As its name implies, the Friendship Store originally developed as a means to foster relationships with foreign visitors. It is no coincidence that the store chain opened at the same time communist China opened itself to the outside world. Offering a myriad of authentic Chinese goods, from art to silk to antiques, the Friendship Stores provided one-stop souvenir shopping – only accepting foreign exchange currencies. The original intent of the stores was to welcome foreigners while also encouraging the spread of Chinese culture as shoppers shared their souvenirs with loved ones around the world.

In its beginning in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the state-owned chain catered exclusively to diplomats, visiting business people and tourists alike. In the mid-1990s as the chain continued to grow and develop into large department stores, the Friendship Store opened its doors to Chinese citizens. Today, this chain embodies the Chinese spirit of innovation through its offerings of the latest in day-to-day products while also honors the country’s heritage through the sale of more traditional items. As the official retail provider of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the Friendship Store’s camaraderie with the world will only continue to grow.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 16th, 2008 at 4:20 pm and is filed under China. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.