Alibaba enters US, challenges e-tail giants on their home turf

SAN MATEO, USA: Chinese retail giant, Alibaba has unveiled an online marketplace in the U.S. that brings together a hand-selected collection of specialty shops and boutiques.

The site called 11 Main, currently in invite-only beta, features a wide range of products, including one-of-a-kind items, not available at mass merchants and other large e-commerce sites. 11 Main offers shops in a variety of categories including Fashion and Style, Home and Outdoor, Jewelry and Watches, Baby and Kids, Collecting and Art, and Crafts, Hobbies and Toys.

Inspired by the local "Main Street" shopping experience, 11 Main helps shoppers find unique products that express their personal style.

Backed by parent company Alibaba Group, 11 Main carries forward a long tradition of enabling entrepreneurship and small business success.

Alibaba is currently working to expand in overseas markets, especially in the U.S., where it has plan to launch an IPO later this year. It has previously invested in expanding its presence in the U.S. including investments in Amazon.com competitor ShopRunner and Quixey, a search engine for apps.

Michael Zeisser, chairman of U.S. Investments, Alibaba Group, said, "11 Main brings something incredibly unique to the U.S. market, and we're very excited to support the 11 Main team as they begin to realize this vision."