New Territories restaurant for HK$120 million (US$15.3 million), extending its year-long sell-down of self-owned shops. The property at 10-22 Tsuen Wan Market Street, spanning the ground floor to the second floor, was sold to Keen Charm Holdings (HK) Limited, with the agreement for sale signed on August 31, according to the Land Registry. Company Registry listed Ngan... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3369587/mcdonalds-sells-hong-kong-shop-us153-million-old-money-returns-retail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3369587/mcdonalds-sells-hong-kong-shop-us153-million-old-money-returns-retail?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2026 12:00:19 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong’s retail sales rose by 5.6 per cent year on year in August, with the latest figures showing consumer spending picking up after growth eased for two consecutive months. Retail sales value reached HK$32 billion (US$4.1 billion), according to provisional figures released by the Census and Statistics Department on Friday. Sales in the first eight months of the year rose by 8.5 per cent compared with the same period in 2025. “Growth was seen across many types of retail outlets, while online... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369559/consumer-spending-picks-hong-kong-retail-sales-rising-56-august?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3369559/consumer-spending-picks-hong-kong-retail-sales-rising-56-august?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:50:22 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Maxim’s Caterers has struck a deal to buy back its shares from DFI Retail Group for US$340 million plus control of its licensed Starbucks business, according to an exchange filing released on Wednesday. The deal will mark the start of a fresh chapter for Maxim’s, bringing an end to decades of part ownership by the conglomerate Jardine Matheson, which owns DFI Retail. Jardine Matheson bought a 50 per cent interest in Maxim’s in 1972, before transferring the stake to Dairy Farm, now known as DFI... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3369371/dfi-retail-sells-stake-maxims-return-starbucks-business-us340m?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3369371/dfi-retail-sells-stake-maxims-return-starbucks-business-us340m?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2026 14:00:17 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Tens of thousands of people thronged Apple stores in India this month to snap up the newest iPhone models – the 18 Pro and Pro Max – but the frenzy has kicked off public debate in the country about affordability and consumer debt. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at 164,900 rupees (US$1,700) and goes up to 179,000 rupees, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at 179,900 rupees and maxes out at 329,900 rupees. Apple also unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first-ever folding smartphone, essentially setting a new... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3369235/sell-family-jewels-latest-iphone-india-craze-dials-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3369235/sell-family-jewels-latest-iphone-india-craze-dials-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:44:10 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu China’s Premier Li Qiang chaired a State Council executive meeting on Monday that called for a series of policies to strengthen support for the economy, including encouraging local governments, where conditions allow, to pilot measures to boost consumption. “In response to emerging challenges in the economy’s operation, efforts should be made to intensify countercyclical adjustment of macro policies and promote innovation-driven, high-quality and sound economic development,” according to a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369129/china-asks-local-governments-pilot-high-quality-policies-boost-consumption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3369129/china-asks-local-governments-pilot-high-quality-policies-boost-consumption?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Sep 2026 03:07:07 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo Even though he was an experienced swimmer and a medical check-up showed he had no condition that made exercise unsafe, 66-year-old Zhao Xin said he was stopped by staff at a local swimming pool from swimming with his grandson because of his age. “The pool’s staff said it wasn’t able to mitigate the risks of exercise for older people, and that if it admitted swimmers over 65, local authorities would penalise it,” Zhao said. “After I retired, I found that many times I want to spend money but am... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368939/chinese-retirees-boost-nations-economy-some-hope-greater-consumer-freedom-society?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368939/chinese-retirees-boost-nations-economy-some-hope-greater-consumer-freedom-society?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Sep 2026 13:00:10 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li After three weeks of travelling across China, Bojan Tomic and his wife found that one of the biggest conveniences of the trip was being able to pay for daily expenses almost entirely via smartphone. The Croatian couple’s journey spanned the cities of Beijing, Xian, Chengdu and finally Shenzhen. Visiting China for the first time, they quickly adapted to the country’s dominant mobile payment ecosystem, using Alipay and WeChat Pay, two of China’s largest payment platforms, for most of their... