Alibaba takes on Amazon and eBay with U.S. e-commerce

Posted by Joachim Bartels | Jun 13, 2014 | Alibaba, E-Commerce, United States | 0 |

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd unveiled its first direct-to-consumer online shop in the United States to take on Amazon.com Inc and eBay Inc on their home turf.

The website, 11main.com, which is currently in beta, will feature a wide range of products, including “one-of-a-kind items, not available at mass merchants and other large e-commerce sites,” Alibaba said.

The invitation-only marketplace, which Alibaba said would be “inspired by the local Main Street shopping experience,” will offer products in a variety of categories such as fashion and style, home and outdoor, and jewelry and watches.

The announcement comes as Alibaba prepares for a U.S. initial public offering that is expected to raise more than $15 billion – the most since Facebook’s IPO in 2012.

Source: Reuters

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Joachim Bartels

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