YesAsia
Encyclopedia
YesAsia is an online retail company founded in 1998 that sells Asian entertainment products worldwide. After initially focusing on CD and video retailing, it has expanded into other entertainment and hobby products such as manga
, video games and consoles
, electronics
and toy
s.
Its website includes Asian entertainment news, music and film reviews, and pop charts from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Japan.
Since 2006, it has continually been listed in Internet Retailer's Top 500 e-commerce websites.
. The company later moved its headquarters and fulfillment center to Hong Kong
to better facilitate logistics handling of the Asian entertainment products carried by the website. It has regional offices in Tokyo
and Seoul
.
In 2001, YesAsia formed a strategic alliance with EMI
to sell the latter's Asian media products in North America. It also has partnerships with Sony Music Entertainment
, Universal Music
and Warner Music
. In the same year, it acquired Angel Pop, an online competitor that sold Korean products.
In 2003, it gained market share in Hong Kong faster than its internet rivals such as Amazon
when online shopping grew in popularity during the SARS outbreak. Because of its specialized niche in entertainment products, YesAsia managed to grow in the U.S. market even when other Asian online retailers crashed after the dot-com meltdown. In 2004 it had about $13 million in U.S. online sales, which was 50% higher than its sales in 2003.
In 2006, it expanded into Asian fashion apparel products sourced from Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong by opening fashion e-commerce retail website, YesStyle
. The new division achieved 800,000 visits and sales of $512,000 in its first six months. In 2009 the first YesStyle Store was opened in Stonestown Galleria
in San Francisco.
YesAsia was one of Internet Retailer's Top 50 "Best of the Web" retail sites for 2007. The reviewer found that YesAsia was set apart by "its ability to create a sense of Asian community not only in its catalog of products but in its look and feel."
In 2010, YesAsia formed an official partnership with the Korean entertainment news website Allkpop
.
it is listed as number 295 in Internet Retailer's Top 500 B2C websites, with annual online sales of $34,933,000, and growth in 2010 of 26.9%.
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
, video games and consoles
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
, electronics
Consumer electronics
Consumer electronics are electronic equipment intended for everyday use, most often in entertainment, communications and office productivity. Radio broadcasting in the early 20th century brought the first major consumer product, the broadcast receiver...
and toy
Toy
A toy is any object that can be used for play. Toys are associated commonly with children and pets. Playing with toys is often thought to be an enjoyable means of training the young for life in human society. Different materials are used to make toys enjoyable and cuddly to both young and old...
s.
Its website includes Asian entertainment news, music and film reviews, and pop charts from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Japan.
Since 2006, it has continually been listed in Internet Retailer's Top 500 e-commerce websites.
History
YesAsia was founded in 1998 as AsiaCD by Joshua K. Lau and Priscilla Chu in San Bruno, CaliforniaSan Bruno, California
San Bruno is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. The population was 41,114 at the 2010 census.The city is adjacent to San Francisco International Airport and Golden Gate National Cemetery.-Geography:San Bruno is located at...
. The company later moved its headquarters and fulfillment center to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
to better facilitate logistics handling of the Asian entertainment products carried by the website. It has regional offices in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
.
In 2001, YesAsia formed a strategic alliance with EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
to sell the latter's Asian media products in North America. It also has partnerships with Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
, Universal Music
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
and Warner Music
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
. In the same year, it acquired Angel Pop, an online competitor that sold Korean products.
In 2003, it gained market share in Hong Kong faster than its internet rivals such as Amazon
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
when online shopping grew in popularity during the SARS outbreak. Because of its specialized niche in entertainment products, YesAsia managed to grow in the U.S. market even when other Asian online retailers crashed after the dot-com meltdown. In 2004 it had about $13 million in U.S. online sales, which was 50% higher than its sales in 2003.
In 2006, it expanded into Asian fashion apparel products sourced from Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong by opening fashion e-commerce retail website, YesStyle
YesStyle
YesStyle, established in 2006, is an online retailer of Asian men's and women's apparel, jewelry, accessories, bags, beauty, and other fashion products targeting men and women ages 18 to 35. One year after its establishment, it has added a children and babies section in its product offerings...
. The new division achieved 800,000 visits and sales of $512,000 in its first six months. In 2009 the first YesStyle Store was opened in Stonestown Galleria
Stonestown Galleria
Stonestown Galleria is a shopping mall in San Francisco, California, anchored by Nordstrom, Macy's, and Ode Books, formerly Borders Books & Music...
in San Francisco.
YesAsia was one of Internet Retailer's Top 50 "Best of the Web" retail sites for 2007. The reviewer found that YesAsia was set apart by "its ability to create a sense of Asian community not only in its catalog of products but in its look and feel."
In 2010, YesAsia formed an official partnership with the Korean entertainment news website Allkpop
Allkpop
Allkpop is a breaking K-Pop celebrity gossip and news site launched on October 30, 2007 and based out of Edgewater, NJ...
.
it is listed as number 295 in Internet Retailer's Top 500 B2C websites, with annual online sales of $34,933,000, and growth in 2010 of 26.9%.