eBay Inc. is changing the way consumers from developed and emerging markets perceive Chinese imports, according to the Greater China Retail Export Industry 2014 Development Trends report, released this week by eBay and PayPal.
Increasing consumer demand and innovation are rapidly driving the Greater China retail export industry to enhance its service standards, and China is no longer seen as a destination for cheap, poorly made imports. Its sellers are experiencing a new wave of stellar growth as a result.
Launched in Shanghai at a press conference attended by representatives of government, industry and media outlets, the report reveals five major industry trends that are driving strong retail export growth in the region, including:
- Product category expansion. To drive new business in developed and developing markets, sellers are expanding into even more categories. The top five are Electronics, Fashion, Home & Garden, Parts & Accessories and Collectibles.
- Embracing an increased mobile presence. As the boundaries between online and offline commerce blur further, Chinese exporters are taking advantage of our latest mobile innovations that allow buyers to shop anywhere, anytime – and give sellers more export opportunities.
- Delivery of higher standards of service. Sellers have established warehouses in buyer markets to speed up distribution, improve the returns experience and raise service standards.
The report also illustrates the growing diversity of the retail export industry – and the benefits this creates for the global shopper – plus the importance of developed markets, including the US, UK and Australia, which continue to snap up Chinese goods.
Growth in emerging markets such as Argentina and Israel is accelerating, says John Lin, eBay Greater China Managing Director. “As the number of online shoppers in these countries rises, it will drive further growth for Greater China’s retail export industry,” he said.
To read the Greater China Retail Export Industry 2014 Development Trends report in full (in Chinese), go to http://www.ebay.cn/retailexport/.