Retailers are looking for ways to enhance the shopping experience and attract more of the approximately 3 million Chinese tourists who visit the U.S. each year.
To help retailers around the world support these traveling consumers who spent a total of $33 billion in 2016 just in the U.S., Verifone (NYSE: PAY) and Alipay announced today that they have expanded their global partnership to enable select Lacoste U.S. stores to accept Alipay.
As Alipay’s exclusive partner for Lacoste, the French, sport-inspired lifestyle brand, Verifone facilitates Alipay’s QR code payments on the Verifone e355 mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) solution. Designed to accept alternative payments like Alipay and other digital payment methods, Verifone offers a rich and interactive mobile pay solution that gives retail personnel the freedom to help and check out customers from anywhere in the store.
“We take pride in appealing to international customers and continue to use innovative technology to improve the customer experience in our boutiques,” said Joëlle Grünberg, President and CEO of LACOSTE North and Central America. “With Verifone, we now offer Chinese customers the comfort of being able to use a familiar payment method in our U.S. stores.”
"Chinese travelers love brands like Lacoste and we are thrilled to partner with Verifone to simplify their checkout experience at select Lacoste stores nationwide,” said Souheil Badran, President, Alipay Americas. "Through Alipay, Lacoste stores will reduce payment and language barriers these travelers encounter at the register and ensure they have the most positive in-store experience during their visit.”
“Verifone is committed to helping retailers accommodate international shoppers with secure and familiar checkout experiences,” said Richard Char, SVP, Global Business and Corporate Development, Verifone. “Lacoste is a premium brand popular with Chinese shoppers and we aim to further bolster Lacoste’s global appeal, reputation, and growth by enabling acceptance of alternative payments like Alipay.”
Verifone and Alipay began partnering in 2016 to enable merchants in Europe and North America with Alipay acceptance in stores, driving brand visibility, traffic and sales through its in-app marketing tool. With Verifone’s mobile point-of-sale, retailers can accept Alipay in stores and implement marketing campaigns targeting Chinese consumers who use the Alipay app.