Asian retailers upbeat about future prospects<\/p>\n
Deutsche Press-Agentur, Singapore<\/p>\n
Asian retailers are upbeat about business prospects and
\nconfidence is improving, an annual survey showed on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Retailers in the region did generally well over the past six
\nmonths as strengthening domestic economies fueled growth in local
\nconsumption, according to the Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) survey.<\/p>\n
Visitor arrivals and increased spending also boosted consumer
\nconfidence.<\/p>\n
Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Bangkok remained firm favorites for
\nnew stores among cities in Southeast Asia. Other favored
\nlocations were Taiwan, Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
All respondents disclosed plans to expand their operations
\nwithin the next two to five years.<\/p>\n
Forty-three per cent of the retailers in Singapore saw an
\nimproved turnover over the past six months, while gross turnover
\nworsened for 36 percent.<\/p>\n
\"Looking forward, retailers are reviewing their expansion
\nplans cautiously with the concern of increasing occupancy costs a
\nmajor factor,\" The Business Times quoted Pauline Tan, JLL
\nassociate director, as saying.<\/p>\n
\"With that in mind, retailers favor expansion plans outside
\nSingapore when profit margins can improve as there is a bigger
\nslice of the pie available,\" she noted.<\/p>\n
Retailers were less positive about their outlook for profit
\nmargins than for gross turnover.<\/p>\n
While most respondents expect a sustained and stable
\nperformance in the year ahead, 14 percent expect a downturn in
\ntheir profit margins. Only 29 percent forecast an improvement.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asian-retailers-upbeat-about-future-prospects-1447893297",
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