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The Upcoming Alibaba IPO: What’s in a Name or Number?

Network Business

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Creative Commons License (Flickr user Tripp) Since 1999, when Alibaba first started their marketplace of Alibaba.com, it has been clear that the Chinese company has a strong passion for the U.S.

With the recent news of Alibaba going public, some are surprised that they selected the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) over NASDAQ, that the ticker symbol will be “BABA” and in my view, puzzled as to why the date and price of the IPO will involve the numbers “8″ and “9″. None of these things come as a big surprise to me.

A few revealing points to consider on the Alibaba IPO:

  1. There was an active discussion about where Alibaba would go public. To some, the two finalists were New York and Hong Kong. Unless there were compelling business reasons to the contrary, the answer was always going to be New York because Jack’s vision has always been to be a global firm with a Chinese philosophy and an American base.
  2. The selection of the NYSE over the NASDAQ. For the same reasons that #1 is not a surprise: the NYSE is the largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalization and can also be classified as “more American.”
  3. The ticker symbol “BABA” also was predictable. The two Chinese translations for the word BA are “8” and “fortune”, “wealth” or “prosperity.” Additionally, 8s are very prominent in China—from flight numbers ending in 8, to the opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympics on 8/8/08. Telephone numbers with 8s are also valued, as is the 88th floor of buildings. This significantly stands out in pricing as many ending with 8 (1.88, 2.88, etc.).
  4. Consistent with #3, I anticipate the date and price of the IPO to involve the numbers “8” and “9” (the number 9 translates into “long lasting”). Also, for the exact opposite reasons, I do not expect to see the “unlucky numbers” 4, 5, or 6 associated with the date or offering price for the stock.
  5. The new “All-American” name of the Alibaba marketplace, 11 Main. We get that 11 Main is on Main Street, as in Main Street USA. So, the connotation is not a supercenter or a mall, but rather on Main Street. This is a clear indication that 11 Main will be anti-big box, anti-mass merchant, and a pro-neighborhood shop—a place not to buy everyday common products, but a venue to buy unique and exciting products. But what is so special about 11? This instantly makes me think of 11/11, which is Singles Day in China. Before November 11 was the big Chinese shopping day, it was the big relationship day in China. November 11 was traditionally the day that boy meets girl, who then lived happily ever after. The number 11 then, not from Chinese tradition, but from Singles Day, means a personal relationship. So, what the 11 in 11 Main translates to is a neighborhood place where there is a strong relationship between the merchant and customer. It is a very cool marketplace for the first wave to hit the American shore. But it is not BABA Main, I mean 88 Main, it is 11 Main.

And finally, it is fascinating to watch how Alibaba is changing the way supply chains are viewed in the U.S. In my new video, The Alibaba Effect, I discuss these points in more detail. What you will hear is critical and will help you plan your counteroffensive now and lead your company to success in omnichannel.

Jim Tompkins
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