The tourism resources-rich western region of China, the backbone of the country’s tourism sector, needs to find its own sustainable and gradual approach to develop the tourism industry, a leading mainland expert believes. The western regions of the Chinese mainland, home to a third of the country’s administrative provinces and autonomous regions, is hailed as a cornucopia of the nation’s tourism resources. However, most county heads and town mayors, who usually have a final say in tapping local tourism resources, often do not have the slightest idea about how to exploit these resources sustainably and scientifically, China Chamber of Tourism Chairman Wang Ping told China Daily, on the sidelines of the 2015 Global Tourism Economy Forum in Macao. What matters most is to educate local officials about developing the tourism industry in a sustainable and environment-friendly way, Wang believes. She organizes an annual training class for the heads of counties from the western regions — an endeavor she launched eight years ago — inviting them to learn from the experience of Hong Kong, regarded for decades as a world-class tourist destination. As tourism industry experts from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University always tell the class, the charms of this “Pearl of the Orient” lie not in its skyscrapers and the concrete jungle of downtown, but in the streets, alleys and Hong Kong-style cha chaan teng that exude the flavors of local life. “Hong Kong’s experience sheds some light on tapping and retaining the uniqueness of local tourism resources, which helps the city stand out among a good many tourist destinations,” said Wang. “That experience works for western China quite well.” So far, Wang’s training class boasts 300 trainees, a third of them top leaders from poverty-stricken national-level counties. Officials from these rural areas, where the tourism industry is still caught up in a kind of Wild West scenario with a bit of gold rush going on, tend to impatiently pitch tourism as a way to shake off poverty, said Wang. The problem is many officials are not locally born and bred. They are just transferred to work there and pay more attention to translating tourism resources into real economic benefits without thinking too much about sustainability, noted Wang. “What I often tell them is to be patient. We can never afford to develop the local tourism industry in the shortsighted way of killing the goose that lays the golden egg,” she observed. The hard fact is our future generations are doomed to face rapidly depleting natural tourism resources. So well-preserved tourism resources are bound to enjoy much greater value and become highly prized in the near future. “Why should we be in such a hurry?” asked Wang, who constantly reminds local officials to regard the counties they are working in as their hometowns, have greater respect for local tourism resources, and cherish and develop them with the purpose of benefiting local people and future generations. As a tourism industry veteran, Wang believes the sector can truly lift the counties out of poverty, if approached and developed with a bit of creativity and in line with local conditions. Dismissing the oft-cited hurdle for the western counties to develop tourism — the lack of good transport links — Wang noted this disadvantage could possibly be turned into a brand-new advantage as long as planners follow the ever-changing tourism market. As visitors get increasingly bored with straight forward arrivals at tourist destinations by air or rail, both means of transportation that western China lacks, self-driving road trips are catching on among visitors. And this is where the rugged western regions could stand to gain, Wang pointed out. The point is that every county lying on the route could find the best way to showcase their uniqueness and make tourists feel every moment during the road trip is a feast for the eyes. By linking the breathtaking scenery of the Silk Road with the delicious meat of the renowned Tan sheep of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, and the sweetness of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region’s melons and fruits, Wang has created a great road map for western China to attract tourists from all over the world. Source: http://www.chinadailyasia.com/2015-10/16/content_15330737.html
2015-10-162015年10月13日,澳門 - 「中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇」第四次攜手世界旅遊經濟論壇舉辦“與旅遊業領袖對話”論壇,題為「全方位探索文化旅遊——文化遺產與創意生活文化」。今日中午,旅遊業界翹楚聚首澳門威尼斯人酒店三樓宴會廳,熱議文化旅遊發展動向。 聯合國世界旅遊組織認為,人們出於對文化元素的渴望,喜歡深入體驗旅遊地的風土人情,「文化旅遊」應運而生。資料顯示:中國2014年度出境人次同比增長了20%,達1.07億,其中約八成是旅遊度假;放眼世界,文化旅遊發展迅速,已然成為眾多國家打造「可持續發展旅遊業」的戰略工具。 然而,發展總會帶來利益的衝突。遊人倍增、創造利潤的同時也消耗大量資源,給文化遺產保護帶來巨大壓力。旅遊目的地一方面需要不斷創新,以滿足遊客日益增長的文化需求,另一方面還需要與各方攜手保護本土文化生態,化解利益衝突。此外,在「一帶一路」戰略構想下,跨界合作、人才培養等亦是文化旅遊業的重要課題。 「中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇」邀請到七位學界、商界頂尖領袖參與本次論壇,包括:南開大學旅遊與服務學院院長白長虹教授;中華全國工商業聯合會常委、月星集團董事局主席丁佐宏先生;中國全聯旅遊業商會副主席兼秘書長、中國旅遊文化發展研究院高級研究員吉小冬先生;德安傑環球顧問集團總裁賈雲峰先生;中國全聯旅遊業商會會長、北京中華民族博物館院長王平女士;剛毅(集團)有限公司董事長、中國全聯旅遊業商會執行主席王敏剛先生;江蘇蘇甯環球集團副總裁吳兆蘭女士。幾位業界精英就文化遺產的保護與傳承、文化旅遊的創新與推廣等話題各抒己見,與會嘉賓獲益良多。 南開大學旅遊與服務學院院長白長虹教授表示,很多瀕危的文化遺產,如麗江「東巴文化」等因旅遊受到重視,得以傳承與保護。所以適當的旅遊開發有利於文化的延續,如加入高水準的策劃又能令旅行者得到良好體驗。 中華全國工商業聯合會常委、月星集團董事局主席丁佐宏先生感到中國酒店以及其他旅遊相關配套設施需要進一步擺脫「土豪」形象,因為這是文化的深層體現。 中國全聯旅遊業商會副主席兼秘書長、中國旅遊文化發展研究院高級研究員吉小冬先生認為旅遊是精神層面享受的過程,因此可以結合文學、影視等各種與旅遊相關衍生作品來令遊客擁有全方位的認知和享受。 德安傑環球顧問集團總裁賈雲峰先生表示文化遺產如果缺乏行銷,會淪為「被遺忘的財產」,所以既要打造文化旅遊品牌,也要考慮市場的興趣與需求,打造一些衍生品,使文化融入旅遊者的生活,產生深遠影響。 中國全聯旅遊業商會會長、北京中華民族博物館院長王平女士認為中國真正的旅遊專業人才培訓還沒起步,缺乏和高端的服務理念和創新思路。未來幾年,人才缺口會更大,培育人才即是為行業發展的提供動力。 剛毅(集團)有限公司董事長、中國全聯旅遊業商會執行主席王敏剛先生表示業界不應只看旅遊業的數字增長,而要關注文化旅遊的中的文明元素,深入發掘旅遊目的地衣食住行和生活狀態,給遊客以真正的浸入式體驗。 江蘇蘇甯環球集團副總裁吳兆蘭女士視互聯網為旅遊發展的戰略夥伴。互聯網給人以便利、個人化的定制服務,而不同板塊的合作有利於各行業的創新。 中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇(www.cdroundtable.com)是一個由亞洲國家和地區的政、商、學界領袖和社會精英參與的高端對話和交流平臺,圍繞亞洲地區經濟、商業、產業和社會發展等具有戰略影響的重要議題展開討論,至今在港、澳和亞太多國已經舉辦了40餘屆,逾萬名決策精英參與。
2015-10-13Oct 13 2015, Macao – China Daily and the China Chamber of Tourism co-hosted a panel session at the Global Tourism Economy Forum for the fourth consecutive year, bringing together distinguished experts from the academic, business, travel and tourism fields to review the trends, opportunities and challenges in cultural tourism. The dialogue, entitled “Exploring the Full Dimension of Cultural Tourism – Cultural Heritage and Creative Living Culture”, was held between 11.35 am and 1.05 pm on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 in Ballroom G-H-J-K at the Venetian Hotel, Macao. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, cultural tourism is gaining popularity on a global scale as more people are motivated by cultural intents, and travel to new destinations to get a taste of the lifestyle, identities and characters of those places and their people. Latest data show that the number of outbound Chinese tourists had risen by 20 percent to more than 107 million in 2014, compared with the previous year; and about 80 percent of the overseas trips made by Chinese travelers were for vacation. Worldwide, cultural tourism has become a strategic vehicle for sustainable tourism development in many countries as it has been growing faster than most other segments in the industry. However these dynamics involve various stakeholders with competing interests. Leaders of the travel-and-tourism industry must strive to strike a balance between the preservation of cultural heritage and the resource consumption of tourists. On one hand, they need to inject new and creative growth impetus into destinations and, on the other, they are expected to work with the government and the local community to avoid losing their cultural identity. Moreover, under the China-led “Belt and Road” initiative, issues like cross-border cooperation and talent cultivation have come under heated debate. The panelists included Prof. Bai Changhong, Dean of College of Tourism and Service Management, Nankai University; Mr. Ding Zuohong, Memberof Standing Committee of ACFIC and Chairman of the board of Yuexing Group; Mr. Ji Xiaodong, Vice President and Secretary-General of China Chamber of Tourism and Senior Researcher, China Tour and Culture Development Research Institute; Mr. Johnson Jia Yunfeng, Chief Executive Officer of D&J Global Communications; Ms. Wang Ping, Chairman of China Chamber of Tourism and Curator of China Ethnic Museum; Mr. Peter Wong, Chairman, The MK Corporation Ltd.; Executive Chairman, China Chamber of Tourism and Ms. Wu Zhaolan, Vice President of Suning Universal Group. Prof. Bai Changhong, Dean of College of Tourism and Service Management, Nankai University thought the question for tourism industry leaders is not whether we should develop cultural tourism, it should be about the way you develop it. “The development should be high quality to represent the value of our culture," said Bai. While Mr. Peter Wong, Chairman, The MK Corporation Ltd.; Executive Chairman, China Chamber of Tourism appealed for preserving cultural heritages by learning lessons from global experience; Mr. Johnson Jia Yunfeng, Chief Executive Officer of D&J Global Communications believed cultural heritage needs to be combined with creative living. Only when cultural heritage can be seen everywhere and is deeply dissolved in our blood can we spread our culture in a perfect way. Ms. Wang Ping, Chairman of China Chamber of Tourism and Curator of China Ethnic Museum thought the mass market consumers, who we should always invite to engage in the tourism product development, stand as the solid foundation for the tourism industry. In particular, Mr. Ding Zuohong, Memberof Standing Committee of ACFIC and Chairman of the board of Yuexing Group gave examples of how other industries can contribute to the development of cultural tourism; for example, adding innovative elements in furniture and decoration entertainment facilities to make tourism resorts more creative. Additionally, Mr. Ji Xiaodong, Vice President and Secretary-General of China Chamber of Tourism and Senior Researcher, China Tour and Culture Development Research Institute suggested promoting cultural tourism by making efforts to enhance the internal meaning of tourism resorts and put emphasis on spiritual inheritance of the places. Ms. Wu Zhaolan, Vice President of Suning Universal Group saw the power of “Tourism+Internet” with the development of “internetization” of information. “The integration of tourism and internet is not only an offline-to-online transformation of traditional products, but also a future trend that reflects the complementary role of the two,” said Wu.
