A man walks past an exhibition platform of Chinese brand Xiaomi at an exhibition in Hanover, German, March 17, 2015. (Xinhua/Luo Huanhuan)
BEIJING, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Xiaomi's premium e-commerce platform Youpin has rolled out over 370 products via online crowdfunding within four years as Chinese consumers crave more engaging shopping experiences.
Over 2 million users have participated in these crowdfunding projects, most of which were homemade gadgets boasting stylish appearances and some high-tech functions, the company said in a statement.
The most popular crowd-funding product was a handy shaver, which attracted over 280,000 users who pre-paid the initial full price, often discounted compared with the price tag of its official launch. Other popular products included a wireless hand-held sweeper and a high-definition smart camera.
Household items, smart devices and home appliances were the top three categories in terms of payment volume, while users in Guangdong, Jiangsu and Beijing were most supportive for such practices.
Crowdfunding for products has become a trendy practice for many e-commerce platforms as it offers more interactive shopping experiences for consumers and serves as an effective pre-sales promotion.
