Consignment store
Consignment store (Chinese: ), is a transformation of flea market; which sets up many transparent boxes in a small shop for people to rent and sell their products.The renters can also treat the boxes as showrooms and display their products or artworks there. This kind of shop was originated in Japan and the concept spread in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau between 2000 and 2005.; However, the business environment of consignment shop had deteriorated since 2010.
Consignment stores were founded in Tokyo’s Akihabara shopping district and the idea was originated by Hirai Toshio. At that time, second-hand toys and antique toys were mainly sold. The store was popular among young men and white-collar workers in Japan when this concept just started and it had aroused the mass media’s attention for reporting. Since the consignment stores became really popular in Japan, the idea developed in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. In 2001, the first consignment store in Taipei was established in Ximending(Chinese:西 門 町). The first consignment store in Hong Kong was set up in 2000 in Central, however, since this selling concept was not well known and accepted by citizens at that time thus the store was closed after a short period of time. The concept became popular in Hong Kong in around 2005. Consignment stores started appearing in Mongkok gradually and almost 100 stores were opened within one year. In 2007, this concept was spread to different cities in Mainland China such as Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
Most of the consignment stores are located in shopping malls in crowded districts. For example, some are located in Lucky Plaza (Sha Tin); and Sino Centre (Mong Kok).
These places are selected because of the low rent rate and the high popularity among young generation. Together with convenient transportation, it is beneficial for both shoppers and renters to sell and buy the products.
Consignment stores mostly contain more than 100 boxes(with an approximate volume 35x35x35cm). The transparent plastic depots are leased to potential renters to sell their products and post promotional leaflets for advertising.; Products are appealing to customers on the grounds of low price. The diversification of products helps enlarge the targets of potential customers. In some boxes, samples of products would be sold. At the stage when the development of online shop was not that flourishing, those samples play an important role in having supplementary effects, which are being promotion of the online shop or the extra stocks sold in a concrete shop with small quantity.;
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