Taobao opens its first online supermarket in Shanghai
Working with more than 200 merchants in the fast moving consumer goods industry such as Unilever, P&G, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Nestle and Guangming, Taobao’s online supermarket will offer everything from coffee and biscuits and toiletries to utensils, home electronics and home textiles.
As with most products that you’ll find on Taobao, the pricing is extremely competitive. Delivery is free for purchases above RMB100 and there is a 24 hour delivery guarantee. Seriously, why make your way down to Carrefour when you can now log on and have stuff shipped to you the next day! Think of all the time, cab fares and frustration you’ll save yourself!
The online supermarket concept is not new. The web is littered with failed attempts to combine the convenience of Internet shopping with an old-fashioned grocery store deliver service. The fate of Taobao’s venture may hinge on how successfully the company can warehouse, manage and quickly distribute a diverse inventory of low-margin, high-volume products to thousands of customers. It remains to be seen if consumers will accept Taobao’s estimated 24-hour delivery time, especially for perishable food items. Taobao is “aiming to reduce delivery time to within 12 hours of order placement,” said Ma Xiaojun, the supermarket’s general manager. The company also plans to “increase capacity for evening deliveries in order to meet the lifestyle needs of Chinese consumers,” he said.
A wider selection of grocery items is also planned. “We are aiming to offer fresh (goods) such as seafood, fruits and vegetables after Chinese New Year,” he said. Taobao is currently in talks with additional partners to secure specialized warehouse and delivery capabilities needed to handle fresh produce.
没有评论:
发表评论