SHANGHAI -- As China tries to ramp up domestic consumption amid an economic downturn the country's e-commerce operators are working more closely with consumer goods manufacturers, aiming to make it easier for shoppers to have a say in the development of the products they buy.
Pinduoduo recently made a maiden investment in a home-appliance retailer in a move the Chinese e-commerce player says will deepen its collaboration with manufacturers to better serve customers' needs, while rivals including Alibaba Group Holding-backed Taobao and JD.com have launched mobile apps aimed at similar initiatives.
