Sa Sa to accept WeChat payments instore

Beauty products retailer Sa Sa is to accept Tencent’s WeChat payments in 100 Hong Kong stores.

Sa Sa thus becomes the first global retail partner of tencent’s new offline WeChat-based cross-border payment service, TenPay.

WeChat’s Tenpay allows account holders, principally Chinese mainlanders, to scan the QR Code on their mobile phone using the WeChat app, and quickly make a payment online. Now the service is being rolled out offline allowing payments to be made in physical stores, by similar means. Every WeChat account holder has a unique QR code within the app – which can also be used to scan other QR codes to access web sites, special offers and a whole range of other services and information.

Sa Sa says the move to accept TenPay demonstrates its commitment to exploring online to offline (O2O) business opportunities.

“The pioneering act is expected to turn over a new leaf in the development of offline mobile payment,” Sa Sa said in a statement.

“The group has been committed to promoting O2O business in the last year, with the aim of providing customers with a more comprehensive shopping experience involving multiple channels and touchpoints. The launch of cross-border offline WeChat Payment does not only prove the group’s commitment in enhancing the standard of its services, but also lays a key milestone in the development of the group’s O2O business. The group will continue to introduce new O2O experiences that are convenient to customers so that the group will be able to seize opportunities and expand its business under progressive deployment of different O2O shopping experiences,” said Sa Sa.

“We hope to provide mainland users of WeChat with a more convenient payment method for shopping in Hong Kong through our partnership with Sa Sa. Meanwhile, Sa Sa’s extensive retail network throughout Hong Kong as well as its diverse customer base will enable us to effectively promote WeChat Payment, with the aim of extending such innovative mobile payment to other retailers and eventually gaining popularity in Hong Kong. The application of WeChat Payment will be expanded to the rest of the world following the footprint of Chinese tourists. ”

A Tencent spokesman said the move would offer added convenience for mainland WeChat users.  “Meanwhile, Sa Sa’s extensive retail network throughout Hong Kong as well as its diverse customer base will enable us to effectively promote WeChat Payment, with the aim of extending such innovative mobile payment to other retailers and eventually gaining popularity in Hong Kong. The application of WeChat Payment will be expanded to the rest of the world following the footprint of Chinese tourists. ”

Sa Sa launches its WeChat Payment acceptance by giving customers a WeChat Red Envelope of RMB10 upon a purchase of HK$100 settled by WeChat Payment on smartphones during a promotion period.

Said Dr Guy Look, CFO and executive director of Sa Sa: “Making good use of technology is the key for local retailers to effectively enhance services and meet the shopping needs of customers under the ever-changing trend of Internet and mobile communications technology. As Tencent’s first partner in introducing cross-border offline WeChat Payment, we believe that more customers will adopt this innovative mobile payment upon full launch of such service. Customers can enjoy a more convenient and pleasant shopping experience without the need to carry cash or credit cards.”

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