In Smoggy China, Consumers Spent $141 Million on Masks on Taobao

Editing by Su Jun Lim

 

US Retailers Target Alibaba Over Sales Tax ‘Loophole”

BY CNBC

A new ad from the Alliance for Main Street Fairness, the retail coalition whose members include Target, Best Buy, Home Depot and JC Penney tells US lawmakers that Alibaba will “decimate” local retailers unless they pass a bill for state sales tax on online purchases.

 

In Smoggy China, Masks Become Stylish Accessory

BY LA TIMES

As China’s air pollution crisis persists, masks are becoming a staple accessory for Chinese. Consumers spent $141 million on masks on Taobao.com last year. Lately, masks have also shown up on runways, including last month’s China Fashion Week, which features designer Yin Peng’s sportswear collection accessorized with a variety of masks.

 

Alibaba Group Aims to Boost Commerce in China’s Rural Provinces

BY ALIZILA

Alibaba Group signed agreements with local governments to develop services like cloud computing and big data to grow e-commerce amongst small and medium businesses in China’s western provinces to spur economic development. Alibaba plans to invest $1.6 billion over the next three to five years to build e-commerce facilities in rural China.

 

Xiaomi Sets Sights on Growing E-Commerce Operations

BY SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST

Xiaomi, the world’s third-largest smartphone supplier after Samsung and Apple, is looking to expand its direct online retail operations after its success on Singles Day, selling about 1.16 million smartphones worth 1.56 billion yuan.

 

Alibaba Launches Internet TVs In China With Haier

BY THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Alibaba has partnered Haier Electronics in launching new TVs in China that provide users access to Taobao and Tmall online marketplaces, movies and video games. The new TVs offer entertainment programs from Lions Gate Entertainment and games like Capcom’s Street Fighter and Konagi’s World Soccer Winning Eleven 2014.