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Posts: 93

Governor

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Q: Opening up an online English shop on Taobao - realistic?

...Or is it so saturated with stuff I'd get crushed by the competition no matter what I'd put up there?

12 years 7 weeks ago in  Web & Technology - China

 
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Posts: 186

Shifu

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My Chinese friends are crazy about Western products on Taobao such as cosmetics and beauty products. Some even buy imported food on taobao such as coffee and chocolate. If you can offer a product that's unique enough, yet in demand, you may be able to succeed. But it'll be difficult....

Hakupatasa:

Not only Chinese, I also use taobao

 

But i use it to buy COFFEE as I can get mainly instant coffee at local storesindecision

11 years 41 weeks ago
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12 years 7 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1076

Emperor

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If you can offer products not on there for decent prices, I'd say go for it.
Keep in mind that most people who use Taobao are Chinese, so that's where you're going to make most of the money.  I'd go bi-lingual and use the fact that you're a foreigner as a selling point.

Keep in mind however that this is a much bigger undertaking than you might realize.  You need reliable suppliers, a supply chain that can legally bring products into China, then there are the import duties, the packaging and shipping, failed deliveries, returns, and not to mention the marketing.  Taobao is huge, so you need to market yourself somehow.

And of course, if you become mildly successful, expect 30-50 exact copycat shops to spring up overnight.

Your best bet is to find a product line not currently here in China and see about becoming the sole representative of that product - pitch it to the parent company about setting up a Taobao shop to "test the market" as it's a much simpler option than trying to go full retail in China.  Then you can get paid as a consultant, make decent money with little of your own risk.

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12 years 7 weeks ago
 
Posts: 305

Shifu

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well if you can the right prices for your imports than yes has a chance but theres alot of competition out there and i think would probally be worse than ebay where the profit magin is so low now for your time consumed.

GuilinRaf:

ebay is the Devil's tool...:-P

12 years 7 weeks ago
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12 years 7 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2587

Emperor

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I agree with all previous comments.  Not only will you have cutthroat competition, you will also have a huge learning curve adapting to the Chinese marketing style, will need deep pockets to make a profit importing bulk goods (shipping fees are by the 20' container, not by the kilo), and you will need to devote some manpower to customer service since most transactions are made by IM and not email.  It is not like Ebay, where you can put a product on a page and wait for the bids.  If you are not well connected and experienced with Chinese retail, you will have your hands full.

steve0sha:

i didnt say it was like Ebay where you place bids, more to the fact is a mass market of sellers where it will be difficult to compete with, which is plain to see if you look on the website people selling the same thing, different qualities and prices.

12 years 7 weeks ago
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xinyuren:

My comment was in agreement with yours. Ebay is much easier, even with the cutthroat competition because transactions are not IM based. No need to have someone constantly be available to chat. You can have a life and another job while running your online store. This seems impossible with Taobao.

12 years 7 weeks ago
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12 years 7 weeks ago
 
Posts: 332

Shifu

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i think if you want sell stuffs on taobo you better find some chinese partners to help you. there are too many rules and regulations you should to know and i am afraid your chinese no enough to handle these.

GuilinRaf:

Agreed. Having the help of a Chinese partner can help with all the legal, socail and bureaucratic hurdels one will encounter.

12 years 7 weeks ago
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12 years 7 weeks ago
 
Posts: 4

Governor

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Yes, you know that market in China is really large and peopel like to purchase brands made overeas instead of Made in China. However, don't put the price to expensive, because Chinese like to buy cheap items online and expensive items on store. As taobao is cheapest C2C market, that is why more and more foreigners crush into www.smalltao.com, the best taobao agent istead of Ebay. It is a good idea. Good Luck!

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11 years 42 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1008

Shifu

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Your biggest problem would be Taobao doesn't deal with copy rights, this is were you get everything basically stolen from someone else, so anything you produce will just be copied and sold at a cheaper price

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11 years 42 weeks ago
 
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