Alibaba, the undisputed China #1 E-commerce Giant.
So how does the office looks like? (can't fall short of expectation right?)
Indeed!
The giant dashboard showing the statistical data in real time for their websites will blow your mind away.
Take a quick tour around the Alibaba HQ - be awed!
Don't miss out this brilliantly done infographic about Alibaba created by Penn-Olsen
http://www.penn-olson.com/2011/06/22/alibaba-infographic/
How FedEx Guy (really) Delivers
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Want to know how your packages get delivered really fast?
Firstly, the drama...
Here goes the package, flying off the fence to the valley of death. This guy did it so smoothly that, as if he's well trained to do so.
When it comes to e-commerce, it really doesn't matter if you have the lowest price, the best checkout experience and the best customer service. Coz if your delivery guys screw up, so are you.
It's a fact that e-commerce relies on millions of dedicated, hard working and professional delivery guys (not the guy above) to make it work. Without them, Amazon won't happen.
All we want to know is, "Dude, what were you thinking?"
Anyway, there's some funny theories floating around too, some said this chap has to be an Apple fan boy since he throw the Samsung monitor.
Just to put you in perspective, this video got a whopping 6.6 Millions + view (think negative publicity) on YouTube! In comparison, FedEx Top Superbowl ad get "only" 1.2 Million + views (over a course of 5 years). Ouch....!
Secondly, the response...
Thumbs up for FedEx, hey, at least they got balls to admit the mishandling and response fast in YouTube video too! But I think the tone sounds a bit way too formal. He might just be reading it from a script.
Thirdly, the drama continues...
Just when you think it's over... then there's another FedEx Ground joker video popping up...
Maybe it's time for a Feng Shui Checkup for FedEx HQ.
No... it's NOT OVER yet. As you might have guessed, some UPS chaps might be laughing rolling on the floor non stops... until they see this.
UPS was laughing non stop until they see this...
I guess, nobody's perfect.
Firstly, the drama...
Here goes the package, flying off the fence to the valley of death. This guy did it so smoothly that, as if he's well trained to do so.
When it comes to e-commerce, it really doesn't matter if you have the lowest price, the best checkout experience and the best customer service. Coz if your delivery guys screw up, so are you.
It's a fact that e-commerce relies on millions of dedicated, hard working and professional delivery guys (not the guy above) to make it work. Without them, Amazon won't happen.
All we want to know is, "Dude, what were you thinking?"
Anyway, there's some funny theories floating around too, some said this chap has to be an Apple fan boy since he throw the Samsung monitor.
Secondly, the response...
Thumbs up for FedEx, hey, at least they got balls to admit the mishandling and response fast in YouTube video too! But I think the tone sounds a bit way too formal. He might just be reading it from a script.
Thirdly, the drama continues...
Just when you think it's over... then there's another FedEx Ground joker video popping up...
Maybe it's time for a Feng Shui Checkup for FedEx HQ.
No... it's NOT OVER yet. As you might have guessed, some UPS chaps might be laughing rolling on the floor non stops... until they see this.
UPS was laughing non stop until they see this...
I guess, nobody's perfect.
PayPal opens Global Op Centre in Malaysia
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
01.11.11, this special date marks another milestone for Malaysia E-commerce Industry. PayPal has officially opened their Global Operation Centre (GOC) here and is proudly officiated by our Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister, Dato Mukhriz Mahathir. (See official speech here)
Fresh in my mind still is the date "14th Oct 2009" - the very first day PayPal starts supporting Ringgit Malaysia (MYR)
Local team is headed by John Tham. They currently have a staff strength of 200+ people, and will increase the team size to 500 by 2013.
The GOC marks Malaysia spot on on the global e-commerce map. And I'm personally glad knowing that it's not just merely a call centre. (Call centre is something which I perceive as low-value and add no real, long-term benefits in beefing up our human capital.)
Apart from customer support (Both buyers and sellers), they are doing fraud prevention here too. You can tell by the types of jobs available.
Thanks to Sarah, I have a chance to tour their heavily guarded global operation centre (not allowed to take pictures though as it's highly classified...).
