ShopShops founder Liyia Wu discusses building a digital QVC for Chinese consumers, enabling them to shop internationally via livestream. The platform leverages experienced hosts and influencers to showcase products, facilitating real-time purchases and interactive engagement. The company also manages crucial last-mile logistics within China, offering a seamless cross-border shopping experience.
Key takeaways
ShopShops enables international brands to connect directly with Chinese consumers through interactive livestreaming, acting as a digital QVC.
The platform utilizes experienced salespeople and fashion influencers to host live product showcases, driving engagement and sales.
ShopShops meticulously handles all logistics, including international bulk shipping and last-mile delivery within China, crucial for customer satisfaction.
Future growth for ShopShops involves expanding into multiple languages and integrating livestreaming across various social media platforms to broaden reach.
The success of ShopShops highlights the importance of combining engaging digital experiences with robust logistical solutions for cross-border ecommerce.
Much has been written about the Chinese consumer that shops abroad in stores. But there is a growing movement among customers in China that, through livestreaming apps like ShopShops, are shopping at stores outside China, just through their phones.
ShopShops founder Liyia Wu explained the experience from the customer's perspective: "Open up your phone, and with a click of a button you can be [on] any street, anywhere, opening the doors of stores that are interesting."
The app allows viewers to watch hosts -- experienced salespeople or fashion influencers -- as they display clothes and accessories, QVC-style, for several hours. Customers can buy what they see and interact with the host and other shoppers via a chat function. ShopShops then makes a commission on purchases.
The four-year-old company, based in both New York and Beijing, also completes the last leg of delivery within China. "Everything is shipped to us in bulk. We help to facilitate that last mile," Wu said.
In the future, Wu hopes to expand ShopShops to hosting livestreams in other languages and on social media platforms rather than just the app itself.
ShopShops enables international brands to connect directly with Chinese consumers through interactive livestreaming, acting as a digital QVC.
What does this episode say about retail & omnichannel?
The platform utilizes experienced salespeople and fashion influencers to host live product showcases, driving engagement and sales.
What does this episode say about supply chain & operations?
ShopShops meticulously handles all logistics, including international bulk shipping and last-mile delivery within China, crucial for customer satisfaction.
What does this episode say about brand & content?
Future growth for ShopShops involves expanding into multiple languages and integrating livestreaming across various social media platforms to broaden reach.
What does this episode say about dtc strategy?
The success of ShopShops highlights the importance of combining engaging digital experiences with robust logistical solutions for cross-border ecommerce.
