Ash Monga 孟艾希

LOTTE Mart - A Strategic Expansion Story in Vietnam Founded in 1998 in South Korea, LOTTE Mart is a leading retail chain under the LOTTE Group.  With a focus on quality and affordability, it has grown into a dominant force in Asia’s modern retail landscape. 💸 2024 Revenue: US$10.76 Billion 🏆 No.1 Grocery Market 🌏 LOTTE Mart has a significant presence across Asia: South Korea: 111 stores Indonesia: 48 stores Vietnam: 16 stores → Driven by strong retail sector growth and significant untapped market potential, Vietnam is a strategic priority for LOTTE Mart. 👪 Key Trends Among Target Audience Modern middle-class families and urban consumers (25–45): Have busy lifestyles and prioritize convenience and product quality 🔹 Increasingly open to private-label products for value and quality 🔹 Prefer fresh produce, ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat meal options 🔹 Prioritize clean, organized supermarkets, paired with online shopping/home delivery for convenience 📌 Strategic Approach Vietnamese consumers largely favor Korean supermarkets and products due to the influential Korean Wave (K-Pop, dramas) and the perceived high quality and authenticity of items. 🥗 Grand Grocery: Neatly and freshly displayed food products with transparent, officially-backed origins reinforce quality and shopper confidence. 🍣 Shop-and-Eat Concept: Offering on-site dining with diverse food halls, this concept transforms grocery trips into a dining experience. 🇰🇷 Exclusive zones with Korean snacks, ready-to-eat meals, and beverages appeal to trend-conscious shoppers. 🏢 Daily Life Ecosystem: This "all-at-once" destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment creates an ideal spot for weekend family outings. 👥 With approximately 178,000 South Koreans, Vietnam hosts the largest Korean community in Southeast Asia - driving demand for authentic Korean products and experiences. 🔍 What Global Brands Can Learn ✅ Lead with Cultural Identity: Highlight national strengths through exclusive zones - meeting Vietnam’s interest for global products. ✅ Design Retail as an Experience: Modern and interactive layouts, in-store kitchens, and family zones create reasons to visit beyond just shopping. 🔗 Source: Statista, Lotte Mart, Vietnam Investment Review, VnExpress #ConsumerInsight #MarketInsight #LOTTEMart #ModernRetail #KoreanBusiness #CustomerExperience #VietnamRetail *While information from Asia Circles is publicly accessible and derived from third-party sources, its verification and validity are not guaranteed.

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Export is not just about products. It’s about building trust across borders. 🌍 In every country, trust is built a little differently — and as exporters, understanding that can make all the difference. 🤝 In Japan, business partners value long-term relationships. It’s not just about the first deal — it’s about showing consistency, quality, and patience over time. 🇩🇪 In Germany, precision, punctuality, and clear communication are everything. If you commit to a delivery date, keeping your word builds instant credibility. 🇦🇪 In the UAE, personal relationships matter. Meeting in person, understanding the culture, and showing respect go a long way before business even begins. 🇺🇸 In the USA, speed, innovation, and problem-solving build trust. Quick responses and proactive service often speak louder than words. 🇮🇳 In India, flexibility, good communication, and a sense of personal connection help build strong partnerships. Understanding local market dynamics earns respect. No matter where you’re exporting to, people buy from people they trust. Products may open the door — but trust keeps the relationship going. Let’s focus on building that trust, one conversation, one shipment, one promise kept at a time. #ExportBusiness #GlobalTrade #TrustInBusiness #InternationalBusiness #ExporterJourney #kdsushma #eximbusinesscoach #exportimport #globalplatform

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Chinese products are now subject to 30–60% tariffs when entering the U.S. market. As a result, many Chinese manufacturers are actively searching for countries that offer more favorable trade access. Hong Kong’s leading trade body — HKTDC (Hong Kong Trade Development Council) — is currently researching the market on facilitating the relocation of some Chinese textile companies to Uzbekistan. What we have now: •Uzbekistan’s exports to the U.S. are taxed at only 10%. •Meanwhile, Egypt has already become a hub, with numerous Chinese textile factories opening there to benefit from lower duties and regional trade agreements. If Uzbekistan capitalizes on this opportunity, it could attract new investments, create thousands of jobs, and strengthen its position as a textile manufacturing hub for global brands. The textile industry is entering a new phase — and those who build the right ecosystem now will lead the next export wave. This meeting would not have happened without Muzaffar Azamov - Head of Uzbekistan E-commerce Association, who organized it.

