This year Alibaba broke all records on Singles Day with sales of $14.3 billion. Singles Day, or China’s Black Friday, was first invented by Alibaba in 2009. The idea was to create an annual sales event with crazy discounts supposedly for those who are single. (The fact that everyone, irrespective of their romantic status, jumped in and shopped is a different matter altogether.) This year a whopping 95 million users joined the cyber shopping fest. In other words, approximately almost one out of eight people in the world clicked the “buy” button on Alibaba’s marketplaces. What did it take to pull this off?
China Data: Online Gaming Revenues Surge
From stats on online gaming revenues to tier-one home sales, the China data you need to know. Anyone travelling by subway in China will notice one thing: nearly everyone is busy with their smartphone. For some it is social media and for others it is games. It’s no wonder then that online gaming is soaring in popularity. […]
Taobao and Tmall are Built as “Mono-Category Worlds”
Miko Wormuth, CEO of TWICE Fashion Accessories, on what it takes to build a business from scratch in China and the challenges of operating on e-commerce platforms like Taobao and Tmall.
Making Sense of the Chinese Consumer Revolution
Michael Zakkour, co-author of China’s Super Consumers, on what makes the Chinese consumer tick, brand loyalty, targeting and lessons from local brands.
“Go to China”: Jack Ma to American Small Businesses
During his whistle-stop trip to the US, Alibaba founder and Executive Chairman Jack Ma is busy courting small businesses
Ghost Malls in China: Where Have all the Shoppers Gone?
With the rise of e-commerce and more discerning consumers, the recent growth of malls in China risks becoming redundant.
China’s Robam Bets Big on the Smart Appliances Market
Zhao Jihong, President of the Hangzhou-based high-end kitchen appliance maker Robam, believes that the future belongs to smart appliances.
Alibaba Results Surprise Wall Street
By posting a 45% jump in revenues, the Alibaba results have defied expectations. A quick look at the big numbers.
An All-Click-No-Mortar Approach to China’s Fast Fashion Market
Chinese fast fashion brand Handuyishe is beating well-established rivals by focusing exclusively on e-commerce. Why is that a good strategy?
China Roundup: Chinese Economy Data Dampens Spirits
This week, new data on the Chinese economy painted a bleak picture; the Shanghai Composite Index surged (again); and a Chinese company bought Segway.
