Flower market in China: From festival gifting to everyday emotional consumption
While flowers remain important within Chinese gifting habits, market growth is increasingly being driven by daily consumption. In China’s emotional purchase economy, flowers are playing a more important role in bringing comfort, happiness, and a sense of healing into everyday life. Consumers either gift flowers for themselves or for others on non-special occasions, creating small […]
How China’s stricter regulations reshape, not replace, vaping in China
China’s vaping market used to be fast-growing and free-for-all. Now it’s a tightly controlled, state-run system. Retail sales peaked at RMB 19.7 billion (USD 2.9 billion) in 2021 and then shrank to USD 2.67 billion. Rather than suppressing the market, strict regulations just changed how brands compete. Today, there are two markets running side by […]
RTD market trends in China: The emergence of a health-conscious consumer
Four criteria influence Chinese beverage consumers’ decisions (N=1,168, 2026 April) when purchasing ready-to-drink (RTD) drinks. When asked to select influencing factors (multiple choice), 41% cited taste, while 35% cited each of safety, health attributes, and functional benefits. And finally, functional benefits at 35%. It is reasonable to assume that a beverage combining these various requirements […]
174,000 openings, 137,000 closures in a year: The evolution and uncertain future of Chinese modern tea sector
The Chinese modern tea sector has matured significantly since 2020, completing a transition from a volume-driven expansion model to a quality-focused era. In terms of growth, we can see this reflected in the shift from an average growth rate of 24.9% CAGR between 2017 and 2022 to a growth rate of 6.4% in 2024. The […]
Convenience stores in China: What’s becoming more important beyond convenience
In China’s convenience store industry, companies face rising price sensitivity, traffic shifting to discount snack stores, and intensifying competition from instant retail. In 2025, although 66.1% of companies achieved year-over-year sales growth, the momentum slowed compared to the previous two years. 81.4% and 70% of companies experienced growth in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Sales growth […]
The olive oil market in China: Driven by health-oriented consumers
Olive oil in China has long been called “liquid gold.” It is cold-pressed directly from fresh olives without heating or chemical processing, preserving its natural nutrients. Olive oil is considered one of the most nutritionally beneficial fats discovered to date. Primarily because it is rich in oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid, which accounts for […]
Building a pop-up store in China that leaves a lasting impression
As Chinese consumers place more value on experiences than products, pop-up stores have become an important tool for brands. They offer unique and authentic moments that connect with people’s lifestyles, cultures, and values. These experiences often stay with consumers long after their visit. In the rapidly changing market, a pop-up store in China helps brands […]
Despite lingering stigma, the male beauty market in China remains resilient
Beauty in China is shifting away from being an option to becoming a necessity. With growing awareness of beauty products and a desire to gain social acceptance, more men are turning to beauty products. Even the older generations, who tend to hold onto more stigma regarding beauty products, are slowly adopting them. While skincare is […]
E-commerce platforms in China: The battle between shopping titans and rising stars
The Chinese e-commerce platform market generated a staggering sales volume of RMB 15.5 trillion in 2024. This makes China the world’s largest e-commerce market. This flourishing market is growing steadily year on year, reaching an annual growth rate of 7.2% in 2024. Chinese consumers are pampered with a myriad of platforms to choose from, such […]
How Costco in China thrives with few SKUs
In August 2019, American warehouse club Costco officially entered the Chinese market with a physical store in Shanghai. The opening weekend marked a hive of activity, with three-hour waits for parking spaces and thirty-minute queues at the checkouts. In January 2024, Costco in China expanded to the South with the opening of its Shenzhen location, receiving […]
China’s toys market: a new addiction among kids and adults?
Many people know China as the world’s largest toy exporter. It has a solid manufacturing reputation, especially in the southeastern provinces. Indeed, China’s toys market has consistently exhibited positive growth over the last ten years. In 2023, the size of China’s toy market stood at a substantial RMB 159.8 billion, indicating that the demand for […]
The Chinese art market: young collectors fuel contemporary art surge
The global art market is a multi-billion-dollar industry, playing a significant role in cultural exchange and economic development. While its artistic roots stretch back centuries, China’s art market has boomed in recent decades, becoming a major player on the global art scene. In recent years, the Chinese art market has witnessed a meteoric rise, solidifying […]