E-Commerce Giant JD.com Enters Parcel Delivery Business

Posted on by Rachel Liu

JD.com, China’s largest retailer, is opening its leading logistics network up to consumers to send parcels around the country, marking the first entry by an e-commerce company into the parcel delivery business.

JD’s new parcel delivery service enables users of the company’s app in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou to send items intracity and throughout mainland China, using the same fast and reliable delivery service they get when making purchases. The company, which will expand the program to include high value items like luxury products and high-end consumer electronics, as well as more diverse options based on delivery timing, aims to eventually make residential and business deliveries for shippers from anywhere to anywhere within mainland China in the future.

JD is the only large-scale e-commerce company in the world to operate a nationwide in-house logistics network, down to the last mile. The network, powered by the company’s proprietary supply chain management technology, is able to deliver over 90% of orders same- or next-day, and reaches 99% of China’s population.

The new delivery service includes a range of competitively priced options, including same-day delivery between different cities; same-day intracity delivery; standard next-day or two-day delivery and next-day delivery between cities. All packages are dispatched using JD’s network of delivery staff and make full use of JD’s logistics advantages. Depending on the delivery option chosen, packages may be sent by high-speed rail or air. Individual shippers can use the same JD app they use for shopping to schedule a pickup by one of JD’s full-time logistics staff, and have a parcel delivered thousands of miles away at the speed they choose. They will even be able to select JD’s luxury ‘white glove’ delivery service if they want to make the delivery extra special.

“We are very excited to launch our new delivery service,” said Zhenhui Wang, CEO of JD Logistics. “This marks the next step in leveraging the nationwide logistics network that JD has built over the past decade, to expand the range of services available to our users. JD.com is known throughout China for the fastest and most reliable delivery, and we are confident that users will appreciate the convenience of this new service.”

The program has already begun user trials with multiple ways for customers to request pickups. In addition to the JD.com app, shippers can request pickups on a JD Delivery mini program in WeChat, China’s largest social network operated by JD’s partner Tencent, and a JD “Delivery Team” WeChat account.

The move is the latest step in JD’s strategy to open its technology and infrastructure up to other shippers, businesses and industries—something the company calls “Retail as a Service,” or RaaS. As a part of that, JD hopes to revolutionize global commerce by connecting the world with its Global Smart Supply Chain. Based on the company’s data, the new service will be most in demand by urban professionals who need fast and reliable delivery, including people in the high tech, business and communications fields. In a recent survey, 74% of respondents expressed a desire for high-quality, same-day, intracity delivery service.

JD unveiled the parcel delivery service at its 2018 Global Smart Supply Chain Summit held in Beijing on October 18. Other groundbreaking initiatives announced at the Summit – part of JD’s Global Smart Supply Chain Network Strategy – included JD’s smart warehouse management system initiative, an expansion of the company’s green initiatives, and the formation of a new energy union with 20 industry partners.

Follow JD.com on Twitter to stay up to date on all JD news.

Superdry’s Flagship Store Launches on JD.com

Posted on by Rachel Liu

Iconic British brand Superdry is expanding its presence in China with the opening of an official flagship store on JD.com, China’s largest retailer.

Already enjoying wide popularity in China and among JD’s quality-conscious customers, Superdry is now offering a wide range of products on JD.com, including apparel, accessories and footwear, reaching over 300 million consumers. To kick off the new Autumn-Winter season, Superdry has launched a brand campaign called #Super Zao# to celebrate the power of millennials and encourage young people to express their individuality without restrictions. A special micro-film for the #Super Zao# campaign featuring Chinese actor and singer Timmy Xu, Superdry’s brand ambassador, has already gone viral. JD and Superdry have also joined forces to launch a JD Super Fans Day which offers a highly unique brand experience for Chinese fans on JD.com through a combination of online and offline activities.

