Alibaba Fuses Digital Stores with Livestreaming

Brands’ original livestreams, as opposed to those created by influencers, have surged since 2019, as an increasing number of brands have mastered the popular medium to connect with Chinese consumers. Some companies have even invited celebrities or their CEOs and senior executives to appear on camera to answer viewers’ questions. Others, like Dior o... See more

“A major trend going forward will be elevated livestream experiences,” said Alibaba Group Vice President Yu Feng, who oversees content e-commerce at Taobao. “More and more consumers have adopted livestreaming as a way to shop. It has become an irreversible trend and, at the same time, an increasingly competitive space.”

Slated to roll out soon, the upgraded “live stores” will be highly customizable, the platform said. Brands will be able to display their streams prominently on their store homepage and can also tailor special experiences for different tiers of customers. For example, they can create invite-only VIP programs and interactive features and vouchers tha... See more