I’d long heard of global startups first entering China via Alibaba’s Tmall before selling at physical retail, but didn’t fully understand why or how. Entering any new market as an outsider can be daunting when you don’t fully understand the language, culture, distribution channels, logistics, payment methods, government regulations, and popularity of marketing platforms. I also wondered why Alibaba was so interested in bringing global companies into China and helping them grow, since they compete with Chinese firms. Here are some answers.
