3M flagship opens on Alibaba’s 1688.com

Alibaba is hosting a 3M flagship store on its B2B eCommerce platform 1688.com.
And the partnership is expected to be the first of several major moves by industrial and manufacturing companies onto the increasingly popular platform, with ABB, Stanley and Ingersoll Rand expected to follow suit in the near future.
3M China president Denise Rutherford said the partnership with Alibaba is a new venture for the Minnesota-headquartered company to “leverage this fast evolving market in eCommerce”.
“We don’t view the launch of the top brand pavilion on 1688.com as a conflict or jeopardy for our business with existing traditional distributors as we seek every means possible to partner with distributors through multiple channels,” she said.
Alibaba says 1688.com can help brand owners effectively manage their price and product offerings for different types of distributors across China, helping manufacturers and industrial companies to build a more comprehensive and organised product and merchant system.
3M sees the move as an innovative way to target distributors and retailers alike.
The site – 3M.1688.com – will provide 3M’s product information as well as top distributors in different parts of the country.

You have 7 articles remaining. Unlock 15 free articles a month, it’s free.