Li Ning is focused on cleaning up its inventory and Gome on boosting its online presence.

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Yet its pain pales into comparison with that felt by the likes of online retailers like Suning, Gome and 360buy.com, which are struggling to clear inventory from their warehouses.

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Gome and Suning, the two biggest electronics chains, offer discounts online.

ECONOMIST: Online retailing in China: Clicks trump bricks | The