Notes on buying, visual commerce and the Singapore and Japan markets, from the ArsRes team.
A selected reading on in-store screens, based on a field visit to a large shopping mall in India. It compares strong and weak examples, and argues that screens succeed or fail on whether the content fits what the shopper is doing at that moment.
Kaikado, a Kyoto tea-canister workshop founded in 1875, opened its first overseas market in 2005 through a London tea shop, Postcard Teas. The case shows that choosing the right first channel matters more than the number of channels.
Haus Nowhere in Seoul and Pop Mart's Bangkok flagship both gave shoppers a reason to visit in person in 2025. Websites and cross-border shopping cannot replace that channel.
After the Japan–EU Economic Partnership Agreement took effect, the EU removed tariffs on about 99% of Japanese product lines. A JETRO survey finds 48.9% of Japanese companies in Europe plan to expand, with high labor costs and regulation as the main hurdles.
The Johor–Singapore RTS Link is due to open by late 2026. Studies estimate Singaporeans will spend about S$1.05 billion more a year in Johor, with groceries and health and beauty moving first, while distinctive products and experiences stay local.
Singapore's 2026 GDP forecast was raised to 4.5–5.5%, yet retail sales are up only 3.2% year to date. For brands planning the market, category-level data is closer to real demand than headline growth.