Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-11-10 22:11Core Insights - The article discusses the aggressive offline expansion strategies of major e-commerce platforms, JD and Tmall, in reshaping China's home appliance retail market amidst changing consumer demands and government policies [1][2]. Offline Expansion - JD has opened four new stores in a month, while Tmall has established over 14,000 digital stores nationwide, indicating a significant push into offline retail [1][2]. - Tmall's offline strategy began with the rural Taobao project in 2014, transitioning to Tmall Supermarket in 2017, and has recently accelerated its presence in first- and second-tier cities [2]. - JD MALL, launched in September 2021, focuses on major urban centers and has opened 26 stores by September 2025, emphasizing a self-operated model with over 200,000 products [2][3]. Market Drivers - The shift to offline retail is driven by a saturation of online traffic and the need to reach more consumers, alongside the government's "trade-in" policy which has been enhanced to include more product categories [4]. - E-commerce penetration rates have declined from 27.6% in 2023 to 26.8% in 2024, with a stagnation at 25.0% from January to September 2025, highlighting the necessity for platforms to explore offline channels [4]. Consumer Behavior - The article notes a shift in consumer preferences from merely being able to purchase items to wanting immediate availability, emphasizing speed, certainty, and convenience as key factors in purchasing decisions [6]. Supply Chain and Digitalization - To avoid pitfalls faced by traditional appliance retailers, JD and Tmall are enhancing their supply chains and digital capabilities. JD employs a direct sourcing model to reduce costs and improve price competitiveness [8]. - Tmall focuses on refining operations and enhancing service experiences through various initiatives aimed at strengthening supply chain capabilities [8]. - Digitalization is identified as a core competitive advantage for offline stores, with plans to integrate online and offline data for targeted marketing and inventory management [8]. Future Retail Trends - The future of retail competition is expected to shift from online market share to enhancing service quality, reimagining offline experiences, and creating intangible value such as trust and loyalty [9].