Alibaba Group is opening a Taobao store at MyTOWN Shopping Centre in Kuala Lumpur, in partnership with MyTOWN and retailer Lumahgo New Retail. A new 5,000sqf Taobao Store by Lumahgo is scheduled to begin in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 29. Promising a holistic experience that will help customers familiarise themselves with the concept of online shopping, this shop will be the biggest Taobao Store in Malaysia.
A medley of products ranging from baby items, electronics, furniture, and beauty tools from both local and Chinese merchants will be available and visitors will be able to test them out and make a purchase through the Taobao app by scanning a QR code.
The company said it’s the largest physical Taobao outlet, with a collection of homegrown brands and products, in Malaysia. Previously, Taobao products were sold as part of a selection of goods at a retail space in Viva Mall in Cheras, KL.
Jess Lew, Marketing Manager of Tmall World Malaysia described Malaysia to be a “priority market” and “critical pillar” in the company’s international strategy. He said in a press statement, “The opening of our latest Taobao store demonstrates our commitment to local shoppers and brands, as we further localise services and experiences for the Malaysian market.”
The store will allow shoppers to select items by scanning a QR code and finalising the purchase through the Taobao app. Users will get assistance from staff to help them with product selection.
Lumahgo Retail Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Fabian Kong added that the physical store will be a stepping stone for Taobao to reach out to a more diverse range of customers, including those who may not be particularly tech-savvy.
“Our objective is to provide more touchpoints for consumers of all ages in Malaysia, especially those who are not familiar with shopping online,” he said in a press release.
Shoppers got a glimpse of how the Taobao Store by Lumahgo operates at a pop-up store from now till Nov 10 as part of the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival in MyTown Shopping Centre.
Approximately RMB50 billion (RM29.6 billion) in promotions and coupons are up for grabs this year which shoppers can use for over 200,000 brands and one million new products in conjunction with the Singles’ Day sales, which falls on November 11.
Note that a pop-up replicating the product selection of the Taobao Store ran from November 8 to 10 at MyTOWN Shopping Centre and shoppers stood a chance to win attractive prizes by participating in various activities.
However, consumers spent more than RM213.5 million on Taobao during the 24-hour period of the shopping holiday in 2018 which saw over 180,000 brands and merchants touting their goods.