Jeffrey Towson argues that Vipshop could benefit from building its own logistics network, like JD. He says that this would give Vipshop more control over its supply chain and delivery times. However, he also acknowledges that this would be a major investment.
Hi everyone, Here is the daily update. Cheers, -j Suggestions for Questions for the CEO of Huawei? I’m going to Shenzhen next week to interview Guo Ping, Huawei’s CEO. Super excited about this. The Huawei campus is pretty awesome as well (see pic). The interview should be about an hour so I’m hopefully going to […]
I keep a short list of cool stuff China’s digital giants are doing. Not just the big initiatives – but the smaller and often more inventive ideas. And JD tends to have a lot of these. From building their own robotics and drones to trash sorting / redemption programs and farming initiatives, JD has lots […]
In Part 1, I laid out why I think JD’s e-space was a pretty bold move – and opens a new frontier in OMO retail. My argument was that as you move from retail about buying products in the supermarket to visiting shopping malls and department malls, you start to really merge products, services and […]
Jeffrey Towson argues that Chinese startups like Luckin Coffee, Mobike, Didi Chuxing, and WeWork are facing increasing challenges. He says that these companies are facing more competition, regulatory scrutiny, and rising costs. As a result, it is unclear if these companies will be able to achieve profitability in the long run.
Why are so many things free on the internet? And on our smartphones? And what does this mean for the economics of traditional products and services as they become smart, connected and infused with software? So the question is why are things free on the internet? My answer is the sexy but dangerous economics […]
Hi everyone, My apologies for being silent for a couple of days. I was teaching my digital strategy class at CEIBS (China Europe International Business School) in Shanghai. And I have been running around to various speaking engagements. I was wiped out. I spent all afternoon watching Netflix and ordering food delivery. FYI: Watching Netflix […]
I recently visited the Intime department store in Hangzhou. And it struck me that department stores and shopping malls may be the most compelling version of new retail – the frontier of an increasingly dynamic, digital lifestyle for Chinese consumers. From New Retail to a New Digital Lifestyle The online world is surprisingly rich […]
Jeffrey Towson shares his insights into the inner workings of Alibaba on Singles’ Day, the world’s largest online shopping event. He discusses how Alibaba uses data, technology, and logistics to execute its business strategy and deliver a world-class shopping experience to its customers. He also talks about the challenges of managing such a large event and how Alibaba is constantly innovating to improve its performance.
Hiya, I’m sitting at the Shanghai airport, heading out to the USA shortly. I’m exhausted. It’s been a crazy couple of days out in Hangzhou with Alibaba for Singles’ Day. And just running around Shanghai. Great. But exhausting. Alibaba and e–commerce in China/Asia are going to be a big subject within this class. I think […]