Published: 8:25pm, 6 Mar, 2017 Updated: 2:55pm, 20 Jul, 2018
Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi is looking to expand retail outlets overseas in a bid to offset a decline in the domestic market. Xiaomi is looking to so-called "new retail" – the integration of online and offline sales – to win more foreign buyers, says founder and CEO Lei Jun. In 2016, Xiaomi opened 6 stores after online sales were challenged by domestic rivals. Many customers want to check out products before buying, particularly in India and southeast Asia where smartphones are still a big-ticket item, said Canalys analyst Jessie Ding. Offline stores can also provide after-sales services, she added.