The E-commerce potential in China is enormous and just beginning to really take off.

In a recent Nielsen China article, Joey Chan, Marco Tang, and Queenie Chu note that: “Retailers planning their Chinese E-commerce strategy have two overarching goals: expand their consumer base, and improve consumer satisfaction and loyalty. China’s online shoppers right now are primarily younger and more educated consumers (with 80 percent having a college education). For these shoppers, price and convenience rule. For traditional brick-and-mortar retailers, entering the online market expands their potential shopper base by offering more convenient buying opportunities. To truly win in E-commerce, retailers must synergize their online and brick-and-mortar shopping experiences to improve the customer’s experience both online and offline. Flexible shopping and delivery/pick-up options and smart promotions can facilitate sales both online and off, boosting a retailer’s overall bottom line. Satisfied customers with successful online purchases are likely to drive more sales as consumers share positive experiences via social media.”

Sounds a lot like online retailing in the United States just a few years ago, doesn’t it?