Alibaba.com B2B Pulse: December 19th, 2023

When we started the Alibaba.com B2B Pulse newsletter on LinkedIn this time last week, we asked, somewhat facetiously, if our audience was ready for yet another newsletter.

Little did we know, you were.

To be more precise, over 23,000 of you and counting chose to hit the "subscribe" button. You come from every corner of the world, spanning a wide range of industries such as IT, software development, and financial services. You work at companies of all sizes from the biggest firms in the world to startups founded just days ago. And for the 4.2% of you who call yourselves Founder or CEOs, we admire your strength and courage.

It's a light news week, but we have you covered. Read more below ??

Free Weights = Free Profits

The fitness kicks are about to take off in early 2024, with free weights in particular showing no signs of slowing growth. In fact, the free weight market is projected to have a steady CAGR of over 3% in 2024. With the rising popularity of fitness and the increasing demand for high-quality free weights among consumers, now is the time to begin formulating your sourcing strategy. This article provides a guide for buyers, emphasizing the importance of durability, versatility, and safety when selecting elite free weights. It also highlights the key factors to consider, such as weight range, material, and grip style.

Freight Market Update

This week, the National Retail Federation reported a strong peak season through October, with volumes 9% higher than pre-pandemic levels, followed by a slight dip in November. These results exceeded expectations, suggesting a resilient consumer market that will continue to strengthen freight demand. Retailers should also be aware that with Lunar New Year approaching in early February, carriers are unlikely to decrease rates, and in fact should expected peak season surcharges as businesses look to fulfill inventories before then. For logistics solutions with competitive pricing, full visibility, and easily-accessible customer support, check out the Alibaba.com Logistics Marketplace , and click here for the full report.

There's Still Time to Explore Our Sourcing Festivals

Many of you have already placed orders to fulfill inventory for the end of January and early February, but if you're like us (and many of your family and friends this week), you too are scrambling at the last second to find the right deal. If you are still on the hunt for products for Valentine's Day and the Big Game, Alibaba.com has you covered.

From now until the end of the month, there's still time to source trending products on Alibaba.com with low minimum order quantities and unbeatable prices. Take advantage of our latest offers including beauty accessories such as nail strips and eyelash extensions starting at only $2.40 per unit, custom American football jerseys starting at just $8.90 per unit, and much more. So before you take a well-deserved break, browse all the deals on our dedicated sourcing festival pages for Valentine's Day and the Big Game and make sure you can maximize your profits early in the new year.