EDITOR ’ S NOTE
Travel retail soars in Asia
As August rolls in , many of us may be starting to plan for the yearend holidays and for a majority of travellers in Asia , a vacation is not complete without shopping sprees . Travel retail is already taking off in this part of the world , thanks to the population ’ s increased ability to spend on travel and tourism … and shopping .
Whether it ’ s spending at the airport ( or other forms of travel hubs ) or duty-free stores downtown , most of us are eagerly stocking up on wines and spirits , fragrances and cosmetics , and fashion and accessories during our travels .
And it ’ s no longer just about shopping at the physical locations anymore as the travel retail industry has been keeping up with the digital revolution in line with the current trends and demands in the market . For example , in 2015 , Singapore ’ s Changi Airport introduced the option to “ click-and-collect ” with its e-commerce portal iShopChangi where travellers can make their purchases as early as 30 days before their flights and collect them at the airport .
Join us on our journey to explore more developments and updates in the travel retail sector in Asia on page 15 .
Speaking of shopping online , as much as I am hooked on it , international shipping fees are among my constant sources of annoyance , especially when delivery charges cost more than the product ( s ) I am buying . I am fully guilty of cart abandonment when this happens and the recent SAP Consumer Propensity Study ( on page 20 ) shows that such consumer behaviour is common in Singapore and Asia-Pacific .
Shoppers sometimes change their mind about completing an online transaction — and there are various causes , including expired discount codes and deliveries that take too long . Find out what retailers and brands can do to encourage or ensure that shoppers complete their online purchase journey . In another study from cultural insights strategist Cassandra , it seems that youths in Asia are becoming “ country-blind ” and ignoring geographical boundaries as they are identifying with popular cultures that are not of their own DNA . What does this mean for retail and how can retailers leverage this trend to grow their business ? Answers are on page 9 .
We also have an exclusive interview with PayPal on the uptick in dropshipping among e-commerce merchants on page 29 . Also , learn how the GoToMalls app is connecting online shoppers with bricks-and-mortar stores in Asia on page 23 .
On a closing note , the Retail Asia team is gearing up for our annual Top 500 Awards event and this year , we are excited to organise a ‘ Thought Leadership ’ seminar for the august retailers gathering to honour and celebrate retail excellence on November 6 in Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam . Stay tuned for further announcements !
Muneerah Bee
Deputy Editor
Publisher / Editor Andrew Yeo
Deputy Editor
Muneerah Bee
Production Editor
Zuraini Ridzwan
Junior Sub-Editor Eva Meango
Senior Multimedia Designer Raymund Jaudian
Contributors
Dr Lynda Wee Brian Moore Shirish Nadkarni Tina Arceo-Dumlao Prakash Sakti Jayanthi Iyengar Eleanor Yap
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MCI ( P ) No : 024 / 06 / 2018 PPS 1116 / 12 / 2011 ( 028340 ) Printed by Markono Print Media Pte Ltd
4 Retail Asia August 2018