Alibaba

Chinese goliath Alibaba is the one of the world’s largest retailers and ecommerce companies. It comprises three main marketplaces – B2B Alibaba.com, C2C Taobao, and B2C Tmall – all of which sell an eclectic variety of products. Named after the character Ali Baba from the Middle Eastern One Thousand-and-One Nights folk tales, founder Jack Ma chose the name due to its famous association with the phrase “open sesame” – aiming to open the doors from Chinese retailers to the global market. Since its inception in 1999, Alibaba has grown to boast a 60% share of the Chinese ecommerce market. Its primary sales events on November 11, Singles’ Day, offers massive discounts as well as a countdown-to-midnight gala featuring performances from global stars. Alibaba believes this combination of content, community and entertainment marks a new type of interactive retail of the future. Alternative Chinese marketplace JD.com is Tmall’s biggest competitor – and both have overtaken Amazon as the most popular online marketplaces in Russia and India.

Latest news and insight on Alibaba from Retail-Week.com

News
NRF 2022: The time is right to break into the Chinese market, says Alibaba exec
2022-01-17T07:34:00+00:00By Rosie Shepard
Alibaba’s head of Tmall Global in Americas Tony Shan urged retailers to make moves in the Chinese market, when speaking at NRF 2022 in New York this weekend.
Analysis
Analysis: The future of the Mega-Sale-day event
2021-12-15T06:00:00+00:00Promotional research for Criteo DHL TrueLayer and Yotpo
In the wake of Black Friday 2021, Retail Week assesses the future impact on UK retailers of the various Mega-Sale-day events dominating the industry calendar.
News
Alibaba Singles Day sales growth slows to lowest ever rate
2021-11-12T12:49:00+00:00By Caoimhe Gordon
Alibaba has posted an increase in sales at its annual Singles Day shopping extravaganza, but growth slowed to its lowest rate since the festival began more than a decade ago.

More on Alibaba

Analysis

Analysis: Ready shopper one – how the metaverse will change how customers shop

2021-11-08T11:28:00+00:00By Caoimhe Gordon

When Facebook revealed its intention to rebrand the group as Meta in October, the announcement catapulted both the term and concept into public discourse. Retail Week examines what the metaverse is and the opportunities that the next chapter of virtual living holds for retail brands.

Analysis

Robot wars: Five companies rolling out autonomous delivery around the world

2021-09-21T05:00:00+01:00By Caoimhe Gordon

As Wilko unveils plans to begin autonomous home deliveries by 2023, the UK retailer joins a growing group of companies already using robots to deliver products to customers globally.

Interview: Kingfisher’s Thierry Garnier on building a new mindset at the DIY giant
2021-08-10T05:30:00+01:00By George MacDonald
Alibaba revenues fall short of estimates as further regulatory crackdown looms
2021-08-03T14:29:00+01:00By Caoimhe Gordon
Alibaba hit with record £2bn fine for breaching competition rules
2021-04-12T06:38:00+01:00By Luke Tugby
China boycotts H&M: Will Western brands have to choose between ethics and profits?
2021-03-29T06:44:00+01:00By Rosie Shepard, Grace Bowden, Gemma Goldfingle

Worldview: How Chinese retail lit a fire under its Covid-19 recovery
2021-02-11T06:00:00+00:00By Eliam Huang
Alibaba sales surge amid China’s ‘rapid’ Covid-19 recovery
2021-02-03T07:38:00+00:00By Luke Tugby
Beijing launches antitrust probe into online titan Alibaba
2020-12-24T07:28:00+00:00By Luke Tugby
Farfetch losses spiral despite sales gains
2020-11-13T07:00:00+00:00By Luke Tugby

All Alibaba content from Retail-Week.com