Cities in China, including Caoxian and Dayuan, are embracing eCommerce—not only in terms of how consumers are shopping for goods, but also in how many businesses are now going through a digital transformation.
When it comes to ecommerce, China is leading the pack at a global scale. However, smaller cities within the country haven’t seen a digital transformation quite like this. And that’s because recently, young consumers have been flocking to smaller cities for a slower pace of life, more affordable housing, and greater ease in starting an online business due to less competition.
A recent article by the Global Times highlights this trend:
Currently there are more than 350,000 people engaging in the e-commerce industry [in Caoxin county] equal to providing work for one in every five people in the county, as online stores and livestreaming become popular choices for young people looking for work.
Many consumers within these smaller cities are also preparing and taking part in the upcoming Singles’ Day festival—a 24-hour online shopping event—that takes place every year on Nov. 11. Singles’ Day is the biggest shopping day in China and has seen significant growth. What’s more, other countries including the U.S. have adopted some version of Singles’ Day and many brands offer promotions and sales during this time period.
In recent years, Singles’ Day has evolved beyond just online shopping and more brands and companies have taken to emerging technology such as livestreaming as this way of shopping continues to gain popularity among younger consumers. An online streaming base manager interviewed by the Global Times said he was already prepping for Singles’ Day and has already seen a nice sales growth month-over-month.
As younger consumers continue to flock to smaller cities with the region, more business will adopt a digital-first mentality and eCommerce will continue to grow.
