Home to over 500 million consumers, Southeast Asia is a huge market. According to a recent study by UBS released in June 2014, online spending across the region has the potential to hit US$35 billion (S$46.3 billion) by 2020. Online retailer Lazada claims to have more than 2 million daily visits to its websites, but it said that less than 2 per cent of consumers in the region shop online, compared to about 8 per cent in China and more than 10 per cent in the US and UK. Maximilian Bittner, CEO of Lazada Group, said: "If you compare the …

Goldman Sachs is considering acquiring shares of Ticket Monster, the country’s major social commerce company, reports said Friday. Principle Investment Area (PIA) of Goldman Sachs is considering an acquisition of Ticket Monster, according to Money Today. Currently, Ticket Monster is 100 percent owned by Groupon, the world’s largest social commerce company. Groupon wants to sell at least a 20 percent stake and is also considering handing over managerial control, selling over half of its stake. Ticket Monster started as a venture company by Shin Hyun-sung, who holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, and his colleagues in 2010. It became a …

Spend on prepaid gift cards is on the rise this holiday season, as a significant majority (70%) of shoppers plan to purchase gift cards this season, according to an interim holiday spending report released by Stored Value Solutions, a provider of gift cards and stored value services. According to the report, 92% of shoppers plan to spend either the same amount or more on gift cards than they spent last year. And for the eighth straight year, gift cards have been the most desired holiday gift. SVS has been tracking gift card data for nearly a decade, but this is …

Mobile may be the future of e-commerce in India, according to eBay India. The company has released its eBay India Census 2014 report, which highlights the trends that have emerged in the online market. The report shows that online commerce has grown significantly in many parts of India, with merchants selling across 28 states and 7 Union Territories and exporting to more than 206 countries around the world. A growing number of transactions being made online are coming from mobile devices as well. The report rates Delhi as the e-commerce hub of India and home to the largest mobile population. Smartphones and …

With the slowdowns at the West Coast port, lululemon is experiencing delays of 7-10 days for replenishment of inventory. The retailer has implemented several strategies to mitigate the delivery issues in an attempt to maintain its positive trajectory into January. Currently, the disruption is estimated to impact the fourth quarter and year-end revenue by approximately $10 million, causing the retailer to set its focus on supporting the upcoming holiday. In addition, the retailer is investing in future growth and innovation. The guest experience that was non-core continues to be a key area of focus and lululemon is ever-improving its online guest …

Mobile commerce is expected to set a new record this December as people turn to smartphones and tablets for online Christmas shopping, according to new research. The figures provided by IMRG, the online retail association, in conjunction with Experian, the global information services company, show that users are expected to spend £1.3bn on online shopping in December in the UK, with some retailers risking to miss out on the sales bonanza if they don’t have a comprehensive mobile strategy in place. “This has already been a truly watershed year for mobile commerce and the vast amount of sales expected to …

Since pilots began mid-2014, bigDLreports it has attracted suppliers, retailers and charities with its proprietary software platform which creates a new channel to reach consumers by harnessing innovative beacon technology, mobile couponing capability and rewards. Now bigDL is announcing a new raft of partners with the likes of HMV and Spar starting trials in store. bigDL, which works as both a website and an application, gives consumers a bird’s eye view of the high street; showcasing retailer’s new products, the latest deals and “what’s hot”. The experience is geared around a consumer’s location and interests and allows them to buy …

Four Seasons Resort Lanai in Hawaii is making it hassle-free for guests to explore its range of outdoor activities by rolling out a wearable key entry option for consumers. Now guests will be able to get an RFID-enabled black wristband that will work as their key, so that they do not need to worry about carrying a plastic card with them as they run to the beach or partake in sports. Rather than replacing traditional key cards entirely, the wristbands offer another option to guests.

West Coast-based alcohol delivery mobile application Saucey prompted higher in-app sales following its use of a conversion tracking tool and a targeted email campaign featuring a promotional code. The delivery app teamed up with app marketing automation firm Appboy to track the effectiveness of a user engagement campaign which sent an email with a promotional code to users that had recently made a purchase within the app. The campaign resulted in the targeted consumers making purchases 25 percent faster than consumers who did not receive the advertisement.

Regal Entertainment Group, the company behind movie theatre chain Regal Cinemas, is aiming to drive last-minute holiday sales online and on mobile devices by enticing consumers with a free $10 mobile-optimized Regal eGift card for every $50 in eGift cards purchased. The eGift cards may redeemed via Google Wallet at the concession stand, and can be accessed with the tap of a finger on a mobile screen. Regal Entertainment hopes that this incentive, which is available through Dec. 26, will fuel more shoppers to buy movie tickets online during the busy holiday week.