http://www.mytiger.com Top Chinese sports brand Li-Ning is making a second pass at the U.S. market and for now their strategy is branded e-commerce. "The biggest brand you've never heard of ... now available here," proclaims the greeting on a bold red background on www.Li-Ning.com, which officially launches Monday. The company's first English-language consumer website has already picked up some popular U.S. e-commerce tactics, like free holiday shipping and a Facebook page. The company's founder, former Chinese Olympic gymnast Li Ning, has ambitious plans to challenge rivals like Nike on their home turf with his namesake brand. http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/china-s-li-ning-takes-nike-u-s-e-commerce-site/231642/ http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/china-s-li-ning-takes-nike-u-s-e-commerce-site/231642/ Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:35:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Advertising Age China's first e-commerce service report, released at the first China E-business Service Conference on Dec. 15 in Shanghai, said the market size of China's e-business is taking a leap. According to the report, by the end of 2011, the number of China's e-business service companies will break 150,000, and the whole e-business service industry will take in a combined annual income of 120 billion yuan. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90778/7679454.html http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90778/7679454.html Fri, 16 Dec 2011 07:34:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments People's Daily Online Hamburg-based market research firm yStats.com presents all important Chinese B2C E-Commerce facts and figures in its latest “China B2C E-Commerce Report 2011”. In addition to the major players, revenue figures and market shares, the report also covers general online use, customer preferences and the latest trends. The number of internet users in China is predicted to grow from previously approximately 400 million to more than 600 million by 2015. Chinese shoppers are very enthusiastic about online shopping. As a result, the number of online shoppers is expected to increase to more than 300 million by 2015. Convenience and good deals are most frequently cited as the advantages of online shopping. http://www.ystats.com/en/press/release.php?id=91 http://www.ystats.com/en/press/release.php?id=91 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:28:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments yStats.com Overseas retailers breaking into China are likely to invest more in internet shopping platforms rather than physical stores as consumers in the world's fastest-growing retail market increasingly spend online. Sales from online shopping in China are expected to nearly double annually in the years ahead, according to the latest global retail market outlook from auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. While retail sales in the Asia-Pacific are expected to grow at an average 6 per cent annually to US$6.6 trillion this year and US$10.5 trillion in 2015, online shopping turnover in Asia will grow by an average of 20 per cent a year in the coming years. China is leading the growth, with its online retail sales nearly doubling to US$77.8 billion last year. http://topics.scmp.com/news/china-business-watch/article/The-Great-e-Mall-of-China http://topics.scmp.com/news/china-business-watch/article/The-Great-e-Mall-of-China Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:44:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments South China Morning Post Chinese Internet company Tencent will soon launch its Internet shopping platform Buy.qq.com, which plans to introduce an overseas B2C service in 2012. A representative from the company's e-commerce department said they are contacting leading B2C websites in Japan and America, and these websites may join Tencent's platform in the middle of 2012. Meanwhile, Tencent pointed out that three top B2C websites in China have agreed to enter its new shopping platform within two months; however, the names of these websites have not been released. The Internet giant said many Chinese B2C websites had expressed their intention to join the platform during the trial operation period of Buy.qq.com, covering traditional commodities, books, luxury goods, tea, and alcohol sectors. Tencent will apparently maintain an open attitude to welcome any partner that can meet its high service standards. http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/12/13/15889-chinas-tencent-to-introduce-overseas-b2c-services-in-2012 http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/12/13/15889-chinas-tencent-to-introduce-overseas-b2c-services-in-2012 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:22:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments ChinaTechNews.com China’s homegrown fashion designers are getting a shot at making a bigger name for themselves in their own market, one of the world’s fastest-growing. Yoox Group, an online Italian luxury retail company, has tapped five Chinese designers - Uma Wang, Christine Lau, Riko Manchit Au, Shangguan Jie, and Zou You — to temporarily sell their collections on its niche-designer site, thecorner.com.cn. Around 18 pieces of their women’s lines will be available until spring 2012, selling at luxury-targeted prices of 1,000 to 6,000 yuan (about $150 to $950). The clothiers, vetted by editors at Vogue China, have already started to gain attention amid fashion followers in China. Their spotlight on the Web comes as Chinese consumers are increasingly buying clothing, bags, home furnishings and other products online. http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2011/12/12/yoox-samples-chinese-labels-online/ http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2011/12/12/yoox-samples-chinese-labels-online/ Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:21:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Wall Street Journal Acquity Group LLC, a leading global brand eCommerce and digital marketing company, announced today the results of its new market research study that examined the attitudes and behaviors of Chinese online shoppers. The Chinese Online Shopping study found that across a wide range of product categories, almost every online category experienced double-digit increases in annual spending over the past year. Indeed, 45% of Chinese online shoppers indicated that they make an online purchase once a week or more; 44% buy something online between 1-3 times every month. http://www.acquitygroup.com/News-And-Ideas/News/Acquity-Group-Study-Reveals-45--of-Chinese-Shopper http://www.acquitygroup.com/News-And-Ideas/News/Acquity-Group-Study-Reveals-45--of-Chinese-Shopper Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:43:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Acquity Group Two Chinese appliance and electronics retailers, regarded by some as the country's answers to Best Buy Co Inc, are racing to beef up their e-commerce arms and tap the booming but highly competitive online retail market. Although relative latecomers to the game, analysts say the moves by Suning Appliance Co Ltd and GOME Electrical Appliances Holdings Ltd are still timely. The companies can capitalise on e-commerce to broaden their customer bases at a time when appliance demand has been damped by a slowdown in China's housing market, they said. http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2011/12/08/chinas-best-buys-scramble-to-tap-e-commerce-boom/ http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2011/12/08/chinas-best-buys-scramble-to-tap-e-commerce-boom/ Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:36:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Fox Business Baidu, China's undisputed search leader, has increased its dominance since Google more or less pulled out of China. Baidu wants to leverage that power by moving beyond search but faces stiff competition from fast-growing local players. The Beijing-based company has established a range of vertical channels. They include an e-book seller (Fanshu.com), travel-booking service (Qunar.com), e-commerce site (Yougou.com, 360buy.com, tg.com.cn, yaodian100.com), an online community (jingtime.com) and a housing information portal (anjuke.com). It also struck a deal this year with Dell to develop tablets and smartphones running on the Baidu Yi mobile operating system. http://adage.com/article/global-news/baidu-moves-search-china-faces-local-rivals/231444 http://adage.com/article/global-news/baidu-moves-search-china-faces-local-rivals/231444 Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:35:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Advertising Age The Chinese e-commerce site Dangdang is set to follow in the footsteps of Amazon and its Kindle when it launches it own e-book platform later this month. This was confirmed by Dangdang’s VP, Yi Wen-fei, who said that there are already 50,000 digital books ready to be bought and downloaded on launch day, from over 100 different publishers. Dangdang’s digital books can be read on its own apps for iOS and Android, which are believed to be launching soon, and on its own-brand e-reader which should appear in the first quarter of 2012. http://paidcontent.org/article/419-chinas-dangdang-does-an-amazon-with-e-books-apps-e-reader/ http://paidcontent.org/article/419-chinas-dangdang-does-an-amazon-with-e-books-apps-e-reader/ Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:36:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments paidContent.org China Unicom Steps Up E-Commerce SalesChina Unicom Ltd plans to sell more products online by teaming up with the nation's leading e-commerce service providers, a person familiar with matter said. China Unicom generated ¥12.4 billion in revenues from e-commerce channels last year and expects the figure to climb to ¥20 billion this year. http://www.thechinaperspective.com/articles/chinacorporaten-8981/ http://www.thechinaperspective.com/articles/chinacorporaten-8981/ Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:19:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments The China Perspective Apparel retailer Gap announced the opening of its first flagship store in Hong Kong, which is also its ninth store in Greater China. Located in the Central district of Hong Kong, the new Gap flagship store has four floors and covers an area of over 15,000 square feet. With white marble and Chinese oak flooring, it creates a comfortable shopping environment for customers. Gap's full line of products are available in this new flagship store. Yang Deming, president for Gap Greater China, said that the opening of the new store in Hong Kong marks an important step for Gap's continuous pursuit, which is to bring the modern American style into China. Based on the sales results they achieved in the e-commerce sector last year, they believe Gap's cost-effective, high quality, and unique American fashion style will gain a large market in Hong Kong. http://www.chinaretailnews.com/2011/12/07/5287-gap-opens-flagship-store-in-hong-kong/ http://www.chinaretailnews.com/2011/12/07/5287-gap-opens-flagship-store-in-hong-kong/ Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:33:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments ChinaRetailNews.com When China entered the World Trade Organization (WTO) at the end of 2001, its Internet population was a little more than 50 million. Ten years on, that number has grown tenfold. China recently surpassed half a billion online users, twice the number in the United States. In 2001, Silicon Valley-based Internet companies paid little heed to China as they battled for their very survival amidst the trauma of the dotcom bust. Despite the IPOs of three portals in 2000 - Sina Corp, Netease.com Inc and Sohu.com Inc - China itself remained an insignificant market in terms of advertising or e-commerce, a fact reflected at the time in those companies' depressed share prices. Back then, Western companies remained mostly focused on China's infrastructure and telecommunications boom, as hopes ran high that the WTO would finally deliver the market access that global telecommunications carriers had sought for so long. But those hopes have since been dashed as well-capitalized State-owned telecommunication companies such as China Mobile Ltd ultimately saw little need to partner with Western suitors in any meaningful sense and ultimately became so large as to be beyond their reach. Technological innovations over the past decade have driven the Internet forward at a pace few could have imagined, generating massive opportunities for international institutional investors in China's booming online content and e-commerce sectors. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-12/07/content_14223299.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-12/07/content_14223299.htm Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:19:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Daily Wearing a red T-shirt and blue jeans, Li Guoqing hardly looks like a busy, successful Internet entrepreneur. Ensconced in a soft leather chair and looking much younger than his 47 years, Li - the co-founder and CEO of E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc, an Amazon.com-like website that was listed on the Nasdaq last year - said he never imagined that his venture would be so successful. "I have to look young and fashionable as we aim to provide affordable fashion," he said. Dangdang, like many of its rivals, has made a name for itself online with low prices and quality goods. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-12/07/content_14223257.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-12/07/content_14223257.htm Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:44:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Daily When Pony Ma, who runs one of the largest Internet companies in the world, speaks of his early days as an entrepreneur, he is very candid. "People around me, including my parents, never imagined that I would start and manage a company, because I did not look like an entrepreneur," he said. He has managed to elevate Tencent Holdings Ltd, a company he co-founded with his university classmate Zhang Zhidong in 1998, to a position alongside the likes of the Internet giants Google Inc and Amazon.com Inc. Ma is a part of the increasing number of Chinese Internet entrepreneurs who, though they started from scratch and had no clear notion of which direction they would eventually go in, have tasted success beyond their expectations. If there is one guiding idea that has helped Chinese Internet companies rise from obscurity to international fame, it is "micro innovation", or the pursuit of small and continuous improvements in the midst of doing business. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-12/07/content_14223263.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-12/07/content_14223263.htm Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:17:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Daily For innovations in e-commerce, look to China, where clothing retailer Vancl is turning consumers' love of fashion and photography into a word-of-mouth marketing tool. Vancl, known for cheap-chic duds, offers products that are less fashion-forward than those at H&M and Uniqlo. But its prices are a big draw for Vancl's following of young urbanites. And it's China's largest apparel retailer, according to iResearch. This year, the 4-year-old company launched Vancl Star, a photo blog-social networking site on which users post pictures of themselves in Vancl looks. Those with the most fans become Stars. Visitors can buy featured items by clicking on the photos; Vancl handles the sale and shipping. Account holders get a 10% commission, with some Stars reportedly earning thousands of dollars. http://adage.com/article/special-report-hottest-global-brands/hottest-global-brands-vancl/231292/ http://adage.com/article/special-report-hottest-global-brands/hottest-global-brands-vancl/231292/ Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:36:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Advertising Age Online retailing giant Amazon.com Inc. has ample expansion opportunities in China, which posseses an e-commerce market growing at a double-digit percentage rate. The company’s expansion into China started with the 2004 acquisition of Joyo.com, the country’s largest online retailer of books, music and videos, for $75 million. China, one of the world’s fastest growing economies, is replete with resources and is on course to becoming a central player in the global e-commerce industry. The low-cost, widely available telecommunication infrastructure in China has made the Internet a very handy tool for online shopping. http://www.dailymarkets.com/stock/2011/12/05/amazon-sees-prospects-in-china/ http://www.dailymarkets.com/stock/2011/12/05/amazon-sees-prospects-in-china/ Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:15:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Daily Markets China Vanke launched an online sales campaign "Vanke V Purchase" on real estate portal, eju.com, aiming to sell one billion yuan worth of homes over the Internet, reports yicai.com. The largest property developer in China rolled out one billion yuan worth of developments in 14 southern Chinese cities, including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Fuzhou and Changsha, for sale on eju.com. It was reported that China Vanke is in the process of setting up its own e-commerce framework for home transactions. Vanke had cooperated with China's largest e-commerce site, Taobao.com, in September on group home purchases. The cooperation resulted in sales of 53 units within three hours, with total transaction value of 35 million yuan. http://www.capitalvue.com/home/CE-news/inset/@10063/post/4639593 http://www.capitalvue.com/home/CE-news/inset/@10063/post/4639593 Mon, 05 Dec 2011 04:46:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments CapitalVue Growing numbers of Chinese merchants are struggling to collect their money from daily deals websites as some of the smaller companies in the fiercely competitive sector are collapsing. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0bf5ddb6-1cde-11e1-8daf-00144feabdc0.html http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0bf5ddb6-1cde-11e1-8daf-00144feabdc0.html Mon, 05 Dec 2011 02:03:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Financial Times A new report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) claims that China could become the world’s most valuable e-commerce market within four years. BCG claim that for the foreseeable future another 30 million Chinese people will go online to shop for the first time and by 2015 they will each be spending $1,000 a year—about what Americans spend online now. BCG has also calculated that e-commerce could rise from 3.3% of China’s retail sales today to 7.4% by 2015. This is not just because the government subsidised high speed internet aids online shopping, but also because China’s has an expensive, inefficient ‘bricks-and-mortar‘ retail ecosystem and so a quarter of Chinese shoppers seek products online because they are not physically available in-store. The rise in value of e-commerce in China could also impact the social commerce market as Chinese e-shoppers are big users of social media. http://www.business2community.com/marketing/china-the-most-valuable-social-commerce-market-in-the-world-097933 http://www.business2community.com/marketing/china-the-most-valuable-social-commerce-market-in-the-world-097933 Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:02:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Business 2 Community Sitoa Global Inc., is an e-commerce facilitator that engages in the development, integration and hosting of B2C (business-to-consumer) social e-commerce sites. Sitoa formed Sonsi.com with Charming Shoppes, Inc. which brings together a customer base of plus sized women in an effort to create a social network combined with a focused on-line storefront. The firm has expanded into China and Southeast Asia and changed the business model for B2C in the area. Where in the past foreign companies would have to commit container loads of product in order to sell to the area, now they can put their products on-line and take some of the risk out of the business model. We view Sitoa as a high risk/ high reward speculative stock. The characteristics of the payoff investors receive could look similar to that of a call option. Our rating for this stock is Neutral. http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/66437/Sitoa+Global+Eyes+E-Commerce+Growth+Worldwide http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/66437/Sitoa+Global+Eyes+E-Commerce+Growth+Worldwide Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:57:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Zacks Chinese technology companies that raised $7.8 billion from Wall Street investors in initial public offerings during the past 12 years have at least one good reason to delist in New York and take their business to Hong Kong. Valuations appear to be significantly higher in Hong Kong. Perfect World Co., China’s fourth-biggest online games operator, trades at 3.9 times its estimated earnings in New York, while smaller rival NetDragon Websoft Inc. is valued at 13 times in Hong Kong. Such disparities may push some technology companies to consider moving back east, said Victoria Mio, a senior portfolio manager at Robeco Group in Hong Kong. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12-07/chinese-companies-tired-of-wall-street-shift-to-hong-kong-tech.html http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12-07/chinese-companies-tired-of-wall-street-shift-to-hong-kong-tech.html Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:11:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment BusinessWeek Youa.com, the lifestyle information platform owned by Chinese search engine Baidu, has gained joint investments from the venture capital organization IDG-Accel and Qiming Venture Partners, and it will now officially start independent operations. Youa.com, which was formerly a business department of Baidu, will reportedly be separated from its parent company and it has already completed the registration as a new company. With the arrival of initial capital, the new company can start independent operation immediately. http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/12/06/15873-internet-lifestyle-portal-spins-from-chinas-search-engine-behemoth http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/12/06/15873-internet-lifestyle-portal-spins-from-chinas-search-engine-behemoth Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:15:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment ChinaTechNews.com You probably haven’t heard of Vancl, unless you follow the Chinese internet space closely. However, a clothing e-tailer called Vancl is an interesting bellwether for the space. Vancl is – in some ways – trying to be the Gap (GPS) of China – except with no stores, just online only. To grow their brand – like a lot of Chinese e-commerce players like Lashou, Jaiyun (DATE), and Dangdang (DANG) – Vancl is spending a bunch of their revenue coming in each month on marketing their site and for the back-end distribution to deliver their goods. They’re also living in the shadow of their e-commerce big brother: Jack Ma‘s Taobao and T-mall. http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericjackson/2011/12/05/burn-baby-burn-vancl-raises-230mm-6th-round/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericjackson/2011/12/05/burn-baby-burn-vancl-raises-230mm-6th-round/ Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:16:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Forbes Chinese internet company Baidu's B2C and C2C e-commerce platform YouA announced Wednesday that it has registered as an independent company and received eight-figure USD funding from IDG-Accel and Qiming Venture Partners. An executive team has already been selected for the new company and includes Cai Hu, general manager of Baidu's e-commerce division, who will serve as CEO. A core operations team is still being assembled. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-30/article/51793/baidu_youa_spins_off_receives_eight_figure_usd_funding http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-30/article/51793/baidu_youa_spins_off_receives_eight_figure_usd_funding Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:38:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Marbridge Consulting Alipay, China's leading third-party online payment platform and a subsidiary of the Alibaba Group, has spinned off its reward points service as a wholly-owned subsidiary to tap the country's booming e-commerce market. Jifen Bao, the relaunched reward points platform, will be based in the eastern city of Nanjing, Jiangsu province, with an initial capital of 10 million yuan (1.57 million U.S. dollars). The service enables clients to redeem points to make small purchases on Alibaba's e-commerce subsidiaries, such as Taobao, and to pay utility bills, company officials said Tuesday. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90778/7682755.html http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90778/7682755.html Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:32:00 GMT TaoBao in the News People's Daily Online Taobao.com, China's largest online trade platform, has accused those protesting the platform of being illegal merchandisers that had been punished by the platform, a spokesman for the platform said at a press conference on Monday afternoon in east China's Zhejiang province. The online and offline attacks were triggered after the platform announced that it would quintuple its service fees starting in October. The protests began with small sellers attacking big sellers. The protests escalated when 200 sellers protested at the Taobao.com headquarters in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang. Later, some sellers gathered in Hong Hong and set up a mourning hall for Taobao.com on Dec. 16. http://english.cri.cn/6826/2011/12/20/2743s672327.htm http://english.cri.cn/6826/2011/12/20/2743s672327.htm Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:59:00 GMT TaoBao in the News CRIENGLISH.com Online payment platform and Alibaba Group subsidiary Alipay has announced that it has relaunched its "Jifen Bao" (jf.alipay.com) reward points system as an independent platform. The new company will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alipay and, starting off with RMB 10 mln in registered capital, be based in Nanjing's Software Valley. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-12-19/article/52304/alipay_spins_off_reward_points_platform http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-12-19/article/52304/alipay_spins_off_reward_points_platform Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:18:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Marbridge Consulting Yuan Leiming, general manager of third-party payment processor Alipay's business division, has revealed in a speech at the 2011 China Internet Economic Forum in Beijing that Alipay's Quick Pay online payment-by-credit-card service aims to have 100 mln users within two years, to establish cooperation with over 200 banks, and to help the e-commerce market increase its transaction volume by 30%. Yuan stated that Alipay is pushing its Quick Pay service for two major reasons. The first reason is that increased mobile internet use will require a cross-platform, cross-browser, and cross-terminal payment solution http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-12-19/article/52315/alipay_quick_pay_targets_100_mln_users_in_two_years http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-12-19/article/52315/alipay_quick_pay_targets_100_mln_users_in_two_years Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:59:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Marbridge Consulting China's largest business-to-consumer (B2C) platform, Tmall (tmall.com), has recruited volunteer buyers to help with its campaign to eliminate fake products sold by users of the website. The volunteers, up to several hundred in number, will purchase goods that are the subject of frequent complaints and refunds, and deliver the entire package to Tmall or a third party for inspection. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2011-12/19/content_14286930.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2011-12/19/content_14286930.htm Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:44:00 GMT TaoBao in the News China Daily Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is considering a loan from a group of banks comprising Credit Suisse Group AG, DBS Bank Ltd., Deutsche Bank AG and Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd., according to three people familiar with the matter. The decision on the final group of banks hasn’t been made, said the people, asking not to be identified because the details are private. Alibaba and Softbank Corp. are considering acquisition options related to Yahoo! Inc., the largest U.S. internet portal, three other people familiar with the matter said on Dec. 1. Yahoo owns about 40 percent of Alibaba, the top e-commerce site in China, and 35 percent of Yahoo Japan. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-15/alibaba-group-is-said-to-consider-loan-from-banks-including-credit-suisse.html http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-15/alibaba-group-is-said-to-consider-loan-from-banks-including-credit-suisse.html Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:47:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Bloomberg The explosive growth of China's online shopping market is attracting more and more international brands. Benefit, LVMH Moet Hennessy (LVMH)'s well-known cosmetics brand, has officially opened a flagship store on Taobao Mall to attract China's young cosmetics consumer group by using online sales. Analysts believe that Benefit, the fourth largest global sales make-up product, should target young Chinese people as its main consumer group. In addition, online shopping has no geographical limit, which can help international brands to quickly cover second and third line cities in China. L'Oreal, Olay, Neutrogena, Davidoff and other international cosmetics brands have already opened stores on Taobao Mall to test the market. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90778/7677776.html http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90778/7677776.html Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:25:00 GMT TaoBao in the News People's Daily Online Yahoo said in a regulatory filing Wednesday it has cleared necessary hurdles -- including Chinese regulatory approval -- for its deal resolving its right to proceeds from a possible sale or offering of shares in online payments service Alipay. Among the requirements for closure of the deal was regulatory approval from the People's Republic of China. Alipay was carved out of Yahoo partner Alibaba Group when its ownership was transferred to an entity owned by Alibaba Chief Executive Jack Ma, Yahoo disclosed in May. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20111214-712988.html http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20111214-712988.html Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:55:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Wal Street Journal China's top consumer marketplace, Taobao.com, hit a one-day record high of 4.3 billion yuan ($676 million) in gross merchandise transactions, sparked by promotional activities on its website, Alibaba Group said on Tuesday. Taobao.com hit that mark on Monday as the website and businesses using it offered buyers special offers and gifts in a one-day promotion to spur holiday shopping. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/13/taobao-idUSL3E7ND2GV20111213 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/13/taobao-idUSL3E7ND2GV20111213 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:17:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Reuters US-based accessory maker Coach Inc Monday announced that it will open an online store on Taobao Mall for about a month, which may be turned into a permanent store if the experiment is successful. The store will be open from December 12 to January 15, 2012. "The new store will help to increase our understanding of the needs and preferences of China's online shoppers, and potentially pave the way for the development of a permanent online store in China," said Jonathan Seliger, president of Coach China. http://www.globaltimes.cn/NEWS/tabid/99/ID/688212/Coach-to-open-luxury-store-on-Taobao-Mall.aspx http://www.globaltimes.cn/NEWS/tabid/99/ID/688212/Coach-to-open-luxury-store-on-Taobao-Mall.aspx Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:45:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Global Times Chinese shopping search engine Etao, a unit of Alibaba Group, aims to garner a 15-20 percent share of Chinese market traffic over the next three years, its parent said. Alibaba Group, 40 percent owned by Yahoo Inc, said Etao was not immediately concerned about profitability as it focuses on increasing market share. Local media reported last month that Alibaba Group would invest 1 billion yuan ($157.2 million) in Etao to increase traffic to the site. "The goal is to make Etao the most complete and most convenient platform for consumers making shopping decisions." Alibaba said in an emailed statement to Reuters late on Monday. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/13/us-alibaba-etao-idUSTRE7BC06K20111213 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/13/us-alibaba-etao-idUSTRE7BC06K20111213 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:09:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Reuters Coach, a leading American designer and maker of luxury lifestyle handbags and accessories, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Taobao.com, the Chinese Internet shopping subsidiary of Alibaba Group, to prevent the sale of fake Coach products on this Chinese website. This is reportedly the first time for Coach to cooperate in this manner with a Chinese e-commerce platform to solve problems brought by counterfeit goods and unauthorized sales channels on the Internet. http://www.chinacsr.com/en/2011/12/11/8393-chinese-e-commerce-company-goes-after-counterfeit-goods/ http://www.chinacsr.com/en/2011/12/11/8393-chinese-e-commerce-company-goes-after-counterfeit-goods/ Sun, 11 Dec 2011 15:38:00 GMT TaoBao in the News ChinaCSR.com Hangzhou-based C2C & B2C e-commerce site Taobao's ETao e-commerce search engine has launched a new "Price Drop" search function to attract price-sensitive consumers as well as certain e-commerce sites that have boycotted ETao. When users select the new function and click the search button, Etao displays various products which currently offer significant discounts on the original price, and calculates for the user the amount by which the price has been lowered. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-12-08/article/52029/etao_launches_historical_pricing_search_feature http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-12-08/article/52029/etao_launches_historical_pricing_search_feature Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:34:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Marbridge Consulting The traffic in the Chinese B2C market dropped in October and Taobao, 360buy and Dangdang took the first three places by unique user visits and Moonbasa squeezed into top ten, announced by Enfodesk on December 8. The traffic of main B2C websites in China dropped in October. Only 360buy and Yihaodian.com of top ten witnessed a month-on-month growth in traffic. The advertising investments made by 360buy in October generated an effect. http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7Beb661132-1ec6-4aa5-b2d9-8dd39d94b035%7D http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7Beb661132-1ec6-4aa5-b2d9-8dd39d94b035%7D Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:34:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Menafn Alibaba Group is seeking up to $4 billion in debt financing, sources said on Thursday, in a deal expected to help the Chinese e-commerce giant buy back a 40 percent stake in the company owned by Yahoo Inc. As Alibaba Group is private, there is no public figure on what Yahoo's stake is worth, though some analysts say it's worth at least $9 billion. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/08/us-alibaba-yahoo-idUSTRE7B70KZ20111208 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/08/us-alibaba-yahoo-idUSTRE7B70KZ20111208 Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:05:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Reuters Hangzhou-based e-commerce company Alibaba Group's cloud computing subsidiary AliCloud is preparing to announce a next-generation e-commerce security engine based on its cloud computing technology. The new engine will offer customers intelligent protection against malware and other hazards in order to protect their online shopping experience. AliCloud has partnered with B2C and C2C site Taobao, third-party payment processor Alipay, and e-commerce search site eTao, all sister companies under Alibaba, on a shared database of malicious URLs which it analyzed to learn the characteristics of phishing sites in order to develop a similarity ranking algorithm for detecting and blocking new phishing sites. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-12-06/article/51961/alicloud_to_launch_e_commerce_security_engine http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-12-06/article/51961/alicloud_to_launch_e_commerce_security_engine Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:17:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Marbridge Consulting Taobao.com lately kicked off large-scale promotion by launching Qiang.taobao.com. The Web page of the promotion shows that major Chinese online group buying Web sites and localized service providers have participated in the activity and opened stores on Taobao.com. Those group buying Web sites include Manzhuo.com, 24quan.com, Tuanok.com, Gejituan.com, Zmtuan.com and Livehow.com. All of them have launched localized catering and entertainment products. http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7Bda7355b7-d893-4ab0-a5df-9df1c1b6ae94%7D http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7Bda7355b7-d893-4ab0-a5df-9df1c1b6ae94%7D Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:15:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Menafn Alibaba Group and Softbank Corporation are reportedly in advanced talks with Blackstone Group and Bain Capital about making a bid for all of Yahoo. According to a Reuters report, the Alibaba-led group plans to buy Yahoo in its entirety for about 20 dollars per share, instead of only buying a minority stake as previously reported. Blackstone and Bain Capital are said to have agreed to cooperate with Alibaba in this regard. The manager of Alibaba's public relations department declined comment about this bid, while Sina Tech reported that Alibaba spokesman John Spelich denied any finalized plan to buy Yahoo, saying, "Alibaba Group has not made a decision to be part of a whole-company bid for Yahoo." http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90778/7665973.html http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90778/7665973.html Mon, 05 Dec 2011 07:37:00 GMT TaoBao in the News People's Daily Online When Frank Lavin was undersecretary for international trade at the U.S. Commerce Department under President Bush in 2005-07, he regularly worked with big American exporters like GE, Boeing and Harley-Davidson to boost sales into overseas markets. To that end, he also managed about 300 commercial officers and 1,000 local staff around the world. With the administration’s days winding down, the political appointee from Ohio left government for public affairs and other work. These days, Lavin leads a substantially smaller operation: five people in the U.S. and five in Shanghai. The businesses he works with are a lot smaller, too, with names like "Feel Goodz" and "Wizard Wall." But he says he has figured out an inexpensive way to crack an overseas market that confounds many large and small companies alike, China. http://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2011/12/03/export-to-china-on-the-cheap/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2011/12/03/export-to-china-on-the-cheap/ Sun, 04 Dec 2011 02:37:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Forbes Alibaba Group, China's largest e-commerce company, said on Friday it is beta-testing a new social-networking-product, as the firm expands outside e-commerce to seek other revenue streams. An Alibaba Group spokeswoman confirmed that the social-networking product will be called "Laiwang" and according to its website, it will be available on the PC and downloadable onto Android smartphones and iPhones. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/02/alibaba-sns-idUSL4E7N21DP20111202 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/02/alibaba-sns-idUSL4E7N21DP20111202 Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:43:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Reuters The Guangzhou resident spent 599 yuan ($95) in late October to buy a watch that carried a price tag of 2,282 yuan in a local Casio outlet from an online store in Taobao Mall, China's largest business-to-consumer platform run by Alibaba. But as soon as he received the product, Wang immediately knew he had been deceived. When Wang brought the watch to a Casio outlet in Guangzhou's Yuexiu district, he was told it was a fake. Wang is not alone. Insiders said the shop in question in Taobao Mall has sold more than 1,500 fake watches valued at 898,500 yuan online in about an hour. But only 200 victims have decided to join Wang to seek compensation. Taobao Mall promised to use the online watch store's deposit money to refund and compensate all buyers who ended up with a fake. Tang Yin, an associate professor of marketing specialty from the management school of Guangzhou-based Jinan University, said Taobao Mall's management does have loopholes and that it lacks policies and rules to manage and supervise the shops. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/indepth/2011-12/02/c_131284231.htm http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/indepth/2011-12/02/c_131284231.htm Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:32:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Xinhua If someone were to be nominated as the person who changed the way companies do business, then Jack Ma tops the list of contenders. The 47-year-old Ma, with prominent cheekbones, a trim figure, and passionate speech, has long been regarded as an icon who helped companies, especially the numerous small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to tap into the global market through the Internet. Ma's involvement with SMEs began in 1999 when he and 17 others set up Alibaba.com Ltd, a cyber marketplace for businesses to meet and trade with one another. "Before the history of Internet, no company could help over 50 million SMEs. Today we are trying, and I feel proud of that," Ma said in September at an industry forum. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2011-12/02/content_14200912.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2011-12/02/content_14200912.htm Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:47:00 GMT TaoBao in the News China Daily Chinese athlete Li Ning captured attention at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as he soared high above National Stadium with torch in hand during the opening ceremony, showcasing China's aspirations as well as his own ambitions to create a major global sports-apparel brand. Three years later, Mr. Li has come back to Earth. His eponymous Li Ning Co.—which made a big push into the U.S. by signing high-profile endorsers like basketball star Shaquille O'Neal—has watched profits drop. It's also endured an exodus of designers and other employees from its main U.S. outpost in Portland, Ore. Li Ning's troubles underscore the difficulty China has had in creating new global brands to match its manufacturing prowess. Some have made progress, such as computer maker Lenovo Group Ltd., though it was helped by the purchase of International Business Machine Corp.'s personal-computer business in 2005. Most have made scant advancements in the face of sophisticated global competitors and a stubborn lack of name recognition. Beyond China's borders, 83% of consumers can't name a Chinese brand or company, according to research from agency Millward Brown and media company WPP PLC. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204058404577106202430369814.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204058404577106202430369814.html Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:36:00 GMT Other China News Wall Street Journal THE growing domestic logistics market and a recent e-commerce boom will help to counteract high logistics costs in China, according to auditing firm KPMG. The Hong Kong Logistics Association estimated that logistics costs in China doubled from 3 trillion yuan (US$471 billion) in 2004 to 6.1 trillion yuan in 2009. KPMG said in its latest report that logistics costs in China, which amount to about 18 percent of the country's gross domestic product, are higher than in many developed countries but that increasing domestic demand will help compensate for high costs. http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=489991&type=Business http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=489991&type=Business Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:24:00 GMT Other China News Shanghai Daily Brands in China never have been more important. Wide Internet penetration and commercial expansion beyond the major urban costal enclaves are among factors making households throughout China more value conscious and brand discerning. Reaching and motivating them requires using all the tools of brand building. Because of fierce competition from both domestic and overseas brands, it’s imperative that responses are not merely tactical but strategic. China's online brands saw a "phenomenal rise" in the list, with growth driven by the country's massive Internet population of about 485 million online users and its highly dispersed population. http://www.millwardbrown.com/Global/News/PressReleases/PressReleaseDetails/11-12-12/BrandZ_Top_50_Most_Valuable_Chinese_Brands_2012.aspx http://www.millwardbrown.com/Global/News/PressReleases/PressReleaseDetails/11-12-12/BrandZ_Top_50_Most_Valuable_Chinese_Brands_2012.aspx Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:24:00 GMT Other China News Millward Brown Despite fears of a very bad year for Chinese tech stocks after the fraud at Longtop, a new list from China Analyst reveals that the majority of the top ten most profitable U.S.-listed Chinese stocks for the last 12 months were tech/web companies. It’s actually doubly surprising, after an IPO Dashboard study back in October showed that tech IPOs were performing the worst, with an average growth rate of -19.43 percent. Yep, that’s a minus symbol right there. But, from the look of the top ten list, a number of China’s web behemoths weathered a stormy year. http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-chinas-eight-most-profitable-us-listed-tech-stocks-in-2011/ http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-chinas-eight-most-profitable-us-listed-tech-stocks-in-2011/ Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:22:00 GMT Other China News paidContent:UK The rapid expansion of the domestic logistics market on the mainland will spur the growth of mainland logistics companies, and their expansion will pose serious competition to the big global logistics players, analysts say. "In 10 years or less, a Chinese company will emerge that will challenge the big logistics multinationals like DHL, UPS and FedEx, in the China market," said the China partner of the financial advisory firm KPMG, Jeffrey Wong. Until recently both mainland and foreign companies were focused on supporting mainland exporters, but both were now looking at the domestic logistics market. "Now it's not just about moving goods from a factory to a port. It's more about moving goods across China." One indication of the rapid growth of the domestic logistics market was its e-commerce business, which nearly quadrupled from 130 billion yuan (HK$160 billion) in 2008 to 476 billion yuan in 2010, Wong said. http://www.supplychain.cn/en/art/3991/ http://www.supplychain.cn/en/art/3991/ Sun, 11 Dec 2011 20:14:00 GMT Other China News Global Supply Chain Council As Europe is caught up in the debt crisis and the United States is troubled with high unemployment, China’s Internet companies are battling for talents. "Come back home and everything goes well!" some Chinese companies write in recruitment posters. It is a very interesting phenomenon: On the evening of November 23, Nokia Siemens announced a plan to cut 17,000 employees before the end of 2013, with a rumored 4,000 of those cuts coming from China. While earlier, Ding Lei, CEO of Netease, one of the biggest Internet companies in China, announced the recruiting of more than 800 people across the country. Another two well-known internet companies are fighting a war for workers, as reported by a Chinese business newspaper. http://www.techjournalsouth.com/2011/12/chinas-internet-companies-fighting-for-talent/ http://www.techjournalsouth.com/2011/12/chinas-internet-companies-fighting-for-talent/ Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:37:00 GMT Other China News TechJournal South After joining the World Trade Organization on Dec 11, 2001, China's economy was set to undergo a significant change. Businesses were due to gain access to new export markets and foreign companies would be able to sell their products and services more freely to China's 1.3 billion people. With such a large consumer base and rising income levels, the potential for China's underdeveloped and fragmented retail market was enormous. Fast forward to 2011 and what has changed? In most major cities, China's retail market is almost unrecognizable, with the biggest impact seen in grocery retailing. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-12/09/content_14236961.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-12/09/content_14236961.htm Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:40:00 GMT Other China News China Daily China may be the world’s fastest-growing e-commerce market but actually making any money has been a big problem for companies in the fiercely competitive sector. 