The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
HANGZHOU, China — Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. will sell its U.S. website 11 Main to rival online marketplace OpenSky as it adjusts its strategy in niche e-commerce.
Alibaba will hold a “significant” stake in the combined entity, which will help sales for more than 50,000 brands, according to an e-mailed statement Tuesday. The Hangzhou, China- based company didn’t specify how much it would own or provide a valuation on the deal.
China’s biggest e-commerce operator started 11 Main last year, envisioning a shop-window for small-time U.S. merchants and brands as Alibaba sought to lessen its dependence on its home market. The website wasn’t a top priority for the company, which is focused for now on helping U.S. retailers sell to China.
The move may draw attention to the difficulty of cracking the U.S. e-commerce market, which is dominated by Amazon.com Inc and EBay Inc.
ADVERTISEMENT
OpenSky said on its website it serves more than 5 million members and over 50,000 stores.
By Lulu Yilun Chen; editors: Michael Tighe, Edwin Chan, Robert Fenner.
Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co are among the brands expanding in Perth, Australia in a bid to tap its mining, oil and gas wealth and newfound status as a travel hub.
This week’s round-up of global markets fashion business news also features Haiti’s sourcing crisis, Brazilian jewellery giant Vivara and Dubai’s Ramadan shopping season.
This week’s round-up of global markets fashion business news also features Supreme’s long-awaited Shanghai flagship opening, India imposes MIP on undervalued imports of synthetic knitted fabric and striking Sri Lankan workers continue to protest.
Imran Amed shares his observations from a trip to the wealthy desert metropolis, home to the most lucrative stores for many of the world’s top fashion brands.