Chinese retailer's remodeling of stores pays off

The average customer flow in remodeled stores of Yonghui Superstores has increased significantly, after the Chinese retailer announced a strategy to renovate its stores nationwide more than one year ago, according to a senior company executive.

"Future remodeling efforts in our stores will focus on customers' experience and products," said Wang Shoucheng, CEO of Yonghui Superstores. 

The average customer flow in the company's remodeled stores has increased by 80 percent, with over 60 percent of the remodeled stores having surpassed the highest profit levels of the past five years, according to Wang.

During the National Day holiday, the overall sales at Yonghui's remodeled stores nationwide increased by more than 100 percent year-on-year, according to the company.

In its first remodeled store in downtown Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, the store experienced a significant increase in customer flows during the holiday, according to the company.

The store, located in the city's Haizhu district, is a strategic project for Yonghui's nationwide remodeling efforts by adopting domestic counterpart Pangdonglai's celebrated retail practice.

Over 80 percent of products in the Haizhu store follow the structure of Pangdonglai, a well-known commercial retail enterprise, by establishing dedicated sections for Pangdonglai's own brands and featured brand pavilions.

The store covers a full range of essential consumer goods such as fresh produce, grains and oils.

The average net promoter score, or NPS of customers in its 102 remodeled stores nationwide exceeds 40 percent, with 19 stores exceeding a score of 50 percent, the company said.

qiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn