Alibaba brings Singles’ Day to US with AliExpress, offering alternative to Black Friday

Alibaba’s international e-commerce platform is kicking off Singles’ Day sales in the US on Friday and runs through November 18

Reading Time:2 minutes

AliExpress is pushing Singles’ Day sales in the US with major promotional events for the first time this year. Photo: Shutterstock

Ann Caoin Shanghai

Published: 8:00pm, 4 Nov 2024Updated: 8:09pm, 4 Nov 2024

AliExpress, Alibaba Group Holding’s international e-commerce platform, is bringing the world’s largest online shopping sales event, Singles’ Day, to the US for the first time, giving Americans an alternative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday for snagging deals ahead of the holidays.

The technology giant will kick off sales in the US on Friday, with discounts of up to 90 per cent on a wide range of products – from tech gadgets to home essentials and beauty products.

Friday will start the three-day presale period, when consumers can browse discounts and add products to their carts. Final purchases on the full selection of products can be made from November 11 to November 18.

The push to expand Singles’ Day comes as China’s major e-commerce platforms – including Alibaba’s Taobao and Tmall, JD.com, ByteDance’s Douyin and PDD Holdings’ Pinduoduo – are already in the middle of their domestic sales campaigns, which started in late October.

The shopping festival, also known as Double 11, has grown longer over the years, and now starts weeks ahead of its original November 11 date.

Alibaba, owner of the South China Morning Post, is betting big on overseas markets through its global unit Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group, amid heightened competition at home.