Setting up Home in Taiwan Part 2

You can find almost anything you need in Taiwan, from large furniture to small household items, through a mix of online platforms and dedicated home stores.

Taiwan Online Shopping Platforms

The two largest and most popular local e-commerce platforms in Taiwan are Shopee and PChome.

1. Shopee (蝦皮購物)

• Platform Focus: A massive marketplace known for its wide variety of products, competitive prices, and C2C (consumer-to-consumer) trading. It’s the go-to for everyday items, small appliances, and household accessories.
• Account Setup:
  1. Download the Shopee Taiwan App or visit the website. (The app is highly recommended).
  2. Click the Sign Up/Register button.
  3. The primary method requires a Taiwanese mobile phone number for verification. You can also register using your Facebook or Google account.
  4. You will receive a one-time password (OTP) via SMS to verify your number and complete the registration.

2. PChome 24h Shopping (PChome 線上購物)

• Platform Focus: The major Taiwanese B2C (business-to-consumer) retailer. It is renowned for its speedy delivery, often guaranteeing items will arrive within 24 hours in most parts of Taiwan (hence “24h”).
• Key Features: Strong on electronics, large appliances, branded goods, and daily necessities. It is a reliable option for higher-value or urgent purchases.
• Account Setup:
  1. Go to the PChome website and look for the “會員服務” (Member Services) or “立即加入會員” (Join Now) link.
  2. Fill in the registration form with your desired account name, password, and a contact email address (preferably one not associated with PChome for security/recovery).
  3. PChome will send a verification email to the contact address you provided.
  4. Click the link in the email to complete the verification and fully activate your account.

Dedicated Home & Furniture Stores

For large furniture and soft furnishings, these major retail chains are the most popular options.

1. IKEA (宜家)

• Focus: Scandinavian-style furniture, storage, and home accessories with a focus on affordability and easy assembly.
• Items: Offers the full range of IKEA products, including sofas, beds, bookshelves (like the BILLY), tables, complete kitchen systems, and an extensive selection of soft furnishings (rugs, curtains, cushions, bedding).

2. HOLA (和樂家居)

Focus: A local Taiwanese home goods store that offers mid-to-high-end home furnishing, decorative items, and kitchenware. It tends to focus on a slightly more curated and mature aesthetic than IKEA.

• Items: Strong on soft furnishings like high-quality bedding, pillows, and towels, as well as decorative accessories, lighting, dining ware, and home textile goods. They also carry a range of furniture, including upholstered chairs, sofas, and dining sets. Many stores offer specialized services like custom pillow selection or embroidery.
• Shopping: HOLA stores are found across Taiwan, often located within large shopping centers or near other home-related big-box stores. They also have a comprehensive online store.

3. POYA HOME (寶雅居家) 

• Focus: POYA is a massive Taiwanese chain, and POYA HOME is a dedicated extension focusing on very affordable daily household essentials and smaller decorative items. It’s more of a general goods and variety store than a dedicated furniture outlet.
• Items: You’ll find a massive selection of low-cost bedding (sheets, pillows), cleaning supplies, storage bins, bath accessories, basic kitchen tools, and personal care products. While they carry some small furniture like foldable tables or plastic shelving units, you will not find large items like sofas or beds here.
• Shopping: POYA stores are ubiquitous in Taiwan, making them convenient for quick, budget-friendly purchases of household necessities. The POYA online store also features their exclusive lines, such as POYA HOMEY (household) and POYA COZY (comfort/textiles).