“A new benchmark” – CNSC opens spectacular post-arrivals Beijing duty free store

CHINA. China National Service Corporation (CNSC) celebrated the opening of its ambitious, new-look post-arrivals duty free store in Beijing with a special ceremony on 22 December.

The four-storey complex provides post-arrivals shopping options for Chinese travellers returning from abroad and “a much-enhanced shopping experience” according to CNSC.

Marking a precious moment: The store inauguration was led by city and regional officials, Sinopharm and CNSC senior management, as well as the Minister of the Embassy of the Republic of Peru in China Jaime Casafranca

Guests at the inauguration included Minister of the Embassy of the Republic of Peru in China Jaime Casafranca, city and regional officials, Sinopharm and CNSC senior management and media.

Leaders from the Beijing District Government and Beijing Customs were among the local dignitaries. These included Yuan Li, Secretary of Party Leadership Group and Director General of Xicheng District Business Bureau, Liu Jingzhen, Chairman of China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm Group), Shi Shengyi, Chair of China Sinopharm International Corporation (China Sinopharm International), and Robert Lee, Chairman of CNSC.

Yuan Li, Secretary of Party Leadership Group and Director General of Xicheng District Business Bureau, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony
Shi Shengyi, Chair of China Sinopharm International Corporation, adds her words of congratulations

Cosmetics, perfumes, fashion & accessories, sunglasses, leathergoods, food and confectionery, special arts and crafts and children’s products are among the categories available.

The elegant interior across four floors houses some spectacular design features, and offers a superb showcase for brands in multiple categories

The CNSC Beijing outlet is located in Beijing FUN, south of Tiananmen Square and adjacent to the Palace Museum, National Museum of China and other popular cultural sites. Beijing FUN is considered as a new landmark for culture in Beijing.

The Beijing store “transforms the duty free shopping experience for consumers in an all-round way, so as to better meet the consumption upgrade needs of consumers,” said CNSC.

Powerful drawcard: CNSC Beijing has attracted many visitors after a strong preview campaign

The new Beijing outlet launched a series of in-store activities to appeal to potential shoppers. It attracted nearly 300,000 people through platforms such as Little Red Book during two weeks of advance trial, with more than 2 million views. CNSC said this helped attract nearly 100,000 people to come to the store to experience the offer.

The reopening consolidates CNSC’s growing presence in the Great Northern Region of China, with a network that spans Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Harbin, Qingdao and Zhengzhou across multiple channels.

CNSC said that it aimed to “further leverage exclusive advantages, constantly enhance core capabilities, and strive to create a new benchmark for downtown duty free”.

This third-floor terrace offers a tranquil outdoor location away from the bustle of shoppers

Rapid momentum for CNSC

The opening continues CNSC’s impressive progress. The retailer was recently awarded the departures duty free contracts at Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport’s new Terminal 3, which is currently under construction. Last month it captured three departures duty free contracts at leading Chinese airports – Nanchang Changbei International, Quanzhou Jinjiang International and Nanjing Lukou International.

CNSC also secured three land port departure store contracts, at Longzhou Shuikou port (on the border with Vietnam), Pingxiang Friendship Pass (one of the most famous passes in China and a key point of political, economical and cultural communication between Vietnam and China), and Jian port, respectively.

As first revealed by The Moodie Davitt Report earlier this year, the Sinopharm-controlled retailer is also preparing to inaugurate its first duty free store in Hainan in December. In September, CNSC also celebrated the Grand Opening of a new-look downtown duty free store in Hangzhou, the capital of China’s Zhejiang province.

Hainan Island: Travel retail’s global hotspot

The Moodie Davitt Report will publish a Hainan Island Special Report with the China edition of The Magazine in February 2021. Written by Martin Moodie and Dermot Davitt, it will explore how the offshore duty free business in China has become critical to the world’s leading brands across many categories.

The report will feature:

  • Comment & analysis on the seismic impact of the new offshore duty free policy in Hainan since 1 July
  • The potential of new offshore duty free allowances across categories from beauty to fashion and watches and from wines & spirits to consumer electronics
  • Major interviews with and profiles of China Duty Free Group, CNSC, Hailvtou Sanya Downtown, Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development and others, with a special focus on the ambitious Hainan Free Trade Port project
  • Beyond Hainan, we examine the rebound in the China domestic market, assess prospects for Chinese airports and downtown stores and hopes for an eventual return to international travel.
  • The ecommerce drive: Assessing the potential of the partnership between travel retail’s long-time market leader Dufry and the digital powerhouse Alibaba; plus digital strategies at CDFG and other major players
  • With contributions from our content partners Globuy, iClick, Jessica’s Secret and DutyFree Expert on trends among Chinese consumers and the duty free market

Contact Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com to partner with The Moodie Davitt Report for this special edition.

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