Colgate and Foodpanda join forces

Global home and personal care brand company Colgate-Palmolive ("Colgate") today is bolstering its Asia Pacific (APAC) digital strategy and giving consumers across the region even greater access to its range of products with a three-year partnership with Asia's largest delivery player[1], foodpanda. By leveraging foodpanda's established quick commerce (q-commerce) capabilities, the worldwide leader in oral care aims to drive its leadership within the health and wellness space forward.

The partnership follows prior successful collaborations which have shown a strong demand of Colgate's core range of oral, personal and home care products on foodpanda via pandamart including the key markets of Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong, amongst others.

Consumers are able to easily purchase a wide range of Colgate products on-demand and have them delivered within an hour anytime of the day through foodpanda, Asia's largest q commerce player. Popular products purchased on the platform includes Colgate's core range of products such as Colgate Toothpaste and Mouthwash, as well as products from personal care and home care brands like Palmolive, Ajax, Glo and Softlan.

In 2023, the partnership will focus on piloting commercial, marketing and advertising initiatives based on a core range of products across all markets. This partnership will not only allow Colgate to reach more customers and bring an extra convenience to them, but it will also provide the company with deeper insights into consumer purchasing habits to inform Colgate's business and marketing efforts.

"Quick commerce is witnessing strong growth in Asia Pacific and we are confident that our partnership with foodpanda will enable us to better meet customers' needs in a more efficient and effective way, having our products delivered right to their doorstep within minutes." said M Chandrasekar, VP Customer Development, Colgate-Palmolive APAC. "Colgate-Palmolive's digital commerce strategy has driven significant growth for our business and greater integration of q-commerce will further strengthen our leadership across the region."

The demand for q-commerce in the Asia Pacific region has grown rapidly especially in the last few years. Customers have since gotten used to the convenience of q-commerce services. foodpanda has seen a rise in demand across product categories, with a steep increase of Health and Wellness products rising by 216 per cent in the first half of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.

"As customers' demands for on-demand deliveries continue to grow, we are committed to ensure that our offerings are in line with what our customers want. We are very excited to partner with a leading brand like Colgate to further support the daily needs of our customers," said Julien Tessonneau, Senior Director of Q-Commerce at foodpanda. " By coming on board pandamart, Colgate can leverage our robust q-commerce network and technology to enable even more convenience for customers."

Singapore's Luxury Malls

Singapore is a bustling city with a thriving shopping scene. The city has something to offer; from luxury malls to street markets. With so much to choose from, it can take time to pick the best shopping malls in Singapore. Further, Singapore is known for its extravagant shopping malls, where luxury items are a common sight. Singaporean malls have everything from designer bags and watches to jewellery and couture clothing. Whether you want a unique gift for a loved one or want to indulge in a bit of luxury for yourself, Singaporean malls are sure to have something for you.

Shopping in Singapore’s malls is an experience like no other. From luxurious designer items to exquisite couture clothing, there's something for everyone. Consider these top malls:

Vivo City: VivoCity is among the largest shopping malls in Singapore. The mall is located in the heart of Sentosa Island and is connected to the Sentosa cable car station. It has a wide range of shops, including fashion, art, electronics and more. VivoCity has a fantastic food court and a range of entertainment options, such as a movie theatre and an arcade. VivoCity is located in the heart of HarbourFront, VivoCity; the mall is split into two levels. It has over 300 stores offering a wide range of products, from fashion and beauty to electronics, home appliances, and more. It has a large food court featuring local and international cuisine, a cinema, an outdoor amphitheatre, and a range of entertainment options.

Marina Bay Sands: This is one of Singapore's most iconic landmarks. This shopping mall is situated at the top of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel & Casino. It offers a luxurious shopping experience with international brands such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, and more. The mall has a wide range of restaurants, from high-end to casual dining. Marina Bay Sands luxury shopping mall is located in Singapore's central business district. It has some of the world's most luxurious designer stores and a range of high-end restaurants and cafes. And there's ION Orchard: ION Orchard is among Singapore's most popular shopping destinations. It is home to the world's leading luxury brands, including Burberry, Gucci, Prada and more.

