by Vivian Yang

The latest Fortune China 500 List released on July 27^th revealed that JD.com remains to be the biggest “internet service and retail” company in China, ranked 13^th, up four places from last year.

The list ranks revenues of all publicly listed Chinese companies for the previous fiscal year. High-quality growth in the retail business and the rapid growth of the service business are believed to be the main contributors to JD’s strong position. In 2019, net income of JD.com reached RMB 576.9 billion, up 24.9% from last year, significantly higher than the 11% average growth rate of the 500 companies. Net income from JD’s service business increased by 44.1% year on year, indicating that technology and services have become the new growth engines for the company.

Technology remains at the core of JD’s growth. The company identifies itself as “a supply chain-based technology and service company”. Leveraging JD Retail, the biggest retail platform online or offline in China, and integrating advanced technologies such as big data, digital and AI solutions, the company is expanding its business into digital technology (known as JD Digits), logistics (JD Logistics), health (JD Health), insurance (Allianz JD), cloud and AI (JD Cloud & AI) and more. The common goal of these businesses is to reduce industry costs and increase efficiency for the whole society, so as to create better user experiences and greater social value.

JD Digits is an AI-driven tech company that covers AI technology, AI robot, smart city, digital marketing, and fintech. The company is serving 400 million individual users globally,  more than 700 financial institutions, over 30 cities, and serval public service institutions. Meanwhile, JD Logistics is focusing on building the Global Smart Supply Chain (GSSC) together with partners around the world.

In May 2020, JD announced its new mission which is “powered by technology for a more productive and sustainable world”. During this year’s pandemic period, JD stepped up to support traditional industries, SMEs, and brand partners by shortening settlement cycles and offering a large number of advance payments, and at the same time empowering their digital transformation with technology to overcome the difficult time.

By December 31^st,2019, JD had 220,000 employees, serving near 400 million global users together with 220,000 merchants, creating more than 15 million job opportunities for the upstream and downstream of the industry ecosystem.

(vivian.yang@jd.com)

by Vivian Yang

From August 1^st to 3^rd, the first “JD Online Motorcycle Show” was held in lieu of some offline motorcycle shows that are traditionally organized in Beijing during the mid-year due to the pandemic impact. The online motor show is co-hosted with a number of leading motorcycle brands such as Ducati, BMW, Benali, and Yamaha. Benali’s Leoncino800, the brand’s newest edition was released via livestream during the show.

A variety of vehicle models and a full range of categories were on display. Price-friendly models like TARO GP1 250R continue to enjoy wide attention. High-end products over RMB 100,000 yuan such as BMW HP4 RACE and BMW S1000RR greatly benefitted from the livestream platform.

Brands participated in JD’s 1st online motorcycle show

Besides motorcycle products, the show has also exhibited a variety of peripheral products for motorcycle riding, such as helmets, mobile phone brackets, and other cycling equipment and outfits, offering comprehensive protection and terrain types at different prices to satisfy the needs of consumers.

JD’s data shows that the post-90s generation is the rising group of buyers for motorcycle products. These young people would like to buy more personalized and fashionable cycling gear on JD, making online shopping and show-watching key ways for motorcycle brands to meet their customers.

JD has been playing an active role in supporting motorcycle brands’ digital transformation. Through organizing this first online motorcycle show, JD assists brands to launch new products and provides upgraded services such as exclusive sales in the post-COVID-19 period. It also creates a valuable opportunity to communicate and interact with a vast number of motor fans online.

The motorcycle market and culture are developing rapidly this year. During JD’s 618 Grand Promotion, sales of motorcycles on JD.com grew by 106% year on year. Sales of peripheral products continued to rise as well. Compared with the same period last year, motorcycle oil, helmets, and race refit supplies increased by 90%, 289%, and 91% respectively.

(vivian.yang@jd.com)

by Ling Cao

Mo Yan, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2012, joined JD’s livestream last Friday to discuss his new book A Late Bloomer. In only 30 minutes, over 10,000 of the books were sold. In about 10 minutes, the number of viewers surpassed 100,000. As of now, the book is ranked No.1 popular book of the week and most popular book of the past 24-hours on JD’s 1P book sales channel.

During the livestream, many audience joined activities to win prizes and left comments such as, “We are very much looking forward to Mo Yan’s new work.”

