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The Negotiation

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China is the 2nd largest economy on the planet, yet it's the most difficult to enter and manage well for foreign brands.

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Podcast Episode's:

Australia China Business Council CEO Tom Parker on Warming Bilateral Ties
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Tom Parker, National CEO of the Australia China Business Council (ACBC), for an insightful discussion on the evolving dynamics of Australia-China relations and the expanding opportunities for Australian businesses in China. Tom begins by introducing ACBC, outlining its mission, membership, and the vital role it plays in supporting Australian businesses looking to enter or expand their presence in the Chinese market. He discusses recent positive shifts in the Australia-China relationship, including the significant impact of the Australian Prime Minister's state visit to China in November, and the recent removal of Chinese tariffs on Australian wine which marked a pivotal moment in improving trade relations. The conversation then turns to the broader implications of these warming ties, identifying key growth opportunities for Australian companies in sectors beyond wine. Tom highlights the enduring popularity and positive reputation of Australian consumer brands in China, delving into why products from 'down under' resonate so well with Chinese consumers and which sectors are currently thriving. From a domestic perspective, Tom shares insights into the sentiment of the Australian business community towards China, reflecting on the challenges and optimism prevalent among entrepreneurs and corporations. He also discusses the overarching message that ACBC is promoting within Australia to foster a supportive environment for bilateral cooperation. Discussion Points:<ul><li>Overview of the Australia China Business Council and its mission</li><li>Recent developments in Australia-China relations and their impact on trade</li><li>The strategic significance of the Australian Prime Minister’s recent visit to China</li><li>Growth opportunities for Australian companies in China post-tariff removal</li><li>The enduring popularity of Australian consumer brands in China</li><li>Sector-specific success stories of Australian brands in China</li><li>Current sentiment among the Australian business community towards China</li><li>Key messages from ACBC to Australian businesses</li></ul>
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Grace Wu | Becoming a Little Red Book Influencer and Fostering Australia-China Connections
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley has an engaging conversation with Grace Wu, Director of Business for the Australia-China Culture and Language Advisory (ACCLA) and a notable lifestyle and education influencer on Little Red Book. Grace brings a unique perspective on the cultural and educational exchange between Australia and China, alongside insights from her influential presence on one of China's premier social media platforms. Grace shares the story and mission of ACCLA, detailing the organization's efforts to bridge cultural and language gaps between Australia and China. She provides insightful data on the number of Chinese individuals pursuing studies and careers in Australia and places this in the context of global trends. Furthermore, Grace delves into the cultural adjustments and challenges faced by new arrivals in Australia, highlighting surprising and noteworthy observations. Moving beyond her professional role, Grace discusses her journey into this field and her impactful work as an influencer on Little Red Book. She offers a glimpse into the content she shares with her audience, focusing on frequency and themes. Grace also provides an overview of Little Red Book, comparing it to Western social media platforms and discussing its unique place in the digital landscape. The conversation also touches on the demographics of Grace's audience, both in Australia and China, and comments on recent Western interest in Chinese-style advice through Little Red Book. Discussion Points:<ul><li>The mission and services offered by the ACCLA</li><li>Trends in Chinese individuals going to Australia for study and work</li><li>Cultural challenges faced by new arrivals in Australia</li><li>Grace Wu's personal journey to her current roles</li><li>Her experience and strategy as a Little Red Book influencer</li><li>An introduction to Little Red Book and its comparison to Western platforms</li><li>The geographic distribution of Grace's audience</li><li>Western interest in Chinese netizens' style advice on Little Red Book</li><li>The current state and future prospects of Australia-China relations</li></ul>
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Head of Global Marketplace ROW @ Coupang - Gerald Hoe | Navigating South Korea's E-commerce Boom
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley welcomes Gerald Hoe, Head of Global Marketplace ROW at Coupang, one of South Korea's premier e-commerce platforms. With its customer-centric and innovative approach, Coupang has cemented its position as a leader in the South Korean digital marketplace. Gerald provides a comprehensive overview of how Coupang has revolutionized the way Korean consumers shop online. He compares Coupang's robust ecosystem to other global internet giants, shedding light on its unique market position and the array of services that cater to a wide array of consumer needs. The conversation delves into the specifics of the Coupang online retail app, highlighting its distinctive features and the wide range of benefits for both consumers and merchants. Gerald discusses the success behind the platform's intuitive design, seamless user experience, and fast delivery systems that address the modern consumer's needs. A significant focus is placed on the potential for international brands within the South Korean market, particularly given the country's success in exporting its own consumer brands. Gerald explores the growing appetite for overseas brands and outlines why Coupang is the ideal platform for international merchants looking to tap into this vibrant market. Moreover, Gerald provides a blueprint for foreign brands aiming to enter the South Korean e-commerce space, including strategic insights into livestreaming e-commerce's popularity and the hottest consumer sectors driving consumption in South Korea. The episode offers a deep dive into the cultural and lifestyle trends shaping consumer behavior, providing valuable guidance for brands looking to make their mark. Discussion Points:<ul><li>Overview of Coupang and its impact on South Korea's digital landscape</li><li>Unique features of the Coupang retail app</li><li>The market's appetite for importing international brands</li><li>The advantages of becoming a merchant on Coupang</li><li>Strategies for foreign brands entering the South Korean market</li><li>The popularity and influence of live streaming e-commerce in South Korea</li><li>Current consumer sectors and lifestyle trends driving consumption</li></ul>
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The APAC Playbook | Red Phoenix's Guide to Growing Western Sports Properties in APAC
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Leif Rogers and Gino Gordon of Red Phoenix Entertainment, a sports marketing agency facilitating the expansion of North American sports, athletes, and franchises into Asian markets. Leif, the Founder and CEO, alongside Gino, Chief Strategy Officer, share their unique insights and experiences in bridging sports cultures across continents. The conversation further explores the popularity of North American sports in China, with Leif providing an analysis of Chinese viewership trends, including interest in events like the Super Bowl and the particular appeal of various sports and athletes. Gino—who previously played professional American football in Japan—contrasts these insights by discussing the sports landscape in Japan, noting the differences and similarities with China. He also shares his perspective on the Shohei Ohtani phenomenon and its broader implications for sports marketing and athlete endorsements. Leif discusses the intricacies of international sports sponsorships, exemplified by the partnership between LingLong Tire and the Tampa Bay Lightning, delving into hockey's growing popularity in China. He reflects on the NHL's past engagement in China and offers strategic advice for future endeavours, emphasizing the potential missed opportunities and advocating for a more aggressive re-entry into the Chinese market. Together, Leif and Gino highlight notable campaigns and the commercial prospects surrounding the upcoming Summer Olympics. They conclude with a compelling argument for why Western sports entities and athletes should consider Asia as a fertile ground for growth, underlining the vast opportunities awaiting in this dynamic market. Discussion Points:<ul><li>The founding and mission of Red Phoenix Entertainment</li><li>Gino's transition from professional football in Japan to sports marketing</li><li>The popularity of North American sports in China and the Super Bowl's reception</li><li>Differences in the sports landscape between Japan and China</li><li>The impact of Shohei Ohtani's move to the Dodgers and sports marketing dynamics in Japan</li><li>The partnership between LingLong Tire and the Tampa Bay Lightning and hockey's popularity in China</li><li>The NHL's engagement strategy in China and potential future directions</li><li>Notable campaigns and the role of individual athletes in expanding into the Asian market</li><li>Commercial opportunities around the upcoming Summer Olympics</li><li>The value proposition for sports entities and athletes eyeing expansion into Asia </li></ul>