Takashimaya: Takashimaya is one of Singapore’s oldest and best-known shopping malls. This mall has a wide range of international and local brands, including fashion, beauty, electronics and more. It has a food court and a range of entertainment options, including a movie theatre and an arcade. Bugis Junction is another top shopping mall: Bugis Junction is a popular shopping destination in Singapore. This mall is located in the heart of Bugis Street and features a wide range of international and local brands. It has a wide range of food outlets, as well as an arcade. Bugis Junction is located in the Bugis area of Singapore; the shopping centre has over 300 stores. It offers a variety of fashion, beauty, and electronic stores, as well as a range of restaurants, cafes, and entertainment spots.

Orchard Road: This is Singapore's premier shopping district. Located in the heart of the city, Orchard Road is filled with high-end designer boutiques, international fashion stores, and a variety of other shops. There's also a range of restaurants and cafes, as well as entertainment venues like cinemas and theatres. Another is Clarke Quay: Clarke Quay is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike. It’s home to a range of restaurants, cafes, bars, and entertainment venues. It has a few stores offering fashion, beauty, and electronic goods.

Undoubtedly, Singapore is a shopper's paradise. With its bustling streets, various stores, and a wide variety of goods and services, it's no surprise that Singapore's shopping malls are some of the best in the world. From luxury outlets to budget-friendly stores, Singapore’s shopping malls offer a wide range of stores catering to different budgets and tastes. What can you buy in these shopping malls?

Designer Bags: Designer bags are one of the most popular luxury items in Singaporean malls. From Gucci, Prada, LV, and Coach, the list of designer bags available in Singapore is seemingly endless. If you want a timeless classic or something more modern, you'll find it in Singapore's malls. You can also buy designer watches: The perfect accessory for any outfit, designer watches are a must-have luxury item. From Tag Heuer and Omega to Patek Philippe and Cartier, you'll find a selection of watches to make your outfit complete. Whether you want something classic and timeless, or something with a bit more of a modern edge, you'll find it at one of Singapore's malls.

Music Diploma Course Amidst Covid

Music Diploma Course Amidst Covid

Jenny Soh Music School, a professional piano school in Singapore, has been offering online music theory classes from grade 1 to diploma levels since the pandemic's start in 2020. The school is run by Ms Jenny Soh, who has graduated as a top pianist with NAFA with a scholarship from the Lee Foundation and a master's degree (distinction) in music from the Johannes Brahms Music Conservatory in Hamburg, Germany in 2017.

This piano school is running a one-year crash course for music theory and ABRSM piano diploma classes in Singapore, slowly transitioning back to face-to-face lessons to teach students through theory and practice. These piano classes in Singapore are conducted mainly through zoom, and the home studios of their professional piano teachers. The weekend lessons gained popularity due to their affordable fees and small class sizes, of maximum 4 students a class. Jenny Soh Music School believes that all students are different in terms of their learning pace and ensures that the classes remain small so that attention and help can be provided to students who need it more.

Students in Jenny Soh Music School are mostly music teachers who are looking for self-improvement. In 2022, the majority of them saw significant improvements and completed their grade 8 music theory course exam, Associate Music Trinity College London (AMusTCL) diploma in music theory and piano performing arts with at least a merit or distinction grade. Besides music theory, many students have also approached the school for Diploma piano lessons during the pandemic period and performed well in their examinations. They have become qualified piano teachers in Singapore and have gone on to build their music schools, such as Ms Liew Hui Jie, the founder of Melodious Piano Studio. In 2021, their students have also won prizes in the La Pianista International Piano Competition's open category.

