L’Oréal unveils high-tech Suzhou hub#
L’Oréal Group’s first self-built intelligent operation center was inaugurated last week in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. The L’Oréal Suzhou Intelligent Operation Center is capable of processing 50 million D2C (direct-to-consumer) orders and 17 million commercial customer orders annually to meet the growing demand of China’s e-commerce market. The new intelligent operation center integrates top-notch automation technology and advanced digital systems, allowing it to process 7,000 packages per hour through the application of automatic sorting and mobile robots.
China, Georgia to scrap visas#
The Chinese Embassy in Georgia announced on Monday that China had completed the domestic approval procedures for a visa mutual exemption agreement between the two countries. The policy takes effect May 28. Holders of valid ordinary passports of the People’s Republic of China or valid ordinary passports of Georgia can enter, exit, or transit through the territory of the other contracting party without a visa, with a single stay not exceeding 30 days and a cumulative stay not exceeding 90 days within 180 days.
BYD accelerates Mideast push#
BYD held a launch event in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on Sunday introducing five models: Yuan Plus, Sea Lion, Han, Qin Plus DM-i, and Song Plus DM-i. This marks a further step for BYD’s expansion into the Middle East. Prior to this, BYD had opened flagship stores in Doha and signed a dealer cooperation agreement with the Mannai Corporation in Qatar.
Pandora fuses ‘Honor of Kings’ into new jewelry line#
Pandora has collaborated with the mobile game Honor of Kings to create a jewelry series. The brand on Monday hosted a Hero Convention for this series. At the event, Pandora showcased a series of new designs created in collaboration with Honor of Kings, drawing inspiration from classic heroes in the game and ingeniously incorporating gaming elements into the jewelry designs, presenting a unique and creative style.
Shiseido’s Drunk Elephant lands in China#
Shiseido-owned high-end skincare brand Drunk Elephant last week announced its debut in the mainland Chinese market. It will join Sephora, marking an important step for Shiseido Group to consolidate its position in the Chinese market and a key move in its ongoing high-end strategy.
Maison Margiela docks in Shandong#
Maison Margiela on Monday debuted at the Qingdao Hisense Plaza, marking its first store in Shandong province. The store showcases the latest works of creative director John Galliano, the Co-Ed 2024 Spring/Summer unisex collection. This collection portrays the harsh weather, characters, and crowded scenes of a giant ship sailing in the early 20th century.
Family moments star in Balenciaga’s 520 Day ad#
Balenciaga released its ad for 520 Day. Actors Zheng Kai and Miao Miao, fashion blogger gogoboi Yu Bo and his mother, as well as the couple Maojing and Xiaoying, appear in the ad showcasing a limited edition holiday collection. The ad focuses on scenes of love and interaction between family members and partners. The collection includes clothing with Wi-Fi symbols and heart patterns, as well as accessories such as handbags and shoes with red-printed “BB” logos.
HLA rides digital wave to $3.3B revenue#
Chinese clothing brand HLA (Hailan Home) reported robust growth in 2023 with a 15.98% YoY increase in revenue, reaching $3.31 billion (21.53 billion RMB), and a 36.96% YoY rise in net profit to $454 million (2.95 billion RMB). This success was fueled by deepening brand operations and accelerating digital transformation.
LVMH rebuffs Marc Jacobs sale#
LVMH is not currently considering selling its Marc Jacobs fashion brand, despite interest from potential buyers. While approaches have been made, LVMH is exploring options for Marc Jacobs, which could include bids from consumer companies and private equity firms. However, LVMH has denied considering a sale, preferring to focus on internal growth. Marc Jacobs, founded in 1984, operates in the affordable luxury category, offering products like The Tote Bag and fragrances. Despite recent restructuring, it remains profitable, recording around €600 million ($642 million) in sales in 2023.