Eyeing the success of several wholesale importers, Taiwanese hypermart operator RT-Mart (
"Demand for foreign products at reasonable prices is high in Taiwan," said Philippe Richard, vice president of RT-Mart International Co.
Another senior official at RT-Mart named several successful examples.
"Cosco Taiwan, the Breeze Center's (
"This is why we've decided to open the biggest international hypermart in Taipei next week," he said.
Establishing its first outlet in 1997 through the Taiwan-based Ruentex Group (
Despite last year's economic slump, the company reported NT$32 billion in sales last year, a 16 percent jump over 2000. The top sales outlet was the chain's Neihu store, with NT$4 billion last year.
The Neihu district is developing into a shopping district for suburban Taipei, Wei said. Several multinationals, such as Cosco Taiwan and B&Q Taiwan, have already set up outlets there.
RT-Mart's new store -- also in the Neihu district -- is scheduled to open on Feb. 5.
Imported merchandise is the new outlet's specialty.
"To differentiate the new outlet from our other store and to meet demand for products from overseas, about 40 percent of our merchandise in the new store will come from abroad," said Fiona Wang (
Some 15,000 products from the US, Europe, Japan and China will be offered at its Neihu outlet, she said.
Rival Cosco Taiwan believes quality is more important than quantity. "Although our product variety is not as broad as RT-Mart, we offer popular brands with superior quality," said Ahmen Lee (
"Our customers have to pay NT$1,200 per year for membership, so we must offer superior service, good products and attractive prices."
Membership comes with a money-back guarantee if customers are not satisfied, Lee said, adding that he was taking RT-Mart very seriously.
"Since we both feature imported products, the competition will undoubtedly get stiffer," Lee said.
Consumers will be the biggest winners, because the company will try its best to import more compelling items and sell them at more desirable prices, he said.
Opening its doors for business in Kaohsiung in 1997, Cosco Taiwan has three "wholesale" (membership only) hypermarts in Taiwan.
Sales of the US-based firm reported 25 percent growth in January, compared with the same period last year, Lee said.
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