Self-service retail stations pop up in Wuxi

A self-service chiller cabinet and shelf loaded with snacks and drinks is available in the leisure area of an office building in Wuxi. [Photo / wxrb.com]

Self-service retail stations have been set up in various offices in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu province since August, allowing employees to grab and pay for snacks and drinks without needing to leave the office.

The stations have been set up by a start-up called Xing Bian Li. The company has installed more than 200 chiller cabinets and shelves for 150 companies in Wuxi in the past month .

Differing from the unmanned convenience stores or vending machines, which are usually placed in public places, these simple shelves packed with snacks and drinks are only found in private spaces such as office buildings, where they can help save workers the time and hassle of having to leave the office to buy refreshments.

The purchasing process is simple: Consumers scan the QR code attached to the retail station using the mobile payment apps Alipay or WeChat Pay, select the products they want, complete the payment, and then take the items.

The prices in the retail stations are generally lower than in most convenience stores.

The staff at Chuang Ke Bang, a maker space on Jianzhu Road in Wuxi, was among the first batch of people to try out the self-service station. Most of whom appreciate the new service for its convenience and ability to save space.