|
HONG KONG — Over the past year, A2, an Australian milk company, made an unexpected discovery: A sharp increase in domestic sales came courtesy of Chinese bulk buyers, not Australian mothers. 香港——澳大利亚牛奶公司A2在过去的一年里有一个意想不到的发现：国内销售额的大幅增长归功于中国的大宗购买者，而不是澳大利亚的母亲。 Bricks and mortar, the company knew, would not bridge the 4,000-mile gap between the two countries and put its products at the doorstep of its newest customers. 公司知道，本土的零售店不可能缩短中国与澳大利亚之间4000英里的距离，把公司的产品送到这些最新客户的家门口。 But a partnership with two of China’s biggest online marketplaces? That could pay off. And A2’s jump onto Alibaba’s TMall and the rival JD.com six months ago led the company directly into the frenzy of discounting that is Singles Day, China’s annual discount shopping festival. 但与中国两家最大的网购平台合作呢？可能会富有成效。于是在半年前，A2在阿里巴巴的天猫及其对手京东踊跃登场，这让公司能直接参与“光棍节”的降价狂欢，光棍节是中国一年一度的打折购物节。 The event began as a celebration of single people, held on a date that said it all: 11/11. But it has long since moved beyond the province of lonely shoppers and Chinese sellers. This year, a long list of foreign companies waited for the clock to hit midnight on Tuesday. | 
