According to statistics, Suzhou’s total retail sales of consumer goods from January to May grew by 4.2% year-on-year, outperforming first-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Riding this new wave of consumption, Suzhou Center Mall in SIP has continuously hit new records, achieving eye-catching growth in both turnover and customer footfall—each rising by over 10% year-on-year in the first half of this year.
Over the first six months of the year, Suzhou Center Mall welcomed 60 new brands, including 27 making their debut in Suzhou. Notably, DIOR has chosen to open a pop-up store (the only one of its kind in China this year) by Jinji Lake, while its newly opened DIOR Beauty flagship store in the mall surpassed sales expectations within the first week. The mall’s robust vitality is contributing to Suzhou’s rapid emergence as a strategic hub for global brands and a leader of domestic consumption trends.
Interesting pop-up exhibitions have boosted the mall’s vitality. Among them are the Pokemon Summer Party, the one designed to mark the 75th anniversary of Snoopy and the Peanuts franchise, and the Capybara Forest Party, which are underway, and the Chiikawa and Deli exhibitions that will follow. As the competition among commercial complexes has extended to co-creation of content, Suzhou Center Mall has sustained its momentum through immersive storytelling, redefining the symbiotic relationship between people and city.
On the other hand, the opening of new stores have stimulated consumption growth.
The DIOR Beauty flagship store on the first floor in the south zone of the mall redefines luxury with its design inspired by the concept of “New Look”, offering a modern yet eternally elegant space for an exceptional shopping experience.
BYREDO opened its new boutique on the first floor in the north zone of the mall on July 9, starting a new chapter for the brand with natural materials, minimalist tones and precise spatial aesthetics. The boutique offers a selection of fragrances, home goods and other products within a serene architectural space rich in tactile textures.
The first New York Bagelous Museum in Suzhou has recently opened on the first floor in the north zone of the mall. Strictly abiding by the principle of “daily fresh baking with low oil and sugar”, the brand is redefining healthy baking concepts. In addition to its top three bestsellers, it has specially created a Suzhou-exclusive hazelnut and chocolate bagel, along with a variety of new beverages.
Suzhou Center Mall, leveraging its prime location in the Jinji Lake Scenic Area, is striving to set an example for development of commercial complexes as a hub of IP-powered attractions and a cultural tourism site. The exhibitions mentioned above have led to a significant increase of tourists from outside SIP, and the mall’s sales promotions in tandem with other tourist privileges provided across the scenic area have attracted an increasing number of tourists from home and abroad. In the future, the mall will make continuous efforts to lead new trends of consumption.
