ChannelX Logo
Search
Close this search box.

Jack Ma: "We did not beat eBay in the USA … yet."

The Guardian considers the long line of western failures to crack the Chinese market. Jack Ma, whose Alibaba.com bought Yahoo’s Chinese operation last year, blames corporate culture for the failure: “Professional managers are making their bosses in the US happy, not the Chinese users.”

Demanding instant success in China is pointless: “A lot of people assume that because of money, technology and branding, it will be a success. But the market can’t be bought. You have to build little by little to get into the market – it’s about people, and you need patience.”

123 million Chinese people are online, the largest number in any country outside America, but just 10% of the population: it’s obvious why western firms would want to cash in on such an enormous potential market. Ma’s words ought to be a timely reminder that global trade can run in both directions.

RELATED POSTS..

Fjorda's Journey to Success in the Chinese market

Fjorda – Success in the Chinese ecommerce

Amazon-FBA-returns-processing-fee-reductions

SEND TO AMAZON China to FBA service

Fortnum-Mason-accelerate-digital-transformation-shutterstock_2136153611

Fortnum & Mason accelerate digital transformation

Alibaba-event-01-scaled

Join Alibaba in Manchester for an event on exporting to China

Lunar-new-year-01-scaled

The pet industry in China is booming

Featured in this article from the ChannelX Guide – companies that can help you grow and manage your business.

Register for Newsletter

Receive 5 newsletters per week

Gain access to all research

Be notified of upcoming events and webinars