Suning Clicks On the Future of Retailing

Can a traditional appliance retailer with a nationwide store network metamorphosize to compete in the online shopping era?

Suning Commerce Group Co. Ltd. Zhang Jindong thinks his company can – and that it can succeed.

Over the past four years, the 1,500-store Suning chain has been pouring money into Internet sales research, website platform building and logistics system designs to prove Zhang's point. It's also branched into new business sectors, such as financial services, while revamping the company's operating structure and vastly expanding its product line.