Ningbo Cross-border Livestreaming Extends into New “Blue Ocean”
The Singaporean influencer is livestreaming to sell Ningbo-based beauty products.
“We have a special festival discount for this ‘Snail Essence’! Now count down with me: three, two, one; here comes the hyperlink for a special discount ...”
“这款‘蜗牛原液’,有节日特别优惠!跟我一起倒数,三、二、一,上折扣链接……”
In the past two days, the Ningbo Cross-Border Livestreaming Incubation Base was filled with a bustling vibe as Queen J and Rachel, influencers from a top Singaporean MCN, were livestreaming to promote Ningbo-based beauty products to TikTok users in Singapore. The two anchors vigorously worked from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. for two consecutive days, achieving an average sale of 20,000 yuan per hour.
“We believe that livestreaming on TikTok in Ningbo holds significant value,” said Tang Xiaoyue, head of the Incubation Base. Following her recent visit to the TikTok headquarters in Singapore, she was informed that Ningbo boasts many quality products but lacks enthusiasm in utilizing video and livestreaming channels to penetrate the market. This consolidated her confidence in facilitating Ningbo brands to go global.
As competition surges in the cross-border e-commerce industry, the entry barriers for traditional platforms like Amazon increase. Price wars have even erupted, leaving sellers exhausted in the rat race. In contrast, TikTok – the short video platform with over 1 billion daily active users worldwide – is emerging as a new blue ocean for sellers to leverage content commerce and surpass competitors.
“Targeting the current trend, we collaborate with influencer salespersons and MCN agencies in Southeast Asia and other regions to provide livestreaming services for cross-border e-commerce companies in the Yangtze River Delta region. This initiative builds upon our existing freight forwarding business.” In 2022, Tang Xiaoyue, an expert in the international logistics industry, started her second business and established the Ningbo Cross-border Livestreaming Incubation Base in Yinzhou District.
In the Year of the Dragon 2024, the first event hosted by the Ningbo Cross-border Livestreaming Incubation Base was a sales collaboration with Queen J and other Singaporean influencers to promote Ningbo brands. The live-stream attracted thousands of passionate viewers and buyers, resulting in total sales exceeding 250,000 yuan.
Through this “trial by fire”, Tang grew more confident in entering the Singaporean market. “Singapore’s prevalent Chinese culture and minimal time difference with China make local consumers more receptive to Chinese brands. As a developed nation, Singapore boasts significant consumer purchasing power, with residents willing to invest in quality products at higher prices. Moreover, the mutual visa exemption between China and Singapore allows local TikTok influencers and traders to seamlessly travel to Ningbo for client meetings as needed.”
The widespread success of Chinese brands in Southeast Asian countries like Singapore via TikTok is due to the increasingly solid mass market for Chinese products and the growing popularity of Chinese business models such as livestreaming e-commerce overseas.
“In the past, Singaporean consumers preferred Japanese and Korean brands. But now, they’ve discovered that Chinese brands offer both quality and value, especially in beauty products that cater to Asian skin types. It’s evident that Singapore has transitioned into the era of Chinese brands.” Queen J, with her short purple hair, beamed energetically and said, “I myself am a die-hard fan of the Ningbo clothing brand, Peacebird.”
Nowadays, Chinese businesses are leveraging cross-border e-commerce to shift from manufacturing for export to branding for export. The establishment of the Ningbo Cross-border Livestreaming Incubation Base is both a proactive response to this trend and a testament to the ongoing efforts of numerous Ningbo cross-border e-commerce service providers to extend the value chain based on customer demands. Whether exploring new avenues like e-commerce livestreaming or entering markets such as Singapore, it showcases the innovative spirit of Ningbo entrepreneurs who are striving to explore every feasible path toward potential success.