Chinese retailer JD.com is using m-commerce to turn hotel rooms into retail inspiration in what it says is an example of its ’boundaryless retail’ strategy.
The retailer has responded to demand from many of its 300m customers to make retail purchases while travelling for same or next-day delivery. It is now furnishing a range of hotel rooms, from the Sheraton to Wanda and Beijing 5L, with products that guests can use in their room. If they like them, they can then scan a QR code with their smartphone and buy their own for delivery to the hotel or to their own home.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with JD.com to realize this exciting retail initiative,” said Bin Wang, director of sales and marketing at 5L Hotel. “We believe that our guests, who are accustomed to the utmost convenience and comfort, will be delighted to test JD’s smart speaker as a personal assistant and an additional way to shop.”
Jing Zhou, director of JD.com’s lifestyle business, said: “We know from our customers that they love to take the convenience of JD everywhere they go. Working with hotels is a great way to show how boundaryless retail can make that experience even more seamless. By partnering with top hotel brands across China, we can both enhance the experience of hotel guests and offer more targeted, high-quality exposure for our brand partners.”
So far, Philips Sonicare electric toothbrushes, JD.com’s smart speaker and power banks to charge their devices have proved popular hotel room purchases.
Cherry Zhang, senior director of health and wellness, personal health at Philips Greater China, said the brand was delighted to be one of the first chosen to take part in the initiative. “The JD brand is known throughout China as a guarantee of quality and superior user experience and we are delighted at the opportunity to leverage JD’s expertise in China’s online and offline e-commerce market,” said Zhang.
Image courtesy of JD.com
