While Western consumers remain reluctant to shop in stores this year, pop-up experiences are thriving in the biggest retail market in the world.
Global luxury brands such as Gucci, Burberry, Fendi and Bottega Veneta are all using pop-up stores to launch new concepts and show off their omnichannel capabilities in the China market.
We take a look at some examples and observe why such pop-up stores are crucial to reach increasingly affluent Chinese Millennials — and why U.S. and foreign luxury brands need a China strategy to fuel growth during this decade.
Fendi x Mr. Doodle for Chinese Valentines Day
For Chinese Valentine’s Day this year (aka Qixi Festival, held on Aug. 25), Fendi launched pop-up stores in Beijing and Chengdu to celebrate its newest capsule collection, in partnership with Mr. Doodle. Also known as Sam Cox, Mr. Doodle is a British artist who is well-known for his doodles drawn with thick black markers.
Along with these pop-up stores, Fendi also set up mini-cafés with tables and plates adorned with his graffiti.
Fendi’s new mini-cafés entice luxury consumers to linger longer.
Courtesy of Fendi
Lastly, customers could also purchase items from the capsule collection through Fendi’s official WeChat mini-program store. China’s pervasive social media platform, WeChat, has
Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.
