Alibaba Merchants Visit Hongkai: GM Ethan Shares the Zero-to-One Journey of Factory & Foreign Trade
Alibaba International Station organized a study tour to Hongkai Outdoor Furniture Factory, where GM Ethan shared the zero-to-one growth journey. Merchants visited the smart workshop and exhibition hall, witnessing quality upgrades empowered by Alibaba. Ethan detailed key milestones: 2015 foreign trade transition with Alibaba's training and "Yidatong"; 2018 equipment upgrade via Alibaba MyBank loan, becoming a "Power Merchant"; 2020 pandemic orders via Alibaba's online tools. Merchants agreed "aligning with Alibaba means growth." As an Alibaba benchmark, Hongkai will collaborate with Alibaba to empower more SMEs' overseas expansion, demonstrating symbiotic value.
Alibaba Merchants Visit Hongkai: GM Ethan Shares the Zero-to-One Journey of Factory & Foreign Trade
A meaningful study tour co-hosted by Alibaba International Station and Hongkai Outdoor Furniture recently kicked off at Hongkai's factory. Dozens of foreign trade practitioners from across China visited the intelligent workshop and immersive exhibition hall, while Hongkai General Manager Ethan shared the brand's zero-to-one growth story of factory development and foreign trade breakthroughs, highlighting "aligning with Alibaba" as the core driver for overseas expansion.
On-Site Visit: Quality Backed by Alibaba's Ecosystem
"Hongkai evolved from a 200㎡ workshop to a 12,000㎡ smart factory with laser welding and CNC cutting equipment—Alibaba's ecosystem supported this leap," Ethan told the group while showing the automatic spraying line.
During the visit, merchants were impressed by the strict quality control, from FSC-certified teak warehouses to laser-welded aluminum production lines. "No wonder it's an Alibaba 'Gold Merchant'—the quality is exceptional," a participant noted. At the 1,200㎡ exhibition hall, Ethan added: "Alibaba's 'Industry Insight' tool helped us target North American demand for large dining sets and Middle Eastern needs for sun-proof high-back chairs, driving over 40% repeat purchase rate on the platform."
Key Sharing: Zero-to-One Growth with Alibaba
At the sharing session, Ethan emphasized Alibaba's role in two critical phases:
In 2015, Alibaba's account manager advised Hongkai to shift from domestic to foreign trade. "Alibaba's 'Foreign Trade Training Camp' taught us product listing and inquiry handling, while 'Yidatong' solved customs and settlement issues," Ethan recalled.
In 2018, Alibaba's MyBank provided a low-interest loan via transaction data, enabling laser welding equipment upgrades. Product qualification rate rose from 85% to 99%, doubling orders and making Hongkai an Alibaba "Power Merchant."
During 2020's pandemic, Alibaba's "online exhibitions" and "live factory tours" brought 500+ inquiries in three months, with 30% converting to orders. "Alibaba's digital tools are our overseas growth accelerator," Ethan said.
Symposium: Aligning with Alibaba = Embracing Growth
Merchants resonated deeply. When asked about differentiation, Ethan suggested: "Use Alibaba's 'Voice of Customer' for product optimization and join customized service programs to boost premium by 20%." An Alibaba representative noted: "Hongkai exemplifies our ecosystem's value—we grow together with merchants."
Future: Jointly Empowering More Merchants
Ethan showed the "Alibaba Cooperation Wall," noting: "Our foreign trade revenue grew from 0 to 120 million RMB since 2015—proof of Alibaba's empowerment." As an Alibaba benchmark factory, Hongkai will share resources to help more SMEs succeed overseas.
To learn more or visit our factory, contact us via Hongkai's Alibaba International Station store. Let's explore outdoor furniture overseas expansion with Alibaba!