2015-10-13China’s “One Belt, One Road” development strategy is expected to bring for Metro AG an opportunity to expand to mainland cities they cannot reach currently, as the initiative will tremendously improve logistics services in the country. That is according to the German-based global retailer’s managing director on the mainland, Jeroen de Groot, who spoke at the China Daily co-branded session at the Omni Channel Retailing Conference in Hong Kong. De Groot, managing director of Metro Jinjiang Cash & Carry in China, said the initiative will connect a group of countries with 4 billion people in all and facilitate the free flow of goods, capital, people and knowledge. He believes that it will stimulate the development of not only the eastern region of the mainland, but other areas as well. Retailers will see greater development in these areas as the improved logistics will help them reduce costs. The mainland is a core market for Metro and embodies huge potential, and the company is looking for still more opportunities to open more stores, de Groot said. The company now runs 82 stores in 56 mainland cities, with new stores coming up in Changsha, Hunan province, and Chongqing. As growth slows down in the mainland retail market, Metro has been adopting various measures to maintain an upward curve. “Hypermarket and traditional trade are slowing down. But convenience stores and e-commerce are growing at a faster pace,” noted de Groot. Metro China’s multichannel strategy regards e-commerce and franchises as its pillars, alongside its traditional cash-and-carry and welfare business. Metro has opened a convenience store in Shanghai and aims to open more franchises countrywide. It has also launched a new e-commerce website, metromall.com.cn. De Groot said the company’s focus on e-commerce should have come earlier as the online- offline combination is the current trend in the retail industry. “But our advantage is that we have a strong brand that gained customer trust through physical stores. Pure online stores often face trust problems because customers don’t see the real products and have no idea about their quality. That’s why a lot of online players are setting up offline stores,” he said. De Groot noted that Metro is not a pure retailer, but a cash-and-carry wholesaler serving mainly professional independent business customers. “We don’t see any direct competitor on the mainland, only overlapping companies. That gives us different potentials compared with (supermarket operators) Carrefour and Walmart.” felix@chinadailyhk.com http://www.chinadailyasia.com/2015-06/12/content_15276032.html
2015-06-22High-end audio-video equipment maker Bang & Olufsen has its sights firmly set on expansion on the Chinese mainland and is bullish on market prospects there. Amid robust demand across most markets, including key ones in Europe and in China, the Danish upmarket electronics producer swung to a net profit of Danish krone 17.3 million ($2.6 million) in its fiscal third-quarter last year, from a loss of Danish krone 31.9 million in the year-ago period. Chinese mainland took over the lead in the company’s B2C (business-to-consumer) business growth for the reporting period, with an increase of 37 percent, compared with 12 percent in Europe and 27 percent in BRIC market. Lars Hardboe Galsgaard, managing director for Greater China and South Korea, portrayed Bang & Olufsen’s target audience on the Chinese mainland as people in whatever profession who really appreciate the quality of life and keep leaning forward every day. This is where Bang & Olufsen comes in, by helping them lean backwards to take some time off for relaxation, said Galsgaard, who always cautiously avoids defining the company’s target audience simply by age group or occupation. He believes such target audiences do come in tidy numbers on the mainland, as the nation’s luxury consumers, who are switching focus from face-giving to personal pleasure and self-indulgence, become increasingly sophisticated and mature. And the beauty of Bang & Olufsen never lies in showing off the brand but in enjoying the high quality of sound with family or friends at home, Galsgaard told China Daily. Founded in Denmark in 1925, Bang & Olufsen just marked its 90th year this March. The luxury stereo and television maker dabbled in the mainland market through distributor channels in 2004, before moving its Asia headquarters from Singapore to Shanghai in 2011 and joining the fray all-out one year later. In 2012, the Danish group entered into a deal with luxury goods company Sparkle Roll and private equity group A Capital to expand its presence in the Chinese market. However, brand awareness is a real issue in the mainland market, where Bang & Olufsen is trying to beef up its presence by pumping investment into marketing, distribution, staff training and development of new stores. The Danish Hi-Fi company changed its distributorship model in earlier 2012 and directly operates its stores on the mainland, in Hong Kong and Macao, rather than operating through franchises According to Galsgaard, Bang & Olufsen follows a pyramid business model on the mainland, and sitting at the top are 35 flagship stores located in luxury malls like Shanghai’s Plaza 66 and exclusively selling the Bang & Olufsen luxury product line. The middle is made up of 40 premier stores in premier malls, selling its lower-priced B&O Play range — aimed at a younger market. And at the base are 3,200 third-party multi-brand retailers including Apple stores, where consumers can easily find Bang & Olufsen’s uber-trendy and stylish loudspeakers. Compared with the lower brand awareness and weak business foundation that Bang & Olufsen has struggled with on the mainland, business in the Hong Kong market is a whole different story. Bang & Olufsen, noted Galsgaard, enjoys a fruitful partnership with its reputable dealer, the Dutch-based technology company Philips, which built on its local business for almost three decades. The Danish group took over Philips’ business after it pulled out of this sector earlier in the decade and Galsgaard believes that laid a solid foundation for Bang & Olufsen to gain a foothold in the SAR, where it now has five stores — plus one in Macao. sophia@chinadailyhk.com http://www.chinadailyasia.com/2015-06/12/content_15276026.html
2015-06-22To succeed in Asia, retailers will need to innovate and still provide a standard experience. At the same time, they must localize their offerings while staying in tune with the diverse needs of consumers across Asian markets. They will also have to project a trustworthy brand and adapt to evolving scenarios, said experts who gathered in Hong Kong for a conference on the retailing industry. Held alongside the Retail Asia Expo at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Omni-Channel Retail Conference 2015 brought together experts from across the region. One panel that took place on June 10, sponsored by China Daily Asia Pacific, was themed The New Silk Road for Asia’s Retail Industry. China’s plan to develop new trade routes, along with the launch of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, will drive the construction and development of infrastructure, and boost trade in the region, said Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Asia Pacific. "Asia’s retail industry is poised to benefit tremendously among other sectors as these giant projects take off. There will be opportunities galore,” said Zhou. “This industry stands to reap the fortune to be the first to tap into these vast markets on offer.” The New Silk Road should facilitate the free movement of goods and people, said Yu Fuping, deputy general manager at Joy City Property, which specializes in developing and operating commercial properties. It is now building a logistics center in Chengdu, in southwestern Sichuan province, along with seven new shopping malls throughout the country. For its tenants, many of whom are international companies like Zara and Gap, foot traffic is essential to drive sales. Driving more customer traffic and boosting sales require constant innovation, said Yu. "We believe that in the market economy, innovation has no end,” said Yu. Joy City is also working with Tencent to improve customer experience and give clients a feel of products for home use. "We have been providing an artistic feel for the customers,” said Yu. A key approach to overcoming challenges is for retailers to constantly create more value for consumers, said Lars Galsgaard, managing director for Greater China and Korea at Bang & Olufsen. Three trends drive retail operations at the Danish audiovisual company. The first is moving toward custom and domesticated showrooms that feel like high-end homes. "We believe that exceptional products deserve exceptional surroundings,” Galsgaard said. Selling experience The second trend is to sell not a product but an experience, with customized installation and customer service. The third trend is the move toward closer integration of online-to-offline commerce — a strategy that attracts potential customers from online channels to physical stores. "It is the art of welcoming our customers as friends. We help people reconnect with their senses for a truly immersive experience of our products,” Galsgaard said. While Bang & Olufsen offers a premium product in a single space — a product that is clearly differentiated — other companies focus on the retailing and distribution of multiple offerings. As such, these firms have to know their customers and constantly adapt to their changing wants and needs. It is also important to adapt products to the customer and the region in which they are sold, something that Jebsen Group does well, said Bianca Wong, human resources and corporate communications director at Jebsen, a marketing and distribution company which has been operating in Asia since 1895. Among the brands that the company distributes are luxury vehicles such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Porsche. "How do you compete with other dealers for the same brand and the same product? The way you differentiate is through the customer experience,” Wong said. To build customer experience, clients need to know that the products Jebsen sells are both real and state-of-the-art. Other services, from insurance to after-sales, are also important. "People will come back for the service,” she said. Having the trust of the customer is really important in China, she added. She said there is more to enhancing the customer experience than just selling a car with a smile. The business requires the company to provide an overall customer experience. "That is why we continue to invest in this region,” said Wong, noting that in 2013 the company opened the largest Porsche center in Shanghai and is working on another one in Shenzhen. The company is now expanding into consumer electronics, as part of its efforts to continue evolving. "Our portfolio keeps on changing and we really look at what the customers are looking for,” Wong said. A case in point is Jebsen’s relationship with Dyson, which makes household products including bladeless fans. “Our mission is really enriching people’s lives across this region with a variety of products.” Other companies with different offerings take a different approach. Metro JinJiang, unlike the other companies represented at the panel, does not distribute luxury brands but quality products at low cost, said Jeroen de Groot, managing director at Metro JinJiang Cash & Carry, which operates supermarket chains. "The