Amazon brings cross-border ambitions to Alibaba’s backyard
The initiative is part of Amazon’s effort to evolve from an e-commerce provider into a global logistics operation, helping merchants on its platform connect directly with manufacturers in China
Amazon.com is bringing its competition with Alibaba Group Holding right to the Chinese e-commerce giant’s backyard.
In the coming weeks, Amazon will host an event in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou – Alibaba’s hometown – to connect online merchants with 400 Chinese manufacturers keen to sell electronics, car parts, home goods and more directly to American and European consumers.
Amazon experts will provide insights into buying trends so merchants can stock up for the 2018 holiday season, according to an invitation reviewed by Bloomberg. Sponsored by Amazon Global Selling, the event is called “Coming Together For U”.
The gathering is part of Amazon’s effort to evolve from an e-commerce platform into a global logistics operation. The idea is to help Amazon merchants connect directly with manufacturers in China, a country largely out of the company’s reach.
Amazon would collect fees for helping merchants source goods directly from factories and ship them to other countries so they can be delivered quickly once orders roll in. Speedy delivery helped Amazon dominate e-commerce in the United States, and the company wants to do the same globally to fend off eBay, Japan’s Wish Corp and Alibaba, the parent company of the South China Morning Post.