360buy, the country’s second-largest online retail firm by transaction volume, has just made a shock move that promises to make that challenge even tougher: it plans big investments in transport to solve long-running logistics and delivery troubles. http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2011/12/08/chinas-360buy-to-buy-300-trucks-out-of-frustration/ http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2011/12/08/chinas-360buy-to-buy-300-trucks-out-of-frustration/ Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:33:00 GMT Other China News Financial Times Google did RMB 1 billion in advertising revenue in Q3 according to iResearch. That means, 18 months after having exited from China, Google is still the 3rd largest advertising revenue generator in that country doing $640 million a year (annualized). To put that in perspective, that’s one-sixth the size of Facebook’s global ad revenues this year. The only bigger ad revenue generators in China are Baidu (BIDU) and Taobao. http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericjackson/2011/12/05/google-still-does-640-million-in-annual-revenue-in-china/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericjackson/2011/12/05/google-still-does-640-million-in-annual-revenue-in-china/ Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:17:00 GMT Other China News Forbes In 2003, Ming Zeng and Peter Williamson, professors at the prestigious Insead Business School, wrote a Harvard Business Review article on what they called China's "hidden dragons". As they saw it then, these companies would soon move from their positions of domestic strength and evolve positions in export markets not only because they could offer lower prices but, as they wrote, "China's national champions are using their advantages as domestic leaders to build global brands. The dedicated exporters are entering foreign markets on the strength of their economies of scale." Eight years after this seminal article, many others have written about the potential for Chinese companies to move up the value chain with branded products in their export markets; however, skeptics are quick to point out that even though the American consumer may be surrounded by Chinese made goods, he still has little to no brand awareness of China's leading companies. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/ML02Cb01.html http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/ML02Cb01.html Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:01:00 GMT Other China News Asia Times Chinese online security software developer Qihoo 360 will soon launch its own foreign trade B2B e-commerce site, Aceoftrade.com, according to a source within the company. Heading the site, which will primarily feature footwear products and target the US market, is Quan Hui, who brings with her 15 years of management experience in the export industry. The domain name for the site was reportedly registered in October 2008. The website is currently operated by Beijing-based Yitong Sifang Technology Development, a company founded by Qihoo 360 president Qi Xiangdong in August 2011. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-29/article/51743/rumor_qihoo_360_to_launch_b2b_targeting_us_market http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-29/article/51743/rumor_qihoo_360_to_launch_b2b_targeting_us_market Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:58:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Marbridge Consulting Wiggle has launched its website in Russian and Chinese, targeting markets that it says represent “a huge opportunity” for it. The move takes its total number of sites to 10: the bike and trisports retailer already sells through sites in English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, and as of this year Italian, Portuguese and Dutch. As of this year, payment can be also now be made in Brazilian reals, Chinese yuan, Swiss francs and Taiwanese dollars at the site. http://www.internetretailing.net/2011/11/wiggle-targets-russia-and-china-with-own-language-websites/ http://www.internetretailing.net/2011/11/wiggle-targets-russia-and-china-with-own-language-websites/ Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:43:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments InternetRetailing.net The IVIS Group has opened an office in China in order to help UK retailers break into the market. From its new Beijing office it will initially be working with two clients in the fashion and tourism sectors, advising them on building multichannel operations in the region. http://www.internetretailing.net/2011/11/ivis-group-opens-for-business-in-china/ http://www.internetretailing.net/2011/11/ivis-group-opens-for-business-in-china/ Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:43:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments InternetRetailing.net Amazon, the ecommerce giant, expects there to be a "lot of winners" in China's online retail sector, reflecting the intense competition and huge potential presented by the country. The company established a presence in China in 2004 after purchasing Joyo for $75m. It has recently rebranded its website as Amazon China, replacing the previous name, Joyo Amazon. http://www.warc.com/LatestNews/News/Amazon_eyes_China_growth.news?ID=29126 http://www.warc.com/LatestNews/News/Amazon_eyes_China_growth.news?ID=29126 Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:42:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Warc The Chinese internet sector has been hectic of late as the regulatory risk for Chinese Internet stocks is increasing and has been on the upswing for the last couple of months. According to China's Central Committee, the Communist Government will "strengthen guidance and management over social networks and instant messaging tools, regulate online information distribution, and cultivate a civilized, rational Internet environment." The Bedford Report examines the outlook for companies in China's Internet Sector and provides stock research on Youku.com, Inc. (NYSE: YOKU) and Sohu.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOHU). http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/youku-and-sohu-aim-to-appease-strict-chinese-authorities-nyse-yoku-1591532.htm http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/youku-and-sohu-aim-to-appease-strict-chinese-authorities-nyse-yoku-1591532.htm Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:13:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Marketwire WHEN it comes to e-commerce, America is still top dog, with some 170m punters scouring for bargains on the internet. However, China is not far behind, with 145m online shoppers, and it could become the world’s most valuable e-commerce market within four years. In a new report, the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) calculates that every year for the foreseeable future another 30m Chinese will go online to shop for the first time. By 2015 they will each be spending $1,000 a year—about what Americans spend online now. BCG calculates that e-commerce could rise from 3.3% of China’s retail sales today to 7.4% by 2015—a jump that took a decade in America. http://www.economist.com/node/21540260 http://www.economist.com/node/21540260 Sat, 26 Nov 2011 19:09:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments The Economist Gap, which opened its flagship store in Hong Kong on Friday, said it intends to increase its store presence in China by five times in the next year. Gap said it expects to have 45 stores in China by the end of 2012. The retailer has been in China for a year and has nine stores -- four in Shanghai, four in Beijing and one in Hong Kong. New stores are forecast to open in the next few weeks in Shanghai, Hangzhou and Tianjin. http://www.thestreet.com/story/11323206/1/gap-makes-big-bet-on-china.html http://www.thestreet.com/story/11323206/1/gap-makes-big-bet-on-china.html Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:41:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments TheStreet.com Inspired by the success of Groupon, Chinese versions of the U.S. group buying website have multiplied into the thousands in recent years. But now, these companies are struggling to survive, with nearly 5,000 Groupon-like websites facing tough competition and diminishing cash reserves. Sinking ships, that's pretty much the picture of the current group buying segment of China's booming online retail market. http://www.china.org.cn/video/2011-11/24/content_23992701.htm http://www.china.org.cn/video/2011-11/24/content_23992701.htm Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:00:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China.org.cn On Nov 16, the city of Chengdu was awarded the honorary title of National E-commerce Model City by the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Commerce and six other ministries. On the same day, China Unionpay launched a mobile phone service platform for customers. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/regional/2011-11/24/content_14157254.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/regional/2011-11/24/content_14157254.htm Thu, 24 Nov 2011 19:40:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Daily Tencent (HKG:0700), China’s social media giant, has been really good at building Android apps of late, but it has always lacked a coherent mobile platform, despite a couple of shaky, flaky attempts. Perhaps hoping for a case of ‘third time lucky,’ today we have a glimpse of the Android-based iQQ mobile OS. Essentially, it’s not much more than an Android skin – or, a ROM – with a bunch of Tencent’s existing Android apps (such as Tencent Weibo, QQ instant-messenger, and QQ Browser, etc) whacked in there. Needless to say, Google’s (NASQAQ:GOOG) ecosystem gets the boot – which is theoretically fine, this being an ‘open’ OS – replaced instead with Tencent’s own Android app store, QQ Mail, and even the company’s own Soso” title=“Soso”>Soso search engine. http://paidcontent.org/article/419-with-android-based-iqq-does-tencent-finally-have-a-mobile-strategy/ http://paidcontent.org/article/419-with-android-based-iqq-does-tencent-finally-have-a-mobile-strategy/ Thu, 24 Nov 2011 19:08:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments paidContent.org Fuzhou was named one of the “national e-commerce model cities in China” jointly by eight ministries including the National Reform and Development Commission and the Ministry of Commerce. This conduct is of vital importance to Fuzhou, in terms of promoting Fuzhou’s economic and social development, said Chen Daqiang, vice mayor of Fuzhou municipal government. Chen Daqiang also said Fuzhou would further explore its own philosophy on e-commerce business development and try every means to build up one national e-commerce model city in Haixi. Meanwhile, Fuzhou will seek a new path on e-commerce cooperation across the Straits. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/fuzhou/e/2011-11/23/content_14147816.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/fuzhou/e/2011-11/23/content_14147816.htm Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:38:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Daily Jinan held an exhibition for online commodities from Nov 18 to 20, providing information on e-commerce for visitors. With more than 400 e-commerce enterprises and online sellers showcasing their products in 620 booths, visitors can buy high-quality products at a favorable price. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/shandong/e/2011-11/22/content_14140633.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/shandong/e/2011-11/22/content_14140633.htm Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:03:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Daily 360Buy, the Chinese B2C e-commerce site that’s currently in second place in that sector, has now diversified from its usual fare of books and electronics with a new venture – 360Top.com, which sells luxury brand cosmetics, handbags, and clothing for both men and women. You can even buy more ostentatious products, such as slabs of gold. It’s a major play in its battle against Alibaba’s Taobao Mall and other upcoming specialist online shopping sites. We rather saw this coming, after last month writing of rumors that the fast-growing e-commerce site was about to leap into this sector. But speculators got the URL wrong, thinking it’d be TopLife.com. But now we know it’s not. Perhaps a good move to keep the ‘360’ moniker for some immediate brand recognition. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/22/360buy-360top-luxury-brands/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/22/360buy-360top-luxury-brands/ Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:03:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Penn Olson China has more Internet users than the United States and Japan combined, and it already has 145 million online shoppers (second only to 170 million in the U.S.), with exponential growth expected that could bring the number to 329 million by 2015 and make the e-commerce market in China the world’s most valuable. Despite this vast window of opportunity, many companies are leaving significant growth potential on the table; they’re allowing merchants that sell on Chinese shopping marketplace giant Taobao.com, as well as other e-commerce companies, to shape consumer perception and the market overall. These are insights from The World’s Next E-Commerce Superpower: Navigating China’s Unique Online-Shopping Ecosystem, a new report from The Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The report, which included a survey of more than 4,000 online shoppers in China, is available on bcgperspectives.com. Organizations Must Adjust to Behaviors and Conditions Vastly Different from Other Large E-Commerce Markets and Take Control of Their Presence Online http://www.bcg.com/media/PressReleaseDetails.aspx?id=tcm:12-92179 http://www.bcg.com/media/PressReleaseDetails.aspx?id=tcm:12-92179 Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:00:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Boston Consulting Group Ratuken.com.cn, a joint venture between Baidu.com Inc. (BIDU) and Japanese Rakuten Inc. on November 19 denied the news that the website was to be shut down, saying that it would continue strategic cooperation with Japanese Ratuken Inc. Previously, Japanese media reported that Rakuten.com.cn was to be closed. Rakuten.com.cn is a joint-ventured e-commerce platform established with a total investment of USD 50 million, in which Rakuten holds a 51% stake, and Baidu.com, the rest 49%. By far, the website has attracted about 5,000 vendors. http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7B96671820-1b5b-4ad0-b8dc-4537ee599b4c%7D http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7B96671820-1b5b-4ad0-b8dc-4537ee599b4c%7D Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:58:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Menafn The e-commerce market in China will be boosted by the high growth in internet population coupled with rise in online shopping. The report begins with an introduction to the market which comprises of an illustration of the e-commerce operational model wherein it depicts the work flow of all the stakeholders involved in the market space. Another detailed illustration about the transaction flow in online commerce is also included in the report so as to provide a better picture of the overall transaction system. This is followed by the market overview of e-commerce in China, providing details on the industry size in terms of transaction volume and its growth. It also mentions the popular e-commerce business models, providing an overview, market size and competitive landscape of each type. The report discusses the technical specifications, important features and website design and development stages. It offers value added information regarding the building and hosting of a successful e-commerce website. http://marketpublishers.com/report/business_finance_insurance/business_survey/e_commerce_market_in_china_2011.html http://marketpublishers.com/report/business_finance_insurance/business_survey/e_commerce_market_in_china_2011.html Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:34:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments MarketPublishers.com Dangdang’s (NYSE: DANG) CFO Yang Hongjia has a theory: “E-commerce is in a moment of rapid growth, it’s an enormous opportunity. In this phase, gaining market share is our priority,” he told iMeigu in an interview. That is, of course, exactly what every Internet company in China is saying to justify losses. To dive deeper, I dug through Amazon’s (NASDAQ: AMZN) old financial reports to find a point of comparison: Amazon in 1998, at a comparable size to Dangdang today. http://www.businessinsider.com/dangdang-today-vs-amazon-in-1998-2011-11 http://www.businessinsider.com/dangdang-today-vs-amazon-in-1998-2011-11 Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:25:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Business Insider Chinese internet giant Tencent's (0700.HK) microblogging platform has launched its "Wei Mai Chang" e-commerce feature, with sites like Beijing-based apparel e-commerce firm Okaybuy launching dedicated pages. E-commerce sites can promote items on Tencent Microblog by posting a limited-time deal on specific items. The price is reduced by RMB 0.1 each time a user "tweets" about the deal, which means users can obtain the item for free if enough users "retweet" the post, or can purchase it at anytime at the current price. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-18/article/51438/tencent_microblog_launches_e_commerce_platform http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-18/article/51438/tencent_microblog_launches_e_commerce_platform Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:57:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Marbridge Consulting Netscribes (India) Pvt. Ltd., a knowledge consulting solutions company, announces the launch of its report, E-commerce Market in China 2011. The market will be boosted by the high growth in internet population coupled with rise in online shopping. The report begins with an introduction to the market which comprises of an illustration of the e-commerce operational model wherein it depicts the work flow of all the stakeholders involved in the market space. http://www.researchonchina.com/admin/viewnewsfile.php?inthenewsid=130 http://www.researchonchina.com/admin/viewnewsfile.php?inthenewsid=130 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:30:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Research on China Benetton Group SpA (BEN), Italy’s largest clothing company, may introduce an online offering as soon as 2012 as it seeks to shift as much as 80 percent of its communication budget to digital media within three years. The clothier may start providing e-commerce “quite soon, like next year,” executive vice president Alessandro Benetton said today in an interview in Paris. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-16/benetton-says-it-may-introduce-e-commerce-as-soon-as-next-year.html http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-16/benetton-says-it-may-introduce-e-commerce-as-soon-as-next-year.html Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:57:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Bloomberg Baidu says it spun off e-commerce site Youa and the business has received "tens of millions" of dollars in venture-capital investment. Youa will provide online marketing services to local businesses and provide users information on services for daily life. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20111130-703360.html http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20111130-703360.html Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:18:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Wall Street Journal The specialist Chinese B2C e-commerce site Ku Yun Dong – or, ‘Cool Sports’ in English – has wrapped up a round of series-B funding worth US$30 million. It has not been revealed which firms led the funding. This follows its first round back in September 2010 in which raised it $10 million from the Acquity Group. The Ku Yun Dong site, at k121.com, sells sports clothing, shoes, and equipment. It was started-up in 2010, and claims to be China’s leading online sports goods store. But, this being China’s massively competitive e-commerce sector, it has very close competition from larger sites with a similar inventory, such as OKBuy and LeTao, although both those mostly specialize in shoes. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/23/ku-yun-dong-funding/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/23/ku-yun-dong-funding/ Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:39:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Penn Olson Michael Clendenin, managing director at research company RedTech Advisors in Shanghai, talks about the outlook for China's Internet retailing market. Clandenin speaks with Rishaad Salamat on Bloomberg Television's "On the Move Asia." http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-22/clendenin-sees-a-lot-of-china-e-commerce-ipos-in-2012-video-.html http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-22/clendenin-sees-a-lot-of-china-e-commerce-ipos-in-2012-video-.html Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:05:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Bloomberg An industry source has revealed that poor results have led Chinese internet company Baidu to cease investing in Lekutian, its B2C e-commerce joint venture with Japanese firm Rakuten. A source close to Rakuten, however, has said that the main reason for Lekutian's poor performance lies with Japanese parent company Rakuten's difficulties in localizing operations to adapt to China's business environment. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-21/article/51475/rumor_baidu_halts_funding_for_b2c_jv_lekutian http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-21/article/51475/rumor_baidu_halts_funding_for_b2c_jv_lekutian Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:26:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Marbridge Consulting Expedia (NASDAQ:EXPE), the US online travel giant, has further increased its stake in the comparable Chinese site eLong (NASDAQ:LONG). It has done this by buying up the entire stake in eLong that formerly belonged to Renren (NYSE:RENN), the social media site. It was sold for approximately US$72.4 million, or $23 per ADS. This increased investment strengthens Expedia’s place as the largest shareholder in eLong (owning over half of it), with China’s Tencent (HKG:0700) holding the second-largest stake at 16 percent. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/21/expedia-renren-elong/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/21/expedia-renren-elong/ Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:15:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Penn Olson Following its completion of RMB 20 mln in first-round funding in April this year, Chinese wine and spirits B2B e-commerce site Jiuxian.com announced yesterday that it has successfully obtained a greater sum in second-round funding led by Sequoia Capital and Oriental Fortune Capital. Jiuxian said the funds will be put toward completion of projects to construct warehousing and logistics facilities in every provincial capital in China. Jiuxian CEO Hao Hongfeng said that the funds have been received, and that representatives from the two venture capital firms will soon be appointed to the company's board of directors. Hao said that Sequoia and Oriental Fortune will be given equal share holdings in Jiuxian and although an exact figure was not given, the founders of the site will remain its majority stockholders. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-16/article/51347/jiuxian_secures_second_round_vc_funding http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-16/article/51347/jiuxian_secures_second_round_vc_funding Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:21:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Marbridge Consulting Beijing-based B2C e-commerce gift platform Weili Liye Technology (VGift.com.cn) revealed it has obtained RMB 1 mln in VC funding from the Haowangjiao Qihang E-Commerce Fund. The funds will be used for brand creation and improvements of VGift's customized gift services. VGift went online this October but remains in closed beta testing pending its public launch scheduled for November 21. Currently operated by a team of 60, VGift expects to have more than 100 employees by the end of 2011. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-14/article/51256/b2c_e_commerce_firm_vgift_wins_vc_funding http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-14/article/51256/b2c_e_commerce_firm_vgift_wins_vc_funding Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:44:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Marbridge Consulting Chinese B2B e-commerce company Alibaba.com (1688.HK) today announced that its China platform (1688.com) - which connects China-based suppliers with China-based buyers - has passed the 50 mln registered users mark. Alibaba.com's China users include those in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as well as mainland China, covering over 3,000 county-level cities. The platform currently boasts over 200 mln products. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-30/article/51805/alibabacoms_domestic_trade_platform_exceeds_50_mln_users http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-30/article/51805/alibabacoms_domestic_trade_platform_exceeds_50_mln_users Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:19:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Marbridge Consulting Chinese third-party payment processor Alipay today launched an online travel escrow service that allows travelers to complete payment for travel packages once they've returned home. The new solution marks Alipay's entrance into the RMB 150 bln online travel market. Customers who purchase travel products such as group packages can entrust their payment to Alipay and sign an electronic contract with the travel service provider. Once the trip is over, customers can unfreeze the funds and complete the transaction if the contract was honored. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-30/article/51803/alipay_launches_online_travel_escrow_payment_services http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-30/article/51803/alipay_launches_online_travel_escrow_payment_services Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:19:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Marbridge Consulting Chinese Internet billionaire Jack Ma joined a group of Hong Kong’s richest people, among others, for an investor lunch on Monday in connection with this month’s initial public offering by Hong Kong jewelry chain Chow Tai Fook, the Standard newspaper reported on Tuesday. The company’s offering will likely be one of the largest this year in Hong Kong. http://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2011/11/30/china-internet-icon-jack-ma-joins-lunch-for-hk-billionaires-jewelry-ipo/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2011/11/30/china-internet-icon-jack-ma-joins-lunch-for-hk-billionaires-jewelry-ipo/ Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:18:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Forbes Pictures uploaded to the microblog Weibo.com showed groups of people staying in front of Taobao's office building Wednesday morning. They demanded that Taobao amend its vendor-evaluation system that favors bigger vendors at Taobao Mall, the platform that hosts mostly bigger and established brand retailers. According to the written material from the so-called "anti-Taobao" online community, smaller vendors want Taobao to adopt a fair and transparent deposit system that treats small and big shop owners alike. They also want it to hold public hearings before major rule changes, China National Radio reported on its website on Wednesday. http://english.cri.cn/6909/2011/11/24/1461s668718.htm http://english.cri.cn/6909/2011/11/24/1461s668718.htm Thu, 24 Nov 2011 19:07:00 GMT TaoBao in the News CRIENGLISH.com Alipay.com, the third-party Internet payment subsidiary of the Chinese B2B e-commerce group Alibaba, has launched a new Internet trading platform for second-hand products. Via this new platform, users can sell their used goods, and the published trading information will be syndicated to Sina's microblog, Taobao.com, Ganji.com, and Baixing.com synchronously. Alipay.com will provide Internet payment services to this new C2C platform. It is said that each user can enjoy the monthly trading volume of CNY10,000 or 20 transactions for free; while those exceeding the limit will be charged with a 1% service fee. http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/11/24/15832-alipay-com-launches-trading-platform-for-used-goods-in-china http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/11/24/15832-alipay-com-launches-trading-platform-for-used-goods-in-china Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:07:00 GMT TaoBao in the News ChinaTechNews.com Net profit for the three months to September was 409.7m yuan ($63m;£40.5m) but less than the 432m yuan expected. Alibaba blamed the weak US economy and the eurozone debt crisis. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15871937 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15871937 Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:08:00 GMT TaoBao in the News BBC News Chinese third-party payment processor Alipay has released a new C2C platform, "Yi Zhuanrang" ("Easy Transfer"), that allows individual users to post items for sale for other users to purchase using Alipay. The platform also allows sellers to promote their merchandise on Sina's (Nasdaq: SINA) Weibo microblogging platform, Taobao, and online classifieds sites Ganji and Baixing. Alipay guarantees sales made via the platform, and each user can conduct up to RMB 10,000 or 20 transactions each month, with a 1% commission on all transactions that exceed either limit. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-17/article/51395/alipay_launches_c2c_payment_platform http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-17/article/51395/alipay_launches_c2c_payment_platform Thu, 17 Nov 2011 01:28:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Marbridge Consulting www.may2may.com is a pioneer in selling products online in mainland china. It provides an interface for B2B as well as C2C services. This is an Online Store from where you can help your friends in other countries to purchase products from the China Online Store (Taobao.com) We offer exciting features to our customers and these are as follows: High discounts and perks on international shipping We are the Best Taobao Agent Buying from us is simpler than to Buy From Taobao A comprehensive domain for Online Shopping http://www.addpr.com/articles/business/95738.html http://www.addpr.com/articles/business/95738.html Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:55:00 GMT TaoBao in the News AddPR.com The Italian label said yesterday that sales in the Asia-Pacific region had soared by 44 per cent, boosting both sales and profits. Luxury goods makers have placed huge bets on China in recent years, spurred on by stellar growth, but fears of a slowdown in recent weeks have hit the likes of Burberry and LVMH, which owns Louis Vuitton. Prada's revenue leapt 25 per cent to €1.7billion ($2.26bn) in the nine months to October 31, with profit up 75 per cent to €273m. Rising sales were recorded in every region, with Europe up 21 per cent and America up 27 per cent. Even Japan, still recovering from the tsunami this year, achieved a sales increase of 9 per cent. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/lifestyle/prada-surges-in-china/story-e6frg8k6-1226209971356 http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/lifestyle/prada-surges-in-china/story-e6frg8k6-1226209971356 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:08:00 GMT Other China News The Australian "Shoppers are more cautious this year with their spending. Even if they said they were spending more, they were doing so mainly to keep up with the rising cost of products," Paul Jung, Visa's head of eCommerce for Asia-Pacific, Central Europe, Middle East and Africa, said in a statement. "The exception was China where respondents said it was because they wanted to buy more expensive items," he added. http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/11/30/asia-shoppers-idINDEE7AT03420111130 http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/11/30/asia-shoppers-idINDEE7AT03420111130 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:44:00 GMT Other China News Reuters India Foreign banks will be allowed to conduct domestic yuan currency business with Chinese firms two years after WTO accession and with Chinese individuals after five years. Geographic restrictions will disappear after five years. WHERE IT STANDS NOW: China on December 11, 2006 introduced rules allowing foreign banks that set up locally incorporated units to do yuan retail business -- exactly five years after its WTO accession. The first batch of foreign banks actually started setting up such units in 2007. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/29/us-china-wto-factbox-idUSTRE7AS0BY20111129 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/29/us-china-wto-factbox-idUSTRE7AS0BY20111129 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:01:00 GMT Other China News Reuters Every day at 7 a.m., Xiao Lin, a Shentong Express courier in Hangzhou, packs his electric bike with about 200 parcels, all of which are to be delivered by noon. After 2 p.m., Xiao Lin's main task becomes receiving parcels. His day doesn't finish until 10 p.m. Since Single's Day (Nov. 11), Xiao Lin had to shorten his lunch break and work longer into the night. "Usually I ride a dozen times, but now I have to ride 20 to 30 times to deliver all the parcels. Each time I carry only a dozen of parcels for fear that I might lose them." Xiao Lin's concern is quite understandable. Elsewhere in the city, a courier with YTO Express, Xiao Wang, was inside a building delivering a parcel when 90 undelivered packages were stolen along with his electric bike. http://www.china.org.cn/china/2011-11/29/content_24030520.htm http://www.china.org.cn/china/2011-11/29/content_24030520.htm Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:13:00 GMT Other China News China.org.cn The digital media revolution is reshaping Chinese society to help make it one of the fastest-growing advertising economies in the world, according to a new trend report from WPP’s MEC China. According to MEC parent company GroupM, measured media expenditures in China will grow 15.2% in 2011 to approximately $54 billion. Larger growth is expected in 2012 when expenditures will reach $63 billion, up nearly 17%. Most of the major advertising holding companies are vying for a greater share of those growing expenditures. http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/162990/digital-reshapes-china-aids-booming-ad-economy.html http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/162990/digital-reshapes-china-aids-booming-ad-economy.html Sun, 27 Nov 2011 19:42:00 GMT Other China News MediaPost Publications Stars Express, a Chinese private express deliverer, has recently merged Xin Fei Logistics Express, another private-run express delivery firm in the country. No November 24, Chen Ping, the founder of Stars Express announed the mergence. Industry analysts pointed out that it would be a better choice for small and midsize express deliverers engaged in different business segments or based in different regions, but the problem would be how to combine themselves as a whole. http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7B0dbc16d0-d2db-4a00-bc3f-5feb3437e8e0%7D http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7B0dbc16d0-d2db-4a00-bc3f-5feb3437e8e0%7D Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:11:00 GMT Other China News Menafn Much has been made recently of the China-plus-one strategy. The growing trend of multinationals shifting some of their product sourcing from China to other countries in Asia has been driven by a combination of rising labor costs, worker shortages, inflation, currency appreciation and changing policies. However, a Hong Kong-based sourcing company, with a history that stretches back 63 years, says that narrative doesn’t reflect the full story. “It makes interesting reading to say that India’s going to usurp China’s manufacturing center, or Cambodia or others, but they’re really supplemental alternatives. China still has so much untapped potential,” said Justin Kent, managing director, corporate planning and strategy at William E. Connor & Associates (Connor Group). http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertolsen/2011/11/23/chinas-untapped-potential-far-outweighs-its-competitors/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertolsen/2011/11/23/chinas-untapped-potential-far-outweighs-its-competitors/ Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:38:00 GMT Other China News Forbes The pressure for small businesses to export to China continues to increase. Indeed, with the Eurozone crisis and anaemic growth in much of the West, China looks like a successful and stable economy despite its political system and the social consequences of its dash to modernise. It is easy for small businesses to get caught up in the hype about the opportunities China presents, ignoring the risks and alternatives. In fact there are plenty of other economies around the world which entrepreneurs should consider first – whether looking for a cheap supplier or a new market for their goods. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/businessclub/8905395/China-should-your-small-business-join-the-stampede.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/businessclub/8905395/China-should-your-small-business-join-the-stampede.html Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:10:00 GMT Other China News Telegraph.co.uk In the not so distant future, the market will be as concerned about what Chinese consumers are buying as they currently are with Americans. And according to Bain & Company, more Chinese are shopping online. It’s not necessarily what they are buying, but where they are buying it that also matters to investors looking for long-term trends. Similar to what Americans do at Amazon.com (AMZN), Chinese consumers are buying everything from Jin Yong novels to Lenovo laptops on sites like E-Commerce Dandang (DANG) and SINA Corporation (SINA). http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2011/11/22/where-the-chinese-are-shopping-2/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2011/11/22/where-the-chinese-are-shopping-2/ Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:37:00 GMT Other China News Forbes While many adventurous Singaporean entrepreneurs have taken a crack at the Chinese market, I am surprised that quite a number of them have prospered. Not that I’m putting down my own countrymen, but China is after all well known for being a hyper-competitive and brutal market. The challenges, however, did not stop these two Singaporeans from succeeding in their businesses: James Tan, co-founder of 55tuan.com, one of China’s largest group buying sites, and James Tong, founder of Suzsoft, a China IT development firm. http://sgentrepreneurs.com/commentary/2011/11/22/the-chinese-government-is-more-pro-business-than-singapore/ http://sgentrepreneurs.com/commentary/2011/11/22/the-chinese-government-is-more-pro-business-than-singapore/ Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:36:00 GMT Other China News SGentrepreneurs American Thanksgiving Day, which falls on Nov 24 this year, takes on an entirely different look in China, where malls and e-businesses are competing in sale promotions as the holiday approaches. Malls and markets fixate on the word 'Thanksgiving' to dip into the pockets of their customers. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90778/7653045.html http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90778/7653045.html Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:03:00 GMT Other China News People's Daily Online Overseas proxy purchasing businesses selling luxury goods are facing authenticity doubts after their invoices, a crucial way to prove the items are genuine, have been found in mass production and on sale at online stores. The country's popular e-commerce platform Taobao.com told Shanghai Daily yesterday that it has banned all selling of such invoices on the stores across its platform to prevent anyone using the invoices to cheat customers. http://english.cri.cn/6826/2011/11/22/2724s668261.htm http://english.cri.cn/6826/2011/11/22/2724s668261.htm Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:24:00 GMT Other China News CRIENGLISH.com Increasing numbers of brand owners are using microblogs to engage Chinese consumers but social networks remain less popular, a study has found. PR Newswire, the communications group, surveyed 1,251 executives across the country, and reported that 77% of represented firms had a formal presence on at least one microblogging platform. http://www.warc.com/LatestNews/News/Brand_owners_follow_social_path_in_China.news?ID=29094 http://www.warc.com/LatestNews/News/Brand_owners_follow_social_path_in_China.news?ID=29094 Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:25:00 GMT Other China News Warc Chinese electronics and home appliances retailer Suning has announced plans to open its first Laox store on the Chinese mainland in Nanjing, Jiangsu, in December 2011. Located in the central commercial area of Nanjing, Suning's new Laox store will have five floors and a total area of about 20,000 square meters. Unlike traditional home appliances stores, the new Laox store will not only provide home appliances and communications products, but also offer goods like musical instruments, clocks, watches, daily commodities, jewelry, and household supplies. http://www.chinaretailnews.com/2011/11/28/5264-sunings-first-laox-store-in-mainland-china-will-open-in-nanjing/ http://www.chinaretailnews.com/2011/11/28/5264-sunings-first-laox-store-in-mainland-china-will-open-in-nanjing/ Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:00:00 GMT Other China News ChinaRetailNews.com U.S. handbag maker Coach Inc. is pushing for China to become its No. 1 market in the next three years, expanding stores despite an economic slowdown and the rise of online and second-hand markets for handbags in the country. The New York-based company said it is on track to reach $300 million in sales in China by the end of this year and aims to reach $500 million in sales from China by 2014, said Victor Luis, president of Coach's international operations, in an interview on Thursday. Coach posted China sales of $185 million in 2010. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204517204577043701556706074.html?mod=googlenews_wsj http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204517204577043701556706074.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:22:00 GMT Other China News Wall Street Journal Hunderds of shoppers were in the queue when items designed by Versace for the high street retailer H&M went on sale in Shanghai yesterday. Not long after, however, many of the limited edition items were being sold online at inflated prices and even changing hands outside the stores on Huaihai Road and Nanjing Road W. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90882/7648929.html http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90882/7648929.html Fri, 18 Nov 2011 03:57:00 GMT Other China News People's Daily Online This article is by Baizhu Chen, a professor of clinical finance and business economics at USC Marshall School of Business. He is also senior researcher at the Institute of Finance and Banking at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, chief economist of Sino-Century Capital, a venture capital firm in Shanghai, and former president of the Chinese Economists Society, and he is academic director for Marshall’s Global Executive MBA program. Little creatures called Shanghai crabs are invading America. Also known as hairy crabs, they are a beloved delicacy to Shanghai residents. They somehow sneaked into America when imported boatloads of Chinese-made Gap shirts, Nike shoes, and iPhones arrived here. They quickly discovered that the New World is a better place than their homeland. Americans don’t eat them. They have no natural enemies. http://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesleadershipforum/2011/11/16/a-new-frontier-for-exotic-exports-to-china/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesleadershipforum/2011/11/16/a-new-frontier-for-exotic-exports-to-china/ Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:06:00 GMT Other China News Forbes E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc. reported a loss in its third quarter, weighed down by declining gross margin and higher operating expenses. The online retailer, which went public in December, said Wednesday that it lost 73.4 million yuan ($11.5 million), or 15 U.S. cents per American depositary share. That compares with a profit of 32.7 million yuan in the prior-year period. http://www.cnbc.com/id/45321032 http://www.cnbc.com/id/45321032 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:14:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments CNBC.com Globial, a small startup company with a bold new vision of online, global trade and a brand new business networking platform is targeting small businesses seeking to engage in global trade with greater ease and trust than is currently available. Launched today, Globial has sent a shot across Alibaba's bow, its chief competitor, the giant China online trader. "Our platform combines research tools, networking capabilities, and user created content. We aim to create opportunities for anyone interested in global trade by empowering users to easily find information and connect with businesses anywhere in the world." It's an 'Alibaba Killer,' its founders claim. http://thenextsiliconvalley.com/4870/globials-new-b-b-networking-platform-takes-alibaba http://thenextsiliconvalley.com/4870/globials-new-b-b-networking-platform-takes-alibaba Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:28:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments The Next Silicon Valley China’s online shopping culture is a complicated environment that is growing faster than in the USA, but still lags western markets by almost a decade, according to a report from US IT firm Acquity Group. The findings of the report, which were revealed in an interview with Fast Company, show that China’s is a lucrative market, but that online shopping stores have yet to establish trust among consumers, while significant infrastructural issues restrict delivery in many parts of the country. The mixed levels of progress are reminiscent of western markets ten years ago, according to Jeff Neville, VP of team that developed the report: http://thenextweb.com/asia/2011/11/16/report-online-retail-growing-fast-in-china-but-consumer-trust-lacking/ http://thenextweb.com/asia/2011/11/16/report-online-retail-growing-fast-in-china-but-consumer-trust-lacking/ Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:42:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments The Next Web (blog) Market research firm Synovate has some new insights into Chinese netizens usage of the web – how it differs between poorer and richer cities, that more people than ever in China go online on their mobiles, how e-commerce has exploded even in less prosperous cities, and that the internet has (for the first time) surpassed television in terms of engagement levels. It’s a part of Synovate’s Media Atlas China study, which surveyed 66,000 consumers across 88 'tier one' to 'tier five' cities and rural areas across mainland China. Before we get to the meat on the bones, we have to gnaw at the gristle of what exactly constitutes these levels of cities. So here’s a quick primer on China’s cities: http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/15/china-weibo-ecommerce-usage/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/15/china-weibo-ecommerce-usage/ Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:56:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Penn Olson For U.S.