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𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗻 ₹𝟴𝟭𝟰 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀. UNIQLO's "anti-marketplace" strategy is genius. Here's why: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗲: - ₹54.3 crore revenue per store vs H&M's ₹51.2 crore (with 64 stores) - 31% growth in FY24 while H&M managed only 11.4% - ₹85 crore profit when most fashion brands are struggling 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄: While Zara chases trends with 2-week production cycles, Uniqlo plans 12 months ahead. This allows them to order 1 million+ units per style, driving costs down and margins up. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝘂𝗰𝗲: They're a tech company disguised as fashion. Their HeatTech fabric literally converts body moisture into heat using advanced polymers. They send Japanese textile experts to work inside Indian factories, ensuring quality control that marketplace sellers can't match. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆: Since 2019, they've been quietly building India as their global T-shirt manufacturing hub. They source 15.5% locally for Indian stores but much higher percentages for global exports. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁: 31% CAGR over 5 years while competitors struggle with price wars. Their philosophy: "If you can't compete on price, compete on value." No marketplace means no confusion, full control, and premium positioning. 🔄 Repost this insight to help fellow entrepreneurs! 🎯 Follow Shripal Gandhi 📈 for such stories and game-changing business strategies. #entrepreneurs #marketing #branding #business

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Forget what you thought you knew about Japan’s convenience stores. They’ve gone luxury. Across Japan, konbini are being reinvented. Once the domain of salarymen grabbing instant noodles, today’s stores are serving up: Organic onigiri ¥400 lattes made with single-origin beans Health-focused, additive-free bento Premium local snacks and imported indulgences Lawson’s Natural convenience stores, FamilyMart’s wellness lines, and Seven Premium Gold are just the beginning. For brands, this shift signals a major opportunity: Small-format retail is not shrinking—it’s upgrading. Price sensitivity is fading in favor of quality, convenience, and curation. Even impulse purchases are now aspirational. Japan’s aging and urbanized consumers are redefining value, not by quantity, but by experience. It’s a masterclass in market adaptation. #JapanRetail #PremiumConvenience #Konbini #MarketTrends #ConsumerBehavior Source: Japan Consuming, July 2025

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Every international brand success story in China looked like a failure somewhere in the middle. I was reminded of this truth while reviewing case studies from some of the international brands I have worked with over the last few months to get their China market entry back on track. The middle phase of any China market entry can be brutal. Your Western market playbook isn't working. Local competitors seem to intuitively understand something you don't. Stakeholders start questioning the investment. The temptation to retreat is overwhelming. I get it. I run businesses in China and I go through the same emotions over and again myself. But here's what separates the winners from the quitters. Winners double down on learning, not just spending. They work with China market specialists and partners with skin in the game, not just implementers. They adapt their core value proposition without losing their brand essence. Most importantly, they commit to a timeline measured in years, not quarters. In the bacon & eggs analogy, when it comes to the China market, you have to be the pig, not the chicken. The difference between involvement and commitment is often the difference between success and failure. I have a couple of golden rules when talking to brands who are thinking about exporting to China. Here’s one. I never try to talk brands into doing China. Ever. They have to want it. The brands that succeed in China don't just enter a new market - they persevere and evolve. They emerge from that messy middle phase as better global players, with deeper market insights, and more resilient strategies. If you're in that frustrating middle phase with ambition to be successful in the China market, just remember feeling like you’re failing might just mean you're exactly where you need to be. Need a hand with your China market plan? Reach out. ------------------------------------------------------------- I'm Iain Langridge 毅安 and I use my experience in China to launch, grow, and manage premium consumer brands. Follow or DM me to find out more. #chinamarket #chinabusiness #exportsuccess #internationalexpansion #exportstrategy In2Asia Export In2Asia Advisory

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Alibaba Q1 FY26: Growth Anchored in China and Cloud The Big Question: Can Alibaba Group balance domestic strength with international expansion in its next phase of growth? By the Numbers (Q1 FY26 revenue by segment): 🎉 $19.6B - China eCommerce (+10% YoY) 🎉 $8.3B - All others (-28% YoY) 🎉 $4.9B - International Digital Commerce (+19% YoY) 🎉 $4.7B - Cloud (+26% YoY) Why It Matters: 1️⃣ China remains the core engine, but competition and regulation create headwinds 2️⃣ International and cloud growth show real diversification What I’d Do If I Were a CPG or Retail Exec: → Track Alibaba’s international platforms (Lazada, AliExpress, Trendyol Group) as they gain share across Asia and Europe → Watch cloud expansion closely - as Alibaba strengthens infrastructure, it may become a stronger AI-commerce enabler → Partner selectively, but prepare for China-based competition to scale globally faster than expected Final Thought: Alibaba is still a China-first giant, but its international and cloud growth trajectories point to a broader ambition. The question is whether it can execute profitably outside its home base. Ways to Reach Us: Pattern® (marketplace accelerator) The CPG View (podcast) The Retail eCommerce Club (community) The eFramework (eCommerce guide) 📘 Get your FREE copy of The eCommerce Operating Framework (eComm MBA) 👇🏼 https://lnkd.in/e6y_6S7t #ecommerce #digital #omnichannel #strategy #cmo #cdo #ceo #cro #leadership #retailecommerceclub #cpg #privateequity #playtowin