Jingze Li and Feiyu Bi, two famous writers have also joined Mo Yan for the livestream discussion. They gave advice to young audience, for instance, “The rich and vastness of life’s content is most important”; “Take the history as the present, and take the present as history, and understand the present by reviewing the past, then you will gain wisdom”; and “Become a late bloomer from tomorrow”.

Mo Yan defined a late bloomer as someone who “always seeks innovation and change, who do not want to rest on their laurels prematurely, and who wants to constantly surpass their old self.”

(ling.cao@jd.com)

by Ella Kidron

On August 3^rd, 3.1 Phillip Lim opened a first party flagship store on JD.com. With the store opening, the designer’s new Fall-Winter 2020 items along with beloved classics have been made available to JD’s over 380 million customers in China.

The brand joins nearly 200 brands who have opened on JD.com this year, choosing to work with the online retail giant because of its guarantee of authenticity and quality. Customers who purchase 3.1 Phillip Lim products will have access to JD’s Luxury Express delivery, and supreme service thanks to JD’s strong supply chain integration capabilities. In addition, all flagship store products authorized by the brand are personally selected by JD’s luxury buyers ensuring that each piece is in excellent shape and that it resonate with Chinese buyers.

3.1 Phillip Lim Alix collection bag available on JD

Founder Phillip Lim said, “We hope to take advantage of JD’s supply chain integration, logistics capacity support and big data advantages to share the unique Phillip Lim experience with more Chinese consumers, reaching them outside of brick-and-mortar stores.”

3.1 Phillip Lim was founded in 1998 by the Chinese American designer Philip Lim and his friend Wen Zhou(周绚文), who immigrated from Ningbo, China to New York in 1980. Both of whom were 31 years old at the time. The designers were pioneers in the accessible luxury space, with the goal of bringing a ‘cool, easy, chic’ wardrobe to the modern global citizen. 3.1 Philip Lim is known for its practical, modern and elegant designs, and its scope has continued to expand, from covering womenswear to clothing, bags, menswear and children’s wear. The New York-based designer who was born in Thailand to Chinese parents has credited his Chinese heritage for influencing his designs.

by Martin Li

A cosmetics merchant has been requested by a court in Beijing last week to pay JD.com RMB one million yuan as a default penalty.

In a regular sampling check by JD, the merchant was found to be selling counterfeit products of a renowned cosmetic brand.

JD informed the merchant that it had broken the law by selling counterfeits, but received no reply. Then JD removed counterfeit products and closed the online store

However, the merchant brought JD to court and asked for return of fees including those charged for its use of JD’s e-commerce platform.

This led to a countercharge by JD. The e-commerce giant asked for RMB 2 million yuan from the merchant as a default penalty for its selling of counterfeit products, which is against the agreement between the merchant and JD to only sell authentic products.

The court in Daxing District, Beijing, said JD proved the merchant’s counterfeit selling and all the measures it took complied with related rules. The case is the first default case involving an online counterfeit seller handled by a court in Beijing.

(bjlihao3@jd.com)

by Ling Cao

On the night of July 31^st, Mo Yan, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2012 and China’s first author to do so, joined JD Livestream with his new book, A Late Bloomer. This marks his first livestream. By partnering with Tencent Wesee and JD Book during the livestream, Mo was able to share the new book with audience together with Ning Wang, a host from Chinese National TV, and Jingze Li and Feiyu Bi, two famous writers.

It has been ten years since Mo published his previous book. A Late Bloomer is akin to Mo’s postscript after winning the Nobel Prize. He has written himself into the novel, and opens up to readers in a humorous way about the ins and outs of life after winning the Nobel Prize. There are 12 colorful stories in all; a mix of joyful and sorrowful, absurd and real.

During the livestream Mo spoke with an onsite audience about a variety of themes, and viewers had the chance to win his new book for free.

Mo Yan was asked during the livestream why he decided to write this book. “This book has spread the traditional plot of people going back to their hometown in countryside. I think it’s always the character who drives an author to write. Many characters in this book are my friends, even my best friends. Only by focusing on this kind of story can I fully express my emotions,” he shared.

Applying livestream promotions to the book industry is one of JD Book’s key directives for the second half of the year. JD Book has started a new channel for such initiatives, aiming to provide young customers with vivid and interesting new book launch events.

(ling.cao@jd.com)