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 –…
Entrepreneurs in Taiwan are redefining the term ‘café’ in the era of social media. With the proliferation of cafés in Taiwan in recent years, proprietors have been looking for ways to make their shops stand out from the rest. Besides offering single-origin coffee, more and more cafés are dedicating space to displaying premium, handcrafted goods…
Some of the multinational company’s busiest stores in the world are located in Taiwan. Among the 759 Costco stores in the United States and 10 other countries and regions, the operation in central Taiwan’s Taichung ranks at the very top in the number of members and is second in the world in sales volume (the…
Taiwan’s chains are focusing on providing hyperlocal services in smaller spaces. Taiwan’s supermarkets in recent years have been morphing into a hybrid type all its own in response to the growing trend for consumers to prioritize convenience and service over huge product selection. In the past, Taiwanese consumers might patronize a department store once a…
Fresh baked goods and theme-based stores are also drawing customers. In order to better serve as one-stop supply stations for local people in their daily life, Taiwan’s convenience stores are expanding their floor space, adopting more sophisticated technology, taking on more functions, and seeking to make their store layouts more attractive. 7-Eleven, the largest convenience…
Rising food safety awareness and health consciousness among consumers around the world have made the consumption of organic foods a popular trend. In the United States, it is the fastest growing section of the food industry, with organic products accounting for over 5% of all food sold, totaling US$49.4 billion in sales in 2017, according…
A major driver of the Taiwan economy, the retail industry has gained momentum from technological development, rising disposable income, and the entrance of international players. In the newly published 2017 Taiwan White Paper, the Retail Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei recommends practical steps for the government to take to improve the…
Gloria Outlets’ opening two years ago was a sign of impending change in the retail environment, from urban department stores to suburban shopping centers. A number of recently opened outlet malls are tempting shoppers to spend, even though overall consumer confidence has dipped due to rising prices and anemic salary increases. Retail market experts say…
