New Retail Briefing #1: JD.com and Alibaba Restructure

Executive Summary

“New Retail” is a model for integrating online retail, offline retail and logistics across a single value chain powered by data and technology. In this new fortnightly series, we will cover important developments in New Retail in China. 

• JD.com will restructure its operations with JD Mall, the company’s main revenue-generating unit. Alibaba already restructured its cloud and Tmall business to form the New Retail Technology business unit.
• Alibaba opened its first physical store in Malaysia, working with a local private company Lumahgo and local lifestyle furniture retailer Lorenzo. 
• Tmall Luxury Pavilion added a new maison-style store format on its redesigned app, which lets brands customize digital editorial content and storefronts all in the Tmall app.
• Alibaba’s logistics arm Cainiao signed a memorandum of understanding with Russian air-freight carrier Volga-Dnepr to strengthen its cross-border delivery services.