Archive for December 17th, 2015
Creativoo Wins Gold at Transform Asia-Pacific Branding Awards 2015
SHANGHAI /PRNewswire/ — Shanghai-based agency Creativoo won the “Best Brand Experience” category for its work with the start-up Qkuts at the 2015 Transform Asia-Pacific Branding Awards.
Qkuts store Kerry Parkside Mall, Shanghai Pudong
Qkuts, the first kids-only hair salon chain in China, approached Creativoo when it prepared to expand both branches and range of services after opening two stores in Shanghai. Initially looking for interior drawings for a new location, Qkuts’ international team was quickly convinced that branding would be a key asset for the expansion, and for coping with the challenges of the Chinese market in particular.
Client and agency identified three core outlines that determined the entire process from initial strategy to implementation: Uniqueness and strength, storytelling and consistency, as well as feasibility and scalability. Completed in April, the rebranding has already resulted in an increase of sales, becoming one of the pillars for Qkuts future growth.
“We pride ourselves on our strategic skills, and our achievement at the awards ceremony recognizes Creativoo’s excellence in rebranding and brand development,” said Anne Rottig, Managing Director Strategy at Creativoo.
The new branding embodies Qkuts’ positioning and values: Being friendly, approachable, and playful, while offering premium services and products. Underlining international heritage and quality was not only important because safety is the dominating aspect in child-related products and services in China, but also in order tooutshine local competitors that had already started to emerge. In addition, the new logo reflects the business concept including the extended range of services — essential since the idea of a salon for kids is still new in the Chinese market.
Instead of using just one key visual, Creativoo created a fantasy world full of hand-drawn characters, animals and other motifs, and applied it to the interior design as a storytelling frame.
The interior planning also considered insights gained from previous stores. “VIP haircut areas” in the shop windows introduce the store concept to passersby, while kids can feel even more special during their visits. As most kids were accompanied by more family members than initially expected, waiting areas were improved. To make the visitor experience perfect, client and agency developed entertaining installations such as specially designed seats, play desks and interactive floor projections inspired by the characters, photo boxes, distorting mirrors, and more.
Eventually, the highly flexible interior concept based on 2-dimensional illustrations facilitates the expansion plans by saving implementation costs and time, while it also helped to gain more space in general.
The new concept turned out a big success in attracting new customers: Stores are usually fully booked, and both kids and family members experienced their visits rather as family entertainment than “going for a haircut”. Kids explore the brand world with its illustrations, and enjoy interacting with it, even giving names to the characters. Highlighting the company’s international heritage has led to an unexpected increase in expat customers as well, and product sales increased.
Qkuts business is developing quickly with numerous planned hubs in China, facilitated by the cost and time efficiency of the design concept. In addition, the unique, appealing store design supports the company’s negotiations with real estate partners.
Ted Tao, Managing Director Creative at Creativoo: “Working in close collaboration with our clients brings out the best results, and we are delighted to have been recognized for it with a Gold award.”
Transform consistently sets a stronger benchmark for work in brand development while reflecting the growing significance of brand in strategic corporate communications. The corporate brand – and its implementation, positioning and creativity – has become one of the most valuable assets a business owns.
“We are proud to host an evening where all those in the branding community can celebrate and take pride in all that they have achieved and contributed. Each brand that has been involved in this year’s awards, global or local, has demonstrated outstanding creative ability and strategic thought whilst working closely and collaborating with their agencies,” said Andrew Thomas, publishing editor, Transform magazine
Jac Phillips, head of brand and marketing at the Bank of Melbourne and Transform Awards judge, commented; “I was honored to be a judge in this year’s Asia Pacific Transform Brand Awards. Recognizing outstanding examples of brand work around the region, achieved from effective collaboration between creative agencies and brand custodians, is not only very worthwhile bit also critically important in an increasingly cluttered communications environment. Assessing the 2015 nominations was no easy feat as the standard of entries were so high this year. Congratulations to all those who won.”
