Last month saw a successful conclusion to the final three APTRA KPMG Insights Seminars of 2017, as close to 400 attendees participated in the series which has actually led to two more companies signing up as APTRA members.

 

KPMG’s overview of the Korean economy proved its value as ‘top of the agenda’ at the Seoul seminar on 28 November, which was supported and attended by ‘around 25 airport, retailer and brand executives’, according to the association.

 

MULTIPLE SUBJECT MATTER

This was followed by the Shanghai event on the following day, which attracted a similar number where detailed insights on taxation and regulatory issues for cross-border commerce in China were judged to be the highlight of the programme.

 

APTRA says the ‘core elements’ of both seminars were KPMG’s research on connected consumers and how to engage future consumers, presented by Anson Bailey, Head of Consumer Markets, ASPAC, KPMG China, under the title “Innovate or die”, and m1nd-set research into consumer behaviour in duty free & travel retail.

 

 

Clara Perez, Travel Retail Director, m1nd-set delivered two presentations: the first on the behaviour of Chinese shoppers from Tier 1, 2 and 3 cities, and South Korean, Indian and Japanese shoppers; secondly, on traffic forecasts for these four key markets and projections about where people will be travelling in the next 12 months in Asia Pacific and globally.

 

Interestingly, in Hong Kong these presentations were apparently couched within the more wider-reaching ‘Holiday Season Update 2017’ event, co-organised by Retail Asia, APTRA and KPMG, on 30th November.

 

 

On this occasion, more than 300 ‘decision-makers from the retail sector in Hong Kong’ were updated on the latest trends and industry developments, while discussing strategies and how to build networks.

 

Several retail disruptors were identified in possible channels to enable both retailers and brands to connect with shoppers through platforms such as social media, customer relationship management, augmented reality and virtual reality technologies – plus opinion leaders, such as bloggers and vloggers.

 

 

Andrew Ford, President APTRA, commented: “APTRA’s partnership with KPMG on our annual events is, as ever, valuable and effective. The seminars bring new and relevant insights to our members and the diverse mix of companies in attendance open new doors and opportunities for APTRA members.

 

“There are significant advances being made in consumer communications for retailers across Asia and we are delighted to be playing an instrumental role in ensuring the duty free and travel retail channel is aware and connected.”

 

[The two new members of the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association are Japanese retailer Blanc de Blancs and French design company Depack, which has joined as an Associate Member].

 

For further information about APTRA click here: www.aptra.asia