“(Mandarin-only interface with no English toggle or guided buyer journey for international users)”
A Western buyer landing on 1688 faces a fully Chinese interface with no language selector, no getting-started guide, and no indication that international purchasing is even supported. The site self-selects out every non-Chinese-speaking merchant before they discover the price advantage.
“Add a lightweight English landing page: "Factory prices, direct from China. 1688 is where Alibaba suppliers buy their own stock — now open to international buyers. Start with our guided sourcing flow."”
An English entry point does not require translating the entire marketplace — it requires one page that explains the value proposition and routes international buyers into a supported purchasing path, capturing demand that currently leaks to marked-up alternatives.