The world's leading consumer products company Procter & Gamble has opened an online store on the Chinese Internet shopping website Taobao.com, marking the company's major thrust into China's Internet marketing sector.
Founded in 1837, P&G is one the largest consumer products companies in the world. It has operations in more than 80 countries, with more than 300 brands on market in 160 countries. Prior to this, the company only launched major Internet marketing initiatives in South Korea.
According to P&G, the entry into China's Internet market aims to expand a new sales channel. At present, the development retail channels in China, including supermarkets, department stores, drugstores, and cosmetics stores, have all been mature and P&G's products are available in all these stores.
The prices of products sold in the online store, including Rejoice shampoo, Gillette shaver, and Olay skin care products, are reportedly 20% to 30% lower than their market prices. However, P&G said it does not take the online store as its major profit point and the preferential prices are mainly to attract consumers and occupy the market.