-based retailers, running a successful global e-commerce business takes the right balance of strong local marketing and effective operations. While it is essential that retailers cater to local customer experience expectations, it is also critically important to abide by local laws and regulations. Following are six recommendations on how to drive effective global e-commerce for retailers that are just starting to sell online internationally as well as those that want to refine their current global strategy. http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/6-Keys-for-Going-Global-With-Your-E-Commerce-Op-73752.html http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/6-Keys-for-Going-Global-With-Your-E-Commerce-Op-73752.html Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:46:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments E-Commerce Times For foreign companies looking to dip a toe in the fresh pool of Chinese e-commerce space, the waters are warm and inviting. After all, China’s middle class will swell to about 800 million people in the next 20 years, according to Acquity Group, a brand e-commerce and digital marketing firm that just released a new report on the Chinese digital market. Chinese online consumers have a total spending income of more than $2.7 trillion. The population is widely distributed, the report finds, but the Internet and mobile penetration rates are growing, reaching 34% in January 2011 with about 457 million users. http://www.fastcompany.com/1794932/china-ecommerce-study?partner=gnews http://www.fastcompany.com/1794932/china-ecommerce-study?partner=gnews Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:45:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Fast Company Think about your product being the first one in a Chinese city full of hundreds of thousand of upmarket discretionary spenders. If the current research has got it right, China is the new test bed for trendy items and serious brand big box purchases. Bragging rights to a unique and exclusive item might be worth sending samples of, just to get the buzz value and and let consumer interest grow. One sandwich box or branded frisbee might get thousands of clicks o the dot-com of choice. Savvy B2B managers should be compiling ideas for doing small to medium size business ventures with Chinese businesses, since China’s e-commerce market is scheduled to surpass the United States trade commerce volume by the year 2015. If online shopping is tabling off in the North American retail markets of b2b and online commerce, the Chinese intend to spend trillions of renminbi on products online. Devices, applications, games and books are ready to buy online. http://www.modernb2b.com/china-end-users-ready-to-shop/343221/ http://www.modernb2b.com/china-end-users-ready-to-shop/343221/ Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:43:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments B2B News More and more indie designers are emerging in China and they need a place to connect them with potential buyers. Founded by media veteran Zhao Jinwen, Wowsai is positioned to be such a platform for indie designers and people who prefer quality products and craftsmanship. Its categories cover clothes, gadgets, stationary, accessories, shoes, bags, home accessories and so forth. Except for buying online, you can also create a "Gallery" to collect all the interesting stuff, just like the "Treasury" feature for Etsy. Yes, be it layout or features, Wowsai looks exactly like Etsy, the e-commerce website focused on handicrafts or vintage items as well as art and craft supplies launched on June 18, 2005 with sales of over US$ 420 million last year. From 'Made in China' to 'Designed in China' http://www.businessinsider.com/wowsai-a-marketplace-for-indie-designers-2011-11 http://www.businessinsider.com/wowsai-a-marketplace-for-indie-designers-2011-11 Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:43:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Business Insider Starting with the Autumn/Winter 2011-12 season, Y-3 will be available with its first online store in China from mid November 2011. With the launch of the new online store, china-based customers can explore and purchase the fully ranged Y-3 collection including men's and women's apparel, footwear, accessories. http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/company-news/yohji-yamamoto/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=105102 http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/company-news/yohji-yamamoto/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=105102 Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:17:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Fibre2fashion.com Online commerce will become Lenovo Group's core sales channel on the Chinese mainland over the next three to five years, as the world's second-largest manufacturer of personal computers (PC) by market share begins to target the youth market, said a senior company executive. "As Lenovo's main customer demographic is shifting to those born post-80's and post-90's - who are accustomed to purchasing items on the Internet - the electronic commerce (e-commerce) platform has become our fastest-growing sales channel," said Tang Jie, the company's vice-president. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-11/12/content_14082435.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-11/12/content_14082435.htm Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:04:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Daily Sales of computer, communication and consumer electronics (3C) products by China's online retailers in the third quarter of 2011 showed a decline for the first time in three years, according to new statistics released Thursday. The 3C sales value amounted to 36.84 billion yuan (about $5.8 billion) in the third quarter, one percent lower than the figure for the second quarter, said the report by Analysis International, a provider of information for China's Internet market. However, the value of 3C sales by Chinese online retailers was still 61.6 percent higher than for the same period in 2010, said the report. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2011-11/11/content_14077870.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2011-11/11/content_14077870.htm Fri, 11 Nov 2011 02:33:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Daily The platform will be supported by cloud technology, logistics and supply chain management and both companies will pool their human resources to build it. As part of the tie-up, IBM will build a global e-commerce center in Nanjing and will help Suning expand it to hire around 715,000 employees in three to five years. "Suning, a very clear strategy for the next decade, the important point is to increase the technological capabilities of Suning," said Zhang Jindong, Suning's chairman in a statement. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/11/us-suning-ibm-idUSTRE7AA1T320111111 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/11/us-suning-ibm-idUSTRE7AA1T320111111 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:24:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Reuters Already home to the world’s largest population of Internet users, China now has 145 million online shoppers - second only to the U.S., with 170 million e-shoppers. (See Exhibit 1.) Online spending in China is expected to surge over the next five years as personal incomes and comfort with online shopping increase. As a result, the size of the country’s e-commerce market could reach RMB 2 trillion ($315 billion) by 2015, surpassing even that of the U.S. And nearly half of China’s urban consumers, accounting for about 80 percent of the country’s GDP, will be shopping both on- and offline within the next five years. https://www.bcgperspectives.com/content/articles/consumer_insight_marketing_sales_and_channels_selling_to_chinas_e-shoppers/ https://www.bcgperspectives.com/content/articles/consumer_insight_marketing_sales_and_channels_selling_to_chinas_e-shoppers/ Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:09:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Boston Consulting Group China has no equivalent of a nationwide big-box retailer like Wal-Mart, instead it has e-commerce. Hurst Lin, general partner at venture capital firm DCM, says that amid all the hype for e-commerce, the untold story is the role it plays in China’s lesser-tier cities: "E-commerce plays the role of Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart started off saying, 'I don’t want to go to Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, because they already have JC Penny, K-Mart, Macy’s. I want to go the rural areas, towns with a population of no greater than 10,000.' So Wal-Mart put outlets in each and every Smalltown, America. And they end up being the biggest retailer in the world. And I think no one is doing that [in China]. Obviously, Wal-Mart itself is trying, but it has not done that well, because the government is on their ass. And also, they cannot build fast enough to keep up with the consumer. So the thing that fills the gap is e-commerce. http://www.businessinsider.com/e-commerce-is-the-wal-mart-of-china-2011-11 http://www.businessinsider.com/e-commerce-is-the-wal-mart-of-china-2011-11 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:41:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Business Insider Tencent Holdings Ltd., China’s biggest Internet company by sales, posted a 14 percent gain in third-quarter profit, missing analysts’ estimates, after increasing spending to develop new services. Net income climbed to 2.45 billion yuan ($385 million) from 2.15 billion yuan a year earlier, Tencent said yesterday. Analysts expected 2.59 billion yuan, based on the average of eight estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Sales rose 43 percent to 7.5 billion yuan. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-09/tencent-profit-misses-estimates-on-cost-to-develop-services.html http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-09/tencent-profit-misses-estimates-on-cost-to-develop-services.html Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:40:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments BusinessWeek Italian online fashion retailer Yoox is looking to further revenue growth for the end of the year after strong sales in the first nine months confirmed the vigor of the luxury industry despite wider economic woes in Europe. Yoox, which powers sites for top brands such as Valentino and Roberto Cavalli alongside its own multibrand online stores, said core earnings rose 20.2 percent to 11.8 million euros ($16 million) in the nine months ended in September. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/09/us-yoox-idUSTRE7A86L120111109 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/09/us-yoox-idUSTRE7A86L120111109 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:12:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Reuters Are you tired of all the doom and gloom? 'So are we,' U.S. e-tailers say in a new survey conducted by Alibaba.com, one of the world’s largest business-to-business (B2B) online marketplaces. E-tailer optimism was the overriding message from the survey of more than 1,200 online merchants, with a sleigh-load of creative marketing ideas promising to keep consumers’ spirits bright this season. The survey shows that more e-tailers are feeling upbeat about this year’s holiday sales. In fact, six out of 10 (64%) e-tailers say they plan to use optimism as a theme to market their products. More than half (60%) of e-tailers say they may focus on products that are bright, bold and cheerful, for example, and avoid conservative designs and colors. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111109005512/en/Upbeat-e-Tailers-Market-%E2%80%9CMerry-Bright%E2%80%9D-Increase-Holiday http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111109005512/en/Upbeat-e-Tailers-Market-%E2%80%9CMerry-Bright%E2%80%9D-Increase-Holiday Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:17:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Business Wire Five sets of industry standards, including standards about online shopping, were established at the re-election and 10th anniversary meeting of China's National Standardization Technical Committee on Commercial Automation on Oct. 28. The standardization of online shopping terminology has caught the attention of many netizens. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90778/7638538.html http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90778/7638538.html Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:35:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments People's Daily Online Chinese electronics and home appliances retailer Suning has released its performance report for the third quarter of 2011, stating that from January to September 2011, the company's e-commerce business grew rapidly and realized sales of CNY4.079 billion. According to the report, Suning's total operating revenue in the first nine months of 2011 was CNY67.625 billion, a year-on-year increase of 24.54% and an increase of 52.89% compared with the first half of 2011. Its net profit was CNY3.422 billion, a year-on-year increase of 21.03%. As the e-commerce business has become a new growth point for Suning, the company announced that its Internet retail platform has launched a new book sector, which currently provides 600,000 books to users in China. This service puts it in direct competition with Dangdang.com and Amazon China. http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/11/08/15778-sunings-e-commerce-website-launches-book-channel http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/11/08/15778-sunings-e-commerce-website-launches-book-channel Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:34:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments ChinaTechNews.com Chinese group buy site Lashou has reportedly begun corporate restructuring, shifting its business model to a lifestyle-focused e-commerce mall format. Lashou has already notified a number of its branch offices of the upcoming changes, according to a source within the company, and will redesign its website to resemble those of its soon-to-be rivals Taobao Mall and 360Buy. Lashou's plan for "Lashou Mall" will entail signing long-term contracts with sellers and a bi-annual membership fee of RMB 1,980 for partners. Lashou has yet to publicly reveal details of its new operating model, but sales employees with the company have reportedly begun informing clients of the coming changes, emphasizing the low cost for entry to the new platform, as well as significantly lowered costs for promotional activities, discounts on featured goods, and other services that Lashou Mall will provide. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-07/article/51059/rumor_lashou_shifts_to_b2c_mall_business_model http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-07/article/51059/rumor_lashou_shifts_to_b2c_mall_business_model Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:48:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Marbridge Consulting Amazon has announced that its brand name Joyo Amazon has been formally changed to Amazon China and it will launch a shorter domain name Z.cn for its Chinese website to fully embrace its global identity. Amazon revealed the news during the launch ceremony of its new operating center in Kunshan. With an operating area of 120,000 square meters, the new center is reportedly the largest e-commerce operating center in China. http://www.chinaretailnews.com/2011/11/03/5228-american-internet-retailer-rebrands-for-china/ http://www.chinaretailnews.com/2011/11/03/5228-american-internet-retailer-rebrands-for-china/ Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:31:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments ChinaRetailNews.com Powin Corp. spent more than 20 years building a pipeline pumping Chinese-made products - from fitness equipment to furniture to gun safes - into the American market. Now the Tualatin company, in a unique partnership with some of China's largest banks, is working to reverse the flow of goods by helping American companies introduce upscale brands to a surging class of affluent customers in a country of 1.3 billion people. http://www.oregonlive.com/tualatin/index.ssf/2011/11/tualatins_powin_corp_helps_put.html http://www.oregonlive.com/tualatin/index.ssf/2011/11/tualatins_powin_corp_helps_put.html Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:11:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments OregonLive.com As part of its 12th anniversary celebration, Chinese B2C e-commerce site Dangdang is reportedly planning to launch an "Eastern Campaign" price war against rival 360Buy. The exact dates of the campaign, which will will target popular items on 360Buy, are unknown. Currently, in celebration of the anniversary, Dangdang is already offering a number of items at prices significantly below those available from 360Buy. For example, a Sony LED 40-inch HD TV set currently featured as a hot item on 360Buy is now available on Dangdang at a further discount of RMB 600. In addition, Dangdang is offering the Jiuyang's model DJ14B-D09 soy milk machine, which sells on 360Buy for RMB 399, at RMB 299. Dangdang was unavailable for comment regarding details of the planned "Eastern Campaign." http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-03/article/50974/rumor_dangdang_to_wage_new_price_war_against_360buy http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-03/article/50974/rumor_dangdang_to_wage_new_price_war_against_360buy Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:21:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Marbridge Consulting The unique fashion e-commerce site Unitedstyles might not have won the TechCrunch Disrupt Beijing 'Start-up Battlefield' prize yesterday, but I found its fashion design and manufacturing service the most visually impressive and captivating of the six finalists (see who won here). And so I felt it’s worth an overview. As a bonus, it’s based in Shanghai, despite having overseas (Dutch) founders. What makes Unitedstyles spectacular is that it allows users to design the entire outfit, preview it with 3D online modeling, share your designs socially, and then finally order the production of your own fashion creations. It’s aimed at labels, not individuals, and could even enable someone to enter the fashion business with original designs in a Unitedstyles online store with little-to-no overheads. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/03/unitedstyles-fashion-design/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/03/unitedstyles-fashion-design/ Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:21:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Penn Olson During this year's China International Fashion Week that began on Oct 24 in Beijing, leading domestic handbag e-commerce company Maibaobao debuted its high-end collection from the brand Jamie Moore by its chief designer James Moore from the United States. "From the standpoint of Maibaobao, we want to be trend-setters" instead of just "following the trend", Moore said. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/business/2011-11/02/content_14020662.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/business/2011-11/02/content_14020662.htm Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:32:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Daily After many months of planning and countless flights to the other side of the world, our first ever international TechCrunch Disrupt event has come to a close. 15 companies have launched new products to the world for the very first time in our Startup Battlefield, an on-stage, high stress battle for riches (50 grand!), glory (press coverage!), the much coveted Disrupt Cup, and all the open doors you could ever desire. Without further ado, the winner is… OrderWithMe! OrderWithMe is a group buying system meant to help Western small business owners by drastically simplifying the process of acquiring Chinese-made goods in bulk. By splitting orders (and simultaneously removing a vast majority of the middle men involved), OrderWithMe allows shops to acquire any size shipment of these lower-priced goods, as opposed to the usual minimum order of 100+. http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/01/and-the-disrupt-beijing-winner-is-orderwithme/ http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/01/and-the-disrupt-beijing-winner-is-orderwithme/ Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:05:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments TechCrunch ChinaNet Online Holdings, a leading B2B (business to business) Internet technology company focusing on providing online-to-offline ("O2O") sales channel expansion services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurial management and networking service for entrepreneurs in the People's Republic of China, today announced the Company has launched www.expand2china.com to support and assist global franchisors who are interested in expanding their franchises to China. Beginning in November, ChinaNet is launching additional tailored services targeting American franchise business owners who are considering expanding into China. These services cover the full scope of a franchisor's development in China, from preparation to set-up to expansion. Preparation services include feasibility studies and key statistical information on addressable markets, and reviews of the franchisors' China supply chain and business strategy. During the set-up period, ChinaNet supports with office and facility siting, nationwide franchise permits, product packaging needs and advertising and marketing for the Chinese market. During the expansion phase, the Company assists with public relations and advertising through its premier advertising and marketing web portal, Liansuo.com. Liansuo was officially launched in May, with a current average IP of 82000 per day. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/chinanet-online-launches-expandtochinacom-2011-11-01 http://www.marketwatch.com/story/chinanet-online-launches-expandtochinacom-2011-11-01 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:20:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments MarketWatch Beijing-based B2C e-commerce gift platform Weili Liye Technology (VGift.com.cn) revealed it has obtained RMB 1 mln in VC funding from the Haowangjiao Qihang E-Commerce Fund. The funds will be used for brand creation and improvements of VGift's customized gift services. VGift went online this October but remains in closed beta testing pending its public launch scheduled for November 21. Currently operated by a team of 60, VGift expects to have more than 100 employees by the end of 2011. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-14/article/51256/b2c_e_commerce_firm_vgift_wins_vc_funding http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-14/article/51256/b2c_e_commerce_firm_vgift_wins_vc_funding Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:44:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Marbridge Consulting Companies in Greater China are lining up to sell shares in initial public offerings in coming months, braving jittery markets with $11.2 billion in deals. Issuers are betting the steep rebound in Hong Kong and Chinese markets in the past month might signal renewed appetite for offerings that would provide funding for expansion and takeovers. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/11/greaterchina-ipos-idUSL3E7MB0V920111111 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/11/greaterchina-ipos-idUSL3E7MB0V920111111 Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:42:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Reuters Wu Xiaoguang, senior VP of internet giant Tencent, said yesterday that the company has firmly committed itself to further investment in the logistics industry. Details revealed by a source within Tencent's e-commerce division suggest that over the coming 5 years, the company plans to put tens of millions of RMB into developing profitable and long-term B2C logistics partners. Wu said that following a year of investments, mergers and restructuring, Tencent's e-commerce operations now revolve around its B2B2C e-commerce platform QQ Buy (buy.qq.com), QQ Mall (mall.qq.com), and the company's B2C & C2C e-commerce platform, Paipai.com. Of those, QQ Buy partners mainly with independent B2C sites, QQ Mall primarily with traditional brands, and Paipai with individual entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-10/article/51191/tencent_to_invest_in_logistics_industry http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-10/article/51191/tencent_to_invest_in_logistics_industry Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:24:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Marbridge Consulting Lashou, one of China’s leading daily-deal sites, has filed for IPO on the heels of Groupon’s successful debut. Lashou aims to list on Monday, November 14. Lashou, which recorded a net loss of $89.7 in the first nine months of 2011, aims to raise $80 million. To shore up investor confidence, investors and executives pledged to buy shares at the issue price, which is listed a $13-15 in the roadshow presentation. http://www.businessinsider.com/lashou-ipo-roadshow-slideshare-2011-11 http://www.businessinsider.com/lashou-ipo-roadshow-slideshare-2011-11 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:18:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Business Insider Sina Corp, operator of one of China's largest portal website and popular social platform Weibo.com, said yesterday it will continue to invest to develop the Twitter-like microblog service even after it posted the largest quarterly loss. The company's advertising revenue climbed but the rise was overshadowed by increasing costs in product development and marketing fees as well as a write-down of its equity investments. http://www.china.org.cn/business/2011-11/10/content_23872083.htm http://www.china.org.cn/business/2011-11/10/content_23872083.htm Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:40:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment China.org.cn After talking about his Xiaomi phone a bit earlier, Lei Jun moved on to share more of his entrepreneurial story. Lei Jun revealed that he has invested in 20 companies so far and about 17 or 18 of them have received VC funding, to a sum total of US$1 billion USD. TechCrunch moderator Sarah Lacy double checked to see if the figure was $100 million but Lei Jun confirmed he hadn’t misspoken and that the sum is $1 billion. (There’s often confusion between Chinese and English translation when it comes to numbers.) http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/01/lei-jun-vc-funding/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/01/lei-jun-vc-funding/ Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:33:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Penn Olson The Chinese Groupon wants to hold hands, but there are reasons investors might want to keep their distance. Lashou Group Inc., whose name translates as "hand-in-hand," has certainly demonstrated explosive growth. A shift from zero paying customers when the website was launched in March 2010 to 3.3 million in the third quarter of 2011 is the main draw for investors as the company plans a $100 million Nasdaq listing. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203716204577015122929227252.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203716204577015122929227252.html Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:10:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Wall Street Journal Things MUST be looking real good when capital is flowing into a country. And in China, Dow Jones says that a whopping $1.3 billion was invested in 89 venture-backed companies in Q3 2011. That is a 84 percent increase in investment and a 19 percent increase in deal flow over the same period last year. IPOs dropped a little though, perhaps partially attributable to the VIE that scares so many companies in China, causing them to stay put with their IPO plans. A total of 29 IPOs raised $4.6 billion in Q3 2011 compared with 33 IPOs that raised $3.9 billion in the same period in 2010. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/01/130-million-invested-in-15-tech-ventures-in-china-in-q3-2011/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/01/130-million-invested-in-15-tech-ventures-in-china-in-q3-2011/ Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:44:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Penn Olson President Obama’s National Export Initiative, which calls for a doubling of the nation's exports to support creating two million jobs in the next five years, was launched to encourage small businesses to grow through exporting. And while the idea of expanding into foreign markets can seem daunting for small and midsize businesses, the launch of Export Now (www.exportnow.com) is looking to change this with a first-of-its-kind, e-commerce solution to help businesses efficiently and inexpensively export to China. Export Now: • Allows U.S. companies of any size to grow revenue and compete in foreign markets through exporting. • Eliminates the biggest challenges of doing business abroad by bridging the cultural and financial gaps of complex foreign markets. • Distributes goods via its exclusive store on Tmall.com, while simultaneously listing them on Taobao.com, the largest B2C platform in the world (last year more than 370 million people used Taobao.com, spending over $60 billion on China’s largest, fastest-growing e-commerce marketplace). The Export Now launch event will include an introduction about growth opportunities through exporting and new technologies to make exporting easier, as well as an Export Now product demonstration and discussion on the importance and ease of exporting for U.S. businesses from Export Now founder Frank Lavin. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111109006336/en/Export-Launch-Pioneering-Export-E-Commerce-Solution-Washington http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111109006336/en/Export-Launch-Pioneering-Export-E-Commerce-Solution-Washington Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:19:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Business Wire When Etao made its first dubut in late last year, Taobao positioned and touted the service as a price engine for online buyers. Taobao spun off Etao as an independent company in an aim to serve the best interests of online hunters by helping them find the best deal online through price comparison and more. In this month, Alibaba announced investing US$ 157 million (RMB 1 billion) into the Taobao portfolio, aiming to help boosting 3rd party ecommerce sites’ online exposure and traffic. http://www.businessinsider.com/etao-from-price-engine-to-decision-engine-2011-11 http://www.businessinsider.com/etao-from-price-engine-to-decision-engine-2011-11 Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:27:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Business Insider China's largest shopping website Taobao faced another risk to its reputation Sunday while still recovering from the damages caused by October protests by its small-scale merchants over membership fee hike. Shopping frenzy on the November 11 Single's Day drove the trading volume of Taobao Mall (Tmall) to 3.36 billion yuan ($530 million), quadrupling that of the same day last year, with merchants offering 50 percent discount to capitalize on the occasion. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90882/7643716.html http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90882/7643716.html Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:26:00 GMT TaoBao in the News People's Daily Online Expanding into foreign markets just became easier with today’s launch of Export Now (www.exportnow.com), which provides a one-stop, e-commerce solution to help businesses of any size efficiently, and inexpensively export to China. Export Now launched its solution today at an event in Washington, D.C., that featured Francisco J. Sánchez, Under Secretary for International Trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce. President Obama’s National Export Initiative, which calls for a doubling of the nation's exports to support creating two million jobs in the next five years, was launched to encourage small businesses to grow through exporting. And while the idea of entering foreign markets can seem daunting, the launch of Export Now eliminates the biggest challenges of doing business abroad by affordably bridging the cultural and financial gaps of complex foreign markets, such as China. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111114006600/en/Export-Launches-Pioneering-E-Commerce-Export-Solution http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111114006600/en/Export-Launches-Pioneering-E-Commerce-Export-Solution Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:20:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Business Wire As part of the ongoing Export Expert series hosted by the World Trade Center Utah, former Under Secretary of Trade for the U.S. Department of Commerce Frank Lavin engaged a large, attentive audience of Utah companies with a clear and valuable guide to exporting their products. Frank Lavin began his presentation by describing three key developments in the world economy, all of which should provide companies with a significant incentive to seriously consider exporting. Those three factors include the emergence of three billion new customers as China and later India, move into market economies; the death of distance, referring to the rapid decline of geography as a constraint on business; and the erosion of trade barriers through various free trade agreements. http://utahpulse.com/bookmark/16377777-Trade-Expert-Frank-Lavin-Identifies-the-%E2%80%9CFive-Cs%E2%80%9D-of-Exporting http://utahpulse.com/bookmark/16377777-Trade-Expert-Frank-Lavin-Identifies-the-%E2%80%9CFive-Cs%E2%80%9D-of-Exporting Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:24:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Utah Pulse In the West, November 11th isn’t much of a holiday, although it may soon be celebrated among gamers as the day that Skyrim was released. But in China, the day is a celebration of singledom, the anti-Valentine’s day, chosen because the date is 11/11. This year, Alibaba’s Tmall and some other online retailers have planned pretty significant sales for today, and it seems pretty clear that Chinese customers have taken notice. We’ve heard from the folks at Alibaba that in just the first hour of the sale, Tmall has taken in 439,000,000 RMB (about $68 million). Moreover, this was the hour between 12:00 and 1:00 AM, meaning that it was only the nighthawks who were up late making their sale-priced purchases. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/11/just-an-hour-in-tmalls-1111-sale-earned-439-million-rmb/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/11/just-an-hour-in-tmalls-1111-sale-earned-439-million-rmb/ Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:23:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Penn Olson Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Softbank Corp. are talking with private-equity funds about making a bid for all of Yahoo! Inc. without the company’s blessing, people with knowledge of the matter said. Alibaba and Softbank, in an effort to buy back stakes owned by Yahoo, have grown impatient with a lack of progress in direct talks with the company, said the people, who asked not to be named because the negotiations are private. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-10/alibaba-softbank-said-to-seek-partners-for-yahoo-purchase.html http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-10/alibaba-softbank-said-to-seek-partners-for-yahoo-purchase.html Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:20:00 GMT TaoBao in the News BusinessWeek Export Now will work with e-commerce giant Alibaba to list U.S. companies’ products on two sites focused on online Chinese consumers. Aspire to sell products in China but not sure how to get started? Export Now is offering a new e-commerce service that is specifically focused on small and midsize businesses hoping to export their goods into China. The company is making its formal launch this month. Essentially, Export Now will act as your company’s export partner, accepting goods on consignment that it will sell through a store called Tmall.com (warning, the site is in Chinese) and on Taobao.com, which is basically the biggest business-to-consumer Internet platform in the world. Tmall is run by Internet giant Alibaba; it has roughly 370 million registered customers. http://www.zdnet.com/blog/small-business-matters/e-commerce-player-helps-small-companies-make-china-connection/638 http://www.zdnet.com/blog/small-business-matters/e-commerce-player-helps-small-companies-make-china-connection/638 Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:12:00 GMT TaoBao in the News ZDNet Exporting isn’t just for big companies and manufacturers. Exporting can be an affordable, efficient solution for businesses of any size - and Frank Lavin has advice for businesses interested in learning how. Many businesses are seeing protracted, slow growth - but there are considerable opportunities available by accessing international markets. Exporting has become increasingly necessary to ensure growth, and recent advancements in technology and policy are making it easier than ever before to expand abroad. http://utahpulse.com/bookmark/16278283-WTC-Utah-Export-Expert-Series-Export-Now-with-Frank-Lavin http://utahpulse.com/bookmark/16278283-WTC-Utah-Export-Expert-Series-Export-Now-with-Frank-Lavin Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:12:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Utah Pulse Yunfeng Capital, Silver Lake and other investors completed the purchase of a 5 percent stake in Alibaba Group, parent of listed Alibaba.com Ltd, worth $1.6 billion on November 1, a source told Reuters on Thursday. The source declined to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media. http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Yunfeng+Silver+Lake+complete+billion+Alibaba+stake/5652310/story.html http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Yunfeng+Silver+Lake+complete+billion+Alibaba+stake/5652310/story.html Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:11:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Vancouver Sun In 2005, when the scrappy Chinese e-commerce company Taobao was locked in battle with eBay for control of the lucrative China market, Jack Ma, the former English teacher who founded Taobao parent company Alibaba, confidently predicted that victory would be his: "Ebay may be a shark in the ocean, but I am a crocodile in the Yangtze River. If we fight in the ocean, we lose - but if we fight in the river, we win." He was not only right, he underestimated his company's potential. Taobao (which means "searching for treasure" in Mandarin) isn't a mere crocodile today, it's a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Or a mutant creature from another planet hell-bent on global domination. Point is, it's big - very big. Just eight years after its launch, Taobao has 370 million registered users across its three main platforms - more than the entire population of the United States. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2098451,00.html?iid=ent-category-mostpop1 http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2098451,00.html?iid=ent-category-mostpop1 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:10:00 GMT TaoBao in the News TIME At yesterday’s eTao press conference here in Beijing, there was a Q&A session in which Professor Zeng Ming, chief strategist at Alibaba group, made a comment that caught my attention. He said that the e-commerce industry in China is getting very competitive because the barrier of entry is low. He also admitted that Taobao might run out of steam one day and lose its market leadership which he said has caused him and his team "sleepless nights" (which sure sounds familiar). http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/03/ecommerce-in-china-is-competitive-taobao/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/03/ecommerce-in-china-is-competitive-taobao/ Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:09:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Penn Olson Alibaba Group’s Taobao websites are virtually synonymous with online shopping in China, but one venture capitalist with experience navigating the Chinese Internet says that may not always be the case. In China e-commerce is all about discount shopping, said Hurst Lin, general partner at venture capital firm DCM and former COO of Chinese web portal and microblog operator Sina, but that won’t last. Mr. Lin believes that in several years, Chinese consumers will have more discerning taste and that online retailers with the best design and branding will challenge the dominance of Alibaba Group’s Taobao websites. http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2011/11/02/dcm-partner-taobao-discount-model-not-the-future-of-chinese-e-commerce/ http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2011/11/02/dcm-partner-taobao-discount-model-not-the-future-of-chinese-e-commerce/ Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:09:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Wall Street Journal Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. said Wednesday it will invest 1 billion yuan to drive traffic to its eTao. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203804204577013161566906008.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203804204577013161566906008.html Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:08:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Wall Street Journal We’ve heard from sources in the industry that Alibaba is indeed ready to roll out its online payment platform internationally – in fact, it’ll come as soon as within two or three weeks, and it’ll almost certainly be called Alipay Express. It looks set to be hugely disruptive – especially to Paypal – as it brings the world’s largest such service to a global user-ship for the first time. According to the same source that’s familiar with the matter, one major, recognisable brand of bank is onboard with Alipay Express already, and will be the one to launch it later this month. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/01/alipay-express-global/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/01/alipay-express-global/ Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:07:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Penn Olson According to figures released by Hangzhou-based C2C & B2C e-commerce site Taobao, China's online shopping services market had a total scale of RMB 2 bln in 2010. Taobao expects transaction volume to reach RMB 5 bln this year, up 150% YoY, and a total market scale of RMB 12.5 bln in 2012. The report from Taobao showed that Taobao vendors used e-commerce tools including software applications, outsourced online store management, data analysis, quality monitoring, sales services, photo models, consulting and training services, and HR for supply chain, finance, and legal representation, among other services. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-01/article/50914/chinas_2010_online_shopping_service_market_reaches_rmb_2_bln http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-11-01/article/50914/chinas_2010_online_shopping_service_market_reaches_rmb_2_bln Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:06:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Marbridge Consulting Nie Linhai, deputy commercial counselor of the ministry’s Department of Electronic Commerce and Informatization, said the ministry "suspect Taobao Mall may have held a monopoly", the report said. Anyone into competition law might realize that the quote makes no sense. What’s actually going on here is that the e-commerce giant is being accused of abusing its dominant market position (Taobao might host as much as 70+% of online retail), which is one kind of monopolistic conduct prohibited under China’s Anti-monopoly Law. http://www.businessinsider.com/taobao-accused-of-being-a-monopoly-not-exactly-2011-11 http://www.businessinsider.com/taobao-accused-of-being-a-monopoly-not-exactly-2011-11 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:05:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Business Insider Typing "Austria" in the search engine of China's popular online shop Taobao.com will yield 690,595 products (data at 11:00 am, Nov 1, 2011), including accessories, stamps, coins and clothes. Among all the products, most are Austria's crystal products, as 248,676 necklaces, 120,559 pairs of earrings, 58,782 bracelets, and 83,309 pendants are available. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-11/01/content_14016805.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-11/01/content_14016805.htm Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:04:00 GMT TaoBao in the News China Daily Chinese industry regulators are studying whether Taobao Mall engaged in a monopoly, after a group of small and medium-sized vendors launched a protest last month against the country's largest business-to-consumer (B2C) site. The Ministry of Commerce suspects Taobao Mall may have held a monopoly, Nie Linhai, deputy commercial counselor of the ministry's Department of Electronic Commerce and Informatization, told China Daily on Monday. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-11/01/content_14011964.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-11/01/content_14011964.htm Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:42:00 GMT TaoBao in the News China Daily The new US Commerce Secretary, John Bryson, is travelling to China along with US Trade Representative Ron Kirk for a meeting of the US-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT), an official announcement said on Tuesday. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan would represent his country at the 22nd session of this annual meeting, the last of which was held in Washington. http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5597622 http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5597622 Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:22:00 GMT Other China News MSN India The Ministry of Public Security has launched a nationwide campaign to crack down on online black markets selling illegal goods including weapons and human organs, the ministry said Monday. The campaign, to last till February next year, is to investigate and punish online trafficking of items such as guns, explosives, some kinds of knives, highly poisonous chemicals, wiretapping software, fake identity cards, counterfeit money, personal information and human organs, the ministry said in a statement. The police will not only shut down websites that are implicated or punish their owners, but suspend related phone numbers and online accounts and impose penalties on the offenders, the statement said. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/china/2011-11/14/content_14093766.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/china/2011-11/14/content_14093766.htm Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:25:00 GMT Other China News China Daily US e-commerce shipping alternative EquaShip has formed important new partnerships with two major online retail platforms, Vendio and ShipWorks. The alliances were unveiled this week as the Seattle-based company started its very first deliveries in association with its logistics partner Blue Package, Inc. http://postandparcel.info/43619/news/equaship-parcel-shipping-service-adds-major-e-commerce-partners/ http://postandparcel.info/43619/news/equaship-parcel-shipping-service-adds-major-e-commerce-partners/ Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:23:00 GMT Other China News Post and Parcel Within 21 minutes, Taobao had already processed over 200 million Yuan ($31.5 million) in purchases. The sudden overload of shoppers actually crashed their payment system for about an hour and a half, according to Taobao's Weibo. http://www.businessinsider.com/super-singles-day-black-friday-of-china-2011-11 http://www.businessinsider.com/super-singles-day-black-friday-of-china-2011-11 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:22:00 GMT Other China News Business Insider many foreign-born Chinese now flocking to China — Shanghai in particular — eager to get a piece of the economic pie. But what does it mean when your parents fled this place half a century ago in search of a better life, and you’ve now returned seeking the same thing? http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2011/11/10/u-s-born-chinese-back-in-china-to-set-up-shop/ http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2011/11/10/u-s-born-chinese-back-in-china-to-set-up-shop/ Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:39:00 GMT Other China News Wall Street Journal South China, defined here as the area of Guangdong Province within a 100-kilometer radius of Hong Kong, is also known as the Pearl River Delta (PRD), including the largest exhibition centres in Dongguan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Shunde as well as Hong Kong and Macau. Last year, 242 major B2B trade fairs were held in the region, an increase up from the 228 of 2009 and close to the high of 250 trade fairs held in 2007. The 2010 figure is still considerably higher than the 196 trade fairs held in 2006. The figure in 2005 was just 166. