Gap Launches Online Store on Taobao Mall

We can now add one more big brand on Taobao Mall. Gap Inc. has recently opened an online store on Taobao Mall, China’s largest business-to-consumer (B2C) retail website.

Gap’s new online store on Taobao Mall offers wide selection of stylish products from Gap, GapKids and babyGap.

In late 2010, Gap debuted its first four company-owned Gap brand stores in Shanghai and Beijing as well as its online site, bringing Gap’s modern, accessible style to Chinese consumers for the first time.

Adding Taobao Mall as an online channel is a wise choice, especially with Taobao’s huge audience of online shoppers. Interestingly, Gap has also included a page to share its brand history with shoppers. It adds to a personal touch: A good introduction to the netizens, I must say.

“We are excited to introduce an online store on Taobao Mall, and offer Chinese consumers another place to experience and shop Gap brand,” said Redmond Yeung, President of Gap China.

“Given China is the cornerstone of Gap Inc’s global growth strategy, we believe that partnering with Taobao, with its phenomenal reach all throughout the country, is an important next step as we build on the success we’ve seen so far with our store openings and e-commerce offering.”

No doubt that most people in the world are skeptical over ‘Made in China’ goods and China hosted website. But make Alibaba Group an exception. Led by Chairman and CEO Jack Ma, the Alibaba Group, which includes Taobao is certainly leading the front to change this image.

To guarantee the quality of products and services for consumers, Taobao Mall requires cooperating merchants to meet rigorous customer satisfaction and consumer protection measures such as a seven-day, no-questions-asked refund policy.

On top of that, Taobao has also partnered with nearly 90 internationally renowned brands, including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Levi’s, Chanel and Samsung, to combat intellectual property violations. These efforts are executed through a covert shopping initiative whereby Taobao purchases suspected counterfeit products and submits the items for third-party authentication. Sellers of products determined to be counterfeit will be penalized according to Taobao’s rules and, in some cases, may also be subjected to legal action.

“The continued expansion of brand selection on Taobao Mall is part of our mission to provide consumers with authentic, high-quality products,” said Peng Ye, vice president of Taobao and head of Taobao Mall.

“Apparel has long been one of the top selling categories on Taobao. Aggregate data shows that an average of 864 pieces of clothing were sold every minute on Taobao in 2010.”

Gap joins the ranks of major brands such as UNIQLO, Adidas, Levi’s, and Li Ning, which have all launched official online retail storefronts on Taobao Mall.