A customer tries on a pair of shoes at a State-owned factory outlet which was set up in early 1950s in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, March 20, 2014. Such outlets are commonly seen in China before 1990s but are rare today. [Photo/IC]

1980s: Factory outlets and small shops

In the 1980s, it was difficult for ordinary Chinese to purchase household appliances, such as television sets, sewing machines and bicycles, items considered rare and luxury family property at that time. People had to travel a long distance to even buy a TV set.

Chinese consumers no longer treat small electronic goods such as tape recorders as expensive family property.