First thing comes into sight, all of their cubicles, are equipped with Dual Dell Monitor Setup. Something like this below. I wonder is it one screen for work, another for facebook?
Anyway, do you know bill gates works on 3 monitors? Considering all the PayPal MY staffs are just one-monitor behind bill gates. that's really not bad at all!
But one thing i found missing, is the humongous digital dashboard, where it suppose to display (in real time) a set of key-metric in a graphically stunning ways. I seriously think PayPal should build it just for the sake of impressiveness.
Just to show you a glimpse of how such thing look like in Alibaba.com HQ in Hangzhou, China. (Alibaba runs Alipay which is set to go global competing with PayPal anytime soon)
Overall, the workplace is clean and spacious. Occupying both 25th & 26th Floors of One First Avenue and there's a balcony for you to take fresh air too. And yeah, they a few vending machines and one of it is providing free MILO for staffs!
Search for PayPal Opening here!
Some other interesting statistics I learnt too.
- PayPal is signing up 1 Million new accounts per month globally
- PayPal has seven such global operation centre around the world
Dato Mukhriz giving speech, he posted his speech transcript online~!
VIPs - left to right:
Sarah Deaton (Sr. Director, APAC Op), Datuk Badlisham Ghazali (MDEC CEO), John McCabe (Sr. VP World Wide Op), Dato Mukhriz Mahathir, John Tham (Dierctor Malaysia PayPal), Elias Ghanem (GM SEA & India PayPal) and Rupert Keeley (Sr. VP APAC PayPal).
Very nice Indian rangoli art!
A nice doorgift for all the guests. some ask me why not
5 thumbdrives in it... hmm....
5 thumbdrives in it... hmm....
Fresh in my mind still is the date "14th Oct 2009" - the very first day PayPal starts supporting Ringgit Malaysia (MYR)
Local team is headed by John Tham. They currently have a staff strength of 200+ people, and will increase the team size to 500 by 2013.
The GOC marks Malaysia spot on on the global e-commerce map. And I'm personally glad knowing that it's not just merely a call centre. (Call centre is something which I perceive as low-value and add no real, long-term benefits in beefing up our human capital.)
Apart from customer support (Both buyers and sellers), they are doing fraud prevention here too. You can tell by the types of jobs available.
Thanks to Sarah, I have a chance to tour their heavily guarded global operation centre (not allowed to take pictures though as it's highly classified...).
First thing comes into sight, all of their cubicles, are equipped with Dual Dell Monitor Setup. Something like this below. I wonder is it one screen for work, another for facebook?
Anyway, do you know bill gates works on 3 monitors? Considering all the PayPal MY staffs are just one-monitor behind bill gates. that's really not bad at all!
But one thing i found missing, is the humongous digital dashboard, where it suppose to display (in real time) a set of key-metric in a graphically stunning ways. I seriously think PayPal should build it just for the sake of impressiveness.
Just to show you a glimpse of how such thing look like in Alibaba.com HQ in Hangzhou, China. (Alibaba runs Alipay which is set to go global competing with PayPal anytime soon)
Overall, the workplace is clean and spacious. Occupying both 25th & 26th Floors of One First Avenue and there's a balcony for you to take fresh air too. And yeah, they a few vending machines and one of it is providing free MILO for staffs!
Enough said, I love MILO (esp free one) and I have submitted my resume, have you?
Search for PayPal Opening here!
Some other interesting statistics I learnt too.
- PayPal is signing up 1 Million new accounts per month globally
- PayPal has seven such global operation centre around the world
- Berlin (Germany)
- Chandler, Arizona (US)
- Dublin (Ireland)
- Omaha, Nebraska (US)
- Sao Paulo (Brazil)
- Petaling Jaya (Malaysia)
- Shanghai (China)
Rocket quietly landed in Malaysia
Friday, October 21, 2011
UPDATED!
Sorry, it's not this rocket that most Malaysian are familiar with.
It appears that they are going to launch a fashion online store here (apparently, in Australia & Singapore too), directly retail to the consumers. See what type of talents they are recruiting now.
