Hae Da Fung - Full Report
Hae Da Fung - Full Report
MARKET ANALYSIS
Vietnam’s retail market overall view
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE RECENT DEVELOPMENT
● Vietnam’s retail market has continuously witnessed successive
year-on-year growth for the last decade. 1
5 “VN to be among the world's most dynamic markets by 2030”. Viet Nam News. 12 June 2019.
6 The Vietnam Consumer Survey | Staying resilient amidst headwinds, 2021, Deloitte
● Target market: 70% are young professionals under 35 and families with lifestyle needs.
● Average footfalls (per day): 35,000 visitors/day
● Customers’ primary purposes: shopping in the supermarket, dining out with family or friends, and watching movies.
● VMMRC is tailored to fit the demand of local consumers (as at 2Q2019): fashion (24%), supermarket (13%), F&B (11%), entertainment
(16%), other (34%)
VMMRC’s positioning:
● Location:
- Located on 72A Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Ha Noi, VMMRC; a central area of many major roads linking Hanoi urban areas with the
new capital’s Centre; connecting important traffic links, and are easily accessible to key locations through the arterial roads.
- Located in one of the busiest areas in the district because of high population density (593,524 in 2019, Thanh Xuan District alone), high
housing level, offices, schools, and universities.
● Architecture: Deluxe European architecture designed by a reputation group of France “Site Architecture”; the design is harmonious
interference between European royalty luxury, elegance, and meticulous arrangements, sophisticated of amenity and modern interior
chain. There is a 30,000-sqm square surrounded by artistic sculpture works made of white marble and massive and massive apartment
buildings setting in semicỉcular shape in Western style.
● Lifestyle mall located in integrated/mixed use development in the key residential complex of Hanoi; “Fortress Malls” with lifestyle needs
for masses & middle income families.
● Major emphasis on (1) middle income consumers and (2) families of all income levels in nearby residential complexes.
● Market potentials/Competitive advantages:
- Retail at stores still plays a vital role because stores remain the primary channel for reaching out to consumers, and retailers will
continue to invest in physical stores. In addition, demand for flagship stores from high-end and fast fashion retailers will continue to
grow in 2021 and beyond. Remarkably, large-scale shopping centers will dominate the retail property market in Ha Noi, especially the
modern style and large shopping malls with a various range of products and superior services and quality.
- Consumers increasingly prefer a one-stop destination for an enhanced shopping experience, entertainment and F&B services, which are
more appealing than individual stores on streets that have a limited selection of goods and services. “All-in-One” is becoming a major
trend (based on real estate retail developer’s observation).
- Young consumers are the driving force behind the growth of lifestyle retail, as they spend the most and continue to spend more in
entertainment, fashion, and F&B.
- The demand for entertainment and experience is expected to increase even higher in 2021 and beyond.
- VMMRC is seeking increased market penetration:
+ Has built strong brand recognition and thus, has been chosen by foreign retailers for their first stores in Vietnam such as fashion brands
Zara, H&M and Mango and chain tenants for rapid expansion such as CGV—the largest cinema chain in Vietnam.
+ Has around 1000 tenants (as of June 2019), ranging from fashion and beauty to F&B and entertainment brands, which many are chain
tenants and anchor tenants. VMMRC’s well-diversified brand portfolio, filled with international brand names.
- Has exposure to a large market opportunity because VMMRC meets the demand of affluent, emerging affluent, and even taps into the
lower-income class
- VMMRC’s developer sets out to slowly shape low-income consumers’ shopping habits and benefitted as consumers become middle-
income earners.
● Major trends for VMMRC:
- The trend of “personalization” towards different experiences
- VMMRC adheres to the global trend: to bring a community-oriented experience, where malls are places not only for shopping but also
for social interactions, entertainment, and even arts enjoyment (according to Richard Wood).
- Emphasis on the application of modern technology in the directions or the fastest update support information to meet the needs of
entertainment.
● Major competitors: Aeon Mall, Trang Tien Plaza
Competitors
Competitors Strengths Weaknesses
Trang Tien ● Location: in the golden central area (next to Hoan Kiem Lake), ● Area: relatively small compared to other
Plaza has 3 fronts malls
● Tremendous historical and cultural values ● Aesthetic value affected by beggars
● Big experience in trading high end goods (the first luxurious ● Narrow pavements, unsafe for customers
shopping center in Hanoi) ● Narrower target markets: upper-class
households only
● Narrow parking lot
● Faster and more convenient buying experience. ● Ambiguous knowledge about product’s
● More affordable price, compelling rebate offers. quality due to shortage of real-life trial and
● More personalized service and less invasive shopping testing.
E-commerce
experience. ● Lengthy shipping time and expansive
platforms
● Overcome geographical barriers, eliminate travel time and cost. shipping cost.
● Easier access to products and services. ● Security and privacy problems (customers’
● Available to serve 24/7. data can be made public uncontrollably)
Key implications: VMMRC goals are quite distinctive compared with its competitors as VMMRC is increasingly putting an emphasis on
customer journey and diversity in experience, rather than offering mere products and services.
