Online retailers ready for latest sales extravaganza
Updated: 2012-12-12 00:44
By CHEN LIMIN (China Daily)
|
|||||||||
After enjoying what may prove to be the world's biggest ever, one-day, online shopping bonanza last month, Chinese e-commerce players are gearing up for another sales promotion on Wednesday, this time luring customers with what's being dubbed the "double 12" shopping spree.
The promotion, initiated by e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, aims to attract users by offering distinctive products and services rather than emphasizing low prices as they did on Nov 11.
The record-breaking "Single's Day" promotion of Alibaba is reported to have generated sales worth 19.1 billion yuan ($3.06 billion), about 50 percent more than the so-called Cyber Monday in the United States on Nov 26, the day following Thanksgiving weekend.
"The Nov 11 promotion, held yearly since 2008, is widely known among online shoppers, and Alibaba and online vendors have prepared for months to boost sales on that day," said Chen Tao, partner of Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, adding that the promotion on Wednesday is not likely to be as big as the one on Nov 11.
Chen estimates total online sales this year are expected to reach 1.2 trillion yuan, up from 760 billion yuan last year.
By Monday Alibaba said 900,000 online vendors that sell on its Taobao.com had signed up to take part, with more than 10 million items lined up to be bought with the click of a finger.
Other major online players were also ready with promotional campaigns for the one-day special.
Beijing Jingdong Century Trading Co, known as Jingdong Mall, said it had arranged part-time models to send packages to users in four cities, in an effort to attract interest.
By the end of June, industry figures show that China had 210 million regular online shoppers, and the country is expected to become the world's largest online retail market next year, said Li Jinqi, director of the Electronic Commerce and Information Department of the Ministry of Commerce.
Although online sales still make up a tiny proportion of all retail sales ― about 4.32 percent last year ― shopping online has become the main way to shop in some categories.
Roland Berger estimates that about a quarter of books were sold online in China this year, making it the most popular online category.
Online shopping is also expected to account for a fifth of all electronic devices sold, a tenth of sportswear, and 6 percent of mother and baby care products.
Everyday goods, furniture and food, on the other hand, are bought far less online.
Lu Bowang, president of China IntelliConsulting Corp, a market research company, added that categories such as building materials and some types of furniture are likely to see substantial growth in the next two to three years.
- Relief reaches isolated village
- Rainfall poses new threats to quake-hit region
- Funerals begin for Boston bombing victims
- Quake takeaway from China's Air Force
- Obama celebrates young inventors at science fair
- Earth Day marked around the world
- Volunteer team helping students find sense of normalcy
- Ethnic groups quick to join rescue efforts
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Supplies pour into isolated villages |
All-out efforts to save lives |
American abroad |
Industry savior: Big boys' toys |
New commissioner
|
Liaoning: China's oceangoing giant |
Today's Top News
Health new priority for quake zone
Xi meets US top military officer
Japan's boats driven out of Diaoyu
China mulls online shopping legislation
Bird flu death toll rises to 22
Putin appoints new ambassador to China
Japanese ships blocked from Diaoyu Islands
Inspired by Guan, more Chinese pick up golf
US Weekly
Beyond Yao
|
Money power |