Retail Revolution

September-October 20142014

Retail Revolution

A Closer Look At The Changing World of Retail Issue 97 PP 11826/07/2013 (032918)

PLUS: ■ Moving Up: UK Interest Rates ■ 60-SecondSeptember-October Pitch 2014 ■ Inspiring Youth

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12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 4 9/23/14 5:06 PM First Lines

uring the last week of August, the news that Simon Featherstone, British High Commis- D sioner and our co-Patron, had passed away sent shock waves around the community. While some of us knew he was battling illness, none of us imagined that he would leave us so soon. We pay tribute to this kind and humble man who made a big impact in business circles and touched the lives of many [Page 8].

BMCC in its own way helped touch the lives of people in need recently when the proceeds of the 10th Annual Charity Rugby Dinner were presented to four local charities. Each organisation conﬁ rmed that the funds are very timely and will be put to good use [Page 38].

As well as caring for others, BMCC also highlighted the importance of caring for ourselves at our recent INSPIRE event. The target audience on this occasion was young people and focused on getting ﬁ t, staying healthy and being ﬁ nancially independent. Our Guest of Honour YB Khairy Jamaluddin, Minister of Youth & Sports, did an excellent job of inspiring the audience with his talk on Fit Malaysia while our panel of speakers also raised some interesting issues.

It was particularly encouraging to see the young athletes from TIMEdotcom Triathlon team and the volunteers from iM4U as well as the team running the One Two Juice bar [Page 12-13]. Inspiration comes from many sources and it is important to seek out new experiences that will help provide deeper, richer insights into business and life in general.

BMCC’s membership is expanding and as you can see from the details inside, several organisations have joined us recently - and a warm welcome goes out to all [Page 30]. The popular Speed Networking event held recently provided a very effective platform for these companies to meet new contacts quickly and easily.

Our feature section this time delves into the retail sector and examines how trends are changing with the move to digital. As such Malaysia’s multiple and in many cases mammoth malls are assuming the role of lifestyle centres rather than places to simply shop [Page 15].

As we move into the fourth quarter, we are already gearing up for next year and putting in place plans to make sure BMCC continues on its path of expansion, both at home and overseas. Ahead of that we have a number of events coming up including the Delegation Tour to Sarawak to learn more about the many opportunities there [Page 7]. And of course our signature Corporate Christmas Luncheon is in the works so mark your diaires for Friday 4th December!

BMCC – it’s the place for business.

BMCC 2014 Annual Sponsors & Partners BMCC

PLATINUM SPONSORS: Executive Ofﬁ ce: 4th Floor, East Block, Wisma Selangor Dredging, 142B Jalan Ampang, GOLD SPONSORS: 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +60 3 2163 1784/2163 1786 Fax: +60 3 2163 1781 Email: [email protected] Web: www.bmcc.org.my Follow us on:

AIRLINE BMCCMALAYSIA PARTNER: September-October 2014

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 5 9/23/14 5:06 PM The Chamber

The British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce is the leading business networking organisation in Malaysia with over 350 top member companies with an outreach of over 75,000 employees. Since 1963, the BMCC has been a catalyst in providing businesses in Malaysia with support, networking, knowledge exchange and bilateral trading assistance. We serve as a dynamic hub for enterprise to thrive and businesses to connect with each other, helping to promote and foster trade and investment between Britain and Malaysia. BMCC is proud to be part of British Chambers in South East Asia or BiSEA, enabling our members to enjoy similar Chamber beneÀ ts in seven other countries including Vietnam, Thailand, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Singapore.

BMCC Board of Directors:

Patrons: YBhg Tun Musa Hitam Chairman: Dato’ Larry Gan, Rev Asia Bhd Deputy Chairman: Andrew Sill, The Royal Bank of Scotland Bhd Directors: Soo Kim Wai, Amcorp Properties Bhd Bob Olivier, Aspac Executive Search Sdn Bhd Andrew Diamond, Bubblegum Sdn Bhd Mark Burgess, Honeywell Aerospace Avionics Sdn Bhd David Ng, International SOS Sdn Bhd Datuk Seri Michael Yam, InvestKL Amanda Powell, KL Kudos Design Sdn Bhd Michael McIver, Plus Three Consultants Sdn Bhd Osman Morad, Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd Bill Addington, TechSol Sdn Bhd Datuk Peter Wentworth, OBE, Weir Minerals Malaysia Ex-OfÀ cio: Gavin Anderson, British Council Tony Collingridge, OBE, UK Trade & Investment Dr Zainal Abidin Majid, Advisor To The Board

BMCC Executive Ofﬁ ce

Nik Tasha Nik Kamaruddin: Executive Director Stephanie Ho: Events Manager Danielle Horsnell: Business Development Executive Andre Nasution: Operations Executive Agnes Elizabeth: Executive PA/Events AÀ q Sahidi: OfÀ ce Executive

BMCC Magazine:

Editor: Amanda Powell

Editorial Committee: • George Aveling • Marcus Osborne • Nik Tasha Nik Kamaruddin • Bill Addington Production: KL Kudos Design Sdn Bhd Printing: Tinggi Press Sdn Bhd Lot 6, Jalan Kuang Bulan, Taman Kepong, 52100 Kuala Lumpur.

Berita BMCC is published bi-monthly for distribution to BMCC members and other organisations in the business community. The views expressed or implied herein are those of the authors or contributors and do not necessarily reÁ ect those of the Chamber.

4 September-October 2014

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 6 9/23/14 5:07 PM In This Issue

There’s A Revolution Going On: Shop Till You Drop? In Malaysia that is certainly possible what with the proliferation of retail malls around the captial and beyond. Yet things are changing. Malls are becoming lifestyle venues where people head for leisure and entertainment while retail is increasingly moving online. Our feature section has more.

Cover Story Turn to Page 15.

■ First Lines ...... 3

■ Hot Happenings ...... 6

■ In Memoriam ...... 8 Simon Featherstone, CMG

■ Market Insight ...... 9 Where Are UK Interest Rates Heading? By Simon Peck, UK Rates Research At RBS

■ Report Back ...... 10 > Inspiring Young People: An Afternoon with YB Khairy Jamaluddin, Minister of Youth & Sports

> High-Speed Networking With DHL

■ Cover Story ...... 15 ■ ...... 30 RETAIL: There’s a Revolution Going On Meet Our New Members

■ News From Our Members ...... 32

■ In The Spotlight ...... 34

> Centred On Excellence - Gleneagles KL

> Getting On Board - Alice Smith School

> On The Move With Allied Pickfords

■ Giving Back ...... 38 Local Charities Receive Boost From September-October 2014 September-October 10th Annual Charity Rugby Dinner

INNOVATION: It’s everywhere we look. In business. In communities. BMCC Magazine: In our personal lives. But what voice do innovators have? Do their innovations reach the right audience? How can we use innovation in a November-December smarter way to achieve more? Does your company have a good story Innovation Is Key to tell? Get in touch! We want to hear from you! Sponsorship and advertisement opportunities available! Deadline Imminent: Contact: 03 2163 1784 or [email protected]

September-October 2014 5

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 7 9/23/14 5:07 PM Hot Happenings

October Thurs 2nd BMCC Members Networking Golf In The City @ Mandarin Oriental KL 6.00pm-8.00pm Informal evening for members and guests to try ou the À rst class indoor golf facilities in the heart of the city. Only New Dates RM50 per person inclusive refreshment. Thurs 9th 4-Chamber VIP Luncheon NEW For Your Diary Joint event with MGCC, MFCCI & MDBC 12.00pm-2.30pm - Renaissance Hotel KL Economic Outlook of Malaysia Guest Speaker: YB Senator Dato’ Sri Abdul Wahid Bin Omar Minister in Prime Minister’s Department See opposite for details Sat 18th Great British Ball Shangri-la Hotel Kuala Lumpur See opposite for details Tues 21st Leo Sayer - LIVE IN KL! 8.00pm - KL Convention Centre Tickets: www.klccconventoncentre.com TBC BMCC Power Lunch Series: Inspring SMEs With Standard Chartered Bank 11.30am-2.30pm - Shook@Starhill Gallery Panel of inspiring Business Leaders including: Antoine Bakhache of TrueÀ tt & Hill, Pat Liew of British India and Soo Shea Pin of Anya Hindmarch. Call BMCC for more details November Sun 2nd BMCC Annual Golf Scramble 12 noon onwards - Venue TBC Join us for a competitive but fun outing at this signature BMCC event and see if anyone can score a hole in one! Texas Scramble format followed by BBQ Supper. Call the BMCC OfÀ ce to book! Weds 5th- BMCC Delegation Tour To Sarawak NEW Sat 8th The second in the BMCC Trade Delegation Series after the very successful tour to Iskandar. Places limited. BMCC Coffee Table Book See opposite for details Fri 14th- Licence To Thrill - A Bond Concert Sun 16th Panggung Sari, Istana Budaya See opposite for details A unique compilation, spanning 120 pages, of bilateral stories, historical images, interesting anecdotes and quirky customs. A celebration of December the achievements that have come about as a Fri 4th BMCC Annual Corporate Christmas Lunch result of the long relationship between Britain The hallmark BMCC event to close out the and Malaysia. Published in conjunction with our year. Follow us on Facebook or Twiter for 50th Anniversary celebrations. more details.

Price: RM180 (w/o slipcase) RM210 (with Limited Edition slipcase) Discounts available for bulk purchases.

Contact Andre at BMCC to order your copies. Tel: +603 2163 1784 Email: [email protected]

6 September-October 2014

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 8 9/23/14 5:07 PM Hot Happenings

BMCC Delegation Tour to Sarawak 5th-8th November 2014

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK WITH LEADING INDUSTRIALISTS OF SARAWAK

Jointly organised with 4-Chamber HIGHLIGHTS: Bintulu Development VIP Luncheon • Close-up of the emerging Authority (BDA), Dayak Sarawak Corridor of Re- Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), and Economic Outlook newable Energy (SCORE) Sarawak Chamber of Of Malaysia Project by BDA Commerce and Industry Thursday 9th October 2014 • Networking with DCCI (SCCI). 12.00pm–2.30pm Renaissance Hotel Kuala Lumpur • Dinner with Sarawak Chief Contact BMCC OfÀ ce Minister Tan Sri Datuk now to book. Places Keynote Address: Amar Haji Adenan Bin limited YB Senator Dato’ Sri Abdul Wahid Bin Omar Haji Satem at the SCCI Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department 63rd Anniversary Gala. Organised by: Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MGCC), Malaysian-French Cham- ber of Commerce & Industry (MFCCI) and LimeLight Entertainment presents Malaysian Dutch Business Council (MDBC) in conjunction with BMCC. Licence Contact [email protected] for bookings To Thrill ABondConcert Featuring Phantom of We Will Rock You David The Opera Simon Phantom of Jaclyn Salamiah Nikki Les Misérables The Opera Shannon Miss Saigon / BaileyLes Misérables / Victor/ Hassan / Palikat 14 –16 November 2014 Ticket starts from RM78 via airasiaredtix.com / Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur / 3pm Sat & Sun / 8.30pm Fri & Sat Ticketing Hotline +603 8775 4666 / Partnerships & Corporate Packages +603 6207 9566 CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF THE WORLD’S MOST LOVED SECRET AGENT

Official Broadcaster

Official Venue

British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce members enjoy 10% off stall tickets. Please use BONDASSOC promo code for online booking.

