U.S. Request Rattles Taiwan Chipmakers The U.S. Department of Commerce on September 24 requested that semiconductor companies from around the world submit “information about inventories, demand, and delivery dynamics.” Information requested included the companies’ “book-to-bill” ratio – the ratio of orders received to units shipped and billed for during a specified time – and “an…
With the rise of conscious consumerism and investing, companies around the world are increasingly incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria into their business operations. A company’s ESG performance is based on several indicators not related to financial performance, including carbon footprint and level of accountability. These metrics enable businesses to measure the sustainability and…
A new cohort of young business owners is exploring how to create, import, and sell products that are attractive to Taiwan’s discerning consumers, using a variety of online and offline sales channels and strategies. For a small, independently owned business, making a name for oneself in the retail sector of any major economy is difficult….
COVID-19 has given a modest boost to online shopping in Taiwan, with platforms such as Momo, PChome, and Shopee strengthening their market positions. In a world struggling with the coronavirus pandemic, Taiwan is an outlier. The island nation has staved off the mercurial contagion, with dramatic implications for public health and the economy. One of…
The mass market is growing fast, driven by Prosecco and Cava, while Champagne still dominates the high end. Red wine has long dominated Taiwan’s wine market, buoyed by the brand power of Bordeaux and Burgundy. Most white and rosé wines have struggled by comparison. Sparkling wine is an exception. Champagne has a strong brand here,…
Despite taking a hit from the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of e-commerce, brick-and-mortar retailers may soon see a rebound as AI and smart retail solutions allow them to integrate online and offline capabilities. While the popularity of e-commerce has allowed it to more or less overtake the labor-intensive conventional retail industry, a number of…
Companies are trying to figure out how best to respond to new and unique challenges, while staying vigilant about the unexpected. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, wreaking havoc on economies throughout the world, companies are struggling to come up with ways to keep business operational, as well as employees and clientele safe. Taiwan,…
Increases to the minimum wage, lower birth rates, and an aging population are leading to higher costs and labor shortages for retailers. Will automation save the day? There’s a rather whimsical image of Taiwan floating around online. Entitled “Actual View of an Average Taiwanese Street,” it shows a few cartoon figures walking around a landscape…
As retail sales spike upward, new-style outlets and malls cater to millennial shoppers who want entertainment and Instagram-friendly backdrops more than bargain-basement prices. It’s a golden age for outlets and malls in Taiwan, with a number of brassy mega projects completed and more developments on the horizon. Despite the rapid growth of online retailing, people…
Some major new projects are in the works for Taipei’s Xinyi district. When the Breeze Center opens its latest outlet in the new 48-story Nan Shan Plaza later this year in downtown Taipei’s Xinyi Planning District, it will be the 14th department store or shopping mall within an area of half a square kilometer –…
