Small family business breaks international trade barriers with Alibaba.com

“Our success wasn’t instantaneous. For three years, we ran our family-owned business out of our home. In reflection, it was all worth it as we currently export to at least 30 countries thanks to Alibaba.com.”

- KAI XUEN TEE; Business Develop Manager, L.K TEE ENTERPRISE SDN BHD

Story

L.K. TEE started as a small family business, selling consumer goods from a family home in Malaysia. The company’s range of products includes baby care items, beauty and personal care products, food and beverage, and household goods.

Launched amid a financial crisis, the company didn’t have an easy start. Nevertheless, Kai Xuen Tee and his family persisted, and by the end of the financial crisis, the company began to grow domestically.

“We got off to a very small start, running our first three years of business out of our house. Later, we acquired shop blocks, a 15,000 square foot factory, and two warehouses. We now have a total of around 26,000 square feet space for our business.”

Having leveraged domestic trade growth, the company decided to take the next big step — creating a full-fledged international trade presence. And to help with that, they turned to Alibaba.com to gain the tools and platform that enabled them to export 250+ quality brands to over 30 countries worldwide.

Solution

Realizing how big the global market is, L.K. TEE decided to explore digital commerce. They discovered Alibaba.com as the perfect solution to expand their business and international footprint.

Alibaba.com provided L.K. TEE with a new route to the world market, giving them a platform that accommodates beginner B2B sellers. In 2018, they fully entered the B2B e-commerce industry, joining Alibaba.com as a seller in the FMCG category.

Without needing to set up a single factory in a foreign country or navigate complex company registration requirements, L.K. TEE was able to develop an international presence and expand its business.

Success

L.K.TEE has gone from an initial three orders to an impressive 6000+ orders and $10 million in annual sales. The company currently exports to 30 countries across six continents, with 90% of its business export leads coming from Alibaba.com.

Kai is particularly delighted with the credibility that Alibaba.com provides the company and how it helps them close more sales. Alibaba.com’s star rating system has served as a roadmap for their firm, letting them strategically evaluate and improve their operations and business model.

Alibaba.com is constantly improving its offerings, an essential value that L.K. TEE sees in the marketplace. Alibaba.com has also helped them penetrate new markets they did not think possible, enabling them to secure major buyers from clients of all sizes.

The global B2B e-commerce space can be challenging. But L.K.TEE, which survived a major financial crisis that could have crippled their business, has found ways around these challenges — wise spending, a sustainable supply path, and selling products that buyers want. They have been able to leverage Alibaba.com to bring all their strategies to life, and after four years on the platform, they’re not looking back.