September-October 2014 7

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 9 9/23/14 5:25 PM In Memoriam

A GREAT Ambassador

He was also an important player in BMCC’s A latecomer to the world of Twitter, he pitch to be appointed as one of the key used this platform to give his followers a markets in the UK Government’s Overseas unique window onto the world of interna- Business Network Initiative, supporting and tional diplomacy along with sharp insights guiding us through the maze of procedures on football. involved. The Initiative has since taken BMCC onto the international stage. Just before he left Malaysia to return home to spend time with family and friends, he One of the many milestones he helped said, “For Gail and I, our departure this make happen was the visit to Malaysia by week after three and a half years in Malay- Simon Featherstone, CMG their Royal Highnesses William and Kate – sia will leave us many happy memories. We and one of his own personal highlights. This have had a wonderful time both personally British High Commissioner more than anything helped raise the proÀ le and professionally and will miss many things to Malaysia & Patron of BMCC of Britain here and of Malaysia back in the about this stunning country – not least the UK, out in the community. fantastic people that we have met.” 2010-2014 At our Gala Dinner in March, he delivered Our deepest condolences go out to his wife the keynote message from Prime Minister Gail, his family and all his many friends. Cameron, a message which Simon him- t the end of August, the business self had helped obtain. Who would have Simon. A good man. A GREAT ambassador. community in Malaysia was left reel- thought that was the last time many of us Gone too soon. May he rest in peace. Aing in shock at the very sad news that would see him? Simon Featherstone, our High Commission- er and co-Patron had passed away. An Oxford man, Simon joined the Foreign & Commonwealth The literally hundreds of messages that OfÀ ce in 1980. During the were left on the special condolence book second half of the 90’s, he set up in his memory are a poignant remind- served as Consul General er of the number of lives he touched and in Shanghai (1994-96) and Politi- so many different circles. From top political and Economic Counsellor cians, to business leaders to football fans. Beijing during the Hong Kong And not just in Malaysia – across the world. handover (1996-98). From 2004–08, he was British am- When Simon À rst took up his post here some bassador to Switzerland and four years ago, he very quickly and willingly non-resident ambassador to agreed to become our co-Patron. Over the Liechtenstein and the Prime next three and a half years, he was closely Minister's International Rep- involved with the BMCC across many of our resentative on Energy Issues activities and events. He was hugely instru- in 2008. mental in putting Britain on the map here and doing the same for Malaysia overseas. In 2009, he became UK director for the 2010 Shanghai Expo where the He was single-minded in his mission to im- UK pavilion won the award for best pavil- prove the relationship between the UK and ion design. Malaysia and helped pull off the major coup of getting a British Prime Minister – David He was appointed Companion of the Or- Cameron - to visit here after a near 20-year der of St Michael & St George (CMG) in dearth of such visits. That was the start- the New Year Honours of 2011. ing point for a concerted campaign to help boost trade between our two countries. Simon was a unique individual whose sharp intellect and keen interest in The acquisition of the iconic Battersea Pow- all around him were matched in equal er Station site and large-scale investments measure by his quiet humility on one in Malaysia by British companies like Weir end of the scale and a burning passion Group, Smiths Group, BT and Dyson have for his beloved football team on the been clear evidence of this drive. other.

8 September-October 2014

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 10 9/23/14 5:07 PM Market Insight On The Move? UK Interest Rates

By Simon Peck, UK Rates Research At RBS

The biggest question facing sterling rates markets is no longer Fast Facts ‘if’ or ‘when’ the Bank of England will hike interest rates, but Rates should level off at how high they will go over the next two or three years. around 2.5 per cent in 2 or 3 years ollowing the hawkish tone of Governor At this juncture, I think 2.50 per cent is a Mark Carney’s Mansion House speech very reasonable estimate as to where the Fin June, the market has more or less neutral level of bank rate actually is and I The sooner the À rst hike the made up its mind on the Bank’s À rst move: certainly expect the Bank to continue push- the base rate will increase from 0.5 per ing its message of “limited and gradual” greater the chance of a lower cent later this year. increases in rates. neutral rate The short-term money markets are cur- Britain’s households are still mired in debt – rently pricing in an 80 per cent chance of running at 139 per cent of income as of the BoE will keep pushing ‘limited a 25 basis point hike in November. That ex- last quarter of 2013, according to the OfÀ ce pectation is already having a tangible price for National Statistics. and gradual’ message while impact. Sterling has risen to a 6-year high households mired in debt against the US dollar in the belief the Bank They remain especially vulnerable to will be the À rst major central bank to raise changes in Á oating rates. Figures from the policy rates. Council of Mortgage Lenders show 65 per Market scepticism after earlier cent of mortgages are variable, rather than That means the timing of the À rst rise is À xed. experience of guidance is a not the focus it once was. It is the Mon- danger for BoE etary Policy Committee’s thinking on where Combined with prospects for subdued rates should eventually settle – the point at growth in wages, households are likely to which they neither stimulate nor restrain struggle far more after each rate hike in As Martin Weale, a fellow MPC member,said economic growth – that will have a far this cycle than during equivalent periods of in June, “the policy of raising bank rate greater impact on markets, businesses and past tightening. gradually does imply that the À rst rise needs to come sooner than would otherwise households in the next few years. Our economists estimate interest rates be the case”. would only have to rise by 150 or 200 basis “The danger for the Bank will points before debt-servicing costs return to In my view, the market is entirely justiÀ ed come if the market fails to buy pre-crisis levels. in expecting an earlier move. Economists have increasingly questioned the appro- into the ‘gradual and limited’ That means that where in the past, rate priateness of emergency monetary policy rises averaged around 34 basis points per narrative.” given the extraordinary performance of the quarter, this time the market is expect- labour market and sustained momentum ing only one 25 basis point rate hike every behind the economic recovery. Since the Bank’s foundation 320 years ago, three months. interest rates have averaged 4.8 per cent. The danger for the Bank will come if the However as Carney has conceded, there are The timing of the À rst rate hike still has market fails to buy into the ‘gradual several reasons to believe the new normal relevance, however. MPC member Ian Mc- and limited’ narrative. Memories of the will be “materially lower”. Cafferty has said that once the Bank starts À rst phase of guidance – when the Bank to normalise policy, it will be “critically “achieved” its unemployment threshold That is particularly the case given the econ- important that rises in bank rate are deliv- more than two years ahead of its own fore- omy’s vulnerability to higher rates after ered, as far as we are able, at only a mod- cast - are fresh in the mind. years of cheap borrowing. est, gradual pace”. The sooner the Bank be- In a recent RBS survey, almost 80 per cent gins the rate hiking process the more likely Debate about a lower neutral rate is rightly of investors said they expected policy rates it is to deliver on a lower neutral rate level moving to the forefront of policy discus- to plateau between 2 and 3.99 per cent. Al- and reinforce market conÀ dence that it can sion. Now the Bank must hope markets ac- most half thought rates would remain under do so. cept its rhetoric at face value and are not 3 per cent. once bitten, twice shy.

September-October 2014 9

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 11 9/23/14 5:07 PM Report Back

Networking At SPEED! ould you sell your business in 60 seconds? Well that was all the time allowed for participants at the latest BMCC Speed Networking event to Cmake their pitch! Organised in conjunction with Annual Gold Sponsor DHDHL and event partner Expatriate Lifestyle, the well-attended event, held at ththe InterContinental Hotel, saw some 60 members and guests arrive to pitch ttheirh business. A mixed crowd from different industries included representa- ttivesi from Etihad Airways, Archer Bahari, Invest KL, Axis REIT, McCann Erik- sson, Milestone Production and many more.

ArArriving early, some guests tucked into a nutritious breakfast while others bebegan the networking process straight awaway. Then the event proper got un- dederway with Andrew Diamond, BMCC BBoard Director, once again assuming thet role of Chief Controller, armed wwith stopwatch and whistle to make ssure that everyone kept to time.

This highly popu- llarar event format eenabledna guests to mmakea contact with a large number of bubusiness people in quick-q À re time.

KKeep a look out ffor the next BMCC Speed Network- ing and get your pitch ready!

10 September-October 2014

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 12 9/23/14 5:07 PM Report Back

September-October 2014

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 13 9/23/14 5:07 PM Report Back

Inspiring YOUNG People

he crowd that arrived at Publika for maintain a good work-life balance, and en- the recent BMCC INSPIRE: You Are suring À nancial independence. After some TThe Future celebration were met introductory insights from BMCC Chairman with a carnival-like atmosphere and lots Dato’ Larry Gan around the themes of the of people dressed in very bright pink. The afternoon, Guest of Honour YB Khairy Ja- occasion was the latest in the series of IN- maluddin took to the stage to address the SPIRE events organised by BMCC to reach audience. out to different segments of the business community - in this case, young people. Fresh from the launch of Fit Malaysia a few Designed to address the current opportuni- days earlier, the Minister acknowledged, absolutely have to take action. Aside from ties and issues faced by young profession- “Malaysians love sport, but we are not a the physical effect on our young people, als, the event highlighted the importance sporting nation. We all love to sit and watch if these conditions are allowed to esca- of getting À t and staying healthy, how to the matches on TV – whether it’s football, badminton or late further, the cost of squash - chipping in healthcare will far out- our comments but weigh the cost of get- for many it stops ting the nation moving. there. The aim of Fit Malaysia is to get more Malaysians Obesity, diabetes walking, jogging, run- and heart disease ning, biking – whatever are rampant in our it takes to encourage a society. It will re- more active lifestyle.” quire signiÀ cant investment to The Minister later took achieve what we time to visit the various need to do but we booths around the event.

12 September-October 2014

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 14 9/23/14 5:07 PM Cover Story

EXHIBITORS British High Commission: GREAT Retail, Chevening Scholarships and UK Malaysia Alumni Team TIMEdotcom Triathlon My Sports: online sports retail hub iM4U Azlan Rudy Malik COO of Dr Nik Halmey Nik Zainal Nikki Palikat Award-winning Gleneagles KL: offering IM4U, drummer and former Cardiologist Gleneagles KL songstress due to appear posture check and IBM employee, spoke about who spoke about how we in the upcoming Licence ambulance preview the key issues facing young are neglecting our health To Thrill, the James Bond people today such as obtain- and emphasised the impor- Musical, sang a couple of One Two Juice: a social ing the right guidance and tance of a good work-life numbers from this eagerly enterprise project by career advice, bridging the balance, nutritious diet and awaited musical treat, Sky- Selangor Dredging Berhad generation gap and achiev- regular exercise to help fall and Die Another Day. Limelight: promoting ing work-life balance. maintain a healthy heart. Licence To Thrill

Steve Lumley Triathlete, Wan Muhammad Syazwan Ironman, personal trainer ZulkiÁ i Senior Associate, and superÀ t guy in pink. Transaction Advisory Ser- Set up Team TIMEdotcom vices EY Malaysia and repre- Triathlon team in Malaysia. senting Association Of Char- Trained Jodie Stimpson, tered CertiÀ ed Accountants who recently won Gold for [ACCA], who busted a few Triathlon at the Common- myths about accountants wealth Games in Glasgow. and accountancy.

September-October 2014 13

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12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 16 9/23/14 5:08 PM Cover Story

To the untrained eye, shopping would appear to be the national pastime in Malaysia, second only to food. The proliferation of retail malls across the capital and beyond, each one claiming to be bigger, bolder, better than the last, represents a developer’s dream. And to some operators it means new ways to reach more people. But is this untrammelled expansion sustainable? How eco-friendly are these huge ediﬁ ces with what must be a massive carbon footprint? And is retail finally moving online? We look at the evolution of a more integrated lifestyle experience and how retailers are embracing the power of digital to reach their target markets. Turn the page to read more.