“JD.com is one of the world’s most innovative retailers, providing a customizable, best-in-class experience that is shaping the future of shopping. We’re excited to be working with them to create a unique, interactive experience for shoppers to discover the exciting world of our brand,” said Eric Hu, General Manager of Superdry China.

“Fusing iconic vintage Americana and high-impact Asian graphic imagery with a British twist, Superdry is a global digital brand designed for attitude not age. Our products, like our customers, are not one-dimensional. Each piece allows you to wear it in your own way and tell your own story.”

“We are honored to welcome the globally recognized Superdry brand to JD.com,” said Victor Hu, President of JD Fashion and Lifestyle. “Superdry is devoted to creating amazing clothes for people through its obsession with design, quality, and fit, and its commitment to relentless innovation. These values resonate powerfully with Chinese consumers, especially young JD customers, and we’re thrilled that the brand is now just a few clicks away from hundreds of millions of people in China.”

With Superdry as the latest international fashion brand to join JD.com, the two sides are working to bring a superior shopping experience to Chinese consumers, especially millennials, by leveraging their joint resources and marketing initiatives. Sportswear, streetwear and menswear fashion brands have proven enormously popular on JD.com, with international brands including Boy London and Harley-Davidson joining JD this month. JD launched its menswear festival on September 25, during which sales doubled from the same day last year, with Calvin Klein, HAZZYS, Lacoste, Levi’s, and Tommy Hilfiger performing particularly well. On September 11, JD kicked off a Super Category Day for sports products that showcased the surging interest among Chinese consumers for athletic goods. Sales for the category that day exceeded 10 million Chinese yuan in the first 2.5 minutes of the promotion. Sales for the category over the entire day increased 600% as compared with a similar promotion last September.

JD.com Collects Old Clothes From All Over China to Raise Environmental Awareness

Posted on by Hui Zhang

JD.com, China’s largest retailer, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and The China Children and Teenagers’ Fund (CCTF) are partnering to launch a second annual Green Planet-Sustainable Week, raising awareness about sustainable consumption in the world’s most populous nation.

The seven-day program, which kicks off Oct. 10, will reinforce JD’s commitment to help the retail industry develop more sustainably, reducing the impact of China’s booming consumption on the environment.

For the event, JD (also known as Jingdong) will promote pollution reduction through the use of reusable shopping bags, created from the fabric of discarded apparel in response to a call from WWF to reduce pollution caused by plastics. The bags, which are also regularly used in JD operations, will be distributed free during the event and include RFID Chips that can be scanned as coupons in offline stores through JD’s partners.

 

JD’s Green Planet-Sustainable Week also kicks off a new clothing drive for the company’s recycling program. Taking advantage of its nationwide in-house logistics network, which covers 99% of China’s population, JD will collect both used and unused clothing from customers either to be sent to recycling facilities or distributed to those in need. Proceeds will be donated to lower-income families, people with disabilities and charity groups. Last year, a similar drive led to the collection of nearly 400,000 items, or 20 tons, of clothing, from 150 million people in four cities. This year’s program will expand to cover 47 cities.

 

Customers will be able to trade in major appliances for recycling as well, by third-party companies through JD’s platform. The appliances will be disassembled, after which parts will be used for repairs, helping to reduce the waste generated by household appliances as well as pollution created by their production. Working with JD’s charity affiliate, JD Foundation, the participating companies will donate a portion of any proceeds to support charitable activities on behalf of customers, while customers are eligible for payment for their used devices, plus coupons from JD in exchange for the trade-ins.

Meanwhile, all logistics information for tracing donations and trade-ins are available through JD.com’s proprietary supply chain management technology.

“The spectacular rise of Chinese consumption has been a major force behind the country’s incredible economic story but has also contributed to unprecedented environmental challenges,” said Zhonghao Jin, Head of Market Practice, WWF China.

“By actively encouraging its over 300 million customers to recycle and reduce waste, JD.com is admirably leading the transition towards a sustainable future for China and the world. WWF is honored to partner with them. I believe this week’s activities will help raise consumer awareness and accelerate the mainstreaming of sustainable consumption.”

