Alibaba’s Economic Impact in U.S. States
In 2022, U.S. companies sold more than $66 billion worth of goods through Alibaba’s online marketplace. To further evaluate the economic impact of this sales figure, Alibaba partnered with research firm NDP Analytics to measure the economic effect these sales have on states across the country, either through direct sales or through ripple effects along the supply chain. Here are a few examples.
California: $10.7 Billion Added to the State’s GDP
Boscia, Fender, and Vegamour are among the dozens of Californian brands that sell globally on Alibaba. Selling to Chinese consumers on Alibaba has propelled Vegamour’s growth. The company has grown from a four-person team in 2016 to a hundred-plus people today, with over $150 million in annual sales. “The access to the Chinese market that Alibaba provides creates substantial employment opportunities within our U.S. company. You’re talking about the second-largest market economy in the world. It has a ripple effect: the greater the demand, the more jobs we can create to meet that demand,” says Dan Hodgdon, Vegamour’s Founder and Chairman.
Florida: $1.9 Billion Added to State’s GDP
Florida brands like ACUVUE, ClosetMaid, DS Laboratories, and Timberwolf Pet Food sell directly to over one billion Chinese consumers on Alibaba. DS Laboratories is hiring more employees at its headquarters in Miami to keep up with the growing demand in China for its hair & skin care products, reports CEO Fernando Tamez. The company partnered with Alibaba in December 2021, and sales exceeded expectations by 50% in the first year. Now, China is on track to become the brand’s second-largest market.
Texas: $5.5 Billion Added to the State’s GDP
Several Texas-based brands are growing their global sales on Alibaba, including Bella Belle, Dickie’s, Fossil Group, Kimberly-Clark and Timeless Skin Care. Based in Houston, Timeless started selling on Alibaba five years ago. “The success we’ve had partnering together with Alibaba has been phenomenal,” said CEO Veronica Pedersen. “Our partnership with Alibaba and the success we’ve seen in China has helped us hire more employees and open a new manufacturing facility (in Texas).”
