alicast by Alibaba Group

This episode of Alicast takes you behind the scenes of Alibaba’s groundbreaking new Shanghai campus, a visionary project designed by the world-renowned architectural firm Foster + Partners. Known for iconic creations like Apple Park and the Gherkin, Foster + Partners has once again redefined workplace design, creating a space that blends transparency, innovation, sustainability, and community. The...

In this episode of Alicast, host Selina Zhang takes us inside Alibaba’s headquarters in Hangzhou to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming global business operations.  Joining the conversation is Kaifu Zhang, Vice President and Head of AI Initiatives at Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group (AIDC). From empowering small merchants with AI-driven translation, marketing, and custo...

As shoppers increasingly lean on generative AI to answer questions and refine their searches, they will expect merchants, brands and marketplaces to keep pace. In this episode of Alicast, join Alizila’s Managing Editor, Alison Tudor-Ackroyd, as she asks Hong Kong-based Herbert Yum, a Research Manager at consultancy Euromonitor International, how he sees changes in technology and consumer behavior...

Alibaba Group and the world's largest cosmetics company L'Oréal have joined forces in a three-year partnership to promote a circular economy within China's beauty industry.  This collaboration was announced in Beijing last month during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to the country. In this episode of Alicast, join Alizila's Managing Editor, Alison Tudor-Ackroyd,...

E-commerce has steadily grown as a percentage of total retail sales in China. We spoke to consultants at Bain & Co to hear if the trend will continue into next year. Worried about staying one step ahead of your competitors in China? Bain also counseled brands on how to keep their edge.  Tune into this, the second part of our wide-ranging discussion with James Yang, a partner at consultancy Bai...

Retail expert David Roth joined Alicast to discuss about the latest e-commerce trends in China, the world’s second-largest e-commerce market. David, CEO of retail practice The Store-WPP and Chairman of consultancy WPP BAV, spoke about the evolution of the retail industry in China. London-headquartered communications group, WPP, is at the forefront of advising global brands on navigating markets an...

Brands are rethinking their marketing tactics in China, as the world’s second-largest retail market matures and customer behavior evolves. Instead of chasing growth through discounting drives, brands are turning to customer membership programs to generate revenue over the long term, according to a new report by consultancy Bain & Co. We sat down with one of the report’s authors, Bain Partner J...

Niche luxury fashion houses are expanding in China, using digital tools to build a loyal following in the world’s second-largest economy.  In this episode of Alicast, we speak to Scandinavian fashion house Filippa K’s CEO Rikard Frost about connecting with Chinese consumers. A Swedish native, Frost joined Filippa K last year with a mission to reboot Filippa K for the post-pandemic landscape using...

Alibaba Group will offer Chinese consumers the most diverse range of products on record during this year’s 11.11 Global Shopping Festival, the world’s largest retail event. This year’s 11.11, also known as Double 11 or Single’s Day in China, will feature over 290,000 brands from more than 90 countries and regions. There will be 17 million products on offer to over 1 billion consumers shopping on A...

Nanushka, one of fashion’s fastest-growing brands, is out to make a big splash in China, targeting nine stores across the world’s second-largest economy by 2026. The Budapest-based fashion house also launched on Alibaba Group’s business-to-consumer marketplace Tmall and opened a store in Shanghai in October. In this episode of Alicast, we’re joined by Péter Baldaszti, the co-founder and CEO of Nan...

Shopping festivals are evolving from discounting drives into an opportunity for brands to connect with new consumers and build a loyal fan base. The 11.11 Global Shopping Festival , also known as Single’s Day in China, is the biggest retail event of them all and brands prepare months in advance to perfect their campaigns. Traditionally conservative luxury brands are embracing online shopping in dr...

You're listening to Alicast, a deep dive into innovative and emerging trends in e-commerce, online payments and digital entertainment, brought to you by Alibaba Group. In this conversation, Alizila's Managing Editor Alison Tudor-Ackroyd talks with Michael Huang, General Manager for the Greater China region at Italian luxury brand, Brunello Cuccinelli.  Michael has over two decades worth...

