Standing out from the flock a mong shoppers

Year of the Ram ushers in changes and challenges for online, offline retailers

With China predicted to become the world's largest retail market within the next five years and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd frequently in the news, global interest in the nation's retail industry has never been greater. But amid a slowdown in the Chinese economy, the sector is entering a new phase with different retailers facing important challenges.

In the past year, Alibaba made headlines with its high-profile initial public offering in the United States, record-breaking sales for the Nov 11 Singles' Day and exponential growth in mobile spending.