TUESDAY, March 19, 2024
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Big C, Tesco Lotus try to cash in on online shopping trends

Big C, Tesco Lotus try to cash in on online shopping trends

TO CASH in on the growing trend of Thai consumers shopping online, the two biggest hypermarket chains

 
Tesco Lotus yesterday announced the launch of Lazada kiosks at Tesco Lotus Express and Talad outlets, so that customers can select from the extensive offerings in the Tesco Lotus shop on Lazada and conveniently have the products delivered to their homes. 
Tesco Lotus plans to introduce the kiosks at 200 stores every year, particularly in upcountry areas, to allow customers to have better access to products and services while saving time and travel costs. 
Tesco Lotus has also opened another online shopping platform on weloveshopping.com, Thailand’s second-largest online marketplace. The new shopping channel is targeted at female customers.
Chakkit Chatupanyachotikul, head of Tesco Online at Lazada, said that since the launch of the Tesco Lotus shop on Lazada in 2014, sales had grown consistently. 
“Despite high Internet penetration and high rates of mobile Internet usage in Thailand, we find that there is a significant gap between Bangkok and other cities when it comes to online shopping. 
Tesco Lotus has a number of Talad and Express stores in many provinces, and sees an opportunity to use these stores as the points of connection to create a seamless shopping experience for our customers,” he said.
Chakkit said Tesco Lotus would continue to invest in new innovations to improve customers’ shopping experiences online, while at the same time capitalising on opportunities to acquire more customers via other online marketplaces. 
“The introduction of the Tesco Lotus @ Lazada kiosks in our Express and Talad stores is designed to synergise the strengths of our online and offline businesses, to give customers easier access to online shopping, especially customers who live upcountry and may not be as familiar with online shopping.” 
He said Tesco Lotus had found that the majority of online shoppers reside in Bangkok and its vicinity (around 60 per cent), so there is a huge opportunity for upcountry markets.
Chakkit said the percentage contribution of online shopping to Tesco Lotus’ overall business was in the single digits, but was growing very rapidly. The Tesco Lotus Shop on Lazada grew by 300 per cent in the past year alone, and the company expects online business to at least double every year, thanks to the organic growth of mobile usage in Thailand, as well as innovations and Tesco Lotus’s offers to its customers.
Meanwhile, Voravudh Varikarn, assistant vice president for e-commerce at Big C Supercenter, said the hypermarket chain would serve every need of its customers through the variety of its products, as well as convenience through technology and multiple platforms of shopping channels, both online and offline. 
Big C had used technology to make shopping more convenient, including desktop and mobile applications, he said.
“E-commerce is nothing new to Thai people. However, sales from this channel are still small and the industry is dominated by a few players. We see an opportunity to localise marketing throughout our stores to build awareness,” he said. 
He said the trend of online shopping would be through mobile applications. Online shoppers had also demanded greater convenience and customised offers.
 
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