Lam: Pandemic spurs HK retailers to go digital

Roy Yip was among the first batch of salespeople selected for sales training. Before testing the waters in livestreaming commerce, Yip worked in Bonjour's physical stores for 13 years.

When the pandemic struck, Yip's monthly income fell no less than 50 percent and he grew worried that he would lose his job. "I'm glad I got the chance to explore a new career path," he told China Daily.

"It's a new start for me. I need to learn everything as a beginner, including how to interact with viewers and describe products more vividly in front of the camera," Yip said.

He spends at least three hours every workday preparing for the day's show. He needs to learn more about the items in the show and design special sessions to encourage viewers to engage with the livestreaming purchases.

"Livestreaming sales is a trend in the digital era. I believe the industry has great potential." Yip said.

Currently, revenue from ecommerce-related sales makes up 10 to 20 percent of Bonjour's total revenue. During a massive annual e-commerce sales event in mid-June involving leading mainland retailers, its revenue from e-commerce jumped to 40 to 50 percent of total revenue.