About Transform
Established seven years ago in Europe, the Transform Awards has evolved into a global celebration of the indispensable talent that exists within the branding sphere. Since the launch of Transform magazine in April 2014, the global publication has led the way in reporting on those leading the way in both creative and strategic branding. With shortlisted companies from Australia, New Zealand, countries all across the continent of Asia, the 2015 Awards proved there is much to be celebrated in Asia-Pacific. To hear more from Transform, follow #TRANSAPAC
About Creativoo
Founded 2007 in Shanghai, Creativoo has grown into one of the city’s leading branding agencies, offering 360degree solutions in all design disciplines. Along the way, it still remained an independent, owner-managed agency, always dedicated to their clients and projects. For further information, please contact: info@creativoo.com
Mongolian Government – Oyu Tolgoi Financing Represents a Global Vote of Confidence in the Country and Paves the Way for Increased Foreign Investment
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia /PRNewswire/ — Today’s signing of a landmark US$4.4 billion project financing agreement for the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine in Mongolia is one of the largest ever in the mining industry. The funding, which has been secured from a very high quality syndicate of global lenders, underlines the market’s support for and confidence in the project and our country.
The cooperative partnership that has been forged this year, in reaching this important milestone, augurs well for the future success of the project, and paves the way for increased foreign investment into Mongolia. The Government of Mongolia has garnered valuable experience in interacting with foreign investors and in managing the country’s strategic assets, and is fully committed to maintaining an investment environment that is conducive for foreign capital.
Development of the underground phase of Oyu Tolgoi will unlock the remaining 80% of the value of the entire mine. It will contribute significantly to the economy of Mongolia and play an integral role in assisting the Government in its efforts to improve the quality of life of Mongolian citizens.
At a signing ceremony hosted today in Ulaanbaatar, Prime Minister Saikhanbileg emphasised that the Government’s interests in Oyu Tolgoi will be managed on a business to business basis, and stated that the agreement is a global vote of confidence in Mongolia that reopens the doors to the leading global banks forMongolia projects.
Fragrance Du Bois Opens New Counter at Robinsons, Kuala Lumpur in Time for Christmas
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia /PRNewswire/ — Niche, luxury perfume brand, Fragrance Du Bois, is proud to announce the opening of its first fragrance counter in Robinsons at The Gardens Mall, Kuala Lumpur. As part of the brand’s recent collaboration with Robinsons, the new counter, located on the Ground Floor of Kuala Lumpur’s premier department store, will be operational from the 12th of December 2015 onwards.
Fragrance Du Bois’ signature cloches on display at Robinsons’ Christmas Atrium at the Gardens Mall for shoppers and perfume lovers to enjoy the allure of Oud-based fragrances.
A bird’s eye view: Fragrance Du Bois at Robinsons’ Christmas Atrium from 11th to 17th December
Fragrance Du Bois is fast gaining popularity among fragrance aficionados around the world. With its unique range of products – all of which contain the mystical ingredient, Oud – Fragrance Du Bois has established its presence, particularly in Southeast Asia, in a remarkably short space of time. The opening of the Fragrance Du Bois counter at Robinsons is a wonderful opportunity to offer a first-hand experience of niche perfumery, and showcase Fragrance Du Bois’ luxurious, sustainably sourced, 100% pure and natural Oud-based fragrances.
“We are extremely happy to be able to work with retail giants such as Robinsons,” said Brand Director of FragranceDu Bois, Nicola Parker, expressing her excitement. “They are already known for their excellent taste and levels of sophistication, which just happens to be what Fragrance Du Bois is also all about. We believe that we have managed to find a wonderful combination of luxury, exclusivity and sophistication, to go along with one of our core values; eco-friendliness. Having a presence at Robinsons,” she concluded, “gives us another great opportunity to increase brand recognition and to educate our customers on our philosophy, and, in particular, what sets us apart from the mainstream fragrance brands.”
Renowned for its natural, Oud-based scents that are certified by CITES, Fragrance Du Bois is already making waves on international markets, garnering a legion of followers, particularly among those with an environmental conscience. Fragrance Du Bois uses only 100% pure, sustainable, high quality Oud in its creations, all of which is ethically sourced and of a known provenance. Asia Plantation Capital, an award-winning sustainable plantation company with operations on four continents and a global leader in producing the magical substance in an ethical and sustainable manner, is the trusted source for all the Oud used in Fragrance Du Bois’ products, and has proven itself to be a company that respects the environment and is committed to improving the lives of the communities in and around its plantations.