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111108005886/en/Exhibitions-Market-South-China-Examined-BSG-Report http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111108005886/en/Exhibitions-Market-South-China-Examined-BSG-Report Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:18:00 GMT Other China News Business Wire The Wall Street Journal’s extensive poll of Chinese millionaires found more than half are either considering emigrating or have already taken the steps to do so. What does that say about China’s stability? The findings are "highlighting worries among the business elite about their quality of life and financial prospects, despite the country’s fast-paced growth," writes Jeremy Page of the Wall Street Journal. "Many Chinese who have profited most from the country’s growth also express increasing concerns in private about social issues such as China’s one-child policy, food safety, pollution, corruption, poor schooling, and a weak legal system." http://www.businessinsider.com/if-china-is-an-economic-miracle-why-are-their-millionaires-leaving-2011-11 http://www.businessinsider.com/if-china-is-an-economic-miracle-why-are-their-millionaires-leaving-2011-11 Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:35:00 GMT Other China News Business Insider The Internet - that 200 million-person, $8 trillion global economy - accounted for 21 percent of GDP growth in the world's largest economies over the last 5 years, McKinsey found in a report released this week. As an entity, it accounts for more GDP than the Spanish or Canadian economies, and it's growing faster than Brazil. As a sector, it is now larger than these countries' agriculture or energy industries. Sweeping statements about the size and growth of the Internet are tough to swallow. http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/11/the-8-trillion-internet-mckinseys-bold-attempt-to-measure-the-e-conomy/247963/ http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/11/the-8-trillion-internet-mckinseys-bold-attempt-to-measure-the-e-conomy/247963/ Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:33:00 GMT Other China News The Atlantic The biggest barrier to starting a company isn’t ideas, funding or experience. It’s excuses. And you can understand why: Starting a company is scary even in Silicon Valley, a place where decades of ecosystem formation have provided entrepreneurs with soft-feathered nest of funding, mentoring and support. Outside the Valley it’s downright terrifying. It’s little wonder that even the best entrepreneurs go through a period of doubt and excuses not to take the plunge. So when I hear complaints from entrepreneurs in other areas of the US or in other countries about how they can’t start companies because there is no angel money, no mentors, no employees that will work for a startup, I always wonder how much of these gripes are truly insurmountable odds to new company formation and how much are the grousing of someone looking for someone else to blame. Perhaps someone who likes the idea of starting a company, but doesn’t really want to put in the hours. http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/06/disrupt-beijing-take-aways-how-china-moves-beyond-the-clones/ http://techcrunch.com/2011/11/06/disrupt-beijing-take-aways-how-china-moves-beyond-the-clones/ Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:14:00 GMT Other China News TechCrunch Demand for fast growth is driving multinational marketers into smaller and smaller cities -- but in China, small is a relative term. China has over 160 cities with a population above one million. The U.S., by comparison, has nine. Most foreign marketers start with Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou and then add provincial capitals, but those markets, known as the first and second- tier cities, cover just a sliver of China's territory. http://adage.com/article/global-news/multinational-marketers-move-chinas-smaller-cities/230791 http://adage.com/article/global-news/multinational-marketers-move-chinas-smaller-cities/230791 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:11:00 GMT Other China News AdAge.com Queen of the Net, Mary Meeker, presented her "Internet Trends" for the year at the Web 2.0 Summit 2011 in San Francisco earlier this month. Meeker’s vision has not changed radically from last year, with an increased emphasis on how much of the tech market is now driven by users outside of the United States. In this article, I’d like to take a look at some of her key points and investigate what they mean for emerging markets, especially within the BRICS countries. Before we dive into the nuts and bolts of her presentation, it is worth keeping in mind that Meeker is a partner at the Silicon Valley venture capital firm of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. She opens her talk with a slide showing the brand names for many of the bigger projects that her company has invested in. With this in mind, one needs to remember that the hype and predictions surrounding anything she says from this point on will also be geared toward the success of the businesses that she has investment in. That said, Meeker has generally been hailed as an internet visionary by much of the financial press, and people tend to listen when she talks. You can find her slides here, and you can watch her talk on Youtube. http://memeburn.com/2011/11/the-rise-of-china-and-other-mega-trends-from-mary-meeker/ http://memeburn.com/2011/11/the-rise-of-china-and-other-mega-trends-from-mary-meeker/ Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:32:00 GMT Other China News Memeburn Imagine you're taking a walk down Nanjing road in Shanghai. Start at People's square. This expansive parade ground used to be a horse racing track until the communist party outlawed racing and gambling in 1949 and flattened it for the glory of the new China. Now it's filled with the Mao-jacket clad, elderly survivors of the cultural revolution, who’ve finally reclaimed the space for leisure. They cheerfully sit playing chess and dancing to 1950s classics scratchily playing from an old portable cassette player, impervious to people walking past. Dodge the gridlock of new cars as you're crossing the recently constructed six-lane Tibet Rd onto Nanjing road proper. Quite suddenly, thousands of black haired people bustle around you humming like bees in this hive of neon stimulation. Families gaze in wonder at a blue illuminated aquarium window display in a department store. A giant screen blares advertisements 20 metres above your head. Young people in brightly coloured outfits sit in Starbucks, laughing over iced coffee and comparing bargains. http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/consumerist-china-it-sustainable http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/consumerist-china-it-sustainable Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:07:00 GMT Other China News Climate Spectator Tencent Holdings Ltd., China’s biggest Internet company by sales, is seeking more social games and e-commerce applications from third-party developers. The company is "marching to open" its site to external developers, Tencent Chief Executive Officer Ma Huateng said at the TechCrunch conference in Beijing today. Tencent is adding partners to expand its range of services to counter competition from Chinese rivals such as Baidu Inc., Sina Corp. and Renren Inc. Shenzhen, China-based Tencent will double a fund that invests in technology developers to 10 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) to search for new content and services and expand its user base, founder Ma said in June. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-30/tencent-seeks-games-e-commerce-apps-from-third-parties.html http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-30/tencent-seeks-games-e-commerce-apps-from-third-parties.html Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:25:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments BusinessWeek Sitoa Global, an e-commerce facilitator, today announced that Chunjie365.com, the Company's first China marketplace has officially launched. Chunjie365, which utilizes the Sitoa Focused Social Marketplace platform, and began the buildout in July 2011, has officially launched its e-commerce site. Chunjie365 has partnered with several U.S. and Asian specialty product manufacturers to offer gift items via the Chunjie365.com e-commerce site and launches with over 300 products and is expected to scale to over 500 products by the end of 2011. http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7B2ecbc911-a4d6-40cd-9683-40705ca5471d%7D http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7B2ecbc911-a4d6-40cd-9683-40705ca5471d%7D Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:42:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Menafn Founded by husband and wife team Jonathan and Danielle Jenkins, OrderWithMe is a group buying site specifically designed for the small Western businesses who are having trouble navigating the somewhat unintelligible world of Chinese manufacturers. By allowing companies to buy in bulk, OrderWithMe can offer the same deals that larger retailers get, which means up to 70% discounts on fashion and furniture items. Co-founder Jenkins came up with the idea for OrderWithMe when - as a merchant himself - he realized that bulk, factory-level information from sites like Alibaba was of little help to an American small business. Instead of a choice of 35K handbags, Jenkins needed something that would narrow down inventory selection to only the hundred most popular. OrderWithMe differentiates itself from Alibaba by offering a skill that is increasingly more valuable, a crash course in "how to handle China" for Americans. http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/31/orderwithme-offers-wholesale-group-buying-for-small-businesses/ http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/31/orderwithme-offers-wholesale-group-buying-for-small-businesses/ Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:33:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments TechCrunch Just as the Sirens of Greek mythology lured sailors to their doom on a rocky coast, China's fast-growing Web has drawn Western companies to its shores, where they have seen their business hopes dashed in a treacherous market. Until recently, eBay was among the disappointed. Eight years ago, it paid $150 million to buy China's top e-commerce site, EachNet, then plowed an additional $100 million into its operations. But it was foiled by local rivals who offered similar services for free. In 2006, eBay handed over its operation to a competitor in a joint venture. But eBay, based in San Jose, Calif., reinvented itself in China by turning to a model that is helping it and its online payment business PayPal navigate the new Internet world. A few years ago, the company quietly resurrected its China business by letting exporters of everything from wedding dresses to camera equipment sell directly to eBay's 97 million overseas users. "We asked ourselves, 'How can we participate in the Chinese e-commerce market?'" said Jeff Liao, CEO of eBay Greater China. "The answer is so obvious: Play to our strengths, leverage our global franchise." http://www.startribune.com/business/132789033.html http://www.startribune.com/business/132789033.html Sat, 29 Oct 2011 20:44:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Minneapolis Star Tribune Snack-oriented B2C websites, as a representative of a batch of low-cost ecommerce websites in the Chinese mainland, have taken the lead to quit the market. Ximi.com, a Beijing-based snack-oriented B2C website, shut down on October 26. Prior to this, a list of such websites including Itiaoshi.com had closed in succession. According to industry observers, the most direct reason for them to make such a decision is the high logistics fee. http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7B4cfc5749-72e3-47b7-b560-6135174cc40a%7D http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7B4cfc5749-72e3-47b7-b560-6135174cc40a%7D Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:43:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Menafn The Shanghai local portal website eastday.com launched its sub-website In-Shanghai (www.sh.com.cn) today as a new milestone for this media giant Eastday to stride into e-commerce. In-Shanghai is a B2B & B2B2C online shopping service featured with Shanghai time-honored brand commodity of 4500 types. It is their ambition to integrate all the 180 local enterprises on this platform, which enjoys the fame of China Time-honored Brand. During that time, In-Shanghai would further culture packing these products to make these old brands popular again among Shanghai citizen. http://english.eastday.com/e/111028/u1a6175190.html http://english.eastday.com/e/111028/u1a6175190.html Fri, 28 Oct 2011 04:51:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments EastDay.com Amazon.com Inc, the world's largest e-commerce company by market share, on Thursday announced the opening of its latest order-fulfillment center in Kunshan, Jiangsu province. The company expects to double the total area of its fulfillment centers in China next year to compete with its domestic rivals in the world's largest Internet market. The new center, the largest in the country and situated near Shanghai, occupies a space of more than 120,000 square meters, making it the company's largest fulfillment center outside the United States. The total area of Amazon's fulfillment facilities in China was only 14,000 sq m in 2004, when it bought the Chinese company Joyo.com. That has now been increased to 400,000 sq m. According to Onetto, Amazon hopes to provide Chinese customers with even faster delivery times than those seen in the US, because of the intense competition from Chinese e-commerce websites such as Taobao.com and 360buy.com. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-10/28/content_13992078.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-10/28/content_13992078.htm Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:49:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Daily A representative from the Chinese B2C retail website has confirmed that the company plans to launch its luxury website Toplife.com in November 2011. Online recruitment information of 360buy.com shows that the company is hiring a luxury goods procurement director, whose responsibilities include establishing and developing suppliers and sales channels. The company also requires the director to be familiar with the supply channels and market changes of different products and optimize the product categories of the company. At the end of 2010, 360buy.com's chairman and chief executive officer Liu Qiangdong said that the company may use the domain Toplife.com to launch a luxury website. In May 2011, Liu visited several American luxury branded stores and said the company will do a careful study. http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/10/26/15726-360buy-com-finally-launching-luxury-retail-website-in-china http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/10/26/15726-360buy-com-finally-launching-luxury-retail-website-in-china Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:30:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments ChinaTechNews.com While group-buying has slowed down in China, upcoming new start-up Qianpin is focusing on making e-commerce a localized experience. No group-buy or auction here, but instead Qianpin makes an effort to get merchandisers on board, offer discounted items (which can be purchased by oneself) and localization. In an interview with Sohu IT, Qianpin says that group-buy growth in China has dropped in recent months, and Chinese consumers are getting less impulsive and more rational when buying stuff online. Qianpin also explains that group-buying can no longer meet consumers’ demand and believes that offering a localized e-commerce experience will benefit users more. Qianpin’s idea is to build a "location-based Taobao" concept in each city in China. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/26/qianpin-localizing-ecommerce-china/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/26/qianpin-localizing-ecommerce-china/ Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:21:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Penn Olson China's perpetually rising costs and currency have, of late, been undermining the country's export industry. But they have also encouraged Chinese clothing retail entrepreneurs to focus on their domestic market - most notably its demographic of Internet-savvy, younger generation consumers. And of course, a key benefit of serving domestic consumers is the ability to create brands and control the whole industrial process, from sourcing materials, to design, manufacture and marketing. Shanghai-based Greenbox, China's leading children's clothing brand and e-commerce platform, is a good example of this. http://www.just-style.com/analysis/chinese-makers-focus-on-markets-closer-to-home_id112511.aspx http://www.just-style.com/analysis/chinese-makers-focus-on-markets-closer-to-home_id112511.aspx Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:14:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments just-style.com Belgium’s bpost international has signed a co-operation agreement with Chinese e-commerce platform Trade2CN. The memorandum of understanding was signed earlier this month as part of a Belgian trade missin to Beijing. It aims to encourage the flow of e-commerce trade between Europe and China, the two companies said. Trade2CN is a kind of eBay-like platform for medium-sized e-retailers, which brings together 40,000 merchants across the country within one marketplace. It is a pilot project backed by China’s ministry of commerce and the ministry’s communications agency CIECC, the China International Electronic Commerce Center. http://postandparcel.info/43137/news/bpost-signs-agreement-with-chinese-e-commerce-platform/ http://postandparcel.info/43137/news/bpost-signs-agreement-with-chinese-e-commerce-platform/ Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:26:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Post and Parcel 360buy – also known as Jingdong Mall – is now China’s second largest B2C online market place. Yesterday afternoon, 360buy announced on its official Sina Weibo account that the company had just received its 100 millionth order. Also, its number of registered customers has reached 28 million. The site sells primarily 3C products, but it has diversified into books as well The order was placed by someone in Changsha, central China, who will, as a reward, get the whole order free of charge. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/20/360buy-100million-orders/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/20/360buy-100million-orders/ Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:09:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Penn Olson Chinese B2C e-commerce website 360buy.com has announced via its official microblog that it plans to recruit 20,000 new e-commerce talents in 2012 to meet the development demands of the company. The newly recruited employees will reportedly include 5,000 university graduates, 1,000 software engineers, and 1,000 employees with industry experience. At present, 360buy.com has over 13,000 employees, working at various departments like procurement, development, logistics, sales, and marketing. Liu Qiangdong, chairman and chief executive officer of 360buy.com, said that training a core e-commerce team at the beginning of the business is the major competitiveness of the company. http://www.chinaretailnews.com/2011/10/20/5179-online-retailer-plans-big-chinese-hiring-spree/ http://www.chinaretailnews.com/2011/10/20/5179-online-retailer-plans-big-chinese-hiring-spree/ Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:33:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments ChinaRetailNews.com Scan a product's barcode and your mobile phone will immediately present you with a website where you can order the product, with no need to type in the name or search. It may sound futuristic, but the technology is already in place in three major Chinese cities, with commuters now able to order snacks and daily commodities with a special application installed on their mobile phones. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-10/20/c_131202960.htm http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-10/20/c_131202960.htm Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:37:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Xinhua Things MUST be looking real good when capital is flowing into a country. And in China, Dow Jones says that a whopping $1.3 billion was invested in 89 venture-backed companies in Q3 2011. That is a 84 percent increase in investment and a 19 percent increase in deal flow over the same period last year. IT and software companies raised $130 million in 15 deals which is twice the number of deals and thrice the capital raised during the same period last year. The IT industry also saw four IPOs in the third quarter which include popular video share website Tudou. Other Chinese tech companies prepping for IPO are Vancl, 360Buy, Lashou (reportedly filed today), 55Tuan, and YY.com. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/01/130-million-invested-in-15-tech-ventures-in-china-in-q3-2011/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/11/01/130-million-invested-in-15-tech-ventures-in-china-in-q3-2011/ Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:48:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Penn Olson China's leading daily-deals website Lashou Group plans to raise up to $100 million in an initial public offering on the Nasdaq to expand its marketing efforts and delivery systems, according to a filing to the stock exchange. Lashou, which was launched in March 2010, operates in 500 cities or towns in China. Its business model is like Groupon Inc, where users buy discounted deals from merchants who have revenue-sharing agreements with Lashou. China's group buying sector is intensely competitive and saturated with more than a thousand group buying websites and Lashou faces an uphill battle to win a lion's share, analysts say. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/01/us-lashou-ipo-idUSTRE7A00YF20111101 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/01/us-lashou-ipo-idUSTRE7A00YF20111101 Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:46:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Reuters With two years' rapid development, China's luxury B2C sector has entered a new stage of consolidation and ferocious level of competition. As an industry leader, Vipstore.com has raised tens of millions of dollars in a new round of financing led by Intel Capital, as part of the company's plan to enhance its footprint in the Chinese market. Other investors participating in the financing include GSR Ventures, Taishan Angel Fund, Litian Investment and HGI Capital. Even without considering the capital funding, one thing for certain is that Vipstore.com, established in 2009, is alleged to be the largest luxury B2C e-commerce firm in China and has, like Gilt, adopted the flash or limited time sale model. The firm has organized over 4,500 online sales events featuring top, second and third-tier internationally known brands, and more than one thousand designer brands. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brand-kingdom-of-chinas-gilt-vipstorecoms-vertical-integration-strategy-132972663.html http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brand-kingdom-of-chinas-gilt-vipstorecoms-vertical-integration-strategy-132972663.html Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:46:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment PR Newswire The Chinese online downloads and entertainment portal YY.com is looking to IPO in the US next year, and thereby raise between 100 to 200 million dollars. According to local media reports, Credit Suisse has been appointed to arrange it. In the past, YY has attracted investment from Morningside Ventures, Disney’s Steamboat Ventures, and GGV. It has raised at least US$33 million since its founding in 2005. YY claims 120 million registered users, and as such is a huge digital entertainment portal. Its primary products include YY mobile and desktop IM, a small-scale e-commerce site that uses its own virtual currency, YY Music, online social gaming, and an education portal. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/28/yy-duowan-ipo/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/28/yy-duowan-ipo/ Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:35:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Penn Olson Hong Kong-listed Tencent Holdings Ltd. (0700.HK) is in talks to buy a stake in Chinese social networking company Happy Networks Ltd., owner of Facebook-like social networking site Kaixin001, people familiar with the matter said. Terms are still being finalized, one of the people said, but would involve Tencent initially spending about US$40 million to buy an ... http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20111026-704081.html http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20111026-704081.html Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:07:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Wall Street Journal China’s largest online business-to-customer (B2C) website Jingdong Mall (360buy.com) is still in the process of appointing underwriters for its U.S. initial public offering and the company hasn’t officially begun its IPO, according to a source close to the matter. "If Jingdong Mall files for IPO now, it won’t be approved until next year," the source told the 21st Century Business Herald. "This is not a good time for a company to debut on the U.S. stock market, since the market is sluggish recently, so the newly listed company will either fail to raise [enough] money or will be undervalued by market". 360buy is talking to "reputable" foreign investment banks, and may more appoint more than 1 to underwrite its IPO, the source said. According to earlier media reports, 360buy is looking to raise $4 billion-$5 billion through the IPO. http://en.21cbh.com/HTML/2011-10-22/xMMjUyXzIxMTExMQ.html http://en.21cbh.com/HTML/2011-10-22/xMMjUyXzIxMTExMQ.html Sat, 22 Oct 2011 17:54:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Business China Google is the latest company to be connected to a potential buyout of troubled Yahoo Inc. The search giant has talked to at least two equity firms about helping it acquire a chunk of Yahoo, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal, which sites an unnamed source close to the matter. The talks are said to still be in the early stages, and no serious offers have been made, but the play would be for Yahoo’s "core business." The Wall Street Journal’s source said that a formal proposal hasn’t been assembled, and it’s possible Google could end up not even perusing a bid. http://venturebeat.com/2011/10/22/google-considers-financing-deal-for-a-yahoo-buyout/ http://venturebeat.com/2011/10/22/google-considers-financing-deal-for-a-yahoo-buyout/ Sat, 22 Oct 2011 10:25:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment VentureBeat The Chinese tea leaf B2C e-commerce platform Maimaicha.com, which is operated by Shandong Huaxia Chalian, has announced that it has completed its A-round financing and gained nearly CNY100 million investments from four organizations in China. As one of the four investors, Luxin Venture Capital reportedly confirmed the news and said its wholly-owned subsidiary signed an agreement with Huaxia Chalian on October 10, 2011, to invest CNY20 million to acquire CNY1.932 million new registered capital of Huaxia Chalian, accounting for 10.26% of its total registered capital after the investment increase. http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/10/20/15698-chinese-tea-leaf-b2c-platform-gains-cny100-million-investment http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/10/20/15698-chinese-tea-leaf-b2c-platform-gains-cny100-million-investment Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:23:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment ChinaTechNews.com For the last five years, China-based companies listed in major US exchanges have been on the radar of momentum investors, sending the stocks of these companies soaring: Baidu Inc up 1000 percent; Sohu.com, Netease, and Sina up 300 percent. Lately, these stocks are off the investor radar, as these companies have come under the scrutiny of both, US and Chinese regulators; and new IPOs like Renren, E-Commerce China, and Tudou have failed to excite investors. One of the items regulators have been looking is a controversial Chinese corporate structure, Variable Interest Entity (VIE). This structure has allowed Chinese companies to list their shares in US Exchanges through "reverse mergers" — a practice that has drawn the scrutiny of US regulators, due to a string of accounting irregularities among these companies. Now, VIEs have come under the scrutiny of Chinese regulators, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), which has asked the State Council to take action against VIEs. http://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2011/10/18/is-time-to-buy-the-next-chinese-amazon-com-at-a-deep-discount/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2011/10/18/is-time-to-buy-the-next-chinese-amazon-com-at-a-deep-discount/ Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:56:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Forbes Chinese industry regulators are studying whether Taobao Mall engaged in a monopoly, after a group of small and medium-sized vendors launched a protest last month against the country's largest business-to-consumer (B2C) site. The Ministry of Commerce suspects Taobao Mall may have held a monopoly, Nie Linhai, deputy commercial counselor of the ministry's Department of Electronic Commerce and Informatization, told China Daily on Monday. He added that the ministry is discussing this issue with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and National Development and Reform Commission. This is the first official response to questions that were raised over whether Taobao Mall abused its dominant position in the market by raising fees it charged vendors. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-11/01/content_14011964.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-11/01/content_14011964.htm Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:44:00 GMT TaoBao in the News China Daily Ecommerce in China is ready to take off and, more important, it’s ready to reach great heights on its own terms. Lu Dong of La Mui, Haifeng Ye of Mbaobao, and Fangfang Wu of Greenbox are three ecommerce pioneers who are, as we speak, redefining online sales in China. "China is ready for ecommerce," said Lu Dong. "People are moving to buying almost anything online." Haifeng Ye agreed. "We have a greater opportunity here in the Chinese market to make something new. In america the ecommerce market is quite established," he said. "We can use ecommerce to build a new retail format." He calls online sales a huge opportunity. The three agreed that the biggest fish in the China ecommerce sea was Taobao and the importance of Taobao as a sales platform in China cannot be ignored. The company helps with settlement, logistics, and service and all three agreed that Taobao is "great." http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/31/why-china-is-ready-for-ecommerce/ http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/31/why-china-is-ready-for-ecommerce/ Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:43:00 GMT TaoBao in the News TechCrunch China's largest business-to-consumer platform, Taobao Mall, recently announced it wouldn't remove blocks on a fake cosmetic trader's online shop despite efforts from the 27-year-old store owner, who abandoned his 90-year-old grandmother at the Hangzhou-based company in an effort to threaten the company, according to reports in the Yangtse Evening News. The grandson, surnamed Ye, began to sell cosmetics on "taobao.com" in 2009 and developed into a double-crowned seller, the second highest level in terms of credibility assessment for traders. However, Taobao administrators received complaints from customers in June that claimed Ye had sold them fake products. Ye admitted he was selling counterfeit cosmetics. Taobao deducted 24 scores from his business evaluation as a preliminary punishment. After that, Taobao administrators continued to receive such appeals. Finally in early July, Taobao deducted 48 scores, a mark to assess a business ineligible and shut it. http://english.cri.cn/6909/2011/10/31/195s665233.htm http://english.cri.cn/6909/2011/10/31/195s665233.htm Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:33:00 GMT TaoBao in the News CRIENGLISH.com In the midst of planning its own possible sale, beleaguered Internet giant Yahoo is exploring a new plan to get rid of its valuable Asian holdings—without having to pay any taxes. According to The Wall Street Journal, the company is considering a strategy called a "cash-rich split-off" that would allow it to sell its 40 percent stake in Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba—valued at $14 billion—tax-free, saving about $5 billion. In order to perform a cash-rich split-off, Alibaba would have to place cash and assets into a newly created subsidiary. The stock from that subsidiary then would be traded for Yahoo’s 40 percent stake. Yahoo would be left with cash and assets, while Alibaba would get its shares back. And because U.S. tax law doesn’t define this transaction as a sale, no taxes would be levied on it. http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/yahoo-looking-unload-14b-alibaba-stake-tax-free-136158 http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/yahoo-looking-unload-14b-alibaba-stake-tax-free-136158 Sat, 29 Oct 2011 01:05:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Adweek Etao is the product search engine that was created by Alibaba Group, China’s biggest e-commerce company. But its origins are cause for reticence among some e-commerce sites. On Tuesday, we reported that 360buy has blocked Etao from crawling and indexing its site. And now the High Street retailer turned e-commerce newcomer Suning has followed suit. Suning’s online store now also blocks Etao’s spiders from cataloging the site. In contrast, both Amazon China and Gome, which is a High Street electronics rival to Suning, are backing Etao.com. Earlier today, at an event for Amazon’s rebranding in China, the regional president, Wang Han-hua, reaffirmed his belief in the usefulness of Alibaba’s product, and said he will not join in with blocking Etao’s web spiders. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/27/etao-suning-360buy-gome/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/27/etao-suning-360buy-gome/ Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:00:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Penn Olson Frank Lavin has spent years giving business owners a single piece of key advice: expand abroad. Over the years, though, the Commerce Department’s former undersecretary for international trade realized this was easier said than done. "To say ‘why don’t you go to Mexico or France or China?’ is really tough," said Lavin, also a former U.S. ambassador to Singapore. "The smaller the company, the less practical it becomes to learn a new language, deal with new tax codes and currencies and to take a huge global risk." Lavin is hoping his new Internet service Export Now can fix that by connecting American businesses with Chinese consumers. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-small-business/post/made-in-america-shipped-to-china/2011/10/19/gIQAqeAAJM_blog.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-small-business/post/made-in-america-shipped-to-china/2011/10/19/gIQAqeAAJM_blog.html Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:26:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Washington Post China’s second-largest B2C e-commerce site, 360Buy – also known as JingDong Mall – appears to have blocked Alibaba’s product search-engine Etao.com from indexing its site. Looking at the ‘robots.txt’ file for 360Buy, it now says "User-agent: EtaoSpider Disallow: /" (pictured above) in a move that signals heightened rivalry between the two companies. Indeed, 360Buy is second in the B2C sector to Alibaba’s own Tmall.com. There are still products from 360Buy listed on the Etao product search results at the moment. Alibaba created Etao.com as an agnostic search engine that, they say, fairly indexes all e-commerce sites. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/25/360buy-blocks-alibaba-etao-search/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/25/360buy-blocks-alibaba-etao-search/ Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:00:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Penn Olson The U.S. economy grew at 0.7 percent in the first half of 2011, yet the average company in the S&P 500 is expected to enjoy 17 percent earnings growth by the end of the year. How are these big companies defying the gravity of slow domestic growth? They’re practicing the fine art of exporting to countries where demand for their products is growing faster than in the U.S. As my co-author, Frank Lavin, and I pointed out in our new book, "Export Now" (Wiley, September 2011), exporting in particular and global trade in general, is politically unpopular. A recent poll shows that 68 percent of the U.S. public believes that "trade restrictions are necessary to protect domestic industries," and only 24 percent support free trade. http://www.telegram.com/article/20111024/COLUMN70/111029861/1002/business http://www.telegram.com/article/20111024/COLUMN70/111029861/1002/business Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:47:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Worcester Telegram According to rumors in the Chinese media, Alibaba’s online payments platform, Alipay, has completed its technical preparation for expanding to global users. In the next one or two months, sources claim, overseas users will be able to use Alipay directly on the company’s own e-commerce sites – Taobao, Tmall, and Alibaba.com – as well as numerous Chinese domestic websites that make use of it for online purchases. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/24/alipay-global/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/24/alipay-global/ Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:03:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Penn Olson E-commerce provides small and midsize businesses opportunity to reach new markets and customers overseas. For businesses overwhelmed by budget and management constraints, e-commerce is an affordable and efficient solution to conduct domestic sales as well as an opportunity to access international markets. And President Barack Obama’s recent National Export Initiative—with the bold goal of doubling U.S. exports in the next five years—has many businesses thinking about, and grappling with, the nuts and bolts of exporting for the first time. While many small and midsize companies understand the potential of international markets and customers to increase revenue, intimidating challenges of doing business abroad remain, including complicated customs regulations, currency, language and cultural differences, among others. Fortunately, exporting through e-commerce can be an affordable, efficient solution for businesses of any size and Ohio native, Frank Lavin, has advice for those that are interested in learning how. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111025005367/en/Frank-Lavin-Discuss-Small-Businesses-Succeed-Overseas http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111025005367/en/Frank-Lavin-Discuss-Small-Businesses-Succeed-Overseas Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:48:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Business Wire China will step up efforts to provide regulation of the online retail market for the first time. The Ministry of Commerce with other government departments, is drawing up regulations on companies entering and exiting the market, improving market rules, and clarifying the rights, responsibilities and obligations of all players, Shen Danyang, a ministry spokesman, said on Wednesday. His remarks came after last week's online protest against the e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. The company had attempted to raise the fees it charges vendors on its business-to-consumer site, Taobao Mall. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-10/20/c_131201941.htm http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-10/20/c_131201941.htm Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:14:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Xinhua Alibaba Group Chairman Jack Ma said Thursday the company will start talking to private equity firms about the possibility of buying U.S. search giant Yahoo Inc. "So many PEs (private equity firms) are talking to us and we will start to talk to them in the next few weeks," Ma said at Asia D, a conference hosted by All Things Digital, an online publishing partner of The Wall Street Journal. He also said that Alibaba is interested in partnering up with U.S. companies though he didn't elaborate. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20111019-719235.html http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20111019-719235.html Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:33:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Wall Street Journal Export Now was founded in 2010 by Frank Lavin, former U.S. Ambassador and Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade. Its purpose is simple. It helps U.S. businesses place their products in China via Taoball Mall, China’s leading B2C shopping site. Export Now has an exclusive store at Taoball Mall to do exactly that. Here are the five steps involved: http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/19/export-now-china/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/19/export-now-china/ Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:36:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Penn Olson Alibaba Group, China’s e-commerce giant, said today that it plans to spin off its Juhuasuan daily deal service from its online shopping site Taobao.com. The announcement may be a prelude to Alibaba’s aggressive expansion in China’s daily-deal market, which reached 42.2 million users in the first half of 2011. http://www.businessinsider.com/alibaba-to-spin-off-its-juhuasuan-daily-deal-business-2011-10 http://www.businessinsider.com/alibaba-to-spin-off-its-juhuasuan-daily-deal-business-2011-10 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:25:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Business Insider The last time Jack Ma was onstage at a D event, he spent a lot of time talking about Yahoo. And this time he’s sure to do the same, since he’s publicly announced his interest in buying the troubled Internet giant. But Ma and his Alibaba Group cover an awful lot of ground in China, from e-commerce to recent excursions in search and beyond, so this should be a wide-ranging interview. http://allthingsd.com/20111019/jack-ma-asiad/ http://allthingsd.com/20111019/jack-ma-asiad/ Sun, 16 Oct 2011 11:05:00 GMT TaoBao in the News All Things Digital China’s transition from a centrally controlled command economy to a market-led economy has got to be one of the most dramatic stories of the 20th century – and certainly one with the most far-reaching consequences. Since Deng Xioping's market reforms of the 1970s, economic growth has lifted the average per capita income significantly, and dragged the poverty rate down from 85 per cent in 1981 to 16 per cent in 2005, as well as widening the rift between rich and poor. China’s population has grown from 93,267,000 in 1976 – the year Mao died – to now include more than 1.27 billion mostly urban dwellers. China has been variously described as the world’s fastest growing economy, the world’s hero during the GFC, the next ‘Great Power,’ and the biggest new market for, well, pretty much everything. But China’s transformation extends beyond the jargon of economists and political scientists. Lives there are different. Values are changing. Power relationships have shifted. Interest in the Communist Party is waning, as it’s state-sponsored successor, the market, takes the limelight. Consumerism is the new ‘ism’ in this world. http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/communist-consumerist-chinas-boom-sustainable http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/communist-consumerist-chinas-boom-sustainable Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:43:00 GMT Other China News Climate Spectator China’s largest online retailers expect sales to as much as triple next year, setting off a rush for warehouse space that’s pushing up rents in the world’s fastest-growing major economy. "Everyone wants more warehouses," Ji Wenhong, chief executive officer of luxury goods seller xiu.com, said in an interview. "Any warehouse bigger than 20,000 square meters will be leased the second it’s out on the market." Wal-Mart Stores Inc.-backed Yihaodian is looking for more space in anticipation of need. 360buy.com, China’s second largest e-commerce company by sales, plans to invest as much as 6 billion yuan ($943 million) over the next three years to build seven distribution centers as the Beijing-based company expects 2011 sales to triple from last year to 30 billion yuan. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-31/china-online-sales-seen-tripling-driving-warehouse-surge-retail.html http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-31/china-online-sales-seen-tripling-driving-warehouse-surge-retail.html Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:22:00 GMT Other China News BusinessWeek Global accounting and consulting firm Deloitte on Thursday released its annual list of China's 50 fastest growing technology companies. China's booming e-commerce industry made a strong showing. Two of the top three spots went to online retailers, with Shanghai-based Yihaodian.com at No. 1 and Jiaxing-based bag retailer Mbaobao.com at No. 3. Beijing-based security technology firm Tendyron, which makes USB keys used in internet banking, placed second. Software developers accounted for 18 percent of this year's list, up from 16 percent in 2010. The e-commerce sector saw massive growth, taking 16 percent of this year's spots, 10 percentage points more than last year. Telecom and internet companies followed with 14 percent. http://www.china.org.cn/business/2011-10/28/content_23753577.htm http://www.china.org.cn/business/2011-10/28/content_23753577.htm Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:14:00 GMT Other China News China.org.cn A few days ago, Mr. Li ordered a Samsung LCD TV. He placed the order at 10 a.m., and was surprised in the afternoon to find that his order had been delivered. When he went home in the evening, the TV arrived at his house. E-commerce is maturing with every passing day. Now that brand awareness, quality, and payment are no longer the center of contention, logistics service is becoming a significant part of competition in E-commerce business. As the above example indicates, the whole logistic process, from user placing order, to commodity selection and packing, and to delivery to the user, is controlled by the logistic information system developed independently by 360buy.com. The dispatching process is even visualized. Mr. Li can see on the webpage the real-time delivery status of his order and even the distance of the package away from his home. This is the result of 360buy.com's substantial upgrade of and investment in its supporting systems such as R&D, logistics, and warehousing. http://en.ce.cn/Insight/201110/28/t20111028_22796408.shtml http://en.ce.cn/Insight/201110/28/t20111028_22796408.shtml Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:01:00 GMT Other China News China Economic Net According to the 27th China Internet Development Report published by China Internet Network Information Center, at the end of December 2010, the number of Chinese netizens had reached 457 million, an increase of 73.3 million compared with the same period in 2009. Nowadays, small and medium sized enterprises continue to join the Internet marketing fray in China. The report shows that 92.7% of Chinese SMEs have connected their businesses with the Internet and the rate is almost 100% for large enterprises. Meanwhile, 43% Chinese enterprises have independent websites or online stores on e-commerce platforms. More and more B2B, B2C websites are springing up to share the benefits of this prosperous market. In contrast to the rapid development of China's Internet sector, the crisis of confidence in the Internet has also raised netizens' concerns. There is a high demand for real and quality information, especially for business users. In Chinese, the word crisis (Wei Ji) is a combination of the word crisis (Wei) with opportunity (Ji). With this in mind, focusing on apparel and textile international trading service and aiming at providing verified factories information and quality third party audit and inspection service for overseas buyers, ShiningHub International Apparel and Textile Service Platform ( www.shininghub.com ) was formally launched on Aug. 8th, 2011 in Beijing, China. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/internet-heat-triggers-international-apparel-and-textile-trade-service-outsourcing-in-china-2011-10-20 http://www.marketwatch.com/story/internet-heat-triggers-international-apparel-and-textile-trade-service-outsourcing-in-china-2011-10-20 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:01:00 GMT Other China News MarketWatch GlobalWebIndex, the world’s most detailed global insight study into behaviour online, has released its first look at social media behaviour of business decision makers. Based in interviews with 17,425 decision makers in 27 markets from July 2009 to June 2011. All those interviewed – across 14 categories and five different sizes of company – had directly made purchase decisions for their organisation. Social Strategy for B2B Marketing 2011, identifies four clear trends: http://www.asiamediajournal.com/pressrelease.php?id=3045 http://www.asiamediajournal.com/pressrelease.php?id=3045 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:35:00 GMT Other China News Asia Media Journal China and Austria are to further promote economic cooperation, leaders of the two countries' trade promotion agencies said at the opening ceremony of the Sino-Austria Connect B2B Seminar in Beijing on Thursday. China is Austria's second largest trade partner after the Europe, and is its largest sales market in Asia, said Christoph Leitl, president of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber. Sino-Austria trade volume reached a history high of over 8 billion euros ($11.48 billion) in 2010, and Austria's exports to China rose about 40 percent that year, said Leitl. In the first half of 2011, Austria's exports to China increased 9.2 percent to 1.5 billion euros, and its imports from the world's second largest economy grew 22.7 percent to 2.9 billion euros, according to Leitl. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2011-10/20/content_13944015.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2011-10/20/content_13944015.htm Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:00:00 GMT Other China News China Daily The China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) has today released a paper entitled 2011 China Group Buy Users Investigative Report which paints a picture of the daily deals landscape in China – and the many dissatisfied users who buy the deals. In total, 42.2 million of China’s 500 million netizens have used group buy sites in the past year and an astonishing 45.6 percent of them have had negative experiences with what they’ve bought. Of course, that’s often an issue with vendors rather than with the deals sites themselves. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/19/china-daily-deals-users-stats/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/19/china-daily-deals-users-stats/ Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:32:00 GMT Other China News Penn Olson China will map out rules to establish a legal management system for online retail, said the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Wednesday. MOC spokesman Shen Danyang said the MOC will lead the draft of the rules to form a system for access and exit of third-party transaction platforms and clarify rights and responsibilities of all parties in online retail. The recent heated event of Tmall.com revealed the weaknesses of the legal footing in China's network management with legal hiatus and faulty supervision, which made change imperative, Shen said. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/business/2011-10/19/content_13934881.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/business/2011-10/19/content_13934881.htm Wed, 19 Oct 2011 07:48:00 GMT Other China News China Daily Milton Kotler, the preeminent marketing pioneer in China, updated me on Chinese brands. They may not be taking over the American market, but they are most definitely growing outside of China. Here are Milton’s observations: "Consumer brand management is making headway in the domestic China market and developing countries,even in Europe, with apparel, appliance, computers, white goods, blacks goods, autos, etc. You would be surprised to at the number of Chinese brands in Africa, SE Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. The U.S. is the toughest consumer brand market to enter, and they want to get their brand management ducks in order so they don’t lose the shirts make a premature plunge. http://www.business2community.com/branding/chinese-brands-going-global-but-not-necessarily-american-067936 http://www.business2community.com/branding/chinese-brands-going-global-but-not-necessarily-american-067936 Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:47:00 GMT Other China News Business 2 Community A British company is planning to launch a Chinese language web portal to target Chinese consumers as China's rich are eyeing Western luxury goods. Chinese consumers will soon be able to pay renminbi for luxury goods delivered directly from their manufacturers in the West through MydiMyMy, a portal to be opened on Nov 28. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2011-10/14/content_13903889.