Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

Gree Electric Appliances anticipates a sales goal of 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) in 2018 on China's internet giant Alibaba's Tmall e-commerce platform. A cooperation agreement with Tmall was signed in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province on Aug 28.

The world-leading Chinese appliance manufacturer is based in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province. The company will take advantage of Tmall's rich experience in data analysis, market planning, and media coverage to open a multi-channel retail model. It will set the goal of constructing an improved and convenient solid sales network and service system.

Gree's vice-president Liu Jun said that they are aiming at accelerated or even revolutionary brand transformation. The Tmall store will be mainly driven by young vigorous brands nurtured in recent years. Competitive products sold on Tmall include air conditioners, refrigerators, and electric cookers.

The strategic plan anticipates further cooperation in sales services and intelligent research.

The move came after a satisfactory sales performance on the platform over the five years since Gree opened its flagship Tmall store in 2013.

Gree refrigerator saw a sales growth rate of more than 400 percent on Tmall from January to July this year, and was the sales champion in June with a sales increase of over 500% year-on-year. This has led to a significant sales improvement of other product categories, according to Yin Jing, president of the Tmall 3C & Home Appliance Business Unit of Alibaba Group.

It was announced that in an as yet un-built joint laboratory Gree will combine its core technology advantages with Tmall's big data strengths to provide tailored products on a Consumer to Business (C2B) model.