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Justin Downes - President @ Axis Leisure Management | The Booming Ski Industry In China
Global skiing participation is on the decline—but in one crucial market, skiing is perhaps the hottest recreational pastime, with millions of people taking up the sport in the last few years. That market is China. In this episode of The Negotiation, host Todd Embley welcomes back Justin Downes, who has led efforts to develop snow resorts across China over the last two decades. As President of Axis Leisure Management, Justin has played a crucial role in growing China’s ski industry and developing the infrastructure for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. He is the pre-eminent expert on China’s ski industry. Justin provides an overview of his work in the Chinese ski industry, detailing its development and operational challenges. He analyzes the current state of skiing in China, including participation rates and the number of skiing venues, which both rank among the highest in the world. He also looks at the average Chinese skier, including income levels, where they live, how often they ski, and the drivers behind broader participation. Reflecting on the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Downes shares insights on its impact on China's ski industry. He discusses the state of elite competitive skiing in China post-Olympics, the performance of Chinese athletes in international competitions, and the significance of China hosting the recent FIS Freestyle World Cup. The episode also explores developments in resort construction and the potential for China to emerge as an international skiing destination. Additionally, Downes assesses opportunities for ski equipment and winter apparel brands in the Chinese market. Listen to this episode for an in-depth discussion on the growth and future of skiing in China with industry expert Justin Downes. Discussion Points:<ul><li>Justin Downes' role in developing China's ski industry</li><li>Overview of skiing in China, including participation and venue comparisons globally</li><li>The 23-24 ski season's success in China</li><li>Demographics and characteristics of the average Chinese skier</li><li>Impact of the 2022 Beijing Olympics on the ski industry</li><li>The state of elite competitive skiing in China and notable athletes</li><li>The FIS Freestyle World Cup in China</li><li>Trends in ski resort development and indoor skiing facilities</li><li>China's potential as a skiing destination</li><li>Opportunities for ski equipment and winter apparel brands in China</li></ul>
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Mark Dreyer, Founder of China Sports Insider | Messi Drama in HK, F1 Is Back in Shanghai, Women's Tennis, the Skiing Boom, and All Things China Sports
In our latest episode of The Negotiation podcast, we're excited to welcome back Mark Dreyer, a luminary in the world of sports in China. With the Paris Olympics on the horizon, Mark gives us a sneak peek into the key stories and athletes poised to make headlines for China in the upcoming summer games, and whether China is expected to dominate the medal table. Mark highlights the feel-good story of Zheng Qingwen and her remarkable performance at the Australian Open, as well as the rising popularity of F1 racing in China, evidenced by the anticipation surrounding the Shanghai F1 and the hype around homegrown talent Zhou Guanyu. Additionally, we touch upon the cultural phenomenon of Lionel Messi’s stardom in China and the recent drama surrounding him sitting out a friendly match in Hong Kong. Mark also provides insights into the current state of Chinese men's and women's football. Finally, Mark highlights the noticeable upswing in recreational sports participation fueled by a growing focus on health and wellness, including the explosion in ski participation in the wake of the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Join host Todd Embley and guest Mark Dreyer for a comprehensive exploration of China's dynamic sports landscape in this must-listen episode of The Negotiation. Discussion Points:<ul><li>High-level takeaways from the 2022 Beijing Olympics and its impact on China</li><li>The burgeoning ski scene in China, from elite competition success to recreational skiing</li><li>Insights into China's performance and expectations for the Paris Olympics</li><li>The inspiring journey of Zheng Qingwen at the Australian Open</li><li>The growing popularity of F1 racing in China, spotlighting the Shanghai F1 event</li><li>Messi’s recent PR crisis around a Hong Kong-friendly match</li><li>The current landscape of Chinese men's and women's football</li><li>The rise in recreational sports participation among the Chinese population</li><li>Notable recreational sports gaining traction in China</li></ul>
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Crystal Tai - Senior Managing Editor @ Jing Daily | Canadian Brands Enjoying Success in China (and Why) & The Top Chinese Fashion Trends For 2024
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, we're excited to have Crystal Tai, Senior Managing Editor at Jing Daily, rejoin us for a deep dive into evolving fashion and lifestyle trends in China. Jing Daily is the premier source for insights into China's digital consumption trends and luxury market, and Crystal brings her extensive expertise back to our listeners, offering a fresh perspective on what's currently shaping the market. Crystal brings us up to speed on the burgeoning popularity of Canadian athleisure and winterwear brands within China. She discusses the impressive traction gained by giants like Lululemon, Canada Goose, and Arc’teryx, alongside smaller players such as Rudsak and Nobis. Her recent analysis sheds light on how the changing lifestyles of Chinese consumers are driving demand in this space. She also explores whether functionality trumps fashion in this sector and what this burgeoning demand signifies for Canadian brands across other market segments. Moreover, Crystal provides an exclusive overview of five fashion trends poised to dominate 2024, offering valuable insights for brands aiming to connect with Chinese consumers. From the revival of “Chinese style” to trends like Asian Baby Girl, Kidulthood, Quiet Luxury, and the nostalgic return of Y2K fashion, she unpacks the cultural shifts and societal changes driving these trends. Each trend reflects a nuanced understanding of the evolving priorities among Chinese consumers, underscoring the importance for brands to stay ahead of the curve. Additionally, Crystal shares her latest findings on Chinese tourism and travel consumption trends. With over a year passed since the lifting of Covid restrictions, she paints a vivid picture of the current tourism market in China. Where are Chinese tourists heading, and what motivates their travel choices now? Crystal's reporting offers a comprehensive look at the post-pandemic recovery of the tourism sector and the new destinations capturing the imagination of Chinese travellers. Join host Todd Embley and Crystal Tai for this insightful conversation, exploring the intersection of culture, lifestyle, and consumer behaviour in China's dynamic market. Whether you're a brand looking to navigate the complexities of the Chinese market or simply keen on understanding the latest trends, this episode promises a wealth of knowledge and intriguing discussions. Key Discussion Points· The increasing popularity of Canadian athleisure and winterwear brands in China· The impact of changing lifestyles on consumer preferences in China· The balance between functionality and fashion in the athleisure and winterwear market· The significance of Canadian brands in China and their influence across various sectors· An overview of Jing Daily as a premier source for luxury, retail, and lifestyle trends in China· The five fashion trends set to shape 2024 and their reflection on societal changes in China· The revival of the "new Chinese style" and its cultural implications· Insights into trends such as Asian Baby Girl, Kidulthood, Quiet Luxury, and Y2K fashion· The evolution of Chinese tourism and travel consumption post-Covid restrictions· Destination preferences among Chinese tourists and the motivations behind their travel choices
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Filip Zieliński | China's EV, Education, & Start-up Landscapes
