Chinese Travellers

(Yicai) April 7 -- Eight of the 28 Chinese provincial-level regions that have released population data for last year reported an increase in permanent residents, with the figure remaining unchanged in two and dropping for the rest.Guangdong, Zhejiang, Fujian, Hainan, Anhui, and Shaanxi provinces...

Xiaohongshu's (#RedNote) latest update is the biggest sign yet that brands must treat this platform as a search engine driven by UGC. **Not** as a social media platform.

Posts can now include links in the comments section 🔗

The system will automatically generate a link when a product, trending topic or brand is mentioned that directs a user to a corresponding page (organized by the system) which includes all posts related to that

👇 The below example is a content creator who has made a beautiful video, in which she is highlighting a product from the brand Kuka

(her video by the way is a masterclass in how you should be working with influencers on Xiaohongshu but that’s for another post)

In the comments section, she mentions the product, this links to a page with hundreds of posts from other creators giving reviews about the product as well

I cannot overstate just how much features like this make Xiaohongshu (#RedNote) so vastly different from Western social media platforms (in their current state) and as such, require a completely different strategy + mindset to achieve success

What international cpg brands can learn from my visit to the Taikoo Hui Ole’ store in Guangzhou (part 2).


Ole's established reputation as a trusted curator of international goods creates a halo effect for your products, bypassing many of the trust barriers international brands typically face.

However, my experience working with international brands has shown that successful China market entry requires patience and cultural understanding.

The real opportunity lies in using Ole' as your base camp, not your final destination.

Start by building brand recognition and consumer trust through this premium channel, then leverage the data and insights gained to inform your broader expansion strategy.

🏆 Long term strategy considerations beyond Ole’
 
Tiered Distribution Strategy: Use Ole' for premium positioning while developing partnerships with online and other channels to reach different consumer segments.

💡 Pro Tip: Pricing

Starting your China journey via an offline channel can work really well for particular products and when well executed.

⚠️ However, one of the traps in setting up for success in China is getting your pricing wrong.

Offline retail channels like Ole’ or Sam's Club will demand an extremely low wholesale price.

You will need to develop a robust China pricing strategy that takes into account the many (up to 5!) layers of distribution that make up the China market.

If you set your initial RRP and wholesale prices too low, just to meet the requirements of one specific offline channel, you may inadvertently take your products out of play for most if not all other channels.

Once this happens, it is almost impossible to fix.

Also remember one of the golden rules of the China market
Premium products that are not sold at premium prices in China, are not seen as premium products by consumers.

Digital Ecosystem Integration: Developing a presence on Chinese social media and ecommerce platforms is essential to complement physical retail presence.

Remember: China isn't a single market but a collection of distinct regional preferences and behaviours.

This is especially true when you are looking at an offline channel strategy.
Ole' gives you the perfect laboratory to test, learn, and refine before scaling through other channels.

All of the usual rules about building brand awareness in China apply to selling offline.

Ole’ can play a role in premium positioning and drive some sales, but it will not do all of the brand building work for you.

Have you considered Ole' as part of your China market entry strategy?

I would love to hear about your experiences with premium retail partnerships in emerging markets.

#chinamarekt #marketentry #chinamarketstrategy #internationaltrade #globalbrands #retailexpansion In2Asia Export

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I'm Iain Langridge 毅安 and I use my experience in China to launch, grow, and manage premium international consumer brands.

Follow or DM me to find out more.

🙋🏻‍♀️ Whoever remembers the OG #WeChat feature - 'Shake for Nearby Contacts' will find this one interesting/nostalgic

👇

WeChat brought the feature back, well, sort of, but now instead of it being weird, it's useful!

Honestly, I can't say I even touched it since 2013 because, let's be honest, it was kind of creepy - which is exactly why in 2024 they made it unavailable

But now, it's back and it's helping people to find gig jobs

Sixth Tone reports:

The launch comes amid rising demand for platforms that can bridge the gap between gig employers and job seekers. China is home to an estimated 200 million flexible workers, and market demand for blue-collar labor has surged 380% over the past five years, according to a 2024 industry report.

The feature was first trialed in smaller cities and now it's rolled out to a bunch of (major) cities including Shanghai and Beijing, and reportedly helped over 24K people find jobs so far

Sixth Tone also reported that "WeChat has integrated a “Micro Work Card” system into the platform. The feature includes digital contracts, real-time location tracking, attendance management, and insurance options for both workers and employers."

WeChat is one of the OG social media/messaging platforms in China, and though it has evolved so much since 2011 I think it has always stood out to me as a platform that tries to bring value to the users, and not brands (paying for advertising)

I still speak to a lot of brands who are under the impression that WeChat will bring them awareness in China, but in actually, it's much better at the other end of the funnel - nurturing and engaging with your customers

WeChat's core strength is that it is a *tool* - features like Nearby Jobs just continue to prove the team's commitment to maintaining this | 10 comments on LinkedIn

Forget Rolexes — China’s elite want culture-rich escapes. Hurun’s data signals a deeper shift in how luxury is valued.

China's economic data for the first two months of the year showed a modest pickup as Beijing reiterated its plan to bolster domestic consumption.

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Last year, one of the international CPG brands I manage in China faced a crisis that threatened everything we had built over the previous three years.


The…

In search of security, women and their families are increasingly buying homes for themselves before or during marriage.

🤯 BYD factory = Larger than San Francisco?! 
 
Would you work + live here? 🤔 
 
It’s still smaller than Denver Airport though. 😉 
 
BYD is rapidly scaling… | 94 comments on LinkedIn

China's retail sales growth quickened in January-February in a welcome sign for policymakers' efforts to boost domestic consumption even as joblessness rose and factory output eased, underscoring the strains on an economy facing fresh US tariff pressure.

Number rose by almost 60% in a year to 49,691 stores, making China ‘a global coffee industry powerhouse’

Community-centered events and nostalgia-driven experiences are set to define China’s sports and fitness culture this year.

This year’s Asian Winter Games hosted in China were about more than entertainment: They are also part of an economic plan to boost consumer spending.

Weixin Pay Expands Reach in Japan: Empowering Merchants to Capture Rising Chinese Tourism

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The Hurun Chinese Luxury Consumer Survey 2025 includes data on a wide range of consumer preferences from 750 HNWI Chinese. We've translated findings on travel, food and drink, overseas education, and more.

Chinese Consumers Are More Confident and Willing to Spend, Survey Shows - A growing number of residents in first- and second-tier cities feel better off financially, although sentiment toward the property market remains weak, according to Deutsche Bank

"Cautious first-time travellers prioritise safety and affordability. These budget-conscious travellers rely on structured tours and recommendations for their…

China’s automotive powerhouse outpaces Tesla in revenue while expanding globally, signaling a shifting balance of power in the electric vehicle industry.

From artisanal gold to tarot cards, China’s educated urban women are driving a new era of thoughtful luxury consumption.