Curious about which are the largest online retailers in the world? Needless to say, the internet has profoundly changed our lives, including the way we shop. Online retailers have become profit-making monsters in the last decades, and they pose a threat to other industries. That’s why many entrepreneurs have decided to either venture into the e-commerce field, or make a transition from physical to virtual retail.
The online sales medium has proved very profitable; no wonder many investors have and are deciding to buy stock from these companies. I’m certain that you’re tempted now, so whether you’re looking to invest or buy, you should also check out our list of The Internet’s 5 Biggest Online Stores.
Based on data from Internet Retailer (a research firm that ranks the largest U.S. online companies) and recent news from various websites on economics and finances worldwide, we’ve managed to compile a list of the top five e-retailers in the world. The latest information shows that China has surpassed the U.S. in terms of online retail, and that Europe lags behind. Moreover, Apple has surprisingly out-shined other companies and has climbed to the one of the top positions in the American online market.
You’re likely anxious to discover which are the largest online retailers in the world now. Take a look at our list to find out.
5. Wal-Mart
4. Staples
Closely following Wal-Mart is Staples. Its online sales amounted to $10.4 billion, an impressive number for the office supply chain store. Just like Wal-Mart, this company has done very well with customer awareness. Moreover, other features that make Staples an exceptional business are their online ordering systems and customer loyalty. This company remains at the top of office supply businesses, both in physical stores and online.
The list of the largest online retailers in the world continues on the next page with oneof the most popular companies on the planet.
3. Apple
This multinational corporation set in California is the biggest surprise of the latest analyses. It managed to get to the second place in the American ranking of the largest online retailers, unseating Staples of its former place. One reason for its amazing surpassing of the other companies is that it had a 24% boost in sales compared to the previous year. Moreover, Internet Retailer included the hardware sales at the Online Apple Store in its report, adding up to the digital sales from iTunes’ Music and App Stores: these combined sales helped the company rank this high. Apple’s online sales dwarfed Staples’ at $18.3 billion. Apple is also very successful due to its product innovation and brand loyalty.
2. Amazon
It may come as a surprise to you that Amazon is in the second spot of our countdown, but it’s still a major league player in the global picture. Well-known for its customer responsiveness and product breadth, this company continues to be at the top of the American game. The gap between Amazon and Apple regarding worldwide online sales is breathtaking; just take a look at their sales: $67.9 billion.
1. Alibaba
Alibaba is a huge Chinese E-commerce company that filed registration documents to go public in the U.S. in May of the current year. Founded in 1999, Alibaba is outstandingly large: it controls 80% of the Chinese e-commerce market. The company claims to have about 300 million customers, a fact that is not surprising if you take into account that China has a population of 1.4 billion people: a gigantic customer base. China has great business potential, and Alibaba ranking at the top of the countdown shows just how much their own potential is as a result.
