China’s gelato market: How Yeah Gelato made gelato scalable in China
China’s ice cream market is expanding beyond convenience and supermarket products towards freshly prepared frozen desserts. While industrial ice cream still dominates the market, its growth has slowed as China’s gelato market expanded. Founded in Beijing in 2011, Yeah Gelato (野人先生) spent more than a decade developing its products, supply chain, and store model before […]
The underwear market in China: A competitive market with no clear leaders
The underwear market in China reached RMB 254.3 billion in 2024, with women’s underwear at RMB 172.9 billion and men’s at RMB 81.4 billion. In this article, underwear includes bras, underpants, thermal underwear, sleepwear, and shapewear. Across these categories, Chinese consumers bought 4.57 billion pieces in 2024 at an average price of RMB 55.7 per […]
How South Korea’s gaming industry leads even as player numbers drop
South Korea generated KRW 23.85 trillion (around USD 16.3 billion) from the gaming industry, a 3.9% year-over-year increase. Games are the single largest category of Korean cultural exports, which make up around 60% of the country’s total content exports. In Korea, however, game participation dropped to 50.2% in 2025, down from 74.4% in 2022. While […]
NOWWA Coffee’s China strategy: The shop-in-shop model that turned convenience stores into a coffee chain
On December 11, 2025, NOWWA Coffee announced its global store count had crossed 10,000, the fourth Chinese coffee chain to get there after Luckin, Cotti, and Lucky Coffee. It did not get there through conventional franchising. Over 90% of its locations are store-in-store counters inside partner venues, and Meijiyia convenience stores alone host roughly 3,600 […]
China’s eye makeup market: Away from heavy filters to more natural and culturally authentic looks
In 2024, eye makeup only made up 14% of the overall color cosmetics market in China, compared to 53% for face makeup and 31% for lip makeup. However, it is expected to grow rapidly at a CAGR of 17.3% from 2024 to 2029. By segment, mascaras make up the largest segment at 36%, followed by […]
Affordable Luxury in China: Why value-led luxury is winning
Affordable luxury in China is not about compromise, but about credibility. Consumers seek status, quality, and brand recognition, and clear justification for higher prices. As Chinese luxury buyers grow more discerning, they prefer products that blend credible design, practicality, social value, and reasonable pricing. The ‘old-money’ fashion trend （#老钱风） has gained significant popularity in China. […]
Beyond cravings: How emotional value and cultural identity drive the gummies and jellies market in China
In the gummies and jellies market in China, satisfying a craving remains a primary driver. However, consumers are increasingly seeking emotional relief, the shared experience of being with fans at a concert, and an expression of cultural identity within the Guochao narrative. Download our China’s F&B industry white paper The gummies and jellies market in […]
Affordable fashion in China: Chinese Gen Z is paying for feelings, not just clothes
In March 2026, a three-year-old Chinese apparel label called W.MANAGEMENT took over H&M’s former flagship space in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay, roughly 30,000 square feet, at a fraction of the rent H&M once paid. The handover points to a bigger shift: affordable fashion in China is winning over the Gen Z customers, and the prime […]
China’s consumption stimulus in 2026: Where pockets of consumption growth will occur and how it helps brands open their first stores
China’s consumption stimulus entered a new phase in 2026, backed by the most coordinated policy effort in years. The central government renewed RMB 1.3 trillion in ultra-long special treasury bonds, of which RMB 250 billion supports the consumer goods trade-in program for cars, appliances, and digital product upgrades. Download the report on China mall innovation […]
6,700 shopping malls in China; not all of them will survive
Total retail sales grew 3.7% in 2025, trailing both GDP growth and household income growth for the second year running. Nearly 60% of the country’s top 100 retail chains saw store counts stagnate or shrink. New openings of shopping malls in China fell to a 13-year low in 2025, down 24% from the year before. […]
Perfumes in China: Emotion, everyday use, and evolving scent preferences
Even though China’s fragrance market is growing rapidly – faster than the global average – what is worth more attention is how Chinese consumers now understand, select, and experience perfume. In 2025, the market for perfumes in China totaled around RMB 30 billion, a 20% year-over-year growth. By 2029, it is projected to exceed RMB […]
Investment-driven luxury in China: How value preservation is redefining the next era of consumption
Investment-driven luxury in China is entering a new era. Consumers no longer purchase luxury products just for their craftsmanship, status, and exclusivity. They now evaluate luxury through a broader lens, considering preservation of value and resale potential as well. Changes in consumer priorities and economic conditions have expanded the concept of luxury goods to include […]