The Chinese technology and service provider and largest overall retailer JD.com has made an “unparalleled” investment in its 2023 mid-year shopping festival. Also known as Jingdong, JD.com launched this year’s 618 Grand Promotion on May 31.

During a Beijing press conference on May 22, JD Retail CEO Lijun Xin called the event “the industry’s most extensive.” This year’s 618 Grand Promotion is China’s first nationwide shopping festival since the Covid-19 pandemic and marks JD.com’s 20th birthday.

Founded two decades ago by Richard Liu, JD.com (Jingdong) has become China’s largest online and overall retailer.

JD.com Welcomes a Record Number of Merchants and Brands

Many regard the JD 618 Grand Promotion as an indicator of China’s robust consumption market. The event has also opened up a notable growth opportunity for numerous merchants and brands.

By extension, JD.com has experienced a record number of merchants taking part in the event — both online and offline.

Launched in early 2023, JD.com’s “Spring Dawn” initiative attracted new merchants through various supportive measures. New types of vendors joining the platform included artisans, designers, and farmers.

As a result, 2023 Q1 saw a 240% increase in the number of new merchants on JD’s platform compared to the same period in 2022.

With the highest-ever number of participating brands and merchants, the 618 Grand Promotion offers consumers an even wider range of products.

The event includes items from high-profile brands like Bottega Veneta, Tiffany, and Tesla. These luxury brands joined JD.com in the first half of 2023.

Tens of thousands of JD.com’s self-operated stores and millions of partnering stores are also taking part in the festival. JDDJ and JD Shop Now, JD.com’s on-demand retail service providers, are partnering with more than 300,000 brick-and-mortar stores across China to organize promotional activities.

Richard Liu’s JD.com: Fast Delivery and Support

Richard Liu’s JD.com introduced its same- and next-day delivery service more than a decade ago. Since then, the superfast service has become the industry benchmark across China.

In preparation for this year’s 618 Grand Promotion, JD Logistics has strategically positioned inventory closer to customers. This approach enables couriers to complete deliveries within minutes of a customer placing an order. This expedited service will be available in at least 300 cities throughout China.

In addition, Dada, China’s foremost local, on-demand delivery and retail platform, has reinforced its delivery team for the shopping season. The platform, which also operates on-demand retail platform JDDJ, has enlisted millions of Dada riders to offer one-hour delivery services to more than 2,000 cities, districts, and counties in China.

JD.com’s rapid service extends to its customer support. For instance, the company’s long-standing “Lightning-Fast Refund” service can process customer refunds within a second of receiving the request.

Plus, JD Technology’s advanced digital infrastructure will help business partners enhance cost-effectiveness and efficiency. This support will include:

• Supply chain finance services for merchants.
• 24/7 live streaming shopping guidance services for 4,000 key brand owners.
• Virtual live streaming rooms.

Superior Customer Service

The last five years have seen JD Retail invest around RMB 80 billion in user services. The company provides more than 200 customized services, 80 of which are exclusive at JD.com. These services include:

• A 30-day price guarantee. Since the introduction of this service in 2008, JD.com has helped customers save nearly RMB 8 billion.
• Hassle-free returns.
• 180-day exchange without repair.
• Trade-in options.
• 30-day free exchanges for apparel and shoes.
• 24/7 pharmacy consulting services.

JD.com will also introduce a “direct discount” pricing system this year. The feature will eliminate the complexity of coupon selection and offer additional benefits to long-term users and JD PLUS members.

Available via the JD app, the “10-billion yuan discount” program will likely feature 10 times more products than when the company launched the program in March 2023.

JD is also extending its service coverage and including more product categories during this year’s 618 Grand Promotion. Services like “half-month free tastes” for food and “half-year worry-free stock up” for home furnishings are debuting during the festival.

JD.com continues to prioritize a comprehensive, high-quality, cost-effective, and fast shopping experience for users. The company has promised to continue optimizing the consumer experience in terms of cost, services, products, prices, and efficiency.

Read more retail news from Richard Liu’s JD.com.

About JD.com (a.k.a. Jingdong)

JD.com, also known as Jingdong, is technology and service enterprise with supply chain at its core. Founded by Richard Qiangdong Liu, JD.com is a renowned leader in China's e-commerce industry and the company has expanded across retail, technology, logistics, healthcare, insurance, property development, industrials, private label, and international business. Ranking 46 on the Fortune Global 500, JD.com is China’s largest retailer by revenue.

JD.com serves nearly 600 million customers and has set the standard for e-commerce through its commitment to quality, authenticity, and competitive pricing. The company operates the largest logistics infrastructure of any e-commerce company in China, pioneering a standard experience of same- and next-day delivery. JD.com also promotes productivity and innovation across a range of industries by offering its cutting-edge technology and infrastructure to partners, brands, and diverse sectors.