With aspirations to establish a platform for other beguiling scents, Fragrance Du Bois will also feature six new-to-market, high-end fragrances at Robinsons, showcasing the very best creations from established global brands. These include UK label Illuminum, Italy’s renowned Xerjoff, USA’s House of Sillage and Sue Wong, as well as Parisian perfume houses Parfums de Marly, Isabey and Jovoy. These eminent brands are making their debuts inSoutheast Asia, and are being sold exclusively at Fragrance Du Bois’ outlets.
Celebrate this Christmas at Fragrance Du Bois with seven days of festivities at the Robinsons’ Christmas Atrium, at Robinsons North Court, from the 11th to the 17th of December 2015, with special giveaways for lucky shoppers. Check out the pure Oud collection, and revel in the blessings of the present with Du Bois’ luxury fragrances.
For further information, please contact:
Zureina Maidin
PR & Marketing Director, Malaysia
Email: zureina@fragrancedubois.com
Mobile: +60-137-741-009
Zaahira Muhammad
Senior PR & Marketing Executive, Malaysia
Email: zaahira@fragrancedubois.com
Mobile: +60-122-035-344
About Fragrance Du Bois
Fragrance Du Bois is a niche, luxury perfume house working closely with sustainable plantations in Asia, bringing exciting new 100% organic Oud oil-based fragrances to exclusive markets worldwide. Sustainably sourcing the finest raw materials across the globe, working with French perfumers to create a full range of products, and also providing bespoke fragrance services, Fragrance Du Bois is personal luxury with a conscience. With exclusive fragrance lounges around the world, in Dubai, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, Fragrance Du Bois creates only the finest experience in bespoke perfumery.
Fragrance Du Bois is known as Parfums Du Bois in France and in non-French speaking markets, as Fragrance Du Bois.
About Asia Plantation Capital
Asia Plantation Capital is the owner and operator of a diverse range of commercial plantation and farming businesses across the Asia-Pacific region and around the world, and is part of the Asia Plantation Capital Group of associated companies. Its focus is on multicultural and diverse plantation projects geared to the domestic and commercial demands of the countries in which it operates. Working closely with, and supporting local communities, is an underlying core principle of the Asia Plantation Capital business, providing social and cultural support, as well as investment, to move these communities away from deforestation and illegal logging activities, previously seen as a main source of income in some regions of Asia.
Established officially in 2008 (although operating privately since 2002) the group now has plantation and agricultural projects on four continents, with operational projects at various stages in Thailand, Malaysia, China, Laos, India,Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam, North America and Europe.
Promoting the use of sustainable and certified wood is the best way of preventing deforestation, protecting biodiversity, and combatting poverty in the tropical rainforest regions. For the yachting sector (a major user of teak) which strives for excellence and which is already involved in environmental efforts, this is also a way of ensuring that no wood from illegal logging is used.
Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20151215/8521508575-a
Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20151215/8521508575-b
Startup Dragonfly Fintech Transforms Banking Solutions
SINGAPORE /PRNewswire/ — Fintech startup, Dragonfly Fintech (DF), has signed a contract with the leading Japanese think tank and systems integrator Nomura Research Institute (NRI) in conjunction with the Japanese SBI Sumishin Net Bank. The purpose of the contract is to assess a core component of DF’s blockchain technology for financial use. The pilot solution with NRI and SBI Sumishin Net Bank will mark a new milestone for blockchain technology by using the DF blockchain technology to provide practical financial solutions. This pilot will position DF, NRI, and SBI Sumishin Net Bank as global leaders in using innovative blockchain technology.
DF has been working to provide practical solutions for banks, under the framework of its Automated Clearing and Electronic Settlement (ACES) initiative. ACES aims to create a low-cost next-generation electronic monetary system for banks, and this includes providing tools to meet compliance requirements. As part of ACES, DF has been developing advanced blockchain — distributed ledger — solutions for financial institutions based on its patent-pending business method, and Tech Bureau’s Mijin high-throughput NEM blockchain engine. Developed from the ground up, the NEM blockchain features tools to easily create digital assets and manage account security using multistage approvals. Additionally, the DF system provides a robust financial transaction recording solution with high availability and security.
