A festive season of strong consumer spirit: Year-end markets and traditional bazaars kick off promotions

By MOOK Travel & Living Network, Li Xinyi | Compiled & Reported

 

The Taipei City Government is encouraging citizens to shop during the Lunar New Year period and has launched the “Taipei Lunar New Year Shopping Month” from yesterday (the 23rd) to February 17. Themed around “Beat Inflation,” “Great Deals,” and “Fresh Finds,” the campaign has mobilized seven major department stores, three large retail chains to offer discounts starting from 70% off storewide. Nine major commercial districts and nine traditional markets’ year-end markets are also running promotions such as lucky draws for million-dollar prizes upon reaching spending thresholds. Additionally, imperial-style festive items and Year of the Snake good-luck goods are among the fresh offerings at the Taipei Year-End Market, aiming to capture billions in holiday spending.

Among them, the Dihua Street Year-End Market will run from tomorrow (the 25th) to February 8. Vendors on Dihua Street selling dried goods, Rongbin Fresh, and Yuanling Leather Street are offering inflation-beating year-end specials. Taipei Underground Mall is running a promotion where spending NT$500 enters you into a draw for prizes worth a total of NT$1 million. The back station area and Huayin Street are featuring imperial-style festive clothing and other fresh finds. Meanwhile, the Nanmen, Shidong, Yongchun, Yongji, Guangfu, Xining, Muxin, Muzha, and Xinglong markets are also offering the freshest and most authentic traditional New Year dishes and fresh ingredients. The Taipei Fine Arts Museum and the 228 Memorial Peace Park will be open during the Spring Festival period until February 17, 2013. Visitors who present unified invoices from Taipei City shops dated January or February 2013 can enter for free. Those traveling to Taipei can also use the Taipei Pass to explore the city and enjoy merchant discounts via the tourist passport.

 

Huang Qingwen, chairperson of the Republic of China Department Store and Retail Enterprise Association, said that the Lunar New Year has always been a peak shopping season for the department store industry. Not only that, but major department stores are also gearing up to attract year-end bonuses from office workers. Department stores will not only stay open throughout the Spring Festival and offer promotions such as “spend NT$1,000, get NT$100 off,” but also feature deep discounts—for example, Sogo, Far Eastern, ATT4fun, and Shin Kong Mitsukoshi are offering end-of-season discounts starting at 50% off, and Jing Station starting at 30% off. Shin Kong Mitsukoshi’s holiday lucky bags include top prizes such as Star Cruises free cruises and lodging vouchers for Lai Hsi Suites in Beitou. In addition, the three major retail chains will remain open 24 hours a day during the Spring Festival. Carrefour offers NT$200 cash vouchers for members who spend NT$2,000 between 1 AM and 7 AM every day.

Taipei City’s Lunar New Year Shopping Month event features deals that beat inflation, offer great value, and include fresh finds. From tomorrow (the 25th) to February 8, shop at 1,200 contracted stores across Taipei with no minimum spend. Present your invoice or receipt at the 2013 “Come to Taipei for a Great New Year” official website to register as a member and log your invoice/receipt number to join the lucky draw. The total prize pool is nearly NT$500,000. In addition, the mayor will visit the back station area, Dihua Street, and Rongbin Commercial District on January 25, 30, and February 3 respectively, to celebrate the New Year, distribute “lucky money,” and greet locals.