Retail ion Revolut

September-OctoberSeptember-October 2014 2014 15

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 17 9/23/14 5:08 PM Cover Story

Shopping is GREAT

ollowing its enormous success last year, The grand prize of a London Shopping Trip “The 2013 Campaign the GREAT Retail Campaign returns with shopping vouchers worth more than Fonce again to Malaysia’s malls. Last £1,000 was a big draw card with many of included a six-week year over 100 stores across Malaysia were the participating stores reporting double involved with 28 UK retail brands participat- digit sales growth as a result. Over 17,000 shopping contest which ing. The 2013 Campaign included a six-week shoppers took part, with many making mul- shopping contest which attracted 35,000 tiple purchases in order to submit multiple attracted 35,000 entries, entries. And with each entry requiring the entries to the contest. shopper to spend RM250 in a UK-brand store, generating over RM7.5 generated over RM7.5 million in sales. Extended 2014 Campaign The 2014 GREAT Retail Contest runs for million in sales.” eight weeks from 18th September to 15th November, ending on the À nal day of KL GREAT Fashion Weekend. Some 39 UK retail brands The concept of the show is about taking in more than 200 stores are participating 12 contestants from across Asia and trans- BriƟ sh Brands this year including some new UK brands forming them from ‘ordinary’ to ‘extraordi- that have recently entered the Malaysian nary’, by building their À tness, their fash- Accessorize - Ben Sherman market [see panel]. ion sense and their conÀ dence. Each week - BHS - Boxfresh - Burtons the contestants have to complete a À tness Alison Collingridge, Prosperity Promotion and a fashion challenge with the weakest Manager at UKTI, says, “In addition to all being eliminated. Menswear - Cath Kidston the fantastic support we have received - Clarks - Debenhams - from the participating stores, once again As a result of GREAT’s sponsorship, as well we are very grateful that the BMCC and the as Fitness First, over 20 UK brands will be Dorothy Perkins - FitFlop - British Council have come on board as part- showcased on the show including Clarks, ners, to provide their expertise, contacts Debenhams, Reebok, STORM London, Boots French Sole - Hamleys - and networks to further ensure the Cam- No. 7 makeup, Soltan, TONI&GUY, MINI and Harrods - Jo Malone London paign’s success.” British Airways. - Joseph & Joseph - Going Regional ‘Fit For Fashion’ goes live on Fox Star World Due to the success of last year’s campaign on 16th October at 9.40pm and in Malaysia Kitchen CraŌ - Laura Ashley - in Malaysia, this year the GREAT Retail cam- the TV Show will also air on NTV7. paign is going regional with GREAT Shopping For more on Fit For Fashion: Lyle & ScoƩ - M&S - MINI - Contests also being held in Singapore, Thai- http://À tforfashion.tv/ Miss Selfridge - Modalu land, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, India and Japan. And for the À rst time the GREAT www.facebook.com/FitForFashionTV ENGLAND - Morphy Richards campaign will also be hitting the TV screen. https://twitter.com/FitForFashionTV - Neal’s Yard - Outback - Alison explains. “In December 2013, just af- KL Fashion Weekend ter our GREAT Retail campaign had ended, 14th-16th November Radley - Reebok - we were approached by UK company Fit- Nine of the episodes of the ‘Fit For Fashion’ have now been À lmed in the beautifull set- Royal Albert - Royal Doulton ness First with a proposition to sponsor a new reality TV show ‘Fit For Fashion’ that ting of the YTL Tanjung Jara Resort on the - STORM London - Superdry - would be broadcast across Asia and the Mid- east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. dle East to an audience of over 450 million. TM Lewin - Ted Baker - The grand À nale, when the three À nalists Fitness First was sponsoring the ‘Fitness’ face their biggest challenge to determine TONI&GUY - TOPMAN element of the show as part of its inter- who will win the US$100,000 cash prize, will take part courtesy of Tourism Malaysia, - TOPSHOP - Wallis - national rebranding and wanted GREAT to sponsor the ‘Fashion’ element to showcase during KL Fashion Weekend at 1 Utama. The Warehouse - Wedgwood the best of British fashion as well as other event will feature British fashion brands exciting British brands.” alongside Malaysian fashion brands.

16 September-October 2014

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 18 9/23/14 5:08 PM Cover Story LONDON Has Landed ewens Tea House Inc. worldwide owners of the ‘Newens Tea House‘ brand Nhas signed up its À rst international franchise territory licence with BMCC Mem- ber Autodome Sdn Bhd. The deal gives Au- todome the sole and exclusive licence to operate the Newens Tea House brand in Malaysia.

Operations will begin with the opening of a Newens in Kuala Lumpur’s upscale Starhill Gallery enabling discerning clientele to en- Fabulous Prizes joy a quintessential English experience in between visiting British Crown Jewellers Grand Prize: Garrard’s, or having a haircut at Mayfair’s London Shopping Trip TrueÀ tt & Hill. Sponsored by British Airways, Holiday Newens, the world’s only makers of English Villa, Standard Chartered and M&S teatime classic ‘Maids of Honour’ has been in the bakery business for the best part of Plus: two centuries from its traditional home in West London. • Debenhams RM2,5000 voucher Tasty treats include light and airy scones, • Modalu ENGLAND designer rich and traditional pies, quiches and sweet- handbag meats, exquisite À nger sandwiches, dreamy fresh cream delights and classics cakes and • MINI Weekend Drive buns are all served with an array of delicate • Fitness First gym memberships teas, refreshing infusions, drinking choco- lates and coffees. • Reebok RM1,000 vouchers And for those looking to experience a taste • STORM London watches of what it was like to be King of England • Radley RM1,000 vouchers À ve hundred years ago, there’s always the very special ‘Maids of Honour’ [pictured], • Superdry RM1,000 voucher a personal favourite of the larger than life • TM Lewin gift sets monarch that was Henry VIII of England.

Plus! Prizes for over 200 runners-up of Newens will be offering a number of unique and exclusive English themed lunches, sup- GREAT-branded MINI cufÁ inks and pers and of course traditional English After- STORM London vouchers, with every noon Tea and morning coffee experiences participating store having a winner. all of which will be available seven days a Shop. Share. Win week in Newens’ beautiful Art Deco inspired premises providing a calm and tranquil en- Clozette has come on board once vironment. again as the digital partner for the GREAT Campaign providing Ma- laysian shoppers with the chance GREAT Brand Ambassador of winning vouchers and other priz- GREAT Brand Ambassador Dame Zandra Rhodes [above] is also ex- es in the ‘Shop Share Win’ contest. pected to return to KL to support the campaign. As well as being a Participants simply need to upload celebrity guest in the À nal episode a photo on www.clozette.co/great of the ‘Fit For Fashion’ TV show, of the British products they have she will also be launching her new collection in collaboration with purchased along with the brand Karyaneka at KL Fashion Weekend. name and price plus the contest Her KL Alta Moda fashion show will take place at the National Visual hashtag #shopgbmy Arts Gallery.

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12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 19 9/23/14 5:08 PM Cover Story BAGS Of Style BIG Anya Hindmarch, MBE, Founder of her eponymous brand of luxury handbags, is also UK On Trade Ambassador. In this article, extracted from BMCC’s 50th Anniversary Coffee Table Book Jolly Good Lah, she talks Design about inspiration, hard work and promoting talent.

wenty years ago, two architects You were appointed as a British How easy or difÀ cult is it to from the UK teamed up to set Trade Ambassador in 2011. What champion UK business overseas? Tabout capturing some of the new were your initial thoughts on this? I think it is relatively easy given that peo- projects that were on the horizon in I was pleased that the British Government ple respect the UK for its innovation in Malaysia at the time. From small begin- was putting so much energy behind trade products and services. There’s also the nings in the early days, Martin Haeger and exports and using all the assets it has convenience of an easy time zone [mid- and James Lindsay have since built up avaialable to achieve this. way betwen the East and the West] and a business to form HL Architecture, a its safe legal infrastructure. successful multi-disciplinary À rm which What have your visits to Malaysia is currently handling some of the land- revealed to date? In the tough world of luxury mark projects around the country and Malaysia is a market that has changed dra- fashion, how do you keep coming beyond. matically in the ten years I have known it. up with your inspiration for such South East Asia generally is a buzzword at creative and innovative ideas? The À rst big project for the Á edgling the moment and you can feel the energy Ideas for me are the easier part. A thou- À rm was the design of Ampang Point, in Malaysia. It is exciting to see the mar- sand things and people inspire me. I am the À rst retail mall of its kind at the ket develop and the ties with the UK are obsessed with architecture, art and eve- time. Operating out of a small ofÀ ce particularly strong. rything around me. I can be inspired by nearby, the duo worked to establish a the smallest, unexpected detail! name for themselves, initially in inte- The Anya Hindmarch brand was rior design. À rst introduced to Malaysia ten How do you ensure that quality is years ago. How has it been so far? maintained down to the last detail? In the late 90’s, they formed a joint venture with an Australian retail group Incredibly exciting. The work hasn’t Craftsmanship is integral to the Anya to expand capacity. Seven years ago, À nished yet – we have a lot more up our Hindmarch brand and part of our DNA. a local architect came on board as sleeve! The leathers we use have been made es- the third member of the management pecially for us in the world’s best tanner- team, which opened up the scope for ies, while exotic skins are hand-dyed in HL to undertake architectural work. wonderful colours to À t our collections. We have craftsmen on site in our New York Today, the À rm employs some 80 people and London stores. in a downtown KL ofÀ ce with an employee roll-call that reads like the Unit- How can design talent be better ed Nations. “There are 12 different na- promoted and exported? tionalities on board,” says Martin. “This There is such an incredible pool of talent gives us a very diverse outlook and ena- in the UK and the British Fashion Council bles us to bring different perspectives has and continues to do a fantastic job and skills sets to every project.” helping to mentor the next generation. These skills sets now encompass ar- What advice can you provide for chitecture, strategic planning, interior fellow entrepreneurs trying to design and identity. Over the years, grow successful businesses? the À rm has worked with all the big de- You make mistakes every day! I still do. velopers in Malaysia including Low Yat, You need to turn them to your advantage YTL, Tan & Tan, IGB and more. The huge and learn from them. wave of urban and retail development

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that has been happening in more recent times has seen the team win work on the majority of the current projects. These range from boutique neighbourhood developments to satellite city malls right up to the enormous integrated complex- es that are being driven by some of the major developers.

Empire Group for example is developing Empire City, a vast project that will com- prise some 3 million sq feet of space. Projects for IOI, WCT and CapitaLand are of a similar scale. “There is huge demand from most developers to maximise completely revamped Royal Selangor the plot ratios. Aside from that trends Visitors’ Centre. Individual brand out- are changing. These developments are lets such as Fitness First and À ve Louis becoming lifestyle venues where people Vuitton stores in KL and Singapore are go for more than just shopping so there further strings to its bow. are other features incorporated besides retail,” says Martin. For some clients, the trend is thank- fully moving towards incorporating a Projects such as OUG Mall, Tropicana full community experience with natural City, Paradigm, NuSentral and Gurney environments worked into the overall Paragon in Penang [below] are all part concepts. As such HL has worked on of the portfolio. Ativo and Eco Setia Mall [right], at opposite ends of the scale in terms of size A substantial body of work on refurbish- but at least with green spaces. ment of existing buildings is also part of the track record. These include the Other assignments include the Gateway facelift of the 30-year old Nestle build- at KLIA2 where HL was asked to create ing in PJ and on a very different scale the retail experience at the new air the refurbishment of UE3 which includ- transport hub. At Subang Skypark, the ed the integration of the Vivatel hotel team were involved in the new look of property [above right]. Low Yat City, the the old terminal building. Weld and ECM Libra building are others In addition to its extensive client list in which have received the refresh treat- Aside from building up the practice with his Malaysia, HL has also cast its nets fur- ment courtesy of HL. business partners, since À rst arriving in Ma- ther aÀ eld, bringing work home to the laysia, Martin has invested time in obtaining The reworking of Starhill Gallery is also KL ofÀ ce for clients in Thailand, Philip- his private pilot’s licence. This enables him the work of this diverse team as is the pines, China and Fiji. to visit development sites by air and capture stunning bird’s eye views of the locations, much to the surprise of his clients!

For someone who was originally intending to head for Australia but never made it, he’s turned an exploratory trip to Malaysia into a pretty successful outing!

www.hlarchitecture.net

“While many developers have a clear idea of what they want, as architects and designers, we are able to a certain extent inÁ u- ence the style of a building or development and incorporate user-friendly features.”

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BRAND Essence

t is 20 years since BritishIndia À rst made ways going to be an evolutionary process. its debut on the local retail scene, caus- We aim to enrich what we have already ac- Iing a stir with its cheeky advertising and complished and will always think of ways to an even bigger impact with its clothing. make it better.

Despite the name, BritishIndia is an en- Over time, we have reÀ ned cuts and tech- tirely homegrown brand, founded by Malay- nology has brought changes to production sian entrepreneur Pat Liew. Over the last methods. Some of our items have been two decades, the brand has lived through perfected over the course of 20 years. Our two economic downturns but has endured two-way stretch pants for example. Or our largely due to one thing. Quality, quality T-shirts for men which we have constantly and quality. sought to make more comfortable, cooling.

Three years ago, Rhoda Yap – the founder’s What role does location play in the suc- niece - was appointed as CEO, accepting cess or otherwise of an outlet? How do “The brand is centred on the challenge to take the company to the you select which retail development to effortless elegance and next level. Her credentials are impressive. locate your stores? A lawyer, and an MBA graduate of Cornell comfort. Quality is at the Fashion branding is all about location, loca- University, she worked at JP Morgan Invest- tion, location. We look at the type of clien- core of all our clothing.” ment Bank and then at McKinsey & Co in the tele the landlord wishes to attract, at the US focusing on large scale transformational tenancy mix and the tenant neighbourhood, them born out of a desire to provide cloth- efforts for Fortune 100 clients, including then balance this against existing locations. ing for a particular lifestyle. We have six retailers and À nancial institutions. seasons in a year so our design and produc- In Malaysia, we have stores in prime loca- We met up with her at the BritishIndia de- tion teams here in Malaysia are kept very, tions such as KLCC Suria, Pavilion, Bangsar, sign and distribution centre in Kota Daman- very busy! The Curve and Gurney Plaza. In Singapore sara to À nd out more. we have stores located at Singapore’s Raf- How do you ensure that the quality of the BritishIndia was one of the À rst quality Á es Hotel and Marina Bay Sands along with design comes through in the À nished gar- clothing retailers to break onto the local other foreign names. Those locations speak ments? volumes about our standard and quality of scene, one that has become much more All premium brands struggle with this, es- the merchandise. BritishIndia clientele is a crowded. What have been the key factors pecially when production is manufactured mixed bag of tourists and locals. for sustaining the business since then? overseas. We have developed long-term BritishIndia was conceived as a premium The number of lines in the collection has working relationships with our vendors and tropical lifestyle brand offering quality ap- steadily expanded. Where does the inspi- over time have trained and monitored them parel designed for the tropics. In reality ration come from? into ensuring BritishIndia standards are there are only a handful of premium tropi- maintained. Our designers – around 60 to 70 in total - cal brands. Our goal is to create effortless draw their inspiration from various sources Every season our QC team visits to ensure and elegant clothing. around the world and from listening to our production is up to par. We also spend a We match the best base fabric that we customers. When we À rst started out we large amount of time researching the lat- can possibly À nd for example Italian and had two lines – Traveller and Classic. Then est fabrication methods and techniques to Irish linens, Supima cotton, with enduring the Yoga line was added, followed by the ensure our products are continuously up- values and superior workmanship. It is al- Adventurer and Equestrian lines – all of dated.

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What was behind the decision to move into Home Ac- cessories/Furnishing? Our stores were originally crafted to resemble homes as a setting for our clothing. Customers loved the look we created and wanted to buy the items. That’s how the Home line started. Our creative team does the buying and sources mostly from India.

You currently have a presence in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Philippines. What are the plans for future expansion? In terms of geographical expansion we are targeting major cities with a strong retail identity across the tropical zone. We are actively seeking partners to achieve this growth.

In terms of multi-channel expansion, we have just successfully migrated to a new SAP infrastructure. Now we have all the systems in place, we will be looking at adding e-commerce.

You have been on board since 2011. What challenges have you encountered? One of the challenges is adapting À rst world management theory and tools to new economies. Also in consulting, 80 percent of the time is spent thinking of the solution and only 20 percent on execution. It’s completely the reverse in our business, in fact the gap is even bigger – more like 90 percent on execution.

Please tell us more about White Elephant. White Elephant is a joint CSR project with our landlord at Publika. They provide the space and we provide the merchandise – mostly from our sample batches - all at fantastic prices. The proceeds will go to charity. It is our way of formalising our giving back efforts.

As retail trends in Asia continue to evolve, one thing looks certain. BritishIndia is on course to attract even stronger brand following and additional market share.

www.britishindia.com

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Migrating ONLINE In tandem with the proliferation of new shopping malls around Malaysia, another trend is slowly gaining momentum. The migration to online retail. Qusai Sarraf, CEO of international multichannel experts Ivis Group, provides some insights on what’s happening in this space.

According to Euromonitor research Since setting up in Malaysia seven Marketplaces have always been attrac- conducted in 2011, less than two years ago, what are the main devel- tive as they offer a shorter time to market percent of retail in Malaysia will be opments you have witnessed? but there are deÀ nitely drawbacks from a conducted online by 2016. What is branding perspective so we would advocate Online has grown slowly in Malaysia. To your comment on this? using both - there is deÀ nitely a place for prove it could work as a business model, we both, as Tesco illustrates. There is hardly With all that has happened in Malaysia in even went as far as launching our own site any retailer that wouldn not derive beneÀ t the past 12-18 months together with an- in 2009 selling hampers and gifts online but from going online. In the UK, the market is ticipated growth over the next two years, it was too early for the market. more mature so even Co-Operative funeral this would appear to be a rather modest services are online! estimate now. This forecast probably stems Recent developments include Rocket Inter- from the rather outdated view that Malay- net, one of the world's largest e-commerce What hurdles do most organisations sia is not ready for online retail. focused venture capital À rms, investing in face when migrating to online? Malaysia with its Zalora fashion market- AirAsia is a prime example which disproves place. Whereas AirAsia had a strong offer- Online retail needs to be considered as an this theory. They are a hugely successful ing and waited for consumers to À nd them, integral part of a business and not a bit of and purely online business which shows that Zalora is trying to create a market and is e-commerce added on the side. Companies if you have a successful business model peo- spending a lot of money on attracting con- need to move beyond their comfort zone ple will Á ock to the site. sumers to its site. Rakuten has been a more and have the conÀ dence and self-belief to conservative investment by comparison but think bigger and see how both online retail “Online retail needs to be it is already gaining traction. and the physical store can be transformed and integrated within their business. considered as an integral Another development has been the number of attempts by various Malaysian govern- Retail expertise in Malaysia is hard to À nd part of a business and not ment agencies to kickstart online retail. and there has generally been a low level of just a bit of e-commerce They’ve run into trouble mainly because it investment in skills. Online, this is not an was perceived as a purely technical issue or issue and the gap can be overcome through added on the side.” seen from an SME perspective and the over- joint ventures with international retailers all, holistic view has been ignored. which retailers need to consider. Malaysian consumers are waiting for retail- With yet more retail malls launching ers to take online seriously and develop val- There’s a lot of fear and uncertainty among in Malaysia, how does this impact on ue propositions of interest. Many retailers retailers about e-commerce, so it’s great the potential for online retail? and brands are still cautious for a number of to work with our customer Mydin. They are visionary in terms of where they want to go reasons: credit card fraud; they think their Retail is changing in Malaysia as in the with online retail in Malaysia. products aren’t suitable because people UK. Malls will be less about shopping for prefer to touch, feel and try on; they con- Tesco.com entering Malaysia also has to be goods and more about a lifestyle experi- sider shopping to be a social activity in air- a good thing in terms of raising standards ence. They will be places to socialise, have conditioned malls; or they fear that online and demonstrating how a successful online a meal, enjoy spa treatments and provide retail will cannibalise their business. business can be run in this market. play activities for kids as well as a place to connect with the brands you like. The Experience shows that these concerns are In your view, which sectors could physical store will need to be part of the outdated and somewhat disrespectful to be doing more to reap the beneÀ ts brand experience rather than the brand ex- the increasing sophistication of consumers. from online retail? perience in its entirety. More transactions Retailers can no longer hide their heads will be done online. That won’t kill off the in the sand – online retail isn’t just about Some companies opt for B2C and some go physical stores - just change them. transactions. the marketplace route. In our view, companies should use both channels and up to À ve In truth, the online retail journey in Malay- Consumers will research and share about more (B2B2C, white label, afÀ liates, Á ash- sia has only just begun and there is massive products online so retailers need to em- sale and international) but the choice of potential in the market. brace and seize the opportunities that on- channels used should always be in line with line retail plays in the customer journey. their target market, segment and brand. www.ivisgroup.com

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12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 24 9/23/14 5:08 PM Cover Story Retail Experience On The MOVE

The retail experience is more than just browsing in a shopping mall. It extends to all forms of purchasing, and increasingly with transactions being made online or via mobile. We spoke to Adam Grabarczyk, Head of Digital Banking, Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia about current trends and options available.

What level of penetration has been comfortable and quick banking on the go. Android and iOS. It allows users to login reached in online retail banking in It is available on both Android and iOS plat- withwww. a “dummy”À tnessÀ rst.com.my user ID to experience the Malaysia so far? forms. look and feel of our application.

According to the latest Bank Negara Ma- Internet banking was also given a boost We are continuously upgrading the applica- laysia report related to Internet Banking when Bank Negara lowered the Interbank tion user interface to the newest mobile and Mobile Banking Subscribers (end-June Giro (IBG) fee to RM0.10 per transaction operating systems for both Android and iOS. 2014), there are already 16.6 million inter- in May 2013. Standard Chartered went one This month we will also add a new service net banking subscribers. This represents 55 step further by offering IBG transfers with for online and mobile banking which allows percent penetration of population. When no charges. our customers to make instant transfers to it comes to mobile banking there are 5.09 other banks. million subscribers representing 16.9 per- Other factors contributing to the switch cent of population and 11.8 percent of mo- to digital include higher broadband and How much further will technology bile subscribers. mobile data penetration, and enhanced impact the retail banking space? security measures leading to heightened What other trends do you foresee? At Standard Chartered, registered inter- consumer conÀ dence. We foresee the growth of mobile wallets in net banking users represent 74 percent of tandem with growth of mobile data usage all our retail bank customers. Customers How do you tailor your digital and penetration of smartphones. Mobile regularly using internet and mobile bank- solutions across your customer base? wallets are largely driven by telcos, which ing banking services represent 32.2 percent Are there different solutions aimed use their extensive geographic reach and and 7.4 percent respectively. at different sectors of the market? existing networks to À ll a gap in the market What level of acceptance is there Besides the traditional method of walking that banks can’t reach. for switching to digital transactions? into branches, there are several alternative Is it really what the majority of your channels. These include iBanking (internet Mobile service providers and banks can customers want? banking), phone banking, SMS banking and partner to reap the beneÀ ts from each mobile banking via Breeze. All these chan- other’s complementary capabilities to bring There is already a high level of acceptance nels are available to all customers; natural- new services to consumers. for online banking for example bill pay- ly customers will choose the channel that’s ments and fund transfers. It is worth noting best suited to their lifestyles. With mobile wallets, clients of internation- that 98 percent of all bill payment transac- al banks should be able to pay an unbanked tions are performed through online banking We are always looking to innovate and im- mobile wallet consumer anywhere in the and only 2 percent at branches. prove our digital platforms to keep up with world by typing in a phone number instead technological advancements and changing of a bank account. Customers value the convenience, speed consumer expectations and lifestyles. and simplicity that our digital platforms This technology would, for example, be provide. They expect the same innovation Since Breeze was introduced, what useful for: insurance companies to collect and user-friendly interface that they expe- takeup have you seen? Have any premiums or pay out claims; food compa- rience in other areas of their lives. additional features been added? nies to pay farm workers; development organisations for a more efÀ cient distribution Breeze was launched in Malaysia at the In fact, Standard Chartered was recently of aid; and logistics companies for smarter end of September 2010. The take-up has named ‘Best Consumer Internet Bank’ by ways to collect courier fees. been highly encouraging, with over 114,000 Global Finance magazine in 19 markets in- downloads since then. cluding Malaysia. One of the criteria for this We have launched mobile wallet services for corporate clients in three markets so award is the growth in customers adopting Breeze has a simple and friendly interface far: Kenya, Nigeria and the Philippines. digital banking. that enables users to see, move and man- Thailand joined the list recently and we age their money, seamlessly linking with Mobile banking in particular has grown in have plans to deploy the services in 14 iBanking. popularity, where we saw acceptance dou- more markets including Malaysia – making bling in 2013. Customers value our mobile For those who are not our customers yet, it 18 markets in total - by the end of 2015. banking application Breeze, which was we implemented a Demo option last year www.sc.com designed to provide them simple, secure, integrated with our Breeze application for www.rugbyworldcup.com

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Below: Movable Tier & Seats Bottom:Temporary supports to We À rmly believe that it is imperative to steel structure deliver a consistent branded experience. This covers all elements of the customer journey; from creating awareness through the touch-points, particularly our website through to delivery and aftersales. For example, every customer within the UK re- ceives FREE tracked delivery, as standard. We also provide tracked delivery for our international customers. Plus, every order is hand-wrapped with a personalised thank you card. It is the entire customer journey and delivering the brand promise that keeps our customers engaged and coming back for more.

