Microsoft has opened a flagship shopping site on Tmall.com, China’s largest B2C venture and part of the Alibaba Group.
Alizilla, the news and commentary website of the Alibaba Group, reported that the new site, MicrosoftStore.Tmall.com, is an outlet for Microsoft products, including its Surface tablet computer, Office software, hardware and accessories and third-party OEM Windows phones and PCs. Over 50 Microsoft products are currently available on the site, according to Microsoft.
The report said the site also plans to feature online chat and a free service called Up & Running to help Surface buyers set up and use their machines.
“Microsoft sees great potential in China’s e-commerce market, to offer customers across the country choice, value and service through our online store,” Kevin Eagan, vice president of e-commerce for Microsoft Retail Stores, was quoted as saying in a statement.
Microsoft has also opened an independent China e-commerce website in October 2012.
"Chinese consumers’ appetite for brand-name, quality products is surging and they are increasingly making purchase decisions based on experience, value, and service quality,” said Daniel Zhang, president of Tmall.com in a statement. “We firmly believe that this collaboration between Microsoft and Tmall.com can serve to offer brand partners such as Microsoft the ability to fully integrate marketing and sales strategies and connect even more directly and effectively with consumers."
Alizilla said Microsoft’s Tmall flagship store will be operated by a dedicated team in China that will manage product assortment, offers, and promotions according to local consumer preferences.