Tmall, a privately owned company headquartered in China, was founded in 2008. Operating as a subsidiary of Taobao Marketplace within Alibaba Group, and with approximately 210 employees, the company functions as an e-commerce platform dedicated to providing a shopping experience for Chinese consumers seeking branded merchandise. The platform facilitates numerous international and Chinese brands and retailers in establishing storefronts. According to iResearch, Tmall.com was China’s largest platform for brands and retailers in terms of gross merchandise volume in 2014. In February 2014, the company launched Tmall Global, an overseas platform extending its B2C business to enable overseas merchants to enter China’s online retail market without requiring physical operations within mainland China. Through Tmall Global, international brands gain exposure to visitors on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall.com, providing Chinese consumers access to branded products sourced and fulfilled from outside mainland China.
