Theodore Lau wrote about Home plus – a South Korean hypermarket that has a rather unique business model. Some of its sales come from neither retail stores nor online shopping; rather they come from somewhere in between. The company has placed large displays in subway stations for commuters that would otherwise have minimal time to do shopping. These displays have images of groceries that can be purchased by scanning QR codes with smartphones. These goods are then quickly delivered to the consumer’s doorstep.
Home plus almost seems too good to be true – it provides convenience and supplies directly in a stylish manner. It may even revolutionize the way that agricultural goods are sold. However, I would think that these tactics are hard to maintain for they hold many inherent problems. For example, there is no physical connection between the buyer and the product. When people buy fruits and vegetables, they pick the best produce. We would not take a rotten, bruised apple over an apple that is more aesthetically pleasing.
However, I can see people buying things like packaged and non-perishable goods, so the company can still show its innovation in a large market.
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