Similar to Ikea, but it’s Alibaba
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Alibaba has opened a colourful, all-inclusive home-furnishing flagship store in Hangzhou similar to Ikea, but fully augmented by Alibaba’s e-commerce technology.
The Home Times store is the Chinese e-commerce giant’s second major offline push into the US$130 billion Chinese home-furnishing market (it launched designer home-product store House Selection in Hangzhou in December).
Alibaba is reportedly planning to open three more Home Times stores by the end of the year and 15 next year, reports China Money Network.
More than 20,000 items are available in the store, including furniture, kitchenware and stationery – all the most popular items from Alibaba’s online shopping channels. Each item has an electronic price tag that allows staff members to match the price to the online retail price if necessary. The barcode on each tag also allows customers to check and order the item on Tmall.com if they chose, rather than taking bulky products home by car or mass transit. Tmall.com also shows the products in different colours and formations via a touch screen.
More than 30 per cent of customers in China buy their furniture in a furniture shop or at malls, while 21 buy online, according to a report by Chinese real-estate portal Fang.com.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the total number of new Home Times stores Alibaba is planning to open by the end of next year?
What is the total number of new Home Times stores Alibaba is planning to open by the end of next year?
Alibaba is reportedly planning to open three more Home Times stores by the end of the current year. They then intend to open an additional 15 stores next year, according to China Money Network.
Q.How do customers purchase bulky items from the Home Times store without transporting them physically?
How do customers purchase bulky items from the Home Times store without transporting them physically?
Customers can use the barcode on each item's electronic price tag to check and order the product on Tmall.com. This allows them to avoid taking large items home themselves after their visit.
Q.What percentage of Chinese consumers currently buy their furniture from physical shops or malls?
What percentage of Chinese consumers currently buy their furniture from physical shops or malls?
A report by Chinese real-estate portal Fang.com indicates that more than 30 per cent of customers in China buy their furniture in a furniture shop or at malls, while 21 per cent purchase online.