E-commerce businesses, why not try exporting to China?
You only have to walk through the streets of Paris to see it: Chinese tourists love French products. Virtually every Chinese tour operator includes a visit to the capital’s major stores, which are highly attractive to Asian visitors. But why wait for Chinese consumers to come to Paris before selling them our products?
The incredible figures behind Chinese e-commerce
While e-commerce in France is growing at 11% per year, on the other side of the world Chinese e-commerce is growing by more than 30%. In China, where everything moves extremely quickly, online retail is a market estimated to be worth more than $450 billion. These figures certainly give food for thought, especially when you consider that Made in France products are highly appreciated by the country’s approximately 650 million Internet users. On paper, it is clear that giving French brands access to Chinese e-commerce websites could be a winning proposition for everyone. And some companies have already understood this.
Adapting to the rules of Chinese e-commerce: a necessary challenge
The language barrier and the distance separating China from Europe could discourage many businesses, but even a brief look at the potential economic benefits quickly shows that these challenges are worth overcoming. Alibaba, for example, the leading Chinese e-commerce website, is gradually opening its platform to French retailers, while maintaining a number of strict requirements, such as the obligation to provide a Mandarin-language chat service. You also need to rethink your entire communication strategy and translate all your documentation, as Chinese consumers differ significantly from European consumers, as this infographic demonstrates.
But considering the staggering figures surrounding e-commerce in China, all these efforts are clearly worthwhile. JD.com, another local giant, has understood this very well. It recently announced plans to open a dedicated section for French products and estimates that it could generate $2.5 billion in revenue within 2 years.
