Description: China-based e-commerce giant, Alibaba, is the biggest hub for online shopping worldwide. It offers an attractive opportunity for Canadian companies to sell their products to the large Chinese market. One Nova Scotia company announced that it sold more than 90,000 lobsters through the Alibaba shopping website in one day.

Source: CBC

Date: November 15, 2014

Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/alibaba-shakes-up-online-shopping-for-canadian-makers-1.2835737

Questions for Discussion:

1. What are several benefits Alibaba offers to Canadian companies?
2. What is Alibaba’s business model?
3. What are some of the challenges that Canadian companies need to be aware of when they use Alibaba’s shopping site?