Latest news with #consumer trends
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Wellcome, 7-Eleven operator DFI cuts staff amid Hong Kong retail malaise
DFI Retail Group is set to lay off staff, as the operator of Wellcome, Mannings and 7-Eleven adapts to shifting consumer trends in the city. An email sent to employees by Scott Price, CEO of Hong Kong's largest retail group, and seen by the Post said the company would embark on a series of actions to simplify operations to meet customer expectations of lower prices. It was unclear how many staff would be let go. DFI, formerly known as Dairy Farm, did not immediately reply to a request for a comment. In the first six months of the year, DFI reported that it swung to a loss of US$38 million from a profit of US$95 million a year earlier. Hong Kong's retail sales contracted for 14 consecutive months until May, when they rose by 2.4 per cent. In June, retail sales improved by 0.7 per cent from a year earlier. 'The reality is that, over the past five years, our support function costs have increased significantly,' Price said. 'This has added unnecessary complexity, slowed down decision-making, and driven costs into our products that ultimately raise prices for customers. 'That is not sustainable. And it is not aligned with the business we want to be.' Initiatives the group would undertake included 'reshaping support functions', 'clarifying roles' and 'offshoring and outsourcing selected roles', Price said.
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3 Things We Pay for That Used To Be Free, According to Rachel Cruze
There was a time when certain everyday conveniences didn't come with a price tag. Personal finance expert Rachel Cruze points out how many of the things we used to enjoy for free have slowly turned into regular expenses in a recent Ramsey Solutions video. Trending Now: Read Next: From water to directory assistance, here are the things we're now paying for that once cost nothing. Water Restaurants used to bring a complimentary glass of water for each person at the table before the meal started. Now a customer has to ask for water, and if they don't specify tap water, they may be served bottled water, which comes with a fee. Customers can request a complimentary pitcher of water or ice water for the table, so there's plenty of water for all, per Food & Wine. Find Out: Internet News There was a time when catching up on the news online was free. But now, when reading some news sources online, there is only a portion that the viewer is able to read before hitting a paywall. Then, to finish reading the article, the viewer has to subscribe and pay a fee. Some search engines like Google or Yahoo still provide access to free news, but combining that with the news on several free streaming channels may be one of the only ways to stay informed without paying for it. These streaming channels offer free news with commercials: Haystack News, Sling Freestream, Zeam, Local Now, Very Local, Pluto TV, Tubi, Fox Local, Plex and NewsNation. Directory Assistance Remember when finding a phone number was easy? Dialing 411 for information could connect the caller with someone who could look up any phone number quickly. Today, Horizon charges $1.99 for that same service. Using Google or another search engine to look for a phone number is still a free way to search. More From GOBankingRates 3 Luxury SUVs That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Summer 2025 7 Tax Loopholes the Rich Use To Pay Less and Build More Wealth Here's the Minimum Salary Required To Be Considered Upper Class in 2025 This article originally appeared on 3 Things We Pay for That Used To Be Free, According to Rachel Cruze