Jenny Soh Music School has piano teacher jobs available for individuals aspiring to help students hone their piano skills, which include professional piano teachers with musical qualifications and teaching experience. The school's philosophy for the course is to ensure that every student can learn at their own pace despite the short course period, so that they can move on to their exams quickly and become professional piano performers. With this, Jenny Soh Music School hopes to continuously provide effective piano lessons to students – regardless of whether it was amid or post-COVID.

ASK Indian Entrepreneur Fund raising USD500m

ASK Indian Entrepreneur Fund raising USD500m

ASK Capital, part of ASK Group ("ASK") - one of India's leading asset and wealth management companies, announced that they've received authorisation from the Central Bank of Ireland for their first UCITS vehicle – ASK Indian Entrepreneur Fund. The UCITS vehicle will be modeled on ASK's flagship PMS, ASK Indian Entrepreneur Portfolio ("IEP") which has a strong track record of over a decade, since inception.

UCITS, or Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities, is a regulatory framework of the European Commission that creates a harmonised regime throughout Europe for the management and sale of funds. UCITS funds can be registered in Europe and sold to investors worldwide using unified regulatory and investor protection requirements. Given the intense regulatory process to have a fund approved as UCITS compliant by a regulator, the UCITS label serves as a stamp of quality and reliability for overseas investors.

ASK is using the UCITS vehicle to bring the IEP strategy to a wider international investor base and aims to raise US$ 500 mn over the next 3 years for this fund.

IEP is one of the most consistent alpha-generating strategies since its launch in 2010. It invests in companies led by Indian entrepreneurs with adequate skin in the game, high standards of governance, vision, execution, capital allocation, and capital distribution skills. The underlying ASK IEP Fund has a CAGR of 18% ** since inception whereas its benchmark, BSE 500 CAGR is 10.7%.

Speaking on the occasion, Sunil Rohokale, MD & CEO, ASK Group, said, "India's economy and equity markets are outperforming most of their global peers. The case for stand-alone India allocation has never been stronger and global investors are eager to access India's growth story with the right asset managers. India's demographic dividend, manufacturing prowess and advanced digital infrastructure offer a compelling investment opportunity to long-term global investors. ASK is well positioned as an India specialist manager with a consistent track record of alpha generation and this UCITS fund will make it easier for overseas investors, especially European investors, to invest in India."

Sameer Dev, CEO, ASK Capital, further added, "ASK's Ireland domiciled UCITS Fund provides global investors with a familiar, tax efficient, and convenient access to the high growth Indian equity markets. With UCTIS approval in place, we hope to reach out to institutional investors, endowments, pension funds, family offices, and investors via private banks across Europe, Middle East, Latin America, and parts of Asia. The ASK India Entrepreneur Fund offers such global investors an opportunity to participate in the India story by investing in some of the fastest growing and well-run companies, through an actively managed investment strategy."

About ASK Capital | ASK Capital Management Pte. Ltd. ("ASKCM" or "ASK Capital") has been present in Singapore since 2011 and holds a capital markets services license issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore to provide fund management services for Accredited and Institutional Investors. It provides a range of India-focussed investment solutions to institutional and private investors. In April 2016, ASKCM successfully raised US$82mn from global investors for its first India-focussed real estate fund, India Real Estate Special Opportunities Fund (IRESOF) and in July 2017, ASKCM launched its first open-ended, India-focussed public equities fund, ASK India Opportunities Fund 1 (AIOF1) for global investors.

About ASK | ASK is a leading player in the asset & wealth management business and primarily caters to the HNI and UHNI market with over three decades of presence. ASK has been a true believer in the Indian growth story and over the years has grown hand-in-hand with its clients in India and across the globe. ASK is represented in India through its three key businesses: Portfolio Management Services & Alternative Investment Funds – ASK Investment Managers Ltd.; Real Estate Private Equity – ASK Property Fund; and Wealth Advisory and Multi-Family Office Service – ASK Private Wealth. It has over 20 offices and branches across India, Dubai, and Singapore. It caters to multiple asset classes and investors (such as HNI, institutional, family office, pension funds, funds of funds and sovereign wealth funds) across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.