About Dragonfly Fintech
Dragonfly Fintech Pte Ltd, a Singapore-incorporated financial technology company, is a participant of the Open Network Lab incubation program run by Digital Garage Incubation, Inc., of Japan. The founders are Lon Wong andMakoto Takemiya. Lon Wong is a serial technopreneur, and inventor of a patent-pending fintech business method.Makoto Takemiya, a PhD candidate at the University of Tokyo, is a core developer of NEM.
ACES is an innovative, distributed, and decentralised blockchain system capable of handling high-throughput required by global payments, clearance, and settlement systems. The ACES solution provides the financial industry with a new and efficient global standard for “direct payment”. Further, and to satisfy regulatory compliance and governance, it has a multistage approval capability which can be executed concurrently or in series, and ubiquitously in a peer-to-peer network. Using its patent pending method for digital currency, it converges existing payment methods into a simple multi-currency payment network – a “settlement upon transaction” platform.
Related link: http://dragonflyfintech.com/static/DF_Paper.pdf
Media Contact:
media@dragonflypay.com
Success Dragon Repositions as an Outsourced Business Process Management and IT Services Provider
HONG KONG /PRNewswire/ — Success Dragon International Holdings Limited (“Success Dragon” or the “Group”, SEHK: 1182) is pleased to announce that the Group has been officially renamed from “C Y Foundation Group Limited” to “Success Dragon International Holdings Limited” today. Following the official renaming, Success Dragon will actively expand its footprint in Southeast Asia and repositions itself as an outsourced business process management and IT services provider.
Develop Outsourced Business Process Management and IT Services Businesses
Success Dragon has been providing outsourced management services for electronic gaming to casino operators inMacau. It is specialized in sourcing and installing electronic gaming machines, slot monitoring systems and other associated equipment into gaming destinations as well as providing full managerial support to oversee the electronic gaming operations. Together with the Group’s new IT services, whereby it provides gaming companies with a series of customized information technology solutions, including gaming software and development, hardware and software solutions, storage and data management solutions and etc. Success Dragon intends to reinforce its position inVietnam’s gaming industry and later tap into new business sectors other than electronic gaming.
In the past two months, Success Dragon has entered into agreements with three racing enterprises and two five-star hotels in Vietnam for the provision of racing systems and outsourced electronic gaming machine management services for a term of 10 years respectively. These agreements are expected to bring stable and substantial revenue steam to the Group, among which the three IT agreements are expected to generate minimum revenue of USD7.31 million per year.
Captures Business Opportunities in Vietnam
The Group has selected Vietnam as the first country for its international expansion of IT services and outsourced business process management business. According to the World Bank, the national economic output of Vietnam’sGDP and GDP per capita were USD186.2 billion and USD1,077.91 respectively, in 2014, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.0% and 4.8% respectively. This high-level sustainable growth will economically empower the community in Vietnam which can in turn energize the entertainment sector and boost domestic gaming expenditure in Vietnam.
To cope with its expansion plan, Success Dragon has established an office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and recruited top talents with extensive experience and knowledge in local gaming industry.
Three-pronged Approach for Future Development
Looking ahead, Success Dragon will rapidly develop with a clear operational strategy and a three-pronged approach, which is to focus on its core business as an outsourced business process management and IT service provider, aggressively expand its presence in Vietnam and constantly explore potential markets to broaden its revenue source. Meanwhile, the Group has remodeled its existing packaging business to streamline it and lower operating costs.
Mr. Carlos Luis SALAS PORRAS, Chairman of Success Dragon, stated, “Through the Group’s repositioning, we are ready to inaugurate another era of success. Our strategy is to nurture existing strengths and maintain high expectations. Our recent movements are only the first step to have Success Dragon become the industry leader. Our second step will be larger and bolder to totally transform and elevate our business to the next level.”
