Chalhoub Group announces disruptive business model with b8ta

Middle Eastern luxury retailer Chalhoub Group has announced its partnership with b8ta, retail-as-a-service company with a chain of retail stores which serve as presentation centres for consumer electronics and other innovative products.

Founded in 2015, the first b8ta store opened in Palo Alto. The concept currently operates 16 flagship locations in some of the best shopping destinations across the US and is now taking its stores worldwide, starting with Dubai. The first b8ta store in the region will open in The Dubai Mall by the end of the year and b8ta will expand its presence in the near future by opening doors in other countries in the Middle East.

b8ta’s mission is to make retail accessible for all by building a new type of retail store. The business model, called retail-as-a-service, lets brands market, manage and measure offline experiences. Within the stores, brands can launch their products, learn from their customers and build a world-class retail experience.

Set in a premium location in The Dubai Mall with a mix of innovative products on display, the b8ta store will do more than just attract savvy shoppers: it will encourage discovery, demos and brand advocacy.

“We are proud to partner with b8ta and be part of a new disruptive business model in retail. We want to embrace this opportunity and be the voice of niche, indie, trendy and upcoming brands,” said Patrick Chalhoub, CEO of Chalhoub Group.

“b8ta is excited to announce its first international location in Dubai later this year. Global expansion is a large feat; having a world class partner in Chalhoub has made our ability to bring b8ta’s retail-as-a-service model to the region a tremendous experience. We look forward to sharing b8ta with the millions of customers that visit the Dubai Mall every year,” added b8ta’s president, Phillip Raub.