Three Squirrels(SZ:300783) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-05-30 00:50Core Viewpoint - The e-commerce landscape is shifting as many merchants are closing their online stores and opting for physical retail locations, indicating a potential resurgence of the offline retail sector [1][2][3]. E-commerce Sales Trends - During the 2024 618 shopping festival, total online sales reached 742.8 billion yuan, marking a 7% decline compared to the previous year, which is the first drop in sales performance in a decade [2]. Shift to Offline Retail - Various brands, including popular influencers and small businesses, are increasingly investing in offline stores. For instance, Three Squirrels, facing declining sales, reported a 90.83% year-on-year increase in revenue to 3.646 billion yuan by Q3 2024 after expanding into a multi-channel strategy [4]. Consumer Behavior Changes - Many small business owners are finding success in offline retail, with some reporting improved work-life balance and increased sales after transitioning from online to physical stores [9]. Market Competition Dynamics - The competition in the e-commerce space has intensified, leading to a decline in consumer purchasing motivation due to market saturation with similar products. This has prompted brands to explore offline channels to attract consumers [11][13]. Cost and Profitability Challenges - The cost of attracting online customers has risen significantly, with some merchants noting that it now costs over 100 yuan to acquire a customer, making profitability challenging [13]. Trust and Experience in Retail - The decline in online trust and the rising importance of customer experience are driving consumers back to physical stores, where they can engage directly with products and services [17][18]. New Retail Models - The integration of online and offline sales channels is emerging as a new retail model, allowing for better inventory management and enhanced customer trust through direct interaction with products [23]. Economic Recovery and Consumer Engagement - The recovery of the physical economy relies on managing rental costs and fostering a "trust economy" that emphasizes customer experience and engagement [27].