BEIJING, June 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This week British retail makes an exciting breakthrough in China as nearly 30 leading British brands begin an exclusive UK-only promotion on the leading Chinese e-commerce site JD.com, thanks to a partnership between JD.com and the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC). For a full week, from 11 to 20 June, UK brands will enjoy top billing on the screens of JD.com's 170 million registered users ahead of the site's wider International Brands Festival, which runs after the UK promotion until 30 June.
The promotion also marks a key shift to an online platform for the Great British Brands Festival, CBBC's growing series of sales exhibitions, which has so far been run offline with success in cities across China. An April 2016 report by the Office for National Statistics showed a 9.3% year-on-year increase in e-commerce sales in the UK, with online sales of household goods leaping 33.6%, and China offers huge potential for online exports. CBBC's partnership with JD.com gives UK retailers a practical means to capitalise on the strong reputation of British brands in China and to build on the interest generated by the offline festivals. JD.com boasts the highest revenues of any internet business in China and the biggest distribution network.
Stephen Phillips, Chief Executive of the China-Britain Business Council, said: "We are delighted to partner with JD.com and to give UK retailers a practical new avenue to export to China. CBBC's partnership with one of China's biggest e-commerce sites gives British companies a real opportunity not only to benefit from the online promotion period, but also to reach a larger and wider Chinese audience and build a stronger brand reputation among Chinese consumers."
Andy Zhou, General Manager of JD.com's Home, Furniture & Decorations Department, said: "As China's largest self-operating e-commerce platform, JD.com has nearly 170 million registered users whose consumption trends are maturing and whose demand for high quality brands is increasing rapidly. From 11-20 June, JD.com will cooperate with CBBC for the first time to develop the online Great British Brands Festival event with the theme 'British Quality brought to you by JD.com!' After the UK promotion, there will be online and offline resources to continually promote more British brands for Chinese consumers on JD.com."
Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, Dyson vacuum cleaners, Wedgwood porcelain, Kent hairbrushes and Fulton umbrellas are among the UK brands which will participate in the UK promotion. They have benefited from wide pre-sales promotions by JD.com and special offers to attract consumers since 1 June. The participating British brands will also be able to take part in the International Brands Festival which follows the UK promotion.
"British Quality Brought to You by JD.com" runs from 11-30 June at:
About the China-Britain Business Council
The China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) helps British and Chinese businesses and organisations work together in China, the UK and third markets around the world. With 60 years of experience, experts in 11 UK offices and 15 Chinese locations, and a diverse 1,000-strong membership, we operate alongside the British Chamber of Commerce in China to support companies of all sizes and sectors from multinationals to SMEs.
About JD.com, Inc.
JD.com, Inc. is China's leading online direct sales company and the country's largest Internet company by revenue. The Company strives to offer consumers the best online shopping experience. Through its content-rich and user-friendly website jd.com and mobile applications, JD.com offers a wide selection of authentic products at competitive prices and delivers products in a speedy and reliable manner. The Company believes it has the largest fulfillment infrastructure of any ecommerce company in China. As of March 31, 2016, JD.com operated 7 fulfillment centers and 209 warehouses, and in total 5,987 delivery stations and pickup stations in 2,493 counties and districts across China, staffed by its own employees. JD.com is a member of the NASDAQ100.
About the Great British Brands Festival
CBBC's unique Great British Brands Festival series focuses on selling UK products directly to Chinese shoppers and helping British retailers to establish a strong base in fast-emerging Chinese consumer markets. Supported by UK Trade & Investment and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and now in its fourth year, the GBBF will be held in eight cities throughout China in 2016 – Quanzhou, Nanjing, Changsha, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Fuzhou and Taiyuan – as well as online with Chinese partners such as JD.com.