How are you differentiating yourselves? There are some great brands out there On TOP and it was initially tough when we started. However, we were and are very focused on our brand essence and determined to stick to our brand values. The products we offer Of The World allow the individual to build on their char- acter, almost an extension of their person- ality. Feeling ‘on Top of the World’ has no Dr Amita Krishna spoke to Top of to push the emotion of the brand at every single deÀ nition, it’s personal to each in- touch point, through the superior quality of the World founders in London and dividual. That emotion is what we try and our garments, to the detail in our crafts- tap into, and the brand is a platform that came away inspired. A À ne exam- manship. Top of the World London builds allows us to do that. ple of how British SMEs are chang- the individual to succeed, and the brand encapsulates all that is necessary for the ing the rules of the game with What challenges do you face and journey to reach there. how do you tackle them? their entrepreneurial spirit. What about your vision and brand When we started, as a newly set up com- KC and HV, the two young gentlemen who essence. How do y reality? pany, it made practical sense to source and print our products externally and to focus sat across the table from me in a small cof- At Top of the World we have three core val- purely on marketing and sales. However, af- fee shop in the suburbs of London, were ues that remain at the heart of everything ter a lot of research and samples, we found charming, young, energetic, full of deter- we do. They all lead back to delivering that that the quality was mediocre and the costs mination and passion. They truly made an little bit more to the customer. Quality, were high. DissatisÀ ed with the options impact as they described their Á edgling Trust and Service. venture Top of The World. that were presented to us, we decided to When we began researching the type of gar- take on the production ourselves. In order How did the concept of TOTW come ments we wanted to launch in our À rst col- to provide the best quality of print, we be- about? lection, we went through some The seeds were really sown when we were 25 different samples. The both at university. We wanted to create a quality had to be the highest brand that people would be proud to wear that it could possibly be. From and that made a statement. How you look, the weight of the cloth, to the how you feel, what you believe and your À t of the tee, we didn’t leave engrained values drive your actions. Top of any stone unturned. All our the World as a phrase evokes emotion. Af- products are designed, printed ter you get past the physical elements that and processed in-house allow- make a brand what it is, it's the emotion ing us to ensure we deliver that it creates that counts. We wanted peo- consistently high quality gar- ple to feel on ‘top of the world’ using our ments. brand as a way to facilitate that. Passing on this quality enabled TOTW is primarily a lifestyle and clothing us to build up trust, trust that brand that develops clean, well-designed has enabled us to grow from products. The brand began as an outlet to strength to strength and en- explore creativity and soon developed into sures that a customer is able a platform where we were able to share to establish a relationship and our ideas and personalities. We now aim connect with our brand.

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12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 26 9/23/14 5:08 PM Cover Story Life’s LUXURIES gan learning the process and printing the t-shirts ourselves, by hand, per or- Antoine Bakhache knows a thing or two about the À ner things in der. To date, we still use this process. life. As Managing Director of Bakhache Luxuries, he has carved a Another aspect of the business we ini- niche in the local market by bringing well-loved and sought after tially found to be a big challenge was pushing the brand out to the public. As brands into the country. Among these are Mouawad, ChristoÁ e, a new company in a saturated market, TrueÀ tt & Hill and Maison Kurkdjian. this can be very daunting. However, with much help from our network and MOUAWAD: Family-owned designer, manu- through social media, we are starting facturer and purveyor of exclusive jewel- to gain traction and reach. lery and timepiece collections, ranging from boutique items to objets d’art through How about funding? to haute joaillerie masterpieces. Led by The À rm is privately funded by us. By 4th generation Co-Guardians, Fred, Alain & raising our own À nances, we were able Pascal Mouawad, Mouawad retains its emi- to make strategic decisions ourselves. nent position as jewellers to royalty, high We take pride in the work that we do society, celebrities and those that appreci- and the brand that we are building. ate the À nest standards of craftsmanship. The La Classique [above] sees timeless As we expand, we are seeking new The brand was À rst introduced to Malaysian elegance matched with Swiss watchmak- sources of funding. However, we are clientele more than 20 years ago. Indeed, ing expertise. Crafted from Rose Gold and keen to ensure that we work with oth- Bakhache’s tie to Mouawad is more than Steel, available in four versions, two for er strong, like-minded individuals and just a business affair. The fourth and cur- men and two for women. The presence of teams who believe in our core values, rent generation of the Mouawad family are diamonds, set in the bezel, lugs and even care about customers and most impor- Bakhache’s cousins on his mother’s side. the numerals, brings the Mouawad touch tantly will buy into our philosophy. Mouawad Boutique: Indulge Floor, Starhill of luxurious elegance to the fore. And the future? Gallery (+603 2144 4669). Private view- ings also available at The Mouawad House, The future for Top of the World Lon- Bangsar. Contact Elyse at +603 2095 5755. don is bright. We’re still a young company, and we’re very ambitious. We’re hard at work building strong relation- MAISON FRANCIS KURKDJIAN: The most ships with creative teams to push our recent addition to the Bakhache luxury products to the next level, as well as collection. One of the world’s most cel- sourcing the best garments for our new ebrated contemporary perfumiers, Francis seasonal collections. Our international Kurkdjian co-founded his luxury fragrance expansion has begun, building on the house Maison Francis Kurkdjian with busi- existing retailing partnerships we al- ness partner Marc Chaya in 2009 in Paris. ready have in place in both Australia Today, is among the most creative luxury TRUEFITT & HILL: the oldest barbershop and the UK. We’re also keen to come brands in the world and carries a collection in the world, and recognised as the À nest to Asia. of fragrances for women and men, as well gentlemen’s hairdresser and perfumer as home fragrances and accessories. in London. Provides only the À nest in Anything else… grooming products and services. TrueÀ tt & We’ve recently embarked on several The latest addition to the fragrance ward- Hill now has four outlets in Kuala Lumpur small projects that have enabled us to robe is Pluriel, available in two versions, located at Bangsar Shopping Centre, Ma- expand into different markets. One of Masculin EdT and Feminin EdP. Feminin: jestic Hotel, JW Marriott and Grand Hyatt. these projects focuses around the fact based on a grand Á oral bouquet that un- The Ultimate Shaving Starter Kit that as a company, we believe it is our folds from Florentine iris to violet, from responsibility to give back to society. Grasse rose to Egyptian jasmine, from lily- • Any Edwardian Mach 3 Razor We have pledged to donate for a lim- of-the-valley to orange blossom. Masculin: • Any Wellington Badger hair brush ited time a percentage of every sale to- features a fougere accord, set off by the • Ultimate comfort pre-shave oil wards the organisation charity:water, depth of lavender absolute from Provence • Any T&H Shave cream bowl which works with communities in de- and a soft leathery accord built on Eastern Special discount price for BMCC members. veloping countries to provide clean, red cedar, Indonesian patchouli and vetiver. safe water. Available at: Maison Francis Kurkdjian (MFK) And last but not least, we are offering Boutique Pavilion KL, Grand Hyatt KL and a 10 percent discount to BMCC readers! the perfume boutique, Isetan KLCC Suria. Valid until until 5th December 2014. Signature eau de colognes, toilettes and Promo code ‘BMCCTOTW’. parfums, as well as aromatic paper strips, Email: [email protected] scented bubble-blowing solution, fragrant [email protected] laundry detergent, scented candles and leather bracelets imbued with perfume. www.totwlondon.com

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t’s a well-known fact that most creative people draw their inspiration from life around them and its many Iexperiences. Xavier Mah, founder of couture footwear company Xalf Design is no exception. For his latest collection, it was Academy Award-winning À lm, Out of Africa, starring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep that captured the imagination of the design team. Wide open plains, romantic adventures and stylish outÀ ts.

“We watched the romantic drama numerous times,” said Xavier, just fresh from launching the Wau collection for Hari Raya. “We just got caught up in the moment and were inspired by the spotless performances from the star-stud- Out Of ded cast and the sense of wild adventure. Our new collection is a vibrant fusion of wanderlust and cosmopolitan ro- mance, perfect for those higher-energy social occasions.” Generous application of faux leopard, tiger, zebra and py- AFRICA thon prints and minimum 3.5-inch heels make a statement from the get-go.

Add the À nishing touches with a pair of oversized shades, a slinky dress and red lipstick. Touches of colour blocking fuse inspiration from the wilderness with spashes of mod- ern urbanism.

“Of course, not all of us can just leave everything behind and journey to the great unknown,” explains Xavier. “But it doesn’t hurt to have a hint of what is possible if we’re allowed to follow our dreams.”

Tel: +603 2298 7200 Email: [email protected]

Belle Pride [Above]: Maroon patent leather 4-inch pump with zebra print fur. Ideal for the transition from business to social.

Cougar Town [Above Left]: The perfect companion for that little black dress. 3.5-inch peep toe that highlights patent leather, gold zip piping and ankle strap.

The Sojourn [Left]: Full-on leather print with hints of turquoise and gold piping on a 4-inch heel.

Man-Eater [Right]: Hunting for big game made all the more possible with a 3-inch peep toe wedge that cradles the foot nicely in python skin detailing.

Call of the Wild [Left]: Time to paint the town red with this 4-inch black- and-red beauty zebra print toe cap, red leather mid-section and black leather heel.

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12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 28 9/23/14 5:09 PM Cover Story Raising The FLAG

he retail sector is a signiÀ cant com- ers face a challenge in terms of understand- ponent of any national economy. Ma- ing the value of store sales contrasted and Tlaysia is no exception. According to combined with the value of online sales. the Malaysia Retail Industry Report 2013, the industry expanded by 4.5 percent to Key Performance Indicators RM91.7bil in total turnover for the year. Like-for-like sales À gures, the most promi- nent key performance indicator for the Recognising this importance, ICAEW [Insti- sector, are not comparable on a consistent tute of Chartered Accountants for England basis and, in current market conditions, Mark Billington, Regional & Wales] has published Audit Insights: Re- have a reduced correlation to bottom line Director, ICAEW South East tail Report 2014 which raises speciÀ c issues proÀ tability. Greater transparency around Asia, discusses the changing and concerns that auditors are aware of in the method used to calculate like-for-like the 2014 UK retail landscape and that will sales, for example disclosure of calculation business models of retailers have resonance with retailers in Malaysia. methods alongside the results, would bene- and examines new challeng- À t retailers, investors and consumers alike. When the À rst Audit Insights: Retail report es and recommendations. was published in January 2013, auditors Concern about ethical issues, in particular raised three Á ags to indicate areas of po- climate change and resource management, tential concern in the sector. All three re- is likely to drive regulation that requires in- mean a charge for impairment in the À nan- main relevant to the current retail market. creasing levels of sustainability reporting. cial statements. Regulators may not be aware of the difÀ cul- Trust, Transparency & Reporting IT systems & Data Management ties posed by ageing data management sys- Transparency of information, in the form To the surprise and frustration of execu- tems, and requirements may be challenging of clarity and consistency in results and re- tive directors entering the sector, many for retailers who have not historically col- ports, is increasingly in demand both from retailers’ IT systems are underdeveloped. lected sustainability data. Over the past few years, the rise of digi- regulators and markets. In order to main- tal sales channels has revealed the value Transparency, key performance indicators tain trust in their reporting, and certainly of customer data management and analysis and ethical behaviour continue to be ar- before signing off the annual report, retail- and spurred some retailers to improve their eas of concern, especially with the ongoing ers should consider: is the story told by my systems. problem of overemphasis on like-for-like key performance indicators the same as the sales À gures, and the increasing pressure story told by narrative disclosures, and are Investment in IT and data management may for transparency in reporting. both consistent with the results and trends not be easy in the current economic envi- emerging from the À nancial statements? ronment, but holding back is likely to prove Understanding Changing Retail a false economy in the long run. The practi- Retailers are changing their business mod- The key performance indicators used in the cal impact of underdeveloped systems in- els to adapt to a changing landscape, and retail sector remain problematic. No ac- cludes increased difÀ culty in understanding are challenged by the fact that sales and tion has yet been taken to challenge the proÀ t drivers by channel, in meeting the returns arise across a number of different weight given to like-for-like sales À gures, challenges posed by global supply chains, channels. There is increasing ambiguity to improve their consistency, or to provide and in managing working capital across the around the source of revenue generation. contextual information about proÀ tability. business. This has implications for staff incentives, In addition, retailers will need to consider landlord and franchise negotiations, invest- what the most appropriate KPIs will be in While some businesses make the choice to ment decisions, and shareholder reporting. the new omni-channel world. invest in systems, even in times of uncertainty, most retailers have not done so. This A lack of investment in IT and data man- This might be addressed with industry bod- has ongoing implications for shaping and agement was identiÀ ed as a difÀ culty for ies working with retailers to develop stand- understanding the business model. retailers which restricted their access to ard methods of calculation for a range of the most relevant sales data to support retail key performance indicators, includ- Property Portfolios decision-making. The most successful re- ing like-for-like sales À gures. The changing retail landscape is driving tailers were those with access to real-time, To view the full report go to: www.icaew. changes in retailers’ store strategy to align relevant data, but the unfortunate major- com/~/media/Files/Technical/Audit-and- with changing consumer behaviour. The ity were still attempting to tackle the chal- assurance/audit-insights-retail-2014.pdf purpose of store use is increasingly Á exible. lenge of multi-dimensional reporting that The Audit Insights report is part of a wider Many retailers have not yet taken decisive their changing business models bring. action to address their property portfolios initiative by ICAEW where auditors share and until this happens auditors can expect Ambiguity around revenue generation and their insights with the wider public into a to see onerous lease provisions, dilapida- a lack of investment in IT together contrib- speciÀ c sector or certain issue based on the tion provisions and À xed asset impairments ute to a particular challenge when retailers unique access they have to companies and remain common features of the retail au- seek to understand whether an investment their À nancial information. Other reports dit. When considering the value of the made in any given segment of the business have focussed on manufacturing, cyber- property portfolio to their business, retail- is recoverable. Reduced cash Á ows could security and banking.

September-October 2014 27

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 29 9/23/14 5:09 PM Cover Story Staying FRESH

s a tropical country, Malaysia is one migation can be used to extend the shelf- of the major producers of exotic life of fresh or cut fruits. It does this by Afruits. This commodity contributes inhibiting the growth of micro-organisms in part to the economic growth of the and removing pesticide and fungicide resi- country. Ironically, local distributors face dues on the surface of fresh commodities. severe challenges in their pledge to ensure that fruits and vegetables are fresh The application of ‘ozone has already re- Electric ceived commercial interest in the food and edible when they reach consumers. In reality, distributors incur signiÀ cant losses industry due to its effectiveness. as the produce moves through the supply Professor Asgar Ali, of University of Not- DREAMS chain. tingham in Malaysia, says, “It is sadden- Secondly, the increase in public awareness ing that the current practices are too de- he world is going electric. As fuel over food safety has put the heavy appli- pendent on the use of synthetic chemicals costs increase and energy reserves cation of synthetic chemicals under scru- with little consideration for health impli- Tdeplete globally, there is an ever- tiny, leading to a signiÀ cant move among cations on consumers. We were therefore growing need for greener, cleaner and more consumers to choose other options. Con- delighted when we discovered that the affordable alternatives to fossil fuel. Enter cern over fungicides is now at the top of shelf life of ozone-fumigated papaya was electric technology – which, in transporta- the list alongside a hike in prices. extended to up to 14 days without affect- tion, many consider to be the future. Al- ing quality. This breakthrough will be able though the switch to electric vehicles is Despite advances in technology, 25 per- to provide an alternative to the growers new in Malaysia, it is set to revolutionise cent of global food losses happen as a and maximise their proÀ ts. the automotive industry of the nation. result of fresh commodities spoiling. This is an alarming situation especially with “Our research team has also successfully Intent on being at the forefront of this population numbers on the increase, par- applied the technology to fresh-cut fruits movement, Ecolectric Bikkz Sdn Bhd has ticularly in Malaysia, causing a knock-on and vegetables. The concept of this tech- introduced affordable, low maintenance effect which will affect the supply and nology has been successfully proven, but electric motorcycles under the ZESPARii demand equilibrium. great challenges may be faced to replace brand. Patented green technology helps the current traditional practices. Stud- reduce pollution while providing savings in Considering the economic impact of fruit ies to develop alternatives to synthetic running costs. growing and production in the interna- chemicals should not stop, bearing in tional market, appropriate measures are mind the economic and social impact on Having the right attire for this cool urban urgently required. the country.” travel experience is key. Enter ‘ii by ZES- PARii’, a clothing line that marries style To address this, researchers at the Centre Professor Asgar is currently a Professor in with function and À ts perfectly into the of Excellence for Postharvest Biotechnolo- Postharvest Physiology & Technology at lifestyle of the streetsmart. gy (CEPB) at The University of Nottingham University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus Malaysia Campus are developing economi- and the founding director of the 'Centre of The new line aims to bridge the gap be- cally viable and eco-friendly technologies Excellence for Postharvest Biotechnology', tween formal wear and stereotyped biker to reduce post-harvest losses and deliver a research group which deals with post- clothing. Timeless, functional, stylish and safe and highly nutritious fresh fruits to harvest physiology & technology, handling easy to match, it isn’t just biking apparel, consumers. & storage and processing of fresh fruits it’s smart streetwear that enables the tran- and vegetables. sition from ofÀ ce to to street to a fun even- In collaboration with MedKlinn Interna- ing out with friends. tional, CEPB discovered that ‘ozone’ fu- E: [email protected]

The initial range includes oxford cotton shirts, chinos, polo t-shirts and bermudas for men and women, as well as caps and scarves to mix and match to build a varied wardrobe that is affordable, comfortable and stylish.

As part of its vision for a greener and more efÀ cient future, Zesparii operates primarily via its web store, leaving a much smaller carbon footprint compared to conventional retailing. Cost savings are also achieved, which are passed on to customers.

The ii by ZESPARii range is aimed at individuals and corporations alike. Customised corporate orders are available. www.zesparii.com

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12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 31 9/23/14 5:09 PM New Members

A warm welcome to our new members!

McCann Erickson (M) Sdn Bhd Part of McCANN WORLDGROUP, founded in USA in 1912, and now a leading integrated marketing solutions global network comprising best-in-class disciplines across advertising, digital & customer relationship management, promotions & event marketing, medical & healthcare, media management, PR and brand consulting & design. Established in Malaysia since 1995, and has ranked consistently in top 5 agencies in terms of revenue, awards and market reputation over last decade. Portfolio includes major multinational and local client brands across product categories, incuding L'Oréal, Maybelline, Nestlé, Mondelez (Kraft), Mastercard, OCBC, Zurich Insurance, Darlie (Hawley & Hazel), Sime Darby, SP Setia and Petronas. 5-01 & 5-02 Wisma LYL No. 12, Jalan 51A/223, 46100 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: +603 7841 2898 Fax: +603 7841 2899 Email: [email protected] Web: www.mccannworldgroup.com Michael Constantine - President

Reed Specialist Sdn Bhd Part of REED family of companies established in 1960 and now one of the largest private recruitment and HR services companies in the world, incorporating over 20 specialist recruitment divisions, a dedicated end-to-end recruitment process outsourcing service. KL-based team provides specialist recruitment services in Banking, Sales & Marketing, Retail and Technology sectors, across the full recruitment life cycle, from candidate attraction to relocation management and post-placement support. Level 9, Menara Binjai, No. 2, Jalan Binjai, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603 2174 9005 Email: [email protected] Web: www.reedglobal.com.my Owen Terry - Digital & Social Marketing Manager New all-business class Doha to London

Tenby Schools Malaysia Founded in 1960 with setting up of a kindergarten to serve the needs of expatriate children in Ipoh, Per- ak. Developed a reputation for delivering quality education based on British system, and grew to become Tenby International School, which later expanded to include a private Malaysian school, Sekolah Tenby. With a growing student population, has become a rapidly expanding group of international and Malaysian private schools with operations in Penang, Shah Alam, Miri, and Johor Bahru. Future plans include two new schools in Semenyih and Rawang, expected to open in 2016. A-G-1, No. 1 Persiaran Greentown 2, Greentown Business Centre, 30450 Ipoh, Perak. Tel: +605 242 5933 Fax: +605-243 7736 Email: [email protected] www.tenby.edu.my Alister Bartholomew – CEO

My Performing Arts Agency Mmber of the International Society of Performing Arts, privately owned arts agency with the aim of supporting the continuing development of artistic and cultural efforts in Malaysia, through mutually ben- eÀ cial collaborative partnerships between public and private sectors and the performing arts industry. Notable platforms include: The Royal Arts Gala, The Royal Arts Gala Fund, Borak Arts Series Conference, Karnival Seni Kreatif Kita and others. B2-06-13A, Solaris Dutamas, No 1, Jalan Dutamas 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603 6207 9566 Fax: +603 6205 3870 Email: [email protected] www.mypaa.com.my www.facebook.com/MyPerformingArtsAgency Izan Satrina Mohd Sallehuddin – Founder & Director

Alexander Proudfoot Part of LSE-listed Management Consultancy Group, providing consultancy in operational optimisation and implementation. In opera- tion for over 60 years, with a track record of delivery of thousands of projects, across all sectors, and all facets of business. Focusing on process optimisation, management operating systems and behaviours, as well as disciplined implementation. Portfolio of over 130 projects in South East Asia, predominantly in Natural Resources, Banking, Finance & Insurance, Transport/Logistics and Manufacturing Sectors with scope ranging from holistic, ‘sales to cash’, to functionally speciÀ c projects focusing on areas such as sales effectiveness, procurement, supply chain, working capital and maintenance. Level 16, 1 Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 5, KL Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603 2092 9324 Fax: +603 2092 9201 Email: [email protected] Web: www.alexanderproudfoot.com Simon Farahar - Executive Vice President, South East Asia

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12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 32 9/23/14 5:09 PM New Members

Renoir Consulting (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd Founded in the UK in 1994 and established in Malaysia since 1996. Leader in implementation consulting with reputation for delivery of predictable, signiÀ cant, rapid and sustainable change. Team of consultants with breadth of expertise in ensuring solutions are implemented effectively across a wide range of industry sectors, cultures and businesses. Offering ability to cross-pollinate best practice across multiple industries from around the world.

