Recent Blogs
June 19, 2017
WeChat’s most popular features and functions in 2017 WeChat, also known as Weixin in China, is China’s most popular mobile app and most popular social media app, with over 889 million active users and 10 million official accounts. WeChat users in China are very active on WeChat – 61% of users access WeChat more than 10 times per day, according to WeChat’s 2016 Impact Report. But what makes this app so popular? In some ways, it is similar to Whatsapp, allowing users to send messages, videos, and images to one another. It is also similar to Facebook, allowing users to […]
June 16, 2017
Charles & Keith Singapore uses WeChat Pay to target mainland Chinese consumers Charles & Keith outlet in NEX shopping mall, Singapore. Ask any Singaporean to name a local brand, and Charles & Keith will definitely come to mind. Founded in 1996 by brothers Charles and Keith Wong, the brand has expanded its global reach to over 40 countries, including China, France, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and many Southeast Asian countries. Last year, Charles & Keith garnered further publicity when Game of Thrones actress Maisie Williams carried its bags throughout the Emmy weekend. In China, Charles & Keith is known as […]
June 16, 2017
The Chinese market is one that local retailers cannot ignore. Tourists from Mainland China make up Singapore’s second largest tourist market, with 2.1 million Chinese visitors last year. In fact, numbers are still growing at an unprecedented rate, due to increasing visitors from both tier 1 and secondary cities in China. Faced with high rents and competition from online retailers, local merchants are looking at the lucrative outbound Chinese market to boost retail sales. As a business owner in Singapore, how can you stand out from the crowd? What can you do to successfully woo travellers from China? Here are […]
June 15, 2017
Marina Bay Sands Singapore launches WeChat iBeacon Campaign in collaboration with FOMO Pay On 9 June, Marina Bay Sands (MBS) Singapore launched its WeChat iBeacon Campaign in more than 70 participating retail stores. This move aims to target mainland Chinese tourists, who are the biggest spenders in Singapore two years in a row, according to an article from The Straits Times. The iBeacon allows Bluetooth devices, such as smartphones, to broadcast or receive information within a 20m radius. Using the iBeacon technology, retailers can selectively display promotional discounts and notifications depending on how near or far the user is from […]
June 15, 2017
iOS 11 expands Apple Pay to include Apple Pay Cash Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac On June 5, Apple revealed the latest iteration of its iPhone and iPad operating system, iOS 11, at the annual World Wide Developer’s Conference. Apple has yet to confirm the release date of the new system, but it is rumoured that it will likely be released in fall with iPhone 8. Apple Pay is a mobile wallet system in iMessage. With iOS 11, Apple Pay will support a new feature – users can send or receive money from friends, or tell Siri to pay someone. […]
June 13, 2017
Chinese mobile-payment giants WeChat Pay and Alipay debut in Canada Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto, Canada started accepting WeChat Pay from May 11, 2017. (Image source: Xinhuanet) Last month, Tourism Toronto announced a new strategic partnership with OTT Financial Group, introducing WeChat Pay into Canada’s tourism businesses to boost travel and shopping consumption by Chinese tourists. This month, Alipay has also been launched in Canada, thus allowing local retailers to expand their mobile-payment offerings. WeChat is China’s most popular chat app, with over 700 million monthly active users, as of April 2016. The app also offers an abundant range of […]