Toy Story 3 Bear and Moutai Create Buzz at Costco's New Store in China's Tech Hub
Shenzhen shoppers eagerly thronged to Costco's new store, marking another milestone for the US retailer in China Building on the success of their first outlet, this latest addition drew massive crowds, highlighting the enduring popularity of offerings like the Toy Story 3 bear and Moutai
After causing excitement with its first store over four years ago, Costco's latest outlet on Chinese soil in the southern metropolis of Shenzhen attracted a large number of shoppers this week. The 44,500-square-meter store in the city, often referred to as Chinas "Silicon Valley," was unveiled on Friday, drawing in crowds eager for bargains and imported products.
This is the sixth store in the US retailer's expansion into the world's second biggest economy. It marks the company's first venture into the southern coast of China, with its rapidly growing middle class and the headquarters of Chinese tech giants like Tencent and DJI. Shenzhen, where the new store is located, has a population of over 17 million and a GDP of $460 billion in 2022. At the Costco opening, popular discounted products included fruits like cherries and berries, as well as the Chinese spirit Moutai, according to shoppers who spoke to CNN.
People line up outside the Costco store in Shenzhen, China, during its launch on January 12, 2024.
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Many had waited in line for more than an hour to get in.
Pictures on Chinese social media depicted customers crowding the aisles of the 15,000-square-meter shopping area, many pushing overflowing shopping carts.
The fluffy antagonist Lots-O-Huggin Bear from Pixar's Toy Story 3 was also highly sought after.
The giant bear, measuring five feet tall, became a popular item as social media was flooded with images of people taking it home. The smaller version, less than half the size, sold out within hours. "I didn't expect to see so many people," Kim Lin, one of the first shoppers to enter on Friday, told CNN.
After waiting in line for an hour, Lin expressed her admiration for the staff who assisted her in reaching fruit from a high shelf. "The shop managers kindly handed us the cherries and it was quite gentlemanly of them," she remarked.
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Lots-o-Huggin' Bear was among the more popular products on offer at the Costco store in Shenzhen during its launch on January 12, 2024.
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Another patron Olin Wang praised the selection on offer. "I feel like Costco is quite special because it imports brands you cant find elsewhere," she said.
Costco in China is up against tough competition from online shopping platforms like Taobao and Pinduoduo, as well as from familiar US brands like Sams Club. Sams Club, a Walmart-owned chain, already has four branches in Shenzhen, adding to the challenge for Costco. When Costco opened its inaugural store in Shanghai in 2019, it was forced to close early on its first day due to an overwhelming number of shoppers.
The scene was chaotic as people queued for hours, squeezed under shop gates, and jostled for bags and rotisserie chickens. Traffic on nearby roads came to a halt as vehicles lined up for the parking lot, causing major congestion.
Following this, Costco has expanded in China with a focus on locations near Shanghai, the country's economic and financial center, where two stores are now established.
