Gentle Monster: A local eyewear brand goes global with creative luxury experimentation
Established in 2011 by Hankook Kim, Gentle Monster has swiftly ascended as a South Korean brand acclaimed worldwide for its chic eyewear and groundbreaking designs. Featuring surreal, exclusive, and futuristic eyewear, the brand has garnered a diverse array of consumers both domestically and internationally. While originally crafted to cater to Asian facial features, its innovative […]
China’s approach to excessive packaging: strategies and future
The issue of excessive packaging has long been a contentious topic in China. In 2010, China introduced a mandatory standard aimed at curbing excessive packaging for various products, including food and cosmetics. According to a report from the China Consumers Association, a significant majority of consumers, 80.7%, are against excessive packaging, with only 14.7% expressing […]
“The stock price of Three Squirrels has dropped by 80% compared to its peak”: Trending hashtag on Chinese social media
The spotlight turned towards China’s snack industry as the hashtag #the stock price of Three Squirrels has dropped by 80% compared to its peak# (三只松鼠股价较巅峰时跌80%) started trending in the 2nd week of December on Weibo. Once renowned as “the best-performing share of national snacks,” Three Squirrels seems to have lost its prominence with a steady […]
From larou to jamón: China’s cured meat market amid domestic dominance and global allure
Created as a way to prevent decomposition and facilitate the transportation of food, the cured meat market in China preserves an age-old tradition. In 2023, it reached a revenue of more than RMB 61 billion (USD 8.4 billion) and is expected to have a year-on-year increase of 8% by 2024. Cured meats are more than […]
From protection to prosperity: the dynamics of the insurance market in China
Having insurance is a very common practice in China, especially when it comes to individual healthcare insurance. In 2022, around 1.35 billion people were covered by medical insurance, which is roughly 95% of the total Chinese population. This percentage is in rapid expansion. At the end of 2023, the total revenue of the Chinese insurance […]
“The price of Zhong Xuegao’s ice cream dropped from 60 yuan to 2.5 yuan”: Trending hashtag on Chinese social media
Zhong Xuegao (钟薛高), a premium Chinese ice cream brand, once known as the “Hermès of ice cream” among Chinese consumers, recently found itself facing public scrutiny again after the 2022 controversy caused by video clips of its ice cream melting at unusually slow speed, leading to concerns that the product could contain harmful ingredients as […]
“Why is Starbucks not as popular anymore?”: Trending hashtag on Chinese social media
In recent years, China’s coffee market has rapidly grown, witnessing the emergence of several local brands challenging traditional Western coffee chains such as Starbucks. Luckin Coffee, in particular, founded in 2017, surpassed the number of Starbucks stores in China in 2019. The Xiamen-based coffee giant has now achieved another significant milestone — surpassing Starbucks as […]
The spiritual economy in China: psychological comfort for young people
In recent years, Xuanxue (玄学) which sparked the spiritual economy has gained significant attention in China. Xuanxue is an ancient cultural tradition, dating back to Wei and Jin dynasties in ancient China. It covers many fields, such as numerology, feng shui, divination, etc, and synthesizes the teachings from Confucianism, Taoism, and other philosophical teachings. On […]
Chinese makeup brands: the triumph of homegrown makeup brands supported by the Guochao trend
In the multifaceted Chinese cosmetics market, the makeup segment occupies a significant share of the transactions. In 2023, the retail cosmetics industry in China reached RMB 414.2 billion (USD 57.53 billion) and a growth rate of 5.1%. Notably, Chinese makeup brands are progressively gaining ground, significantly increasing their share which doubled to 28% in 2022 […]
“What do you think about the quality of crossover beauty and skincare products?”: Trending hashtag on Chinese social media
Recently, Huiyuan Juice (汇源果汁) launched a new product called the “hippophae rhamnoides moisturizing mask (沙棘籽油面膜).” The masks contain hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and sea buckthorn seed oil. Although sea buckthorn seed oil is less known than the first two ingredients in skincare, it is rich in various vitamins that help moisturize the skin and promote collagen […]
“The income gap between blue-collar and white-collar workers continues to narrow”: Trending hashtag on Chinese social media
Traditionally, white-collar jobs, often associated with higher education and income potential, have been perceived as more prestigious and socially esteemed compared to blue-collar occupations. However, due to various factors, such as financial pressures and the devaluation of higher education, an increasing number of young people in China are opting to leave their office jobs and […]
“Survey shows that 28.5% of young people live a 45-degree life”: Trending hashtag on Chinese social media
The concept of “lying flat,” which expresses a rejection from relentless work and competition exemplified by the 996 work culture, went viral on Chinese social media due to a Baidu post called “Lying Flat Is Justice” in 2021 April. Two years into this trend, the National Survey Research Center at Renmin University of China conducted […]