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a>, Todd sits down with Filip Zieliński, a seasoned entrepreneur and long-time China resident with a wealth of experience across various industries, including green energy, tech, F&B, retail, and education. The conversation starts with a deep dive into China’s booming green energy space. Filip has had a front-row seat to China’s EV revolution - shaking up the global auto industry - through his work for Green Cell, a leading green battery company. Filip also shares details on his latest venture, which aims to help Chinese students gain admission to top global universities. He breaks down how China’s engagement with international education has changed in recent years with the disruptions of the pandemic and a more mature “consumer” of international education opportunities. Finally, we deep dive into China’s rapidly evolving startup ecosystem. Filip has an optimistic view of China’s start-up scene and highlights several sectors primed for significant growth, especially in biotech and hard tech. Listeners will find much to learn from Filip's fascinating business journey in China. Topics Discussed and Key Points: <ul><li>A glimpse into China's green energy and education sectors.</li><li>The allure of Shenzhen and China's diverse local business environments.</li><li>Green Cell and the electric vehicle revolution in China.</li><li>Entrepreneurial challenges in China's education sector.</li><li>Thriving industries in China, including biochemistry, pharmaceuticals, and battery production for electric vehicles.</li><li>The evolution of retail technology in China.</li><li>Global immigration through startup visas.</li><li>The role of intensive preparatory services.</li><li>Data-driven decision making in college applications.</li><li>The power of networking in education.</li></ul>
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Charles Lavoie - Head Of Creative Labs @ WPIC | Douyin & The New China Playbook For Brands
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a>, we welcome back to the show, Charles Lavoie, VP of Marketing & Head of Creative Labs at WPIC Marketing & Technologies and longtime guest of the pod. In our conversation, we explore the transformation that China's e-commerce scene has witnessed due to the rise of Douyin, which has provided global brands with a new platform to connect with Chinese consumers We examine how Douyin fostered consumer trust by initially incentivizing local brands to lower their prices, gradually cultivating a habit of buying through the app. As trust in the platform increased, larger international brands joined the mix. Today, Douyin hosts not just discounted items, but serves as a launching pad for innovative brand initiatives and drives substantial revenue. Charles dives deep into how the brand strategy on Douyin differs from Tmall and the comparative advantages of each platform. Our discussion also touches on Little Red Book Pinduoduo, and how these platforms reshape brand strategy. Finally, Charles also explains why a comparable video-driven social commerce platform has not emerged in the West. Enjoy this insightful conversation on some of the most significant trends in China's retail marketing landscape! Topics Discussed and Key Points: ● Rise of Douyin● The difficulties of growing Douyin-like platforms in the West● Most successful product categories on Douyin● The process for brand store setup and operation on Douyin● Marketing on Tmall vs. Douyin● Livestreaming and influencer collaboration on Tmall vs Douyin● Keyword bidding and consumer intent● Attribution in closed ecosystems: Understanding consumer behaviour, tracking data importance● The rise of micro-influencers in China● The impact of Little Red Book● The culture of excessive discounting in China● Pinduoduo and brand strategy: platform potential, consumer behaviour, collaboration strategies● Impact of AI on search engines● Lesser-known platforms and trends in China
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Jacob Cooke, CEO @ WPIC Marketing + Technologies | The 2024 Outlook for PDD, Douyin, Alibaba, & The Chinese Consumer
We dive into the evolving e-commerce and consumer trends in China for 2024, starting with analyzing the performance and tactics of leading e-commerce giants like Douyin, Pinduoduo, Taobao, and Tmall. What drove ByteDance's revenue growth of 30% to $110 billion? How is Pinduoduo's western-facing discount platform Temu adding to its incredible growth, if at all? And where does all of this leave Alibaba, the darling of e-commerce in China for over a decade?Our discussion also touches on the influence of changing consumption patterns and consumer confidence on the market dynamics. This episode offers a comprehensive overview of China's digital commerce landscape. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>Overview of China's e-commerce landscape</li><li>Major e-commerce platforms in China</li><li>The rise of video in e-commerce</li><li>Social shopping and group buying trends</li><li>Established marketplaces and their innovations</li><li>Changing consumption norms in China</li><li>Consumer confidence factors</li><li>Predictions for the future of e-commerce in China</li></ul>
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Andrew Methven | The Importance of Understanding Mandarin's History As a Language
In this episode of The Negotiation, we are thrilled to feature Andrew Methven, author of the Slow Chinese newsletter, one of the leading resources for keeping up to date with modern Mandarin language trends. Andrew's journey from a planetary science graduate to a Chinese language enthusiast is as fascinating as it is unconventional. Facing limited career prospects in space exploration, he embarked on an overland journey from London to Australia, including a detour in China that ended up lasting one year. Fascinated by his experience in China, Andrew moved to Taiwan after a stint in Australia and immersed himself in learning Mandarin. His journey led him back to the UK, where he pursued a master's degree in Chinese translation and linguistics. Today, Andrew's career is closely linked to China, and he uses the Slow Chinese newsletter to practice and maintain his language skills.Sign up for the Slow Chinese newsletter <a href="https://www.slowchinese.net/subscribe/">HERE! </a> In our conversation, Andrew shares his unconventional language-learning journey. He discusses the challenges of learning Chinese, including the lack of resources and opportunities in the UK and other Western countries. Andrew also emphasizes the importance of understanding the cultural context and history behind the language. He shares how his newsletter aims to provide this context through language learning—and specifically keeping up with modern language trends, which reflect broader social trends in China. He also explains some of the popular memes that have captivated the Chinese internet in recent years. It’s a fascinating discussion on a fascinating language—and how those who are learning Mandarin as a second language can hone their skills to understand China better. Topics Discussed and Key Points<ul><li>Andrew's unconventional path to learning Chinese</li><li>Decline in Mandarin language education in the UK and Western countries</li><li>Challenges of learning Chinese due to distance and lack of accessibility</li><li>Lack of promotion and understanding of the importance of learning about China and Chinese</li><li>Importance of understanding cultural context and history in language learning</li><li>Challenges of understanding connotations and intentions behind Chinese words and phrases</li><li>Focus on connecting language to different types of contexts in the newsletter</li><li>Interesting cultural references and memes, including during recent Halloween celebrations in China</li></ul>
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Claire Urry | Expanding Trade & Investment Between UK And China
In this episode of The Negotiation, we're delighted to speak with Claire Urry, Chief Commercial Officer at the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), the premier British organization dedicated to fostering trade and investment between the UK and China. Calling in from the picturesque English town of Horncastle, Claire gives a detailed breakdown of the UK and China’s robust trading relationship, which has benefited British businesses and communities across the country. Claire explains the pivotal role of the CBBC in promoting UK-China trade, including providing support to British businesses looking to export to China. As a part of that service offering, Claire was recently in Shanghai to attend CIIE and FHC alongside a large delegation of British businesses. Claire shares her observations from the trade shows as well as her takeaways from her first visit to Shanghai in four years. Our conversation also touches on the British sectors ripe for growth in China; the factors that explain the success of several British brands in China; and the sentiment of British business and government elites towards China. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points ● Claire's recent experiences in Shanghai and her impressions of the city.● The role and impact of the CBBC.● Opportunities and challenges in the Chinese market.● Growth sectors in China, including health and wellness, beauty and personal care, fashion, sports and leisure, and home and lifestyle.● Successful strategies of UK brands in China, focusing on strong brand narratives and authenticity.● The resonance of food and drink brands with Chinese consumers.● The relationship between politics and UK-China business dynamics, and the imperative of maintaining a strong, cooperative partnership.