“As the largest retailer both online and offline in China, JD.com holds a special responsibility to use our influence and infrastructure to mitigate the environmental impact of consumption,” said Libo Ma, head of the CSR department at JD.com, who is also general secretary of the company’s charity affiliate, JD Foundation. Beyond Green Planet-Sustainable Week, the company is in the midst of an effort to convert its entire vehicle fleet to new energy vehicles, and other efforts to reduce emissions, and is developing biodegradable packaging to further reduce waste in the supply chain. “Together with the WWF and CCTF, we are excited to expand our environmental protection efforts, and to leverage our pooled resources to help benefit some of the most underprivileged groups in society.”

Canali and JD.com Bring Premium Italian Tailoring to Chinese Customers

Posted on by Ling Cao

Celebrated Italian fashion house Canali is opening an official online store on JD.com, bringing the understated sophistication of its custom suits and menswear to China’s most discerning consumers via JD’s white glove delivery service, JD Luxury Express.

Furthering JD’s vision of boundaryless retail, in which consumers can buy whatever they want, whenever and wherever they want it, shoppers will be able to peruse different suit styles and materials from Canali’s new Fall/Winter 2018 collection. They can purchase a voucher for their preferred type of suit, then visit a brick and mortar store to have their measurements taken, enjoying famous Italian-style premium service and receiving their new custom made suit within six to eight weeks.

Celebrated Italian fashion house Canali is opening an official online store on JD.com,

The move represents an expansion of JD and Canali’s partnership, which launched earlier this year when the brand debuted on JD’s dedicated luxury platform, TOPLIFE. All Canali items on both JD’s platform and TOPLIFE are eligible for JD Luxury Express, JD’s specialized delivery service for luxury goods. Customers will receive their items hand delivered by a white-gloved, specially trained courier driving an electric vehicle.

“China is one of the most important markets for Canali and the luxury garment industry as a whole,” said Paolo Canali, Commercial Director of Canali Group.

“We are excited to continue our celebration of the Italian sartorial tradition online by joining forces with JD. Together, we can provide our consumers with more opportunities to enjoy exclusive ‘Made in Italy’ items along with a truly premium customer experience.”

“As Chinese consumers become more reliant on e-commerce in the age of Boundaryless Retail, shoppers are increasingly turning to JD to provide a premium retail experience for luxury purchases,” said Kevin Jiang, Vice President of JD.com, overseeing the company’s luxury department. “Our newest luxury brand partnership with legendary Italian fashion house Canali brings JD customers convenient access to one of the world’s top collections of high-quality bespoke menswear, combined with the benefit of JD’s world-class logistics and service.”

Read more: https://jdcorporateblog.com/ermenegildo-zegna-joins-forces-with-jd-coms-toplife/

Ermenegildo Zegna joins forces with JD.com’s TOPLIFE

Posted on by Ling Cao

JD.com has partnered with Ermenegildo Zegna to launch a virtual pop-up store on JD’s dedicated luxury platform TOPLIFE, bringing the Italian menswear brand’s new XXX Collection to China’s growing ranks of luxury consumers.

The collaboration marks a further step for Zegna’s China e-commerce presence. As part of the partnership, the elite fashion house has brought an exclusive product line to TOPLIFE, JD’s platform for the latest collections from the world’s top fashion houses.

“Zegna is a wonderful addition to TOPLIFE. Our customers want the latest and greatest fashion from around the world, and will love the brand’s bold, expressive and individualistic style,” said Xia Ding, President of JD International Fashion. “We’re absolutely thrilled to be connecting Chinese consumers to one of Europe’s most respected luxury brands.”

Artistic Director Alessandro Sartori said, “In essence, the XXX Collection aspires to match the identity of society’s boldest and most visionary members. It is designed for a new tribe of consumers who travel freely across time zones, genres and styles. TOPLIFE has served as a highly effective platform for the world’s top brands to build extraordinary flagship stores online.”

