With the objective of boosting trading opportunities for both exhibitors and buyers, Alibaba B2B and UBM have formed a strategic alliance to unite the online and offline trade buying experience initially in Asia, and exploring opportunities to link the B2B online and face-to-face trading worlds by leveraging their combined strengths, technologies and relationships.
The 2016 edition of the Materials Manufacturing & Technology Fair (MM&T) and Fashion Access are part of the UBM and Alibaba B2B collaboration announced on 10 December 2015 to join forces and create new B2B trading experiences for customers worldwide under the management of APLF Ltd.
APLF is a joint venture between UBM Asia Ltd and SIC Group. UBM Asia is one of the world’s largest and most dynamic trade show Organisers and SIC Group has been organising professional global trade events for the leather sector since 1926.
MM&T and Fashion Access are two of the trade events hosted by APLF. MM&T is the world’s leading leather trade show. It is a must-attend event as an international business platform for leather technology. Attendees include technicians, purchasing managers, designers and fashion professionals seeking inspiration and innovation where material trends, manufacturing and machinery companies are present. Fashion Access is a prime destination for fashion sourcing populated by bags, handbags, travelware, footwear, leather goods and other smaller goods such as purses, phone cases and wallets.
UBM’s Partnership with Alibaba will allow exhibitors in China and Hong Kong of Fashion Access and MM&T to join the Trade Assurance (TA) programme easily and free of charge before the event as well as onsite. Exhibitors can now experience added value of TA endorsement from Alibaba, meet new or existing customers at APLF and have them place orders right at the fair!
Trade Assurance (TA) is a buyer protection service provided by Alibaba in case there is any dispute between suppliers and buyers. Alibaba.com will refund the covered amount (minimum US$2,000) of buyer’s payment if there is quality, shipment and payment issue.
All confirmed exhibitors will be endorsed by APLF and entitled to join the Alibaba TA scheme without further verification or cost. The exhibitors will have a TA logo displayed in their FashionNetAsia.com and Alibaba showrooms. Exhibitors that have joined TA will also enjoy onsite matching service provided by Alibaba during the trade fairs.
Buyers will also benefit as all orders placed onsite with TA exhibitors will be protected by Alibaba.com (min USD2,000). The buyer will receive an Inspection Coupon. A Personal Assistant will accompany the buyer to meet the exhibitors at their booths. Buyers will also have access to the VIP Lounge.
The synergy created by the Alibaba and APLF alliance will ensure that exhibitors can gain trust from buyers, receive wider exposure and more sales opportunities from buyers online before the fair and as well as onsite. At the same time buyers can be reassured that they are protected from any late shipment, quality or payment issues when dealing with suppliers thanks to the Alibaba TA scheme.
Press release
APLF
19 january 2016