Chinese retail and e-commerce giant JD.Com is throwing down the gauntlet to the likes of Amazon and Argos in the UK with the launch of Joybuy, its online retail platform.
Pledging to shake up the UK e-commerce market, JD.Com said JoyBuy offers UK consumers a better way to shop online with a brand-led platform and a “unique” service that does not charge for speedier deliveries.
Its Double 11 delivery service allows shoppers who order by 11am to have their goods delivered before 11pm on the same day. Customers ordering before 11pm get their goods the next day.
The service is free on orders of £29 or more, and customers are able to check Double 11 availability by entering their postcode. Shoppers outside the Double 11 delivery zones can still access next-day or standard delivery nationwide.
The Double 11 service is currently available to over 17 million people – 4.5 million households – across Greater London, Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham, Oxford, Cambridge and will be rolled out to more towns and cities in the coming months, the company said.
Customers can also choose to collect their parcels through the Joybuy Pick-up Service at over 11,000 pick-up points across the UK, which includes more than 400 locker locations.
Joybuy also has a one-stop large appliance service, which includes installation, disconnection and the recycling of old units.
Joybuy is also launching in Europe today (16 March) in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Belgium,and Luxembourg.
Announcing the launch, JD.Com said JoyBuy is a brand-led platform, with brand stores including L’Oréal Paris, Braun, Emma, De’Longhi, BRITA, The Pink Stuff, DJI and Bodum. Other top brands include Apple, DJI, HP, Hisense, LEGO, Lenovo, LG, Nutribullet, Philips, PlayStation, Samsung, Sony, TCL, and Xiaomi.
Joybuy operates from two warehouses in Milton Keynes and Luton, which are owned by JD.Com. The two sites have a combined floor area of more than 90,000 square metres. JD.com said it is also making “significant” long-term investments in automation in its European logistics network.
The company manages its Double 11 delivery service from click to doorstep. With JoyExpress, its dedicated last-mile express delivery service, it operates more than 60 warehouses and depots across Europe, supported by thousands of logistics and operations employees.
To mark the UK launch, Joybuy is rolling out a programme of launch offers and limited-time deals across electronics, home appliances, beauty, groceries and more, giving shoppers the chance to experience same-day delivery, from day one.
Joybuy is also launching JoyPlus, its membership programme which offers unlimited free delivery with no minimum spend per order, plus access to exclusive offers across all Joybuy countries for a monthly fee.
A UK Joybuy spokesperson said: “Joybuy is here! It’s time for a better, more joyful way to shop online. The UK and Europe have some of the savviest shoppers in the world, and we’re bringing our decades of retail and logistics experience to the UK and Europe to change the way people shop online for the better.
“By owning the process from the warehouse to the front door, we’re making same-day delivery the new standard. Our investment in the UK and across Europe is focused on ensuring that when a customer clicks ‘buy’, they know the product will be delivered to their door with the quality, speed and reliability they deserve.
“British shoppers have long had to settle for a trade-off between price and speed, often paying a premium to get their orders more quickly. We’re here to change that. With Joybuy, same-day delivery isn’t a luxury; it’s our standard for millions of households.
“By combining competitive prices on trusted brand names with our ‘Double 11’ express delivery, we’re making online shopping more of a joy. We’ve built the infrastructure, we’ve partnered with incredible brands, and now we’re ready to show the UK a better way to shop. We will make your shopping more joyful.”
JD.Com added that as Joybuy continues its rollout across the UK and Europe, it is planning to recruit more staff in logistics, operations, and retail.