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Denni Hu | Singles' Day, China's Fashion Trends, & The Rise of Chinese Designers
In this episode of The Negotiation, we sit down with Denni Hu, a Shanghai-based journalist for Women's Wear Daily (WWD), a premier fashion industry publication. Our discussion with Denni covers a range of topics, including the latest fashion, consumer, and lifestyle trends in China. We delve into Denni’s career path, the expansion of luxury brands in China, and the intriguing interplay between fashion and food in China's cafe pop-ups. The conversation also touches on the increasing popularity of certain sports and lifestyle trends, the widespread acceptance of yoga pants as everyday wear, and the emergence of Chinese fashion designers on the global stage. Additionally, we explore the concept store boom, the impact of user-generated content on brand promotion, and the strength of domestic brands and designers in the beauty and fashion sectors in China. Topics Discussed and Key Points: ● The resilience and growth of luxury brands in China amidst economic challenges.● The dynamics of China's retail market.● The innovative fusion of fashion and food in China's cafe pop-ups.● Trends in sports and lifestyle, including the normalization of yoga pants as everyday attire in China.● The rising global popularity of Chinese fashion designers.● The influence of user-generated content and social media on the fashion industry in China.● The investments needed to cultivate a brand's aura.● The growing prominence of domestic brands and designers in China’s fashion and beauty sectors.
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Heidi Dugan | The Australian Prime Minister's Visit To China, Warming Australia-China Relations, CIIE, & Singles Day
In this episode of The Negotiation, we are delighted to feature Heidi Dugan, Chair of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AustCham). Heidi joins the show at a critical juncture in Australian-China relations. After several years of frosty ties, Canberra and Beijing are taking steps to normalize the bilateral relationship—most notably by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese making a state visit to China earlier in November. Heidi discusses the work AustCham did around the state visit and the China International Import Expo (CIIE), as well as the broader efforts they are making to improve Australian-China relations. With relations warming, Heidi speaks about her optimism for better trade and investment between Australia and China. She pinpoints key growth sectors for Australian businesses in China, including health and wellness, education, and cosmetics. Having lived in China for nearly 30 years, Heidi also shares her insights on why Chinese consumers think so highly of Australian consumer brands. This is a fascinating conversation with one of the most prominent Australian business leaders in China. Topics Discussed and Key Points: ● An introduction to the Australian Chamber of Commerce (AustCham) in Shanghai.● The crucial role of storytelling in brand development and investment in the Chinese market.● Exploring growth opportunities in sectors such as medical equipment, health and wellness, education, and cosmetics in China.● Insights into the sentiment among Australian business leaders towards China.● A detailed look at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) and Australia's involvement.● The impact of Singles Day on Australian brands and the evolving maturity of the Chinese consumer market.
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Jing Zhang, Global Editor in Chief @ Jing Daily | China's Luxury Consumption Landscape In 2023
In this episode of The Negotiation, we're thrilled to feature Jing Zhang, a renowned fashion journalist and consultant. Jing currently serves as the Global Editor in Chief of Jing Daily, the leading publication on luxury and fashion trends in China. The health of the Chinese consumer has been hotly debated throughout 2023—conflicting market signals have given oxygen to bulls and bears alike. On one hand, luxury spending is up, but pressures on the housing market have led to increased savings and less spending on large durables. So what’s really going on, and how can brands adapt?In this episode, Jing brings her expert insights to the table to shed light on the priorities of Chinese consumers in this new landscape. Our conversation touches on many topics, beginning with Jing’s unexpected journey into fashion journalism. Jing then shares her assessment of Chinese consumer confidence and how consumer preferences have shifted. We also explore the rise of domestic beauty brands, the gradual recovery of the tourism industry, and the impact of mental health on Chinese consumer trends. Jing offers her insights into the Chinese fashion industry, the repercussions of the pandemic, and the evolving nature of Chinese consumerism. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding Chinese lifestyle and consumer trends. Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>Chinese consumer confidence in 2023</li><li>Factors influencing consumer confidence</li><li>Winners and losers in China's luxury market for 2023</li><li>Spending and lifestyle trends among young consumers</li><li>The effect of mental health on young consumers</li><li>The emergence of domestic brands and designers</li><li>The pandemic's impact on luxury brands and tourism</li><li>Comparing e-commerce and offline channels in luxury spending</li></ul>
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Our 200th Episode Featuring Jacob & Joseph Cooke
Welcome to our landmark 200th episode of The Negotiation Podcast! The last four years have been rich with meaningful discussions, profound insights, and memorable moments—and we’re excited about what the future will bring. In this celebratory episode, we are delighted to host the co-founders of WPIC Marketing + Technologies, Jacob and Joseph Cooke. We delve into WPIC's impressive expansion in China, particularly their new office in Shanghai, and reminisce about the company's significant growth since the podcast was launched four years ago We further explore the evolution of e-commerce in China, spotlighting the surging popularity of live-streaming sales and the increasing diversification of the sector. The Cooke brothers candidly share their experiences navigating the pandemic and how it acted as a catalyst in shifting the world more towards e-commerce. We also touch upon the future horizons and expansion blueprints for WPIC. Thank you for being part of this journey, and here's to many more enlightening episodes! Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>Commemorating the 200th episode milestone</li><li>A look back at WPIC Marketing + Technologies last four years</li><li>Unveiling of WPIC's new office in Shanghai</li><li>Delving into the evolution and dynamics of China's e-commerce scene</li><li>WPIC's expansion into Japan and Southeast Asia</li><li>Assessing the pandemic's influence on WPIC and the e-commerce transition</li><li>A sneak peek into exciting news and upcoming endeavours for the podcast</li></ul>
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Noah Fraser, Canada China Business Council Managing Director, China | Opportunities & Challenges For Canadian Business In China
We are excited to welcome Noah Fraser to this episode of The Negotiation. Noah is based in Beijing, serving as Managing Director, China, for the Canada China Business Council (CCBC). In our conversation, Noah discusses the business landscape in China for Canadian companies, highlighting the enormous opportunities in sectors like consumer goods, agriculture, and more. He also breaks down CCBC’s government engagement priorities, advocacy for improved market access, and the current environment for foreign investment. Noah talks about CCBC’s upcoming Annual General Meeting in Beijing, which will welcome a large delegation of Canadian business and government leaders for the first time since before the pandemic. Noah also touches on the Belt and Road Forum, which he attended this week in Beijing alongside representatives from 150 countries. In closing, Noah shares his experience suiting up in the Beijing International Ice Hockey League and his observations on the rise of hockey in China. Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The Belt and Road Initiative● Return of high-level visits to China● CCBC’s upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM)● Challenges and opportunities for Canadian companies in the Chinese market● The significance of building strong local relationships and understanding the complexities of the Chinese market● China's approach to foreign investment and the challenges and opportunities it presents● CCBC’s government engagement priorities and advocating for improved market access● The Beijing International Ice Hockey League
