“Group purchase” – ecommerce with Chinese characteristics

Sam Flemming
by Fons1 via FlickrThe trend of individual consumers to organize themselves online for bargains got its corporate equivalent, writes Sam Flemming of CIC in his latest IWOM-update.

In September, Gome, the biggest home appliance retailer in China, decided to collaborate with KDS, one of the most popular BBS groups, to launch a group purchase opportunity for KDS users only. In just 10 days, the announcement post received over 800 applications, far beyond the 250 application requirement.
Furthermore, even after the group purchase, netizens continued to discuss the event and praise the organizers for offering the group purchase. Given the overwhelmingly positive response, KDS is expected to host more collaborative group purchase events by netizens in the future.

For sure a new trend that might change the way Chinese internet users do their shopping.

Commercial
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