first few years were really difficult in China. Unfortunately, we needed a few food scandals to get the market (to understand) the concept of quality,” said de Groot. "We talk about commoditized goods. The consumer is free to buy anywhere and anytime.” For a company like JinJiang, having a physical presence is key to assuring customers that what they are buying is what they get — something that is harder to do for online retailers. But physical retailing has a clear life cycle that facilitates the entry and expansion of new players, ranging from convenience stores to supermarkets and hypermarkets and so on. "Cash & Carry is doing quite well and entering new markets,” said de Groot. For retailers, the New Silk Road initiative presents an opportunity. It is also expected to benefit Chinese companies looking to expand, as long as they can reach out to new customers with varied backgrounds. Improving connectivity The New Silk Road is linked to the One Belt, One Road initiative, which seeks to improve connectivity along the historic Silk Road through Central Asia and the Maritime Silk Road. It aims to facilitate and expand not just trade but also ideas and exposure, said Dou Wenyu, associate dean at the College of Business at the City University of Hong Kong. Through the New Silk Road, China is working to link more regions together. The initiative should expand the flow of goods, capital, people and ideas as well as exposure to brands. "You have to have the right strategy to capitalize on this opportunity,” Dou said. The opportunity is indeed great. Asian e-commerce in 2014 was worth $615 billion, about twice as big as e-commerce in the United States. China has the world’s biggest national e-commerce market with $449 billion of sales in 2014. The question, however, is whether the biggest players in China — Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent — can replicate their success internationally. This is made even more challenging by Asia’s diversity. This diversity makes localization even more important. Few companies pursue this strategy as well as Zalora, the online fashion retailer that localizes its website to suit the target audience. "Their e-commerce strategy varies from country to country … Is localization important or is standardization important in this day and age?” asked Dou. "My feeling is that both are important, but to be truly successful you have to drive localization.” The New Silk Road for Asia’s Retail Industry Panelists Lars Hardboe GALSGAARD managing director Greater China and Korea Bang & Olufsen DOU Wenyu associate dean College of Business City University of Hong Kong Bianca WONG human resources and corporate communications director Jebsen Group YU Fuping deputy general manager Joy City Property Jeroen de GROOT managing director Metro JinJiang Cash & Carry Roundtable chairman Zhou Li publisher and editor-in-chief China Daily Asia Pacific Moderator & program director Alexander Wan senior adviser China Daily Asia Pacific
2015-06-12The Chinese mainland’s “New Silk Road” initiative is poised to boost the development of retail business in the region and the key to success is to be adaptive, innovative and add value to the product range. That is according to a panel of leading retailers and scholars who came together for China Daily’s co-branded session at the Omni Channel Retailing Conference in Hong Kong. “Asia’s retail industry is to benefit tremendously as China revitalizes the centuries-old Silk Road trading route. Various trades may find their niche from the rich cultural and social environments in the region, as well as cash in on the spending power of Asian countries,” Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Asia Pacific, said in his welcome address to the co-branded session at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday. Held alongside Retail Asia Expo, the Omni Channel Retailing Conference is a platform for industry leaders to share new strategies and solutions to manage evolving technologies, social media trends and changing consumer expectations in Asia Pacific markets. “Ultimately with the New Silk Road, retailers will have access to 4.4 billion people in one big marketplace, where people, capital, goods, knowledge can flow freely. It would be a great stimulus for all the participants,” said Jeroen de Groot, managing director of Metro Jinjiang Cash & Carry Co Ltd. “One of the gold mines in Asia is e-commerce, which is twice the size of the US online retailing market,” noted Dou Wenyu, associate dean of the College of Business at City University of Hong Kong. However, Dou also pointed out that Chinese e-retailers, no matter how successful at home, have never won any major battle in overseas markets. “To replicate their domestic glory, they have to adopt the right strategy,” he said. Dou emphasized that “retailers should look at Asia not only as a single homogeneous continent, but as a diverse collection of national markets.” He added that the business environment in Asia varies from country to country, and each market is different in terms of culture, language, economic system and infrastructure, all key elements that determine business success. “To be truly successful, retailers have to drive localization to the deepest level, go to the cultural roots of the customers in each market, understand their behaviors thoroughly and find the ‘touch points’,” he advised. “It might take a few years for the New Silk Road to bear fruit. But retailers need to look into the growing force of the new generation of consumers, who are much more comfortable with social media and the Internet,” Dou added. “The incremental exposure to different cultures and products will reshape consumer behavior and thus, in turn, reshape retailers’ market strategies as well.” Changing shapes And the reshaping of retailers is already unfolding. De Groot told the audience that it is now a trend to build up a brand on the Chinese mainland with physical as well as online presence. “As a traditional retailer, we have to think outside traditional boundaries. The Internet giants are competitors as well as partners,” said de Groot. Metro Jinjiang Cash & Carry, a supermarket operator, has opened an online platform on Tmall, Alibaba’s B2C (business-to-consumer) shopping site. “We have been using big data to reach our customers. Compared with online retailers, the trust consumers have in us is our biggest advantage,” he added. Meanwhile, Yu Fuping, deputy general manager of Joy City Property Ltd, a leading Chinese shopping mall developer and operator, believes that innovation is critical for every brick-and-mortar retailer today. He added that Joy City has been pursuing interaction between its traditional retail spaces and e-commerce, in order to strengthen the shopping experience and raise management efficiency. “Through our partnerships with Alibaba and Tencent, consumers can shop in our malls online. They can book parking space and reserve restaurant seats through (messaging app) WeChat. During various online shopping festivals such as the Nov 11 ‘Singles’ Day’, we secured up to 30 percent on-year revenue growth last year,” Yu told the audience. Online-offline synergy While some retailers have benefited from their efforts to draw consumers online, others said on-site experience and value-added services are key ingredients for their success. “Operating as a dealer, our business is no longer just about products any more. It’s about the overall consumer experience — no matter whether in the showroom or during after-sales services,” said Bianca Wong, human resources and corporate communications director at Jebsen Group, a Hong Kong-based company with 120 years of history in the region. “In terms of functionality of products, competition is fierce. But what we are selling are the technology and lifestyle. We look into what our customers want and adapt to change. We bring products relevant to our customers and enrich their lifestyles. The way we differentiate from others has to be through the customer relationship and experience,” she added. And Lars Hardboe Galsgaard, managing director for Greater China and South Korea at Bang & Olufsen, a high-end audio-video products manufacturer, had this to say:“China’s transformation into a domestic consumption-driven economy is a good opportunity for us. Apart from offering great products, we believe customer service is critical.” “We are turning our stores into domestic showrooms, as fantastic products need to be shown in an equally fantastic environment,” Galsgaard said, adding the Danish brand has expanded significantly in the past few years to boost physical presence in the regional market. “Beyond shop floors, we add value to customers through a variety of services, such as offering home visits, engaging with customer-appointed designers and customized installations.” emmadai@chinadailyhk.com
2015-06-12零售業界領袖齊聚中國日報論壇 共同探討亞洲零售業「新絲綢之路」 【2015年6月10日,香港】中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇今日舉辦題為「亞洲零售業的新絲綢之路」的專題研討會,探討「新絲綢之路」時代下亞洲零售業前景,吸引逾200名業界精英人士出席。 中國的「一帶一路」與「亞洲基礎設施投資銀行」(AIIB)等戰略舉措,給「絲綢之路經濟帶」國家未來十年的經濟發展帶來深遠影響。作為世界第二大經濟體,中國的經濟增長動力正從出口轉向內需。與此同時,東盟國家將於2015年底建立東盟經濟共同體(AEC),創造一個逾六億人口的共同市場。這一系列歷史性發展將會對亞洲各行業資金、商品、知識與人才流動產生巨大影響,零售業亦將迎來前所未有的機遇和挑戰。 2014年11月11日,中國阿裏巴巴「雙十一」購物節單日銷售額再破紀錄,高達571億元人民幣(約93億美元),遠超美國「黑色星期五」與「網絡星期一」兩個購物日銷售額總和。中國零售業欣欣向榮,以及亞洲中產階級的日益崛起,將會對亞洲零售業的發展產生深遠影響。 中國日報亞太分社社長兼總編輯周立先生在致辭中表示,「新絲綢之路」局勢下,亞洲零售業的發展有賴於多元化合作,其中即包括渠道融合。本次論壇的研討嘉賓包括:Bang & Olufsen中國及韓國區董事總經理Lars Hardboe GALSGAARD先生;大悅城地產有限公司副總經理余福平先生;捷成集團人力資源及企業傳訊董事黃曉怡女士;麥德龍中國總裁席龍(Jeroen de Groot)先生及香港城市大學商學院副院長竇文宇教授。五位零售界領軍人物在研討會上各抒己見,探討「新絲綢之路」為零售業帶來的機遇與挑戰,以及業界如何實現人才、銷售和市場等多方面的合作。 丹麥頂級音響品牌Bang & Olufsen中國及韓國區董事總經理Lars Hardboe GALSGAARD先生指出中國的經濟發展逐漸轉型為以內需為主導,這將為零售業帶來無限商機。昨日(6月9日),Bang & Olufsen因其過去三年間在中國開設了50家零售店的迅速增長,以及其在高端音響設備品牌中的卓越成就,獲得了「中國日報亞太零售領袖大獎」。 大悅城地產有限公司副總經理余福平先生表示,「新絲綢之路」不斷促進人力、資本和商品在地區間的流動,也同時刺激了零售業的增長。創新是零售行業成功的關鍵所在。 捷成集團人力資源及企業傳訊董事黃曉怡女士談及用戶溝通問題時表示,作為經銷商,捷成集團的業務不只是銷售產品,更多的是關註消費者的用戶體驗。企業的核心能力在於不斷適應和參與到行業的發展中。 麥德龍中國總裁席龍(Jeroen de Groot)先生指出,「一帶一路」將帶給零售商們一個巨大的市場,互聯網巨頭(包括電商)等既是傳統零售商的競爭對手,同時也將會成為合作者。 香港城市大學商學院副院長竇文宇教授提出,亞洲的零售商應該把重點放在不斷開放的市場中。隨著「新絲綢之路」的發展,人們會看到各種來自不同國家的品牌,以及來自不同文化背景的生活方式。盡管目前全球化的趨勢不斷增強,但是在亞洲市場仍然有很強的多樣化需求。零售商們需要了解消費者不同的文化根源,從而找到對應的模式和多樣化的產品來滿足這些消費需求。 中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇(www.cdroundtable.com)是一個由亞洲國家和地區的政、商、學界領袖和社會精英參與的高端對話和交流平臺,圍繞亞洲地區經濟、商業、產業和社會發展等具有戰略影響的重要議題展開討論,至今在港、澳和亞太多國已經舉辦了41余屆,逾萬名決策精英參與。 -完- PDF Download: attach/pdf/20150610/%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E7%A8%BF-6%E6%9C%8810%E6%97%A5-%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E6%97%A5%E5%A0%B1%E9%9B%B6%E5%94%AE%E7%A0%94%E8%A8%8E%E6%9C%83.pdf
