Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, more Singaporeans have been shopping online and eCommerce has seen a boom.
With the gradual reopening of the economy however, businesses have picked up the pace to draw customers back to their physical stores especially since shoppers are heading out more to shopping malls.
Moreover, the online marketplace has become so saturated that consumers are overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choices available.
This has led to many shoppers hoping for a more curated experience which will allow them to make more informed decisions.
Following this demand, Lazada has launched its first mega online-to-offline (O2O) retail shopping experience. Called Come Home To Lazada, it showcases a complementary way for shoppers to engage on both platforms.
We visited the 10,000 square feet pop-up space at Raffles City to experience the future of retail shopping for ourselves.
Simply Scan To Buy
Upon entering the showroom, we were given a free gift, which is a S$5 voucher applicable with a minimum spend of S$50.
The gift was redeemable after scanning a QR code at the entrance of the pop-up space, and any member of the public who scans the code can receive it too.
We were also greeted by a reminder to download the Lazada app, since the offline and online experience is closely intertwined.
Every item displayed in the showroom is tagged with a QR code, which shoppers can scan to purchase via the Lazada app. This was a welcome addition to the typical homeware shopping experience, as we were able to easily access all product-related information.
Even if you decide not to buy the item immediately, you can save it in-app until the next deal comes along. The buying process is also quick and seamless, eliminating the hassle of joining long queues to make a purchase.
Another great thing is that we were able to walk around the showroom hands-free, without having to lug around our spoils.
Moreover, when shopping for furniture in-store, transporting purchases home has always been a problem since they are typically bulky.
With Lazada’s O2O experience, we need not worry about having to lug home the items we bought, or spend extended periods of time arranging for a delivery service.
Tailored For The Modern Homeowner
Come Home to Lazada is touted to be made for new, tech-savvy homes, and we were definitely not disappointed.
The showroom features interior ideas for homes of tomorrow, with the latest home furnishings and work-from-home elements. We explored various interior themes with considerations for smart home integration, and dedicated spaces such as a home office and a combined study-gym.
The first room that shoppers get to experience is the living room, which was fully integrated with a home system and smart products. Some of the products available include the Samsung 65″QLED 4K Smart TV and ECOVACS Robot vacuum cleaner, which were all controlled via voice commands, with the help of Google Home.
A study-gym was also another interesting interior concept at the showcase. It is common knowledge that Singapore’s homes nowadays are much smaller, hence maximising space is crucial.
Furthermore, with the rise of working from home, Singaporeans are increasingly trying to improve on their home-office spaces.
Come Home to Lazada showcases the right products to include in one’s home to enhance comfort and productivity.
For example, the Nitro Concepts S300 gaming chair — which is manufactured by a local brand — provides users with ergonomic support allowing them to work or game in comfort at an affordable price point.
The space is also furnished with various exercise equipment, as well as a full-length mirror so fitness buffs can easily ensure that their form is right when working out.
Even the bathrooms were tastefully designed, complete with small details to aid the homeowner in their renovation journey.
For example, the hooks used in the bathroom were appended to the walls via suction rather than screws, to take into consideration rental home owners who are unable to make any modifications to their homes.
Overall, the huge variety of brands on display was a good selling point, and the showcase really mimicked the online marketplace experience. Some of the brands available include PRISM+, Nespresso, Novita, V.Hive, KitchenWare, Phillips and Sonos.
A Brand New Retail Experience
When businesses were severely disrupted last year due to forced closure during the circuit breaker, Lazada helped many of them pivot online so they now have a dual presence: online and offline.
The shift also impacted the buying behaviour of consumers, who grew accustomed to the convenience of a new shopping norm of having their purchases delivered straight to their doorsteps.
As first-time homeowners, we found that the Come Home to Lazada event helped us to
visualise how a smart home could look, complete with the knowledge on where to buy each item on the spot.
To add on, it also reduces the anxiety behind making large purchases online, as we were able to physically feel and test them out in person — this is especially relevant for items like electronics, and big-ticket furniture like sofas and dining tables.
With a myriad of brands and products now available on Lazada, Come Home to Lazada provides the ideal solution for consumers, solving various pain points.
Besides shopping, customers will also be treated to freebies, giveaways, and can even attend workshops available for purchase in the app or simply by scanning its QR code.
There will be a ‘Sure-win Surprise Bag’, where shoppers can stand to win top prizes such as a Sudio wireless earbuds (worth S$199) and a Marshall portable Bluetooth speaker (worth S$379).
Come Home to Lazada will be held at Raffles Place until April 18. On weekends, shoppers can also take part in various workshops such as robotics, miniature clay-making, and leather painting. To learn more about the event, you can check out the Lazada app.
This article was written in collaboration with Lazada.
Featured Image Credit: Vulcan Post