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2011-10/14/content_13903889.htm Fri, 14 Oct 2011 22:15:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Daily Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "China's Online Tourism Industry Report, 2011" report to their offering. With the popularity of internet and e-commerce, the market scale of online tourism industry has seen fast-growing development. In 2010, the deal size of online tourism market in China increased by 58.0% year-on-year to RMB103.74 billion, making up 7.2% of the overall tourism market. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111014005303/en/Research-Markets-Chinas-Online-Tourism-Industry-Report http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111014005303/en/Research-Markets-Chinas-Online-Tourism-Industry-Report Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:14:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Business Wire Sitting in his big office, a stone's throw from the iconic Bird's Nest, the Olympic Stadium in Beijing, Qiangdong "Richard" Liu is explaining how he got the idea for 360buy, China's fast-growing e-commerce site (a mashup of Amazon and Fresh Direct), which global investors are lining up to back. Sure, Liu could claim that he had foreseen the rise of China and the Internet explosion, and that he had brilliantly found a way to capitalize on both trends. But in his first interview with a non-Chinese publication, Liu, an affable but quiet 38-year-old, tells Fortune that the success of 360buy, which is on track to hit $1.5 billion in sales next year, was less a product of inspiration than one of desperation. http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/10/14/360buy-qiangdong-liu/ http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/10/14/360buy-qiangdong-liu/ Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:14:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Fortune PayPal, eBay's online payment service, plans to announce a new service Wednesday that aims to make it easier to shop online by cutting down on the number of accounts consumers have to create with various Web retailers. Called PayPal Access, the service will be unveiled at eBay's X.commerce developer conference in San Francisco. It will be launched with X.commerce, a new eBay Inc. business launching Wednesday geared toward developers and merchants that encourages developers to integrate eBay's technology into mobile commerce apps. X.commerce merges the software developer communities for eBay.com, PayPal and eBay-owned e-commerce software company Magento, which together include 850,000 developers. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/company-focus/2011/10/13/319632/PayPal-set.htm http://www.chinapost.com.tw/business/company-focus/2011/10/13/319632/PayPal-set.htm Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:11:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Post Following the successful conclusion of a two month beta Kingold has just launched its new e-commerce business at www.m-gold.com.cn . The new site carries a wide variety of Kingold's higher-end 24 karat gold products which are designed and manufactured in-house at Kingold's facility in Wuhan. Products include jewelry, household ornaments, investment related products such as gold coins and bars, and M-Gold, Kingold's branded line of marriage products; and will target newly affluent customers throughout China. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/kingold-launches-e-commerce-strategy-with-m-gold-2011-10-11 http://www.marketwatch.com/story/kingold-launches-e-commerce-strategy-with-m-gold-2011-10-11 Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:10:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments MarketWatch Bang on schedule, Tencent’s major play in the B2C e-commerce marketplace opened this morning. Called QQ Buy, it’s the internet giant’s push against the dominance of Alibaba, especially its brand-oriented TMall site. The new Buy.qq.com will have a similar focus on well-known brands and labels, and also apes TMall’s move to allow rival, specialist e-commerce sites to open up virtual storefronts. We’ve already confirmed with Tencent that OKBuy, WalMart-backed YiHaoDian, 51Buy, V+, Kela, and TianTian are all on-board. It’s an attempt by the two major players to be the Chinese consumer’s choice of one-stop online shopping. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/11/qq-buy-launch-b2c/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/11/qq-buy-launch-b2c/ Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:52:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Penn Olson Fireswirl Technologies is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Beijing Xingchang Xinda Technology has successfully signed an e-commerce collaboration agreement with Sino Light Enterprise, an associate company of Sandmartin International Holdings. SLE has engaged XCXD to set up, operate and maintain their official and flagship online stores, namely "XiYangYang Official Online Store" and "XiYangYang Taobao Flagship Store", respectively, to sell apparels with "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" branding for a term of two years. XCXD is one of China's leading e-commerce platform providers. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fireswirl-enters-into-e-commerce-deal-with-chinas-no1-animation-brand-2011-10-11-931250?reflink=MW_news_stmp http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fireswirl-enters-into-e-commerce-deal-with-chinas-no1-animation-brand-2011-10-11-931250?reflink=MW_news_stmp Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:30:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments MarketWatch According to Chinese media, Chinese e-commerce service 360buy.com is gearing up to hire 20,000 new employees next year, including 5,000 new graduates and 1,000 software engineers. That’s on top of the 13,000 employees that the company already has under its payroll. In the current e-commerce scene in China, hiring boatloads of people might be cause for concern given recent updates we’ve been hearing about Groupon’s staff cuts in the country. But 360buy appears confident and ready to expand, so we’ll have to wait and see how this announcement pans out. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/11/360buy-hiring/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/11/360buy-hiring/ Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:51:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Penn Olson The Chinese Internet giant Shanda today launched its own B2C online shopping site Pinju.com, aiming to tap China’s booming e-commerce market. The new site looks like a daily-deal website. But Shanda is apparently trying to attract major brands to open stores on the site. The company said earlier that it hopes to build the new website into an online platform similar to Dangdang (NASDAQ:DANG) and Taobao Mall. http://www.businessinsider.com/shanda-gambles-on-e-commercelaunching-b2c-shopping-site-pinju-2011-10 http://www.businessinsider.com/shanda-gambles-on-e-commercelaunching-b2c-shopping-site-pinju-2011-10 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:49:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Business Insider Social e-commerce and fashion photo app MiShang is one of a bajillion new Chinese start-ups that fits into the category of a ‘light community’ – i.e.: a not-too-intensive or demanding social media service that you can enjoy as an adjunct to another SNS. iShang is a curious hybrid, being either a neat fashion-oriented photo app, or a social shopping platform – or both – to its users. It allows sign-up via a Sina Weibo or Tencent QQ account, and places a strong emphasis on sharing your fashion and brand ‘likes’ with your friends using Sina or Tencent Weibo, or QZone. The company’s own website uses the English phrase “stylecasting” to describe its social approach, in that it’s mostly about browsing a live-stream of stylish items from the people that you follow. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/03/mishang/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/03/mishang/ Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:06:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Penn Olson The Chinese tea leaf B2C e-commerce platform Maimaicha.com, which is operated by Shandong Huaxia Chalian, has announced that it has completed its A-round financing and gained nearly CNY100 million investments from four organizations in China. As one of the four investors, Luxin Venture Capital reportedly confirmed the news and said its wholly-owned subsidiary signed an agreement with Huaxia Chalian on October 10, 2011, to invest CNY20 million to acquire CNY1.932 million new registered capital of Huaxia Chalian, accounting for 10.26% of its total registered capital after the investment increase. http://www.chinaretailnews.com/2011/10/17/5175-chinese-internet-tea-company-raises-funds-for-retail-outlets/ http://www.chinaretailnews.com/2011/10/17/5175-chinese-internet-tea-company-raises-funds-for-retail-outlets/ Sun, 16 Oct 2011 17:16:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment ChinaRetailNews.com Ma Yufeng, CEO of Shandong-based B2C tea retailer Huaxia Chalian Chaye (Maimaicha.com), announced today that the site recently secured nearly RMB 100 mln in first-round funding from Luxin Venture Capital Group, Shenzhen Capital Group, and two other firms. Luxin provided details of its investment in Huaxia Chalian in an external investment announcement released yesterday, saying that its wholly-owned subsidiary Shandong High-Tech Venture Capital signed an agreement in Jinan on October 10 with Huaxia Chalian to invest a further RMB 20 mln in the company. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-10-12/article/50258/maimaicha_secures_rmb_100_mln_in_first_round_funding http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-10-12/article/50258/maimaicha_secures_rmb_100_mln_in_first_round_funding Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:58:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Marbridge Consulting A looming Chinese government crackdown on a corporate structure used by almost half of all U.S.-listed Chinese stocks coupled with growing investor uncertainty has prompted companies to mull major restructuring plans. New rules expected to apply to variable interest entities, a structure used by several of China's internet giants, are not only forcing executives to consider various options, the rules are rattling investors as well. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/12/china-investment-idUSL3E7LA19U20111012 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/12/china-investment-idUSL3E7LA19U20111012 Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:53:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Reuters A common corporate structure that has allowed dozens of Chinese companies to get listed on U.S. exchanges is drawing increased scrutiny from American audit regulators. Chinese Internet companies such as Sina Corp. and Baidu Inc. have used so-called variable interest entities, or VIEs, to work around Chinese restrictions and seek foreign investors since 2000. Now, the Securities and Exchange Commission is also asking questions about the structure, said Paul Boltz, a Hong Kong-based partner at Ropes & Gray LLP, who cited comment letters the agency sent to six companies since December. Judith Burns, an SEC spokeswoman, declined to comment. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-09/china-companies-evading-rule-with-u-s-listings-stump-regulators.html http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-09/china-companies-evading-rule-with-u-s-listings-stump-regulators.html Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:45:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Bloomberg Vancl Technology Co. Ltd., China’s largest independent online own-label fashion apparel retailer, may in October file for a fourth quarter U.S. initial public offering, the Oriental Morning Post reported on Thursday. Vancl plans to raise $750 million to $1 billion in the IPO, the paper said. http://en.21cbh.com/HTML/2011-10-4/yNMjUyXzIxMTAyNg.html http://en.21cbh.com/HTML/2011-10-4/yNMjUyXzIxMTAyNg.html Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:25:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Business China Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group said today that it will invest 1.8 billion yuan to help small- and medium-size merchants to grow their business, in an effort to put an end to the online protest that has disrupted Taobao Mall over the past week. Alibaba held a press conference today announcing the new investment, which includes service fee reductions and a loan guarantee for its vendors. Taobao Mall also announced today that it has postponed by nine months its plans to implement new contract terms for existing vendors. http://www.businessinsider.com/taobao-mall-to-spend-18-billion-yuan-to-appease-angry-merchants-2011-10 http://www.businessinsider.com/taobao-mall-to-spend-18-billion-yuan-to-appease-angry-merchants-2011-10 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:03:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Business Insider Alibaba Group will invest 1.8 billion yuan ($282.2 million) to aid the development of small-medium-enterprises on Taobao Mall, it said on Monday, after last week's move to raise fees next year led to mass protests online. Thousands of small business owners protested online last week after Taobao Mall, a unit of Alibaba Group, said it will hike fees for 2012. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/17/taobao-protests-idUSL3E7LH1E620111017 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/17/taobao-protests-idUSL3E7LH1E620111017 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:03:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Reuters Small vendors at Taobao Mall Sunday said they will stop the protest against service fee hikes after China's Ministry of Commerce stepped in and ordered Taobao.com to respond to vendors' demands. "We will suspend some of our activities today as government authorities have stepped in," said the protestors in an online statement, "we believe the government will give us a satisfactory result on the matter." http://www.china.org.cn/business/2011-10/17/content_23641914.htm http://www.china.org.cn/business/2011-10/17/content_23641914.htm Sun, 16 Oct 2011 17:02:00 GMT TaoBao in the News China.org.cn The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) urged Taobao Mall, a unit of Alibaba Group, to actively respond to the pertinent requests of small merchandisers who protested the website's membership fee hike. The MOC is very concerned about the recent protests against Taobao Mall, the country's largest business-to-consumer e-commerce platform, and will try to defuse the conflict in order to stabilize prices and support small businesses, according to a statement posted on its website. http://english.cri.cn/6826/2011/10/16/1781s662965.htm http://english.cri.cn/6826/2011/10/16/1781s662965.htm Sat, 15 Oct 2011 17:01:00 GMT TaoBao in the News CRIENGLISH.com Xiaomi, China’s remarkably cheap potential iPhone killer, met with an awful lot of interest when they started taking preorders for the phones, which will begin shipping later this month. In fact, they sold 300,000 handsets - their preorder limit - within just 34 hours. It seems not all of those preorder customers were adoring fans; or perhaps they’re fans that have been tempted by the chance to make some money, but with high demand and a low supply, people have begun selling their Xiaomi preorder numbers on Taobao and other Chinese ecommerce sites. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/14/xiaomi-preorder-numbers-being-sold-on-taobao/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/14/xiaomi-preorder-numbers-being-sold-on-taobao/ Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:01:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Penn Olson Thousands of small business owners launched an online protest against Taobao Mall, a unit of China's Alibaba Group, over a fee hike that they claim puts them at a disadvantage to bigger businesses, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Taobao Mall, China's largest business to consumer (B2C) e-commerce platform, said on Monday it will increase its annual membership fees from 6,000 yuan ($944) to between 30,000 yuan to 60,000 yuan depending on the type and scale of the business. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/13/us-taobaomall-protest-idUSTRE79C0NQ20111013 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/13/us-taobaomall-protest-idUSTRE79C0NQ20111013 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:57:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Reuters A bill passed in the US Senate on Tuesday attempting to make it easier for the United States to impose tariffs on goods from countries which are believed to undervalue their currencies is unlikely to be signed into law by President Obama or supported by Republicans in the House of Representatives, Frank Lavin, Chairman at Edelman Asia Pacific and former Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade told CNBC. Lavin claimed that China was being blamed for economic woes of the US which is struggling to cope with a sluggish economy, rising unemployment and a vast deficit. He added that China, now the world's second largest economy, had essentially replaced Japan as the scapegoat for troubles within the US economy. http://www.cnbc.com/id/44870578?__source=google%7Ceditorspicks%7C&par=google http://www.cnbc.com/id/44870578?__source=google%7Ceditorspicks%7C&par=google Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:56:00 GMT TaoBao in the News CNBC.com Asia's largest B2C (business-to-consumer) platform, Taobao Mall, has upgraded its merchant management system and implemented a penalty for breach of contract by merchants, in a bid to improve product and service quality. Operated by China's Internet giant Alibaba, Taobao Mall said it increased its annual technical service fees from 6,000 yuan (US$945.2) to two new packages costing 30,000 yuan (US$4,726) and 60,000 yuan (US$9,452). http://www.zdnetasia.com/chinas-taobao-mall-hits-merchants-pockets-to-improve-service-62302472.htm http://www.zdnetasia.com/chinas-taobao-mall-hits-merchants-pockets-to-improve-service-62302472.htm Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:55:00 GMT TaoBao in the News ZDNet Asia The millions of online stores that have opened their doors in recent years have been both a boon and a curse for many Chinese consumers. Although online shopping has proven to be convenient, product quality is rarely guaranteed. As complaints start to pile up, one company is working to reverse the trend and offer better service for its customers. Taobao, China's largest business-to-consumer online marketplace by transaction value, announced on Monday that it will improve its management system and introduce new regulations designed to bring order to the country's growing e-commerce sector. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2011-10/12/content_13877120.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2011-10/12/content_13877120.htm Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:55:00 GMT TaoBao in the News China Daily Hangzhou-based C2C & B2C e-commerce site Taobao's group buy site, Ju Huasuan, has offered a group buy deal on RMB 30 mln in loans for Taobao merchants. 500 merchants joined the deal, which includes a 75% discount on interest, in the first ten minutes. The loans, provided by Alibaba Group's e-commerce financial services subsidiary Alibaba Financial, are designed to support Taobao merchants. Merchants' eligibility is assessed based on credit scores determined according to their e-commerce activity, and they are not required to provide collateral. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-10-11/article/50214/taobao_offers_group_buy_deal_on_e_commerce_loans http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-10-11/article/50214/taobao_offers_group_buy_deal_on_e_commerce_loans Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:56:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Marbridge Consulting China Dongxiang has published a report, stating that it will invest USD100 million in the Chinese B2B e-commerce group Alibaba via its wholly-owned subsidiary. The investment will be completed via the acquisition of Yunfeng Fund LP's interests. According to the report, China Dongxiang's wholly-owned subsidiary has agreed to purchase the interest in limited partnership of Yunfeng Fund for USD100 million. Under the conditions of the agreement, the subsidiary will pay the capital in cash on the initial cash day, and the capital will not include the controlling rights of Yunfeng Fund. http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/10/12/15680-china-dongxiang-to-invest-usd100-million-in-alibaba-group http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/10/12/15680-china-dongxiang-to-invest-usd100-million-in-alibaba-group Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:53:00 GMT TaoBao in the News ChinaTechNews.com Hangzhou-based B2C e-commerce site Taobao Mall today announced changes to its merchant management system. Merchants must now pay an advance deposit against any future contract violations, from which at least RMB 10,000 will be deducted and deposited in the consumer protection fund in the event the merchant fails to honor an agreement. The existing annual RMB 6,000 technical services fee has been raised to RMB 30,000 or RMB 60,000, depending on the service level required. Taobao Mall will also refund part or all of the technical services fee if merchants reach specific targets for operational scale and service quality. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-10-10/article/50172/taobao_mall_tightens_rules_for_merchants http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-10-10/article/50172/taobao_mall_tightens_rules_for_merchants Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:50:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Marbridge Consulting China's Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has talked with Temasek Holdings Pte about providing financing to buy the 40 percent stake in itself held by Yahoo Inc, Bloomberg said, citing people familiar with the matter. Singapore's Temasek, a state-owned investment company, may help fund an offer in return for a bigger share of privately-owned Alibaba Group, the agency said. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/10/us-alibaba-idUSTRE7990M420111010 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/10/us-alibaba-idUSTRE7990M420111010 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:46:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Reuters Han Depeng, general manager of Chinese home appliance and consumer electronics retailer Gome's (0493.HK) online mall, Gome.com.cn, revealed plans last month to have the Gome subsidiary join Hangzhou-based C2C & B2C e-commerce site Taobao's Taobao Mall e-commerce platform. This follows the earlier partnership between Taobao Mall and B2C consumer electronics site Coo8.com, operated by another Gome subsidiary, Kuba Technology. Han's time with Gome includes an earlier stint with the company's Jinan branch. Coo8 vice president Peng Liang revealed on September 29 that, "Coo8 had RMB 726 mln in sales in H1 2011, and opened branches in 18 cities. Since our purchase by Gome, the number of staff has also risen from 200 to 1,500." http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-10-09/article/50147/gome_e_commerce_subsidiaries_to_join_taobao_mall http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-10-09/article/50147/gome_e_commerce_subsidiaries_to_join_taobao_mall Sun, 09 Oct 2011 17:18:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Marbridge Consulting Han Depeng, general manager of Chinese home appliance and consumer electronics retailer Gome's (0493.HK) online mall, Gome.com.cn, revealed plans last month to have the Gome subsidiary join Hangzhou-based C2C & B2C e-commerce site Taobao's Taobao Mall e-commerce platform. This follows the earlier partnership between Taobao Mall and B2C consumer electronics site Coo8.com, operated by another Gome subsidiary, Kuba Technology. Han's time with Gome includes an earlier stint with the company's Jinan branch. Coo8 vice president Peng Liang revealed on September 29 that, "Coo8 had RMB 726 mln in sales in H1 2011, and opened branches in 18 cities. Since our purchase by Gome, the number of staff has also risen from 200 to 1,500." http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-10-09/article/50147/gome_e_commerce_subsidiaries_to_join_taobao_mall http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-10-09/article/50147/gome_e_commerce_subsidiaries_to_join_taobao_mall Sat, 08 Oct 2011 16:47:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Marbridge Consulting Alibaba’s spokesman John Spelich said on Oct.7 that the chairman of Alibaba Group, Ma Yun, announced his intention of acquiring Yahoo. “Alibaba is very important to Yahoo, and Yahoo means the same to Alibaba,” said Ma during his speech at Stanford University on Friday. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90778/7611508.html http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90778/7611508.html Sat, 08 Oct 2011 16:43:00 GMT TaoBao in the News People's Daily Online Stanford Business has put the footage of Jack Ma’s recent speech online. The Alibaba CEO raised eyebrows on both sides of the ocean when he says – very deliberately – that he was “very interested in Yahoo” during the talk. But the entire talk is worth a watch if you have an hour to spare. He talks with a lot of passion about the success of Alibaba, but also alludes their many mistakes and difficulties, including Taobao’s intellectual property challenges. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/07/jack-ma-standford/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/07/jack-ma-standford/ Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:44:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Penn Olson Jack Ma might be the only man in China who could stand up against Steve Jobs. The chief executive of Chinese Internet company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. has a big reputation for challenging industries and competitors - traits shared by Apple's famed co-founder. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203388804576617590234179896.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203388804576617590234179896.html Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:42:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Wall Street Journal Alibaba.com will host an orientation session to offer the attending Indian SMEs first-hand information about various export markets, while sharing insights on industry and global sourcing trends. Alibaba.com, the world's leading small business e-commerce company, will host the third edition of the India offline sourcing event in Gurgaon to provide additional global trade opportunities for Indian small and medium enterprises. Indian suppliers attending the event will have the opportunity to interact and work with leading retailers from across the world including Target Australia, world renowned retailer for apparel and homeware, Dorel Juvenile Group, world-leader in the child products industry, Sears Holdings Corporation, leading broadline retailer, Auchan Group, the second largest hypermarket chain in France and Kmart, one of Australia’s largest discount department stores. http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/Alibaba.com-brings-leading-global-retailers-to-doorstep-of-Indian-suppliers/5260533894 http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/Alibaba.com-brings-leading-global-retailers-to-doorstep-of-Indian-suppliers/5260533894 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:42:00 GMT TaoBao in the News India Infoline.com After suffering an infiltration of storefronts set up to defraud global buyers that it uncovered in February, Alibaba has rolled out a number of initiatives to make it easier for small and medium sized retailers around the world to work with suppliers in China. Linda Kozlowski said the company also took a look at how it serviced its buyers and created a new team called Buyer Voice. Kozlowski went from her role in Corporate Affairs to a newly created position, Director of Global Marketing and Customer Experience to help lead the efforts. http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/cab/abn/y11/m10/i07/s06 http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/cab/abn/y11/m10/i07/s06 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:41:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Auctionbytes Herman Leung, an analyst at Susquehanna Financial Group, talks about a potential takeover offer for Yahoo! Inc. The private-equity firm Silver Lake, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Russia's Digital Sky Technologies are discussing a possible joint bid for Yahoo! Inc., three people with direct knowledge of the matter said. Leung speaks from San Francisco with Susan Li on Bloomberg Television's "First Up." http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/leung-says-alibaba-lacks-capital-to-acquire-yahoo-alone/2011/10/05/gIQAf2gdML_video.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/leung-says-alibaba-lacks-capital-to-acquire-yahoo-alone/2011/10/05/gIQAf2gdML_video.html Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:37:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Washington Post After his unusually enthusiastic declaration at a Silicon Valley event last week that “we are very, very interested” in buying the “whole” of Yahoo, you might imagine Alibaba Group co-founder and CEO Jack Ma running out of the speech looking for a giant pile of cash to pay for it immediately. Instead, according to sources close to the situation, what the Chinese entrepreneur got was a cold dose of CFIUS - or Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, the federal interagency review process for foreign investment deals. http://allthingsd.com/20111004/perplexed-by-u-s-ownership-rules-alibabas-ma-yellow-lights-yahoo-buying-parade/?mod=googlenews http://allthingsd.com/20111004/perplexed-by-u-s-ownership-rules-alibabas-ma-yellow-lights-yahoo-buying-parade/?mod=googlenews Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:35:00 GMT TaoBao in the News All Things Digital Gap Inc, whose portfolio of brands includes Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy, outlined a strategy to increase total sales to counter lacklustre demand in North America. In China, where Gap opened its first store in November 2010, the company said it would expand from about15 stores at the end of this year to about 45 by the end of fiscal 2012, in late January 2013. The first Gap flagship store in Hong Kong is set to open in a matter of weeks, the company noted. http://finance.ninemsn.com.au/newsbusiness/aap/8359930/gap-to-triple-stores-in-china-by-end-2012 http://finance.ninemsn.com.au/newsbusiness/aap/8359930/gap-to-triple-stores-in-china-by-end-2012 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 01:15:00 GMT Other China News Ninemsn Dallas-based Neiman Marcus has a number of initiatives under way, including the possibility of bringing stores and online shopping to China. The luxury retailer also plans to make an announcement relating to credit cards on Oct. 28. (Neimans has gotten some criticism for its policy of not accepting Mastercard or Visa cards in its stores.) These pursuits, among others, will “enhance and transform the shopping experience for our customers, which will increase our store business, along with the growth we’re seeing online,” said Neva Hall, executive vice president of Neiman Marcus. http://realpoints.dmagazine.com/2011/10/neiman-marcus-eyeing-china-credit-cards-technology-initiatives/ http://realpoints.dmagazine.com/2011/10/neiman-marcus-eyeing-china-credit-cards-technology-initiatives/ Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:32:00 GMT Other China News D Magazine There is a sharp contradiction in the internet media of China. While on one hand, the Chinese government is attempting to tighten the noose of censorship on the internet community of China, on the other hand there are a growing number of Chinese internet users, which exceeds 400 million, who are extremely proactive on the internet, thus helping the private sector dot com companies to rake in billions of dollars. The market capitalization of the top 30 listed companies make US $100 in revenue, with three of them operating from China, namely Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu. Hence there is clear evidence that the internet is growing at a swift pace in China. On the contrary, the state is trying to suppress the internet. So what exactly explains this dichotomy? http://www.businessinsider.com/the-internet-landscape-of-china-2011-10 http://www.businessinsider.com/the-internet-landscape-of-china-2011-10 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:57:00 GMT Other China News Business Insider You’d think that with double-digit industry sales growth in the first half of this year, China’s richest retailers would have an easy time increasing their wealth from a year earlier on the new Forbes China Rich List. Yet retailers were a mixed group. That was in part because the industry’s brisk growth is attracting increasing stiff competition, from electronics suppliers to supermarkets. It’s also because some of the older players haven’t been fast enough to address changes in taste, and in a competitive landscape like China’s, it’s easy to fall behind in a hurry. http://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2011/10/06/industry-growth-may-mislead-when-it-comes-to-chinese-retailers/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2011/10/06/industry-growth-may-mislead-when-it-comes-to-chinese-retailers/ Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:04:00 GMT Other China News Forbes By general consensus, China must shift to a greater reliance on domestic consumption to fuel its growth. The rest of the world is losing patience with China's export flood, and anyway could never buy enough to pull a huge population into prosperity. Beijing has made such a transition a cornerstone of its latest five-year plan. Will it succeed? Economists tend to approach this question by looking at the demand side. Rising incomes must inevitably boost consumption, the thinking goes, so implement minimum wages and a better social safety net. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204612504576610302734544880.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204612504576610302734544880.html Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:38:00 GMT Other China News Wall Street Journal China has made great strides in the tech world over the last decade, particularly in the technology sector. Internet companies like Baidu, Sina, and Alibaba are recognizable names on the global stage, as are China Mobile and Huawei in the mobile space. But for those of you who subscribe to the narrative that China is taking over the technology world, a new report suggests that notion might be wrong. Or at the very least premature. The study was conducted by the Martin Prosperity Institute, and it identifies technology, talent, and tolerance as factors that "shape long-run prosperity." http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/04/china-technology-report/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/10/04/china-technology-report/ Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:21:00 GMT Other China News Penn Olson There are no earthshaking changes on the Daily Deal market in China in our data. The earthshaking part was/is in the press. They’re about firing lots of staff after hiring a lot. They’re about the money invested and the same money spent in advertising ( for some of the market leaders at a RMB 200-300mio rate per year). Dataotuan measures the results of all those big moves. Surprisingly: these results … don’t move a lot. It seems that for now the players in the top 10 remain the same contestants, some up, some down. Gaopeng still lingers around position no. 11. The Daily Deal websites love moving an increasing number of deals. Since May – when we started publishing our reports - the number of deals launched every day has doubled. The top 3 in Revenue (QQ, 55tuan and Lashou) are leading in this (growing) number of deals. But not in "top deals"! http://blog.dataotuan.com/en/the-chinese-daily-deal-market-in-august-quantity-or-quality-that-is-the-question/ http://blog.dataotuan.com/en/the-chinese-daily-deal-market-in-august-quantity-or-quality-that-is-the-question/ Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:51:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments dataotuan.com How could a niche player have edged its way onto the top place in less than four years, leaving behind the two forerunners and online B2C giants - Dangdang and Joyo, both with a ten-year claim on the turf? The answer is low price. China’s leading online B2C (Business-to-Customer) retailers have been locked in a fresh round of price wars as the week-long National Day holiday has triggered a surge of buying frenzy. http://www.zdnet.com/blog/china/china-b2c-online-retailers-making-money-is-not-an-option/170 http://www.zdnet.com/blog/china/china-b2c-online-retailers-making-money-is-not-an-option/170 Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:38:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments ZDNet Online shopping giant Amazon.com opened an online Chinese-language bookstore on Thursday in cooperation with a Chinese state-owned publishing group, according to a news release from Amazon. The store is being jointly operated by Amazon and the China International Publishing Group (CIPG) as part of a global promotional program for Chinese books initiated by the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) in 2010. http://english.cri.cn/6826/2011/09/29/1461s660673.htm http://english.cri.cn/6826/2011/09/29/1461s660673.htm Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:39:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments CRIENGLISH.com Entrepreneurs in China's booming e-commerce businesses are cautious about overexpanding on the capital market, for most of them have wrapped up a third-round funding in the past six months. Seeking an initial public offering (IPO) is not an end to pursue but "a natural outcome", as the country's online retail businesses grow mature at a fast but steady pace, industry insiders said at the 2011 E-Commerce Industry Summit in Shanghai on Tuesday. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-09/28/content_13805950.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-09/28/content_13805950.htm Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:46:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Daily Zhongguancun vendor Zhang Zheng tells a repeat customer who bought a BlackBerry to "come back next time" - but he may not be there. The 26-year-old hawker says he's heard rumblings the government will push his ilk out of the area. "The landlord has mentioned the transformation but hasn't told us much," he says. "We should be prepared to go." http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-09/28/content_13806004.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-09/28/content_13806004.htm Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:46:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Daily American Express Co. (AXP), the biggest credit-card issuer by purchases, will offer an online payment service with Tencent Holdings Ltd. (700) in its first collaboration with an electronic payment partner in China. The agreement will allow users of Tencent’s Tenpay online payment service to make purchases outside China, American Express and Tencent said in a joint statement today. Financial details were not disclosed. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-28/american-express-to-offer-electronic-payment-service-with-china-s-tencent.html http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-28/american-express-to-offer-electronic-payment-service-with-china-s-tencent.html Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:12:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Bloomberg 360buy.com was named the Pure Play Etailer of the Year at the Oracle World Retail Awards, which took place during the annual World Retail Congress in Berlin. Operated by Jing Dong Mall, China’s largest online retailer, 360buy.com provides customers with home appliances, digital devices, computers, household items, clothing and accessories, baby products, books, and food, plus 11 other large product categories, including more than 10,000 brand names and 800,000 SKUs. http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/360buycom-named-pure-play-etailer-year-oracle-world-retail-awards http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/360buycom-named-pure-play-etailer-year-oracle-world-retail-awards Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:14:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Chain Store Age The mobile internet market scale of China reached RMB 7.79 billion yuan in the second quarter of this year, among which, the mobile phone electronic business increased by 404.4 percent year on year. Under such a background, it is no wonder that the electronic business, "fighting a bloody battle" in the field of internet, expands to the filed of mobile internet. However, to make money through the small screen of mobile phone is, after all, much different from the traditional electronic business. Under double restrictions including the hard one of flow and soft one of user experience, can the mobile electronic business move forward smoothly? Inserting a thin card almost as large as a one-yuan coin into the audio output port and then choosing the functional button of quick card payment after placing an order on the online payment page, you can realize online payment through it by credit card and debit card. It is the cellphone-attached card reader "Quick Card" released recently by 99bill, an online payment company. And it is just one of the numerous actors targeting the industrial chain of electronic business. http://en.ce.cn/Insight/201109/26/t20110926_22720659.shtml http://en.ce.cn/Insight/201109/26/t20110926_22720659.shtml Mon, 26 Sep 2011 06:04:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Economic Net Alipay.com, Alibaba's third-party Internet payment subsidiary, and Newegg.com.cn, the Chinese branch of the U.S.-based Internet electronics and digital products retailer, have reportedly formed a strategic partnership. According to reports in Chinese local media, the two parties will enhance their cooperation in market operations. The will promote convenient login and convenient payments; and the two companies will implement cross-platform activities depending on the vendor resources of Alipay.com. The two parties also plan to expand their cooperation into other sectors, including mobile payment products, offline payment products, and enterprise internal settlement services. http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/09/23/15649-newegg-com-cn-chases-rival-360buy-com-with-new-internet-payment-deal http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/09/23/15649-newegg-com-cn-chases-rival-360buy-com-with-new-internet-payment-deal Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:00:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments ChinaTechNews.com E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc. ("Dangdang" or the "Company") DANG -5.73%, a leading business-to-consumer e-commerce company in China, today announced its recent fulfillment developments and the appointment of Justin Changqing Xiong as the head of technology. Recent Fulfillment Development : Dangdang started the operation of its Wuxi fulfillment center in late August, which brings its total warehouse space to 260,000 square meters currently from 210,000 square meters at the end of the second quarter. In order to further strengthen its fulfillment capacity, Dangdang plans to open two additional fulfillment centers, one in Fuzhou of Fujian province and the other one in Jinan of Shandong province, in the fourth quarter of 2011. Meanwhile, Dangdang continues to improve the delivery services by further shortening the delivery time. Currently Dangdang offers same-day-delivery services in 17 cities and the next-day-delivery services in 72 cities in China. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dangdang-announces-recent-fulfillment-developments-and-the-appointment-of-head-of-technology-2011-09-23 http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dangdang-announces-recent-fulfillment-developments-and-the-appointment-of-head-of-technology-2011-09-23 Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:34:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments MarketWatch Chinese online game and social-networking service operator Tencent Holdings Ltd. said Thursday it will launch a new e-commerce platform next month, in a move that challenges more dominant rival Taobao Mall Co. Tencent is investing in areas including e-commerce to fuel growth outside of its key online-games business. Its new platform will compete with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.'s Taobao, which dominates China's online retail sector, and with a range of other companies in other e-commerce categories, such as group deals. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903791504576586322675729548.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903791504576586322675729548.html Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:55:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Wall Street Journal The 2011 China Internet Conference opened on August 23. It is considered a "roundup" of the overall trend of the internet industry in the first half of the year. If we compare the performance of the internet industry in the first half of the year to a drama, the absolute leading roles would be online video, mobile internet, and micro-blog, all of whom are backed by abundant capital. On the other hand, under the current, many new roles are taking part in, making the drama ever more exciting. Statistics from China Internet Network Information Center (CINIC) indicates the change of China's internet. As of the end of 2011, the number of internet users in China was as high as 485 million, 27.7 million more than that at the end of last year, an increase of merely 6.1 percent. As the quantity increase showing signs of slowing down, China's internet industry begins to integrate with traditional industries in a more pragmatic manner and create new business models that are more practical. http://en.ce.cn/Insight/201109/20/t20110920_22707915.shtml http://en.ce.cn/Insight/201109/20/t20110920_22707915.shtml Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:27:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Economic Net 7GeGe.com,a mobile optimized website through mobile commerce leader Digby before year’s end. 7GeGe.com will deliver a unique and engaging mobile shopping experience to millions of young, mobile and fashion-focused consumers. This new mobile initiative allows 7GeGe.com to enhance customer loyalty and gain insight on consumer buying behavior, resulting in a more direct relationship with its customer base through any smartphone, anytime and anywhere. "In a booming Chinese consumer marketplace, 7GeGe.com is an exciting brand at the forefront of consumer engagement. The company’s selection validates the Digby Mobile Software Platform and positions us to lead in one of the fastest growing eCommerce and mobile economies." http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110919005894/en/Chinese-Fashion-Leader-7GeGe.com-Selects-Mobile-Commerce http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110919005894/en/Chinese-Fashion-Leader-7GeGe.com-Selects-Mobile-Commerce Mon, 19 Sep 2011 05:56:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Business Wire Earlier this year we reported on how cosmetics giant Shiseido was opening its online mall in Japan. Aptly named ‘Beauty Platform,’ the venture was planned to extend e-commerce activities to the US and China as well. Yesterday the Wall Street Journal reported that Shiseido will begin e-commerce services in China starting today. It plans to launch a site for new products called Pure & Mild Soi, which are “developed specifically for the Chinese mail-order market." http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/09/15/shiseido-china/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/09/15/shiseido-china/ Thu, 15 Sep 2011 04:47:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Penn Olson Chinese group buy site FTuan has confirmed, by way of its CEO, Lin Ning, that it has secured US$60 million in third-round funding. With 2,000 employees, Mr Lin states that FTuan has the cash to be sustainable for two or three years. Plus, the company has one more round of financing in the pipeline. It has also been revealed that FTuan is powering the new Kaixin Tuan deals site that we looked at recently. It’s a partnership that sees FTuan effectively operating the Kaixin Tuan platform (pictured below), as well as being one of the many other group buy sites to coordinate some deals with Kaixin. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/09/30/ftuan-funding-kaixin-partnership/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/09/30/ftuan-funding-kaixin-partnership/ Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:39:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Penn Olson Renren Inc. Chief Executive Officer Joe Chen criticized Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. Chairman Jack Ma over the decision to spin off the company’s payment business without the knowledge of key shareholders, including Yahoo! Inc. Chen, speaking in an interview with "Bloomberg West," referred to the spinoff of Alipay to a company owned by Ma. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-30/renren-s-chen-says-ma-alipay-spin-shook-confidence-in-chinese-companies.html http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-30/renren-s-chen-says-ma-alipay-spin-shook-confidence-in-chinese-companies.html Fri, 30 Sep 2011 07:30:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Bloomberg There are reports emerging this afternoon that Chinese e-commerce site Vancl will file its US IPO prospectus in October with a view towards hitting the tickers in the fourth quarter. Vancl has two B2C sites: its Vancl.com own-brand fashion label, and Vjia.com (also known as V+) which is its open platform that sells numerous well-known clothing brands. This is not official. Sources in the industry, as reported by Sina Tech News, say that Vancl is hoping to raise up to US$1 billion from a US offering. China International Capital, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley are apparently lined up to underwrite Vancl’s bid. