JD.com and California STEP Partner to Help Small Businesses Reach a Quarter Billion Chinese Consumers Online

E-commerce giant JD.com (NASDAQ:JD), China’s largest retailer, has teamed up with the California State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) to provide an unprecedented opportunity for small California consumer product companies in health, beauty, food and lifestyle marketplaces to sell direct to Chinese consumers.

JD.com, the third largest internet company in the world by revenue, will help U.S. businesses sell high-quality American products and ship them directly to Chinese consumers. The California Centers for International Trade Development (CITD) are working with JD.com to identify, screen and support California small businesses to gain a foothold in the world's largest online retail market.

“With 50% of global online retail taking place in China, this is a great opportunity for small California businesses to reach a huge consumer base,” said Jeff Williamson, California STEP project director and director, CITD. “Working with JD.com helps us to offer businesses a low-risk way to get a foot in the door of one of the world’s largest consumer markets.”

JD.com’s incubator program will help California merchants expedite their entry into the Chinese online market. Leveraging JD’s expertise will vastly reduce the barriers for companies to reach Chinese consumers, without the need for China experience, entities or employees. Companies participating in the program will have the opportunity to:

• Own an online store on JD.com with access to its more than 258 million active users in China
• Leverage JD’s industry-leading marketing resources based on its unparalleled treasure trove of big data
• Work with a JD team to handle daily maintenance of their online store and all related transactions
• Receive integrated export consignment shipping and customs service

“The possibility for Californians to reach a quarter billion Chinese consumers is an unprecedented opportunity that can be a game-changer for small business owners,” said Vicky Zhuang, JD.com’s GM of North American Business. “The appetite among Chinese consumers for American products is tremendous, and our program with STEP is the ideal way for companies to overcome the intimidating prospect of tackling the Chinese market.”

China’s cross-border e-commerce, which refers to the purchase of imported products online, is expected to increase to US$285 billion (RMB 1.9 trillion) in 2018, from US$136 billion (RMB 900 billion) in 2015, according to iResearch.

About JD.com

JD.com is China’s largest retailer, online or offline. The company strives to offer consumers the best online shopping experience. Through its user-friendly website, native mobile apps, and WeChat and Mobile QQ entry points, JD offers consumers a superior shopping experience. The company has the largest fulfillment infrastructure of any e-commerce company in China. As of June 30, 2017, JD.com operated 7 fulfillment centers and 335 warehouses covering 2,691 counties and districts across China, staffed by its own employees. JD.com is a member of the NASDAQ100 and a Fortune Global 500 company.

About California STEP

The California State Trade Expansion Program (California STEP) project leverages a state-wide network of state, federal, private and non-profit trade promotion organizations to facilitate export promotion, activities, serving targeted industries, to drive exports for small businesses. Managed by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, the Centers for International Trade Development and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, supported in part through a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the network of STEP Partners implements a range of export promotion programs serving multiple industry sectors. STEP Director Jeff Williamson is hosted by Riverside Community College District.

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