2015-06-11Retail gurus come together to explore the destiny of Asia’s Retailing industry under the New Silk Road Jun 10, 2015, Hong Kong – More than 200 delegates from the regional retail sector assembled at the China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable Panel on “The New Silk Road for Asia’s Retail Industry” at 11.30AM to 12.30PM at the Omni-Channel Retailing Conference 2015. This year marks our third cooperation with the Omni-Channel Retailing Conference and we are delighted to be the only Official Media Partner for such a significant event. Held alongside Retail Asia Expo from 9 to 10 June, the Omni-Channel Retailing Conference is a platform for industry leaders to discuss strategies and best practices and share insights. Retail Asia Expo 2015 has been carefully curated to present insights, products and equipment that will help retailers take advantage of new retail technology and e-commerce solutions and benefit from the latest retail design and in-store marketing trends. China’s “One Belt, One Road” and “Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)” initiatives have literally defined the economic development roadmap over the next decade for countries along the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road”. As the world’s second-largest economy, China’s strategic driver for growth is being shifted from exports to domestic consumption. The establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015 will create a common market of 640 million people. On “Singles Day” (November 11) 2014, Alibaba posted a sales record of US$9.3 billion (CNY 57.1 billion), outpacing the combined sales of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping days in the US. It is predicted that China’s flourishing retail industry and Asia’s rising middle-class income group will have a substantial impact on Asia’s retailing industry. These historical and remarkable developments will generate a huge flow of capital, goods, knowledge and people. Asia’s retail industry will naturally be impacted significantly. In this session, panelists discussed the strategic significance of these initiatives and the forthcoming trends, challenges and opportunities for Asia’s retail industry. Last night at the gala dinner, Mr. ZHOU Li, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of China Daily Asia Pacific, gave a speech at the Hong Kong Retail Industry Trade Awards (HKRITA) 2015. The HKRITA 2015 aims at recognizing the efforts and dedication of retail industry frontrunners. To close the ceremony on a high note, Mr. ZHOU presented the China Daily Asia Pacific Retail Leadership Award to Mr. Lars Hardboe GALSGAARD, Manag-ing Director Greater China & Korea, Bang & Olufsen. In his speech, Mr. ZHOU expressed that Bang & Olufsen had made the right choice when it sought greater global exposure by entering the Chinese main-land market 11 years ago, and its success in this respect has served as a role model not only for its partners, but also competitors. Mr. ZHOU Li, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of China Daily Asia Pacific believed that under The New Silk Road initiative the development of the region’s retailing industry relies on diversified cooperation, which in-cludes the integration of different channels. At his welcoming remarks, Mr. ZHOU also extended a warmwelcome to the distinguished panelists including Mr. Lars Hardboe GALSGAARD, Managing Director, Greater China and Korea, Bang & Olufsen; Mr. YU Fuping, Deputy General Manager, Joy City Property Limited; Ms. Bianca WONG, Human Resources and Corporate Communications Director, Jebsen Group; Mr. Jeroen de GROOT, Managing Director, Metro JinJiang Cash & Carry Co.,Ltd., China and Prof. DOU Wenyu, Associate Dean, College of Business, City University of Hong Kong. GALSGAARD believed that increasing consumer experience is critical for retailers. WONG echoed on the point, she expressed that enhancing consumer experience in the showroom or during the after sales relationship is vital to every retailers. DOU agreed to both, he mentioned that consumer satisfaction is the key driver for each retailer; incremental brand exposure reshapes consumer behavior and thus reshaping retailers’ market strategies. He also stressed that The New Silk Road aids in connecting all consumers from across the region; it serves as a platform in unveiling all kinds of brands from different countries, lifestyles from different cultures to consumers in the region. In addition, YU mentioned that The New Silk Road will boost the flow of capital and goods in the region, hence stimulating the growth of retail business. GROOT corresponded that the One Belt, One Road initiative will create a single market of 4.4 billion people for the retailers. ### About China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable The China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable is a by-invitation network of movers and shakers in Asia providing platforms for focused dialogue, issue investigation, and possible collective action on strategic issues relating to economic, business and social development in Asia. Our aim is to enhance communication and increase mutual understanding between China, Asian and Western countries. Roundtable events are held in major cities across Asia. PDF Download: attach/pdf/Press%20Release-Jun%2010-China%20Daily%20Retail%20Panel.pdf
2015-06-11The mainland’s New Silk Road initiative is poised to be a stimulus for the development of retail business in the region, and the key to success is to be innovative, adaptive and adding value to products, a panel of leading retailers and scholars said in Hong Kong. “Asia’s retail industry is to benefit tremendously as China revitalizes the centuries-old Silk Road trading route. Various trades may find their niche from the rich cultural and social environments in the region, as well as cash in on the spending power of Asian countries,” Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Asia Pacific, said in his welcome address at China Daily’s co-branded session at the Omni Channel Retailing Conference, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday. Held alongside Retail Asia Expo, the conference is a platform for industry leaders to share new strategies and solutions to manage evolving technologies, social media trends and changing consumer expectations in Asia-Pacific markets. Jeroen de Groot, managing director of Metro JinJiang Cash & Carry Co Ltd and a panelist, said:“Ultimately with the New Silk Road, retailers will have access to 4.4 billion people in one big marketplace, where people, capital, goods, knowledge can flow freely. It would be a great stimulus for all the participants, including China.” But it is challenging to win the hearts of Asian consumers, noted Dou Wenyu, associate dean of the College of Business at City University of Hong Kong. “Retailers should look at Asia not only as a single homogeneous continent, but as a diverse collection of national markets,” Dou told the audience. “The business environment in Asia varies from country to country. Each of these markets has its own culture, language, economic system and infrastructure. To be truly successful, retailers have to drive localization to the deepest level, to people’s cultural roots and find their ‘touch points’.” Expecting to benefit from the New Silk Road also is Yu Fuping, deputy general manager of Joy City Property Ltd, a leading Chinese mainland shopping-mall developer and operator. He said innovation is the theme for every brick-and-mortar retailer today. “We have focused on interaction between traditional retailing space and e-commerce. Through our partnerships with Alibaba and Tencent, we have secured up to 30 percent on-year revenue growth during various online shopping festivals,” Yu said. “Improving consumer experience is critical for retailers,” said Lars Hardboe Galsgaard, managing director of Greater China and South Korea at Danish consumer electronics company Bang & Olufsen. “China’s transformation into a domestic consumption-driven economy is a good opportunity for us. We are turning our stores into showrooms, adding value through consumer services and increasing our physical presence significantly in the past few years.” Bianca Wong, human resources and corporate communications director of Jebsen Group, echoed those sentiments in saying that as a dealer and retailer, “business is no longer just about selling products any more”. She emphasized that it has become the mission of retailers to “look into what customers want, adapt to change and enrich customers’ lifestyles by bringing them a variety of products”. emmadai@chinadailyhk.com
2015-06-11JUN 02, 2015, Hong Kong – More than 1,200 senior executives from around the worldattended the China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable Panel on “Managing Asia: A Case Study of Asia’s Film Industry Development” held in the World Business Forum Hong Kong. China Daily values the opportunity to work with the World Business Forum Hong Kong. Mr. ZHOU Li, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of China Daily Asia Pacific believed that Asia’s film industry is a classic business case that has captivated and inspired film makers and investors in the region and beyond.In his opening remarks, Mr. Zhou welcomed the distinguished speaker Dr. Wilfred WONG Ying-Wai, Chairman of Hong Kong International Film Festival Society, Chairman of Asian Film Awards Academy & Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Film Development Council to share his executive views on Asia’s business rise from the perspective of the film industry. Dr. Wong is the only speaker from Hong Kong at the Forum and talked about Hong Kong’s unique role in boosting the business development in the region and the world at large. He also shared his insightful philosophy and substantial experience in the film industry with the delegates to demonstrate the uniqueness of Asia’s film industry and how its thriving development can bring enormous impact across the globe. https://youtu.be/5nNqG3dNZXk
2015-06-08Human beings could be relegated to “family pet” status by the speedy and somewhat fearsome development of artificial intelligence. That is the fear of no less than Steve Wozniak, co-founder of global tech giant Apple and a Silicon Valley icon. Addressing the World Business Forum in Hong Kong on Tuesday, Wozniak said he is really worried about the growing reliance of human beings on Internet-connected devices and appliances, a trend that will very likely make us all too lazy to use our brains. It may sound like the terrible yet unrealistic outcomes in some futuristic movies, but once our increasingly sophisticated machines develop intelligence and can think for themselves, they will get the ability to train themselves more rapidly than developers can program them and could easily outstrip their human creators, Wozniak warned. "We want the devices to do things for us, so we won’t have to work that hard and we won’t have to think hard as humans. It’s kind of like my pet dog, who is just being taken care of all day long,” said Wozniak. "We want to be taken care of by technology.” Having witnessed the exciting explosion in mobile computing in the past few decades, Wozniak remains cautious about the burgeoning industry of the so-called “Internet of things”. He said it is already showing signs of being a bubble, with too many companies dabbling in the sector and too many people changing their lifestyle too randomly in a way never seen before. At Tuesday’s forum, Wozniak also reflected on his early career in the days before, during and after the rise of Apple. The accidental discovery of some computer journals in his childhood opened the doors of the wonderful digital world to him and marked the starting point of his legendary journey in computer design. But he never thought of finding a job as a computer designer. He just wanted to include an element of fun in all things he did, which stands as his lifetime philosophy, Wozniak said. So he did not have any formulas about running a company or being political. He just did computer design for fun. He knew he could really hit the big time by designing computers with pictures, graphics and games for the average Joe in the average home, totally different from the giant and sophisticated computers that Hewlett-Packard and many big firms insisted on designing for scientific purposes. He just foresaw the future of widespread, affordable computing devices with the historic birth of the Apple I personal computer in 1976. “And our pursuit for smaller, lighter and more human devices continues to spell the future for computers,” he said. Steve single-handedly designed and built the first Apple I kits, which went on sale for $666.66, and also designed the 1977 follow-up Apple II computer. By the time the Apple III came along in 1980, Apple had staff and a production line. Wozniak also shared his view that marketing, standing as the key link between engineers who know how excellent something can become and what people actually want, could be more important than engineers in executing innovative plans and products. “Marketing is important for engineers to understand how much it is worth for customers and what features should be put in the products.” Source: http://www.chinadailyasia.com/hknews/2015-06/03/content_15271808.html
