Alibaba’s wholesale marketplace 1688 recently opened three official online shops on Taobao, strengthening the company’s low-price strategy which is expected to see increasing low-priced supplies flowing in. According to Chinese media agency Caixin, the three stand-alone stores sell furniture and general merchandise produced by well-known brand-name factories, office supplies and business consumables, and unbranded white-label items. It is also reported that Taobao would set up an independent channel similar to the one shared by Tmall Supermarket for 1688-based businesses, making it easier for shoppers to pick goods without having to download its original app. [Caixin, in Chinese]Related