Taobao

Taobao has found its permanent physical home at Funan mall. Done up in partnership with Virmall, this store marks the online retailer’s first of its kind in Southeast Asia.

Spanning 6,000 sq ft and carrying about 300 items, the basement space consists of six little nooks, each with decorative knick knacks and furniture on display. Most of the goods are of the home and living variety, so you can see for yourself what the household items, kitchen appliances, textiles, cutlery, and furnishings look and feel like before you make a purchase.

Plus, the range will be refreshed on a regular basis, depending on what’s trending on Taobao, so you won’t have to worry about going out of style.

Here, you can easily buy a product by scanning its QR code and selecting your choice of color, design, and size. Payment is made via the Taobao app, and items can either be picked up at the shop or delivered to your home (for bulkier goods). Even if you’re not familiar with the Chinese app interface, you can always shout out for help from the store’s assistants.

Looks like the future of retail could be a mix of online and offline shopping.