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Jacob Cooke, CEO & CoFounder @ WPIC Marketing + Technologies | Golden Week Consumption Boost, Singles' Day Projections, & South Korea Expansion
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a>, we are delighted to welcome back <a href="https://cn.linkedin.com/in/jakecooke">Jacob Cooke</a>, Co-Founder and CEO of <a href="https://wpic.co/">WPIC Marketing + Technologies</a>. In our conversation with Jacob, we talk about the consumption surge during China's Golden Week, which saw over 800 million domestic trips and more than $100 billion in spending. He highlights other booming sectors like travel, athleisure, and lifestyle, despite macro pressures on Chinese consumers. Jacob also talks about the rise of "special forces tourism" and predicts continued growth in off-the-beaten-path destinations. We also touch on the upcoming Singles Day and the relationship between real estate prices and consumption. Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Golden Week's impact on consumer trends● Consumption recovery during Golden Week● Increase in domestic trips and spending during Golden Week● Weakness in sectors like large durable appliances and auto, but strong performance in personal consumption, travel, athleisure, and lifestyle ● The rise of "special forces tourism"● Singles’ Day optimism ● Growth in health and wellness, athleisure, nutraceuticals, and pet products
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MJ Park | South Korea’s Booming E-commerce Landscape
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a>, we are excited to welcome <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjpark0825/?originalSubdomain=ca">MJ Park</a>, Key Account Manager at <a href="https://wpic.co/">WPIC Marketing + Technologies</a>, to discuss the South Korean e-commerce market. With over a decade of experience in marketing and business management in both Korea and Canada, MJ Park brings a wealth of knowledge about the e-commerce landscape in South Korea, the world's fifth-largest e-commerce market. In our conversation, MJ discussed popular platforms like Naver Shopping and Coupang and booming consumer sectors such as wellness and health supplements. We touch on the market for secondhand goods, local life services like food delivery, and the appetite for international brands in South Korea. We also dive into practical strategies for entering South Korea, including how to set up e-stores and which platforms brands should prioritize for digital marketing. Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The e-commerce giants of South Korea● Comparison of South Korean platforms to Chinese platforms● Notable consumer trends in South Korea● The secondhand market in South Korea● The ecosystem of local life services in South Korea, such as food delivery platforms● The appetite for international brands in South Korea
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Michael Hart, President of AmCham China | US-China Relations, Business Climate Sentiment In China, & China's Appetite For Foreign Direct Investment
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a>, we are honoured to welcome Michael Hart, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China).In our conversation, Michael discusses his background and 20-year business career in Mainland China. He talks about the vital work of AmCham, which includes policy advocacy, business development support, and community building for American businesses in China. Michael shares his view on member companies' current business environment and investment outlook. We also talk about the chamber's interaction with different levels of government in China and the eagerness to attract foreign direct investment.Michael has a unique window into what America’s largest companies are thinking and doing on the ground in China—it’s a must-listen for anyone looking to understand US-China relations and China’s business landscape. Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The role of AmCham China● The evolving business environment in China● The US-China relationship and its impact on US business in China● China’s 24 points to encourage investment● The "great decoupling" during the COVID-19 pandemic● The impact of foreign investment in China● Importance of feedback in policy changes and promoting progress● Interaction of AmCham with local and central governments in China● Understanding the different levels of government in China● The current state of foreign direct investment (FDI) in China● Foreign direct investment (FDI) in China: government’s eagerness, key sectors, and timing● The future of investment in China● AmCham's upcoming visit to Washington, D.C., and the message they will deliver
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Shai Oster | China & Southeast Asia's Tech Investment Landscape
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a>, we are excited to be joined by<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shai-oster-7105774/?originalSubdomain=th"> Shai Oster</a>, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who recently served as Asia Bureau Chief for The Information. Shai previously worked at the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, with postings spanning China, Europe, and the U.S. He's now working as an independent strategy and communications consultant based out of Bangkok. In our conversation with Shai, we dive into various topics related to China's economy, the tech industry, and investment flows. We explore different sectors in China, such as biotech, clean tech, and semiconductors. We also talk about the rise of electric vehicles in China, the success of Chinese auto exports, and how that’s playing out on the ground in places like Bangkok. We conclude our conversation by looking at the platform economy in Southeast Asia, including a breakdown of the e-commerce, food delivery, and digital payment ecosystem in Thailand. Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Economic changes in China● The current state of China's tech industry● Challenges in the IPO market● The rise of Chinese electric vehicles ● Chinese investment in Thailand's EV industry and the international expansion of Chinese automakers● Electric vehicle adoption's impact on electricity prices and household grids● The dominance of Lazada and Shopee in Southeast Asia e-commerce● Importance of payments infrastructure and role of banks● Comparison of payment processes in China and the US● Key players in the e-commerce and food delivery sectors in Thailand● Lack of consolidation in the Thai market and the potential impact of subsidy wars
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Jacob Cooke, CEO @ WPIC Marketing & Technologies | Why WPIC Is So Bullish On The Chinese Consumer
