Costco seeks China path that avoids Wal-Mart's potholes
October 16, 2014 at 17:34 PM EDT
CHICAGO (Reuters) - By selling directly to Chinese consumers on Alibaba's platform, a move announced Tuesday, Costco Wholesale Corp. aims to employ local knowledge and a low-cost structure to avoid missteps that caused even the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. , to stumble.