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368810/how-chinas-mobile-payment-overhaul-helps-foreigners-spend-money-ahead-apec-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3368810/how-chinas-mobile-payment-overhaul-helps-foreigners-spend-money-ahead-apec-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Sep 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian US premium coffee brand Blue Bottle Coffee will open its first Beijing store in the capital’s central business district, as it seeks to tap into China’s still growing market for the drink. The California-based brand is taking a spacious unit at China World Mall. The location, currently enclosed by construction hoarding, was previously occupied by Japanese jeweller Tasaki. The brand has yet to reveal an official opening date, though industry sources said the shop was expected to open by the end... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3368658/blue-bottle-bets-chinese-consumers-will-drink-more-premium-coffee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3368658/blue-bottle-bets-chinese-consumers-will-drink-more-premium-coffee?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 23:00:25 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre If there’s a garment that has come to define Prada – both the brand and the personal style of designer Miuccia Prada – it has to be the skirt. Back in 2005, the brand held a blockbuster exhibition at the Peace Hotel in Shanghai. Named “Waist Down”, the show was a celebration of the skirt, a closet staple that was also the centrepiece of the label’s spring/summer 2027 collection, unveiled on Tuesday at Milan Fashion Week. In the show notes, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, who co-design Prada,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3368446/milan-fashion-week-prada-spring/summer-2027-spotlights-skirt-brands-obsession?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3368446/milan-fashion-week-prada-spring/summer-2027-spotlights-skirt-brands-obsession?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 01:59:13 +0000 Gloria Tso Gloria Tso Female tech entrepreneurship is a rapidly growing field, but not all female founders, it seems, are shown equal treatment. That’s why Phoebe Gates, the 24-year-old daughter of now-divorced Bill and Melinda Gates, made headlines this summer as controversy surfaced over her AI-powered shopping app Phia, which she launched with her former Stanford University classmate Sophia Kianni just last year. Phia was, for all intents and purposes, a huge success story upon launch – the start-up counted Khloé... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3368233/beyond-phoebe-gates-phia-5-female-owned-fashion-tech-apps-have-your-radar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/fashion/trends/article/3368233/beyond-phoebe-gates-phia-5-female-owned-fashion-tech-apps-have-your-radar?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 04:00:10 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Chinese gold jewellers are seeking opportunities in the Middle East and India, leveraging their advanced crafting technologies as the industry struggles amid the precious metal’s price volatility, according to an international association for the sector. At the most recent Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong fair, buyers from the two regions accounted for most visitors, said Wang Lixin, China CEO of the World Gold Council, in a recent interview with the South China Morning Post. The interest was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/commodities/article/3368110/chinese-consumption-gold-jewellery-slumps-34-sellers-look-markets-abroad-wgc?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/commodities/article/3368110/chinese-consumption-gold-jewellery-slumps-34-sellers-look-markets-abroad-wgc?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 02:00:39 +0000 SCMP Style Reporter SCMP Style Reporter For a house built on top-notch textiles, Zegna has long understood that luxury is as much about atmosphere as it is about a beautifully cut jacket. The brand’s new Hong Kong boutique – or negozio, Italian for “store” – brings that approach to Tsim Sha Tsui’s Harbour City shopping complex, where a 250-square-metre space places warm materials, soft architecture, subtle Alpine inspiration and a full menswear wardrobe at the centre of the customer experience. Located on the ground floor of Gateway... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3367811/style-edit-zegnas-new-hong-kong-store-harbour-city-embodies-alpine-inspired-retail-vision?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3367811/style-edit-zegnas-new-hong-kong-store-harbour-city-embodies-alpine-inspired-retail-vision?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 02:00:13 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese action camera maker Insta360 is deepening its US footprint with a flagship store opening in New York as it navigates escalating price competition with DJI and industry-wide memory cost pressures. The Chinese GoPro rival was slated to plant its flag in the heart of Times Square with its first flagship retail store in the US on Saturday, a marquee launch as the firm looked to “leap to the next stage of growth”, co-founder Max Richter said. “The US market plays a very important role for us... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3368101/chinas-gopro-rival-insta360-opens-first-us-flagship-store-new-yorks-times-square?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3368101/chinas-gopro-rival-insta360-opens-first-us-flagship-store-new-yorks-times-square?