Since its launch just under a year ago, JD’s TOPLIFE has rapidly solidified its position as the leading destination for high-end global brands eager to tap into China’s booming luxury lifestyle market. The platform delivers a state-of-the art shopping experience for luxury consumers through its advanced technologies and unrivaled delivery speeds, as well as JD Luxury Express, the company’s signature white glove delivery service that brings premium and specialty products right to Chinese consumers’ doorsteps via a well-dressed courier in an electric car.

Zegna’s partnership with JD expands the strong roster of leading fashion brands that have worked closely with TOPLIFE, such as Christian Louboutin and Fendi, both of which launched digital pop-ups on the platform this year. Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Oscar de la Renta and Kiton are also among the brands that have joined the platform.

Follow: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jd.com

JD.com Officially Launches its E-commerce Platform in Thailand

Posted on by Yuchuan Wang

Together with Central Group, the leading Thai retail conglomerate, JD.com is furthering its expansion in Southeast Asia with the launch of its “JD CENTRAL” e-commerce platform. When the new online platform officially debuts on September 28, it will further extend JD’s footprint in the region, which already includes an established e-commerce platform in Indonesia as well as a strategic investment in Tiki, Vietnam’s leading B2C e-commerce business.

Previously opened for test operations on June 18, JD’s anniversary, JD CENTRAL offers both direct sales and marketplace models. Sales since then have exceeded expectations. Categories available on the site include everything from electronics to digital products, fashion, home appliances, books and music to fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) such as cosmetics, toiletries, beverages, processed foods, and many more. So far, some 80% of shoppers have accessed the platform via cell phones, with FMCG, mobile devices and fashion among the top-selling categories. Products from Chinese companies have proved popular, with leading brands including Xiaomi, Huawei, OnePlus, and Lenovo.

Using its own cutting-edge technology, JD has built the world’s most advanced retail operation and now brings its leading logistics expertise and unrivaled delivery speed to Thai consumers. The company’s Warehouse Management System powers JD CENTRAL’s warehouses and in the Thai capital Bangkok, the new e-commerce business will soon offer same-day delivery. Through its partnership with local delivery service providers, JD CENTRAL will also offer nationwide coverage.

“With the launch of JD CENTRAL, we are delighted to be taking another exciting step forward in JD’s ongoing journey to serve customers throughout Southeast Asia,” said Vincent Yang, JD CENTRAL CEO. “Our partnership with Central Group – a one-of-a-kind union between China’s biggest retailer and Thailand’s strongest retail player – will provide Thai customers with a truly world-class e-commerce experience and guarantee 100% product authenticity. This move will transform the local market and unlock the boundless consumer potential of the nation’s large population, with the ultimate goal of becoming the most trusted brand in Thailand.”

JD CENTRAL is working closely with leading brands to help them reach Thai consumers. For example, leading Chinese apparel online retailer Vipshop has already launched on the new platform.

JD.com Joins Forces with Ruyi to Sponsor BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund

Posted on by Rachel Liu

Chinese E-commerce giant JD.com’s recently announced partnership with textile and fashion conglomerate Ruyi is off to an exciting start, as the two leading Chinese brands have announced a joint sponsorship of the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund.

The Designer Menswear Fund was launched by the British Fashion Council (BFC) and leading men’s magazine British GQ in 2013 to support talented British-based menswear designers with commercial growth in the transition from an emerging creative business to a global fashion brand.

As part of the sponsorship arrangement, representatives from JD and Ruyi will join a panel of industry experts to grant the winning designer financial support of £150,000 and access to £50,000 worth of high-level business mentoring, consultation and professional services. Participating designers will also benefit from the full force of JD.com and Ruyi’s resources in accessing China’s rapidly growing men’s fashion market.

“We are delighted to re-instate the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund thanks to JD.com Inc. and Ruyi who have committed to two years of support for our brilliant emerging menswear designers. It is also fantastic to have the support of such a great ambassador in David Beckham who has already become a huge force within the BFC. The last British designer to win the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund was Craig Green, a talent and business that has gone from strength to strength”, said Dylan Jones, BFC Menswear Chairman and Editor of British GQ.

David Beckham, BFC Ambassadorial President said: “Promoting the British Fashion industry in China is an important part of my new role with The British Fashion Council. It is great to be able to celebrate this new funding for emerging British menswear talent today. The menswear category is so energised at the moment and I can’t wait to see and meet the talent that will be involved – it’s very exciting.”

JD and Ruyi’s sponsorship of the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund follows JD’s partnership with the BFC-Vogue Fashion Fund, which celebrated its second anniversary earlier this year. More and more international fashion brands are looking to expand their presence in the Chinese market as a result of the country’s rapid growth in the sector. Globally, the share of personal luxury goods purchased by Chinese nationals reached 32% in 2017.

Xia Ding, President JD International Fashion commented: “Our joint sponsorship of the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund with Ruyi is a great example of how JD is working with partners both inside and out of China to build new links in the global fashion industry. The UK is now increasingly recognized by Chinese people as a global fashion center and JD is proud to serve as the most convenient channel for British designers to reach China’s many discerning fashion consumers.”

“Ruyi is pleased to see our partnership with JD.com blossom into practical action with this move to help British designers expand into the Chinese market,” said Francis Srun, Executive President of Ruyi International Group. “Aside from a range of joint initiatives in offline retail and e-commerce, Ruyi’s extensive collection of global brands are already working closely with JD and we are confident that this network will give a strong boost to designers supported by the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund.”

JD and Ruyi’s sponsorship of the fund was announced this week at a cocktail event in Shanghai attended by BFC Ambassadorial President David Beckham. Previous winners of the BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund include UK-based designers Christopher Shannon, E. Tautz and Craig Green.

Read more: https://jdcorporateblog.com/jd-ramps-up-expansion-of-7fresh-stores-across-china/

JD Ramps Up Expansion of 7FRESH Stores Across China

Posted on by Yuchuan Wang

Consumers in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chengdu will soon be able to experience 7FRESH, JD.com’s premium offline stores focused on fresh food.

JD has signed agreements with 16 real estate companies including China Poly Group, Joy City, Vanke, Yuexiu Property and Greenland Holdings, to expand the premium supermarket chain. Launched earlier this year, the stores have proven a hit with customers, who are drawn by the unique experience of offline shopping complete with the convenience and service-quality that have made JD.com China’s largest and most trusted retailer.

7FRESH is differentiated by its mix of products, with fresh produce making up more than 70% of offerings. Twenty percent of products are directly sourced from overseas suppliers who have been carefully vetted by JD, an important factor for Chinese shoppers, who are increasingly focused on food safety and sourcing. All leafy green produce is restocked within 24 hours, and lots of selected produce can be cooked on site.

“7FRESH redefines the offline retail experience by combining the best parts of fresh grocery markets and top-quality restaurants with cutting edge e-commerce technology,” said Xiaosong Wang, CEO of 7FRESH. “With the expansion of 7FRESH into more cities across China, we are bringing ‘Boundaryless Retail’ to even more shoppers for an incredibly convenient and enjoyable way to buy fresher, safer and more reliable products.”

JD’s own advanced technologies are central to the rollout of the 7FRESH brand. Through the building of customer profiles, JD can determine optimum store locations and layouts. Data analysis also helps improve inventory management by selecting the most appropriate amounts and types of SKUs from JD’s vast selection of goods, according to each store’s unique needs. Meanwhile, ‘Magic Mirrors’ automatically provide product information on a screen when they sense that customers have picked up fresh produce. And JD’s powerful logistics capabilities enable 30-minute delivery from the stores for online shoppers.