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BS ALERT! ‘QUICK COMMERCE WORKS IN CHINA BECAUSE OF LOW LABOUR COSTS’ That's the claim I often hear when discussing instant retail (quick commerce) in China. And I would like to point out why I think that is nonsense. In the table below, I have compared the situation in Beijing with that in our capital, Amsterdam, for a grocery/FMCG delivery case for instant retail. If we talk about labour costs, we actually need to realise that this is relative. While the absolute labour costs of delivery couriers are lower in China, so is the average disposable income of consumers. If we compare the average salary of a Beijing delivery driver to one in Amsterdam, the one in Amsterdam is actually earning LESS! Now, of course, the full-time delivery couriers in Beijing often work longer days. Since they get paid per order, they often work 10 or even 12 hours a day. Let's take this into account and adjust the figures to an 8-hour working day. We can conclude that, on an hourly basis, the income of delivery drivers in the two cities isn't all that different as a ratio of average disposable income. Another way of looking at things is from the perspective of the instant retail companies. In Amsterdam, the average order is €40. In China, it's only €8.50. The gross margins are most comparable, but the delivery costs as a percentage of the gross margin are dramatically higher in Amsterdam. Since we have already established that the labour costs are comparable on a relative basis, what causes this difference, and with that, the success of instant retail in China? The true reason why this works in China is the population density in the cities. The central urban districts in Beijing have a population density that is 6 times as high as in Amsterdam. While in Amsterdam, many people live in houses, in Beijing, the majority of people live in apartment buildings of 20 floors or more, clustered together in 'xiao qu' (small districts). If an instant retail company like Dingdong Maicai chooses strategic locations near such xiao qu, has enough front-end warehouses and couriers, its efficiency can be much higher than in Amsterdam. And that's why the delivery costs as part of gross margin are much lower in China. Now, add to this the fact that many instant retail platforms are part of the ecosystems of big internet companies like JD, Meituan, and Alibaba. They can reach hundreds of millions of consumers through their existing apps and encourage existing users also to use their instant retail services. And that, my friends, are the real reasons why instant retail in China works and will struggle in many other places.

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Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Tuesday, August 19: 👗 Shein has considered moving its base back to China in the hopes that it would help sway Beijing authorities to sign off on the fast-fashion retailer’s plans to go public in Hong Kong. 🧑🏻‍⚖️ PSK Collective, the women’s active brand started by World Rugby Hall of Famer Phaidra Knight, has filed a lawsuit against Kohl's for approximately $8 million in unpaid merchandise. 👕 As part of its back-to-school campaign, JCPenney is debuting several brands into its product assortment, including Aeropostale, Volcom and Hurley. It also partnered with JS Jessica Simpson to offer exclusive designs. 🎄 US shoppers looking for fake Christmas trees and holiday decor this year will likely have fewer choices and face higher prices as tariffs on Chinese imports force retailers to scale back orders. 👟 Nike's sneakers are front and center at Foot Locker stores once again as the long-time partners rebuild a relationship. Foot Locker is positioning Nike’s running shoes in the lead columns in men's. 🛏️ Mattress Firm President Steve Rusing is, as of Thursday, also CEO of that business, parent company Somnigroup International announced. It follows the departure of John Eck back in February. 🛠️ Ace Hardware Corporation is launching RedVest Media, its new retail media network. Through its partnership with Epsilon Retail Media, RedVest Media offers brand advertisers a retail media solution. 🎓 Americans are back-to-school shopping earlier than previous years due to fears of tariffs raising prices. Families with tighter budgets are finding deals in a less traditional place: pawn shops. 🏗️ Migration to Texas is driving a retail construction boom, according to Colliers. By early 2025, more than 17 million square feet was under construction, with growth fueled by the state’s largest cities. ☕️ Starbucks will provide a modest 2% hike to all salaried employees in North America this year. Starbucks is also in the midst of contract negotiations with unionized baristas. 🌍 Despite early resilience to US tariff hikes, global economies are now showing signs of strain. Countries including Ireland and the U.K. saw significant slowdowns in Q2, following inventory boosts in Q1. 👙 Victoria’s Secret plus-size brand founder is out as sales lag. Christine Vellani will take over the helm from Adore Me founder Morgan Hermand-Waiche. 🛁 Beyond, which owns Bed Bath & Beyond, BuyBuy Baby and Overstock, will change its corporate name to Bed Bath & Beyond. 🏬 Seattle's new waterfront, transformed by the Overlook Walk, is attracting significant interest from restaurateurs and retailers. #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

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Shares of Chinese toymaker Pop Mart closed higher on Wednesday, a day after the company posted a near-400% surge in net profit, driven by booming global demand for its Labubu dolls. Pop Mart trades on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Full details: cnb.cx/4oLy9TP

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