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a>, we are delighted to welcome back <a href="https://cn.linkedin.com/in/jakecooke">Jacob Cooke</a>, Co-Founder and CEO of <a href="https://wpic.co/">WPIC Marketing + Technologies</a>. Jacob is based in Beijing where he oversees the China and broader APAC operations for WPIC. Jacob recently returned to China after a summer trip to Canada, so we thought it would be a great time to bring him back on the show to share what he’s seeing on the ground in China and APAC’s e-commerce landscape. After sharing his thoughts on China’s domestic and international travel sector, Jacob dives into the narrative around weak consumption in China. Jacob refutes this narrative, emphasizing that there is robust growth in several consumer sectors. We also discuss Alibaba’s performance and leadership shuffle, as well as the latest Li Jiaqi scandal, before turning to a discussion of the e-commerce markets in South Korea and Southeast Asia. Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Chinese travel in the new normal● The ongoing e-commerce boom in China● Lesser-known cities experiencing enormous growth in China, such as Hangzhou and Dalian● Analyzing earnings reports and financial statements to gain insights into the Chinese market● Alibaba's leadership transition● The e-commerce markets in South Korea and Southeast Asia● TikTok's rise in Southeast Asia
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Su Cheng Harris-Simpson | Empowering Women in Business in China and Beyond
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a>, we are delighted to speak with Su Cheng Harris-Simpson. Su Cheng is the visionary founder of the <a href="https://womenempowermentcouncil.com/">Women Empowerment Council</a> (WEC), an organization dedicated to promoting gender equality in business in China and beyond. Su Cheng has been an active member of the Beijing business community for three decades. Before moving into entrepreneurship and eventually founding the WEC, she worked at Boeing, the Capital Club in Beijing, and United Technologies Corporation. She’s also a long-standing board member of the American Chamber of Commerce in China. In this episode, Su Cheng shares her journey from working at Boeing to starting her own consultancy in Beijing and eventually pivoting to philanthropy and women’s empowerment. We delve into the WEC’s initiatives, including its upcoming conference where they will release a white paper that outlines policy recommendations for empowering women. All listeners of The Negotiation can get a 20% discount off tickets for the Women’s Empowerment Conference & Awards with the promo code WPIC_2023. They can also use this link to register: https://app.glueup.cn/event/40943/register/?coupon=WPIC_2023.Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>How SCHS Asia was founded </li><li>The power of communities: AmCham and the Women Empowerment Council</li><li>Addressing gender disparities: The Women's Economy Summit</li><li>Su's work with the Women Empowerment Council (WEC) </li><li>WEC’s upcoming annual conference and awards</li><li>Importance of role models and diversity in leadership positions</li><li>Power of consumer spending in promoting equality and supporting socially responsible companies</li></ul>
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Michel de Rijk | Why Now Is The Time To Be Bullish On China & The Impact Of AI On The World Of Advertising
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation podcast</a>, we are joined by Michel de Rijk. Michel is an esteemed marketing executive who has held leadership posts at some of the world’s largest agencies, most recently as CEO APAC for S4. In our conversation with Michel, we discuss his background and extensive experience in the APAC region. Michel highlights the opportunities and challenges of doing business in China, emphasizing the country's innovation and immense potential. He advises brands to adopt a long-term strategy and understand local market trends when entering China. We also discuss the impact of COVID-19 on companies' strategies in China and the importance of adapting to technological advancements, addressing misinformation, and prioritizing sustainability in the advertising industry. Michel also discusses his excitement about the Indian and Vietnamese markets. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Energy and growth in the APAC region ● China's innovation track record● Opportunities and challenges of doing business in China● The importance of long-term strategic thinking while entering the Chinese market● Impact of COVID-19 on companies' strategies in China● The importance of international market exposure and learning from different regions● The success story of Tim Hortons and coffee culture in China● Exciting consumer markets in APAC beyond China (India and Vietnam)● Regional strategies for APAC● Importance of local presence in key markets● The evolution of regional HQ strategies over time.● Impact of technology on the advertising industry and daily lives
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Yaling Jiang, Founder of "Following The Yuan", Part 2 | US-China Cultural Similarities, "Facekinis", Coffee, and the 'Wellness' Boom
This episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation podcast</a> is part two of our discussion with Yaling Jiang, Founder of "<a href="https://www.chineseconsumers.news/">Following the Yuan</a>," a popular newsletter focused on Chinese consumers. Before launching her own newsletter, Yaling wrote for outlets such as SCMP, Glossy, Vogue Business, and WWD. In this, the back half of our interview, we talk about some trends that have common threads with the West such as “quiet quitting” and “lie flat”, as well as the comeback of buffets and the continued rise of health and wellness. We also discuss facekinis, coffee culture, scented candles and more. We conclude our chat by talking about the importance of research and development for Chinese beauty brands. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● "Quiet quitting" and "lie flat" trends, the comeback of buffets, and the focus on health and wellness● Rise of health and wellness trends in China● The popularity of pre-made meals and food delivery in China● The emergence and impact of ghost kitchens on the food industry● Rise of ‘facekinis’ and their influence on traditional beauty standards● The rise of Chinese perfume and candle brands in China● Rise of coffee culture in China● Importance of research and development for Chinese beauty brands
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Yaling Jiang, Founder of "Following The Yuan" | The Reception Of The Barbie Movie In China & Newsletter-Based Journalism
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation Podcast</a>, we feature part one of our conversation with Yaling Jiang, Founder of "<a href="https://www.chineseconsumers.news/">Following the Yuan</a>," a popular newsletter focused on Chinese consumers. Before launching her own newsletter, Yaling wrote for outlets such as SCMP, Glossy, Vogue Business, and WWD. In the first half of our conversation with Yaling, we learn the history of “Following the Yuan” and what drove her to start producing it, as well as an overview of the newsletter-based journalism field in general and its parallels with WeChat official accounts. We also ask Yaling to touch on the “Asian Baby Girl” trend, before diving head-long into the Barbie movie phenomenon, its reception amongst audiences in China, and dovetailing that into a deeper discussion of what toys children in China grow up with. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Yaling’s frustration with English-language journalism covering China● The increasing popularity of newsletter-based journalism● The parallels between newsletter-based journalism and WeChat official accounts in China● Cultural perceptions and misunderstandings of "Asian Baby Girl" (ABG)● The reception of the Barbie movie in China compared to the incredible fanfare received in the West● A discussion of what toys children in China grow up with and how it differs from the West both in quantity and style Notable Quotes “When striving to work for bigger and bigger newspapers and platforms, I realized that the newsrooms don't always prioritize people's stories. They don't prioritize the consumer stories in the business world, instead, they go for the click.” “People see the news as a key way to stay connected with the audience. A bit like how channel marketers see WeChat official accounts as a key form of communication channel with their audience.” “In Barbie world, I mean, women or everybody seems they've already changed the world because in their world like they can be president, they can be a supreme judge that can be lawyers. And it's a place ruled by women. So in their mind, they've already changed the world to a better place.”
