Getting your player ready...
BEIJING — Groupon may be the king of Internet coupons in the United States. But with its March launch in China, the Chicago company has stepped into a cutthroat market saturated with thousands of competitors — including a copycat that’s already using its English name.
Rechristened in China as , which evokes a famous saying to gather honored guests, Groupon is hoping to seize a foothold in a country that’s increasingly turning to the Web to buy and sell goods and services.
E-commerce in China grew 100 percent last year to $70 billion. Led by Internet giant Taobao, the industry is expected to grow another 60 percent to 80 percent this year, according to China Market Research Group. Los Angeles Times
