China’s instant retail sector is booming with flash sale platforms – which usually promise delivery in less than an hour – reporting explosive growth in electronics, sportswear, and other categories, according to a report from state broadcaster CCTV on Wednesday. Originally focused on food and beverage items, flash sale services have expanded into apparel, footwear, and consumer electronics. Since June, one flash sale platform saw smartphone sales jump more than 300% year-on-year, while sales of smartwatches, tablets, and laptops climbed over 200%. Running shoes and athletic wear also posted growth exceeding 200% on the platform, according to CCTV. Tech giants are racing to exploit this demand. Meituan in April launched its next-generation shopping service Meituan Flash Sale, promising delivery in as little as 30 minutes. Huawei and Xiaomi were among the brands to join the platform shortly after its launch. In May, Alibaba rebranded its Taobao Hourly Delivery service to Taobao Flash Sale, consolidating all of its instant retail operations under the brand, with food delivery unit Ele.me providing full support, according to LatePost. [CCTV, in Chinese]
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