Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba crushed their own sales record for online sales yesterday, netting more than $14 billion on Singles Day (11/11).
In comparison, the entire U.S. Cyber Monday market netted companies just $1.35 billion in 2014, according to ComScore.
The company netted $3.9 billion sales in the first hour, and launched the e-commerce day with a three and a half hour variety show featuring cameos by Daniel Craig (as James Bond) and Kevin Spacey (as Frank Underwood).
More than 10,000 brands participated in Singles Day, including Apple, Nike, Proctor & Gamble, and Macy’s.
Singles Day hasn’t always been about e-commerce. In 2009, Alibaba launched its first campaign to attract shoppers, with only 27 vendors. Last year, the company sold $9 billion worth of products and goods, setting a single-day (no pun intended) record for e-commerce. That record held until yesterday, when shoppers across China purchased everything from electric razors to new refrigerators online through the e-commerce giant.
