Hongqiao center woos shoppers
As the major platform offering “6 + 365 days” one-stop trading services to support the China International Import Expo, the Hongqiao Import Commodity Exhibition and Trading Center is now open to the public with a new name — Hongqiao Pinhui — offering the latest import products at low prices.
A shopping festival until October 20 is offering special deals on fresh food, baby products, cosmetics and designer handbags.
Fiona Li (right) and Shirlene Gu inside the Hongqiao Pinhui
Interior of the Hongqiao center
More than 2,000 people arrived for the festival’s opening day and some special offers had already sold out, including a “buy 2 get 1 free” offer on beef from Australia and a Furla bag marked down from 1,523 yuan (US$213) to 300 yuan.
Relying on the bonded logistics freight center, the center aims to become a global hub for commodities. Inside, brands are permitted to show and sell their products before going through entry formalities and the quarantine procedures.
The center near Hongqiao airport and railway station welcomes customers not only from Shanghai but also nearby cities in the Yangtze River Delta.
Cai Jun, its general manager, said the low prices were because there were no intermediaries between brands and customers and brands had no rent or warehousing costs to pay.
Bottles of wine for sale
A square outside the Hongqiao center
A paper-cutting work in the shape of a goblin
“The center is planning to be a gathering place for new import products, offering a solution to lengthy import procedures,” Cai said. “For some categories, such as the cosmetics, the import procedures can take a year or even longer. Brands can test the market inside the center before customs procedures. Customers can also try new products for the first time. For new brands, they can find distribution channels before having to pay tax. For exhibitors at the China International Import Expo, they can put products in the bonded warehouse, bring out some items for display before entry formalities, and also achieve some small batch sales.”
To date, companies from 26 countries have moved in, bringing in over 400 brands. Another 60 companies or so have shown an intention to enter the center which would introduce more than 200 brands.
The newly opened part of the center consists of four halls for bonded exhibition and trading, food, personal care and luxury.
The most popular is the food hall, a supermarket of imports. Prices are lower compared with online supermarkets and there are a number of exclusive products.
A skin-care store inside the Hongqiao center using avocado as ingredients
Clothes for sale at the Hongqiao center
A Harley-Davidson motorcycle for sale
Various handbags for sale
One of the special offers, and also an exclusive product, more than 1,800 bottles of Vaza sunflower oil from Ukraine sold at 89 yuan for 2 bottles containing 10 liters of oil during the first weekend.
After the “buy 2 get 1 free” offer on beef from Australia sold out, He Yan, general manager of Rockhampton, said: “We are surprised by the sales volume, a new shipment is on the way, the beef will be replenished next week.”
At the personal care hall there were special discounts of more than 40 percent off. The best seller was a facial mask with animal prints from South Korea.
At the luxury hall there were handbags from Prada, Burberry, Bottega Veneta, Furla, Kate Spade, Coach, MCM and new designer brands.
Some handbags were on sale at special prices, most of them at less than 70 percent off. A Prada Saffiano bag was 5,000 yuan, an 80 percent discount.
One of the most eye-catching products at the bonded exhibition and trading hall was a Harley-Davidson motorcycle which was popular with visitors taking photographs.
Hongqiao Import Commodity Exhibition and Trading Center (Hongqiao Pinhui)
Address: 2377 Shenkun Rd, Minhang District
Opening hours: 10am-5pm
Shuttle bus routes:
(Hongqiao Airport T2 Parking P5) 9:15, 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00
(HQICETC) 10:30, 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 17:45