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Crystal Tai, Senior Managing Editor @ Jing Daily | The Fashion, Culture, & Lifestyle Trends Shaping Consumption In China
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a>, we are delighted to be joined by Crystal Tai, Senior Managing Editor at <a href="https://jingdaily.com/">Jing Daily</a>, the leading media platform focused on luxury, retail, lifestyle, and digital consumption trends in China. In our conversation with Crystal, we discuss her journalism career and the niche filled by Jing Daily in the China media landscape. Crystal breaks down the “-core” fashion trends in China—from Barbiecore to "gorpcore" to “Asian Baby Girl”. She also discusses the cultural and lifestyle trends that are shaping fashion and broader consumption, including the role of Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book). Drawing on her experience reporting from South Korea, Crystal also discusses the influence of K-pop and South Korean culture on music, beauty, and fashion trends in China and around the world. Enjoy this fascinating conversation! Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>K-pop as a cultural technology and its global influence</li><li>The decline of the K-wave in China </li><li>An introduction to Jing Daily</li><li>Emerging fashion and lifestyle trends in China</li><li>"-core" fashion trends in China: normcore, "barbiecore", "gorpcore", dopamine dressing, and more</li><li>The role of Xiaohongshu</li><li>Why “facekinis” have become popular in China</li><li>China’s luxury sector post-Covid</li><li>The rise of digital nomadism among millennials and Gen Z in China </li></ul>
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Simon Torring, CoFounder of Cube Asia | The SE Asia Ecommerce Platform Battle Between Lazada, Shopee, & How TikTok Shop Is Emerging As A Legitimate Contender
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation podcast</a>, we are delighted to feature<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/simontoerring/?originalSubdomain=my"> Simon Torring</a> on the show. Simon is a distinguished professional with a multifaceted background in the field of online retail. He is the Co-founder of <a href="https://cube.asia/">Cube Asia</a>, a market insights organization specializing in online retail within Southeast Asia. Cube Asia is dedicated to assisting brands, retail companies, and investors in achieving profitable growth by providing them with more recent, granular, and reliable data and insights about their online sales channels. Simon has also worked as the Director of Omnichannel Innovations (Southeast Asia) for <a href="https://www.sephora.com/">Sephora</a>, the world's leading beauty and cosmetics retailer, and Regional Head of SEO, Influencer Marketing, and Content Marketing for Luxola. These roles further enhanced his understanding of the intricacies and dynamics of the online retail landscape. In our conversation with Simon, we get valuable insights into his experience working at Luxola, an online beauty retail company, and explain the disruption in the cosmetics market with the emergence of strong local and cross-border brands. We also discuss the major e-commerce platforms in the region, including Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop, with TikTok Shop emerging as a legitimate challenger. Simon predicts the need for TikTok Shop to expand into other categories and discusses the potential risks and challenges it may face. Our conversation also touches on the formation and vision of Cube Asia, which provides market data and insights for e-commerce in Southeast Asia. Cube Asia aims to fill the gap in the market for accurate, reliable, and actionable data for brands and retailers in the region. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The success of Luxola in bringing international beauty brands to Southeast Asia● Growth of e-commerce in Southeast Asia, particularly in the beauty sector● Disruption in the cosmetics sector with the emergence of local and cross-border brands● The visionary approach of Sephora's leadership towards omnichannel retail in the beauty industry● De Minimis rules● Convergence of Lazada and Shopee in the Southeast Asian E-commerce Market● Growth and impact of TikTok in Southeast Asia● Cube Asia’s background in e-commerce in Southeast Asia● Challenges in entering the Southeast Asian Market
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Qin Chen, Managing Editor @ TechNode | China's Booming EV Industry, AI Advances, & Why Meituan Won't Be Dethroned In The Local Life Services Vertical
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation podcast</a>, we speak to <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/qinchencq/?originalSubdomain=cn">Qin Chen</a>, Managing Editor at <a href="https://technode.com/">TechNode</a>, one of the leading media sources on China's technology and startup scene. Qin previously worked as a reporter at the South China Morning Post's Inkstone, and prior to that worked in the United States as a senior video producer at The New Yorker and a documentary producer at CNBC. In our conversation with Qin, we discuss Qin’s career trajectory, her role at TechNode, and the state of journalism and media. We talk about the growth of Chinese EV automakers and the competitive landscape of the electric vehicle industry in China. We also discuss generative AI, call out some of the most notable startups in China, and explore the raging e-commerce battles taking place as the varying platforms seem to have no hesitation in exploring each other's core verticals. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Evolution and differentiation of journalism and media, both in the West and the East● Impact of tech giants like Facebook and Google on the media industry● The rise of Chinese EV automakers● China's long-term planning and investment in the electric vehicle industry● Involvement of Baidu, Huawei, and other giants in the auto industry● Momentum and significance of generative AI in China's tech industry● The current landscape of e-commerce in China● Meituan's reputation for being willing to handle the "dirty work" and thrive on slim profit margins.● The maturation of the Chinese tech industry● Shifting focus from consumer Internet to new areas of innovation in the Chinese tech industry.
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Thomas Yeoh | Dissecting The Booming eCommerce Landscape In SE Asia
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation podcast</a>, we have the pleasure to sit down with Thomas Yeoh, Managing Director at <a href="https://asia.baozun.com/">Baozun Asia</a>, a leading brand e-commerce solutions provider. Thomas has 30+ years of experience in organizational transformation and M&A advisory. He provides strategic advice on leadership, growth, and technology-driven eCommerce solutions for businesses in Southeast Asia and China. In our conversation with Thomas, we discuss how consumer brands can grow in Southeast Asia. We explore why it's important to have a careful and personalized approach to succeed in this diverse and complicated market. We talk about understanding the different cultures and affordability levels in the region, as well as the need for reliable local partners or teams. This conversation gives useful advice and insights for brands that want to expand into Southeast Asia. If you're thinking about expanding your brand into Southeast Asia, this episode will give you valuable information and tips. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The population disparity between Southeast Asia and China, and the potential factors contributing to the gap. ● The rapid development and growing acceptance of digital payment infrastructure in Southeast Asia, during the COVID-19 pandemic. ● The changing labor laws in Indonesia, making it more attractive for manufacturing investments.● The growth of the middle class and expanding the consumer market potential in Southeast Asia.● The rise of TikTok as an e-commerce platform. ● Overcoming the trust factor in e-commerce.● The strategic approach for international brands in establishing regional logistics hubs in Southeast Asia.● The importance of identifying specific target segments within Southeast Asia. ● The need to adapt marketing messages to align with the cultural and local market nuances of Southeast Asia.