Commercial District Name	Event Details
Dihua	1. Taiwan’s largest dried goods and snack wholesale center—prices are down 20% for Mexican wheel abalone and 15% for red dates compared to last year 2. Daily from 14:00–15:00, January 25 to February 8, at Yongle Plaza Main Stage: pregnancy charm bags on sale
Ningxia	Night market shopping with a chance to win a TV—From January 10 to February 24, present your 2013 Year-End Frenzy Passport at the Taipei Roundabout service desk to exchange for a stamp card and raffle entry. Grand prize is a 42-inch LED TV
Back Station	Hat, scarf, and woolen cap wholesale center—Shu De Department Store offers 20% off all items, Xian Shi Watch 30% off all items, Zheng Qun Department Store 50% off all items
Huayin Street	Taipei’s main leather goods wholesale center—Sijun Trade offers 30% off select leather goods, 55% off selected suitcases, Qian Qian Accessories offers 50% off select accessories, and Chuan Sheng Leather offers 37% off selected suitcases
Taipei Underground Mall	1. December 29, 2012 to February 24, 2013: Spend NT$500 to enter a lucky draw for a motorcycle; total prize value exceeds NT$1 million 2. Eight merchants offer refined imperial-style goods, 30 merchants offer snake-year fire-element wealth-attracting crystals
Rongbin	A kitchen hub for the city’s star-rated hotels and a great spot for locals to buy fresh year-end goods; prices are down 10% for Argentine squid compared to last year
Nanchang	1. Year-end furniture sale—Yi Hua natural stone tea table at 42% off for NT$2,800, Yi Mei double sofa at 46% off for NT$23,000 2. January 2 to 31: “Welcome the New Year Fortune Month”—spend NT$10,000 and receive a fortune-attracting wealth lamp
Beimen	1. Exclusive discounts on Canon, Nikon, and Sony brands; Citibank cardholders enjoy 0% interest on 15-month installment plans 2. FB fan count exceeds 1,000 – extra chances to win digital cameras
Yuanling	Taipei City Leather Shoe Outlet Center: 50% off on leather shoes at designated stores from 2/1 to 2/8

Market Name	Promotion Details (Store Information)
Nanmen Market	Merchants launch special New Year promotional offers with great value prices A. Jinlong Meat Floss – Jinlong Gift Box originally 1,100 TWD, now 1,000 TWD B. Laolinji New Year Meal Combo originally 1,299 TWD, now 1,088 TWD C. Wanyouquan Cantonese Cured Meat Gift Box originally 640 TWD, now 600 TWD D. Yixiangzhai New Year Meal Combo originally 2,990 TWD, now 2,880 TWD E. Longji Nanjing Salted Duck & Red Braised Bundled Pig Trotters special price 240 TWD, Osmanthus Saltwater Chicken special price 700 TWD
Shidong Market	Merchants launch special New Year promotional offers with great value prices A. Jixiang Ruyi – Mutton Hot Pot special price 700 TWD, Purple Rice Eight Treasures Rice special price 300 TWD B. Fudexing – Buddha Jumps Over the Wall originally 1,600 TWD, now 1,500 TWD C. Jiawei Barbecue – Assorted Braised Meats originally 800 TWD, now 700 TWD D. Shidong Beef Shop – Wangwang Beef Pot originally 700 TWD, now 500 TWD E. Shidong Seafood – Silver Pomfret originally 700 TWD, now 500 TWD
Yongchun Market	Baishanjin Handmade Meatballs – Golden Meatball Gift Box originally 799 TWD, now 750 TWD
Xining Market	Jinliang Seafood – White Pomfret per jin special price 680 TWD, King Crab per jin special price 320 TWD, Abalone per 20 pcs special price 560 TWD, Mullet Roe per jin special price 1,500 TWD, Cooked Shrimp Gift Box per box special price 750 TWD, Hongzui Guo per jin special price 280 TWD, Huabin per jin special price 260 TWD, Meihua Ban per jin special price 260 TWD. Taiwan Food – Dried Scallop per jin 2,200 TWD, Jellyfish Strips per jin 250 TWD, Shiitake Mushrooms per jin 1,000 TWD, Sakura Shrimp per jin 900 TWD.
Muxin Market	Xinlong Meat Leisure Food – Meat Floss Gift Box
Muzha Market	Mingji Barbecue – Meat Floss, Dried Meat, Roast Pork Gift Box Baozhu Traditional Flavors – Rice Cake, Steamed Sponge Cake, Turnip Cake
Xinglong Market	Lao Li’s Hunan-Style Home Cooking – Drunken Chicken, Lion’s Head Meatballs, Pickled Cabbage, Assorted Braised Dishes
Guangfu Market	Yiyuanhang – Handmade Dumplings
Yongji Market	Shangpinxiang – Roast Chicken, Soy-Sauce Chicken