Mainland importer seizes retail opportunities in free trade zone

A supermarket selling imported goods in Shenzhen’s Qianhai Free Trade Zone (FTZ) has gained popularity amongst mainland shoppers. Running a cross-border e-commerce company, the businessman is hoping to open a chain of 15 stores in the mainland’s free trade zones, including one in Hengqin FTZ by the end of this year.
The supermarket sells commodities that are commonly seen in the SARs but are less easy to come by in the mainland. A shopper from Zhongshan told TDM that she would be reducing her trips to Hong Kong and Macau because she no longer needs to travel to purchase daily necessities.
The e-commerce company’s manager, Ni Jun, said that he has invested millions of yuan in opening the supermarket, where most of the goods are imported from Southeast Asia, Europe and Japan. The businessman sees a great business opportunity in selling imported goods to mainland residents, as every day many shoppers travel to Hong Kong simply to buy daily necessities.
Mr Ni told TDM that there currently isn’t a difference between the purchase prices in the trade zone and retail prices in Hong Kong shops. He revealed that his company records a turnover of 3 million yuan per day, and that he has been in talks with the FTZs’ Administrative Committees about the possibility of expanding his business to Hengqin and other FTZs. BY