Chinese cross-border e-commerce platform NetEase Kaola has opened its first flagship store in Hangzhou.
The launch follows the firm’s announcement of plans to open 15 Kaola stores across the country this year, of which two have already launched last year – another outlet in Hangzhou, and one in Zhengzhou city.
The flagship reflects many improvements deriving from a year’s operational experience in offline retail, including a coffee bar, a playground for children, and an interactive media screen to enhance customer experience. The screen will display product recommendations sourced from the firm’s online activities helping to cut decision-making time in store.
The established “Online plus Offline” model is expected to foster communication within the brand’s community of shoppers and help buyers to enjoy ancillary services, according to Kaola’s CEO Zhang Lei.