Ptarmigan Bell Pottinger lands Alibaba.com's UK PR launch

Following a three way competitive pitch, Ptarmigan Bell Pottinger, the Leeds-based arm of the UK’s number one communications consultancy, the Bell Pottinger Group, has been selected to manage an integrated national and regional PR launch for the world’s biggest online B2B marketplace, Alibaba.com.

The campaign, which kicks off this month, blends traditional PR with digital and social media elements to integrate closely with Alibaba.com’s multi-million pound print, above the line and direct activity.

Alibaba.com is the largest online meeting place for buyers and suppliers in the world, connecting more than 9m companies across 240 countries and regions worldwide.

The campaign will raise Alibaba.com’s brand awareness amongst entrepreneurs and small to medium sized businesses by highlighting opportunities to generate new revenues trading on the world stage.

“We’re delighted to be working with Ptarmigan Bell Pottinger. We see significant opportunity in the UK market because of the vibrant community of small and medium businesses with such a strong potential for growth. Ptarmigan’s expertise across traditional and social media combined with, International and regional experience will help us engage that community to drive economic growth in the region,” comments Maggie Choo, managing director EMEA, Alibaba.com.

“There’s a commonly held misconception amongst the UK’s small businesses that you need bucket loads of cash and a wealth of experience to trade effectively with partners around the world. Alibaba.com has changed all of that. It’s our job to deliver that message to SMEs up and down the country,” comments Paul Rogers, senior consultant, Ptarmigan Bell Pottinger. “At a time when businesses everywhere are feeling the economic strain many aren’t aware of how quickly and easily they can increase revenues by collaborating with, selling to, or sourcing from international partners.

“We’ll be championing some of the UK’s success stories and addressing perceived challenges to trading online. A focus of the campaign will be a social media driven national trading challenge that will show it’s possible to get a global startup business off the ground with relatively little fuss,” adds Rogers.

Founded in China in 1999, Alibaba.com listed on the HKSE in 2006 in the second largest Internet IPO ever and has grown into the premier online marketplace for small and medium-size companies around the world to identify potential trading partners and interact with each other to conduct business online.

The growth of Alibaba.com in Europe signifies the appetite for global trade amongst the world’s community of small businesses. More than 420,000 UK businesses are already trading across the Alibaba.com platform.

Media contacts

Paul Rogers, Kelly Gough or Rob Stebbings, Ptarmigan Bell Pottinger on Tel: 0113 237 2821