WBA’s new Tmall Global storefront brings Boots brands to Chinese shoppers
Walgreens Boots Alliance is opening up a digital Boots storefront on Alibaba’s Tmall Global platform. The move, announced Thursday, will introduce several Boots brands to the more than 500 million shoppers who use Alibaba’s platforms in China, the company said.
The Boots flagship store on Tmall Global will include products from such brands as No. 7, Soap & Glory and Boots Cucumber initially, in an effort to get in on the Chinese market for skin care and makeup that Euromonitor data shows sitting at roughly $27 billion and $5 billion, respectively.
“We are truly excited to be launching our online flagship store in China exclusively on Tmall Global. This is a great opportunity for us to increase the internationalization of our products and to utilize the many innovative technologies that Alibaba has developed,” Walgreens Boots Alliance executive vice president, chief commercial officer and president of global brands said. “At the same time, our collaboration with Tmall Global complements our presence in wholesale and retail pharmacy in China with a new, fantastic channel, through which we can distribute our beauty brands in a market with almost endless possibilities. Today’s announcement is the first step on a path we believe offers both of us incredible potential for the future.”
Tmall Global is currently the largest B2C marketplace for Chinese and international brands and retailers. Launched in 2014, Alibaba said it allows retailers without a physical presence in China to build virtual storefronts.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Walgreens Boots Alliance as they continue to build their brands in China, engage a new audience and meet the evolving lifestyle demands of the Chinese consumer,” said Michael Evans, president of Alibaba Group. “We look forward to building on the relationship with WBA to continuously expand the range of product selection to better serve the more than half a billion consumers on our marketplaces looking for quality international beauty and cosmetics product.”
The Boots flagship store on Tmall Global will include products from such brands as No. 7, Soap & Glory and Boots Cucumber initially, in an effort to get in on the Chinese market for skin care and makeup that Euromonitor data shows sitting at roughly $27 billion and $5 billion, respectively.
“We are truly excited to be launching our online flagship store in China exclusively on Tmall Global. This is a great opportunity for us to increase the internationalization of our products and to utilize the many innovative technologies that Alibaba has developed,” Walgreens Boots Alliance executive vice president, chief commercial officer and president of global brands said. “At the same time, our collaboration with Tmall Global complements our presence in wholesale and retail pharmacy in China with a new, fantastic channel, through which we can distribute our beauty brands in a market with almost endless possibilities. Today’s announcement is the first step on a path we believe offers both of us incredible potential for the future.”
Tmall Global is currently the largest B2C marketplace for Chinese and international brands and retailers. Launched in 2014, Alibaba said it allows retailers without a physical presence in China to build virtual storefronts.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Walgreens Boots Alliance as they continue to build their brands in China, engage a new audience and meet the evolving lifestyle demands of the Chinese consumer,” said Michael Evans, president of Alibaba Group. “We look forward to building on the relationship with WBA to continuously expand the range of product selection to better serve the more than half a billion consumers on our marketplaces looking for quality international beauty and cosmetics product.”