So, any fashion buyers from Padini or FOS already head hunted over?
Their job posting appears in Jobstreet.com too. Go read it, then you will know this rocket is not to be taken lightly. Notice in every job posting, they mentioned this in their write up?
"This online retail group is set to take the Malaysian e-tail market by storm."
If you are the competitor, this email will make you shake in your pants. My favorite line is:" I am the most aggressive guy on internet on the planet. I will die to win and i expect the same from you! " (yeah right, did anyone tell him that dead people don't really care about winning? Proof: The top 5 regrets people have on their deathbed)
updated 05-Jan-2012 : Finally, Rocket Internet has (soft) launched their online fashion retail site in Malaysia - Check it out - Zalora.com.my (domain inspired by Zara?)
Our first impression?
1) A clean, neatly built site.
2) Zalora looks the same as their sister site (Zalando UK, Zalando Ge)
3) Safe to assume they are powered by the same system too.
4) A quick search review that the Singapore site will be known as Zalora.sg
5) I know NONE of the brands they carry... (yes, i'm brand idiot)
6) Can't find anything below RM50 yet
7) Online payment powered by iPay88 + PayPal
8) Once got the items, you can have 3 days period to return it (unlike the Zappos's Insane 365 days return policy, which works in US but not in M'sia)
9) Limited items for each size now, which means they only sell what's in stock (not preorder, not backorder) so they can ship it fast to you.
10) Mouse over the thumbnail view in categories will display few angles of the product shots
11) Very nice filtering tools based on brand, colors, price, size, occasion (theme) on left bar when you drill into each categories..
12) Facebook page located at http://www.facebook.com/ZaloraMalaysia
13) And a sneak peak at young, energetic founding team led by a Hardvard Grad CEO - Off for a good start!
Don't miss this talk by their CEO - Florian Heinemann. He talks about Marketing Performance Across Channels.
More about Rocket Internet Gmbh
Latest update: Rocket Internet's ambition on the world
http://gigaom.com/europe/revealed-the-full-extent-of-the-rocket-clone-empire/
Sorry, it's not this rocket that most Malaysian are familiar with.
Instead, it's Rocket Internet from Germany. Dubbed as German's most successful (and AGGRESSIVE) incubator (started by Samwer Brothers) having a staff strength over 5,000 peoples in their portfolio companies, which include e-commerce site like http://www.Zalando.de
It appears that they are going to launch a fashion online store here (apparently, in Australia & Singapore too), directly retail to the consumers. See what type of talents they are recruiting now.
So, any fashion buyers from Padini or FOS already head hunted over?
Their job posting appears in Jobstreet.com too. Go read it, then you will know this rocket is not to be taken lightly. Notice in every job posting, they mentioned this in their write up?
"This online retail group is set to take the Malaysian e-tail market by storm."
Can you feel it? if you don't, then check out this
I-will-die-to-win email by the BIG BOSS Oliver Samwer
I-will-die-to-win email by the BIG BOSS Oliver Samwer
If you are the competitor, this email will make you shake in your pants. My favorite line is:" I am the most aggressive guy on internet on the planet. I will die to win and i expect the same from you! " (yeah right, did anyone tell him that dead people don't really care about winning? Proof: The top 5 regrets people have on their deathbed)
updated 05-Jan-2012 : Finally, Rocket Internet has (soft) launched their online fashion retail site in Malaysia - Check it out - Zalora.com.my (domain inspired by Zara?)
 |
| Zalora.com.my |
Our first impression?
1) A clean, neatly built site.
2) Zalora looks the same as their sister site (Zalando UK, Zalando Ge)
3) Safe to assume they are powered by the same system too.
4) A quick search review that the Singapore site will be known as Zalora.sg
5) I know NONE of the brands they carry... (yes, i'm brand idiot)
6) Can't find anything below RM50 yet
7) Online payment powered by iPay88 + PayPal
8) Once got the items, you can have 3 days period to return it (unlike the Zappos's Insane 365 days return policy, which works in US but not in M'sia)
9) Limited items for each size now, which means they only sell what's in stock (not preorder, not backorder) so they can ship it fast to you.
