The VCI Fashion & Luxury Retail Supply Chain Leaders Round Table 2017 was held on March 3, 2017, in Intercontinental Grand Stanford, Hong Kong, and it was a great success. This Round Table was organized by VCIntegration, and were sponsored by APL Logistics, Geodis, Kerry Logistics, Cainiao Network, Crown Lift Trucks Hong Kong and supported by A.T. Kearney, PwC, Logistics Executives Group.

Over 60 selected international fashion & luxury brands, vertical e-tailers, and marketplaces including Adidas, AI Fashion, Bossini, Carter's, Chopard, Churchd & Wight, Coach, Covestro、Esquel, Ferragamo, FF Group, FIYTA, G2000, Gap, GUESS, HKTDC, HUGO BOSS, idsMED, ImagineX Group, ISM Hong Kong, Kering, Kit and Ace, Logistics Executive Group, Lazada, Louis Vuitton Pacific, Mattel, MGF Sourcing, Michael Kors, MOISELLE, Montblanc, MyMM, Prada, Puma Sourcing, PVH, Ralph Lauren, Richemont, Safilo, Shiseido, Skechers, Swarovski, TAL Apparel, Tangs Dept Stores, The Beast Shop, The Children's Place,  Tiffany & Co, Tommy Hilfiger, Uberhome, UTC, VF Asia, VIP.com, Xiaohongshu, ZALORA participated in the event and joined the discussion.

Opening speech at the round table was given by Mr. Terry Chan, Board Committee, Hong Kong Federation of eCommerce, who presented on Fashion & Luxury - Develop Omni-channel Strategy across Borders. He noted three megatrends in fashion & luxury industry, including cross-border omni-channel, retail ecosystem evolution, and end to end supply chain innovation & collaboration for participating guests to bounce ideas over a series of hot topics around the three megatrends during the presentations and interactive discussions. 

The next speaker was Ms. Kara Cheung, Managing Partner, KCW and Associates. As an experienced logistics professional having spent the past 17 years operating on the front line of retail supply chains in the Asia Pacific region, Kara updated on recent China CBEC trade policy and shared best practices in CBEC logistics. “ It was truly a great forum which brought us a lot of market information and latest update.”

When an organization evolve to have an effective eCommerce supply chain eco-system, the role of 3rd party logistics (3PL) is critical in supporting this.  After Ms. Kara Cheung’s speech, Mr. Terry Chan, Board Committee, Hong Kong Federation of eCommerce delivered a keynote presentation on E-Commerce Ecosystem - Collaborating to Win: Optimization in the eCommerce Supply Chain using a case study of a leading eCommerce marketplace. “ It was really great get to know more about the eCom business on the overall supply chain perspectives!”

The morning session ended with an informative panel discussion on Managing Supply Chain Complexity in Omni-channel monitored by Ms. Ruby Hau, Supply Chain Principal, A.T. Kearney. The panelists were Mr. Viv Chan, Digital Director, Asia Pacific, FF Group;  Mr. Finn Xue, Supply Chain Director, The Beast Shop; Mr. Nhat So Lam, President, uberhome; Mr. Giovanni Musillo, Head of Brand Acquisition, ZALORA;  Mr. Filippo Gori, Business Development Director - International Brands, VIP.com; Mr. Ken Chew TAN, Director, Business Experience Consultant, Dassault Systemes.

The prominent industry experts discussed the most demanding challenges for supply chain professionals: when retailers are no longer facing the simple models of offline-to-online or online-to-offline, but will have to provide products and services at the right time, right place and with the right price in the channels’ cross-over: How to cope with the differences serving omni-channel today compared to serving only one type of channel in the past? How do you construct your supply chains differently for different types of channel; Going from one type of channel to omni-channel, how to leverage existing supply chain management policy or physical assets?

Keynote speakers in the afternoon is Mr. Paul Man, Regional Leader, North Asia, APL Logistics. Paul shared APL Logistics’ experience helping fashion & retail clients explore e-commerce opportunities into mainland China without borders. He shared in detail three case studies, including: China Import Cross-border B2B2C Mode; China Import Cross-border B2C Mode + Canton/HK Overseas Warehouse; China General Trade Export Pre-retail VAS Program for Asia Regional Fashion e-Retailer.

The next speaker was Mr. Michael Cheng, Asia Pacific & Hong Kong/China Retail and Consumer Leader, PwC, who presented on Hong Kong Retailing Market Update - Where to Look For New Paths to Retail Growth, he said that 2016 was the most difficult year in Hong Kong retail and consumer products sector in the last decade, but with a better start of 2017, Hong Kong retail market is forecast to rebound in 2018. Michael also shared updates in vertical sectors: Luxury, Clothing & Apparel, Beauty & Personal Care, and the 7 strategies to brands & retailers to look for new paths to retail growth.

In a country where trust and relationships are prized higher than contracts, the importance of strategic relationship management is a topic that has been much discussed, as have the principals and benefits of working with and developing your best in class connections. In the panel discussion on Collaborating to Win - Building Strategic Relationships with Your Logistics Partners moderated by Mr. Terry Chan, General Manager, 3PL, Lazada, and joined by Ms. Queenie Wong, Regional Logistics Director Asia Pacific & Greater China, Ferragamo; Ms. Shirley Cheung, Regional Vertical Market Manager, Head of Fashion & Lifestyle Retail Asia Pacific, Geodis; Mr. Rickard HEISS, Associate Vice President, Global Logistics, MGF Sourcing; Mr. Tommy Lui, Vice President, Development, idsMED.

The participants bounced ideas over a series of hot issues: What are key trends and practices in collaboration with 3PL; How will analytics and optimization empower collaboration in companies and with 3PL; How to foster strategic relationship between companies and with 3PL,etc. Ms. Shirley Cheung, Regional Vertical Market Manager, Head of Fashion & Lifestyle Retail Asia Pacific, Geodis shared from logistics service perspective， she noted that Geodis has been the growth partner of its customer by providing end-to-end solutions enabled by people, infrastructure（strategic RDC + efficient last mile delivery, eCommerce/ cross border eCommerce offer ）, processes（continuous improvement area + risk management） and systems（order management / ERP / EDI connection， and new technologies e.g. IRIS, Scanner App）. “ It was really great I get to know more about the eCom business on the overall supply chain and challenges!”

The afternoon session ended up with a heated discussion on Talent retention and Team Development, which is chaired by Ms. Casandree Lee, General Manager – North Asia, Logistics Executive Group, and was joined by Mr. Alan Chan, Managing Director, Carter’s Osh Kosh Asia; Ms. Josephine Lau, Former VP Logistics, Leading Global Toys Company; Mr. Gareth Brooks, Vice President/ Managing Director, Asia Product Supply, VF Asia.

The panel of senior experts discussed the best practices building the culture within the team and prepare the team to handle to handle unprecedented challenges being faced in the industry. “The format of the event and the participation was quite good.   Small group round table format allows more time for networking and exchanging ideas. Topics are also very focus. “

We would like to thank our sponsors, speakers and partners for your significant contributions towards this event. Again, thank you for your valuable participation in the The VCI Fashion & Luxury Retail Supply Chain Leaders Round Table 2017. I have no doubt that your presence and involvement directly contributed to the overall success of this meaningful event. We will keep you abreast of our upcoming events and I am earnestly looking forward to working with you again.