The luxury watch market in China: Status, sophistication and counterfeiting
Despite broader economic challenges and a slowdown in the overall luxury sector, luxury watches continue to hold strong appeal among affluent Chinese consumers, increasingly viewed as a smart alternative investment during times of economic uncertainty. In 2024, the luxury watch market in China was valued at approximately USD 18.12 billion, reflecting steady growth, with an […]
Sephora in China: Losing ground in a new era of beauty
Once hailed as the go-to destination for premium beauty in China, Sephora in China now finds itself at a crossroads. Backed by LVMH, Sephora entered the Chinese mainland in April 2005 with its first store in Shanghai, introducing a globally inspired, sleek retail concept. Its stylish interiors and exclusive offerings—including localized brands like SkinVital, Fusion Beauty, […]
Living and exercising with style in the sportswear market in China
Even though the broader apparel market in China is slowing, growing only by 0.8% year-over-year in January to June 2024, sportswear is an exception. As Chinese consumers prioritize health and leisure, they are spending more on sportswear. In 2023, the sportswear market in China reached RMB 492.6 billion (USD 68.8 billion), and it is projected […]
Following the vibes of music streaming platforms in China
The musical market in China is one of the fastest-growing markets worldwide and represents the backbone of the music market. Some key factors driving this growth are technological advancements, consumer demand and the rise of the middle class in China, contributing to market expansion. As such, the revenue of the music streaming market in China […]
Tesla in China: Record sales amid rising challenges
In 2024, Tesla achieved over 657,000 vehicle sales in China. This marks a year-on-year growth of approximately 8.8% and setting a new record. According to data from China EV DataTracker, the Model Y became the best-selling car model in China in 2024, with a total of 480,309 units sold. Encouraged by this strong performance, the […]
When nostalgia meets rebellion: The new face of Hello Kitty in China
In April 2025, Beast 野兽派, a leading Chinese lifestyle brand known for its premium floral products and artistic collaborations, launched a high-impact Hello Kitty pop-up campaign on Shanghai’s West Bund. Tapping into the strong cultural resonance of Hello Kitty in China, the activation aligned with the ongoing Shanghai Flower Show. It quickly gained traction on social media, generating […]
Will Chinese beauty brand Perfect Diary make a comeback with its skincare-infused makeup?
Perfect Diary (完美日记), a Chinese cosmetics brand, achieved early success through KOL (Key Opinion Leader) marketing, co-branding, and private traffic pools. However, despite being recognized as one of the leading makeup brands in China, Perfect Diary’s success has waned over time. To recover, it has been focusing more on product quality, integrating skincare functionalities into […]
From milk tea to chili sauce: Can Sexy Tea (茶颜悦色) catch up with CHAGEE (霸王茶姬)?
Founded in 2013 in Changsha, Hunan, Sexy Tea (茶颜悦色) built its brand around “New Chinese-style Fresh Tea”(新中式鲜茶) focusing primarily on light milk tea (轻乳茶). Thanks to its distinctive flavor and exclusive local business model, it quickly gained popularity. However, while its reputation soared, Sexy Tea remained cautious about expansion and only ventured beyond Changsha […]
China’s winter apparel market: What Chinese wore for their “New Year Battle Outfits” (新年战袍)
In 2024, China’s winter apparel market held the largest share in the Asia Pacific region, which accounted for 35.4% of the global market revenue. Drivers for winter apparel purchases include the growing popularity of winter tourism and winter sports. Around 313 million people have participated in ice and snow sports or other winter-related leisure activities […]
Starbucks in China: Will it lose the battle against Luckin Coffee?
Starbucks’s history began in 1971 with its first store opened in Seattle. Since then, the chain has continuously developed and, as of 2023, it has over 32,000 stores in 80 countries. In China, it opened its first store in Beijing, which was also the first ever foreign coffee shop to enter China. It grew so popular that, […]
Standing out in the competitive market through branding in China
In the huge, complex, and highly competitive market, the role of branding in China in building a successful business has become increasingly crucial. Not only is there more pressure from other brands, but people’s needs and desires are also becoming more diverse and many are preferring local brands as reflected in the Guochao marketing trends. […]
Key considerations for foreign brands’ co-branding in China
In recent years, co-branding in China has become very popular, with a wide variety of co-branding targets, from food and drink, clothing, anime, and IP to games. This type of strategic alliance is highly effective in boosting sales and raising brand visibility. To tap into the Chinese market, international brands are diligently navigating the dos […]