Yahoo launches first online outlet in Hong Kong

The online outlet provides discounts for 10 brands intially: Blanc Nano Ceramic, Francfranc, i+home, Lenovo, Logitech, Lomography Asia, Nissen, Toppy Hong Kong (Weekend Workshop) and Cheong Hing Store (Zwilling’s general distributor in Hong Kong). Local delivery will be offered for all purchases.

Nielsen was commissioned to conduct research that revealed price is the top factor considered by consumers (64 per cent) when buying online. That prompted the internet portal to add the Yahoo Outlet vertical to Yahoo Auctions and Yahoo Deals (group-buying platform) introduced in 1999 and 2011, respectively.

"These three e-commerce arms on Yahoo complement one another, said Jenny Li, director of e-commerce of Yahoo! Hong Kong. "Auctions is the marketplace for [private] sellers and buyers; Deals facilitates seasonal promotional offers; while Outlet offers a branded online store concept without a time limit," she added.     

According to the Nielsen online poll, 62.7 per cent of respondents said they visit a physical outlet store at least once a year, with 83.8 per cent expressing interest in shopping via an online outlet.

As part of the launch, Yahoo Outlet will be introducing a number of “flash deal” offers in the upcoming four weeks, including a Francfranc sofa at one-tenth of its original market price.