Tech and gadget lovers reading about the best gadgets in The Straits Times can now buy them online from a special shop that the newspaper has set up with local e-commerce site Qoo10.
The shop features products that have been nominated for the ST Digital Awards 2016, which shortlists the most outstanding tech devices and games launched last year.
Readers can find the phablets, smartphones and tablets, as well as laptops and wearable tech devices, nominated for the awards on sale at list.qoo10.sg/sphdigital2015.
The online retail venture is in line with The Straits Times' drive to "establish a dominant online presence that complements its leading news content and meets its readers' "evolving needs", the newspaper said in a statement yesterday.
Mr Ignatius Low, deputy editor and managing editor of The Straits Times, said: "The Straits Times Digital Awards showcases the best in gadgets and gizmos, handpicked by our tech editors and correspondents. Naturally, readers may want to buy some of the products featured. This special shop set up by The Straits Times and Qoo10 will make it easy for them to do so.
"It is one of the many creative initiatives that The Straits Times is working on to meet the evolving needs of our readers and attract new audiences," added Mr Low.
The products on sale include the Microsoft Surface Pro 4, Lenovo ThinkPad X250 and the Samsung Gear S2, among others.
Qoo10's managing director, Mr Cho Hyun Wook, said the collaboration improves the shopping experience for both Qoo10 and The Straits Times audiences.
"The Straits Times readers can click through to the special ST Digital Awards shop on Qoo10 to conveniently buy the products they have read about in the newspaper. Qoo10 shoppers can also check out the product reviews on The Straits Times before making their purchase decisions. We hope to pursue more of such win-win ventures with the The Straits Times in the future," said Mr Cho.
Qoo10 has also tied up with Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao to launch a Chinese New Year-themed shop. Consumers who visit the Z-shop can buy festive goodies and read about food trends, fashion styles and fortune predictions for the new lunar year.
Singapore Press Holdings, the parent company of The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao, led a round of investment worth US$82.1 million (S$118 million) into Qoo10 last year. The other investors included online auction site eBay as well as venture capital firms.
The Straits Times Digital Awards ceremony will take place on Feb 23 at Suntec Convention Centre.
Readers who vote for their preferred products at http://str.sg/digitalawards2016 will stand a chance to win prizes worth over $25,000 in total. Voting closes at midnight today.
