Shanghai and Jiangsu Province in eastern China have seen surge in household appliance and furniture sales with the implementation of the expanded trade-in program, bolstered by a variety of subsidies including government incentives.
In Shanghai, a residential community service station offers a range of top-selling new home appliances, allowing residents to conveniently trade in old items and purchase the latest products right at their doorstep, eliminating the need to visit physical stores.
"My door lock is broken, so I want to buy a new one. It's convenient here because we don't have to go to a physical store. There's also a promotion going on here, so the prices are reasonable," said a resident.
Beyond selling new home appliances, the service station also provides a range of services such as appliance cleaning and home renovation, offering residents a convenient one-stop solution for household needs.
Resident Zhang Yue has booked an air conditioner cleaning service at the station. Her morning appointment ensures the cleaning will be completed in the afternoon.
"As it is about to get hot soon, I have decided to have the air conditioner in my kid's room cleaned first. The service is really thorough," Zhang said.
At the beginning of this year, Shanghai launched six major initiatives aimed at boosting consumption, with a particular emphasis on supporting the replacement of old home appliances and furniture.
Aligned with the expanded categories of home appliances eligible for government subsidies, the city has incorporated quality-of-life appliances such as garment care machines and floor washers into the extended-trade-in program. This initiative not only caters to consumers' diverse needs, but also stimulates sales growth for related products.
"Our sales of robotic vacuum cleaners, floor scrubbers, and vacuum cleaners collectively are expected to increase by around 300 percent," said Zhao Hongfu, manager of a home appliance store in Changning District, Shanghai.
As subsidy-eligible categories continue to expand, green smart home appliances featuring cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things have emerged as consumer favorites.
An example is the AI-powered smart washing machine at an appliance store in Huai'an City, east China's Jiangsu Province. Combining comprehensive functionality with competitive pricing, it has become one of the store's hottest products.
"This time, the trade-in program is particularly generous, saving me nearly over 1,000 yuan (around 136 U.S. dollars), which is quite cost-effective. The washing machine can also be controlled via a mobile phone, making it very convenient," said Zhang Erhong, a resident in Huai'an.
A wave of AI-powered smart home appliances has flooded the market, offering consumers more intelligent and premium products and services. Retailers have partnered with manufacturers to launch multiple subsidy programs, delivering tangible savings directly to consumers.
"In addition to the government subsidies, the store also provides bundle purchase incentives, offering a maximum subsidy of up to 2,000 yuan (around 273 U.S. dollars) per item. Recently, the store has experienced a notable surge in appliance sales, especially in smart home appliances, with a more pronounced growth in sales volume," said Liu Xiaoping, a saleswoman at the appliance store.
According to the latest data from the Ministry of Commerce, from the beginning of this year until Tuesday, consumers have purchased 35.709 million units of 12 major categories of home appliances through the trade-in program, driving sales of 124.74 billion yuan (around 19.6 billion U.S. dollars).
China's Shanghai, Jiangsu boost home appliance sales with trade-in program
China's Shanghai, Jiangsu boost home appliance sales with trade-in program
