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Retailing

Retailing
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.
People shop along a business street in Beijing. Some analysts say China’s consumption levels are better than many people believe. Photo: AFP
China consumption

China’s real consumption ‘far from as low as it seems’, think tank argues

The consumption-volume gap between China and developed countries across various sectors is far narrower than mainstream metrics show, China Finance 40 Forum argues.

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Alibaba

Alibaba’s US$7 billion subsidy deepens China’s instant shopping battle

China economy

Opinion | Labubu’s rise reflects hitmaker ability of China’s digital ecosystem

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Hong Kong stock market

China’s Laopu Gold surges 15% as investors devour newly available shares

Stock hits a record, bucking concerns that newly available shares – a 40 per cent stake – would trigger a pullback.

Beijing-based LaoPu Gold opened a store in Tsim Sha Tsui in 2024. Photo: Handout
Coffee

China’s coffee craze creates bottomless cup of rural cafes – can the buzz last?

China’s coffee consumption has been increasing by double-digits annually, and many new ‘rural cafes’ are trying to brew success as the risk of homogenisation looms.

China economy

Opinion | Global hit Labubu was forged in the heat of China’s demanding market

In China’s demanding market that’s shifting towards emotionally driven spending, creative brands that succeed can look to conquer the world.

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China’s economic stimulus

Billions misused in China 2024 stimulus, from flood controls to gym gear: audit

Dozens of localities violated conditions of receiving funds, such as for large-scale equipment renewals and consumer goods trade-ins, top audit watchdog finds.

China’s top audit watchdog has revealed that tens of billions of yuan in funding were misused by localities amid a roll-out of stimulus measures last year, including for the nation’s trade-in programme. Photo: Xinhua
China travel

Explainer | How can you claim tax refunds as a tourist in China?

China is making it easier for tourists to claim value-added tax refunds on purchases made during their trips - here’s how it works.

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Hong Kong economy

Elevated rents ‘big problem’ for Hong Kong restaurants as closures mount

Industry leader Simon Wong says decline in tourist spending will also hinder sector’s recovery.

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Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong high-end supermarket chain City’super to shut its last food court

Amazing Food Hall in Causeway Bay’s Times Square will be closed from next Monday.

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City’super’s Amazing Food Hall is located next to its supermarket at Times Square. Photo: Nora Tam
New Openings

Hong Kong’s new openings, from a Japanese bar to a pastry pop-up

Butterfly Patisserie debuts a pop-up, Next Shikaku gets a makeover, Madara opens with Japanese craft cocktails, and Loveramics launches an expanded space in Tai Kwun.

The Madara craft-cocktail bar in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Photo: courtesy Madara
Apple

Apple joins China’s subsidy scheme to lift sales amid heated local competition

Consumers in Beijing and Shanghai can avail themselves of discounts of up to US$278 on select models of Apple devices, including the iPhone.

Hong Kong company reporting season

Hong Kong drink maker Vitasoy’s profit doubles to US$30 million on China demand

Company proposes final dividend of 10.2 Hong Kong cents per share, taking total payout for the year to 14.2 Hong Kong cents.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Starbucks denies it is considering a full sale of its China operations

‘We see significant long-term potential … and are evaluating the best ways to capture the future growth opportunities,’ coffee chain says.

Starbucks has been rapidly losing ground to domestic challengers known for their efficient models and affordable menus. Photo: Shutterstock
Banking & finance

With The Monsters, Monkey King and Ne Zha, China IP businesses brace for growth

China’s IP sales are projected to grow at an annual rate of 17.2 per cent through 2029 after reaching US$1 billion in 2024, CICC says.

A Pop Mart store in Bangkok. Photo: AFP
Artificial intelligence

Yum China rolls out AI agent, to help, not replace store managers

Aiming to help frontline managers with tasks such as scheduling and inventory management, system aligns with industry’s wider AI push.

Icons and Influencers

Meet Aimee Smale, the founder of affordable luxury clothing brand Odd Muse

Odd Muse made its London Fashion Week debut in 2023 and its Essex-native founder landed on the Forbes 30 under 30 list – the brand now has 2 stores in Covent Garden and New York City’s SoHo.

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Banking & finance

World’s most valuable toymaker loses glow in People’s Daily warning

The People’s Daily newspaper ran a commentary that railed against the ‘wilful consumerism’ of so-called blind boxes.

Labubu dolls in a store during an organized press tour to Popland, a theme park opened by Chinese toy company Pop Mart, in Beijing on June 2, 2025. Photo: EPA-EFE.
Mobile payments

Ant Group pushes wider adoption of AI-enabled smart glasses for mobile payments

The first such payment outside mainland China was recently completed in Hong Kong, using the AlipayHK app and Meizu’s StarV smart glasses.

E-commerce

China subsidies give Alibaba, JD.com sales lift during 618 shopping festival

The Chinese e-commerce giants again withheld total gross merchandise value figures, continuing a trend in recent years amid a maturing market.

JD.com

JD.com founder bets on stablecoins to cut cross-border e-commerce payment costs

‘JD.com intends to secure stablecoin licences across key currency markets globally,’ founder and chairman Richard Liu says.

E-commerce giant JD.com expects stablecoins to become the world’s next-generation payment system. Photo: Shutterstock
China’s economic stimulus

China plots course to boost yuan versus dominant dollar

Eight financial reforms announced by the central bank chief are the latest efforts to boost the currency’s role abroad, stabilise markets and shore up the economy.

People’s Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng speaks at the Lujiazui Forum. Photo: AFP
Banking & finance

China’s consumer-goods spending improves as deflation eases, Bain says

The outlook for 2025 is still unclear because of an ongoing consumption downgrade and changes in spending patterns.

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China economy

Editorial | China welcomes rise in consumption but long way to go yet

Retail sales jumped to boost economy in May thanks to slew of government incentives and subsidies that need to continue during costly US trade war.

Hong Kong property

Michelin-listed Ancient Moon shuts during Hong Kong’s dining upheaval

The last day of operation of Ancient Moon in North Point is on July 19, according to its Instagram post.

An undated photograph of the exterior of Ancient Moon on Kam Ping Street in North Point. Photo: Handout
China's economic recovery

China’s economy weathers US tariff storm in May as consumption picks up

The trade war continued to weigh on China’s manufacturing and exports in May, but retail sales gained momentum.

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Containers are stacked in a port near Shanghai in eastern China. The trade war continued to weigh on China’s exports in May, despite Beijing and Washington agreeing a deal to roll back tariffs. Photo: AFP
Artificial intelligence

How a Chinese AI start-up helps Nike, Gap, Urban Revivo predict fashion trends

Hangzhou Zhiyi Technology’s operations reflect how AI adoption in mainland China is expanding and transforming various industries.

Commodities

Crypto can’t chip away at gold’s safe-haven shield: gold researcher

Spot gold price surged to US$3,444 after Israel’s strikes on Iran.

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