2015-06-05The tourism resources-rich western region of China, the backbone of the country’s tourism sector, needs to find its own sustainable and gradual approach to develop the tourism industry, a leading mainland expert believes. The western regions of the Chinese mainland, home to a third of the country’s administrative provinces and autonomous regions, is hailed as a cornucopia of the nation’s tourism resources. However, most county heads and town mayors, who usually have a final say in tapping local tourism resources, often do not have the slightest idea about how to exploit these resources sustainably and scientifically, China Chamber of Tourism Chairman Wang Ping told China Daily, on the sidelines of the 2015 Global Tourism Economy Forum in Macao. What matters most is to educate local officials about developing the tourism industry in a sustainable and environment-friendly way, Wang believes. She organizes an annual training class for the heads of counties from the western regions — an endeavor she launched eight years ago — inviting them to learn from the experience of Hong Kong, regarded for decades as a world-class tourist destination. As tourism industry experts from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University always tell the class, the charms of this “Pearl of the Orient” lie not in its skyscrapers and the concrete jungle of downtown, but in the streets, alleys and Hong Kong-style cha chaan teng that exude the flavors of local life. “Hong Kong’s experience sheds some light on tapping and retaining the uniqueness of local tourism resources, which helps the city stand out among a good many tourist destinations,” said Wang. “That experience works for western China quite well.” So far, Wang’s training class boasts 300 trainees, a third of them top leaders from poverty-stricken national-level counties. Officials from these rural areas, where the tourism industry is still caught up in a kind of Wild West scenario with a bit of gold rush going on, tend to impatiently pitch tourism as a way to shake off poverty, said Wang. The problem is many officials are not locally born and bred. They are just transferred to work there and pay more attention to translating tourism resources into real economic benefits without thinking too much about sustainability, noted Wang. “What I often tell them is to be patient. We can never afford to develop the local tourism industry in the shortsighted way of killing the goose that lays the golden egg,” she observed. The hard fact is our future generations are doomed to face rapidly depleting natural tourism resources. So well-preserved tourism resources are bound to enjoy much greater value and become highly prized in the near future. “Why should we be in such a hurry?” asked Wang, who constantly reminds local officials to regard the counties they are working in as their hometowns, have greater respect for local tourism resources, and cherish and develop them with the purpose of benefiting local people and future generations. As a tourism industry veteran, Wang believes the sector can truly lift the counties out of poverty, if approached and developed with a bit of creativity and in line with local conditions. Dismissing the oft-cited hurdle for the western counties to develop tourism — the lack of good transport links — Wang noted this disadvantage could possibly be turned into a brand-new advantage as long as planners follow the ever-changing tourism market. As visitors get increasingly bored with straight forward arrivals at tourist destinations by air or rail, both means of transportation that western China lacks, self-driving road trips are catching on among visitors. And this is where the rugged western regions could stand to gain, Wang pointed out. The point is that every county lying on the route could find the best way to showcase their uniqueness and make tourists feel every moment during the road trip is a feast for the eyes. By linking the breathtaking scenery of the Silk Road with the delicious meat of the renowned Tan sheep of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region, and the sweetness of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region’s melons and fruits, Wang has created a great road map for western China to attract tourists from all over the world. Source: http://www.chinadailyasia.com/2015-10/16/content_15330737.html
2015-10-162015年10月13日,澳門 - 「中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇」第四次攜手世界旅遊經濟論壇舉辦“與旅遊業領袖對話”論壇,題為「全方位探索文化旅遊——文化遺產與創意生活文化」。今日中午,旅遊業界翹楚聚首澳門威尼斯人酒店三樓宴會廳,熱議文化旅遊發展動向。 聯合國世界旅遊組織認為,人們出於對文化元素的渴望,喜歡深入體驗旅遊地的風土人情,「文化旅遊」應運而生。資料顯示:中國2014年度出境人次同比增長了20%,達1.07億,其中約八成是旅遊度假;放眼世界,文化旅遊發展迅速,已然成為眾多國家打造「可持續發展旅遊業」的戰略工具。 然而,發展總會帶來利益的衝突。遊人倍增、創造利潤的同時也消耗大量資源,給文化遺產保護帶來巨大壓力。旅遊目的地一方面需要不斷創新,以滿足遊客日益增長的文化需求,另一方面還需要與各方攜手保護本土文化生態,化解利益衝突。此外,在「一帶一路」戰略構想下,跨界合作、人才培養等亦是文化旅遊業的重要課題。 「中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇」邀請到七位學界、商界頂尖領袖參與本次論壇,包括:南開大學旅遊與服務學院院長白長虹教授;中華全國工商業聯合會常委、月星集團董事局主席丁佐宏先生;中國全聯旅遊業商會副主席兼秘書長、中國旅遊文化發展研究院高級研究員吉小冬先生;德安傑環球顧問集團總裁賈雲峰先生;中國全聯旅遊業商會會長、北京中華民族博物館院長王平女士;剛毅(集團)有限公司董事長、中國全聯旅遊業商會執行主席王敏剛先生;江蘇蘇甯環球集團副總裁吳兆蘭女士。幾位業界精英就文化遺產的保護與傳承、文化旅遊的創新與推廣等話題各抒己見,與會嘉賓獲益良多。 南開大學旅遊與服務學院院長白長虹教授表示,很多瀕危的文化遺產,如麗江「東巴文化」等因旅遊受到重視,得以傳承與保護。所以適當的旅遊開發有利於文化的延續,如加入高水準的策劃又能令旅行者得到良好體驗。 中華全國工商業聯合會常委、月星集團董事局主席丁佐宏先生感到中國酒店以及其他旅遊相關配套設施需要進一步擺脫「土豪」形象,因為這是文化的深層體現。 中國全聯旅遊業商會副主席兼秘書長、中國旅遊文化發展研究院高級研究員吉小冬先生認為旅遊是精神層面享受的過程,因此可以結合文學、影視等各種與旅遊相關衍生作品來令遊客擁有全方位的認知和享受。 德安傑環球顧問集團總裁賈雲峰先生表示文化遺產如果缺乏行銷,會淪為「被遺忘的財產」,所以既要打造文化旅遊品牌,也要考慮市場的興趣與需求,打造一些衍生品,使文化融入旅遊者的生活,產生深遠影響。 中國全聯旅遊業商會會長、北京中華民族博物館院長王平女士認為中國真正的旅遊專業人才培訓還沒起步,缺乏和高端的服務理念和創新思路。未來幾年,人才缺口會更大,培育人才即是為行業發展的提供動力。 剛毅(集團)有限公司董事長、中國全聯旅遊業商會執行主席王敏剛先生表示業界不應只看旅遊業的數字增長,而要關注文化旅遊的中的文明元素,深入發掘旅遊目的地衣食住行和生活狀態,給遊客以真正的浸入式體驗。 江蘇蘇甯環球集團副總裁吳兆蘭女士視互聯網為旅遊發展的戰略夥伴。互聯網給人以便利、個人化的定制服務,而不同板塊的合作有利於各行業的創新。 中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇(www.cdroundtable.com)是一個由亞洲國家和地區的政、商、學界領袖和社會精英參與的高端對話和交流平臺,圍繞亞洲地區經濟、商業、產業和社會發展等具有戰略影響的重要議題展開討論,至今在港、澳和亞太多國已經舉辦了40餘屆,逾萬名決策精英參與。
2015-10-13Oct 13 2015, Macao – China Daily and the China Chamber of Tourism co-hosted a panel session at the Global Tourism Economy Forum for the fourth consecutive year, bringing together distinguished experts from the academic, business, travel and tourism fields to review the trends, opportunities and challenges in cultural tourism. The dialogue, entitled “Exploring the Full Dimension of Cultural Tourism – Cultural Heritage and Creative Living Culture”, was held between 11.35 am and 1.05 pm on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 in Ballroom G-H-J-K at the Venetian Hotel, Macao. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, cultural tourism is gaining popularity on a global scale as more people are motivated by cultural intents, and travel to new destinations to get a taste of the lifestyle, identities and characters of those places and their people. Latest data show that the number of outbound Chinese tourists had risen by 20 percent to more than 107 million in 2014, compared with the previous year; and about 80 percent of the overseas trips made by Chinese travelers were for vacation. Worldwide, cultural tourism has become a strategic vehicle for sustainable tourism development in many countries as it has been growing faster than most other segments in the industry. However these dynamics involve various stakeholders with competing interests. Leaders of the travel-and-tourism industry must strive to strike a balance between the preservation of cultural heritage and the resource consumption of tourists. On one hand, they need to inject new and creative growth impetus into destinations and, on the other, they are expected to work with the government and the local community to avoid losing their cultural identity. Moreover, under the China-led “Belt and Road” initiative, issues like cross-border cooperation and talent cultivation have come under heated debate. The panelists included Prof. Bai Changhong, Dean of College of Tourism and Service Management, Nankai University; Mr. Ding Zuohong, Memberof Standing Committee of ACFIC and Chairman of the board of Yuexing Group; Mr. Ji Xiaodong, Vice President and Secretary-General of China Chamber of Tourism and Senior Researcher, China Tour and Culture Development Research Institute; Mr. Johnson Jia Yunfeng, Chief Executive Officer of D&J Global Communications; Ms. Wang Ping, Chairman of China Chamber of Tourism and Curator of China Ethnic Museum; Mr. Peter Wong, Chairman, The MK Corporation Ltd.; Executive Chairman, China Chamber of Tourism and Ms. Wu Zhaolan, Vice President of Suning Universal Group. Prof. Bai Changhong, Dean of College of Tourism and Service Management, Nankai University thought the question for tourism industry leaders is not whether we should develop cultural tourism, it should be about the way you develop it. “The development should be high quality to represent the value of our culture," said Bai. While Mr. Peter Wong, Chairman, The MK Corporation Ltd.; Executive Chairman, China Chamber of Tourism appealed for preserving cultural heritages by learning lessons from global experience; Mr. Johnson Jia Yunfeng, Chief Executive Officer of D&J Global Communications believed cultural heritage needs to be combined with creative living. Only when cultural heritage can be seen everywhere and is deeply dissolved in our blood can we spread our culture in a perfect way. Ms. Wang Ping, Chairman of China Chamber of Tourism and Curator of China Ethnic Museum thought the mass market consumers, who we should always invite to engage in the tourism product development, stand as the solid foundation for the tourism industry. In particular, Mr. Ding Zuohong, Memberof Standing Committee of ACFIC and Chairman of the board of Yuexing Group gave examples of how other industries can contribute to the development of cultural tourism; for example, adding innovative elements in furniture and decoration entertainment facilities to make tourism resorts more creative. Additionally, Mr. Ji Xiaodong, Vice President and Secretary-General of China Chamber of Tourism and Senior Researcher, China Tour and Culture Development Research Institute suggested promoting cultural tourism by making efforts to enhance the internal meaning of tourism resorts and put emphasis on spiritual inheritance of the places. Ms. Wu Zhaolan, Vice President of Suning Universal Group saw the power of “Tourism+Internet” with the development of “internetization” of information. “The integration of tourism and internet is not only an offline-to-online transformation of traditional products, but also a future trend that reflects the complementary role of the two,” said Wu.