10) Mouse over the thumbnail view in categories will display few angles of the product shots
11) Very nice filtering tools based on brand, colors, price, size, occasion (theme) on left bar when you drill into each categories..
12) Facebook page located at http://www.facebook.com/ZaloraMalaysia
13) And a sneak peak at young, energetic founding team led by a Hardvard Grad CEO - Off for a good start!
Don't miss this talk by their CEO - Florian Heinemann. He talks about Marketing Performance Across Channels.
More about Rocket Internet Gmbh
Latest update: Rocket Internet's ambition on the world
http://gigaom.com/europe/revealed-the-full-extent-of-the-rocket-clone-empire/
- http://www.quora.com/Rocket-Internet
- http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/14/oliver-samwer-walks-out-of-an-interview-with-techcrunch/
- http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/03/business/worldbusiness/03iht-brothers.html?pagewanted=all
- http://www.businessinsider.com/what-do-ebay-facebook-and-groupon-have-in-common-these-guys-cloned-them-and-got-rich-doing-it-2011-1
- http://www.economist.com/node/21525394#
eCommerce in China
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
We all know China, will be the largest consumer market in the world in a very near future.
We also know, eCommerce, is HOT & BIG in China.
An army of excavators parked beside the highway - simply neat, big & awesome.
But how hot & how big is it? According to a weibo post by DHGate.com CEO - Diane Wang, it says by 2011, China will overtake Japan as World's 2nd largest e-commerce market, by 2013, it will overtake US as the world's no 1 e-commerce market. * mind boggling *
Here's some pictures I took during my recent trip to Shanghai, and I will also share some of the articles i read on the local business magazine. Just so to give you a glimpse.
Here's some pictures I took during my recent trip to Shanghai, and I will also share some of the articles i read on the local business magazine. Just so to give you a glimpse.
E-commerce Ad, is everywhere. It's on the TV, it's on Search Engine (Baidu), it's on the bus, the railway's wall, and it's even found in the shopping mall!
This ad is by Ganji.com - one of China largest online classified site
Ganji.com is one of china largest classified (like Malaysia's Mudah.my). One Interesting thing about Ganji.com is their sales approach - Out of the 500 staffs (US's no 1 classified site - Craiglist.org, has only 30 staffs) Ganji has hired , about 200-300 are working in its call center to cold-call companies to place ads with the site. Talking about labour intensive...
And their target market are the middle-lower income groups. The CEO of Ganji, Mark Yang called them the 3 lows - "Low in age, Low in income and Low in education level.”
Subway ad by Vancl.com - China largest online-only fashion etailer.
DHL Ad - We deliver Trust. Ecommerce, is really all about Trust.
At 1st glance, you will think Groupon.cn is owned by Groupon, which recently filed their IPO
The fact is, it wasn't, in China, Groupon actually acquires Gaopeng.com.
The fact is, it wasn't, in China, Groupon actually acquires Gaopeng.com.
Another group buying ad spotted! Now the trend is towards discount for physical products,
ranging from computers to cosmetics!
ranging from computers to cosmetics!
An online store (ihaveu.com) ad in the mall? Now this is rare, as you know mall
generally perceive online stores as competition taking away their foot traffics.
generally perceive online stores as competition taking away their foot traffics.
Uniqlo, Japanese clothing giant recently enters Malaysia market.(opening up its 3rd store in one utama on 4th Nov). They have 2 online stores, one in Taobao's tmall and one their own branded eStore.
while chilling out at a nice cafe - Wagas.com.cn
founder of http://www.sf-express.com in China.
Good news is, I manage to find the online articles here, you should not miss this!
and if you don't understand Chinese, don't even think about using Google translate!
Get a bf / gf who master both Chinese and English or hire me for tuition!
An article on 360buy.com (京东商城 - JingDong Mall), online sales exceeding 10 Billion RMB in 2010.
and they are preparing for an IPO to raise $4 to 5 Billion USD - dubbed as the largest IPO ever!
and they are preparing for an IPO to raise $4 to 5 Billion USD - dubbed as the largest IPO ever!
