Law
Starbucks to roll out 800 new stores, add over 18000 employees in China for next 3 years
After nearly 14 years of working to persuade China to buy into its foreign coffee culture, Starbucks Corp. is aiming to become more Chinese as it plans a rapid expansion in the country.
Belinda Wong, president of Starbucks China, said in an interview that Starbucks aims to roll out 800 new stores in the next three years to add to its existing fleet of 700. Over that period it will increase the number of employees to more than 30,000 from the current 12,000.
Global Retail Theft Barometer Study finds shrinkage in Japan is the 2nd-highest in the world
According to the fifth annual edition of the Global Retail Theft Barometer, retail shrinkage rate in Japan is 1.04 percent of sales, the third-lowest in the world. However, this rate was up 4 percent compared to the previous year. The total shrinkage amount – profit loss due to customer and employee theft, supplier/vendor fraud and administrative errors – in Japan reached JPY774 billion (USD9.96b), the second-highest worldwide, representing almost 53 percent of the total sum in the Asia-Pacific.
RetailWATCH: Beyond the Locks: Video’s Role in Contributing to Profitability
Ensuring merchandise security at all times is one of the key priorities in any loss prevention technology, as retailers grapple with shoplifters, organized retail crime and shrink caused by internal theft.
60,000 sign petition in one week for fired Prada Japanese employee
As many as 60,000 people signed a petition in just a week to urge the Japanese arm of Italian fashion house Prada to withdraw its countersuit against a former employee who sued the company for firing her based on appearance.
Spearheaded by online petition platform Change.org, the organiser of the campaign hopes the voices from around the globe will force Prada Japan to rethink its strategy. It is suing Rina Bovrisse for JPY72 million (USD 712,701) on grounds that her accusations soiled the company's reputation.
RetailWATCH: IP Video Helps to Prevent Shrink and Improve Operations
As the industry continuously grapples with loss prevention issues on a daily basis, not only do loss prevention professionals need to ensure that merchandise remains secure after hours, they also have to contend with employee theft, shoplifting by individuals, and organized retail crime rings.
Big Mac eyes 75,000 new staff in China
McDonald's Corp, the world's largest restaurant chain, said it plans to hire 75,000 new employees in China this year as the company accelerates store expansion in the world's most populous country.
The new hiring represents an increase of as much as 83 percent of the Oak Brook, Illinois-based company's workforce in the Asian nation. McDonald's has more than 90,000 employees in China currently, the company said in e-mailed statement Thursday.
Starbucks opens Japanese tribute store
Reporting record revenue and profit for its FY2012, Starbucks Coffee Japan commemorates nearly 17 years in market and approaching 1,000 stores
Continued strong growth momentum in Japan focuses on state-of-the-art store design, investment in partners (employees) and product and digital innovations
Starbucks Coffee Company reaffirmed its confidence in Japan recently with the visit of Starbucks chairman, president and CEO Howard Schultz and plans to open its 1,000th store this summer.
Gartner names 3 enablers for demand-driven retail success
Research firm Gartner has identified three key enablers of demand-driven retail - the role of the supply chain, span of control and metrics maturity - following a survey conducted across six retail segments in Asia-Pacific, North America, and Western Europe.
Expert Opinion: Capturing the world’s global shoppers
Despite a poor economic forecast for the past year, global tourism defied the odds and remained resilient. According to UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, 2012 saw a record 1.035 billion international tourists, a growth of 4 percent from 2011. Asia-Pacific led the way with one of the highest growth figures of 7 percent for in-bound tourist figures.
India's SC dismisses petition against FDI in multi-brand retail
The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a writ petition challenging the notifications and regulations permitting foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail sector. The court reiterated that “in matters of policy, this court will not interfere unless it is unconstitutional, contrary to statutory provisions, arbitrary, irrational or abuse of power.”