Level 16, 1 Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 5, KL Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603 2092 9501 Email renoir.ofÀ [email protected] Web: www.renoirgroup.com Kevin McCartney – CEO South Asia

Global Engineering Projects Recruitment company specialising in Repatriation of Engineering personnel to the South East Asia region. Operating in Oil & Gas, Aerospace & Defence, Marine & Dredging and Construction sectors. Utilising the latest technology, has reengineered the routes to candidates and delivers solutions not previously seen in the Engineering sector. Representing candidates from all areas of Engineering from Legal Counsel to Head of HSE and from Mechanical Engineer to a Ship's Captain. Salford Innovation Forum, Salford University, 51 Frederick Road, Salford M6 6FP, UK. Tel: +44 161 416 6000 Email: [email protected] Web: www.geprojects.co.uk Craig Slater - Managing Director New all-business class Doha to London FIF Digital Sdn Bhd Founded in 2008, and based in Kuala Lumpur, provides brand-centric visual communication solutions in the areas of Branding & Design, Digital (Multimedia), Advertising, Experience Engineering, Strategic Planning and Event Creative and Support. Portfolio of clients in multiple sectors including: automotive [AUDI], airlines [MAS], property development [Sime Darby, UEM Sunrise, UDA Land], education [RafÁ es University, Universiti Sains Malaysia], technology [Sapura] and government [MCMC, Putrajaya Holdings]. 19-3 Wangsa Link, Jalan Wangsa Delima 13, Wangsa Maju, 53300 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603 4149 8193 Fax: +603 4149 8349 Email: zainul@À f.my david.swinburne@À f.my Web: www.À f.my Raja Zainul Shah - CEO [pictured] David Swinburne - Business Development

The Puzzle Studio Established in 2008, has been active in providing professional photography services and solutions for a variety of events - from corporate functions to private celebrations, product launches and conferences. With many years’ experience and an extensive portfolio, track record includes photography coverage of numerous events for major clients including BMW, Audi, Subaru, Nissan, Kampachi, Nestle, Adidas, AirA- sia, AIA, Great Eastern, Star Planet, GlaxoSmithKline and many more. Also provides added value services such as instant photo printing, as well as photo kiosks for events. 42-4-11,Teratai Mewah Apt, Jalan Langkawi, 53000 Kuala Lumpur. Tel +6012 676 0279 +603 4031 7372 Email: [email protected] www.thepuzzlestudio.com.my Chong Wei Hong - Director

Luther Corporate Services Sdn Bhd Provision of end-to-end services across all stages of the business lifecycle including company formation, setting up of branches/representative ofÀ ces, accounting, payroll, personnel and employee beneÀ ts. Af- À liated with Luther Corporate Services Pte Ltd, subsidiary of Luther LLP, a law À rm in Singapore with some 40 lawyers and expertise in a range of corporate and commercial legal work, as well as structuring of investments within SE Asia and the wider Asean region. Part of Luther Germany, a full service law À rm which has with a network ofÀ ces in Germany, Brussels, Budapest, Istanbul, Luxembourg, Shanghai and Singapore. Peti #11, Level 4, East Block, Wisma Selangor Dredging, 142B, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603 2166 0085 Fax: +603 2166 008 Email: [email protected] www.luther-services.com Johannes Mirecki - Managing Director

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12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 33 9/23/14 5:09 PM Members News

Major Contract Award For J+S For Navy Combat Ships

J+S Ltd has been awarded a major multi- million pound contract to supply its Torpedo Launcher System (TLS) for the new Royal Ma- laysian Navy Littoral Combat Ships being con- structed by Boustead Naval Shipyard in Ma- laysia. J+S provides independent engineering solutions and in-service support for the naval, marine renewable and oil & gas sectors. Grand Deluxe Room Unveiled The substantial contract is for a Triple Tube By Grand Millennium KL Torpedo Launcher System with associated Weapons Handling and Storage equipment Award-winning Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur, located in the heart of the across each of the six platforms. The TLS can city’s fashionable Bukit Bintang area, has unveiled its Grand Deluxe room, be conÀ gured to launch a wide range of torpe- a sleek, contemporary new environment, featuring the latest in upmarket does and will provide a rapid reaction defence accommodation. Stylish design, spacious layout and elegant furnishings are system against underwater threats. Delivery matched by Á oor to ceiling views of downtown city skylines. The landmark of the À rst system is scheduled for 2017 with Petronas Twin Towers are just a short stroll away via the air-conditioned the À nal system due for delivery in 2021. walkway from Pavilion Shopping Centre, located right next to the hotel, and which has revolutionised pedestrian access in the city centre. Andy Toms, Managing Director of J+S Ltd, said: “This major contract is a big step forward in The Grand Deluxe offers thoughtfully presented facilities including func- our plans to establish Malaysia as a hub for tional work stations with multi-purpose adapter connections, relaxing bath- business in the ASEAN market. We are look- rooms with separate bathtub and high pressure shower rooms, as well as ing forward to working in collaboration with various practical beneÀ ts including hi-speed WIFI; free breakfast daily; free Contraves Advanced Devices Sdn Bhd (CAD) to Mini Bar on selected items; free laundry allocation; and late check-out. deliver a successful programme of work. We have already engaged with a number of local A range of all-day dining options, from authentic Malaysian and international companies for the supply and manufacture of to Cantonese-inspired cuisine at Lai Ching Yuen, outdoor resort-style swim- goods and services relating to this contract.” ming pool, well-equipped gym and Pevonia Spa as well as 15,000 sq feet of event space complete the picture. www.millenniumhotels.com J+S recently opened an ofÀ ce in Kuala Lumpur that will serve as a hub for its further development in the South East Asian market. www.jands.co.uk Mongoose Publishing Launches New Title Adding Women’s Health To Local Portfolio Mongoose Publishing has added a further title to its growing Record Numbers At Private Schools Fair portfolio with the launch of the Malaysian edition of Wom- As Mint Launches New Education Publication en’s Health, the world’s fastest-growing À tness and lifestyle magazine for women. Graham Paling, Group CEO of Mongoose The third Private & International School Fair held at Mid Val- Publishing, said, “Following the success of Men’s Health Ma- ley Exhibition Centre in July attracted a large crowd of more laysia, this new addition to our portfolio is the deÀ ning voice than 15,000 parents. Organised by Mint Communications Sdn on women’s health and style, reÁ ecting the readers’ conÀ - Bhd, the fair showcased more than 40 international schools, dence, aspirations and priorities.” The inaugural issue will be pre-schools and learning centres. Visitors were seen speaking published in March 2015. with representatives about educational matters such as curricula, facilities and fees. Talks addressing the differences in Renowned for its award-winning editorial content, Mongoose international curricula as well as considerations for choosing also publishes Time Out KL, Esquire Malaysia, Expatriate Life- a school also took place over the two-day event. Mint Com- style and ELLE Malaysia. www.mongooseasia.com munications also used the occasion to launch the new edition of its ofÀ cial publication, Education Destination Malaysia: Guide to International & Private Schools. The next Private & International School Fair will be held from 8th-9th November Zerin Appointed As Exclusive Agent also at Mid Valley Exhibition Centre. For Top Commercial & Residential Developments Zerin Properties has been appointed as exclusive marketing agents for Wisma E&C in Damansara Heights. This iconic building is currently being refurbished and is in the process of obtaining MSC-status. Zerin Properties will be working closely with the building owners to roll-out its new look and feel while maintaining its classic style. The À rm has also been appointed as marketing agent for the PRIMA VILLA development, situated at the edge of Taman Danau Desa. Prima Villa is a low density gated and guarded development with just 34 properties overlooking the lake. www.zerinproperties.com

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12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 34 9/23/14 5:09 PM Members News

International SOS TravelWatch Low Engagement Among Malaysians For Security Intelligence & Travel Advice on India Highlighted In Archer Bahari Survey

International SOS and Control Risks has launched Travel- An International Employee Engagement Survey conducted by Watch-India, a subscription-based, specialised intelligence Archer Bahari Employee Relations Consulting in July has re- and advice service for organisations with exposure in India. vealed some startling results. The purpose of the survey was to obtain a comprehensive analysis of the positive and negative Mick Sharp, COO, International SOS and Control Risks, said, issues affecting employee engagement as well as the underlying “While India presents signiÀ cant opportunities for busi- causes. Over 1,100 respondents took part with 94 percent cur- nesses, it remains a very complex operating environment. rently based in Malaysia. Just over 40 percent of the respond- From a travel security perspective, business travellers and ents are currently in non-management positions. expatriates across India are exposed to varying degrees of risk from crime, terrorism and social/political unrest.” The results highlight that weak leadership, poor internal communication, lack of work recognition programmes and career Subscribers to TravelWatch India receive access to: Daily opportunities, as well as salaries not based on achievements, email alerts on incidents in India that are likely to have an are some of the main reasons behind the high level of staff impact on personnel in-country; 24/7 SMS alerts on major turnover in Malaysia. The most alarming result is that 90 per- travel security incidents; Weekly forecasts of likely Á ash- cent of Malaysians would leave the country for a job overseas if points/developments; Monthly Spotlight reports on a key opportunity were to arise. security issue or location; Quarterly verbal online brieÀ ngs on a key topic; Access to a dedicated India security special- Ana Garcia De Baranano- VP Archer Bahari Employee Relations ist for location and itinerary-speciÀ c travel advice. Consulting, says, “Looking at the results, currently most are somewhere between level 3 (turned off) and level 4 (not en- International SOS employs over 200 full-time staff op- gaged). Most Malaysians are only happy at work sometimes, erating out of three ofÀ ces in Bangalore, New Delhi and mainly and only when they feel valued, have inspiring leaders Mumbai. A 24-hour assistance centre in New Delhi provides and see career development opportunities. Although they show bilingual (English/Hindi) assistance to members. An ac- a positive predisposition towards the organisation, they cannot credited nationwide network of medical and related ser- be considered engaged because they are not committed. vice providers enables International SOS to refer, admit and monitor patients on a cashless basis at all centres of medi- “On the positive side, 46 percent of Malaysian employees really cal excellence across India. www.internationalsos.com like their job, with 84 percent seeing their work in the À nal product, giving them a sense of purpose and increased engagement. Over 80 percent feel proud to work for their company.”

Archer Bahari Employee Relations consulting specialises in helping companies to understand their employees and identify weaknesses in the organisation that lead to a low Employee Engagement Ranking and high staff turnover. E: [email protected] www.archerbahari.com

ISP Wizard Of Oz Production Winter Wonderland Collection Delights Local Audience From Insight Vacations A cast of over 100, including students from Year 5 to Year 10 of The International School @ ParkCity, took part in the end-of- year production 'The Wizard of OZ' (Young Performers Edition) The new Insight Vacations 2014/15 Autumn Winter & Spring directed by Drama & Dance Teacher Ms Judy. The ISP commu- Europe collection offers 34 choices of vacation, across Brit- nity, friends and visitors were entertained with an impressive ain, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Christmas Markets. display of acting, singing, dancing, music, visual arts and cho- The new programme takes guests to some of the best des- reography. The students were praised for their courage, pas- tinations for the Christmas season where the annual fes- sion and talent and demonstrating that “Somewhere Over the tivities have been celebrated since the turn of the 10th Rainbow, dreams do come true!” century. Featured itineraries include: 9-Day Alpine Christ- mas Markets itinerary from Munich to Zurich; 7-Day Magical Switzerland itinerary from Zurich to Geneva; 10-Day Jour- ney from Rome taking in the best of Europe, covering Flor- ence, Venice, Lucerne and Paris, ending in London.

Insight’s ‘Signature Inclusions’ will be present on all itineraries with guests able to enjoy ‘Signature Experiences’, ‘Signature Dining’ and ‘Signature Hotels’, with unique venues and experiences away from the crowds.