About Success Dragon International Holdings Limited (SEHK: 1182)
Success Dragon International Holdings Limited is principally engaged in providing electronic gaming equipment management services for hotel and casino operators in Vietnam and Macau, and providing IT services for racing enterprises in Vietnam. The Group’s business strategy has long been seeking investment opportunities proactively, especially in the gaming industry in Asia. Success Dragon will continue to procure new business relationship inMacau and Vietnam and plan to extend its geographical reach to other parts of Southeast Asia.
For media enquiries, please contact PR ASIA Consultants Limited.
Lorraine Lam / Veronica Hui / Alice Mok / Sadie Lo
Tel: (852) 3183-0230/ 0251/ 0239 / 0260
Email: successdragon@prasia.net
Related stocks: HongKong:1182
Two PHA Projects Crowned ‘World Best’ in the International Property Awards 2015/16
HONG KONG /PRNewswire/ — PH Alpha Design (PHA) is proud to announce that it has been named ‘World’s Best’ in both the Retail Architecture and Leisure Architecture categories at the final of the 21st International Property Awards Final held at London’s Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, 7th December 2015. PH Alpha Design (PHA) competed against the best property professionals in the world to win both the ‘Best in Asia Pacific‘ and ‘Best International’, the highest accolades in the property industry, with their projects Junfa Eye of Spring for the Retails Architecture and Shengming World Leisure City for the Leisure Architecture.
Kunming Junfa Eye of Spring – Winner of Best Retail Architecture, International, Best Retail Architecture, Asia Pacific and 5-Star Best Retail Architecture, China
Yubei Shengming World Leisure City – Winner of Best Leisure Architecture, International, Best Leisure Architecture, Asia Pacific and 5-Star Best Leisure Architecture, China
The Junfa Eye of Spring project, is located in the heart of Kunming, facing the central plaza of Kunming – Spring Plaza and with direct access below ground to three major mass transit rail routes and In-Town airport check in hall, which will not only create a brand new destination and shopping experience for the city, but it will also become a transportation hub of Kunming. The design concept for this project takes its inspiration from the free flowing movement of the spring breezes, a feature of Kunming known also as the ‘City of Eternal Spring’. The innovative design of the shopping mall will create an iconic landmark and unique facility for the city of Kunming.
The Shengming World Leisure City, is located in the center of Chongqing Yubei District Airport Innovative Economic Corridor, No. 10 MTR passes by the east of the site with two exits on its northeastern corner, and main highway leading to the airport. Project extends along the surrounding roads to provide excellent commercial display facilities along the facade. On both north-western and eastern sides, there are two large commercial entrances and urban plazas. There is also a third entrance is in the north western corner to attract customers into the Retail Outlets and Leisure Pavilion. Based on the local topographic conditions, the project takes advantage of the local terrain to create a ‘multi-entrance, multi-level shopping space that greatly enhances the commercial value on all floor levels within the scheme. A large outdoor entertainment stage in the center of the development is designed to connect the Retail Outlets, Leisure Pavilion and Cinema City.
The International Property Awards are judged by an independent panel of 70 industry experts. Judging focuses on design, innovation, and originality. The judging panel is chaired by Lord Caithness and Lord Best, members of the House of Lords in the UK Parliament. The International Property Awards is the world’s largest, most prestigious, and widely recognised programme. Worldwide, the 2015 International Property Awards has received more than 2000 entries from over 110 countries in total this year. Winners have competed against companies from Europe, Asia Pacific, the Americas, Africa, Arabia, and the UK to become the ‘World’s Best’ in their field. The full winners list is available at http://propertyawards.net/international-2015/.
About PHA:
PH Alpha Design is an international architectural and interior design practice with fresh ideas and abundant energy to meet the challenges of designing for an ever changing market. Our award-winning designers have extensive experience in the design and delivery of large, complex retail driven mixed-use developments that focus on the integration of commercial enterprises, event provisions and cultural facilities.
The scale of a project or commission is not, however, the driver behind our design aspirations but the realisation of a product, whatever size, which advances the quality of the architectural and built environment, enhances the local community, provides a model for the future, is commercially successful, and, exceeds our Client’s requirements.
We provide architectural, masterplanning, urban design and interior design services for all sectors, including: mixed use, retail, office, hotel, museum, exhibition, serviced apartments, leisure and urban regeneration. PH Alpha’s philosophy revolves around the creation of unique world-class design solutions that are distinguished, innovative, state of the art, sustainable, value enhancing, practical and efficient.
