Ph0to by LF
It seems China inspires retail companies to think big. Recently, international brands have been opening mega-stores in the mainland to cater to the expanding numbers of shoppers. The strategy of opening oversized stores rather than multiple smaller outlets seems to be designed to both showcase the brand and decrease congestion at existing outlets.
Will Chinese consumers find the idea of shopping at huge stores impersonal and lacking or see the super-sized shops as impressive and world leading. The following Companies have all recently opened or will open Mega stores, in China, this year.
1. Apple will open its largest store in China in Shanghai, at the end of August, 2011. At more than 20,000 square meters and five floors, it is designed to handle more than 40,000 visitors per day.
2. Ikea recently opened its largest store in Asia, also in Shanghai earlier this year. Covering 49,400 square meters, it has 2000 parking spaces and 68 showrooms.
3. Starbucks opened it biggest outlet, in China in Xiamen, Fuzhou with over 400 Square meters and four floors.
4. Uniqlo opened its largest global flagship store in Shanghai last year, on Nanjing West Road, in Shanghai. Featuring 3,300 square meters, it is perpetually busy.
5. LVMH is currently renovating four floors of a luxury downtown shopping mall, in preparation for the opening of a mega-store called Louis Vuitton Maison.
One thing that all these brands have in common is that they are members of the select but growing foreign brands that have found success in the Chinese retail market.
Modern East Asia 