2015-10-13China’s “One Belt, One Road” development strategy is expected to bring for Metro AG an opportunity to expand to mainland cities they cannot reach currently, as the initiative will tremendously improve logistics services in the country. That is according to the German-based global retailer’s managing director on the mainland, Jeroen de Groot, who spoke at the China Daily co-branded session at the Omni Channel Retailing Conference in Hong Kong. De Groot, managing director of Metro Jinjiang Cash & Carry in China, said the initiative will connect a group of countries with 4 billion people in all and facilitate the free flow of goods, capital, people and knowledge. He believes that it will stimulate the development of not only the eastern region of the mainland, but other areas as well. Retailers will see greater development in these areas as the improved logistics will help them reduce costs. The mainland is a core market for Metro and embodies huge potential, and the company is looking for still more opportunities to open more stores, de Groot said. The company now runs 82 stores in 56 mainland cities, with new stores coming up in Changsha, Hunan province, and Chongqing. As growth slows down in the mainland retail market, Metro has been adopting various measures to maintain an upward curve. “Hypermarket and traditional trade are slowing down. But convenience stores and e-commerce are growing at a faster pace,” noted de Groot. Metro China’s multichannel strategy regards e-commerce and franchises as its pillars, alongside its traditional cash-and-carry and welfare business. Metro has opened a convenience store in Shanghai and aims to open more franchises countrywide. It has also launched a new e-commerce website, metromall.com.cn. De Groot said the company’s focus on e-commerce should have come earlier as the online- offline combination is the current trend in the retail industry. “But our advantage is that we have a strong brand that gained customer trust through physical stores. Pure online stores often face trust problems because customers don’t see the real products and have no idea about their quality. That’s why a lot of online players are setting up offline stores,” he said. De Groot noted that Metro is not a pure retailer, but a cash-and-carry wholesaler serving mainly professional independent business customers. “We don’t see any direct competitor on the mainland, only overlapping companies. That gives us different potentials compared with (supermarket operators) Carrefour and Walmart.” felix@chinadailyhk.com http://www.chinadailyasia.com/2015-06/12/content_15276032.html
2015-06-22High-end audio-video equipment maker Bang & Olufsen has its sights firmly set on expansion on the Chinese mainland and is bullish on market prospects there. Amid robust demand across most markets, including key ones in Europe and in China, the Danish upmarket electronics producer swung to a net profit of Danish krone 17.3 million ($2.6 million) in its fiscal third-quarter last year, from a loss of Danish krone 31.9 million in the year-ago period. Chinese mainland took over the lead in the company’s B2C (business-to-consumer) business growth for the reporting period, with an increase of 37 percent, compared with 12 percent in Europe and 27 percent in BRIC market. Lars Hardboe Galsgaard, managing director for Greater China and South Korea, portrayed Bang & Olufsen’s target audience on the Chinese mainland as people in whatever profession who really appreciate the quality of life and keep leaning forward every day. This is where Bang & Olufsen comes in, by helping them lean backwards to take some time off for relaxation, said Galsgaard, who always cautiously avoids defining the company’s target audience simply by age group or occupation. He believes such target audiences do come in tidy numbers on the mainland, as the nation’s luxury consumers, who are switching focus from face-giving to personal pleasure and self-indulgence, become increasingly sophisticated and mature. And the beauty of Bang & Olufsen never lies in showing off the brand but in enjoying the high quality of sound with family or friends at home, Galsgaard told China Daily. Founded in Denmark in 1925, Bang & Olufsen just marked its 90th year this March. The luxury stereo and television maker dabbled in the mainland market through distributor channels in 2004, before moving its Asia headquarters from Singapore to Shanghai in 2011 and joining the fray all-out one year later. In 2012, the Danish group entered into a deal with luxury goods company Sparkle Roll and private equity group A Capital to expand its presence in the Chinese market. However, brand awareness is a real issue in the mainland market, where Bang & Olufsen is trying to beef up its presence by pumping investment into marketing, distribution, staff training and development of new stores. The Danish Hi-Fi company changed its distributorship model in earlier 2012 and directly operates its stores on the mainland, in Hong Kong and Macao, rather than operating through franchises According to Galsgaard, Bang & Olufsen follows a pyramid business model on the mainland, and sitting at the top are 35 flagship stores located in luxury malls like Shanghai’s Plaza 66 and exclusively selling the Bang & Olufsen luxury product line. The middle is made up of 40 premier stores in premier malls, selling its lower-priced B&O Play range — aimed at a younger market. And at the base are 3,200 third-party multi-brand retailers including Apple stores, where consumers can easily find Bang & Olufsen’s uber-trendy and stylish loudspeakers. Compared with the lower brand awareness and weak business foundation that Bang & Olufsen has struggled with on the mainland, business in the Hong Kong market is a whole different story. Bang & Olufsen, noted Galsgaard, enjoys a fruitful partnership with its reputable dealer, the Dutch-based technology company Philips, which built on its local business for almost three decades. The Danish group took over Philips’ business after it pulled out of this sector earlier in the decade and Galsgaard believes that laid a solid foundation for Bang & Olufsen to gain a foothold in the SAR, where it now has five stores — plus one in Macao. sophia@chinadailyhk.com http://www.chinadailyasia.com/2015-06/12/content_15276026.html
2015-06-22To succeed in Asia, retailers will need to innovate and still provide a standard experience. At the same time, they must localize their offerings while staying in tune with the diverse needs of consumers across Asian markets. They will also have to project a trustworthy brand and adapt to evolving scenarios, said experts who gathered in Hong Kong for a conference on the retailing industry. Held alongside the Retail Asia Expo at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Omni-Channel Retail Conference 2015 brought together experts from across the region. One panel that took place on June 10, sponsored by China Daily Asia Pacific, was themed The New Silk Road for Asia’s Retail Industry. China’s plan to develop new trade routes, along with the launch of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, will drive the construction and development of infrastructure, and boost trade in the region, said Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Asia Pacific. "Asia’s retail industry is poised to benefit tremendously among other sectors as these giant projects take off. There will be opportunities galore,” said Zhou. “This industry stands to reap the fortune to be the first to tap into these vast markets on offer.” The New Silk Road should facilitate the free movement of goods and people, said Yu Fuping, deputy general manager at Joy City Property, which specializes in developing and operating commercial properties. It is now building a logistics center in Chengdu, in southwestern Sichuan province, along with seven new shopping malls throughout the country. For its tenants, many of whom are international companies like Zara and Gap, foot traffic is essential to drive sales. Driving more customer traffic and boosting sales require constant innovation, said Yu. "We believe that in the market economy, innovation has no end,” said Yu. Joy City is also working with Tencent to improve customer experience and give clients a feel of products for home use. "We have been providing an artistic feel for the customers,” said Yu. A key approach to overcoming challenges is for retailers to constantly create more value for consumers, said Lars Galsgaard, managing director for Greater China and Korea at Bang & Olufsen. Three trends drive retail operations at the Danish audiovisual company. The first is moving toward custom and domesticated showrooms that feel like high-end homes. "We believe that exceptional products deserve exceptional surroundings,” Galsgaard said. Selling experience The second trend is to sell not a product but an experience, with customized installation and customer service. The third trend is the move toward closer integration of online-to-offline commerce — a strategy that attracts potential customers from online channels to physical stores. "It is the art of welcoming our customers as friends. We help people reconnect with their senses for a truly immersive experience of our products,” Galsgaard said. While Bang & Olufsen offers a premium product in a single space — a product that is clearly differentiated — other companies focus on the retailing and distribution of multiple offerings. As such, these firms have to know their customers and constantly adapt to their changing wants and needs. It is also important to adapt products to the customer and the region in which they are sold, something that Jebsen Group does well, said Bianca Wong, human resources and corporate communications director at Jebsen, a marketing and distribution company which has been operating in Asia since 1895. Among the brands that the company distributes are luxury vehicles such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Porsche. "How do you compete with other dealers for the same brand and the same product? The way you differentiate is through the customer experience,” Wong said. To build customer experience, clients need to know that the products Jebsen sells are both real and state-of-the-art. Other services, from insurance to after-sales, are also important. "People will come back for the service,” she said. Having the trust of the customer is really important in China, she added. She said there is more to enhancing the customer experience than just selling a car with a smile. The business requires the company to provide an overall customer experience. "That is why we continue to invest in this region,” said Wong, noting that in 2013 the company opened the largest Porsche center in Shanghai and is working on another one in Shenzhen. The company is now expanding into consumer electronics, as part of its efforts to continue evolving. "Our portfolio keeps on changing and we really look at what the customers are looking for,” Wong said. A case in point is Jebsen’s relationship with Dyson, which makes household products including bladeless fans. “Our mission is really enriching people’s lives across this region with a variety of products.” Other companies with different offerings take a different approach. Metro JinJiang, unlike the other companies represented at the panel, does not distribute luxury brands but quality products at low cost, said Jeroen de Groot, managing director at Metro JinJiang Cash & Carry, which operates supermarket chains. "The first few years were really difficult in China. Unfortunately, we needed a few food scandals to get the market (to understand) the concept of quality,” said de Groot. "We talk about commoditized goods. The consumer is free to buy anywhere and anytime.” For a company like JinJiang, having a physical presence is