(Yicai Global) May 15 -- Chinese mobile phone manufacturer Smartisan Digital Co. signed a cooperation agreement with Beijing Digital Telecom Co. to expand sales by developing offline channels, business news site Tencent Yixian reported today.

Luo Yonghao, Smartisan's founder and chief executive officer, visited some of Beijing Digital Telecom's New Retail brand stores called Yingmijia before signing an agreement with the company president, Jin Xin, said the report. Under the deal, Smartisan's products will be available to consumers at 100 Yingmijia stores in China's first- and second-tier cities starting from next month.

Yingmijia is a New Retail brand introduced by Beijing Digital last year. It features fashionable technology products such as mobile phones, unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, and panoramic cameras, among others, and adopts new technologies including face recognition, cashier-free check-out, and smart goods shelving systems.

Founded in 2012, Smartisan mainly sells digital products including smartphones through online channels. The company plans to incorporate offline channels as an important part of its business expansion this year. "Smartisan's brand reputation in offline markets needs improving," said Luo last month. "In addition to introducing offline stores, we also plan to invite celebrities to endorse our products, starting from the second half of this year," he added.

Smartisan's offline stores will adopt three models: flagship stores, which will be built and operated by the company, authorized exclusive stores that will operate under franchises, and authorized experience zones, which will be set up in high-end distributor stores, said an insider.

Editor: Mevlut Katik