Key criticisms
● The developers’ strategy regarding developing tenant mix by means of promoting more well-known foreign entertainment and fashion
key tenants is an acute way of creating more diverse choices for customers and the strategy also accelerates Vincom Mega Mall Royal
City itself to become more of an international shopping mega mall. In addition, accompanying and supporting domestic tenant groups
help these tenants gain more trust and increase consumption from Vietnamese customers, which means VMMRC is setting up quality for
key Vietnamese tenants and paving the way for these brands to be more internationally-known.
● The Mall has utilized the benefits of initiating marketing campaigns and executing more innovative programs and activities for special
holidays in a year. This strategically helps promote and make VMMRC’s products and services more widespread, and with such unique
campaigns, the relationship between the customers and the mall became progressively engaging.
● Customer services are being periodically scrutinized and improved upon which means VMMRC’s developers truly concern about
customers’ feelings, emotions and well-being. This strategy not only boosts customers’ satisfaction, which leads to the increase in their
brand-attachment with desirable stakeholders, but it also helps the mall’s tenants themselves raise revenue and profit. Finally, the
enhancement of quality service programs offer an impressive shopping experience for the continuously increasing end-users and
customers.
● Digital transformation and technology applications are effective means to advance, accelerate, and optimize the operation of the mall in
this constantly-changing retail market, trends, customer behaviors/demands and unexpected events (e.i., Covid-19). The technological
breakthroughs have catered for all the customers’ tastes and also created unforeseeable yet positive shopping and entertainment
experiences, which always surprise their customers with the incredible conveniences that they don’t know they need.
● The implementation of “sustainable development” strategy has resulted in remarkable optimization. By the installment and deployment
of solar panels, it has saved energy cost and reduced carbon emission by a significant amount every year. Replacing the chemical water
treatment system with E-water cooling technology eliminates the environmental chemical pollutants used. Also, regarding technology
application in operation, VMMRC test-drive intelligent algorithm to control the air-conditioning system with a Singaporean partner; this
minimizes human errors in operation and saves costs by minimizing errors and automatic processes. Finally, with the complete trial of
automated car parking system at Royal City, it has reduced headcount to operate, cash frauds and even improve customers’ experience at
VMMRC and plans for implementation across other large retail malls have been developed. Overall, the strategy helps redefine the
values of VMMRC and Vincom retail in general; this game-changing move not only helps reduce burdens and costs by faster
optimization but also enhances customers’ experience.
Positioning statement: Vincom Mega Mall Royal City offers the top-notch personalized experience to every customer, with an emphasis on
both convenience and experience factors to create diversity, delight, and their own personality. Vincom Mega Mall Royal City leads the
competition by promoting inclusion, accessibility and trends for all while committing itself to sourcing the highest quality products, services, and
experience.
Motivators - “All-in-One” shopping mall which caters for the diverse needs of all customers (shopping, entertainment,
socialization, etc.), especially self-actualizing demand of young customers (gen Y, gen Z).
- Upgraded and new, unexpected experience (technological utility in shopping, personalized customer
services, “treasure hunt” stimulation, etc.) which cannot be satisfied anywhere else.
Delight points:
- Enthusiasm and curiosity for new experience, especially young
Pain points:
customers
- Shopping navigation: hard to locate stores, products and services
- Convenience in all experience aspects (shopping, entertainment,
- Innumerable choices of products and services
F&B, etc.)
- Experience discomfort/inconvenience (technological barriers,
- Enhanced informed inputs (knowledge about fashion style, sense of
unnecessary customer care-taking services, long queue during check-
aesthetic, cuisine expertise, etc.) to improve customers’ confidence in
out, etc.)
decision-making and satisfaction
- Cost barriers: expansive high quality products and services
- Increased pleasure in multiple senses (visual, smell, auditory, sense
- Parking lots: (prominent problem) hard to locate vehicles, messy
of touch, etc.) and feelings (being respected, empathized, included,
parking
etc.)
- Fulfilled self-actualization—the highest need of customers.
Customer touchpoints:
● Before the experience: Social media (Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, Youtube, etc.); Ratings and reviews/Word of mouth; Websites;
Advertisements/TVC
● During the experience: Retail store network: flagship store ⇒ pop-up store, general outlet, event space, on-demand solutions, feature
store, cross-over, showrooms; VinID; Staff or sales team/salesperson; Large interactive touchscreens; Points of sale; Coupons and
rebates
● After the experience: Receipt; Transactional emails; Marketing emails
Targeted customers’ perception and attitude towards value-added elements in VMMRC experience
Key implications:
● More leisure, entertainment and new value-added services are necessary to diversify customers’ experience and fulfill their unlimited
“All-in-One” desires.
● Communal spaces and community hubs are necessary to enhance customers’ family-and-friend-bonding, social interactions, networking
expansion and recreational activities.
Targeted customers’ perception and attitude towards digital transformation and technology implementation in VMMRC experience
Key implications:
● Digital transformation and technology implementation help enhance customers’ convenience before, during, and after their experience at
VMMRC, mitigating the existing discomforts and inconveniences.
