China’s great reopening: preparing for the return of international Chinese travelers after the pandemic
After three years of the pandemic, China is finally reopening its borders and abolishing all its COVID-19 policies. Beginning on January 8th, 2023, China adjusted its immigration administration policies and procedures, dropping its quarantine requirements upon entry. Hence, overseas retailers and brands can expect an increase in Chinese travelers. Since the start of the pandemic, […]
South Korea’s live commerce market is thriving due to rising demand for “ontact” services
South Korea’s live commerce is becoming a must for business in order to adjust to the changing consumer trends including those of the MZ Generation (MZ세대). Although the share of live commerce in the online shopping market was only about 2% as of 2021, it is expected to keep growing. According to a survey by […]
Fighting against fake products: counterfeit lawsuits in China
Counterfeit lawsuits in China are getting common to address the issue of alleged design theft and infringement of intellectual property rights. Counterfeit products are imitation goods that are produced and sold to mislead consumers into believing they are genuine. These products can range from luxury goods such as handbags and watches to everyday items such […]
A quick guide to start doing business in China
Following the zero-COVID policy, the Chinese economy has developed at a slower pace, growing by 3% in 2022, 2.5% less than the government’s predictions (5.5%). Yet, the Chinese market is one of the most flourishing in the world and offers plenty of opportunities for new companies. The opportunities and challenges of doing business in China […]
China’s Furniture Market: Analyzing the world’s largest exporter of upholstered furniture
After the country joined the WTO, China’s furniture market blossomed, especially due to the booming real estate industry. China is one of the world’s top manufacturers, consumers, and exporters of furniture, but local players are not able yet to compete with renowned foreign brands. Real estate and urbanization are some of the factors influencing the […]
How South Korea’s semiconductor industry may become the global leader by 2030
As the world advances in the digital era, semiconductors have become the fuel to powering the data-driven economies – much like oil during the industrial economy of the previous century. According to Gartner, the global semiconductor market sales was worth USD 594.96 billion in 2021, a 26.3% increase from 2020. South Korea’s semiconductor industry made up about 19.3% of the […]
[Webinar] Navigating China’s Metaverse for Retailers
“Metaverse” has become a buzzword among China marketers in the recent year. But what does the coming of China’s metaverse actually mean for marketers? How can brands in China use the rising technology to increase their performance and brand awareness? These are the questions we answer in our webinar on January 13th at 4PM Beijing/9AM Paris […]
Chinese Digital Consumers are adopting a less impulsive and more sustainable consumption
China is the largest e-commerce market in the world. In 2021, it was estimated to have a revenue of more than 1.5 trillion USD, while the US ranks second, with 875 billion USD. The biggest platforms for e-shopping in terms of users and transactions are in China and almost one billion people visit them every […]
A glance into South Korea’s leading consumers: The MZ Generation
The MZ Generation (MZ세대), a term only used in South Korea, refers collectively to the Millennials (born in the early 1980s to early 1990s) and Generation Z (born in the mid-1990s to early 2000s). People belonging to this generation make up 32.5% of the population as of 2021. In South Korea, Gen Z and Millennials […]
The male beauty market in China is developing fast and should not be overlooked
Nowadays, as increasingly more male consumers care about their look, the male beauty market in China has gradually become a new driver of growth for the beauty industry. The size of the male beauty market in China reached 17.8 billion RMB in 2021, and according to Euromonitor International, retail sales in China’s male beauty market […]
COVID-19 and international relations are reshaping the choices of Chinese studying abroad
Despite travel restrictions during the pandemic, China remains the main country of origin of international students, with a total of 1,061,511 students attending overseas higher education institutions in 2019. China holds the global top spot, boasting 600,000 more students than the country on the second position, India (461,792). In the last few years, the number […]
China’s FMCG Industry: Chinese consumers buy less goods but higher quality
Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) are typically non-durable products that are sold quickly at a relatively low cost. These products have a short shelf life either due to high consumer demand or their perishable nature. COVID-19 changed consumer purchasing behavior and significantly affected China’s FMCG industry. What is going on in Chinese FMCG industry China’s FMCG […]