Qoo10 bringing online shopping to those offline

From Thursday (Jan 25) to Sunday (Jan 28), Qoo10 will be holding its 'Qoo10 Super Sale 2018 - CNY Edition' at Suntec City Convention Centre Halls 401 to 403, 11am to 10pm. PHOTO: QOO10

SINGAPORE - Shoppers can now sample Qoo10 products in the flesh as part of the e-commerce giant's four-day offline event.

From Thursday (Jan 25) to Sunday, Qoo10 will be holding its "Qoo10 Super Sale 2018 - CNY Edition" at Suntec City Convention Centre Halls 401 to 403, 11am to 10pm.

The event will see over 100 merchants selling products in categories such as food & beverages, electronics and beauty essentials, which can also be found on Qoo10's online platform.

Brands include Taiwan fashion retailer Tokichoi and Korean food supplier Koryo Trading.

Shoppers will also enjoy flash deals, where products will have their original prices slashed by up to 60 per cent or $50.

This is the largest offline event that Qoo10 has ever held in Singapore.

Before the Chinese New Year, merchants were eager to clear out old stocks, so customers can expect discounts, said Mr HyunWook Cho, country manager of Qoo10 Singapore.

"We want to bring three things to consumers: Discount, variety, and fun," he said.

Such offline events allows merchants, without the financial muscle to open a retail store, to bring their products to a wider audience.

Ms Teo Jingyan, 22, said this is her first time participating in the Qoo10 fair. Ms Teo, who owns clothes and accessories store Modelle, also sets up booths at flea markets in Orchard once or twice a month.

"(For physical stores) it is easier for customers to gauge their sizes. For accessories, they can also look in the mirror and see if it fits their face shape," she said, adding that she gets more customers at physical stores than online.

Mr Lucas Li, 27, a salesman at home furniture store, Jiji, said being at the fair is a form of publicity that promotes brand awareness among customers.

"Online, people only search for items when they need them. But here, when people walk past they will know that we exist and can order from us the next time they need something," he said.

Jiji has a showroom in Sungei Kadut, an online store and can also be found on e-commerce marketplaces like Qoo10 and Lazada.

'Qoo10 Super Sale 2018' will also feature a virtual supermart, which comprises walls of product images from Qoo10's merchants. Each product will be accompanied by a QR code which allows shoppers to purchase the item, or be redirected to Qoo10's app or website on their smartphones for more information.

The virtual supermart at the Qoo10 Super Sale 2018, which comprises walls of product images from Qoo10's merchants. PHOTO: QOO10

"With the virtual supermart, we also engage with brands who are not participating in the event but hope to get exposure," said Mr Cho.

Each product in the virtual supermart will be accompanied by a QR code which allows shoppers to purchase the item, or be redirected to Qoo10's app or website on their smartphones for more information. PHOTO: QOO10

The Qoo10 Super Sale 2018 is bigger than Qoo10 10.10 Shopping Evolution, occupying four times more space than its previous event at Plaza Singapura last October.

This is Qoo10's third time organising an offline event in Singapore, but its first two were "pilot tests" on a much smaller scale, said Mr Cho.

"Merchants who participated in our first and second rounds saw better offline than online sales. We already have high traffic capabilities online, so we want to also drive customers to an offline space," he said.

Marketing manger Fiona Ng, 31, a shopper at the Qoo10 event, said although online shopping was more convenient, shopping in person had its advantages.

"(For in-store shopping) you can bring home necessities like tissue paper and shampoo immediately. For food, you can also sample it before buying," she said.

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