Online retailer Taobao endorses physical store in Malaysia
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Chinese online retailer Taobao is endorsing a spin-off physical store in Malaysia. The 5000sqft Taobao Selection store in Kuala Lumpur’s Viva Home Shopping Mall is the first in Southeast Asia, opening in collaboration between local operator Lumahgo, Taobao spinoff Tmall World, and lifestyle furniture retailer Lorenzo. It retails curated products from Tmall.com selected for the Malaysian market alongside furniture offerings.
Lumahgo CEO Fabian Kong said: “We are developing a new retail system that caters to Malaysians, which will bring a new retail technology experience to local retailers … We are helping Tmall World to sell the selected products in Malaysia for customers who do not know how to shop online”.
A reported 98 per cent of furniture purchases are made offline in Malaysia.
Taobao’s owner Alibaba Group is contributing to the project by providing big-data tools and a technology platform. The collaborating partners will open a second Taobao Selection store will open in Sabah early next year.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the primary purpose of this new Taobao Selection store in Malaysia?
What is the primary purpose of this new Taobao Selection store in Malaysia?
The store aims to help customers unfamiliar with online shopping purchase selected products from Tmall.com. It also provides a physical space for Malaysians to experience curated items, including lifestyle furniture.
Q.Which companies are collaborating to operate this new physical store?
Which companies are collaborating to operate this new physical store?
The Taobao Selection store is a collaboration between local operator Lumahgo, Taobao spin-off Tmall World, and lifestyle furniture retailer Lorenzo. Taobao's owner, Alibaba Group, also contributes technology.
Q.What is the significance of the store's location within Southeast Asia?
What is the significance of the store's location within Southeast Asia?
The Kuala Lumpur store at Viva Home Shopping Mall is highlighted as the first Taobao Selection physical store to open in the Southeast Asian region. A second store is planned for Sabah next year.
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