● Technology implementation, digital transformation and multichannel strategies are the most effective ways to establish a direct
relationship between the mall and customers, increasing customers’ loyalty to the mall while allowing the mall to collect precious data
about customers.
IV. SOLUTIONS
GENERAL “GAME-CHANGING” STRATEGY
Business Strategy
ACTION PLAN
Redesign customer experience
Phases and specific
Phase Channels and KPIs Risks and mitigation
steps/actions
Risks:
- Going unnoticed because the
activities/events already exist (in other
Incorporate value-added
malls) and are too familiar to customers
activities, events, and Channels: direct interaction with customers,
2: - Ideas theft by competitors
elements to engage customers social media
Engagement Mitigation:
while experiencing at KPIs: 50,000+ footfalls/day
Create more unique activities based on the
VMMRC.
advantages that VMMRC monopolizes
(large GFA, square space outside the mall,
etc.)
Information Support customers with store information, ● Design the feature as an e-commerce platform, where customers can
narrow down by categories to view the store, thorough information
about products, prices, maintenance policy as well as sales
types of products they provide, prices, and
promotion programs.
support system sales promotion programs (discount, sales,
● In addition, we implement the customized products and services
etc.)
suggestion based on the interests of customers to suggest the most
appropriate, affordable purchase plan for them.
VMMRC’s Customize and personalize customers’ ● The system (based on AI) will ask a series of customer insights
experience experience based on their (wants, budget, mood, lifestyle, etc.) to provide personalized,
journey map needs/wants/demands fulfilled journey options.
Ensure customers are at ease: ● Employ SSL Encryption in the app to provide a high degree of
- Secure customer data and information, privacy and data integrity, verifying that data is not tampered before
Security transactions history, etc. reaching its intended recipient.
- Minimize stolen issues. ● Implement tracking device (an electronic bracelet) connecting to the
- Find child/children (tracking device). security of the app in case children get lost
Feedback system Platform for customers to feedback their Design simple, straightforward but comprehensive (covering full aspects of
experience and address any concerns, customer experience) feedback form but we allow customers to choose
inconvenience, and suggestions for better
which aspects to feedback.
experience in the future.
● Risks: functional and system errors which cause inconvenience for customers.
● Mitigation: constantly update and renovate the app
In-mall experience:
Aspects Tactics and description Risks and mitigation
Risks:
- High installation cost but not efficient (redundant in off-
● Implement more interactive touchscreens for customers
peak days)
to locate stores they want to visit, products or services
- Difficult to apply with some people who are not familiar
they want to purchase, etc. in case they do not have
Shopping with technology
mobile phones.
navigation Mitigation:
● Distribution: distribute 3 - 5 interactive touchscreens
- Accelerate sales promotion to encourage customers to
conglomerated in a communal space or corridor to allow
come during weekdays
many customers to use at once.
- Provide detailed instructions and simplify the screens’
interface to make it more user-friendly
Parking lot ● Employ automatic check-out system for both cars and Risks:
navigation motorbikes at parking lots. - High installation cost.
● Add more elements to increase efficiency and capacity - Technical problems cause obstruction.
of parking lot: barriers between each parking space for Mitigation:
cars to divide segments clearly - Analyze cost-effective strategy and relevant cost-reduction
policy.
- Have back-up plan when technical problems happen
(Temporarily return to traditional parking lot to immediately
solve obstruction)
References
1. “Breaking the limits of experience – a new trend in the retail market. APN News [Online]. Available at:
[Link]
2. Ha Mai (2019). Xu hướng mới trên thị trường bán lẻ. Thanh Nien News [Online]. Available at: [Link]
doanh/[Link]
3. Deloitte (2020). Retail in Vietnam | An accelerated shift towards omnichannel retailing.
4. Deloitte (2020). The Vietnam Consumer Survey | An accelerating momentum.
5. Deloitte (2021). The Vietnam Consumer Survey | Staying resilient amidst headwinds.
6. Economist Intelligence Unit (2018). Global Income Distribution Database. [Link]
7. “VN to be among the world's most dynamic markets by 2030”. Viet Nam News [Online]. Available at:
[Link]
8. McKinsey. (2014). The future of shopping malls. From [Link]
insights/the-future-of-the-shopping-mall
9. Minh Tuan (2019). Lý do Vincom làm ‘dậy sóng’ thị trường? Tin Tuc Online [Online]. Available at: [Link]
sam/[Link]
10. Vincom Megamall – “New wave” of Vietnamese retail market. Vietnam News [Online]. Available at: [Link]
info/535649/vincom-megamall-–-[Link]
11. Vincom Retail (2021). Vincom Retail Joint Stock Company Quarterly Results 1Q2021. Available at: [Link]
content/uploads/2021/04/2021.04.28_Vincom-Retail_1Q2021-Results_EN_vF.pdf
12. Vingroup (2019). Vingroup JSC 4Q2019 Earnings Presentation.
13. VNDirect (2019). Vincom Retail JSC the emporium with imperial brand.
14. Mordor Intelligence (2021). VIETNAM RETAIL SECTOR - GROWTH, TRENDS, COVID-19 IMPACT, AND FORECASTS (2021 -
2026).