Retail TouchPoints (January 4)
Despite a strong holiday sales season, “a real department store turnaround will demand a lot of work.” 2018 will represent “a major ‘prove it’ period for department stores. The sector has taken quarterly sales hits for several years, forcing major players to shutter hundreds of stores, but early holiday numbers indicate these retailers have harnessed some positive momentum.”
Tags: Demand, Department stores, Holiday, Momentum, Retailers, Sales, Sales hits, Turnaround
Financial Times (April 3)
Chinese tourists are increasing in Japan, but they are positively flooding Seoul. “The streets of Seoul are full of Chinese tourists drawn by South Korea’s lavish department stores, its glamorous pop stars – and now its driving schools.” South Korea loosened its license requirements just as China tightened theirs, creating a new travel incentive. A license in South Korea is cheaper and only requires 13 hours of school versus 78 in China. As a result, Chinese students now outnumber Koreans at some South Korean driving schools.
Tags: China, Chinese, Department stores, Driving schools, Japan, Licenses, Pop stars, Seoul, South Korea, Tourists
