Skip to main content

Starbucks partners with WeChat in China to expand its presence through mobile gifting

It’s already on every street corner in major U.S. cities, and now it’s going to be just as ubiquitous in China. On Friday, it was revealed that Starbucks had established a Valentine’s Day partnership with Tencent, the company behind the popular messaging app WeChat. With this new collaboration, Chinese WeChat users will be able to gift a cup of joe via text. Because nothing says “I love you” like caffeine, right?

Gifting has long been a significant component of Chinese culture, and with the ease that comes with the digital age, this generosity has only increased. On New Year’s Eve, more than 14 billion “red wallets” were gifted among WeChat users. And speaking of WeChat users, there are now 768 million of them a month. Part of the popularity of the app lies in its multi-functionality — not only can you send messages via WeChat, but you can also buy things, hail taxis, pay your friends, and more. And now, that more includes giving Starbucks drinks.

Recommended Videos

Users who wish to gift a Starbucks product can select from a host of gifts found within the app, then add a personal touch with a message, image, or video. The recipient will receive the gift in his or her WeChat wallet, and can redeem it at any Starbucks in China.

This isn’t the first time Starbucks has partnered with a social network for a gifting promotion — previously, the coffee chain worked with Twitter and Facebook to help spread the love. But as Ad Age points out, this WeChat partnership is a bit different in that the app is already well known for its payment processing abilities. That said, Starbucks is actually the first retail brand to offer a gift through WeChat. And it’ll certainly help with the company’s growth goals in the nation.

Within the next five years, Starbucks hopes to double the number of locations in the nation, reaching a total of 5,000 stores. And with a WeChat partnership, it may be on its way there.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Hidden US carriers perks you might not have known about
T-Mobile on iPhone.

In the competitive landscape of US mobile carriers, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and others constantly vie for your attention with flashy deals on the latest smartphones and promises of expansive coverage. However, beyond the headline offerings lie a treasure trove of often-overlooked perks and benefits that can significantly enhance your mobile experience and even save you money. These perks are constantly changing; visiting carrier websites for the most current information on available perks is wise.

Let's delve into some of these hidden gems (at the time of this writing) you might not have known about from the big three and a few others.

Read more
I tested the Huawei Watch 5, here’s why every watch needs Health Glance
60-second health check in progress on the Huawei Watch 5

Huawei has just unveiled the new Huawei Watch 5 at an event in Berlin alongside a plethora of smartwatches and other audio products designed to bring access to a wide variety of health features to a range of users. 

The new Huawei Watch 5 has several impressive features, including the next generation of Health Glance, which checks nine health metrics in just one minute. The Huawei Watch 5 isn’t the first Huawei watch to have this feature, but an upgraded X-Tap sensor and a few additional metrics make it the most comprehensive implementation of this feature yet. 

Read more
Apple Music just made the move from Spotify easier than ever
An iPhone 15 Pro Max on a wooden table displaying streaming apps Amazon Music, Qobuz, Apple Music, Tidal, Sonos, and Spotify.

Apple is beginning to roll out a new tool that makes it easier to shift from Spotify to Apple Music.

In fact this new addition allows people to shift from any streaming service over to Apple Music with more ease.

Read more