[/floatr]Independent: Rakuten brings online shopping mall to the UK
The man billed as Japan's answer to Richard Branson, who built the country's biggest e-commerce company, is seeking to repeat the trick in the UK when he launches his online shopping mall concept here next year...Rakuten is a phenomenon in Japan where it has annual sales of more than 800bn yen. Its online site acts as a shop window for more than 20,000 Japanese retailers, selling everything from eggs to fine wines...Mr Mikitani, a former banker who established Rakuten in 1997 with four friends, said: "Our intention is to launch in the UK by next year." He plans to start by offering a selection of cult Japanese products, including fashion, cartoons and food. "Then we will add more local products," he said...more...
