{"id":9339,"date":"2025-04-21T14:59:52","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T14:59:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/2025b\/?p=9339"},"modified":"2025-04-26T16:31:47","modified_gmt":"2025-04-26T16:31:47","slug":"final_claw-machine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/2025b\/final_claw-machine\/","title":{"rendered":"Final_Claw Machine"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” module_id=”main-header” module_class=”et-fixed-header” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/2025b\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/WechatIMG3033.png” background_repeat=”repeat” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_fullwidth_menu menu_id=”271″ active_link_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_enable_image=”off” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_menu][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” module_id=”home” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_video_mp4=”https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/2025b\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/20250416_065728000_iOS-1.mov” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”From %22Can’t Grab%22 to %22Can’t Stop%22″ subhead=”The Business Behind Hong Kong\u2019s Claw Machine Craze” text_orientation=”center” header_fullscreen=”on” header_scroll_down=”on” scroll_down_icon=”%%4%%” background_overlay_color=”rgba(10,10,10,0.46)” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”60px” title_letter_spacing=”1px” subhead_font=”Roboto||||||||” subhead_text_align=”center” subhead_font_size=”30px” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_enable_image=”off” title_text_shadow_style=”preset3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”introduction” module_id=”introduction” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https:\/\/jmsc6110a.com\/2025b\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/WechatIMG2575.jpg” background_repeat=”repeat” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_image=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Roboto||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”18px” background_enable_color=”off” max_width=”70%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]T<\/span>he pandemic has been over for two years, yet the pain in Hong Kong\u2019s retail sector continues to linger. The total retail sales value for the first ten months of 2024 fell by 7.1% compared to the same period in 2023. However, the claw machine economic exploded.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”The Plunge in Rent Prices” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Corben||||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#ffffff” title_font_size=”36px” title_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ title_text_shadow_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.4)” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Roboto||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”18px” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”70%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

W<\/span>eak demand and a sluggish economy are directly reflected in the decline of rents. The commercial real estate market in Hong Kong has remained quiet for a long time. In the first quarter of 2024, there were 131 commercial property transactions, a sharp drop of 24% from the previous quarter. The total rental value during the same period was HKD 89 million, down 13% from the same period in 2023, and nearly 90% lower than the rental peak in 2015. This situation has actually created opportunities for more Hong Kong residents, especially young people, to open stores.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Countercurrent in the Wave of Closures” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Corben||||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#ffffff” title_font_size=”36px” title_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ title_text_shadow_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.4)” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Roboto||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”18px” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”70%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

W<\/span>hile many shops face a wave of closures, claw machine businesses have quietly and rapidly increased. This end-segment economy is characterized by low cost, low consumption, and low risk. Its surge often signals an overall economic downturn.<\/p>\n

According to data from the property agency Midland Realty, as of the end of March 2024, there were 29 claw machine shops in Hong Kong\u2019s most expensive shopping districts (Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay, and Mong Kok), a significant increase from 15 in 2022 and 9 in 2021. Even in malls without shops, single claw machines are often seen in corners.<\/p>\n

Many of these claw machine shops rent on short-term leases because landlords are unwilling to significantly reduce rents, and tenants generally cannot afford the risks and costs of long-term leases.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”The Shift in Consumer Spending” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Corben||||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#ffffff” title_font_size=”36px” title_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ title_text_shadow_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.4)” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Roboto||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”18px” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”70%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

O<\/span>n the consumer side, although mainland tourists continue to flock to Hong Kong for travel and shopping, the depreciation of the Renminbi and the economic downturn in mainland China have changed some mainland consumers\u2019 tendency for big spending. In their eyes, Hong Kong\u2019s \u201cconsumption attribute\u201d seems to be gradually losing out to its \u201cinvestment attribute.\u201d They are more inclined to convert their money into Hong Kong dollars, which are pegged to the US dollar, and deposit it into high-yield savings accounts or insurance products. Regarding travel-related spending, some have shifted from luxury goods to low-cost items such as claw machines, allowing this industry to grow counter-cyclically. The trend of Hong Kong residents traveling north reflects their pursuit of cheaper consumption and experiences, which also contributes to this phenomenon.<\/p>\n

Pan Chi-ming, Managing Director of Centaline Property Agency, bluntly stated: \u201c<\/span>The more claw machine shops there are, the more it reflects the worsening economic situation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ admin_label=”chart” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n