How the world’s leading online B2B marketplace can help you unleash infinite business opportunities
With names like AliExpress and Alipay floating around the e-commerce space, it can sometimes be confusing what Alibaba.com is and how this virtual wholesale marketplace differs from other sites. We are here to solve this problem, to clear things up once and for all. Here’s our guide to what Alibaba.com is actually all about.
What is Alibaba?
Alibaba Group, founded in 1999, is the parent company of Alibaba.com. The company’s headquarters is located in Hangzhou, China. It includes many well-known companies such as Taobao, Tmall, Alipay, AliExpress and, of course, Alibaba.com. With these and other businesses under the Alibaba Group umbrella, the company is among the world’s largest e-commerce giants..
The amazing thing about Alibaba Group websites is that they cover every step of online shopping. For this reason, the company is at the forefront not only of e-commerce, but also of finance, logistics and artificial intelligence. Now let’s see where Alibaba.com fits into all this.
What is Alibaba.com?
Alibaba.com — one of the largest online wholesale platforms in the world. Alibaba.com, the first website of the Alibaba Group, is where we do business. Browsing the site, you will find manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers from all over the world, selling M 5900 km. Watch free editions.
Alibaba.com Tip: Ready to capitalize on those over 500,000 daily inquiries? Check out our seller membership plans — now with flexible payment plans that make starting to sell on Alibaba.com easier than ever.
Because Alibaba.com is built for the wholesale business, many online and brick-and-mortar stores source their products from Alibaba.com suppliers, often placing bulk orders. Many buyers source from suppliers around the world to take advantage of the lowest prices, reflecting the low cost of manufacturing overseas. The sellers on our site sell almost everything, providing business owners with quality products to build their businesses.
What is the Alibaba.com website?
Alibaba.com’s website can be used in different ways, depending on whether you’re looking to sell or source. Regardless of which role you take, Alibaba.com can become an integral part of your enterprise. Here’s how to use Alibaba.com to expand your business and increase your income.
Alibaba.com Tip: Have you heard of the Request for Quotation (RFQ) market? The RFQ market is an exclusive feature, where buyers post sourcing requests on Alibaba.com. Sellers can respond to these requests and find their next long-term business partner.
Alibaba.com for sellers
1. Alibaba.com manufacturers
If you have manufacturing capability, you have options in how to diversify your business by selling on Alibaba.com. Many of Alibaba.com’s suppliers are manufacturers and not third-party distributors. Beyond only selling your unique products on the marketplace, manufacturers can also offer white-label services.
White labeling refers to manufacturing products for a buyer, who may not have their own manufacturing ability. Suppliers who provide this service add the buyer’s branding and logo to the products, allowing the buyer to sell a product afterward. A common example of white labeling in everyday life is when grocery stores offer “generic” products that are basically the same as brand-name items.
Alibaba.com Tip: Still not sure whether white labeling is right for you? Check out Totally Products LLC’s seller success story to find out more about how Daniel Rosenfield was able to earn an additional revenue stream through white labeling.
2. Alibaba.com wholesalers
If you’re a wholesale distributor, it means that you have access to and sell a variety of brand-name products that you don’t necessarily make yourself. Post your vast inventory on your virtual storefront, and attract eager B2B buyers who are on the hunt for particular products. By selling through Alibaba.com, you can specify a higher minimum order quantity (MOQ), which ensures that the orders you fulfill are wholesale.
Alibaba.com Tip: Need a concrete example of a wholesale distributor? Check out Concession King’s seller success story to see how Adam Greenberg revitalized his grandfather’s candy-selling business using Alibaba.com.
3. Alibaba.com retailers
If you are a small-business owner and you’d like to get into B2B trade, you can generate B2B sales by listing on Alibaba.com. As opposed to B2C, where transactions are often singular, B2B typically requires building a relationship between seller and buyer so the seller can become a long-term supplier with recurring transactions that keep the buyer’s business thriving. Many B2C businesses decide to turn to B2B because the business model provides much more stability.
Alibaba.com Tip: Are you a self-made business owner who wants to transition to selling B2B? Check out Strategic Visionary Solutions’ seller success story and discover how Denny Haag pulled off this feat by selling on Alibaba.com.
Alibaba.com for buyers
If you’re sourcing wholesale products, Alibaba.com is the place to go. With tabs that allow buyers to search by product or manufacturer and filters that help narrow down their search by factors like price, country of origin, and certifications, buyers can decisively find what they’re looking for and the suppliers who have the capabilities to fulfill those orders. All buyers have to do is reach out to sellers with an inquiry. With AI-powered translation available in 17 languages, you can speak to suppliers around the world without issue.
Alibaba.com Tip: If you’re still having trouble locating the product you’re looking for, you can put forth a request at the RFQ market.
In conclusion
Alibaba.com has been a long-time player in online B2B trade that connects suppliers and buyers around the globe. Now that you know what Alibaba.com’s wholesale market is, unleash infinite business opportunities, expand your business, and diversify your revenue by signing up for Alibaba.com.
Ready to launch your online B2B business? Check out Alibaba.com’s membership plans, and choose a plan that suits you and your business. Sign up now!