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:00:07 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Yatsen Group, the Chinese beauty company behind Perfect Diary cosmetics, plans to deepen its push into skincare and new product research to sustain its growth, after a years-long overhaul of its business that has seen the firm acquire a string of overseas brands. The Guangzhou-based company will slow its acquisition spree for now and instead focus on expanding its existing portfolio of skincare offerings, while maintaining – and potentially raising – its research and development spending, which... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3368008/perfect-diary-owner-yatsen-doubles-down-skincare-rd-after-business-overhaul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3368008/perfect-diary-owner-yatsen-doubles-down-skincare-rd-after-business-overhaul?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Sep 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Hong Kong shopping mall operators are extending a strategy used during this year’s Fifa World Cup into the Asian Games, leveraging major sporting events to draw visitors and support tenant sales as retailers face competition from Shenzhen, overseas shopping and online spending. Sino Group is among the landlords expanding the strategy beyond tournament broadcasts. It has projected foot traffic across its four malls to increase during its Asian Games campaign, with selected merchants forecast to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3367822/hong-kong-malls-bet-asian-games-boost-footfall-tenant-sales-amid-spending-shifts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3367822/hong-kong-malls-bet-asian-games-boost-footfall-tenant-sales-amid-spending-shifts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Sep 2026 23:00:08 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma China’s retail sales growth unexpectedly slumped in August, while industrial output accelerated more than anticipated, as the economy increasingly divides between a domestic slowdown and an export boom. August retail sales only rose 0.4 per cent, missing the 0.7 per cent forecast among economists polled by Chinese financial data provider Wind and slowing from 0.6 per cent in July. By contrast, industrial output jumped 5.2 per cent, beating the 4.7 per cent expectation and July’s 4.5 per cent... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3367587/chinas-worsening-retail-slowdown-bolsters-case-stimulus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3367587/chinas-worsening-retail-slowdown-bolsters-case-stimulus?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Sep 2026 09:00:17 +0000 Mia Nurmamat,Xinyi Wu Mia Nurmamat,Xinyi Wu China’s economy came under further pressure in August, as sluggish investment and consumption highlighted persistently weak domestic demand, although analysts expect a rebound in the fourth quarter as state intervention begins to take effect. Retail sales, a major gauge of consumer spending, grew last month by 0.4 per cent year on year, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday. The reading was lower than a 0.73 per cent rise forecast by economists surveyed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367521/chinas-economy-under-further-pressure-august-investment-and-consumption-slow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367521/chinas-economy-under-further-pressure-august-investment-and-consumption-slow?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Sep 2026 02:00:18 +0000 Zoe Suen Zoe Suen Sandrine Zhang Ferron’s path to entrepreneurship was less a predictable trajectory and more a conscious pivot. She grew up between Suzhou in China, France and London, with her upbringing placing a premium on stable, conventional career paths rather than creative pursuits. “In my family, it was not an obvious thing to do,” notes the founder of Vinterior, the London-based vintage and antique furniture marketplace. “There was no tradition of design, entrepreneurship or art.” Zhang Ferron’s career... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/lifestyle/design/article/3367449/how-sandrine-zhang-ferron-built-vintage-furniture-marketplace-vinterior-interview?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/lifestyle/design/article/3367449/how-sandrine-zhang-ferron-built-vintage-furniture-marketplace-vinterior-interview?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Chris Tsang Chris Tsang The outlook for shopping centres in Hong Kong is improving, and the business will thrive if operators use new stores and attractive events to counter locals’ fondness for cross-border shopping trips, according to the CEO of Hang Lung Properties. The company’s malls recorded growth in July, and business would be “even better” in the fourth quarter owing to a full pipeline of new shops preparing to open, said Weber Lo Wai-pak on the sidelines of an event on Monday. “Hong Kong shopping malls need... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3367469/hong-kong-malls-see-gradual-recovery-new-stores-and-events-hang-lung-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3367469/hong-kong-malls-see-gradual-recovery-new-stores-and-events-hang-lung-ceo?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:00:14 +0000 Eric Jiang Eric Jiang Hong Kong shoppers may be saving less than expected – or nothing at all – with supermarkets’ buy one, get one free and bulk-buy promotions, a watchdog has warned, urging residents to compare unit prices rather than rely on promotional labels. The Consumer Council on Monday released the findings of a survey covering 222 products sold by Aeon, ParknShop and Wellcome between September 2025 and July this year. It found that the actual discounts offered in some promotional campaigns were less... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367425/hong-kong-consumer-watchdog-questions-value-supermarket-promotional-deals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367425/hong-kong-consumer-watchdog-questions-value-supermarket-promotional-deals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Sep 2026 07:20:03 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Disposable sanitary pads sold in Hong Kong have shown wide discrepancies in absorption speeds, with more than half of tested products also lacking adequate labelling, the consumer watchdog has found. The Consumer Council revealed the test results for 36 winged sanitary towels on Monday, including a sample that took 73 seconds to fully absorb simulated menstrual blood – exceeding the mainland China national standard recommendation of no more than 60 seconds. “The council calls on suppliers to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367411/huge-gaps-sanitary-pad-absorption-speeds-over-half-poorly-labelled-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367411/huge-gaps-sanitary-pad-absorption-speeds-over-half-poorly-labelled-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Sep 2026 05:37:41 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Few would guess that Hong Kong’s first plant-based canned coffee brand, Busy Brew, is run by a 23-year-old. One might be tempted to see it as a Gen Z entrepreneur fairy tale: a student spots a gap in the market, builds a cult following for her canned oat milk lattes, lands incubation funding and watches the product fly off shelves in some of the city’s largest retail chains. But founder Nikita Kuwadekar, born and raised in Hong Kong, will be the first to tell you that the journey has not been... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3367151/how-hong-kong-gen-z-coffee-entrepreneur-filling-market-gap-her-can-do-attitude?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3367151/how-hong-kong-gen-z-coffee-entrepreneur-filling-market-gap-her-can-do-attitude?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Sep 2026 23:15:07 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng For Cindy Wang, the newly opened “community store” near her home in Guangzhou has been a godsend: the small outlet is cheaper than a traditional supermarket, but offers a bigger range of groceries than convenience stores like 7-Eleven. The 20-something now often stops off at the shop after work to pick up a few items. On an early September evening, she has bagged a bottle of milk for just 7 yuan (US$1), a 2.5 yuan beer and some mangoes priced at 10 yuan per kilogram. “It’s convenient and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367228/why-chinese-shoppers-are-ditching-supermarkets-small-community-stores?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367228/why-chinese-shoppers-are-ditching-supermarkets-small-community-stores?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Sep 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Products widely considered “ugly” or “bizarre” have gone viral online in China as millions of young consumers embrace the items’ quirky humour and distinctive character. Cumulative sales of such products on Taobao – an e-commerce platform of Alibaba Group Holding – have surpassed 230 million yuan (US$34.3 million) since 2020, when Taobao launched its so-called Uglies Award to celebrate creatively unusual goods, the platform said recently without specifying exactly what constitutes an “ugly”... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3367218/taobaos-ugly-goods-find-growing-market-among-chinas-young-consumers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3367218/taobaos-ugly-goods-find-growing-market-among-chinas-young-consumers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat China’s hopes for a consumption boom may depend less on stimulus or wealthy households and more on improving living standards for 131 million migrant workers in its cities – a shift that could unlock spending equivalent to about 0.5 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product, according to HSBC. In a report released on Thursday, analysts at the bank projected that the world would add about 1.2 billion middle- and high-income consumers by 2050, with Asia accounting for 77 per cent of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367166/improving-migrant-workers-living-standards-key-boosting-chinese-consumption-hsbc?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/china-economy/article/3367166/improving-migrant-workers-living-standards-key-boosting-chinese-consumption-hsbc?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Sep 2026 06:18:07 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Mainland Chinese supermarkets, including US warehouse retailer Sam’s Club, have dropped the Hong Kong-bound vegetable label under new customs rules. The change has triggered widespread concern among consumers, as the label had long served as a selling point for high quality amid frequent mainland food-safety incidents. The removal stems from new rules by the General Administration of Customs. From September 1, registration will no longer be required for growing farms, and only food-processing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3367006/mainland-chinese-shoppers-lose-trusted-hong-kong-veggie-tag-customs-revamp-hits-shelves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3367006/mainland-chinese-shoppers-lose-trusted-hong-kong-veggie-tag-customs-revamp-hits-shelves?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 07:00:05 +0000