key to assuring customers that what they are buying is what they get — something that is harder to do for online retailers. But physical retailing has a clear life cycle that facilitates the entry and expansion of new players, ranging from convenience stores to supermarkets and hypermarkets and so on. "Cash & Carry is doing quite well and entering new markets,” said de Groot. For retailers, the New Silk Road initiative presents an opportunity. It is also expected to benefit Chinese companies looking to expand, as long as they can reach out to new customers with varied backgrounds. Improving connectivity The New Silk Road is linked to the One Belt, One Road initiative, which seeks to improve connectivity along the historic Silk Road through Central Asia and the Maritime Silk Road. It aims to facilitate and expand not just trade but also ideas and exposure, said Dou Wenyu, associate dean at the College of Business at the City University of Hong Kong. Through the New Silk Road, China is working to link more regions together. The initiative should expand the flow of goods, capital, people and ideas as well as exposure to brands. "You have to have the right strategy to capitalize on this opportunity,” Dou said. The opportunity is indeed great. Asian e-commerce in 2014 was worth $615 billion, about twice as big as e-commerce in the United States. China has the world’s biggest national e-commerce market with $449 billion of sales in 2014. The question, however, is whether the biggest players in China — Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent — can replicate their success internationally. This is made even more challenging by Asia’s diversity. This diversity makes localization even more important. Few companies pursue this strategy as well as Zalora, the online fashion retailer that localizes its website to suit the target audience. "Their e-commerce strategy varies from country to country … Is localization important or is standardization important in this day and age?” asked Dou. "My feeling is that both are important, but to be truly successful you have to drive localization.” The New Silk Road for Asia’s Retail Industry Panelists Lars Hardboe GALSGAARD managing director Greater China and Korea Bang & Olufsen DOU Wenyu associate dean College of Business City University of Hong Kong Bianca WONG human resources and corporate communications director Jebsen Group YU Fuping deputy general manager Joy City Property Jeroen de GROOT managing director Metro JinJiang Cash & Carry Roundtable chairman Zhou Li publisher and editor-in-chief China Daily Asia Pacific Moderator & program director Alexander Wan senior adviser China Daily Asia Pacific
2015-06-12The Chinese mainland’s “New Silk Road” initiative is poised to boost the development of retail business in the region and the key to success is to be adaptive, innovative and add value to the product range. That is according to a panel of leading retailers and scholars who came together for China Daily’s co-branded session at the Omni Channel Retailing Conference in Hong Kong. “Asia’s retail industry is to benefit tremendously as China revitalizes the centuries-old Silk Road trading route. Various trades may find their niche from the rich cultural and social environments in the region, as well as cash in on the spending power of Asian countries,” Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Asia Pacific, said in his welcome address to the co-branded session at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday. Held alongside Retail Asia Expo, the Omni Channel Retailing Conference is a platform for industry leaders to share new strategies and solutions to manage evolving technologies, social media trends and changing consumer expectations in Asia Pacific markets. “Ultimately with the New Silk Road, retailers will have access to 4.4 billion people in one big marketplace, where people, capital, goods, knowledge can flow freely. It would be a great stimulus for all the participants,” said Jeroen de Groot, managing director of Metro Jinjiang Cash & Carry Co Ltd. “One of the gold mines in Asia is e-commerce, which is twice the size of the US online retailing market,” noted Dou Wenyu, associate dean of the College of Business at City University of Hong Kong. However, Dou also pointed out that Chinese e-retailers, no matter how successful at home, have never won any major battle in overseas markets. “To replicate their domestic glory, they have to adopt the right strategy,” he said. Dou emphasized that “retailers should look at Asia not only as a single homogeneous continent, but as a diverse collection of national markets.” He added that the business environment in Asia varies from country to country, and each market is different in terms of culture, language, economic system and infrastructure, all key elements that determine business success. “To be truly successful, retailers have to drive localization to the deepest level, go to the cultural roots of the customers in each market, understand their behaviors thoroughly and find the ‘touch points’,” he advised. “It might take a few years for the New Silk Road to bear fruit. But retailers need to look into the growing force of the new generation of consumers, who are much more comfortable with social media and the Internet,” Dou added. “The incremental exposure to different cultures and products will reshape consumer behavior and thus, in turn, reshape retailers’ market strategies as well.” Changing shapes And the reshaping of retailers is already unfolding. De Groot told the audience that it is now a trend to build up a brand on the Chinese mainland with physical as well as online presence. “As a traditional retailer, we have to think outside traditional boundaries. The Internet giants are competitors as well as partners,” said de Groot. Metro Jinjiang Cash & Carry, a supermarket operator, has opened an online platform on Tmall, Alibaba’s B2C (business-to-consumer) shopping site. “We have been using big data to reach our customers. Compared with online retailers, the trust consumers have in us is our biggest advantage,” he added. Meanwhile, Yu Fuping, deputy general manager of Joy City Property Ltd, a leading Chinese shopping mall developer and operator, believes that innovation is critical for every brick-and-mortar retailer today. He added that Joy City has been pursuing interaction between its traditional retail spaces and e-commerce, in order to strengthen the shopping experience and raise management efficiency. “Through our partnerships with Alibaba and Tencent, consumers can shop in our malls online. They can book parking space and reserve restaurant seats through (messaging app) WeChat. During various online shopping festivals such as the Nov 11 ‘Singles’ Day’, we secured up to 30 percent on-year revenue growth last year,” Yu told the audience. Online-offline synergy While some retailers have benefited from their efforts to draw consumers online, others said on-site experience and value-added services are key ingredients for their success. “Operating as a dealer, our business is no longer just about products any more. It’s about the overall consumer experience — no matter whether in the showroom or during after-sales services,” said Bianca Wong, human resources and corporate communications director at Jebsen Group, a Hong Kong-based company with 120 years of history in the region. “In terms of functionality of products, competition is fierce. But what we are selling are the technology and lifestyle. We look into what our customers want and adapt to change. We bring products relevant to our customers and enrich their lifestyles. The way we differentiate from others has to be through the customer relationship and experience,” she added. And Lars Hardboe Galsgaard, managing director for Greater China and South Korea at Bang & Olufsen, a high-end audio-video products manufacturer, had this to say:“China’s transformation into a domestic consumption-driven economy is a good opportunity for us. Apart from offering great products, we believe customer service is critical.” “We are turning our stores into domestic showrooms, as fantastic products need to be shown in an equally fantastic environment,” Galsgaard said, adding the Danish brand has expanded significantly in the past few years to boost physical presence in the regional market. “Beyond shop floors, we add value to customers through a variety of services, such as offering home visits, engaging with customer-appointed designers and customized installations.” emmadai@chinadailyhk.com
2015-06-12零售業界領袖齊聚中國日報論壇 共同探討亞洲零售業「新絲綢之路」 【2015年6月10日,香港】中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇今日舉辦題為「亞洲零售業的新絲綢之路」的專題研討會,探討「新絲綢之路」時代下亞洲零售業前景,吸引逾200名業界精英人士出席。 中國的「一帶一路」與「亞洲基礎設施投資銀行」(AIIB)等戰略舉措,給「絲綢之路經濟帶」國家未來十年的經濟發展帶來深遠影響。作為世界第二大經濟體,中國的經濟增長動力正從出口轉向內需。與此同時,東盟國家將於2015年底建立東盟經濟共同體(AEC),創造一個逾六億人口的共同市場。這一系列歷史性發展將會對亞洲各行業資金、商品、知識與人才流動產生巨大影響,零售業亦將迎來前所未有的機遇和挑戰。 2014年11月11日,中國阿裏巴巴「雙十一」購物節單日銷售額再破紀錄,高達571億元人民幣(約93億美元),遠超美國「黑色星期五」與「網絡星期一」兩個購物日銷售額總和。中國零售業欣欣向榮,以及亞洲中產階級的日益崛起,將會對亞洲零售業的發展產生深遠影響。 中國日報亞太分社社長兼總編輯周立先生在致辭中表示,「新絲綢之路」局勢下,亞洲零售業的發展有賴於多元化合作,其中即包括渠道融合。本次論壇的研討嘉賓包括:Bang & Olufsen中國及韓國區董事總經理Lars Hardboe GALSGAARD先生;大悅城地產有限公司副總經理余福平先生;捷成集團人力資源及企業傳訊董事黃曉怡女士;麥德龍中國總裁席龍(Jeroen de Groot)先生及香港城市大學商學院副院長竇文宇教授。五位零售界領軍人物在研討會上各抒己見,探討「新絲綢之路」為零售業帶來的機遇與挑戰,以及業界如何實現人才、銷售和市場等多方面的合作。 丹麥頂級音響品牌Bang & Olufsen中國及韓國區董事總經理Lars Hardboe GALSGAARD先生指出中國的經濟發展逐漸轉型為以內需為主導,這將為零售業帶來無限商機。昨日(6月9日),Bang & Olufsen因其過去三年間在中國開設了50家零售店的迅速增長,以及其在高端音響設備品牌中的卓越成就,獲得了「中國日報亞太零售領袖大獎」。 大悅城地產有限公司副總經理余福平先生表示,「新絲綢之路」不斷促進人力、資本和商品在地區間的流動,也同時刺激了零售業的增長。創新是零售行業成功的關鍵所在。 捷成集團人力資源及企業傳訊董事黃曉怡女士談及用戶溝通問題時表示,作為經銷商,捷成集團的業務不只是銷售產品,更多的是關註消費者的用戶體驗。企業的核心能力在於不斷適應和參與到行業的發展中。 麥德龍中國總裁席龍(Jeroen de Groot)先生指出,「一帶一路」將帶給零售商們一個巨大的市場,互聯網巨頭(包括電商)等既是傳統零售商的競爭對手,同時也將會成為合作者。 香港城市大學商學院副院長竇文宇教授提出,亞洲的零售商應該把重點放在不斷開放的市場中。隨著「新絲綢之路」的發展,人們會看到各種來自不同國家的品牌,以及來自不同文化背景的生活方式。盡管目前全球化的趨勢不斷增強,但是在亞洲市場仍然有很強的多樣化需求。零售商們需要了解消費者不同的文化根源,從而找到對應的模式和多樣化的產品來滿足這些消費需求。 中國日報亞洲領袖圓桌論壇(www.cdroundtable.com)是一個由亞洲國家和地區的政、商、學界領袖和社會精英參與的高端對話和交流平臺,圍繞亞洲地區經濟、商業、產業和社會發展等具有戰略影響的重要議題展開討論,至今在港、澳和亞太多國已經舉辦了41余屆,逾萬名決策精英參與。 -完- PDF Download: attach/pdf/20150610/%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E7%A8%BF-6%E6%9C%8810%E6%97%A5-%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E6%97%A5%E5%A0%B1%E9%9B%B6%E5%94%AE%E7%A0%94%E8%A8%8E%E6%9C%83.pdf
