Valentino offers customers worldwide digital payment options through Alipay+.
The Italian luxury fashion house is integrating the payment solutions of the company belonging to the Chinese technology group Ant Group, Alipay+ announced on Monday. Customers from all over the world are now able to pay with their domestic e-wallets.
In Europe, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macao and Australia, 37 Valentino stores are said to offer the payment method. After customers become aware of the brand’s products through an online campaign, they do not have to resort to purchasing in the web shop, but can visit selected brand stores while traveling.
There, uniform and uncomplicated payment is offered using your own e-wallet in which credit or personal payment sources are stored. Alipay+ thus connects merchants and banks globally using their financial technology. Worries about currency exchange and accepted means of payment are eliminated. Additional functions and access to promotions and direct contact with the brand should make using the payment method even more attractive.
Focus on Asian tourists
Valentino justifies the introduction of the digital payment method with the aim of appealing to customers from all over the world, with a particular focus on Asian tourists. For these, Alipay+ has noticed a strong shift in spending towards luxury goods, well ahead of food and accommodation.
“We work hard to consistently provide our partners with seamless and efficient solutions to help them better achieve their business goals and reach Asian customers,” said Luigi J. Liu, Head of Partnerships and Marketing, South Europe at Alipay+. “The potential of digital technologies will only be realized through the curiosity and demand of the large number of consumers reached by Alipay solutions.”
Valentino is not the first brand to use integrated payment solutions. He also has it in Germany Department store group Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof already introduced in August as a benefit for traveling customers, also with an eye on the Asian region.