Media Markt - One of its huge 3C Retail store in Shanghai, occupy 5 floors, just look at
the washing machines on display (below). Don't envy them for sizes,
they are facing very stiff competition from online retailers like 360buy.com.
the washing machines on display (below). Don't envy them for sizes,
they are facing very stiff competition from online retailers like 360buy.com.
Here comes the insanely beautiful Cylinder Glass Shanghai Apple Store!
a holy grail for retailers of all sorts.
A panoramic view shot with iPhone's SeeThis App
iPad, the 2nd device that really WOW! me (1st was PC)
It's important your site looks nice on iPad too. Worst is for full
Flash website, it will just appear blank!
China Post goes Green !
Cool service in H&M China store. This is "consultative selling", they will understand
your body shape, style and put up something which will make you look gorgeous!
(learn more on How to sell fashion online)
(learn more on How to sell fashion online)
An english-teacher before becoming an China e-commerce Tycoon
Ma-Yun now want to buy Yahoo (for real).
When you are in the business of e-commerce, you will obsess over shopping cart.
And i end up buying a double deck shopping cart :)
Bullet Train speed topping 350KM / hour, if we have this in Malaysia, this will take me
from KL to Penang in just one hour time. Simply amazing! Think of it as a metaphor on how fast
China's e-commerce market is growing now...
Beautifully designed name card from Nike ID Studio Shanghai
Before I end this, these are 8 China's E-commerce facts you have to know:
- Chinese market is GIGANTIC, way bigger than you can ever imagine.
> 400 millions Internet users!!!
> 300 millions Mobile users!!!
Do you now know why Apple sales Q2 in China alone is USD3.8 Billion? - They are heavily funded by VC, for ultra aggressive expansion at the speed of light.
- Most of them don't make a profit and still burning cash (like crazy) to acquire clients.
- Mosf of them (bigger size etail like 360buy, vancl etc) are aiming for IPO in Nasdaq.
- They are addicted to brutal price war aka fucking kill competitors with price.
- They spend a lot of $$$ on advertising.
- They spend even more $$$ on infrastructure (fulfilment centre, system, land) and... they even build their own delivery fleet (people + system + transport). Eg. 360buy alone have about 10,000 delivery guys (unheard of in other countries).
- Credit cards are not popular or widely used, most of them are using debit card or COD (Cash on Delivery) to pay off online purchases- see an interesting article on Why china people loves to pay cash , interestingly, the same goes for Russian, Why Russian also prefer to pay cash for online purchase.
If you want to know more bout China's E-commerce News, don't miss out these superb sites:
1) http://technode.com/
2) http://iresearch.cn/
3) http://www.penn-olson.com/tag/china
People to watch
CEO of Alibaba.com http://www.weibo.com/mayun
CEO of 360buy.com: http://t.163.com/2123575232
CEO of Vancl.com: http://www.weibo.com/chennian
CEO of DHGate.com: http://t.163.com/2810683446
CEO of DangDang.com http://t.qq.com/ddwlgq
CEO of Okbuy.com (China's Zappos) http://t.163.com/8720289206
1) http://technode.com/
2) http://iresearch.cn/
3) http://www.penn-olson.com/tag/china
People to watch
CEO of Alibaba.com http://www.weibo.com/mayun
CEO of 360buy.com: http://t.163.com/2123575232
CEO of Vancl.com: http://www.weibo.com/chennian
CEO of DHGate.com: http://t.163.com/2810683446
CEO of DangDang.com http://t.qq.com/ddwlgq
CEO of Okbuy.com (China's Zappos) http://t.163.com/8720289206
First post via blogger iphone app
Friday, September 9, 2011
The book, banned by steve jobs himself from itunes.
Apple secrecy makes people craving for more, and the banning will make this book a must-read for job's fan boy too. ;)
Apple secrecy makes people craving for more, and the banning will make this book a must-read for job's fan boy too. ;)
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