December 21, 2016, Beijing — Amazon China (Z.cn) today announced the grand launch of the Amazon International Skiing Pavilion (Z.cn/huaxue) to better meet consumers’ demand for skiing equipment. The newly launched International Skiing Pavilion features over 10,000 high-quality international skiing products, covering 12 major categories including ski helmets, ski goggles, ski suits, ski backpacks, skis, professional outdoor clothing, professional outdoor backpacks, thermal base layers, GPS smart sports watches, skiing outdoor gear, action cameras, and wearable smart devices. The pavilion includes products from over a hundred internationally renowned skiing and outdoor brands, such as Oakley — the leader in ski goggles, Burton — a top brand in snowboarding, Sunnto and Garmin — well-known sports watch brands, and Patagonia — a major outdoor apparel brand. Additionally, consumers can purchase the Scope ski goggles, the 2016 winter new arrivals exclusively supplied to Amazon China by Smith — a leading American ski gear brand, as well as a rich selection of skiing products curated for youths. The newly launched Amazon International Skiing Pavilion stands out among domestic B2C self-operated platforms in terms of both brand variety and product selection. It not only provides skiing enthusiasts with trendy, cutting-edge international skiing gear but also leads new trends in skiing consumption.
With the successful bid of Beijing and Zhangjiakou, China, to host the 24th Winter Olympic Games in 2022, along with the national strategy of “Moving Winter Sports South” and the ambitious vision of “300 million people participating in ice and snow sports,” the popularity of ice and snow sports continues to rise, with skiing being especially favored by many consumers. Sales data from Amazon China shows that since the start of winter this year, searches for skiing equipment have surged significantly, with skiing, ski suits, ski helmets, and ski goggles becoming popular search keywords. Meanwhile, based on Amazon China’s sales data, consumer behavior in purchasing skiing equipment reveals the following three major trends:
International brands are most favored by consumers:According to Amazon China’s sales data, the top ten most popular skiing brands among Chinese consumers are all international brands, including: Uvex — a German professional sports protection brand, Smith and Burton — American ski and snowboard brands, Halti — a Finnish outdoor brand, Descente — a Japanese professional skiwear brand, 686, Outdoor Research, and Oakley — leading American outdoor sports brands, as well as Salomon — a renowned French sports brand, and Dakine — an American outdoor brand.
Consumption momentum in southern cities continues to grow:Data from Amazon China shows that over the past year, the top ten cities with the highest purchasing power for skiing products are Beijing, Shenyang, Tianjin, Jinan, Shanghai, Chengdu, Wuhan, Nanjing, Guangzhou, and Xi'an. Among these top ten cities, southern cities account for half. In addition to leading cities in skiing equipment purchases such as Beijing, Shenyang, and Tianjin, although southern cities rarely see snow, five major southern cities — Shanghai, Chengdu, Wuhan, Nanjing, and Guangzhou — have made their first appearance in the top ten skiing product consuming cities. The interest of southern consumers in skiing equipment is heating up.
Ski goggles and helmets are the most focused-on skiing protective gear:Data from Amazon China shows that the top ten best-selling skiing products are: UVEX Cevron ski goggles, UVEX plus all-terrain series ski helmet, SMITH scope series ski goggles, DESCENTE ski suit, SMITH HOLT series ski helmet, SMITH I/OX GAF Asian model ski goggles, Outdoor Research Stormbound outdoor jacket, UVEX Core freestyle series ski helmet, UVEX speedy pro youth ski goggles, and SMITH GAGE ski helmet. Among these top ten best-selling skiing products, ski goggles and helmets occupy eight spots, indicating that consumers pay particular attention to skiing safety-related gear such as goggles and helmets. In addition, the Beijing area and its surroundings have seen the highest order volume for ski helmets, likely because ski resorts in the Beijing area generally require skiers to wear helmets.
To further promote skiing and celebrate the launch of the Amazon International Skiing Pavilion, from now until January 9, 2017, Amazon China is offering a series of New Year promotions on skiing equipment. New 2016 ski helmets, ski goggles, and professional outdoor backpacks are available at a 30% discount; professional ski suits, professional outdoor apparel, and selected thermal base layers are 50% off; GPS smart sports watches come with an instant discount of 100 yuan; and selected skiing and outdoor gear enjoy 50 yuan off orders over 299 yuan. Ski enthusiasts visiting the Amazon International Skiing Themed Pavilion can not only find high-quality international ski gear but also enjoy great deals and fully embrace the joy of skiing.
About Amazon China
Amazon entered China in 2004 and currently has three core businesses in the country: the online shopping platform (Z.cn); Kindle e-readers, Fire tablets, and related digital content; and Amazon Web Services. Z.cn is Amazon’s online shopping platform in China. Upholding the philosophy of “Customer Obsession,” Amazon China leverages its industry-leading technology platform and extensive global e-commerce management experience to continuously offer Chinese consumers an increasingly diverse range of high-quality, affordable products, convenient services, and a premium shopping experience. Through continuous innovation, Amazon China is building the most trusted comprehensive online shopping platform.
The Amazon China online shopping platform offers consumers 32 major categories and over 25 million products, including books, digital and accessories, computers, photography, home, home improvement, kitchenware and small appliances, sports and outdoor gear, apparel, footwear, watches and jewelry, bags, food, beverages, beauty and personal care, maternity and baby products, toys, auto supplies, pet supplies, office supplies, and musical instruments. With 13 fulfillment centers across the country, Amazon China provides quality delivery services to consumers in nearly 3,000 cities and counties, delivering a convenient and fast online shopping experience. For more information, please visit: z.cn, www.amazon.cn
About Amazon.com
Founded in July 1995, Amazon.com is guided by four principles: Customer Obsession over competitor focus; passion for invention; commitment to operational excellence; and long-term thinking. The company has pioneered numerous innovative services, including customer reviews, one-click ordering, personalized recommendations, Amazon Logistics, Amazon Web Services, Kindle e-readers, and Fire tablets.
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