Alibaba’s Xianyu supports users’ extracurricular activities

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Need a dog walker? Looking for a part-time job? For enterprising netizens in China, Alibaba Group Xianyu flea market is the place to go.

The platform not only offers a wide selection of second-hand goods, but also makes it easier for buyers to turn their hobbies into a source of income.

The gig economy platform, which launched earlier this month, lets users offer services across eight categories and hundreds of subcategories, covering everything from pet massages to language tutoring.

The feature opens up new opportunities in China’s second-hand e-commerce market, which has become a draw for many young, budget-conscious consumers.

People under the age of 30 make up almost half of the sector’s 178 million monthly active users, according to data analysis by QuestMobile.

“Skill-based trading has great potential to inspire young users to explore and create their own opportunities on the Xianyu platform,” said Xianyu CEO Ding Jian.

Xianyu, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary^t anniversary, is China’s largest consumer community and marketplace for second-hand goods, according to market research firm Analysys.

The average gross merchandise value on the platform is over RMB 1 billion (USD 138 million) per day, in addition to over 4 million product listings per day. Last year, over 100 million people advertised items for sale.

Young and enterprising

Users under 30 are taking advantage of Xianyu’s massive reach to grow their businesses and find part-time work.

Although approximately 43% of people using the platform were born after 1995, users from this group complete more than 60% of all service orders.

Users can describe their work in detail and upload their resume using Xianyu’s new CV feature to highlight their work experience and skills.

“Education and training, pet services and online consultations are particularly popular among young people,” said Lei Jing, director of the Xianyu Ecosystem Development Center.

Potential customers can search service listings and review seller resumes before placing an order and making payment, just like when purchasing physical products on the platform.

More than a shopping site

Over the past decade, Xianyu has developed into a community in its own right, both online and offline.

The platform has become a space where internet users can discuss topics related to common interests, providing a forum for hobbyists and collectors to exchange ideas and collaborate.

“Xianyu can do more than just help users save money,” Ding noted, pointing out how the platform can also help improve the quality of life of its users.

This scope extends into the real world.

Last year, Xianyu cut the ribbon on two brick-and-mortar stores in Hangzhou and Shanghai, where people can ship goods and the platform sorts them and sets prices.

The diverse mix of skills needed to succeed on Xianyu is also gaining recognition offline. Many sellers on the platform add to their resumes their experience writing compelling product descriptions, conducting price negotiations, and more on the platform.

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