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.
SAN FRANCISCO, United States — Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has struck one of its largest deals with a U.S. online retailer, agreeing to help Amazon.com rival Shoprunner sell to China and handle delivery within the country.
Shoprunner, whose partners include Neiman Marcus and Nine West, will use Alibaba's domestic logistics infrastructure to launch its service in China later this year, Shoprunner Chief Strategy Officer Fiona Dias told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.
The Alibaba and Shoprunner venture will be in addition to Web sites already operated by Alibaba, including Tmall and Taobao marketplaces.
Alibaba owns 39 percent of Shoprunner, which launched four years ago and sells products from thousands of brands like American Eagle Outfitters and Calvin Klein. It offers members 2-day shipping within the United States from a variety of stores.
ADVERTISEMENT
The move would offer a way for U.S. corporations to tap the world's second largest economy, where many foreign retailers have stumbled in the past.
"The history of U.S. retailers going to China is one that's fraught with peril," Dias said in an interview. "This is a very low cost way to do it that doesn't require them (U.S. retailers) to go to China to figure it out."
Editor: Peter Henderson
Copyright (2014) Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions
From analysis of the global fashion and beauty industries to career and personal advice, BoF’s founder and CEO, Imran Amed, will be answering your questions on Sunday, February 18, 2024 during London Fashion Week.
The State of Fashion 2024 breaks down the 10 themes that will define the industry in the year ahead.
Imran Amed reviews the most important fashion stories of the year and shares his predictions on what this means for the industry in 2024.
After three days of inspiring talks, guests closed out BoF’s gathering for big thinkers with a black tie gala followed by an intimate performance from Rita Ora — guest starring Billy Porter.