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/09/28/vancl-us-ipo/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/09/28/vancl-us-ipo/ Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:23:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Penn Olson Chinese e-commerce company Hui She Shang (The Luxury Club) (www.huisheshangcorp.com) today announced the completion of its seed round financing by Parkview Ventures and Mousse Partners. The financing will enable The Luxury Club to accelerate its international brand partnership program and online promotional and sales activities. The Luxury Club offers Chinese consumers authentic and brand-authorized luxury goods -- including beauty and cosmetics, watches and jewelry, fashion accessories, wines and spirits -- through its website at www.huisheshang.com and through targeted marketing and promotional campaigns. The Luxury Club has a strategic marketing cooperation with Taobao Mall (Tmall.com), China’s leading business-to-consumer online retail platform, which provides international brands access to the biggest online distribution channel in China. http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20110926005759/en/Parkview-Ventures/Mousse-Partners/The-Luxury-Club http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20110926005759/en/Parkview-Ventures/Mousse-Partners/The-Luxury-Club Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:09:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment EON Chinese Internet companies could have a tougher time listing on U.S. stock exchanges because of an expected Beijing clampdown on a favored corporate structure. It is unlikely to halt all new U.S. listings of Web companies that want to follow in the footsteps of heavyweights such as Baidu Inc and Renren Inc, but it could prevent some and slow the progress of others. Earlier this week, Reuters reported legal sources saying the China Securities Regulatory Commission has authored a request to the Chinese government's equivalent of a cabinet, the State Council, asking it to take action against the structure, known as a Variable Interest Entity, or VIE. Web companies and others from sectors deemed important to China's interests use the VIE structure, which usually involves an entity in the Cayman Islands or another offshore haven, to get around Chinese restrictions on direct foreign investments in strategic sectors. http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/china-web-ipo-flow-to-us-threatened-by-crackdown/834848.html http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/china-web-ipo-flow-to-us-threatened-by-crackdown/834848.html Sat, 24 Sep 2011 10:48:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment IBNLive.com New partners GoConnect and Priority One Network Group have arranged to buy a majority stake in a Chinese internet and IT company. GoConnect and Priority One will each take a 40% stake in Shanghai Reliance Information Technology Co, which specialises in gaming, IT marketing, social networking and customer relationship management (CRM). http://www.cfoworld.com.au/news/534450/goconnect-partner-buy-chinese-venture/ http://www.cfoworld.com.au/news/534450/goconnect-partner-buy-chinese-venture/ Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:31:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment CFO World It is said that Baidu.com, Inc. BIDU invested a cosmetics group buying Web site, 36tuan.com. SOme insiders of Baidu have affirmed the affir, but Baidu declines to release any official comment on it. Baidu has been intensifying its launching in e-commerce business. It jointly established Yaodian100.com with Daphne; it founded Rakuten.cn together with Janpan's Rakuten, Inc. (jsd:4755); it once invested anjuke.com, which provides real estate information; it also invested tg.com.cn, an e-commerce Web site which decorates houses. Meanwhile, board chairman and CEO of Baidu, Robin Li, personally invested 360Buy.com, and the investment scale is said to be between CNY 100 million and CNY 200 million. http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7Bbc2ff4f9-6d3f-4a4a-85cd-a6afcb5b05d8%7D http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7Bbc2ff4f9-6d3f-4a4a-85cd-a6afcb5b05d8%7D Wed, 21 Sep 2011 06:47:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Menafn E-commerce outsourcing provider Guangzhou Yiji Network Technology has obtained USD 20 mln in second-round funding from Trust Bridge Partners, IDG Capital Partners and Hong Kong firm Big Profit. Guangzhou Yiji Network Technology, established in 2009, provides e-commerce outsourcing services for major brands. Yiji has already entered into strategic partnerships with 20 household appliance manufacturers including Midea, Joyoung, Supor, and Phillips Electronics. At the same time, Yiji has also entered into stable strategic partnerships with several e-commerce platforms including Hangzhou-based B2C e-commerce site Taobao Mall; Tencent's (0700.HK) B2C & C2C e-commerce site Paipai; Lekutian, a B2C e-commerce platform operated by Chinese internet company Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU) and Japanese e-commerce retailer Rakuten; Chinese B2C platform Joyo Amazon; and Chinese B2C e-commerce site Dangdang (NYSE: DANG). http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-09-20/article/49763/e_commerce_outsourcing_firm_yiji_lands_usd_20_mln_in_funding http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-09-20/article/49763/e_commerce_outsourcing_firm_yiji_lands_usd_20_mln_in_funding Mon, 19 Sep 2011 06:47:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Marbridge Consulting A Chinese company few Americans have heard of is gearing up for what could be the largest Internet IPO in U.S. history. The company, Beijing Jingdong Century Trading Co., runs 360buy.com, a fast-growing online-shopping site that sells a broad range of goods, mostly direct to consumers, much like Amazon.com Inc. This business-to-consumer part of China's online shopping market is expected to expand more than fivefold to 650 billion yuan ($100 billion) over the next three years, according to Beijing-based research firm Analysys International. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904491704576570612044417314.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904491704576570612044417314.html Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:43:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Wall Street Journal Kaixin, the Chinese social network, is opening up its fairly new group buy site, Kaixin Tuan Gou - take a look here - to partners, making it an open platform. Today’s move seems to be about consolidation and partnership, to prevent some of the costly overlapping of efforts - such as signing-up merchants, and crafting new daily deals - that plague the fragmented Chinese group shopping market. There are estimated to be about 5,000 such sites in mainland China now, absolutely none of which are making any money. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/09/15/kaixin-tuan-partners/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/09/15/kaixin-tuan-partners/ Thu, 15 Sep 2011 04:28:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Penn Olson Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.'s interest in purchasing Yahoo Inc. of the U.S. provides the latest test of whether Chinese companies with global ambitions can expand while staying in line with Beijing's economic and social controls. Alibaba Chief Executive Jack Ma told a gathering in the U.S. on Friday that the Chinese e-commerce company was interested in buying the U.S. Internet search company and had been approached by private-equity firms and others about a potential deal. It is unclear whether Alibaba has taken formal steps to make an offer, and a spokesman declined to offer further details. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204612504576608374206777898.html?mod=googlenews_wsj http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204612504576608374206777898.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:00:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Wall Street Journal Jack Ma, the CEO of Chinese Internet conglomerate Alibaba Group, said late Friday that his company would be "interested" in buying all of struggling online media firm Yahoo. A spokesman for Alibaba confirmed that Ma made that comment in response to a question following Ma's keynote address at the China 2.0 conference at Stanford University. http://money.cnn.com/2011/10/01/technology/alibaba_yahoo/ http://money.cnn.com/2011/10/01/technology/alibaba_yahoo/ Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:22:00 GMT TaoBao in the News CNN Fireswirl Technologies, is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Beijing Xingchang Xinda Technology Development Co., has been appointed by Casio (Shanghai) Trading Co., Ltd. to exclusively build and operate its online flagship store in Taobao Mall, the largest online B2C shopping portals in China, and sell original Casio products. Casio (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd. is a subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd. of Japan ("Casio"). Casio is a global brand well-known for its technology products such as digital cameras, timepieces, electronic dictionaries, overhead projectors and other electronic products. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/casio-appoints-fireswirl-to-operate-online-flagship-store-in-taobao-2011-09-28-931140 http://www.marketwatch.com/story/casio-appoints-fireswirl-to-operate-online-flagship-store-in-taobao-2011-09-28-931140 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:16:00 GMT TaoBao in the News MarketWatch China's largest e-commerce company Alibaba Group appears to be taking aim at archrival, Baidu. Alibaba held its annual conference Alifest in September to hand out its Top 10 Global Netrepreneur awards and an hour-long speech by CEO Jack Ma revolved around two words: Bartz and Baidu. http://www.zdnetasia.com/alibaba-vs-baidu-can-e-commerce-trump-search-62302246.htm http://www.zdnetasia.com/alibaba-vs-baidu-can-e-commerce-trump-search-62302246.htm Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:41:00 GMT TaoBao in the News ZDNet Asia While the idea of expanding into foreign markets can seem daunting for many small and midsize businesses, Export Now ( www.exportnow.com ), which launches in October, provides a first-of-its-kind, one-stop, e-commerce solution to help small businesses efficiently, and inexpensively export to China. Export Now allows U.S. companies of any size to grow revenues and compete in foreign markets by leveraging the power of e-commerce and the efficiencies of group shipping and fulfillment operations. With just the click of a mouse, companies can avoid the biggest challenges of doing business abroad by affordably bridging the cultural and financial gaps of complex foreign markets. Export Now distributes goods via its exclusive store on Tmall.com, while also simultaneously listing them on Taobao.com, the largest B2C platform in the world. Last year more than 370 million people used Taobao.com, spending over $60 billion on China's largest, fastest-growing e-commerce marketplace. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/export-now-to-launch-first-of-its-kind-solution-allowing-any-size-business-to-affordably-export-to-china-2011-09-27 http://www.marketwatch.com/story/export-now-to-launch-first-of-its-kind-solution-allowing-any-size-business-to-affordably-export-to-china-2011-09-27 Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:27:00 GMT TaoBao in the News MarketWatch Alibaba.com Ltd., the business-to- business marketplace operator owned by China’s biggest e- commerce company, plans to list its HiChina Group Ltd. domain- name service unit in the U.S. Alibaba has submitted its proposal to the exchange, the company said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange today. Details including the size, structure and price of the listing are yet to be decided, according to the statement. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-09-25/alibaba-plans-to-spin-off-hichina-group-list-stock-in-u-s-.html http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-09-25/alibaba-plans-to-spin-off-hichina-group-list-stock-in-u-s-.html Mon, 26 Sep 2011 09:33:00 GMT TaoBao in the News BusinessWeek In what could turn out to be a key development in the unfolding Yahoo saga, investors Silver Lake, DST Global, Temasek Holdings and Yunfeng Capital are leading a $1.6 billion tender offer for shares of closely held Alibaba Group, sources say. The news was reported this morning by AllThingsD; Forbes has confirmed the story with a source close to the situation. The deal, which is intended primarily to offer liquidity to Alibaba employees, valued the company at $32 billion. That would give Yahoo’s 39% stake in the company a value of $12.48 billion. Keep in mind, though, that the value of Yahoo’s stake would be reduced by liquidity issues and tax liabilities. http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericsavitz/2011/09/22/investors-to-buy-1-6b-alibaba-stake-at-32b-valuation/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericsavitz/2011/09/22/investors-to-buy-1-6b-alibaba-stake-at-32b-valuation/ Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:42:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Forbes Alibaba, China's top online retailer, started Monday to request users of its China site to register their real names, saying that they would be unable to trade via the website from Friday if they did not. The e-commerce giant issued an online notice saying real-name registration would be one of a series of steps the company would make towards building its website into an honest and fair trading platform. http://english.cri.cn/6826/2011/09/20/168s659086.htm http://english.cri.cn/6826/2011/09/20/168s659086.htm Tue, 20 Sep 2011 02:33:00 GMT TaoBao in the News CRIENGLISH.com Taobao Mall (www.tmall.com), the largest business-to-consumer (B2C) online retail platform in China, has secured commitments from 38 leading Chinese B2C sites to join its open B2C platform. This move will further enhance the consumer retail experience by assembling the widest variety of quality brands and authentic products in a single shopping destination, creating an ecosystem for all e-commerce stakeholders to jointly share the benefits from the projected gross merchandise volume (GMV) of RMB200 billion (US$31.3 billion1) that Taobao Mall is expected to attain in 2012. Intime (Yintai), Vancl, No. 1 Store (Yihaodian), Newegg, M18, Cool8 and Redbaby are among the 38 Chinese vertical B2C sites that have committed to a strategic cooperation with Taobao Mall and will be setting up flagship stores on the Tmall.com platform. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110919005674/en/Taobao-Mall-Welcomes-38-Leading-Chinese-B2C http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110919005674/en/Taobao-Mall-Welcomes-38-Leading-Chinese-B2C Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:18:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Business Wire Chinese e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba is betting big on India. It plans to expand its operations both organically and inorganically at a time when the e-commerce segment in the country is attracting significant investor interest. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/9990386.cms http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/9990386.cms Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:42:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Times of India Hangzhou-based C2C & B2C e-commerce site Taobao plans to begin operating an online securities marketplace, according to an industry source, which has long been in development. Taobao has also reportedly poached experienced talent from online financial information websites to assist in its preparations, and Taobao has recently been in talks with senior management of several investment funds. The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) will issue the draft version of its Regulations Regarding the Sale of Financial Securities on October 1, relaxing restrictions to allow non-issuer third-party entities to sell securities. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-09-13/article/49583/rumor_taobao_to_launch_securities_e_commerce_platform http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-09-13/article/49583/rumor_taobao_to_launch_securities_e_commerce_platform Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:27:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Marbridge Consulting What do prestige brands need to know about China, a market which is expected to drive much of the growth in luxury goods over the coming years? Well, China is less about a 50-something millionaire, more about a 30-something, upper-middle-class consumer. It’s less about retail in Tier I cities, and more about new modes of distribution in Tier ll and lll metros. It’s less about print, more about mobile and emerging platforms. Less about expert editorial, and more about peer reviews (60% of consumers indicate that the Internet is one of the primary sources for information on luxury goods). http://brand-e.biz/the-luxury-of-china-digital_16784.html http://brand-e.biz/the-luxury-of-china-digital_16784.html Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:42:00 GMT Other China News brand-e.biz Use your fingerprint to buy a bowl of noodles for half off at 10 yuan ($1.60). It was a proposition attractive enough to send Su Weiting out of the Shanghai noodle shop where she was getting lunch and around the corner to sign up for an account with yet another payment service provider, Live By Touch. "When I used to buy something that costs over a thousand yuan, I would have to take a wallet bursting of cash," said Su as she finally settled down with her noodles. "Using a bank card made things much easier. Now I don't even need that. I can leave home without anything and bring things home." http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/enterprise-it/services-apps/Foreign-cos-may-get-the-boot-in-Chinas-e-payment-boom/articleshow/10159858.cms http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/enterprise-it/services-apps/Foreign-cos-may-get-the-boot-in-Chinas-e-payment-boom/articleshow/10159858.cms Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:16:00 GMT Other China News Times of India Tencent's QQ instant-messaging platform used to be the darling of China's marketing community, but with astonishing speed - even by Chinese standards - Sina Corp.'s microblogging service Sina Weibo is the new front-runner. Often referred to as China's Twitter, the two-year-old microblog has taken off among celebrities, executives, politicians and, unsurprisingly, advertisers. Sina Weibo, launched by one of China's leading portal sites in August 2009, has dramatically altered that country's digital behavior, pulling users' time and attention away from other websites such as QQ, video-sharing platforms Tudou and Youku and, most of all, Facebook clones such as RenRen and Kaixin001. (Twitter is banned in China). http://adage.com/article/global-news/marketers-learning-microblog-sina-weibo-china/230074 http://adage.com/article/global-news/marketers-learning-microblog-sina-weibo-china/230074 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:37:00 GMT Other China News Advertising Age eBay sellers in China can use Webgistix' fulfillment services to reach U.S. consumers, and Webgistix is holding seminars at an eBay China seller summit this month on the topic of cross-border shipping and warehousing. Webgistix operates an international network of fulfillment centers that serve hundreds of established ecommerce retailers. Its seminar for eBay China sellers explains how it is helping Chinese retailers achieve 2-day order delivery to 90% of the U.S. population using the Webgistix Fulfillment Network. http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/cab/abn/y11/m09/i22/s02 http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/cab/abn/y11/m09/i22/s02 Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:31:00 GMT Other China News Auctionbytes A Silicon Dragon tech economy began in 2002 with Chinese returnees - so-called sea turtles who came home to lay their eggs - who cloned Google, YouTube, and Amazon, grabbed Sand Hill Road money, and scored on NASDAQ and the NYSE. Today, homegrown Chinese entrepreneurs are snapping up venture capital from Chinese currency funds for even more clones - Beijing techie Wang Xing alone has cloned Facebook, Twitter, and a Chinese GroupOn. The needle is gradually moving from "made in China" to "invented in China." Micro-innovations tweaked for the local culture are cropping up more often. Sina’s Weibo, a hybrid Twitter-Facebook, layered in video and photo sharing before Twitter did. The long-awaited promise of disruptive technology from China is coming, too, symbolized by China’s climb to fourth place worldwide for new patent applications. http://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccafannin/2011/09/22/from-made-in-china-to-invented-in-china-chinov8/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccafannin/2011/09/22/from-made-in-china-to-invented-in-china-chinov8/ Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:42:00 GMT Other China News Forbes Vanessa is currently based in Beijing, managing international business development for Innovation Works’ XingCloud. She is also Vice-President of Young Entrepreneurs Association of NUS (YEAN) and loves new ideas, tech and travel. You can follow her on Twitter or read her blog. Over the weekend, I attended the inaugural discussion by Ideas for Singapore where fellow Singaporeans, many whom are in the ICT sector, discussed and shared some opinions based on their experience and observations in China. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/09/21/how-to-succeed-in-china/ http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/09/21/how-to-succeed-in-china/ Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:53:00 GMT Other China News Penn Olson "Since logistics has become the largest bottleneck of the industry as well as the biggest obstacle against profitability of e-commerce companies, why not develop our own core edge based on this?" This was Jingdong Mall (360buy.com, hereafter "Jingdong") CEO Qiangdong Liu’s answer during an interview with Reuters. Mr. Liu’s answer is also the consensus among all Chinese B2C (Business-to-Consumer) giants. Looking in details, the reasons that Chinese e-commerce companies do logistics are as follows: http://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-e-commerce-giants-hype-on-logistics-2011-9 http://www.businessinsider.com/chinese-e-commerce-giants-hype-on-logistics-2011-9 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:04:00 GMT Other China News Business Insider There's no question about it: we do live in an uncertain economic climate. But, one thing that is not uncertain is that companies that ignore China's innovative ability and role in global economic recovery do so at their own risk. It was no accident that Microsoft chose Zhongguancun and Haidian Science Park as the site of its Asia-Pacific R&D headquarters, with its more than 3,000 top-caliber scientists and engineers. It's the largest such investment Microsoft has made outside the United States. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-09/15/content_13690008.htm http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-09/15/content_13690008.htm Thu, 15 Sep 2011 22:27:00 GMT Other China News China Daily One of Ermenegildo Zegna's biggest hurdles when it entered China 20 years ago was finding customers able to afford its pricey men's suits. Now the Italian luxury-fashion house is facing a different challenge in the Chinese market: competition. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903927204576570561308825184.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903927204576570561308825184.html Thu, 15 Sep 2011 06:49:00 GMT Other China News Wall Street Journal Shiseido is committed to achieving comprehensive growth by drawing on the strategic assets and talents of its strategic portfolio. Guided by the four growth strategies announced as part of the current Three-Year Plan, Shiseido is positioning itself as a Global Mega-Brand with an acute focus on Asia and expanding in emerging markets. China is a standing example of how the group can proactively capitalize on its resources with the entry of Bare Escentuals into Asia and launch of e-commerce business in September. For more detailed coverage of recent China growth activities, please see attached release. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110914-702718.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=87E8299F-7BE6-46B1-A34E-762D7FBC85EE Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:12:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Wall Street Journal Online buying is clearly popular in China. Last year, 158 million Chinese made purchases over the Internet. They bought cell-phones, digital cameras, T-shirts, CDs, books, cakes, flowers and almost everything else imaginable. But even with Internet shopping now routine, it was a novelty when MINI started trial online sales in July over its official website. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-09/14/content_13680308.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=5B1A3419-6223-42F0-B29F-AE86BB78D1DB Wed, 14 Sep 2011 03:37:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Daily The world's search engine giant Google has launched the group buying search service in China, marking its formal entry into the saturated Chinese e-commerce market. The new service can search and list deals provided by Chinese group buying websites, including Lashou.com, Meituan.com, and 55tuan.com. According to the company, the new service is only a search tool and Google does not assume responsibilities for the group buying contents. The contents and their positions on the web pages are generated in accordance to a computer algorithm. The new service is currently undergoing a testing stage. http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/09/14/15628-google-launches-group-buying-search-service-in-china http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=D82C9B8D-E055-4233-BCBA-4ACF339A577A Wed, 14 Sep 2011 01:24:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments ChinaTechNews.com Chinese online retailer Jingdong Mall, which sells everything from shavers to steamers to smartphones, is not short on ambition. Also known as 360buy.com, it is seeking to raise up to $5bn (3bn) by listing shares in New York next year in what would be the largest ever US internet initial public offering (IPO). http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14880350 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=B54D0056-7C5A-4E06-841F-E54BD78B2E1B Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:32:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments BBC News Not many young Internet companies are able to catch the attention of Wal-Mart. Yet Chinese e-commerce site 360buy earlier this year held talks involving hundreds of millions of dollars of investment by the global retail giant. Ultimately, however, 360buys founder Liu Qiangdong chose to move on, and instead accepted $1.5 billion of funds from a group of investors led by Digital Sky Technology, which has successfully invested in Internet companies such as Facebook. http://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2011/09/12/the-next-jack-ma-liu-qiangdong-makes-china-rich-list-on-360buys-success/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=1D7BF8CD-5F9F-4654-95B4-FEDBF3A53488 Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:23:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Forbes We told you last week that winter is coming for net startups in China. And weve been following the floundering of Groupon in China - short version: things are going poorly for them. Today, the Economic Observer is reporting some more grim news for group buy sites in China: the competition is fierce and the rewards for victory are scant. This is something you probably already knew, but you might still be surprised by the numbers: China has over 5,000 group buy websites, 3,000 of which were launched in the first half of this year. And every single one of the nations top ten group buy sites is losing money, according to the CEO of 55tuan, which is one of the top ten sites by most reckonings. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/09/05/5000-group-buy-sites-in-china-but-no-ones-making-money/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=19961AFE-FC74-4343-A1B6-07FB27E2A869 Mon, 05 Sep 2011 11:29:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Penn Olson The growing influence of Asia as a center for the world of e-commerce has been reflected by the first-ever look into the workings of the region's eBay network. The inaugural "eBay Asian Exporters' Index" was released Monday, after being put together using internal data from eBay itself as well as a Nielsen (WEB) survey that charted the workings of eBay sellers who were shifting sales of more than US$100,000 (70,000 euro) annually. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/china-and-hong-kong-lead-ebayrsquos-charge-through-asia-ndash-and-the-world-2348007.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=04C91FA3-1211-4DFE-B767-B657CC00660E Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:12:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments The Independent 5173.com, an internet trading service firm, has filed for an initial public offering on the Hong Kong Exchange and will have a hearing as soon as this month, reports China Business News, citing a company filing. The company plans to raise as much as $150 million and $200 million dollars in the fourth quarter, and the underwriter for the IPO is BNP Paribas. 5173.com provides internet platforms that allow gamers to trade items within computer games. The company charges fees from a series of services including verification and settlement of transactions for players. It has more than 40 million registered users with an average of 800,000 daily transactions. Its generated transaction value is more than seven billion yuan, trailing only Taobao and 360buy.com. http://www.capitalvue.com/home/CE-news/inset/@10063/post/3422093 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=E4DC75DD-7647-4E12-AFE5-35716360A12A Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:28:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment CapitalVue Chinas online payment market is undergoing major changes under the Peoples Bank of Chinas (PBCs) requirement for a license from third party payment companies. As PBC regulations did not clarify what the threshold is for foreign investors in the field to obtain a license, foreign online payment companies will basically find it very difficult to enter the market. In addition, a number of third party payment companies have also been busy clearing out their foreign holdings in a bid to obtain licenses as soon as possible. Can foreign investors get a license? To the question Can foreign investors get a payment license? the PBC did not give a strict no, but the Measures for Management of Non-financial Institutions Payment Services (PBC Decree [2010] No.2) released in June last year have diminished the hope of foreign players to continue owning a piece of the market or entering the market in the future. http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2011/09/12/foreign-investors-blocked-from-chinas-online-payment-market.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=87C7E7C3-4E97-450C-B135-233473E51D2B Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:17:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment China Briefing Affinity China, a loyalty, reward and lifestyle network for Chinese traveling overseas, has raised $600,000 in seed financing from venture firms RRE Ventures and 500 Startups as well as from strategic investor Loeb Enterprises. The company launched a private beta version of its platform earlier this year, aiming to tap into Chinas $26 billion luxury market. Members can access a variety of offers ranging from receptions with sports stars to weekends in the Hamptons and other locations. http://www.pehub.com/117864/affinity-china-closes-600000-seed-round/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=6CD5C769-80F5-429F-9DB4-3ED5DE30E60E Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:24:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Private Equity Hub Rumors are circulating that a number of Chinese e-commerce IPOs (several of which may raise over $1 billion) are prepping to list in the US over the next 12-18 months. These companies are hoping to tap into investor's interest in a large and still fast-growing market. China has the world's biggest Internet market by number of users, and research firm Forrester Research estimates that total web sales in China are likely to triple to almost $160 billion in 2015 from about $50 billion in 2010. http://www.renaissancecapital.com/ipohome/news/Major-Chinese-e-commerce-companies-seeking-US-IPOs-10276.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=47509C8F-5306-42E3-B9AD-41ABA4F0432A Thu, 08 Sep 2011 10:31:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Renaissance Capital Industry experts are convinced that the $4bn that 360buy wants to raise in its IPO next year will go a long way towards fending off such challenges. The decision by 360buy, one of Chinas largest e-commerce companies, to start preparations for an initial public offering that it hopes will bring in more than $4bn has raised eyebrows as investor sentiment is not exactly friendly towards Chinese internet stocks at the moment. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3dc61f00-da11-11e0-b199-00144feabdc0.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=68370E13-989F-40CA-87A3-A36E6C2D0BB7 Wed, 07 Sep 2011 10:17:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Financial Times Nissen Holdings said Monday that it has forged a capital and operating alliance with Venus Veil Ltd. group, which provides mail-order and online retail services in China. Nissen bought a 6.26% stake in Venus Veil that day via a private placement of shares. http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110905D0509A07.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=76AAFA9A-F9AA-4DCD-B631-2913570D44B7 Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:30:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment NIKKEI.com Foreign investors in the Internet sector and other restricted Chinese industries are looking into changing their contracts with local companies, in light of new guidelines for Chinese officials to review mergers and acquisitions. The guidelines, announced earlier this year, say that China's National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce will conduct national-security reviews of companies in the defense, resources and technology sectors, as well as other industries. http://asia.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903895904576546331870853482.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=4F8EB88D-2AB0-48B5-984E-1F967769F401 Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:14:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Wall Street Journal eBay reportedly expects its Greater China sales in 2011 to increase by between 30% and 40%, and the company will seek opportunities to acquire new assets to increase its market share in China. According to reports in foreign media, Jay Lee, general manager for eBay Asia Pacific, said we will continue to seek proper opportunities, but the prices should be reasonable. While the current Chinese market is a little overheated, Lee sad China has a large number of rich consumers. They not only sell products on eBay, but also buy on eBay. In 2010, eBay's sales in Greater China saw a record high of over USD4 billion. The company hopes to attract more Chinese netizens, depending on its 97 million active users worldwide and about 100 million PayPal users. http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/09/04/15603-more-possible-china-e-commerce-acquisitions-for-ebay http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=68BECDD1-A9BB-44E2-8784-98DC90CBD9C2 Sun, 04 Sep 2011 11:30:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment ChinaTechNews.com It is inevitable that online businesses will pay taxes in China, but the government cannot bring in a single flat tax, an expert from the China Daily said on Tuesday. Jack Ma, the chairman of China's e-commerce giant Alibaba, told his company last Saturday to start preparing to pay taxes. It comes as the central government prepares to begin taxing online retailers in China. However, it remains unclear as to when these taxes are going to be brought in. http://english.cri.cn/6826/2011/09/13/2021s657980.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=B2BDA149-1FE5-4F07-A6B0-9D716BB97CB1 Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:25:00 GMT TaoBao in the News CRIENGLISH.com Its fashionable these days to talk about how Americas in the dumps. Stocks go up and down by a few hundred points every day - gyrating on the latest rumor. According to MITs Andrew Lo, since 1980, 10 of the biggest 20 daily upswings and 11 of the largest 20 daily drops since the beginning of 1980 happened after September 2008. But the disconnect between stocks and company performance seems to be wider than ever. How so? A quick glance at second quarter 2011 earnings reveals that Americas business is booming and jimmy-crack-corn, stocks dont care. There are three ways to explain the fact that companies grew earnings at 27 times the rate of U.S. economic growth: Theyre exporting to countries in Asia-Pacific and Latin America where demand is much higher. Companies looking for growth ought to consider exporting and my new book, Export Now, co-authored with Frank Lavin, presents a method based on thousands of SME export success stories. They sell commodities like metals or minerals with rising prices and growing demand, or They make innovative products or deliver great services that people in the U.S. are buying at rates far in excess of the overall level of economic growth. http://www.forbes.com/sites/petercohan/2011/09/12/irrational-pessimism-why-american-business-is-booming-and-nobodys-noticing/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=87A2F460-E4AD-453D-8E2B-0B3ADB5E2CDF Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:42:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Forbes Chinese E-commerce giant, Alibaba, is struggling with two of its biggest online payment systems, eBay subsidiary, Paypal, and Alibaba's own homegrown payment service, Alipay. With the future of these two payment systems in doubt, questions have arisen about how retailers will pay for wholesale products purchased through the huge overseas trading company. According to Forbes, eBay and Paypal had been working closely with AliExpress, an Alibaba subsidiary that focuses on wholesale. However, Alibaba has been moving more toward a business model that focuses on consumers, in addition to business-to-business trade. Responding to Alibaba's increasing encroachment on its ecommerce turf, eBay has recently ended its year-old partnership with Alibaba. Forbes cites Reuters in suggesting that eBay was unhappy with rising consumer business on AliExpress, which is meant for businesses. Soon thereafter, Paypal announced that it was pulling out of a partnership in Alibaba's business-to-business platform. http://technorati.com/business/article/chinese-e-commerce-giant-alibaba-in/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=E9D08CB2-EAC7-44B8-A8E8-9CE233800CAB Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:24:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Technorati Alibaba will soon begin targeting U.S. consumers for the first time in a move that pits it against eBay.com, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Alibaba's U.S. marketplace AliExpress offers users the ability to source product from international suppliers, but it is aimed at very small retailers and resellers, not consumers. The Journal was not specific about what Alibaba's plans were, but quoted a spokesperson for Alibaba Group stating, "A large and growing number of consumers are interested in buying direct from China." In the years since 2006 when eBay failed to capture market share in the Chinese domestic market, it has been increasingly targeting the export market. It is helping Chinese sellers list on eBay.com and is opening fulfillment centers in the U.S. for them to store their goods in order to reduce shipping time to buyers in the United States. It currently takes an average of 18 days to deliver from China to the U.S., eBay told EcommerceBytes in June. http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/cab/abn/y11/m09/i12/s02 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=F59CF4EF-BCE2-469C-9495-4FEA54E449C4 Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:22:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Auctionbytes Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. started its search-engine service last year to cause sleepless nights for Baidu Inc., the industry leader in China, Chief Executive Officer Jack Ma said. Making life difficult for companies with established positions is what we most want to do, Ma said Sept. 10 at a conference in Hangzhou, eastern China, where Alibaba is based. He didnt elaborate on the remarks about Baidu. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-10/alibaba-s-ma-says-he-wants-to-cause-sleepless-nights-for-baidu.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=09EC060F-2C13-40ED-A79B-11AEF8064E80 Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:19:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Bloomberg Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is aiming to handle one trillion yuan ($157 billion) of transactions in 2012 on its Taobao consumer sales platforms, the company's Chairman Jack Ma said Saturday. Speaking at Alibaba Group's annual convention in Hangzhou, China, Mr. Ma said that the websites, consumer-to-consumer trade platform Taobao Marketplace, and business-to-consumer platform Taobao Mall, which were recently split into separate business units, will help spur consumer demand in the world's most populous nation. Taobao as a whole handled nearly 400 billion yuan of online transactions last year. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904103404576562290019569996.html?mod=googlenews_wsj http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=F911414A-F28C-4D62-8947-CAECFD5A0DA7 Sun, 11 Sep 2011 11:22:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Wall Street Journal Alibaba.com Ltd. , operator of Chinas biggest online commerce site for business owners, will audit all exporters that pay the company to market their products after some buyers were defrauded. The company will visit the facilities of all paying members of its China Gold Supplier program over the course of a year, Director of International Marketing Linda Kozlowski said at a briefing in Hangzhou, east China today. The onsite check will help lower fraud on Alibaba.coms website, she said. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-09/alibaba-com-to-audit-all-paying-members-to-combat-fraud-1-.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=7EC7A9F0-6B4F-4422-8E07-F2B4B0E431A7 Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:18:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Bloomberg The Chinese online payments provider in which Yahoo holds an indirect interest is buying itself a greater slice of that growing market, after the country recently liberalised the opportunity. Alipay is acquiring Australian loyalty card and payment platform provider OnCards Chinese business, BillToBil http://paidcontent.co.uk/article/419-alipay-buys-up-more-of-chinas-nascent-online-payments-market/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=4F3CAA29-269B-4C02-9490-FF0E66673919 Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:08:00 GMT TaoBao in the News paidContent:UK Chinese online selling giant Alibaba.com, which is used by millions of people across the Far East to buy and sell goods online, has just published a new guide to running an online sales business. Alibaba has grown massively since it was established in 1999, and it has put much of what it has learned since then into its new guide, which acts as a step-by-step manual to help anyone looking to establish a business trading online. http://news.parcel2go.com/ParcelDeliveryNews/alibaba-publishes-guide-to-trading-online-800352507.aspx http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=14AB7B8E-49C8-4004-B1FF-6C5DFF53100D Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:07:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Parcel2Go.com Purity Cosmetics, which sources ingredients from Alibaba.com, will sell on Taobao.com. Pretty much every business today is competing globally, says Ric Kostick, CEO of Purity Cosmetics. And the maker of natural cosmetics is a prime example of how a small company can use the Internet to both buy and sell more effectively internationally. Incorporated in 2004, Purity sells online at 100percentpure.com, and has sold its products through the Bath & Body Works store chain and via TV and web retailer QVC. Bath & Body Works is part of Limited Brands, No. 18 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide; QVC is No. 8. An initial challenge Purity faced was to identify suppliers: find the ingredients to make products like its vanilla bean body wash or French lavender hand lotion, identify providers of eco-friendly packaging materials and make deals with factories to produce and package Puritys branded products. Having successfully sourced goods through a Chinese online marketplace, Purity now intends to sell to Chinese consumers through Taobao, a direct-to-consumer marketplace similar to eBay that is the leading online retail site in China, according to iResearch, a market research firm based in China. http://www.internetretailer.com/2011/09/02/e-retailer-buys-china-now-plans-sell-there http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=65622836-9255-45F5-A606-914262E6F73C Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:39:00 GMT TaoBao in the News InternetRetailer.com To many larger corporations, SMEs may not be of particular interest; possibly used as local suppliers, but not typically perceived as potential global business partners or competitors. With regard to a particular new type of SME, this assumption is no longer valid. Within just the last decade, a new breed of SMEs has emerged. Unlike traditional SMEs, which are primarily local in their outlook and customer base, these new SMEs are global operators that make extensive use of e-commerce solutions. Their avid adoption of technology has also allowed them to maximise the business agility inherent in their relatively small size to support their atypical business models. This article examines the important implications this new breed of SME has for larger corporations. http://www.financeasia.com/News/271748,viewpoint-small-giants-international-e-smes.aspx http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=28C09AB5-2B2F-4B47-8DCC-481A3530B7EF Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:27:00 GMT Other China News FinanceAsia Cheap price has been used as a weapon by most E-commerce companies; however, people begin to worry about the cheap prices now. At the 2011 APEC Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) Summit, hold on 30, August in Chengdu, China, some experts and executives pointed out that to dominate the market at low prices is not desirable and E-commerce is just a sales channel of business. In the future, the only way to maintain the share of their market, retailers should discover more channels for selling and improve the quality of customer service. http://www.prweb.com/releases/sino-treasure/prweb8771656.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=F4AA4AE2-3040-4F19-BE79-C5D02D5B9020 Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:38:00 GMT Other China News PR Web Global Logistic Properties, the market leader in modern logistics facilities in China and Japan, announced that GLP has signed new and expansion lease agreements totalling 152,000 square metres at GLP Park Chongqing and GLP Park Chengdu Hi-tech. As a result of the rapidly-growing demand from customers in the Western China market, both GLP Park Chengdu Hi-tech and Phase I of GLP Park Chongqing have achieved full occupancy. Phase II expansion of GLP Park Chongqing is experiencing strong customer demand, with approximately 50,000 square metres leased since its completion in late August. http://logisticsweek.com/news/2011/09/global-logistic-properties-sees-strong-demand-in-western-china/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=4D9365CB-7ED7-455D-8EF2-443A0F29BA16 Thu, 08 Sep 2011 10:25:00 GMT Other China News LogisticsWeek The number of Australian fashion retailers bypassing local wholesalers and sourcing their apparel from markets such as China has jumped over the past year as ... http://www.bandt.com.au/news/fashion-retailers-turn-to-chinese-wholesalers-to-c http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=790183C4-C369-40ED-AAC3-522EDEAC29BA Wed, 07 Sep 2011 10:16:00 GMT Other China News B&T Marketing & Media Well-known bricks and mortar stores have pressured distributors and wholesalers to stop selling particular items online that the retailers also sell in their shops, claims eBay in an inquiry into the Australian retail industry. The explosive allegation comes as the Productivity Commission continues to hear evidence from retailers and peak-body groups into the competitive pressures facing traditional retailers amid the growing popularity of online sites such as Amazon and eBay. http://www.smh.com.au/business/big-retailers-bullying-online-stores-claims-ebay-20110905-1jtbv.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=D60B46C6-71DA-43F7-917D-01DE5F2E4EB7 Mon, 05 Sep 2011 10:34:00 GMT Other China News Sydney Morning Herald Their landmasses are very similar. Manufacturing dominates each region. Each is economically invested in what the other region produces. The connections between the state of Indiana and Zhejiang province, which established ties as sister states in 1987, are already numerous, but in the next few years, leaders from both regions say they are planning to further cement economic ties. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/weekly/2011-09/02/content_13601728.