April Round Up: shopping in Malaysia, luxury vs dupes vs fakes, plus the latest trends, news & launches.
#66: This is In The Loop’s April round-up where you’ll find retail, fashion & beauty news and trends, through the lens of a retail strategist who loves to shop, share & dive in to all the latest.
I got back from Malaysia last week, and what a fortnight we had out there. A beautiful country full of culture, delicious food, adventure, fine hospitality, and one of the best places to shop for anything and everything.
Shopping in Asia is different to anywhere else; with its perfect blend of markets and malls, this was more than shopping, it was a moment to stop, savour and strategise about what else is possible in retail.
The large shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur and Penang were packed with big brands and familiar products mixed in with market-specific items tailored for the local customer.
The markets sold everything from hand crafted jewellery to personalised t-shirts, even offering on the spot tailoring for the perfect fit.
Then there was the insatiable appetite for luxury fakes, some of which were so well made it was almost impossible to tell whether they were indeed fake, or factory rejects, which raised more questions than answers.
Where does it leave luxury if super fakes can pass the test?
With brands that carefully manage supply, how are fakes impacting their value and prestige?
Are luxury brands in a place where they have to explain pricing, and does that take away from the mystery and allure of the sector?
What’s valued more, transparency or mystery?
And where do dupes fit in to the mix?
What is clear is that dynamics are changing fast and from the queues I saw on Petaling Street, the demand for fakes is high.
I’ll dive further in to this topic in a future edition of Retail Lab, but for now, here’s what you can expect in this month’s round up:
Need to know news, including updates on Gucci, Marks and Spencer and the Harrods Beauty Bus
Retail trends: Malaysia edition
The latest launches you need on your radar
Retail Lab: a look back at articles from April
What to expect in May from Retail Collaborative and In the Loop
With that, let’s dive in.
Need-to-know news
Does the slump at Gucci expose the underlying problems in luxury? Sales fell 25%, shares are plunging, redundancies could be on the rise, stores are closing and footfall is down - the future for Gucci looks uncertain and worrying. The macroeconomic climate is troubling and the fall in sales in the US and China is hitting Kering hard, leaving us to ask, is there a turnaround on the horizon, and what could it look like?
This article in The Telegraph highlights the very real impact the US tariffs could have on the everyday consumer, who may start seeing empty shelves as early as mid May unless changes are made. The impact on retailers and consumers is yet to be seen, but the uncertainty is sure to shake consumer confidence and affect spending in the short term.
A cyber attack has almost paralysed Marks and Spencer this week, and the crisis rumbles on. Despite the business working at pace with experts, online orders have been paused and contactless payments disabled potentially costing M&S millions in lost sales. As of writing, the problem still isn’t solved (although contactless payments, gift cards and click and collect services are all back up and running) and it shows the perils facing modern retailers. It remains to be seen if consumer patience is enough to rescue sales.
In some positive news, it’s good to see the biggest rise in UK retail sales for four years. With energy costs and interest rates set to come down later in the year, I think this could mean increased consumer confidence and spending.
Following its success in 2024, the Harrods H Beauty on Tour is back for 2025. It’s fun, interactive, innovative and I love how it brings beauty to the customer in a way that’s relaxed and less constrained than the beauty hall.
Retail trends: Malaysia edition
So much to see, so much to think about, and so much to note down during this trip. Here’s a round up of the strategies and trends I saw.
Personalisation is a big deal in Malaysia. At Crocs they had fun Jibbetz bars that had the kids mesmerised. This made the shopping experience interactive, with a personal touch that sets the brand apart from competitors while still staying true to its ethos of being a shoe company that prides itself on individual style. At a market in Langkawi, I also saw personalised hair clips, a concept that has so much potential to engage customers.
Pre-made gift bags also caught my eye because they’re perfect for busy customers who want to be thoughtful but don’t have the time to put these together. Again, this concept could reach across multiple categories and simplify the customer experience (and help retailers clear stock in a creative way).
Vending machines for everything from noodles to candy floss to face masks were strategically placed in malls. I’ve also started to see this in the UK, and I think it’s a great idea because it’s “retail on the go” for busy customers, but also a fantastic cost-effective marketing strategy.
Market-specific sizing isn’t new but it was interesting to see these labels at Lululemon.
Market specific branding- again it isn’t new but this example shows how Diptyque brought the brand ethos closer to the local customer.
Latest launches to have on your radar
In some exciting news for millennials, Topshop is poised to relaunch in the UK by partnering with existing retailers and relaunching its website. After a lengthy absence, it will be interesting to see how the once loved brand fits in to the retail landscape.
Monica Vinader launched MV Circle, a new loyalty program, and I think for a brand that’s focused on timeless investment pieces, it’s a great move to offer loyal customers perks in return for their custom. It shows they care about the products they make and value the people who buy them. Also, with so much competition, and customer attrition costs getting higher and higher, building loyalty is a sure fire way to encourage repeat purchases and nurture existing customers.
Retail Lab Round Up
Did you catch this week’s Retail Lab? It’s all about beauty retailing in Malaysia.
In case you missed it, here’s everything else I wrote about in April:
Magic Happens When Function Meets Fashion
The Importance of Visual Merchandising
Why Brands are Developing Third Spaces
If you like what you see, make sure you don’t miss a thing by subscribing to In The Loop.
What to expect in May from Retail Collaborative
Retail Collaborative is the name of my retail strategy business, a place where I help brands to create and craft their vision.
I don’t work like a traditional consultancy; I won’t overwhelm clients with slides and data that with no practical application.
Instead, I want to help businesses stand out in retail by being strategic and thoughtful; I give them everything they need to achieve their goals, and nothing they don’t.
May marks a big month for Retail Collaborative because I’m launching new offers and giving clients new ways to work with me. If that sounds like something you need, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any launch updates.
What’s coming up for In The Loop in May
I’m launching more interactive content here on In The Loop, making it even easier for you to stay up-to-date with all the latest retail news that impacts how you shop and how you sell.
I’ll also be reporting on my findings from the Muji store in Penang, Malaysia, and giving you an inside look at a small brand I discovered on my travels that lets you customise flip flops.
Trust me, you’ll want to stay In The Loop.
Until next week,
Hina