“Why do Chinese tourists no longer want to travel abroad?”: Trending hashtag on Chinese social media
As travel restrictions continue to ease as the world enters the post-pandemic era, China’s outbound tourism is gradually recovering. In the first half of 2023, outbound tourism destinations welcomed 40.37 million tourists from mainland China, mostly in neighboring countries and countries. The international passage transportation volume also has bounced back to 23% of the level of 2019, with June […]
China’s consumer spending: 5 hurdles and a glimpse of optimism
China, the world’s second-largest economy, has lately been a focal point of global economic discussions, particularly in the context of consumer spending. As of August 2023, consumer spending in China has shown signs of recovery after a tepid July, with marked increases in sales across various sectors such as apparel, automotive, food, furniture and appliances, […]
Sourcing success made simple: how to find suppliers in China
When it comes to conducting business in China, a critical success factor for foreign enterprises is the ability to find reliable suppliers. China remains a global export leader, having achieved an impressive USD 418 billion in exports of intermediate goods in 2021 Q4. The US, Vietnam, and South Korea emerged as the top export destinations for […]
Lemon8: From lifestyle sensation to social media struggles
In April 2020, the Chinese tech giant Bytedance, owner of TikTok, launched an app which was supposed to give Instagram a run for its money: Lemon8. The app was firstly launched in Japan, then reached the US market 2 years later, in February 2022. It can be described as a lifestyle platform similar to the […]
An illustration of the complexity of the Chinese economy
As China rapidly becomes a world leader, the Western press has always tried to put the country’s economy in a bad light. This often involves highlighting the negative aspects of the Chinese economy. However, this vision generates a distorted perception of China’s real development. Besides, these opinion does not match with the reality of facts, […]
SEA’s seafood market: Home of 22% of the world’s fisheries
Southeast Asia (SEA) is a remarkably diverse region, home to eleven distinct countries. This expansive region extends approximately 4,000 miles from its northwest corner to the southeastern tip. Thus, it covered a vast territory of around 5,000,000 square miles which comprised both land and sea. Notably, an extensive portion, approximately 65.28% or 3,264,000 square miles, […]
How country-of-origin effect shapes Chinese consumers’ preferences and perceptions in the luxury industry
While many industries are expanding globally, the origin of brands still matters. Brands from developed countries often have an advantage as they have a positive country-of-origin effect, which positively impacts consumers’ perception and purchase decisions. The 2022 Nation Brands Index measures countries’ global image, including the perceived attractiveness of their products. Through interviews with 60,000 […]
Chuseok unwrapped: A contemporary look at Korea’s Thanksgiving
Chuseok (추석), often known as Korea’s Thanksgiving, is one of the largest celebrations in South Korea. Families gather, express gratitude, and exchange gifts during this significant national holiday. While the festival occurs on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month annually, it is legally recognized as a three-day holiday, including a day before and […]
“Why young people don’t love eating snacks anymore?”: Trending hashtag on Chinese social media
Weilong (卫龙), one of China’s most popular snack brands known for its spicy noodles (辣条), is seeing a decrease of 3.5% in revenue for the first time in the past four years. Although as a snack manufacturer, Weilong mainly targets the younger generation of China, mostly under the age of 25 usually with lower purchasing power and […]
China’s yogurt market: a billion-dollar opportunity for brands
Despite most Chinese people’s lactose intolerance, consumption of yogurt in China is set to increase in the next years. As the demand for healthier choices continues to rise, the yogurt industry is undergoing significant innovation and transformation, presenting ample opportunities for brands to find themselves a spot in this expanding market segment. Download the full […]
“Why are fast fashion brands facing a wave of store closures?”: Trending hashtag on Chinese social media
International fast fashion retail giants such as H&M, Zara, and GAP are finding it difficult to keep up with the ever-changing preferences of Chinese consumers. For example, H&M alone has closed 119 physical stores in China from 479 in 2020 to 445 in 2021, during which the Xinjiang cotton controversy happened, to 360 in 2022. On Weibo, there have […]
Eco-chic and AI-savvy: How China’s interior design market redefines modern living
In 2022, the global interior design market reached RMB 770 billion, with China contributing significantly at RMB 157 billion, accounting for approximately 20.4% of the global market. This growth has been accompanied by the emergence of market segmentation untapping new opportunities in China’s interior design market. Download our report on how young Chinese Consumers are […]