After expanding their Australian and New Zealand presence only 15 months ago, the Chinese online shopping platform JD.com has withdrawn from their Melbourne offices.
The move initially came as a way for the platform to engage more closely with their Australia and New Zealand customers. The engagement came, uncoincidentally, after the company’s biggest competitor Alibaba opened an Australian office in 2017. Australian brands had been encouraged to pitch their businesses to JD.com to expand into a Chinese market, giving the original move multiple targets.
The brand is now retreating from Melbourne and plans to integrate their Australian office with their location in China. The retailer has insisted that the closure of their Australian office foes not reflect the company’s commitment to their Australian and New Zealand customers, and they are still committed to retaining a positive relationship with the region.
