Thursday 5 May 2016

If China Has Taobao, US Has 5Miles – An Online Marketplace Steaming up Lately in US

The former Alibaba executive Lucas Lu has launched an online marketplace app called 5Miles,    with similar features to those of Taobao. And guess what it is working magically.

5 Miles an easy and safe app that allows the users to discover great classifieds in your area. Buy and sell off the old stuff, find a place to live, hire local services or look for a new job, all at a whisk of a phone call.

Many might not have remembered that off late in 2003 eBay Inc. was the first online marketplace in
China and the largest. And with the intervene of Alibaba’s Taobao, a late participant, ate up eBay’s
market allowing the seller to list their products without any changes.  Recently in 2015, Alibaba reported that total purchases on Taobao and Tmall had topped $448 billion.

The way Taobao cast spell in china, it can do the similar in the US. Keeping this in mind Alibaba’s former executive Lucas Lu Created 5Miles LLC. The web based application was launched in January 2015 at Texas to provide small businesses and individual with a simple-to-use platform to sell products and services to local consumers.

Most of the management team comes with a Chinese background, but they have many years of working experience in the US. The team is of the opinion that the US too needs a Taobao like web based applications because it is easier to use and free to sell.

5Miles has enjoyed a successful debut and currently more than 6 million users have downloaded it. The total transaction of the app was $1 billion in 2015, as per the company. Talking in terms of the app download, mobile data company App Annie ranked 5Miles No. 6 on the Android platform in the
shopping category in U.S.

How 5Miles Works?

A typical example of web app design and development, 5Miles allow the users to enjoy three facets of the app –

It’s easy 
               • Take a snap and list it

               • Add personal touch with voice-over descriptions

               • Use GPS and ZIP code to find numerous listings

               • Update your post and send to the top of the list

         
It’s safe

               • Email, phone and Facebook verifications

               • Hides your contact info

               • Rate and read reviews of buyers and sellers

               • Constant review of the listing by 5Miles team

It’s fun

               • Discover great stuff browsing the snaps

               • Search and filter the relevant things

               • Like items and follow buyers and sellers

               • Make offers and negotiate on various deals

               • Chat to share photos and spots to meet

5Miles enjoys similar features as those of Taobao and it is a free marketplace where anyone can sell a product that too without paying any fees. The app also comes with an instant message function so that sellers can communicate with consumers at any time.

Well, most of the products on 5miles are used, including cars and furniture. However, the management says that there are many merchants who sell new products as well. Most of the transactions on 5miles are local and pay-by-cash, but the company is going to add shipping and payment options in this web based application.

5Miles is more like your online garage sale without any hassle. From cleaning to repair services, help with your errands to looking for a roommate or maybe looking for a job near you – 5Miles can serve you all.

Just like other web based applications, 5Miles has started to teste another international market such as the United Kingdom, the Philippines, Mexico and Australia. And the company confirms that 100
countries have downloaded its app.

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