梅西百货要来中国：你的荷包还好吗？

Originally posted on Deal Journal: another major U.S. retailer is testing China’s crowded e-commerce market as domestic players start feeling the heat.

As the WSJ reports, Macy’s Inc. has invested $15 million in Chinese online retail company VIPStore Co. Intel Corp.’s Intel Capital is also an investor in the company. The deal will allow Macy’s to sell merchandise through a dedicated section on the website, , in spring 2013, a luxury site operated by VIPStore.

Macy’s move comes after Neiman Marcus Group Inc. invested $28 million for a stake in Chinese site Glamour Sales Holdings Ltd., allowing the company to tap Chinese demand for luxury goods without having to invest in bricks and mortar stores. J. Crew Group Inc. also said earlier this year it would start shipping overseas to 107 countries and is actively looking for retail space in Asia and Europe.

Increased competition coming from European companies is putting pressure on many domestic startups that had entered China’s web to sell luxury before Macy’s, Neiman and Net-a-Porter were brave enough to peddle their wares in unchartered Internet territory. Chinese Internet portal NetEase shut down its once-popular luxury commerce site NetEase Premier in January, having operated for less than a year. Analysts say more will shutter their sites as companies like Macy’s pile in, as Chinese consumers are interested in big global brand names over little-known domestic offerings.

The battle online also reflects what’s happening in the bricks and mortar sphere. As larger, more global fashion companies are coming into China, the smaller Chinese boutiques that once dominated lower-tier cities are facing challenges to keep their doors open. Chinese consumers want what the rest of the world has access to, says Aaron Fischer, an analyst at brokerage CLSA Asia Pacific Markets.

沪江英语快讯：周三，美国零售商梅西百货公司宣布，已与中国购物网站佳品网达成协议在佳品网新成立的欧美网开设梅西专区，直接向中国消费者出售其部分私标品牌产品。梅西同时向其注资1500万美元获取少数股份。随着越来越多的国外时尚品牌开始进军中国市场，中国消费者的选择范围增大的同时，曾经在中国的中小城市占据主要市场的中国小型精品店的生存面临着各种挑战。梅西百货公司是美国的著名连锁百货公司，1924年在第7大道开张时曾被宣传为“世界最大商店”。两个全国性旗舰店分别设在旧金山的联合广场和芝加哥州街。2011梅西百货感恩节大游行：各路“明星”争奇斗艳>>>

延伸阅读：

“梅西百货公司”的创始人是斯特劳斯（Ida Straus）。1912年4月，他与太太罗莎莉登上了“泰坦尼克号”。大船快要沉没时，斯特劳斯无论用什么办法，他的太太始终拒绝上八号救生艇，说；“多少年来，你去哪我去哪，我现在去你去的地方”，这位伟大的女性把自己的位子让给了她的女佣，把毛皮大衣脱下来甩给女佣：“我用不到它了”！八号艇救生员对67岁的斯特劳斯先生提议：“我保险不会有人反对像您这样的老先生上小艇”，斯特劳斯坚定地回答，“我绝不会在别的男人之前上救生艇”。然后挽著63岁罗莎莉的手臂，一对老夫妇蹒姗地走到甲板的藤椅上坐下，等待着最后的时刻。就是电影《泰坦尼克号》最后紧紧抱在一起接吻，被海水吞没的那对老夫妇。