Chinese electronics giant Xiaomi will open its second store in Vienna on Saturday: the branch in Shopping City Süd, which has been in existence since 2018 and opened in the autumn, will be followed by a store in the Donauzentrum in Vienna’s 22nd district. If Kurt Manninger, the boss of Xiaomi Austria, has his way, this shouldn’t be the last store opening.
Xiaomi is already represented in the major electronics chains and mobile operators with its mobile phones and other products. Manninger emphasizes, however, that own stores have their advantages. “Not as a marketing tool, we choose our points of sale based on profitability.”
But effective promotional opening offers are also not left out in the crowded Donauzentrum: on the opening day, the new Xiaomi store offers various products 60 percent cheaper from 09:00.
Photo gallery: this is what it looks like in the new Xiaomi store
More product categories, trained consultants
Compared to other sales channels – Xiaomi is also represented with an online store in Austria – the store in the Donauzentrum offers more options. In the electronics trade, sales space is tight: “We don’t have the opportunity to display all our product categories,” says Manninger, delighted with the large exhibition space in the new store.
We also offer specially trained sales staff. “Advice is very important to us, the customer wants to be confident when making a purchase decision.” The Austrian boss does not rule out that Xiaomi will also have a presence outside of Vienna in the future with its own stores: you evaluate . For now, however, the two Xiaomi stores will remain in Vienna.
Third largest smartphone brand in Austria
Xiaomi is currently number three in the domestic smartphone market – and wants to gain more market share. In addition to mobile phones, all kinds of other product categories can be seen in the Donauzentrum. That could pay off in a slower-growing mobile phone market. Smartphones – krone.at reported – are now being used on average for 30 months longer than a few years ago.
Xiaomi builds much more than just smartphones
Xiaomi shows a correspondingly colorful assortment in the new store: there are e-bikes, TVs, electric scooters, monitors, input devices, WLAN routers, smartphone accessories and even vacuum cleaners, hot air fryers and a hair dryer. When asked what the strangest product in the Austrian Xiaomi range is, Manninger answers with a smile: “We have a precision screwdriver set and a suitcase trolley in our range.”
In China, where Xiaomi has long been one of the main electronics brands, the range even includes 2000 products – from mobile phones to connected washing machines. With large household appliances, there are still doubts whether an EU start would make sense, says the Xiaomi manager. Even an electric car is in the works: launch is slated for late 2023 in China, with an international launch slated for 2024. Will it also arrive in Austria? “Austria would be a great market with its manageable size and high purchasing power,” Manninger hopes.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