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=FC5E870C-167C-4683-A6FB-EFBDAEEF41F8 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:13:00 GMT Other China News China Daily FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. and one of the worlds largest express transportation companies, officially opened a new operations station in Shanghai in order to meet growing customer needs and package volume. It is also the largest FedEx station in China. Occupying an area of 5,140 square meters in the Pudong Sanlin area, the station handles the pick-up and delivery of international express shipments for customers in the Huangpu, Jingan, Nanhui, Fengxian districts as well as some parts of the Pudong New District. http://news.van.fedex.com/intl/cn?node=17650 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=DEC67458-0A93-46DA-821D-3CD11CD86C78 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:20:00 GMT Other China News FedEx Pretty much every business today is competing globally, says Ric Kostick, CEO of Purity Cosmetics. And the maker of natural cosmetics is a prime example of how a small company can use the Internet to both buy and sell more effectively internationally. Incorporated in 2004, Purity sells online at 100percentpure.com, and has sold its products through the Bath & Body Works store chain and via TV and web retailer QVC. Bath & Body Works is part of Limited Brands, No. 18 in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide; QVC is No. 8. http://www.internetretailer.com/2011/09/02/e-retailer-buys-china-now-plans-sell-there http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=65622836-9255-45F5-A606-914262E6F73C Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:39:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments InternetRetailer.com Millions of entrepreneurs in China are leveraging the tools of e-commerce to offer safe shopping online to fellow citizens and expand their horizons for future prosperity. According to a report from BBC News, there are over five million small businesses based entirely around the internet, operating out of small homes and even university accommodation. http://www.shopsafe.co.uk/news/ecommerce-becomes-chinese-cottage-industry/10395 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=AA34256C-80C5-4457-B6EB-06F7EE6A4A39 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:43:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Shopsafe Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. WMT, the world's biggest retailer, inked a contract to buy into Chinese online grocery store Yihaodian.com earlier this year. It was a strategic move the US-based retail giant took after launching Samsclub.cn for trial operation for a period of time. Thus it has become a focal point why it chose to buy into an online retailer rather than operating one by itself in the Chinese market. According to industry observers, China is quite a different market from the US and in addition to Wal-Mart, other leading global retailers meet difficulties in operating an online shop by themselves there. http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=85042 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=85B293CC-1D00-457F-9ADD-48FE85FECA01 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:42:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments FreshPlaza eBay expects sales from large exporters in China to maintain growth at 30-40 per cent annually, with the e-commerce giant seeking acquisition opportunities as part of efforts to expand its footprint in the fast-growing market. While open to acquisition opportunities in China, eBay finds the overall market frothy. http://www.todayonline.com/Business/EDC110831-0001052/eBay-pins-China-hopes-on-large-exporters http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=DD8CAB9D-8367-4E32-A101-1EDC19DB83AF Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:42:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments TODAYonline China's online retail world is facing a fractured partnership as a leading shopping site ends an agreement with a top payment site. Chinese B2C e-commerce website 360buy.com has published a notice, stating that its cooperation with Alipay.com, the Internet payment subsidiary of Alibaba Group, expired on August 24, 2011, and the company will now stop the use of payment services at Alipay.com. http://www.chinaretailnews.com/2011/08/31/5122-online-retailer-nixes-internet-payment-partnership-in-china/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=01D74556-DE43-4889-A321-BAD1595E0B9C Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:46:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments ChinaRetailNews.com eBay Inc expects sales from greater China to grow 30-40 percent annually from about $4 billion in 2010, with the e-commerce giant seeking acquisition opportunities as part of efforts to expand its footprint in the fast-growing market. While open to acquisition opportunities in China, eBay finds the overall market frothy. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/30/us-ebay-interview-idUSTRE77T63L20110830 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=C8370F08-DBFC-48DD-994A-256D451C3934 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:00:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Reuters Zhang Qiaoli uses her spare bedroom for storing her stock of ladies' fashion-wear and photo shoots. She is one of more than five million small online stores operating across China, some from small apartments or even college dormitories. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14679595 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=A65ECAD7-8A98-4258-9479-2175854B9363 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:01:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments BBC News Chinese retailers are paying close attention to the mobile commerce sector in the country's large cities, and experts said the development of mobile commerce will depend on the development of Internet environment in China. Figures from Analysys International, a consulting firm specialized in Internet market research in China, suggested that sales revenue generated through purchases made by mobile phone reached 1.67 billion yuan ($261 million) in the second quarter of 2011, an increase from 880 million yuan in the same period of 2010. Twenty-seven percent of the 1.67 billion yuan was generated through transaction terminals installed on mobile phones, and the remaining 73 percent came through web transactions on mobile phones. http://www.china.org.cn/business/2011-08/29/content_23303937.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=FF320563-4811-428C-9118-5F08DA8D286E Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:58:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments china.org.cn E-commerce is a commercial activity that uses the Internet as the transaction platform. According to China's tax law, people and businesses need to pay income tax, value-added tax and/or corporate tax if they sell goods, software and/or pictures or act as information consultants on the Internet. Since e-commerce can be transnational, the tax law could face some tough problems. The first problem is erosion of the tax base. If buyers and sellers are based in different countries and if Customs duty and tax is not imposed on products flowing across national borders, a sovereign state could suffer the loss of tariff and value-added tax. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-08/29/content_13206811.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=087BAB72-899D-4625-8000-1D09F6F3C861 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:52:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Daily E-commerce has proven to be a lucrative business when executed properly. Success stories range from eBay and Amazon in the U.S to Alibaba Groups dominance in China with Taobao.com. And in India, there are a couple of fast-growing e-commerce giants emerging too, namely Flipkart (books), SnapDeal (group-buy), and HomeShop18 (everything). As a fast growing Internet nation, its important to grab market share early. Everyone knows that. And these e-commerce companies are fighting to the death to grab whatever they can. HomeShop18.com has been particularly aggressive, especially this month. How aggressive? First it acquired CoinJoos.com, an online book e-commerce site (but which is nowhere near Flipkarts size); then it rolled out a new and refreshing logo; and third it initiated a TV advertising campaign (ka-ching for the ad industry). Anyone in big business knows that TV commercials are one of the biggest costs that one has to commit to make it successful. A newly-created thirty-second TVC could easily cost hundreds of thousand of dollars. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/08/27/homeshop18-strategy/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=48BAEBDA-7494-4CC9-A811-A6759CB37A19 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 11:47:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Penn Olson A lot of Americans desperately want to believe that China is full of poor people who cant innovate, and the only goods they make are cheap, toxic rip-offs our Western brands. They want to believe the only reason the Chinese economy is surging is because the West wants cheap goods and China knows how to make them that way. These people will hate this post because its about a company called Greenbox that flies in the face of those preconceived notions. http://techcrunch.com/2011/08/27/disney-inks-deal-with-greenbox-chinese-ecommerce-is-taking-off/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=AACC3FAC-96B1-4BD2-885A-7317F901DC03 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 09:52:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments TechCrunch Walmart has finally sealed the deal on its investment in Chinese e-commerce site YiHaoDian.com. We reported on its announcement back in May but the transaction seems to have taken longer than the expected two months to nail down. The giant American retailer now takes an undisclosed minority stake in YiHaoDian. Walmart is very interested in the Chinese e-commerce scene, having also invested with five other firms the sum of US$500 million in 360Buy back in December of last year. Walmart is reportedly also considering an e-commerce site of its own, despite its two ongoing stakes in competing companies. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/08/26/walmart-yihaodian/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=136E733C-17E4-474E-AAE6-13AB8B67C0F0 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:43:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Penn Olson Chinese Internet company Tencent has announced at its e-commerce annual meeting that the company plans to launch a B2B2C platform in the fourth quarter of 2011. The new platform is currently under development. It will adopt a new brand logo and will be operated synchronously with Tencent's existing C2C website, Paipai.com. http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/08/25/15578-tencents-new-chinese-e-commerce-platform-will-launch-soon http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=C5B07E7F-0933-4D6C-A959-088387E910E8 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:31:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments ChinaTechNews.com Internet firms in China are in a race to make a deployment in the business-to-consumer (B2C) market by joining force with shoes e-commerce firms in the country. The collaboration between Internet giants and online shoes retailers has become a hot topic in China, reflected by numerous stories about Internet giant-online shoes retailer alliance like Tencent Holdings Limited (sehk:0700)'s capital injection into Okbuy.com, Baidu, Inc. (BIDU)'s partnership with Belle International Holdings Ltd. (sehk:1880), Alibaba's USD 15 million investment in S.cn, as well as Tencent Holdings, Baidu, and Alibaba's attempt to approach Letao.com for possible cooperation. http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Newsfeed/Article/135058720/201108190705/China-Internet-Giants-Tie-up-with-Online-Shoes-Retailers.aspx http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=9F145623-DEC9-4BB7-8B11-F0206CF92CDA Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:32:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Investor's Business Daily It is difficult for Dangdang to become the Chinese counterpart of Amazon within a very short time. Currently, Dangdang is facing threat from challengers from different segmented sectors. China's B2C (business-to-customer) E-commerce company E Commerce China Dangdang Inc. (Dangdang) DANG suffered operating loss of USD 7.7 million and net loss of USD 4.4 million in the second quarter of 2011, up 226.6% and 60%, respectively, revealed by the company report. http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7B47eabef9-dff1-4059-a12d-1237d88c8df8%7D http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=8961AB6C-4014-4C69-8598-57D2DA9CC1AD Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:49:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Menafn There seems to be a rampant piracy and counterfeiting problem on Tencents e-commerce platform, Paipai.com. But judging by user reviews, everyones happy. Although Tencent is one of Chinas most established web companies, it still hasnt come to grips with counterfeit designer brands or shanzhai gadgets on its relatively new online shopping portal. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/08/16/paipai/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=3D1545E4-2C88-4BD3-BCBE-54676193E735 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:56:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Penn Olson The group buying website market in China is crazy. Back in May, Lashou was accused of fixing prices to try to keep themselves in the running; most recently, Renrens Nuomi group-buy site was revealed to be hemorrhaging money in Renrens Q2 financial reports. Prices have fallen as sites struggle to compete by offering the best deals. So whos winning? Well, that can change at a moments notice. In March it looked like Taobaos Juhuasuan service had a hefty lead on everyone else. But recent stats tell a different story. Stasticial analysis firm Hitwise China analyzed the overall traffic to Chinese group-buy sites for last week (7/31-8/6) and determined that as far as traffic is concerned, Lashou has surpassed Taobao, and Nuomi and QQtuan have dropped in the rankings. A lot of things have changed since March, it seems. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/08/15/lashou-top-group-buy-china/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=2321A7EB-6E41-4076-829B-F2B05BFBF068 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:56:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Penn Olson The growth of China's consumer e-commerce sector is breathtaking, doubling year on year. On-line shopping is more than a trend; it is a phenomenon. But it took a while for things to take off. It was not until two fundamentally Chinese business essentials were addressed -- the benefits and reassurance of scale, low price as the ultimate competitive weapon -- that an inflection point was crossed. Early days were not promising. Counterfeits were rampant. Credit card penetration was low. Chinese buyers, a kick-the-tire cohort if there ever was one -- were (and still are) suspicious of "virtual" transactions. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-doctoroff/ecommerce-in-china-patria_b_926781.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=197FC0D8-32F3-478A-BBE0-335F942B6E51 Sun, 14 Aug 2011 11:56:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Huffington Post Asian tech site Penn Olsen reports that the Chinese online media company Sina, mainly known for its Twitter-like Weibo microblogging service, launched Sina Luxury on Friday. The new e-store enables designers to sell their collections directly to customers - those who have already signed up include highest-profile Western brands such as Dior, Burberry, Gucci, and Paul Smith, all "100 percent guaranteed genuine," as the homepage states, referring to China's counterfeit problems. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/sina-launches-luxury-online-store-in-china-2336690.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=72917F70-A283-40FF-BDBE-2F4B00C36C53 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:57:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments The Independent When serial entrepreneur George Ji Wenhong and private equity investor Huang Jin launched luxury goods and fashion clothing online retailer Xiu.com during the global recession in 2008, they relied on word-of-mouth to generate interest. Huang was data-driven and convinced that advertising couldnt positively impact sales, particularly in the short-run. He thought our competitors were stupid for spending so much on ads, recalls Ji, who first met Huang when the two were roommates in college in Beijing in 1988. Eschewing ad spending, they invested some of the $15.5 million they had raised in hiring a team of global buyers from New York to Paris to procure foreign brands. While Net-a-Porter ships to China, many popular luxury-fashion sites, including Rue La La and Gilt Groupe, still dont. Because the companies lack mainland presence, the shipping fee for each of their items would likely be prohibitively high for shoppers. Ji and Huangs message to Western companies: Why open 50 brick-and-mortar stores in China when Xiu.com can market and sell your product? http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-25/e-tailer-xiu-com-brings-foreign-luxury-to-chinese-consumers.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=E4E43A00-2029-4E9F-A53E-D728543368E2 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 09:30:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Bloomberg As Chinese Web companies face mounting uncertainties, a new fund by former Google Inc. China chief Kai-Fu Lee shows that investors still have hope for the industry. Mr. Lee has raised $180 million from a group of prominent investors for Innovation Works, his Beijing-based company aimed at helping early-stage Internet start-ups. The investor attention signals continued interest in the sector even as recent challenges have pushed down share prices for Chinese Web companies listed in the U.S. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903895904576544102332931480.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=5C109644-DD61-4FA5-87CF-F8731A312033 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:26:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Wall Street Journal Innovation Works, the venture capital firm founded by Google Inc. (GOOG)s former China head, said its new fund focused on Internet startups in the Asian nation attracted investors including Ron Conway and Yuri Milner. The $180 million fund also drew investments from WI Harper Group, Baillie Gifford & Co. and Sequoia Capital, according to a statement by Innovation Works distributed via Marketwire. Innovation Works was founded in September 2009 by Kai-Fu Lee after he left Google, with an investment from WI Harper. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-01/google-s-former-china-head-lee-raises-180-million-for-technology-fund.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=69E13284-0E02-4D05-B7FD-30D6C4BF4F81 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:08:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Bloomberg Belle International Holdings Limited (1880.HK), a leading womens shoe retailer in China, has invested $200 million in online shoe retailer Yougou.com, according to Li Xuejun, CEO of Yougou. Zhang told Chinese media on August 30 that Belle plans to significantly boost its online business, hoping it to contribute more than 5% of the companys overall sales in the next five years. http://www.businessinsider.com/belle-invests-200-million-in-yougoucom-b2c-footwear-2011-8 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=6E209DA2-B6A5-47D5-AD8D-9CD05C625552 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:46:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Business Insider EBay Inc. is evaluating acquisition targets in Japan and China, seeing Asia as key to growth. In the next five years, Asia is expected to be the fastest-growing region for the company, continuing a trend of the past five years, said Jay Lee, eBay's managing director for the Asia-Pacific region. He said the company expects sales from the region to make up about a third of the company's overall sales. He didn't disclose the current proportion or give a time frame for the projection. Ebay's second-quarter revenue rose 25% to $2.8 billion. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904583204576541893884025716.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=A2957F24-71A7-4FCE-8408-E3DE7AA7F120 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:44:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Wall Street Journal Hangzhou-based C2C & B2C e-commerce site Taobao's search platform ETao.com today launched a group buy search channel (tuan.etao.com). According to ETao, the new channel searches deal listings on over 600 group buy sites and is updated every half hour http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-08-29/article/49201/etao_launches_group_buy_search http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=BB52B127-2E35-4AFB-9916-6C90AC3EE21C Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:45:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Marbridge Consulting China's largest fashion E-Tailer Xiu.com raised a $100 million worth of joint funds from US private equity fund Warburg Pincus and venture capital KPCB China the online retailer announced Wednesday. This marks the largest B round money raised among Chinese e-commerce industry in history and secured Xiu.com the top player position in China's fashion e-commerce. This is the second round fund raising for Xiu.com this year, after it won $20 million from venture capital KPCB, around 145 days ago. This time the fund was mainly invested by Warburg Pincus and jointly followed by KPCB. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/warburg-pincus-and-kpcb-china-pumps-100m-to-chinese-e-tailer-xiucom-128001303.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=70DA75C5-167A-4EA8-948C-143AF9121C31 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:36:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment PR Newswire Venture capital was never part of Sun Yafei's strategy for her company last year, but it is now. The chief executive officer of Fifth Avenue Globe Inc, the earliest luxury online retailer in China, had to turn to external funding in June. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2011-08/15/content_13111517.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=EC7F195C-FF07-4CE4-B8ED-3BD6FA87C25B Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:50:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment China Daily Todays businesses know they need to be in new markets to succeed but the lack of familiarity, the cultural and language gaps and the differences in business practices can all be intimidating. In this informative event, hear from former U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce, Frank Lavin and discover how your business can tap into foreign markets. Also known as Americas Salesman-in-Chief, at the Commerce Department, Frank was responsible for helping U.S. companies enter new markets and win overseas. Now as Chairman of Public Affairs for Edelman Asia Pacific, Frank has worked with over 2,000 U.S. companies as they formulated export strategies. Offering a real-world strategy that any-size business can use to go global, Frank will share the lessons that can be applied to both U.S. and non-U.S. companies alike. http://www.amcham.org.hk/index.php/component/option,com_gigcal/Itemid,483/gigcal_gigs_id,1060/task,details/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=08CC0307-E22F-452A-AF82-FDB86239673C Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:16:00 GMT TaoBao in the News The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong Suning.com, the business-to-consumer website of Suning Appliance Co. Ltd. (002024.SZ), Chinas leading 3C products retailer, is holding cooperation talks with Alipay.com Ltd., the worlds largest third party e-payment platform, techweb.com.cn reported, citing an unnamed source close to the matter. The source also said Alipay, a unit of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd., will hold a session at the 2011 Entrepreneurs Conference on Sep. 9 that will include the participation of Alipays existing e-commerce business partners, the payment platforms chief executive officer Peng Lei and executives from other e-commerce companies. http://en.21cbh.com/HTML/2011-8-29/1NMjUyXzIxMDg1NA.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=A2202219-1171-4E3F-ABD2-FEC5EB362F76 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:52:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Business China When I decided to throw an extravagant birthday party for my girlfriend in Shanghai, I underestimated how much work it would require, without a party planner. I needed balloons, decorations, cake, candles, and so on. But I also underestimated the far-reaching power of Taobao and other e-commerce sites in China if you can read Chinese. To most foreigners in China, Taobao is akin to a great mythical creature. We have all heard of its great prowess but most of us are too afraid to go near it. After all, the entire site is in Chinese and the payment system is quite complex and nearly impossible without a local bank account. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-08/24/content_13176502.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=E1E47FEE-3E36-41C1-BA27-965F2273770D Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:53:00 GMT TaoBao in the News China Daily Theres always this fear factor when you buy things online, especially when its supplied from China. So to curb this problem, Alibaba.com has launched a new service that allows both big and small buyers to inspect the goods before they are shipped. The inspection service costs $100 to $150 per day and, according to Alizila, the Alibaba Group commentary blog, 20 China-based inspection companies have been chosen to perform the inspections. Irina Gee, who runs the service for Alibaba.com briefly explained the inspection criteria http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/08/23/alibaba-inspection-service/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=FF9A668F-1533-4752-A8E4-5E7116DE426F Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:48:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Penn Olson Taobao Union, the affiliate advertising program of Chinese B2C and C2C e-commerce company Taobao, today announced a RMB 2 bln investment plan aimed at small and mid-sized websites, with RMB 1.5 bln allotted for Taobao merchants and the remaining RMB 500 mln set aside for external e-commerce sites that belong to Taobao Union and are covered by Taobao's Etao.com e-commerce search engine. Wang Weiyi, general manager of Taobao Union, said the program is aimed at funding the growth of both popular and new websites. In addition to the RMB 2 bln in funds, Taobao Union will launch a contest to determine the best website administrators and Taobao customers. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-08-16/article/48796/taobao_union_launches_rmb_2_bln_partner_growth_plan http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=1C3C4119-74D4-41BD-976D-3A6F567FA69E Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:55:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Marbridge Consulting Co-author, Frank Lavin shares how small and medium companies can use this how-to and step-by-step strategy guide to exporting your products, and taking your company global. http://as.wiley.com/WileyCDA/PressRelease/pressReleaseId-100583.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=D0639832-C2EF-4CD7-AB0B-F45B5246933C Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:15:00 GMT TaoBao in the News John Wiley & Sons WHEN Huang Bing graduated from university in 2005, he promised himself he would make his first 1m yuan (about $155,000) within three years. It took him a bit longer, but no matter: if his business, a collection of online cosmetics stores, maintains its current trajectory, he will soon count his first billion. In a few years he expects annual revenues to reach 10 billion yuan. Mr Huangs company, United Cosmetics International, is only one of thousands on Taobao Mall, a huge online shopping centre. He spotted a demand from women in Chinas hinterland for branded cosmetics - and advice on how to use them. A lot of women in rural areas dont have access to quality products, he explains, guiding visitors through the firms headquarters in the outskirts of Hangzhou, two hours drive south-west of Shanghai. On several floors, at desk after desk, beauty consultants busily type answers for customers. http://www.economist.com/node/21524821 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=4516A2B4-11AE-4BA1-82C4-F56973F85B89 Sat, 30 Jul 2011 09:24:00 GMT TaoBao in the News The Economist Yahoo has finally come to an agreement with Chinese Internet giant Alibaba in a months-long battle over the ownership of payment site Alipay. Yahoo (YHOO, Fortune 500) owns about 40% of Alibaba, which itself owns Yahoo China -- as well as three massive Chinese properties including Alipay. That stake is one of Yahoo's bright spots, so investors weren't pleased when uncertainty developed over Alipay. http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/money_news_international/~3/XjCUoHQDD_8/index.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=964D94D3-004D-4C88-B84A-6623A01C5EE4 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:02:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Fortune China's remarkable economic achievements of the past decade are transforming people's daily lives. Today, most Chinese have more social occasions and entertainment options than they did 10 or more years ago. Aside from work or study, they enjoy eating out, shopping, traveling, going to bars and karaoke, dance and fitness clubs, to name just a few of the possibilities. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-08/30/content_13215565.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=3E49F5B4-6C9D-4789-9BEE-1B52D73B4026 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:50:00 GMT Other China News China Daily While many worry that Taiwan has lost its cutting edge to China in business development and manufacturing, a former United States trade official is of the view that Taiwan's potential lies somewhere else. Frank Lavin, former Under Secretary for International Trade at the U.S. Frank Lavin, former Under Secretary for International Trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce, said that every market is a specialty market and that Taiwan should focus on transforming itself into a management hub for European firms operating in the Asian region. http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aIPL&ID=201108230035 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=5D407A62-CE54-4248-8EDB-B337781723BB Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:54:00 GMT Other China News Focus Taiwan News Channel Exports to China rose broadly across the United States last year, the US-China Business Council said in annual report aimed at reducing anti-China trade sentiment in Congress. "In 2010, exports to China rose 32 percent - faster than export growth to any of the US top five export destinations. Even in states that had a mixed export story over the previous eight years - such as Maine, Wisconsin and Tennessee - exports from congressional districts to China generally rose faster than the rest of the world," the report said. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/us/2011-08/18/content_13138630.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=0AD12E18-1837-4B04-9903-ED8CB21C4925 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:53:00 GMT Other China News China Daily WHEN China's online luxury shoppers click to spend more than $US4000 on a Maison Martin Margiela leather jacket or over $US3000 for an Alexander McQueen dress on fashion website thecorner.com.cn, they will have an option the company doesn't make available to any other customers around the world. FedEx delivery men will wait on the doorsteps of Chinese consumers while they inspect their purchases, try them on for size, and decide if the products are worthy of keeping or sending back. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/executive-lifestyle/competing-for-chinas-luxury-buyers/story-e6frg9zo-1226108876131 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=68429C52-4314-4844-9EF1-1C126B86531F Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:52:00 GMT Other China News The Australian With the rapid development of the express delivery industry in recent years, Chinese urbanites' impressions of deliverymen have been transformed. Gone are the typical images of dark green uniformed men toting large boxes, replaced now by young, casually dressed couriers on electric bikes laden with packages. While express services become a daily necessity with the popularity of online-shopping, the country is gearing up to consolidate the fragmented and crowded industry. China will strive to support mergers and acquisitions between delivery companies by offering policy incentives in taxation and land use, said a guideline of the State Post Bureau of China (SPB) posted on the website on June 17. More express firms will be nurtured into larger ones capable of competing against international delivery service giants like UPS and DHL and with annual revenues exceeding 10 billion yuan ($1.54 billion), said the guideline. http://www.bjreview.com.cn/business/txt/2011-07/25/content_378767.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=F41161A0-0BC9-455C-BB79-8336BA5EAEB6 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 09:28:00 GMT Other China News Beijing Review An online-store owner on Taobao.com refused to budge on Tuesday after 100 off-line retailers accused the owner of violating corporate pricing rules by selling cheaper goods and staged a protest in front of the headquarters of Taobao.com. A quick look at the store, "Shanhuolang," displays oats for sale manufactured by Sanzhuliang remain priced at 78 yuan (12 U.S. dollars) per kilogram. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/indepth/2011-07/26/c_131010687.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=5CEFC958-0940-4249-BBCE-5B55D89426B9 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:19:00 GMT Other China News Xinhua China's Ministry of Commerce started an action to clamp down on the infringement of intellectual of property rights as well as market counterfeits in December 2010. Since the campaign began, it has achieved positive results. The action is mainly aimed at books, videos and clothes. It is focused on Zhejiang, Shanghai, Guangdong and Beijing. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/7444845.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=5482AC77-622F-4D8D-A87B-EBC6AC6CA627 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:24:00 GMT Other China News People's Daily Online Imagine snagging an Ann Taylor silk taffeta V-neck bridesmaid dress that retails for $215, for only $35, or a Guess by Marciano Cierra lace-up dress that is usually priced at $168 for only $40. These deals aren't from a new flash-sale website, and they aren't counterfeit. Instead, saavy shoppers are able to buy limited quantities of clothing directly from the Chinese factories that make these labels. http://www.cnbc.com/id/43714506 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=80797503-2742-4F23-8566-EC07DBACE912 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:22:00 GMT Other China News CNBC.com With the rapid development of the Internet and the consequent changes in lifestyles and shopping habits, Chinese pharmacies are now further tapping into the online business-to-consumer (B2C) sector to raise profits. ForMe Drugstore, the largest chain drugstore in Shanghai, saw a sharp daily increase of orders from online selling in just two weeks after it entered the Taobao Mall, or tmall.com, a B2C trading platform run by the country's largest online retail website, Taobao, in late June. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2011-07/18/content_12921452.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=FAFDBEB2-A633-4F78-ADC3-205B19A773CD Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:29:00 GMT Other China News China Daily The apparel sector is set to boom in China in the next five years, but many brands and retailers may also have to "rethink their strategies", the Boston Consulting Group has argued. The firm estimated annual per capita category spending among 14-45 year olds stands at 1,150 yuan ($177; 110: 126) in China, compared with 5,020 yuan for the UK, and 5,770 yuan regarding the US. http://www.warc.com/LatestNews/News/Apparel_brands_must_adapt_in_China.news?ID=28554 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=BF563D8F-89B7-4347-ABEB-370AD76872AF Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:29:00 GMT Other China News Warc A Minneapolis-based e-commerce furniture site wants a bigger piece of China. "There are very few online retail companies selling directly to consumers there," says Brent Gensler, DefySupply’s 27-year-old CEO. "The Chinese market is a world of potential." http://www.portfolio.com/companies-executives/2011/07/14/minneapolis-firm-defysupply-aims-to-carve-a-chunk-of-the-chinese-retail-market http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=6544E848-2135-4DDB-A397-C0E18B26E055 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:52:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Portfolio.com Dolce & Gabbana, an Italian fashion company, said it will open an e-commerce site tomorrow with online retailer Yoox SpA. A Chinese version of the store, serving 400 cities in the Asian country, will follow on Aug. 8, the company said. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-12/dolce-gabbana-to-open-e-commerce-site-tomorrow-with-yoox.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=B4382FC1-CB37-46D3-84BE-27E7C8605CF4 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:45:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Bloomberg Chinese B2C e-commerce website 360buy.com has reportedly invested in Beijing Haoyaoshi Pharmacy Chain Company, a subsidiary of Jointown Pharmaceutical Group Company Ltd. As part of the investment, 360buy.com will formally enter the Chinese Internet pharmaceutical market and to provide consumers with online shopping of medical and health products. http://www.chinatechnews.com/2011/07/12/15441-360buy-com-teams-with-jointown-to-explore-chinese-internet-medicine-sales http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=CDA7E456-8781-4258-9599-C565A02170D4 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:27:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments ChinaTechNews.com China's e-commerce will grow quickly in the next five years and its transactions in 2015 are expected to quadruple last year's figure, a senior industrial official said on Tuesday. "The sales volume of China's e-commerce will annually grow at least 32 percent year-on-year from 2011 to 2015. We estimate a transaction volume of 18 trillion yuan ($2.8 trillion) in 2015. The amount in 2010 was 4.5 trillion yuan," Dong Baoqing, deputy director of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's informatization promotion department, told China Daily. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-07/13/content_12889328.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=8BEEFE9A-6585-474C-BA3D-F50B7F575E15 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 14:45:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Daily Wal-Mart Stores Inc has reached an agreement to acquire a minority stake in Yihaodian.com. The agreement endorsed Yihaodian to sell Wal-Mart's self-owned branded products, including Great Value, one of Wal-Mart's most famous food brands in China. Yihaodian.com was neither the oldest nor the biggest online shopping website in China, nevertheless it won Wal-Mart Stores Inc's favor this summer and made the US retail giant a shareholder. According to Yu Gang, the company's chairman and co-founder, yihaodian.com plans to make the idea of an online supermarket a nationwide phenomenon - at a startling speed. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90778/7435282.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=E58273E5-E1D4-4812-9E42-B33B44E7CEBA Mon, 11 Jul 2011 01:22:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments People's Daily Online Wedding products retailer XO Group Inc., formerly The Knot Inc., is expanding its international reach. The company is partnering with a Chinese online media company, Sina Corp., to launch a wedding planning channel on Sina.com. XO Group launched Ijie.com, which offers content, message boards and vendor directories related to wedding events, for Chinese consumers in November 2010. XO Group hopes this partnership will help Ijie.com to further reach the estimated $62 billion wedding products market in China, according to the company. http://www.internetretailer.com/2011/07/06/wedding-products-retailer-says-ni-hao-new-partner http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=2E71FBE7-BC9D-43F0-ACD8-769C351E0555 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:56:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments InternetRetailer.com Powin Corporation, an Oregon-based OEM and direct manufacturer of outdoor cookware products, gun safes, fitness and recreational equipment, truck parts, plastic products, renewable energy products and furniture for some of America's most well known retailers, announced today initial successes with its Channel Partner Program (CPP) that allows U.S. manufacturers to introduce and distribute their products via e-commerce channels into China's vast and fast-growing consumer marketplace. "A U.S. cosmetics firm and a company involved in the manufacture and distribution of toys for babies has signed up for CPP," said Harry Hu, Director of CPP. Mr. Hu, a graduate of the University of Washington, has significant experience in Information Management. "CPP provides a low risk, high-potential option for U.S. manufacturers to enter the Chinese market and expand sale of their products. Products are reviewed, tested and launched in less than 90 days," Mr. Hu said. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/want-to-enter-chinese-marketplace-with-your-us-product-powin-corporations-new-program-proving-successful-2011-07-05?reflink=MW_news_stmp http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=3EEB399A-6645-4599-967D-AB5E11DBA501 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 07:16:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments MarketWatch The world’s largest retailer is building an e-commerce headquarters in the world’s most populous country. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced this week that it had reached an agreement with the government of Shanghai to establish an office in China’s leading commercial city to oversee Wal-Mart’s online retailing operations in China. The retail chain and the Shanghai government agreed to work together to train e-commerce personnel and speed the development of online retailing in China. http://www.internetretailer.com/2011/06/28/wal-marts-e-commerce-push-china http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=DAD5267F-A959-4D0C-995E-BF2AE9B6C183 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:14:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments InternetRetailer.com The competition in China’s e-commerce sector is exceptionally tough, and margins can be very tight – especially when someone starts a price war – so that a site really needs to differentiate itself nicely, to get repeat visitors and build customer loyalty. iResearch has done a great job of evaluating the top ten Chinese B2C e-commerce in terms of 'stickiness' and customer loyalty by repeat purchases. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/06/24/china-top-ten-ecommerce-sites/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=C4979181-3739-4D6B-AA31-520842CF17FD Fri, 24 Jun 2011 10:00:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Penn Olson Mainboard-listed Global Logistic Properties (GLP) said it has entered into a partnership with Vancl, one of the largest online apparel retailer in China. Under the deal, GLP said it will address Vancl's rapid growth and the need for logistic facilities. GLP will work with the online retailer on site selection, project planning, and logistics facility leasing on a nationwide basis. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1136828/1/.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=8543CFA6-412C-43DB-A38A-68384726F0F4 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:18:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Channel News Asia An increasing number of Chinese people prefer buying computer, communication and other electrical products through the Internet. It's a trend that is resulting in the decline of traditional white goods stores to the benefit of their cyber equivalents. Or, as one writer put it, shopping is moving from bricks to clicks. http://english.cri.cn/6826/2011/06/22/168s644229.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=25044EE2-1BC9-41F4-8BE1-59854F206747 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:47:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments CRIENGLISH.com PayPal, the third-party Internet payment platform of eBay, will terminate its year-old cooperation with AliExpress, the wholesale marketplace for small businesses launched by Alibaba.com. This online payment giant has announced that they will stop providing online payment services for AliExpress from August 3. The departure of PayPal undoubtedly greatly impacts AliExpress' business as well as their exploration in overseas markets. This leading online payment platform has been playing an important role in the business growth of AliExpress since the Alliance of Alibaba and eBay last year. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/paypal-breaks-up-with-aliexpress-china-b2b-industry-might-be-reshuffled-124179879.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=CAB8CEEC-416A-4A07-B5E0-6EE7E8434B69 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:16:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments PR Newswire According to statistics, B2C (business to customer) websites accounted for 80 percent of the total e-commerce websites newly emerged last year, some B2C enterprises have also started to go inline so as to grasp market opportunities. Along with people's gradual recognition of online shopping and the improvement of online regulatory environment, especially the continuous development of logistics delivery industry, it seems a natural thing for some relevant enterprises to involve in online distribution. http://en.ce.cn/Insight/201106/20/t20110620_22490390.shtml http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=21856D99-7B68-468F-B345-54673EDC7B4D Mon, 20 Jun 2011 07:49:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Economic Net SHANGHAI will support construction of large e-commerce platforms similar to Taobao.com in a bid to create a national e-business model and accelerate the city's growth into a global trading center. Sha Hailin, chairman of the Shanghai Commerce Commission, said yesterday the government will encourage the development of big online platforms for transactions. But unlike Taobao, which has become China's most popular consumer shopping website, Shanghai's strength is in business-to-business online platforms. http://english.eastday.com/e/110617/u1a5947621.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=474CACF1-26B0-40D5-86B7-D412CF1E4ED7 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:23:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments EastDay.com Fireswirl Technologies Inc., is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Beijing Xingchang Xinda Technology Development Co., Ltd., has signed an agreement with Netrada Management GmbH for a collaboration between the companies in the China e-commerce market for high-end fashion brands. "We are very excited to have the opportunity to work with NETRADA, an international e-commerce leader in the fashion industry," says Tony Lau, CEO of the Company, "With NETRADA's strong business relationship with renowned fashion brands worldwide and extensive experience in operating high-end branded online stores, the collaboration shall present great value to international brands who wish to penetrate the China market." NETRADA, headquartered in Germany, is an international provider of full service e-commerce solutions for the fashion, beauty and lifestyle industry. With 14 years of experience and 2,000 employees, NETRADA has established itself as leading partner for top-brands of these industries. NETRADA's service portfolio covers the complete e-commerce process chain: Implementation and operation of the online-shop, content management, digital imaging, online marketing, warehousing with dispatch and returns handling, payment services and customer services. Fireswirl is an operator of an e-commerce platform that serves established Chinese and international brands in the fast growing online markets of China, to generate and fulfill sales through the Internet. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fireswirl-signs-agreement-with-europes-no1-fashion-e-commerce-operator-to-collaborate-in-china-2011-06-15-931280?reflink=MW_news_stmp http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=B4576E31-90D3-48F9-8F21-4D0205CAED19 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 03:07:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments MarketWatch Ebay has reinvented its China business by helping local companies sell to consumers overseas, says the head of the online retailer’s operations in Asia. Jay Lee told the Financial Times that cut-throat competition from local rivals, including Taobao, and entry barriers for foreign companies made China’s domestic e-commerce sector an unrewarding market for Ebay. It drastically reduced its operations in China in December 2006 by handing Eachnet, its local consumer site, to a joint venture with Tom.com. