How can I improve my trading in China?
China’s ecommerce sector is colossal. According to Alibaba Group, which runs Chinese ecommerce marketplaces such as Tmall, more than 242 million Chinese residents shop online, with the average shopper spending about £695 a year and making 8.4 purchases a month.
James Hardy, head of Europe at Alibaba.com, says there are a number of things UK-based businesses can bear in mind to help make their move into the Chinese market successful.
The first step is to develop a long-term plan. Hardy says: “If you rush into selling to China without giving it enough thought, the chances are you will lose out to the thousands of other retailers trying to make their own impact on the nation. Think about the whole buying process, including how goods will be delivered, as logistics can be complicated in China.”
Secondly, get the right legal advice – China has a notoriously difficult legal and administrative framework. Hardy says: “Companies wanting to trade in the nation should seek professional help to navigate it.”
Next choose the right payment method – the most common is using a third-party payment platform.
Hardy adds retailers should not forget about marketing. He says: “There is a huge number of online shoppers in China but there is also a large number of retailers, so marketing is a must.”
Many companies try to build an online presence before they start selling by making use of social networking sites such as Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter.
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