Advertisement
Advertisement
TOPIC

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.
Customers carrying bags of shopping leave the Shein store in Paris in November. Photo: dpa
IPO

Shein receives approval for Hong Kong IPO from Chinese regulators

Beijing clears the online retail giant to seek an initial public offering in Hong Kong, after its plans to float in London and New York hit a dead end.

5
E-commerce

China fines 4 internet celebrities US$1.9m for tax evasion

China consumption

China unveils retail road map: 5 years to shield physical stores from e-commerce

videocam
China inflation

China’s factory gate prices rise in June amid brief Iran war respite

The producer price index rose for a fourth month in a row amid a momentary ceasefire, though consumer price increases missed expectations.

A worker arranges products in a store in Beijing last month. Photo: AFP
Jewellery

Q&A | Pacharee founder Sophie Schuemers-Rogers’ ultimate guide to Bangkok

The jewellery designer – who also has a second label, Khong – reveals her must-visit spots in Thailand’s vibrant capital.

Hong Kong economy

Editorial | 13-month retail growth streak proves Hong Kong is back in business

Even with cross-border competition, the city has shown it can offer unique experiences that attract locals and visitors alike.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
China consumption

Can China’s budget brands crack developed markets? Mixue shows it won’t be easy

Slow expansion in Japan and store closures in Hong Kong suggest low prices may not be enough to win over consumers in mature economies.

videocam
A Mixue store in Puchong, Malaysia. The Chinese brand has made significant inroads in Southeast Asia and is seeking to bring that success to developed markets. Photo: Shutterstock
China stock market

China’s divergent stock market displays a microcosm of the nation’s economy

The stock market catalogues China’s uneven growth, as manufacturing expands and consumption falls.

China consumption

After hooking China on coffee, Starbucks ramps up consumer strategy

Now that the chain has Chinese consumers hooked on coffee, it is attempting to become part of local consumer culture, analysts say.

Timepieces

5 biggest watch moments in June, from celebrity timepieces to a titan’s death

Brad Pitt, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland rocked their timepieces at the Fifa World Cup, while Breitling joins Watches and Wonders 2027.

Henry Cavill sports a vintage Longines Monopusher Chronograph at the Royal Ascot 2026; MB&F release the HM12, a watch that includes a robot stand; and Delugs opens its boutique in Hong Kong. Photos: Handout
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong retail sales grow 7.9% in May, extending winning streak to 13 months

Value of retail sales for month reaches HK$33.8 billion, helped by increase in visitor numbers.

Department stores and optical shops recorded gains of 9.2 per cent and 10.3 per cent, respectively, in May. Photo: Sam Tsang
Beauty

The science of skincare, according to 111Skin’s co-founder – interview

Eva Alexandridis’ husband, Yannis, is a plastic surgeon who works at their clinic on London’s famous Harley Street – which also provides inspiration for new products.

China’s private sector

Race to the bottom? Why retailers bet on their own brands in China

Analysts forecast in-house goods to rise sharply as Chinese retailers seek loyalty and offset lost supplier-funded fees.

Luxury brands

Self-expression, experiences, resale: what luxury clients really want

A new McKinsey and Business of Fashion report reveals how aspirational spending, emotional connection and experience are reshaping the luxury sector.

Shoppers queue outside a Dior boutique on Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, in 2024. The luxury market has cooled down recently, but is predicted to make a comeback by 2030. Photo: Jelly Tse
E-commerce

China’s cooling, e-commerce giants see sales surge as Europe heat sizzles

Alibaba notes surge in retail and business-to-business orders, Midea reports sharp revenue rise, and Gree sales get bump in major European markets.

videocam
4
On AliExpress, Alibaba’s international retail site, this month’s debut of air conditioners in Germany saw local warehouse inventory for a Midea model completely wiped out by Thursday. Photo: Shutterstock
Luxury travel

Hotel boutiques are now destinations, not afterthoughts

Why top hotels like Rosewood, Aman, Upper House and Il Pellicano have taken their lobby boutiques upmarket – plus 5 to visit on your next trip.

Hong Kong

Xtep opens first Saucony store in Hong Kong, eyes more premium retail sites

Chinese sportswear group positions premium running brand in Hong Kong as improving market sentiment draws retailers back to prime sites.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
China economy

Editorial | At Summer Davos, Li Qiang makes the case for China’s vision of growth

Chinese premier defends China’s competitive success and promises to share the dividends of its innovation with the world.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang speaks at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum in Dalian, China’s Liaoning province, on June 24. Photo: AFP
The Future of Marketing in Asia

China’s digital platforms redefine global marketing strategies

The mainland’s app ecosystem integrates content, discovery and transaction into a single and seamless experience.

Walmart

After Beijing’s food-safety warning, will Sam’s Club slow its expansion?

Firm makes leadership changes but might have to prioritise supply chain shortcomings after Beijing’s ‘accountability interview’.

videocam
Asean

The View | What retail apocalypse? Southeast Asia’s malls are sitting pretty

Unlike in other markets, Southeast Asia’s malls are in a good situation as they embrace experiential retail and adapt to consumer tastes.

videocam
Russian flying trapeze artists perform in the atrium of Pondok Indah Mall 2 in Jakarta on June 19. Photo: AFP
Wellness

When did fro-yo become cool again? Ask Gen Z

Paris Hilton loved Pinkberry back in the day, now former Starbucks head Howard Schultz is advising Mimi’s in Manhattan – here’s why fro-yo is making a comeback.

Mimi’s is known for having long queues. Photo: @mimis.ny/Instagram
Singapore

Sin to salvation: how Singapore’s most notorious mall found God

Orchard Towers, once a byword for vice, is now part of a megachurch trend repurposing retail spaces from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur.

23
China consumption

China’s e-commerce platforms help unlock global markets for South Korean brands

China’s cross-border platforms, which sell to millions of shoppers, are acting as a low-cost route to overseas customers in several regions.

videocam
Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Invest in Hong Kong’s creativity and local brands to unlock soft power

Hong Kong is blessed with ambitious, creative local brands. Investing in them will help set the city apart from other shopping destinations.

videocam
Customers leave a Bakehouse shop in Causeway Bay with their purchases on July 26, 2025. Photo: Antony Dickson
China consumption

‘People are more cautious’: has China lost its appetite for shopping festivals?

The shopping bonanza used to see mountains of packages pile up on street corners, but orders have dwindled amid China’s economic slowdown.

Staff members sort mounds of parcels for delivery at a fulfillment centre in east China’s Shandong province ahead of the “618” shopping festival. Photo: Xinhua
China’s private sector

Can Pop Mart sustain the Labubu juggernaut as China sales cool?

Analysts warn of rising sales pressure as China demand tapers off, even as Pop Mart bets on new launches and overseas growth.

China’s private sector

Global brands in China seek local partners amid market squeeze

Slower consumer spending and cutthroat competition are pushing global brands such as Pizza Hut and Starbucks to reshape their China business.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement