What: JD.com opens a department store format to make the most of its omnichannel capabilities

Why it is important: Along with Amazon, e-commerce giants need to have a physical interface to increase their interactions with their customers and make their ecosystem sensible.

JD.com, which presents itself as the “leading one-stop e-commerce platform and a technology enabler for retailers and brands”, has announced the launch of JD Mall, a brick & mortar department store to open in X’ian at the end of September 2021.

The store will span across 42,000 sqm and five floors, making the most of its omnichannel capabilities to sell 150+ brands. Customers will have the possibility to place orders through Wechat by scanning the products QR codes, and get their products delivered at home. It will also propose fully integrated services in areas such as home design (in the same spirit than what El Corte Inglés does) allowing customers to co-design their interiors and then buy the related products, delivered in 2 hours and installed in 24 hours. It will also feature immersive retail spaces, with 11 “experience zones” and 29 “product interaction zones” (beauty salon, audio experience, drone testing…).

This store format comes as a complement to the existing brick & mortar formats in JD.com’s offer, along with JD home appliance stores, JD computer and digital stores and retail experience shops.

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