2015-06-11Retail gurus come together to explore the destiny of Asia’s Retailing industry under the New Silk Road Jun 10, 2015, Hong Kong – More than 200 delegates from the regional retail sector assembled at the China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable Panel on “The New Silk Road for Asia’s Retail Industry” at 11.30AM to 12.30PM at the Omni-Channel Retailing Conference 2015. This year marks our third cooperation with the Omni-Channel Retailing Conference and we are delighted to be the only Official Media Partner for such a significant event. Held alongside Retail Asia Expo from 9 to 10 June, the Omni-Channel Retailing Conference is a platform for industry leaders to discuss strategies and best practices and share insights. Retail Asia Expo 2015 has been carefully curated to present insights, products and equipment that will help retailers take advantage of new retail technology and e-commerce solutions and benefit from the latest retail design and in-store marketing trends. China’s “One Belt, One Road” and “Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)” initiatives have literally defined the economic development roadmap over the next decade for countries along the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road”. As the world’s second-largest economy, China’s strategic driver for growth is being shifted from exports to domestic consumption. The establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015 will create a common market of 640 million people. On “Singles Day” (November 11) 2014, Alibaba posted a sales record of US$9.3 billion (CNY 57.1 billion), outpacing the combined sales of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping days in the US. It is predicted that China’s flourishing retail industry and Asia’s rising middle-class income group will have a substantial impact on Asia’s retailing industry. These historical and remarkable developments will generate a huge flow of capital, goods, knowledge and people. Asia’s retail industry will naturally be impacted significantly. In this session, panelists discussed the strategic significance of these initiatives and the forthcoming trends, challenges and opportunities for Asia’s retail industry. Last night at the gala dinner, Mr. ZHOU Li, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of China Daily Asia Pacific, gave a speech at the Hong Kong Retail Industry Trade Awards (HKRITA) 2015. The HKRITA 2015 aims at recognizing the efforts and dedication of retail industry frontrunners. To close the ceremony on a high note, Mr. ZHOU presented the China Daily Asia Pacific Retail Leadership Award to Mr. Lars Hardboe GALSGAARD, Manag-ing Director Greater China & Korea, Bang & Olufsen. In his speech, Mr. ZHOU expressed that Bang & Olufsen had made the right choice when it sought greater global exposure by entering the Chinese main-land market 11 years ago, and its success in this respect has served as a role model not only for its partners, but also competitors. Mr. ZHOU Li, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of China Daily Asia Pacific believed that under The New Silk Road initiative the development of the region’s retailing industry relies on diversified cooperation, which in-cludes the integration of different channels. At his welcoming remarks, Mr. ZHOU also extended a warmwelcome to the distinguished panelists including Mr. Lars Hardboe GALSGAARD, Managing Director, Greater China and Korea, Bang & Olufsen; Mr. YU Fuping, Deputy General Manager, Joy City Property Limited; Ms. Bianca WONG, Human Resources and Corporate Communications Director, Jebsen Group; Mr. Jeroen de GROOT, Managing Director, Metro JinJiang Cash & Carry Co.,Ltd., China and Prof. DOU Wenyu, Associate Dean, College of Business, City University of Hong Kong. GALSGAARD believed that increasing consumer experience is critical for retailers. WONG echoed on the point, she expressed that enhancing consumer experience in the showroom or during the after sales relationship is vital to every retailers. DOU agreed to both, he mentioned that consumer satisfaction is the key driver for each retailer; incremental brand exposure reshapes consumer behavior and thus reshaping retailers’ market strategies. He also stressed that The New Silk Road aids in connecting all consumers from across the region; it serves as a platform in unveiling all kinds of brands from different countries, lifestyles from different cultures to consumers in the region. In addition, YU mentioned that The New Silk Road will boost the flow of capital and goods in the region, hence stimulating the growth of retail business. GROOT corresponded that the One Belt, One Road initiative will create a single market of 4.4 billion people for the retailers. ### About China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable The China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable is a by-invitation network of movers and shakers in Asia providing platforms for focused dialogue, issue investigation, and possible collective action on strategic issues relating to economic, business and social development in Asia. Our aim is to enhance communication and increase mutual understanding between China, Asian and Western countries. Roundtable events are held in major cities across Asia. PDF Download: attach/pdf/Press%20Release-Jun%2010-China%20Daily%20Retail%20Panel.pdf
2015-06-11The mainland’s New Silk Road initiative is poised to be a stimulus for the development of retail business in the region, and the key to success is to be innovative, adaptive and adding value to products, a panel of leading retailers and scholars said in Hong Kong. “Asia’s retail industry is to benefit tremendously as China revitalizes the centuries-old Silk Road trading route. Various trades may find their niche from the rich cultural and social environments in the region, as well as cash in on the spending power of Asian countries,” Zhou Li, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily Asia Pacific, said in his welcome address at China Daily’s co-branded session at the Omni Channel Retailing Conference, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday. Held alongside Retail Asia Expo, the conference is a platform for industry leaders to share new strategies and solutions to manage evolving technologies, social media trends and changing consumer expectations in Asia-Pacific markets. Jeroen de Groot, managing director of Metro JinJiang Cash & Carry Co Ltd and a panelist, said:“Ultimately with the New Silk Road, retailers will have access to 4.4 billion people in one big marketplace, where people, capital, goods, knowledge can flow freely. It would be a great stimulus for all the participants, including China.” But it is challenging to win the hearts of Asian consumers, noted Dou Wenyu, associate dean of the College of Business at City University of Hong Kong. “Retailers should look at Asia not only as a single homogeneous continent, but as a diverse collection of national markets,” Dou told the audience. “The business environment in Asia varies from country to country. Each of these markets has its own culture, language, economic system and infrastructure. To be truly successful, retailers have to drive localization to the deepest level, to people’s cultural roots and find their ‘touch points’.” Expecting to benefit from the New Silk Road also is Yu Fuping, deputy general manager of Joy City Property Ltd, a leading Chinese mainland shopping-mall developer and operator. He said innovation is the theme for every brick-and-mortar retailer today. “We have focused on interaction between traditional retailing space and e-commerce. Through our partnerships with Alibaba and Tencent, we have secured up to 30 percent on-year revenue growth during various online shopping festivals,” Yu said. “Improving consumer experience is critical for retailers,” said Lars Hardboe Galsgaard, managing director of Greater China and South Korea at Danish consumer electronics company Bang & Olufsen. “China’s transformation into a domestic consumption-driven economy is a good opportunity for us. We are turning our stores into showrooms, adding value through consumer services and increasing our physical presence significantly in the past few years.” Bianca Wong, human resources and corporate communications director of Jebsen Group, echoed those sentiments in saying that as a dealer and retailer, “business is no longer just about selling products any more”. She emphasized that it has become the mission of retailers to “look into what customers want, adapt to change and enrich customers’ lifestyles by bringing them a variety of products”. emmadai@chinadailyhk.com
2015-06-11JUN 02, 2015, Hong Kong – More than 1,200 senior executives from around the worldattended the China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable Panel on “Managing Asia: A Case Study of Asia’s Film Industry Development” held in the World Business Forum Hong Kong. China Daily values the opportunity to work with the World Business Forum Hong Kong. Mr. ZHOU Li, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of China Daily Asia Pacific believed that Asia’s film industry is a classic business case that has captivated and inspired film makers and investors in the region and beyond.In his opening remarks, Mr. Zhou welcomed the distinguished speaker Dr. Wilfred WONG Ying-Wai, Chairman of Hong Kong International Film Festival Society, Chairman of Asian Film Awards Academy & Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Film Development Council to share his executive views on Asia’s business rise from the perspective of the film industry. Dr. Wong is the only speaker from Hong Kong at the Forum and talked about Hong Kong’s unique role in boosting the business development in the region and the world at large. He also shared his insightful philosophy and substantial experience in the film industry with the delegates to demonstrate the uniqueness of Asia’s film industry and how its thriving development can bring enormous impact across the globe. https://youtu.be/5nNqG3dNZXk
2015-06-08Human beings could be relegated to “family pet” status by the speedy and somewhat fearsome development of artificial intelligence. That is the fear of no less than Steve Wozniak, co-founder of global tech giant Apple and a Silicon Valley icon. Addressing the World Business Forum in Hong Kong on Tuesday, Wozniak said he is really worried about the growing reliance of human beings on Internet-connected devices and appliances, a trend that will very likely make us all too lazy to use our brains. It may sound like the terrible yet unrealistic outcomes in some futuristic movies, but once our increasingly sophisticated machines develop intelligence and can think for themselves, they will get the ability to train themselves more rapidly than developers can program them and could easily outstrip their human creators, Wozniak warned. "We want the devices to do things for us, so we won’t have to work that hard and we won’t have to think hard as humans. It’s kind of like my pet dog, who is just being taken care of all day long,” said Wozniak. "We want to be taken care of by technology.” Having witnessed the exciting explosion in mobile computing in the past few decades, Wozniak remains cautious about the burgeoning industry of the so-called “Internet of things”. He said it is already showing signs of being a bubble, with too many companies dabbling in the sector and too many people changing their lifestyle too randomly in a way never seen before. At Tuesday’s forum, Wozniak also reflected on his early career in the days before, during and after the rise of Apple. The accidental discovery of some computer journals in his childhood opened the doors of the wonderful digital world to him and marked the starting point of his legendary journey in computer design. But he never thought of finding a job as a computer designer. He just wanted to include an element of fun in all things he did, which stands as his lifetime philosophy, Wozniak said. So he did not have any formulas about running a company or being political. He just did computer design for fun. He knew he could really hit the big time by designing computers with pictures, graphics and games for the average Joe in the average home, totally different from the giant and sophisticated computers that Hewlett-Packard and many big firms insisted on designing for scientific purposes. He just foresaw the future of widespread, affordable computing devices with the historic birth of the Apple I personal computer in 1976. “And our pursuit for smaller, lighter and more human devices continues to spell the future for computers,” he said. Steve single-handedly designed and built the first Apple I kits, which went on sale for $666.66, and also designed the 1977 follow-up Apple II computer. By the time the Apple III came along in 1980, Apple had staff and a production line. Wozniak also shared his view that marketing, standing as the key link between engineers who know how excellent something can become and what people actually want, could be more important than engineers in executing innovative plans and products. “Marketing is important for engineers to understand how much it is worth for customers and what features should be put in the products.” Source: http://www.chinadailyasia.com/hknews/2015-06/03/content_15271808.html
2015-06-05