You’re listening to Alicast, a deep dive into innovative and emerging trends in e-commerce, online payments and digital entertainment, brought to you by Alibaba Group. In this conversation, Alizila’s Managing Editor, Alison Tudor-Ackroyd talks to Eat Just’s Chief Executive Josh Tetrick, about the plant-based food provider’s expansion into China. Josh has worked on sustainability initiatives throug...

You’re listening to Alicast, a deep dive into innovative and emerging trends in e-commerce, online payments and digital entertainment, brought to you by Alibaba Group. In this conversation, Alison Tudor-Ackroyd talks with Guive Balooch, head of L'Oréal's technology incubator, about how the brand embraces augmented reality and blockchain to enhance consumer experience. You will also hear...

You are listening to Alicast, a deep dive into innovative and emerging trends in e-commerce, online payments and digital entertainment brought to you by Alibaba Group. I'm Alizila's editor, Alison Tudor-Ackroyd, and today's guest is JuE Wong, CEO of Olaplex, a professional haircare line. We'll be digging into the latest trends in China's fast-growing haircare market and ho...

In this episode of Alicast,  Alizila's Jing Wang talks to Frank Lavin about how companies can succeed in China, informed by his 30 years of experience in the public and private sectors. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Frank had a stellar career in Washington as the top trade negotiator for China and India in the Commerce Department and later served as US Ambassador to Singapore. As CEO and F...

Technology has completely disrupted the way we shop in the 21st century. So how can retail leaders navigate these massive changes – especially after the experiences of the Covid lockdowns? To answer these questions and more, Alizila's Liyan Chen talks to one of the most influential scholars and thought leaders in retail. Barbara Kahn is the Patty and Jay H. Baker Professor of Marketing at the...

In this conversation, Alison Tudor-Ackroyd talks with Davin Leong, managing director for Asia Pacific at British hairstyling and appliance brand ghd, about China’s fast-growing hair care market and taking part in China’s largest shopping festival, 11.11 . They dig into what brands need to do to make a successful 11.11 debut. Other topics covered include how and when to use Alibaba’s Hey Box to lau...

Reis launched SuperOrdinary in 2017 has since helped innovative young beauty brands like Supergoop! , Biossance, and Drunk Elephant build their presence in China. Recently, SuperOrdinary expanded their business in the U.S. to help brands build their portfolio and presence in the crowded Amazon marketplace. The founder shares his learnings from China's e-commerce operations to the businesses t...

Alibaba Group's online marketplace AliExpress is expanding its services in Brazil, from payments options to delivery networks, as e-commerce takes off in Latin America's largest e-commerce market during the coronavirus pandemic.

On this year's Ali Day, an annual celebration of Alibaba employees and their families that takes place on May 10th, we profile our outgoing general counsel, Tim Steinert. Tim is a 14-year veteran of Alibaba. He joined in 2007 and has been instrumental in building the legal structure for the company, guiding Alibaba through ups and downs as it grew. In this episode, Tim shares his views as a f...

From recent discussions with German brands Lauenstein and Beurer, Alibaba's Karl Wehner details how China - which offered a viable market during Covid lockdowns in their home and EU markets - has become core to the SMEs' future growth strategies.

Sweaty Betty Vice President for China Lexie Morris details how the stylish U.K. fitness apparel brand targeted Alibaba's Tmall Global for its entry into China and its expansion plans in the world's largest consumer market. 

Senreve founder Coral Chung shares the creative secrets that have fueled her handbag and accessory brand’s success in China and around the world.

Mark Yuan and Zoe Zhang are the founders of New York-based e-commerce livestreaming consultancy, And Luxe. In this Alicast with Monica Suk, the married couple looks back at the past four years of bringing Western brands and products to life for Chinese consumers and the prospects the model will catch on in other parts of the world.