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1e6e1624-9774-11e0-af13-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=rss http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=30CE2106-9B45-4B23-89FF-EA303EBC41B5 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:02:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Financial Times Online shopping is growing at a tremendous pace. Data shows that in the first quarter of 2011, the whole transaction size of Chinese online shopping market has reached RMB 170 billion Yuan, increasing by 100.9 percent year on year. As far as the customer size is concerned, the number of online shoppers in China had been as much as 148 million up to the end of 2010, accounting for 30.8 percent of the number of netizens. http://en.ce.cn/Insight/201106/08/t20110608_22468061.shtml http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=EE3158DD-B835-4BB4-A923-2F98EBDFEC58 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 09:07:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments China Economic Net Sitoa Global Inc., an e-commerce facilitator, today announced that it has formed a strategic partnership with Chunjie365 to launch the Company's first social e-commerce marketplace in China. Sitoa will use its network and platform software technology for building and managing highly effective e-commerce sites to leverage the local relationships and skill set of the Chunjie365 team in order to establish a China business and launch additional marketplaces in China over the next five years. Chunjie365, which means "Chinese New Year 365 days per year," will be a specialty gift e-commerce site focused on consumer and corporate online customers looking to purchase both U.S. specialty products and Chinese gift items that are rare and unique. The site will also allow for the setup of gift registries, a feature that is relatively new in China where gift registries are not yet a common custom. As part of the agreement, Sitoa shares in revenues generated by the marketplace site in addition to charging one-time integration and hosting fees. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/13/idUS81437+13-Jun-2011+GNW20110613 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=D28E7C21-EBDD-41BA-9514-190ADA076A16 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:55:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Reuters The 700 million male consumers in China are becoming the king's of international luxury brands, such as LV and Armani. After 30 years of rapid economic development, a flood of high-end consumers are emerging in the country where the fashion world no longer opens its doors to women only. Related studies show that about 70 percent of Chinese high-end consumers are made up of men as the backbone of the Chinese high-end consumer base. The high-end 'Male Economy' consumption is growing as a new tide in the nation. Vipstore.com, the nation's high-end e-commerce platform providing fashionable products, is witnessing and benefiting from this booming market. Industry professionals predicted that over the next two years, sales of luxury goods in China's e-commerce sector will reach RMB20 billion. The shopping enthusiasm of male buyers in China as the second largest consumer of luxury goods will astonish the world. The young rich led by men as a new wave has been quickly followed by high-end fashion-focused e-commerce platform Vipstore.com that has benefited a lot from the "hunting" of male consumers. VIPStore has differentiated itself from market competitors, e-commerce websites focusing on luxury products for female consumers, by providing high-end male consumers with new consumption choices. Each day, VIPStore launches more than 20 sales promotions targeting males, offering a variety of stylish items selected by its global fashion buyers, such as Rolex and Armani watches, Ralph Lauren Polo shirts and Dupont men's shoes. Sales of male products accounted for around 50 per cent of VIPStore's monthly sales of tens of millions of yuan, and the proportion is expected to keep rising, according to market feedbacks. The strong growth momentum is the result of what VIPStore exactly meets in market demand from high-end male consumers. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gilts-chinese-vipstorecom-leads-high-end-male-consumer-market-123610029.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=04F364B0-17FD-42A8-BB4D-1AC31FBF4D4C Fri, 10 Jun 2011 19:00:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments PR Newswire Groupon Inc. may be the undisputed king of Internet coupons in the United States. But with its March launch in China, the Chicago firm has stepped into a cutthroat market with thousands of competitors — including a copycat that's using its name. Rechristened in China as Gaopeng.com, evoking a saying to gather honored guests, Groupon is hoping to seize a foothold in a country that's increasingly turning to the Web to trade goods and services. http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/19/1694488/groupon-finds-itself-challenged.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=DC1D2537-EBCA-4923-8B33-C421C4FCE51B Thu, 19 May 2011 07:53:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Modesto Bee Finding an attractive buy among Chinese e-commerce companies has gotten a lot harder in the last year, laments one of the country’s leading venture capitalists. Neil Shen, founding managing partner of Sequoia Capital China Neil Shen, founding managing partner of Sequoia Capital China, said valuations of Chinese e-commerce companies seeking venture capital have shot up 30% to 40% in the last six to nine months, driven by a similar jump in valuations for listed Chinese Internet companies. http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2011/05/12/e-commerce-in-china-a-tougher-value-proposition/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=15851C40-B386-46F2-846C-6418335D414A Thu, 12 May 2011 04:23:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments Wall Street Journal As China becomes one of the world's largest luxury markets, the country's demand for name-brand goods and Chinese consumers' love of discount sites converge. Although the majority of the physical outlet stores in Shanghai are located in the outskirts of the city, a handful of Chinese online outlets has emerged in recent years to satisfy local consumer’s craving for a luxury fix - at discount. The demand for sites like these continues to grow as China is set to overtake Japan as the number two luxury goods market in the world by the end of 2011. Online luxury outlet shops have been around for a long time overseas, but they're a relatively new phenomena in China. http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/shop/how-online-outlet-stores-make-money-china-028846 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=DD0C23CA-C19D-4A84-A307-44170DDBC632 Wed, 11 May 2011 16:20:00 GMT China E-Commerce Business Developments CNNGo.com Although dozens of Chinese stocks were recently de-listed or suspended trading on the US capital market, Chinese Internet companies have not slowed down their paces for expansion, particularly, Tencent Holdings Limited, Baidu Inc. and Alibaba.com Ltd. In May 2011, Tencent put CNY 445 million in Huayi Brothers Media Corporation, a film producer. Besides, it also invested in online travel agency eLong Inc. In June, Baidu injected capitals into Qunar.com, an air ticket booking Web site. On July 7, online group buying Web site Meituan.com revealed the investor list of its second round of financing, saying that the investment was led by Alibaba Group. All the above investment cases are kicked off in the burgeoning fields that have no relationship with the pillar business of those Internet companies. http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Newsfeed/Article/133547917/201107130657/China-Internet-Firms-Quicken-Investment-Paces.aspx http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=7DAE52F8-0C25-4220-9FA9-FAE7F6990773 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:33:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Investor's Business Daily According to local report, Shanda is investing over RMB 2 billion (US$ 309 million) in ecommerce site iBuying.com with two other undisclosed participants. Founded by Ge Binbin, the former head of Goldcool Games, iBuying is set to debut in this Oct. Ge said that Shanda accounts for 40% of the total sum, or US$ 1.23 million. http://www.businessinsider.com/shanda-invests-into-ecommerce-market-2011-7 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=2C5778BE-7180-4E89-A8F2-9074E2F26CE2 Mon, 11 Jul 2011 20:40:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Business Insider Yihaodian, the online supermarket whose investors include Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), may choose the U.S. for an initial public offering as it expands to challenge Chinese rivals including Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s Taobao. The Shanghai-based retailer aims to break even in three years and will "most likely" sell shares to the public in the U.S., said Chairman Yu Gang, who co-founded the company in 2008 after working as a supply chain executive at Dell Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. There is no timetable for the sale, he said. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-07/yihaodian-may-sell-shares-as-wal-mart-backed-online-china-retailer-expands.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=1F723F72-9A5C-4411-BA88-B8364212BED3 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 19:12:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Bloomberg Baidu's US$306 million acquisition last month of Qunar, China's leading travel search engine, may mark the start of a new trend in how the country's largest Internet companies seek growth, with industry insiders suggesting more acquisitions could be on the way as established businesses switch form building their own services. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/MG06Cb01.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=7180E5E1-19D8-4326-907C-4B848762DF7B Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:02:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Asia Times Online Singapore Post has acquired a 20 per cent stake in 4PX through its subsidiary, Quantium Solutions for about S$12 million. 4PX is the global distribution partner for eBay and PayPal in the China market. The Shenzhen-based company provides international delivery and freight forwarding services. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/1139033/1/.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=1D4C5A53-55AB-4DF3-93A5-F425A83D77DE Tue, 05 Jul 2011 10:38:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Channel News Asia Baidu Inc, China's top search engine, wants to be one of the first companies to list on Shanghai's international board when it is launched, a business daily quoted the firm's chief financial officer as saying. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/29/us-baidu-idUSTRE75S0LB20110629 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=6A01C2C1-F345-4B29-8A49-D686BCC1A13F Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:20:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Reuters China's top search engine Baidu announced Friday it will pay US$306 million for a majority stake in online travel platform Qunar.com Information Technology, the Wall Street Journal reported. The investment underscores Baidu's efforts to widen its product offerings, with acquisitions in online video and e-commerce ventures, in order to compete with other expanding Chinese internet companies. http://newcer.chinaeconomicreview.com/en/content/baidu-pay-306m-majority-stake-qunarcom http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=71F1ECB1-58D3-400D-85A9-3892762B9441 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:15:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment China Economic Review Chinese e-commerce website ihush.com has raised $43 million in venture capital funding to improve customer service and expand its user base, local media reported on Thursday. ihush.com, which sells branded consumer items online during a fixed time window, counted Matrix Partners China as an investor from the round of fundraising, Tencent's technology news website reported. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/23/us-ihush-idUSTRE75M19G20110623 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=AFFFAE7B-B84A-4FE0-B548-7A6488CFDEEF Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:30:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Reuters The rash of accounting scandals that has hit U.S.-listed Chinese stocks has not curbed the appetite of private equity and venture capital firms looking for the next set of Chinese Internet stars in the mainland's social, mobile and location-based services and luxury e-commerce sectors. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/06/21/business-us-china-internet-idUKTRE75K0XR20110621 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=11E29F2E-B6AF-4FD1-9F8A-5F2FAA8EFA91 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:43:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Reuters UK Vancl, the Chinese online clothing brand and retailer, which plans to IPO in early 2012, is aiming to take big chunks out of Taobao.com’s e-commerce empire. Whilst Taobao is still China’s online general marketplace, Vancl’s own brand of clothes is doing very well on its B2C site, Vancl.com. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/06/20/vancl-vs-taobao-ecommerce/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=80579686-A7AA-405C-8434-9C75E33EA2CD Sun, 19 Jun 2011 19:52:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Penn Olson Moonbasa.com, the China-based online retailer, hired Barclays Plc, Deutsche Bank AG and Bank of America Corp. for an initial public offering on the Nasdaq Stock Market, said two people with direct knowledge of the situation. Moonbasa, which plans to go public by the end of the year, may seek to raise about $150 million in an IPO, said one of the people, who declined to be identified because the company’s plans aren’t public. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-15/china-online-retailer-moonbasa-said-to-hire-banks-for-u-s-ipo.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=F09C94BF-C677-4C36-8DE5-C9939FBA2275 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 07:02:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Bloomberg The owner of China's 360buy.com aims to raise at least $2 billion in an initial public offering in the U.S. in 2013 or later, its chief executive officer said, in a sign of booming growth and intensifying competition in China's online retail market. The remarks come as a wave of Chinese Internet companies have sought listings in the U.S. in recent months, raising concern among some observers about a possible bubble. A $2 billion IPO would be big even by the standards of recent Chinese listings. A 360buy rival, E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc., raised $272 million from investors ahead of a December listing on the New York Stock Exchange. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703509104576329032117878482.html?mod=googlenews_wsj http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=EB0CE6C4-E499-4A9D-B9B1-C72FEAC97793 Wed, 18 May 2011 14:27:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Wall Street Journal Robin Li, founder and chief executive officer of the search engine company Baidu Inc and the richest man on the Chinese mainland, has invested in 360buy.com, a company that started by mainly selling computers, communication and electronics over the Internet. When measured by its market share, 360buy.com is the biggest website selling directly to consumers in China. Li is the latest in a series of famous investors who have wanted to own part of 360buy.com, a company valued at about $10 billion at the end of last month. 360buy.com plans to list in the United States no later than 2012, and hopes to raise $2 billion from the capital markets, according to Liu. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90778/90860/7383480.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=79239D49-DE0A-4847-9B3B-5E1CDFFD342C Wed, 18 May 2011 01:42:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment People's Daily Online Tencent Holdings Ltd., China’s biggest Internet company, bought a $84.4 million stake in ELong Inc. (LONG) to expand in online travel, following Google Inc.’s purchase of ITA Software Inc. Tencent acquired a 16 percent stake in ELong to become the online-travel company’s second-biggest shareholder behind Expedia Inc., the companies said in a joint statement yesterday. Expedia paid $41.2 million to increase its stake in Elong to 56 percent, according to the statement. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-17/tencent-expedia-invest-in-elong-to-tap-rising-china-online-travel-demand.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=7644C2CD-3B52-46F5-95C4-6D9891EFDE3F Tue, 17 May 2011 02:57:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Bloomberg Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire a minority stake in the holding company of Yihaodian, a fast-growing eCommerce company in China. The transaction is expected to close within 60 days. Launched in July 2008, Yihaodian offers more than 75,000 SKUs and has achieved a significant position in online grocery sales, as well as in categories such as baby/Mom, consumer electronics and apparel. With 2,000 employees and an existing logistics network based in Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, Yihaodian is serving a growing customer base with next-day delivery of essential daily items at competitive prices. Eduardo Castro-Wright, vice chairman, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and CEO of Walmart Global eCommerce and Global Sourcing, said, "We are excited about this investment. Online sales in China are growing rapidly and are projected to match U.S. online sales in the next few years. By investing in Yihaodian, we’re continuing to establish a presence in this important eCommerce market, and are moving forward on fulfilling our aspiration of being the leading global multichannel retailer." http://walmartstores.com/pressroom/news/10597.aspx http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=425300D7-1CE4-4BF4-A64A-6BFB22FDC5F2 Fri, 13 May 2011 19:15:00 GMT China E-Commerce Investment Walmart With the Internet copyright problems still sitting in the eye of storm, the e-commerce giant Taobao revealed its digital publishing plan following Baidu and Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd. (SNDA). An IPhone-based reading application, Taobao Bookstore will soon be released after beta tests. Once released, Taobao Bookstore will be the first digital publishing platform for copyrighted contents in China. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/cip/2011-07/14/content_12903032.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=3F7D2087-809C-4B61-AA75-B5E597FAFB86 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 07:31:00 GMT TaoBao in the News China Daily Chinese shoppers can now upload photos of clothing to a new service launched this week from Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group that finds matching styles sold online. The Chinese name of the service is Tuxiang, but in English Alibaba is tentatively calling it "Imagine." The service is a way for users to buy the clothing they see in advertisements or in celebrity photos, said Alibaba spokeswoman Florence Shih. http://www.cio.com/article/686179/Alibaba_Introduces_Image_Matching_Service_for_Clothes http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=F1234E0C-9280-4CDD-B5BD-FEC2053AF1A9 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:27:00 GMT TaoBao in the News CIO Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba.com Ltd said on Thursday that it has signed an agreement with payment provider Western Union for its AliExpress wholesale platform. Alibaba.com ended its partnership with PayPal, the online payment unit of Ebay Inc , last month after PayPal wanted to increase transactions for certain accounts. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/14/aliexpress-westernunion-idUSL3E7IE0KZ20110714 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=99A11BCE-224D-48D5-944F-6D2B5ECB994E Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:25:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Reuters The above graph from iResearch shows that China’s online shoppers are more active in workdays than weekend except for evening time on weekends. http://www.chinainternetwatch.com/1154/chart-taobao-online-shoppers-behavior/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=6A597FE2-34D4-4328-8D82-B54D94DB6715 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 01:27:00 GMT TaoBao in the News China Internet Watch Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. Chairman Jack Ma said negotiations with Yahoo! Inc. and Softbank Corp. (9984) over the spinoff of the Alipay unit will result in the payment of a "very large" compensation for the two shareholders, China Entrepreneur magazine reported, citing an interview with Ma. Ma said he will ensure Yahoo and Softbank are compensated now and in the future for Alibaba’s loss of Alipay, according to the magazine. The executive faces pressure from the U.S. government and the media to resolve the issue, according to the Chinese-language report. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-06/alibaba-s-ma-sees-large-alipay-payout-china-entrepreneur-says.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=DE4C4547-3266-43DB-B47E-4FFEF8414299 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:29:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Bloomberg Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. unit Alibaba Cloud Computing is developing an operating system for mobile phones that it aims to release in the third quarter, a person close to the situation said Monday, as a range of companies battle to provide the core software used on smartphones. The Alibaba offering will add to the competition in China for Google Inc.'s (GOOG) Android operating system, Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) iPhone smartphones and Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) Windows Phone platform. The move also seems to mark a new direction for Alibaba Group, as the company has made software before but is best known for operating online-commerce websites. The Alibaba operating system will offer "cloud-based" services such as applications that the user can access on a remote server instead of downloading them to the phone, the person said. Users of iPhone and Android handsets usually download apps to their devices. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110704-702552.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=50EA8852-4B92-4F03-AAA4-58972380EF42 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 12:14:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Wall Street Journal Alibaba-owned Vendio has acquired SingleFeed, a startup that helps online merchants to submit, manage, and optimize product listings on sites like Google Product Search, PriceGrabber and others. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. SingleFeed takes an online merchant’s products and delivers this data to comparison shopping engines. The virtue of SingleFeed’s service is that it helps merchants improve engagement, visits and transactions by being listed on more engines. As Vendio says, comparison shopping engines can drive between 15 and 40% of an online store’s monthly visits. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/alibabas-vendio-buys-singlefeed-to-help-merchants-list-products-on-comparison-shopping-sites/2011/06/28/AGTg5SpH_story.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=9DE908FD-2F10-4A7C-AED5-37DE128D9D55 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 00:04:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Washington Post Taobao, the largest e-commerce site in China, launched its iPad e-commerce app yesterday to serve iPad Chinese shoppers while they’re on the go. At first glance the app looks gorgeous, with lots of neat tablet-oriented customizations, nice wood-effect borders. It offers a better shopping experience than the iPhone app or the mobile website, mainly thanks to its wider screen size. http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/06/24/taobao-ipad-ecommerce-app/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=8F57130A-C2CC-4138-80F8-7F3A98905D77 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 10:01:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Penn Olson VF Corporation, one of the United States' largest lifestyle apparel firms known for its The North Face and Vans brands, is joining a growing number of high-end brands to launch an online store in China. "E-commerce and digital strategies will be one of major plans we made for VF's development in China this year," said Aidan O'Meara, president of VF Asia-Pacific. O'Meara said VF will begin its e-commerce plan with a pilot program to sell its popular Vans line of shoes on tmall.com, a retail website run by Taobao, China's largest online shopping operator. He said VF will test the waters with this pilot before rolling out its other brands, such as Lee, Wrangler, The North Face and Kipling, next year. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/2011-06/22/content_12751606.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=265C3A16-D244-4AAA-9D35-8CBDA910272F Wed, 22 Jun 2011 02:58:00 GMT TaoBao in the News China Daily Softbank expects to reach an agreement "soon" with Alibaba Group over ownership of China's leading e-payment provider Alipay, the Japanese mobile carrier's CEO said on Monday. Alibaba Group, China's biggest e-commerce company, has been in negotiations with shareholders Yahoo Inc and Softbank over its transfer of Alipay, to a company owned by Alibaba founder Jack Ma. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/20/softbank-alipay-idUSL3E7HK04W20110620 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=2018F714-16A8-4DE9-AD01-BD53865565EA Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:54:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Reuters Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., China’s biggest online-commerce company, reorganized its Taobao retail unit into three companies to better meet customer demands, Chief Executive Jack Ma said. The unit will be split into Taobao Mall for consumers to shop from businesses, eTao for shopping-related searches, and Taobao Marketplace for consumers to buy and sell goods from each other, Alibaba said in a statement today. Reorganizing Taobao will create more value for shareholders and the group "won’t rule out the possibility" of going public in the future to reward workers and investors, Ma told employees in a letter today. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-06-16/alibaba-group-to-split-taobao-online-retail-unit-into-three.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=F1BEC021-AEE3-41B2-94A2-58F5F38EEB1E Thu, 16 Jun 2011 05:15:00 GMT TaoBao in the News BusinessWeek A new report by comScore into how Chinese internet users spend their time online indicates that with regards to retail sites, those owned by the Alibaba corporation - including marketplace Taobao - are the most popular. The study, released June 8 and conducted by digital analysis firm comScore examined how internet users in Greater China (mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong) aged over 15 spent their time on the internet - the study did not include sites accessed from internet cafés, mobile phones or PDAs. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/chinese-shopping-online-at-alibaba-corp-sites-2295283.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=1BDE6197-02D8-4FD8-ADF9-7F0C8050E236 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:00:00 GMT TaoBao in the News The Independent China's e-commerce giant Alibaba has launched a service to help Japanese manufacturers crack into the fast-growing Chinese market, the group's Japanese unit said on Tuesday. Tokyo-based Alibaba.com Japan Co. said the new service, which uses China's largest retail website, Taobao, can help Japanese consumer goods makers cut through red tape and save time and money. "High-quality Japanese products are popular on the Taobao site, so we have been receiving requests from users to directly buy the products from Japanese firms," Taobao CEO Jonathan Lu said in a statement. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific_business/view/1133739/1/.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=B1FFE063-2BCF-4189-AE50-20E230495E5B Tue, 07 Jun 2011 09:04:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Channel News Asia China's e-commerce giant is stepping up its heated rivalry with bricks-and-mortar retailers with the launch of a five-story home furnishings showroom in Beijing. Alibaba Group’s Taobao, an Internet platform through which an estimated 3 per cent of all retail sales in China pass, opened the showroom on last Friday for customers to try out sofas, tables and other big-ticket items before placing an order online with one of its merchants. The mall is a new intrusion into the territory of China’s real-world retailers by e-commerce rivals that are growing so fast some suggest they could become the country’s leading retail force — its version of Wal Mart. "The dominant retailer in China someday may be an online retailer," said Morgan Stanley analyst Richard Ji. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5isjKUj10Gm2PSstfxF6N5fDunRTQ?docId=86f746318ac34685b396b4273ce74be0 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=99D964F6-2B25-4AED-A7C2-A461932EAF0E Wed, 01 Jun 2011 09:01:00 GMT TaoBao in the News The Associated Press It's always nice to put a face with a name. That's why it was particularly fascinating to hear Alibaba Group Holding Chief Executive Jack Ma speak in person last week at The Wall Street Journal's "D9: All Things Digital" conference in Southern California. The founder of a group of Web companies in China is truly a visionary who is much more than an Internet mogul. He sees himself and his companies playing a critical role in helping Chinese citizens participate in the modern economy by providing credit history and access to goods and services. Ma told the folks in the audience that he is often asked why he puts in so many hours on planes and at the office despite his substantial financial means. "I don't have to work so hard, [but] we are changing China," he says. "It's not how much money you make, it's how you change society." http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424053111904210704576357631766271442.html?mod=BOL_twm_col http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=68BF67B8-B4E6-4BA8-BC69-FA0E6EA16E81 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 09:03:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Barron's Yahoo Inc. and China-based Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. have reached an agreement in principle to resolve their dispute over the ownership transfer of Alibaba's online-payments business, called Alipay, according to a person familiar with the matter. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303745304576358002657500050.html?mod=googlenews_wsj http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=A75B1BC6-B414-42F0-AD2D-1B9C726E5EE9 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 09:06:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Wall Street Journal How do the most successful Chinese companies manage to stay innovative? One company, Taobao, has just published an account of its in-house initiative to stay creative as the business grows larger. Last year Taobao, China’s largest online retailer, started what it calls a 'Horse Race'.... http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/05/18/taobao-horse-race-innovation/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=459800BC-265C-44A8-ABD6-925DF2564F6A Wed, 18 May 2011 04:19:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Penn Olson Yahoo! Inc. and Alibaba Group issued the following statement regarding Alipay: "Alibaba Group, and its major stockholders Yahoo! Inc. and Softbank Corporation, are engaged in and committed to productive negotiations to resolve the outstanding issues related to Alipay in a manner that serves the interests of all shareholders as soon as possible." http://news.alibaba.com/article/detail/alibaba/100474801-1-joint-statement-from-alibaba-group.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=DAEC48A8-7935-4CF9-B4F0-9DD0BE5AE6AB Sun, 15 May 2011 11:16:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Alibaba Group "Looking ahead, our priority will be to enhance the value of our existing paying member base by focusing our resources on the development of quality supplier information on our marketplaces, giving our buy-side users a great experience when they use our websites, and enhancing trust and safety in online trade between buyers and suppliers," said Jonathan Lu, CEO and Executive Director of Alibaba.com In a quarterly earnings report China’s largest B2B e-commerce website, Alibaba.com, unveiled 5 points in which the company would take as steps to battle fraud.... http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/05/13/alibaba-fights-fraud-future-growth/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=2CED1B9F-06B1-4A1C-9FA9-D20A36E743F3 Fri, 13 May 2011 07:30:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Penn Olson Hangzhou-based C2C & B2C e-commerce site Taobao released an updated version of its vertical shopping search engine ETao today. Changes include improved shopping guide channel search results and the addition of a group buy directory. ETao stated that search algorithms used on the home page of the previous version of the site weren't sufficiently precise. The designer for the original version favored using all-purpose search algorithms, but changes in the updated version have been made specifically to provide users with search results which better reflect their shopping needs. http://www.marbridgeconsulting.com/marbridgedaily/2011-05-12/article/46128/taobao_redesigns_etao_search_engine1 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=DCA69902-6031-4287-B8D6-DD905186CBBB Thu, 12 May 2011 02:25:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Marbridge Consulting Alibaba.com Limited, the world’s leading small business e-commerce company, today announced unaudited financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2011. The results reflect the Company’s renewed focus on supplier quality, buyer experience and trust and safety. Revenue increased by 26 percent year-on-year, which drove year-on-year diluted EPS growth of 42 percent. In addition, revenue composition continues to shift away from fixed membership fees towards performance-based monetization, including fees based on pay-for-performance click-throughs and transaction volume. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110512005740/en/Alibaba.com-Reports-37-Percent-Year-on-Year-Profit-Growth http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=F83D7EAD-5E18-4413-8824-08B73959D1EF Thu, 12 May 2011 01:44:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Business Wire Ray-Ban, the global leader in eyewear has opened the first premium eyewear online store (rayban.tmall.com) on Taobao Mall, the business-to-consumer (B2C) platform within Taobao, China's largest online retailer. Ray-Ban's E-store will serve as a key avenue for the brand to launch exclusive premium collections and offer Chinese consumers a wide selection of original and iconic styles. http://news.alibaba.com/article/detail/alibaba/100474500-1-ray-ban-opens-online-store-taobao.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=EF035E9D-053B-4412-848B-BB4D635A3ED5 Wed, 11 May 2011 11:12:00 GMT TaoBao in the News Alibaba Group Wal-Mart Stores Inc. appointed Sean Clarke, its Canada finance head, as chief operating officer in China to help oversee expansion two months after the company’s COO and chief financial officer in the country left. Clarke will be joined by Steve Smith, named chief marketing officer in China, the Bentonville, Arkansas-based chain said in an e-mailed statement today. Smith was formerly a senior vice president at Delhaize Group. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-14/wal-mart-appoints-sean-clarke-as-china-chief-operating-officer.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=D8ABEE5F-9582-4081-B31A-0FA75ECD34E8 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:04:00 GMT Other China News Bloomberg China's nine-month campaign to crackdown on intellectual property violations has been the country's most successful one to date, resulting in the closure of numerous websites hosting pirated materials and the confiscation of hordes of fake electronic goods, according to Chinese authorities. The campaign ran from October to June, and cases solved involved counterfeit goods worth 13.1 billion yuan (US$2 billion). The campaign resulted in 9,031 arrests, according to China's Ministry of Commerce vice minister Jiang Zengwei, who spoke on the matter during a press conference on Tuesday. He also refuted claims that the campaign was more bark than bite, given that China has held crackdowns on intellectual property violations before. "This time, the measures and effectiveness of the Chinese government's operations are unprecedented," he said. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/235632/china_touts_ninemonth_intellectual_property_crackdown.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=75DBA961-98D8-4870-957D-41E84E2E3D1D Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:33:00 GMT Other China News PCWorld Sogou, the search engine unit of Chinese Internet company Sohu.com Inc, is aiming to overtake Google Inc by market share in China within a year in the wake of the US company's decision to pull out of the world's biggest web market. Sogou's revenue would likely exceed $20 million in the fourth quarter and the company would report a profit next year, Chief Executive Wang Xiaochuan told Reuters in an interview. "Our search volumes doubled in the past year, which led to very fast growth in our revenue, and I don't see what's so difficult about reporting a profit next year," Wang said. "Our real aim is to overtake Google in China within a year." http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/news/internet/Sohu-aims-to-overtake-Google-in-China/articleshow/9200458.cms http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=2A09A897-5187-41AF-8205-C0EAE36DB240 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 02:46:00 GMT Other China News Times of India According to EcommercePlus data, the top three provinces by total online purchase orders are Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu; the top three cities are Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai. http://www.chinainternetwatch.com/1162/charts-top-10-online-shopping-provinces-cities-in-q1-2011/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=DD1AF043-38C3-4B0C-BBEB-7FEF05F3E506 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 01:27:00 GMT Other China News China Internet Watch Currently, China has the world's largest Internet user population and has witnessed a rapid rise in micro blogs. Sina Weibo's users numbered 140 million as of April, less than two years after it launched. Tencent Weibo's number of users reached 200 million last month. In addition to a large online population, China will also soon surpass Japan in becoming the biggest consumer of luxury goods. Luxury companies have responded to these trends by creating interactive micro blogs as a marketing strategy. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/business/2011-07/04/content_12826877.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=F3538AC9-0D13-49B4-84B4-8072476BE835 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 01:08:00 GMT Other China News China Daily A new niche market is emerging out of China's insatiable appetite for luxury consumer goods. Specialized domestic vendors help their well-heeled clients clean and repair their prized brand-name accessories, often at a steep cost. Presently, the majority of luxury fashion houses have not yet set up after-sales service centers in China's mainland. That means if a consumer wants to mail in a product to the company for repair, it often takes half a year or even a year to get it back. This lack of convenience has led domestic entrepreneurs to take advantage of the current service gap and open up repair businesses for the mainland market. http://www.china.org.cn/business/2011-06/28/content_22876783.htm http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=EEFEF51B-9A2B-4264-AE0E-47E13B0EFEB2 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:17:00 GMT Other China News China.org.cn The Chinese authorities received applications for franchise business licences from 1,430 companies up to September last year, and Malaysians are keen to hop on to the bandwagon http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/25/focus/8970626&sec=focus http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=71E0DB64-ADA7-4E9C-9513-427399794FB3 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 10:19:00 GMT Other China News Malaysia Star The success of LinkedIn, the United States-based professional networking site, in selling shares to the public is raising questions on when the first comparable Chinese company, operating in the world's largest Internet market, will follow suit. LinkedIn shares more than doubled during their first day of trading on May 19, and are now trading at around US$65.53, or 45% more than the initial public offering (IPO) price of US$45, which valued the eight-year-old company at $4.3 billion. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China_Business/MF24Cb02.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=CD1935DD-A8BC-43C0-97F9-5C2CE098B001 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 10:00:00 GMT Other China News Asia Times In a bold move to capture market share in one of the world’s largest beauty markets, Obscene Jeans Corp. announced today that the company has signed a purchase agreement to complete the acquisition of Beijing Beautyfresh International Trade Co. (Beautyfresh), a Chinese government-licensed importer/exporter of luxury goods. One of a limited number of import/export entities authorized by the Chinese government to service and distribute foreign products within the emerging Asian superpower, Beautyfresh is a key acquisition in Obscene Jeans’ international growth strategy. In addition to Beautyfresh’s successful line of luxury soaps and other high quality beauty products made using all-natural imported plant oils, OBJE will utilize the company’s potentially lucrative license to import luxury products and resources into the rapidly emerging Chinese luxury market. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110622005626/en/OBJE-Opens-Door-China%E2%80%99s-5-Billion-Beauty http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=5DC59849-47F8-453F-9027-E42059C3CFBC Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:15:00 GMT Other China News Business Wire China, already the world's second-largest luxury goods market, will soon slash import duties on opulent items to encourage wealthy local shoppers to buy more pricey cosmetics, watches and liquor, Chinese media said on Monday. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/20/idUSL3E7HK0D920110620 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=3194BD01-D599-440A-98CA-1EE8797E59C8 Sun, 19 Jun 2011 17:12:00 GMT Other China News Reuters Chinese consumers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their tastes and expect a wider range of better products, according to a report released Monday that says local companies lead foreign ones in using e-commerce to expand sales. The report by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and the consultancy Booz & Co. says China will likely become the second-largest consumer market in the world by 2015, just trailing the United States. As their incomes grow, Chinese will have enough purchasing power to buy 14 percent of the world’s goods by 2015, up from 5 percent now, said the report, which surveyed 135 major consumer goods companies, 70 percent of them multinationals. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/report-says-increasingly-affluent-chinese-consumers-choosier-web-savvy/2011/06/13/AGFQHeSH_story.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=113AE113-C4A0-4255-8FAC-3F6896340A7E Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:53:00 GMT Other China News Washington Post Report of State Post Bureau of The People's Republic of China indicates that the total business volume of express delivery enterprises above designated size was 0.71 billion pieces in the first quarter, going up by 28.5 percent year on year; the business revenue was RMB15.66 billion Yuan, increasing by 17.4 percent year on year, in which the business revenue of March exceeded RMB 6 billion per month for the first time. http://en.ce.cn/Insight/201106/10/t20110610_22473052.shtml http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=3E3FC58A-D047-4547-82CA-EE81E5712F0C Thu, 09 Jun 2011 18:39:00 GMT Other China News China Economic Net From the plain numbers, one could conclude that China is on the verge of becoming a global brand powerhouse. Of the 11 new entrants in the BrandZ Top 100 ranking, five are Chinese. With 12 Chinese brands in the Top 100, the country seems far ahead of other large emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia and India. And Chinese companies now dominate the Asia Top 10 with eight entries. But Chinese companies have only just started taking their first steps towards building brands, and their road will be a long and hard one, branding experts say. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/a2825cdc-80a3-11e0-85a4-00144feabdc0.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=C00568F0-1CBE-488A-BDC4-F30CD86E7772 Wed, 18 May 2011 12:51:00 GMT Other China News Financial Times At first glance, the rise of China's luxury goods business seems to defy logic. On the one hand, the country's per capita GDP is ranked 94th in the world - behind countries like Jamaica and Bosnia; on the other, it is expected to soon overtake Japan and the U.S. as the world's largest luxury market. The quick and easy explanation for the paradox is that standards of living and income levels are rising along with China's economy, producing a growing number of millionaires and billionaires. But there's more to what's fuelling China's US$12 billion luxury goods sector than simply having the means to consume. As with other discretionary purchases, retail experts say buying designer clothes, jewellery and other high-end goods in China is also driven by emotions, culture, social values and a certain amount of political baggage. http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/arabic/article.cfm?articleid=2672&language_id=1 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=72A8CEC2-0494-4476-8A4B-57A6F1C67212 Tue, 17 May 2011 18:42:00 GMT Other China News Knowledge@Wharton China's Internet industry can't seem to stay out of the limelight. That's not a surprise. In a country that is flocking online by the millions, the social, economic and even political force of the Internet is formidable. And it's likely to stay that way for some time, according to Robin Li, the multimillionaire founder and CEO of Baidu, the country's largest search engine. In a recent interview with China Knowledge@Wharton, the 42-year-old, Beijing-based executive predicted that the number of Internet users in China could double in the next 10 years to nearly one billion. http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/arabic/article.cfm?articleid=2671&language_id=1 http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=36FBABB5-0182-4181-8279-3E5CC2C29D69 Tue, 17 May 2011 17:20:00 GMT Other China News Knowledge@Wharton China's e-commerce companies may yet turn a logistical nightmare into a dream business opportunity. Massive government investment in road, rail and air infrastructure means that China's transport network is approaching developed-world standards. But the cost of moving goods from A to B remains high. Logistics costs as a percentage of GDP are around 21%, compared with 10% in the U.S. and 13% in India. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703421204576328640297396406.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=0BD278F0-E9CD-40BE-A88D-434C1E0D89CD Tue, 17 May 2011 16:34:00 GMT Other China News Wall Street Journal Beijing-based Gaopeng.com, a group-buying portal set up on March 1, was going strong until a "lucky draw" saw it become mired in allegations of fraud that damaged the company's reputation and tarnished the booming industry. The company is owned by US-based Groupon.com and China's Tencent. Gaopeng organized an online "lucky draw" on May 4, with two popular iPhone 4s to be given as prizes on May 10. Word of the promotion flashed online and more than 110,000 netizens forwarded the news via micro blogs. The winners were to be selected at random. However, when their names were announced on Tuesday, sharp-eyed netizens recognized that the winners were Gaopeng employees (their e-mail addresses gave them away). http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/7380278.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=E4EA9060-727C-4FF3-A352-8376F184E69F Mon, 16 May 2011 08:44:00 GMT Other China News People's Daily Online For years, I have been touting education, health-care, food, cleantech/greentech, and software as the five most promising areas for foreign investment in China. So I am always pleased when others tout the same (or roughly anyway) things. Jing Daily recently interviewed Helen Wang, author of the book, The Chinese Dream: The Rise of the World's Largest Middle Class and What it Means to You, in which Helen listed education, healthcare, cleantech and luxury goods as the best industries she sees for foreign companies in China... http://www.chinalawblog.com/2011/05/helen_wang_on_chinas_opportunities_shes_not_dreaming.html http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=3CE72BC8-054C-4869-9D64-9A81DF9DD832 Fri, 13 May 2011 11:58:00 GMT Other China News China Law Blog Could the market trend for industrial and entrepreneur goods take your B2B franchise into the black on a "made in America" boom? Manufacturing and import specialists can see that as Chinese manufacturing norms trend into difficult ethical and recall phases, economic backlash among consumers can support the growth of new startups. But the unwieldy problems that exist in certain hemispheres globally may be driving manufacturing back to its birthplace, the United States. http://www.modernb2b.com/made-in-america-grabs-b2b/342546/ http://207.228.233.26/r.asp?a=87EF93CD-F337-4766-BD32-8D61AE026F37 Thu, 12 May 2011 13:28:00 GMT Other China News B2B News