Early Payment Discount for bookings paid in full by 31 Octo- ber 2014. Special offer: One-way airport transfer to/from KLIA (within Klang Valley), exclusively for BMCC members. www.insightvacations.com

September-October 2014 33

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 35 9/23/14 5:09 PM In The Spotlight Centred On EXCELLENCE

innovative bone and joint care Women & Children continues to be the foundation The Centre for Women & Children’s is a hub of the Centre. The Orthopaedic & for supporting women’s and children’s indi- Sports Centre has built on its suc- vidual healthcare needs including Obstetri- cessful track record to establish cians & Gynaecologists (O&G) and primary one of the most highly regarded care doctors. The Centre comprises 13 O&G orthopaedic and joint disease re- specialists, some of whom are specialists in search and treatment programmes the À eld of infertility treatments. locally and internationally. Many hospitals these days offer some sort Specialities include: Cartilage Re- of health screening packages. At GKL, pa- pair, Foot & Ankle, Hand & Upper tients have several options to select from Extremity, Spine, Joint Replace- at the Health Screening Centre. A range of ment, Orthopaedic Oncology and Women’s Wellness Programmes are com- Orthopaedic Trauma. prehensive and grouped according to age Cardiology and requirements. Similar programmes are available for men. The old adage that prevention is better than cure is never more A vaccine centre is also available where pa- relevant than when it comes to tients can obtain vaccinations for HPV, and heart conditions. In the event that for travellers, Á u and hepatitis shots.

“No matter what the eart disease, cancer, neurological condition, receiving the diseases, arthritis. All of these condi- correct diagnosis and spe- Htions are on the increase in Malaysia, affecting all sectors of society and across cialist care are fundamen- all age groups. No matter what the condi- tal to ensuring the proper tion or illness, receiving the correct diagnosis and specialist care are fundamental to treatment plan is put in ensuring the proper treatment plan is put in place in the hope of a fast place in the hope of a fast and full recovery. and full recovery.” Established 18 years ago in Malaysia, Gle- neagles Kuala Lumpur (GKL) has since evolved into a leading medical service pro- a heart attack does occur, speed and expert Neurology Centre (Brain & Spine) vider that focuses on holistic care from its care are of the essence. The Neurosciences Centre of Excellence of- various Centres of Excellence. The develop- fers innovative and advanced treatments ment of these specialist Centres has ena- Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur Cardiac Cen- and therapies for all diseases of the nerv- bled GKL to grow core expertise in speciÀ c tre is an advanced cardiovascular facility, ous system. The clinical team, a large and treatment areas and so become a leading equipped with the latest technology and specialised team available in Kuala Lumpur, authority in these areas. equipment, and a team of experts in their respective À elds. Innovative and compre- includes neurologists, neurosurgeons, psy- Orthopaedic hensive care is provided for patients with chiatrists and radiologists. (Trauma, Joint Replacement & Spine) complex diseases of the heart, blood ves- Oncology Whether a young athlete with a sports in- sels, and circulatory system. Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur’s Oncology Centre jury or someone suffering from arthritis, The work of the Centre is supported by pre- was created to provide an adapted service receiving the correct diagnosis, treatment vention programmes, diagnosis, and treat- with a clinical team that has a unique com- and rehabilitation are critical for a fast and ment provided directly to patients. It has bination of resources to À ght and defeat full recovery and improved mobility. the latest equipment for investigative and cancer. Through its specialised treatment, The pioneering team at GKL are trained in surgical procedures for cardiac care. the Centre offers the most advanced treat- various sub-specialities, enabling them to ment with the compassion and care that There is also a 24-hour standby cardiac do everything possible for patients while makes all the difference. catherisation laboratory as well as the Ste- helping to develop and apply the most ad- mi programme which enables rapid catheri- Currently the Neuroscience and Oncology vanced treatments for bone and joint dis- sation in the event of a heart attack. Centres are complemented by the latest eases and conditions. Comprehensive and

34 September-October 2014

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 36 9/23/14 5:09 PM In The Spotlight Getting On BOARD

lice Smith School has welcomed two qualiÀ cations and experience to provide a new members to its team of profes- British education in an international set- Asionals in recent weeks. ting. Roger Schultz [left] has become the new The Head of School is the learning leader Head of School as of September 2014 and and Chief Executive OfÀ cer of the School, Sarah Howling [below] has joined as the and provides leadership and management new Secondary Campus Principal. to promote consistent excellence and foster continuous improvement of the School. Roger À rst joined the School as Secondary Principal in September 2010. Prior to join- Sarah, who is new to Kuala Lumpur, was ing the Alice Smith School, he was Head of previously Head of Secondary at St An- Secondary at the Taipei European School drew’s Scots School, Buenos Aires and also for 11 years, Deputy Principal at the Inter- Senior Vice Principal, King George V School national School Brunei and Deputy Principal in Hong Kong. This followed senior teaching at Gin Gin State High School in Queensland, posts in Dubai, Bermuda and the UK. Australia. www.alicesmith.edu.my He À rst started out in education as a secondary mathematics and science teacher in Queensland in 1980.

The School’s search for a new Head attracted a strong À eld of 27 candidates from across the globe, all with the requisite As a not for proÀ t asso- “ciation, all of our School's Continued from Page 34 resources are dedicated to im- technology of its kind; Gamma Knife Lek- sell Perfexion. It is the À rst in Malaysia, it proving the education we offer is poised to deliver the best outcome to our students. The reputation of patients seeking treatment through a non- the School has been developed invasive and painless procedure for brain tumors. and sustained over many years and we provide an established Staff at the Centre are also trained in pain management. By knowing the pain level, I am excited to be joining and accredited benchmark of they can administer the right kind of care. “the Alice Smith School, an quality education in Malaysia Through dialogue with the patients, they can provide a range of treatment options establishment with rich history, and beyond. and knowledge about alternative treat- high expectations, excellent Over the last four years as Sec- ments. teaching, a strong community ondary Principal, I have worked Specialities include treatment of various and most importantly with types of cancer including Breast, Skin, Gas- closely with all stakeholders of students at the heart of every- trointestinal, Genitourinary, Gynaecologic, the school community, pro- thing we do. Thoracic and others. viding me with an excellent Tel: +603 4141 3091 With my international leader- understanding of our current Email: [email protected] ship experience in high achiev- strengths and future aspira- ing schools and continued edu- tions, as well as areas for con- cational research into learning, tinuing development. With 18 I am looking forward to work- years of leadership experience ing with the school community in three not-for-proÀ t British to provide consistently out- International Schools in the re- standing learning experiences gion, I look forward to further and maximise the potential of enhancing the high standards every learner. here during my tenure here.

www.gleneagleskl.com.my Sarah Howling “ Roger Schultz “

September-October 2014 35

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 37 9/23/14 5:09 PM In The Spotlight

On The MOVE?

Debbie Horsnell of Allied Pickfords highlights some key facts to bear in mind when moving overseas, especially to countries like Australia, New Zealand and China.

arly planning and access to the right All items will be thoroughly inspected, and “Certain countries within the information are two of the key criteria this additional handling makes insurance Efor minimising stress when it comes imperative. In the event that a claim needs ASEAN region have very strict to moving overseas. The rules and regula- to be made, it is important to select a mov- customs regulations, with tions may differ quite signiÀ cantly between ing company that has a physical presence in countries and it pays to be well-informed both the country of dispatch and the coun- Australia’s being the most well ahead of time. try of arrival respectively. stringent in the world.” For example, certain countries within the Similarly, New Zealand also has strict re- ASEAN region have very strict customs regu- strictions on what can and cannot be to allow for customs clearance before the lations of which it is essential to be aware. brought into the country, although goods holiday period. This is particularly the case Australian customs regulations are among are less likely to be quarantined. for moves into Australia and New Zealand. the most stringent in the world. With ad- This is one of the busiest times of the year In China, some provinces have differing vice from a professional international move for moving companies and resources may import taxes on certain items. Again a pro- consultant however, planning can be car- be limited due to the high demand. ried out in a well-informed and timely man- fessional Move Consultant will be able to ner. provide indicative charges for these items. As an experienced international moving For moves into China, it is strongly recom- organisation, Allied Pickfords knows the Such regulations include the requirement mended that a resident permit and/or work intricacies of these scenarios and has the to thoroughly clean dirt off all shoes, sports permit is À nalised and on-hand before the knowledge and resources to manage these equipment and items of outdoor furniture; shipment leaves the country of origin to situations. With some 600 ofÀ ces in more to thoroughly clean the dust bags in vacu- avoid any delays at the other end. than 40 countries, Allied Pickfords’ world- um cleaners (and also the nozzles), and to make sure the refrigerator is free of any or- A resident permit/work per- ganic matter. Any items found that do not mit should also be arranged meet the inspection standards, will either before dispatch for moves be disposed of (at an additional charge to into Thailand, Singapore and the individual) or treated/fumigated (also Indonesia. at an additional charge). For moves that need to be Door to door, a move to Australia will take completed ahead of the approximately À ve weeks, including the Christmas period, it is vital to AQIS (Australian Quarantine & Inspection begin planning early. The aim Services) inspection. Once the goods have should be to have containers arrived, clearance through AQIS takes two arrive at the destination by weeks. the À rst week of December

wide network can move individuals, fami- lies and entire households from door to door. All aspects of the relocation – from specialised packing and removal needs, to secure and cost-effective worldwide ship- ping and storage solutions - are catered for.

Allied Pickfords and the Allied Network are part of SIRVA, the largest moving and relocation services company in the world. Al- lied Pickfords moves more than 1,000 fami- lies everyday in more than 175 countries, handling more than 50,000 international moves each year. www.alliedpickfords.com.my

36 September-October 2014

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 38 9/23/14 5:09 PM CONFIDENT LEARNER

Development of the whole child is our priority at the Alice Smith School - and the reason behind our excellent results. Students, from aged 3-18, are encouraged to become learners who are confident, creative and critical, yet compassionate. This is the true measure of their success.

www.alice-smith.edu.my

September-October 2014

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 39 9/23/14 5:09 PM Giving Back

Raising The STAKES

our local charities received a welcome boost recently when BMCC handed over a total of RM80,000 in funds raised from Fthe 10th Annual Charity Rugby Event held in June at the Shangri-la Hotel Kuala Lumpur. This brings the total amount raised by the event in its 10-year history to close to RM1.35 million.

The charities selected to receive the funds this year were Dyslexia Association of Malaysia, Bangsar Ria Centre, Rumah Wawasan and SPCA Selangor.

BMCC Chairman Dato’ Larry Gan said the event was another signif- icant milestone in BMCC’s history. “Giving back to the community is an important part of our DNA at the BMCC. We are delighted to have helped raise another sizeable sum in this 10th anniversary year." The event was made possible by the support of sponsors The Royal Bank of Scotland, Land Rover Malaysia, Lloyd’s Register + Senergy and Qatar Airways.

Pn Sariah Amirin, President of the Dyslexia Association said, “This wonderful donation will be put towards the setting up of a new centre in Taman Tun Dr Ismail. This new centre is crucial as many of our regulars have to travel all the way across town to Titiwan- gsa, the nearest centre for now.”

Nagappan Sithambaram, Acting Chairman of Bangsa Ria Cen- tre, said, “We are delighted to have received this donation, which is most timely as we are now moving premises to a new location in Section 17, Petaling Jaya. This amount will go a long way towards defraying the costs of moving and will enable us to pay rental for the next six months.”

SPCA Selangor also commented that the funds would be put to very good use as the Centre in Ampang is about to undergo a major expansion.

38 September-October 2014

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 40 9/23/14 5:09 PM AMCORP

September-October 2014 35

12084_BMCC-Sept-Oct.indd 41 9/23/14 5:09 PM A BRIGHTER START WITH THE BEST

KUALA LUMPUR CAMPUS PUCHONG CAMPUS (Opening in Jan 2015) 603 9200 9898 603 5879 5000 [email protected] [email protected]

September-October 2014

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