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Relive the top 10 RiA stories that gained the most interest in 2022

Retail in Asia is taking a look back at some of our best-read news of 2022. The ten stories below, from the top 5 e-commerce marketplaces in Singapore and Malaysia, 6 niche Korean perfume brands to know in 2022, to Southeast Asia’s biggest consumer trends — these are the articles our readers spent the most time with in the past year.

The following list represents merely a small sample of the work produced by Retail in Asia, measured by collective minutes of audience engagement. For more of all of it, be sure to subscribe for our bi-weekly newsletter here.

Top Korean celebrities who became luxury brand ambassadors in 2021

Hallyu, or “Korean wave”, refers to the increasing popularity of South Korean culture in the world. The success of Squid Game is just the most recent example of this trend that started in the 1990s and accelerated in the last couple of years. To align with this global trend, luxury brands tap into the influence of Korean celebrities and are seeking out more collaborations with Korean celebrities as global ambassadors… Read more

6 niche Korean perfume brands to keep an eye on

Interest in niche perfumes is also shown through YouTube beauty content, which is often at the forefront of the latest beauty trends. According to the ‘2022 Beauty Trend Report’, issued by beauty influencer business group, Leferi, curiosity in niche perfumes, which started in the latter half of 2020, peaked in 2021… Read more

Apple reportedly opening first Malaysia store in 2022

U.S. tech giant Apple is reportedly set to open its first Malaysia store next year, eyeing the nation’s capital Kuala Lumpur for its first store location… Read more

Will Hong Kong retail ever catch a break?

The current dramatic increase in Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong has prompted the government to impose numerous social distancing restrictions impacting certain sectors directly, most notably the travel, hospitality and F&B sectors. The other sector that has been constantly hit by the numerous winds of change in Hong Kong since the 2019 protests is the retail sector… Read more

Southeast Asia’s biggest consumer trends to know going into 2022

The number of digital consumers increased significantly during the pandemic in Southeast Asia. According to Google’s e-Conomy SEA 2021, 60 million people used a digital service for the first time during the pandemic… Read more

Sneak preview of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics team kits

The final countdown has begun as the 2022 Winter Olympics will kick off on 4th February. Fashion will be front and center in Beijing as some of the biggest sportswear brands will be dressing some of the world’s best athletes. Ahead of the Winter Olympic Games, global sportswear brands have unveiled the opening and closing ceremony styles, podium outfits, village gear and different uniform kits to support the athletes during their performance. Here, we have rounded up some of the teams’ outfits… Read more

Lulu to build India’s second largest mall in Kerala capital

Dubai-based retail major Lulu Group is opening India’s second largest shopping mall in Trivandrum, the capital of the southern state of Kerala, spending Rs20 billion ($299 million)… Read more

Top cosmetic market trends in China for 2022

2021 was a special year for the Chinese cosmetic market. Cosmetic Supervision and Administration Regulation (CSAR), the overarching cosmetic regulation, came into force, giving the cosmetic regulatory system a fresh look. In this new regulatory system, the cosmetic market witnessed the explosive growth of some categories and brands as well as the fadeaway and even disappearance of some subcategories. In general, the Chinese cosmetic market has become more orderly, so observant players have more opportunities than before… Read more

5 e-commerce marketplaces in Singapore, Malaysia to know right now

Singapore and Malaysia are two of the most promising Southeast Asian markets in e-commerce right now. Malaysia’s online sales value is expected to total USD 6.297 billion in 2021, almost doubling that of its neighbour, Singapore, whose e-commerce revenue is still projected to reach USD 3.188 billion this year, according to Statista… Read more

Aesop opens first store in mainland China

The first Aesop store in mainland China will be located on Shanghai’s Dongping Road. The street’s rich cultural history and integration of the city’s diverse styles make it a prime location. This marks the Brazilian cosmetic giant Natura&CO’s official entry into the Chinese market… Read more