Media contacts:
Jeans Mok
Business Development Manager
T: +852–2896–3088
E: jeansmok@ph-alpha.com
Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20151216/8521508620-a
Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20151216/8521508620-b
4ipnet Unveils New Multi-Tenancy and Social Wi-Fi Enhancements for Flexible Wireless Deployment and Effective Customer Insights
TAIPEI, Taiwan/PRNewswire/ — 4ipnet today announced a major expansion of its Wi-Fi hotspot and access control solution, offering service providers and organizations with additional deployment architecture flexibility, expanded multi-tenancy functionality, and improved social Wi-Fi data collection. Businesses can utilize these features to further optimize wireless infrastructure costs, deliver new experiences for customers, and obtain valuable insights from the Wi-Fi network.
4ipnet’s Wi-Fi solution offers social media login, effective customer insights, and multi-tenancy applications.
Flexible Split Tunnel Architecture for Increased Performance
In addition to the benefits of decreased bandwidth consumption and improved latency, 4ipnet’s split tunnel deployment architecture also provides added value to its on-demand billing platform, enabling new application scenarios. For example, chain hotels with multiple sites can deploy a single WHG controller-gateway in the data center, rather than the traditional method of one gateway per site. The hotels will be able to minimize TCO without sacrificing features such as volume or duration-based accounting, which is commonly used in free and premium tiered Wi-Fi packages.
Furthermore, a single access point can simultaneously have unique tunnel type configurations for each SSID. For example in a distributed enterprise deployment, employee traffic can be tunneled in entirety back to the headquarters, while data traffic of guests can be routed directly to the Internet. This flexibility offers an optimal compromise between network performance and security.
Enhanced Multi-Tenancy with Virtual Service Zones
Building on top of 4ipnet’s Service Zone multi-tenancy concept, network operators now have the option of assigning independent AP group management privileges for each system administrator. A single physical WHG controller-gateway can act as multiple independent virtual networks (Service Zones), each with their own access points, customized login pages, authentication databases, user roles, and scheduling policies. Administrators can be authorized to manage one or multiple of these network entities in a tiered fashion, offering a flexible multi-tenancy architecture that caters to SMBs with limited IT resources or organizations needing managed services.
Social Wi-Fi Insights for Improved Customer Experience
For venue owners, 4ipnet’s enhanced data collection features help to facilitate the monetization of the wireless infrastructure and provided increased security. Wi-Fi users can be authenticated directly via their Facebook, Google+, or OpenID accounts, and when these users login, profile information such as name, e-mail, gender, birthday, and location can be collected and used by hotspot owners to implement more effective marketing and advertising campaigns. Additionally, customizable login pages now have the capability of collecting administrator-defined fields, such as citizen ID number or passport number for public safety purposes. Combined with the 4ipnet’s traffic monitoring features such as detailed user events and browsing histories, network operators can easily comply with governmental regulations and trace the source of any illegal activities.
“Organizations today are constantly looking for ways to minimize IT infrastructure costs while deriving new applications and services,” said Michael Lin, Director of 4ipnet. “By decoupling wireless AAA functionality from on-premises equipment and enhancing multi-tenancy capabilities, organizations have much more flexibility to choose the deployment model with the best cost-performance. And for businesses offering public Wi-Fi access, social media insights offer an effective method for providing differentiated and targeted services to their customers.”
Availability
4ipnet’s enhanced multi-tenancy and social Wi-Fi functionality is available immediately within the 4ipnet WHG-series WLAN controller-gateways, and existing customers are eligible to upgrade at no additional cost.
About 4ipnet
Founded in 2002, 4ipnet designs and delivers the solutions and services that drive next-generation wireless networks. The company is focused on providing a personalized and disruptive approach to addressing complex Wi-Fi environments, ensuring a high-performance, flexible, and cost-effective wireless experience. Along with integrated user access control, multi-tenancy, and customer insights, 4ipnet’s platform empowers businesses with new opportunities for value-added services and monetization.
To learn more, visit 4ipnet at http://www.4ipnet.com. For real-time updates, follow 4ipnet on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
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