Brands such as Burberry, Omega and Clarks are stepping up for a shopping spree from Chinese shoppers who are in the UK for the Chinese New Year holiday (31 January – 6 February).
Overall spend, which jumped up 14 per cent year-on-year (YOY) over Chinese New Year 2013, follows the lucrative Golden Week period in October which saw spend by Chinese visitors surge by 35 per cent YOY.
Handbags, jewellery and watches from high-end brands will be popular this week after Chinese shoppers spent an average of £741 per tax free transaction in 2013.
Luxury department store Fortnum and Mason prepared by running “cultural training sessions” for staff and have Mandarin speaking sales people available for private shopping requests.
“We are seeing an increase in trust from Chinese shoppers… so we are working hard to make sure that it is rewarded,” commented Alexandra Allason, Tourism Marketing at Fortnum and Mason.
The London Luxury Quarter, which houses around 70 luxury brands including Tiffany and Mont Blanc, said it was using special displays, in-store service and payment service Union Pay to attract Chinese shoppers. Premium shopping destination Sloane St has also invested in Mandarin and Russian speaking ambassadors to help foreign shoppers in their shopping quest.