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Marko Tiesmäki | Nokia's Journey In China & Promoting The Finland-China Trade Relationship
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation podcast</a>, we are delighted to speak with Marko Tiesmäki, the China Country Director for <a href="https://www.businessfinland.fi/en/for-finnish-customers/services/startup-companies/startup-companies?gclid=CjwKCAjwkeqkBhAnEiwA5U-uM2-MUeU5thTFBlA24JT8LC7eGjhH0JkIashx4VFXGjIfcuHcseEZnhoCSUwQAvD_BwE">Business Finland</a>. Before his current role in promoting trade between Finland and China, Marko held China leadership roles at Nokia and Airbus In our conversation with Marko, we gain valuable insights from his experiences working in China in the 1990s for Nokia. Marko shares his views on the growth of mobile technology in China, broader social and economic changes in China over the past three decades, and the potential for Finnish companies to thrive in the Chinese market, especially in areas such as green energy. We explore the importance of personal connections and community, whether it's building relationships with Chinese partners or bonding over a shared love of hockey. We also touch on the challenges of doing business in China, such as the growing strength of local competition, the importance of adapting to changes in the industry, and much more. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>Evolution of mobile connectivity</li><li>Rapid economic development and Urbanization in China</li><li>Acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent by Nokia</li><li>The importance of maintaining market position in China, particularly after mergers</li><li>Nokia's evolving market position</li><li>China - the ultimate testing ground of a company's fitness and resilience</li><li>Three major phases of change in China's development and policies</li><li>Finland's business relationship with China and opportunities in green energy and energy transition</li><li>The hockey community in Beijing</li></ul>
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John Gearing | Lessons Learned Growing The World's Largest Apparel Brands In APAC
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation podcast</a>, we are joined by John Gearing. John is the founder of <a href="https://www.johnbgearing.com/">JBG Consulting & Advisory</a> and a fashion and sportswear executive with extensive experience in retail since 1996. He guides and optimizes retail businesses in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, providing strategic insights to private enterprises and investors from Bangalore, Hangzhou, and Edinburgh. In our conversation with John, we gain valuable insights on how to succeed in the APAC region. We discuss the importance of adapting brands to be relevant locally and investing in direct-to-consumer channels. We talk about the Indian market and why it's significant for businesses to partner with the right people and understand the right model. We also touch on the e-commerce landscape in India and China, and the competitive nature of businesses in those countries. We conclude our discussion by exploring the exciting future of India. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Challenges and Opportunities in building retail capabilities in Asia● Importance of strategic framework and local market control● Lessons learned in brand building and market adaptation● Wrangler and Li brands' success in China and Asia● The changing market conditions over the past 18 years, starting with Japan's influence and shifting toward China's market growth and impact● Shift in influence from Japan to South Korea in the fashion industry● The rapid changes in logistics infrastructure and technology in the retail industry● The challenges and opportunities of expanding businesses into the APAC region● Factors to consider when developing a successful expansion strategy in the APAC region● The potential of the Indian consumer market● The e-commerce landscape in India, including the main platforms, the differences compared to the Chinese market.● The competitive nature of business in countries like China and India
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Xiang Chen | Why Expanding Your Brand Into Asia Successfully Requires Data-Centric Insights
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation podcast</a>, we are joined by<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/xiangyuchen/"> Xiang Chen</a>. He is the VP of Strategy and Insights at <a href="https://wpic.co/">WPIC Marketing + Technologies</a>, a company that provides market data solutions for brands looking to enter the Chinese market. Xiang is a bilingual individual with deep knowledge of Eastern and Western cultures. With a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, he began his career as a Project Planner at a leading Canadian telecom company, overseeing major network upgrades. Xiang later joined a Beijing-based tech startup as a Product Director, where he successfully established the IT team and managed diverse projects for esteemed clients worldwide. In our conversation with Xiang we gain valuable insights into the impact of his role at WPIC, as well as WPIC's incredible Discripto tool which provides valuable information about the Chinese market, and the importance of data-informed decisions in running a successful consumer business in China. We touch on the challenges of expanding into the Chinese market and the need for a tailored approach to branding and marketing in China and the value of having reliable data to navigate the challenges of expanding into the market. We conclude by talking about the upcoming 6.18 festival, a major shopping event in China that takes place on June 18th each year. We discuss the festival's significance for both brands and consumers and how it has emerged as a key opportunity for companies to boost sales and gain exposure in the Chinese market. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The features and benefits of Discripto's data analysis system● The need for tuning in Discripto's data analysis system in response to changing digital landscape● Rise of Douyin (TikTok) and how it has impacted businesses ● WPIC services for brands entering or expanding into the Chinese market● A shift towards data-informed decision-making, as brands realize the significance of data in gaining a competitive advantage● The sophistication of both consumers and competitors in the world● Contrasting E-commerce platforms in Western Countries and Southeast Asia● The challenges of entering the Chinese market● Strategic brand positioning and targeted messaging in the Chinese probiotics market● Emerging trends in the Chinese consumer market and why cats are becoming increasingly popular in China
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Ryan Purkey | Digital Transformation In Asia For Established Industries
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation podcast</a>, we are thrilled to feature <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanpurkey/?originalSubdomain=hk">Ryan Purkey </a>on the show. Ryan is a seasoned technology executive with over 20 years of diverse leadership experience. Beginning his career at an SEO startup, he has played a pivotal role in driving success for renowned clients such as Home Depot, Victoria's Secret, and Warner Bros. Notably, Ryan served as the Head of Digital at <a href="https://www.tannerdewitt.com/">Tanner De Witt,</a> a prominent Hong Kong law firm. During our conversation with Ryan, we talk about his experience driving digital transformation at Tanner De Witt during the pandemic. We discuss the unique considerations for professional services firms in digital marketing, the importance of building rapport with potential clients, and the challenges and opportunities for digital transformation in established industries. We also dig into why there is a need for these industries to modernize and adapt in order to stay competitive. We wrap up our conversation by grabbing our well-used crystal ball and look into the future of the digital marketing industry over the next five years. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The early days of the internet● Digital transformation and considerations for legal firms ● Implementing content marketing strategies for legal firms● The importance of building rapport with potential clients in the Asia Pacific● The dynamics of B2B relationships within the legal profession● Stakeholder management in law firms● The long-term impact of AI: A hype cycle with lasting effects● Challenges in modernizing established industries● The need for professional firms to improve conflict searches, adopt digital solutions, and embrace eDiscovery in the legal industry.● Decentralization and diversification of digital marketing
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Alex Palmer | The Asia Multi-Market Entry Strategy Brands Have Been Waiting For
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation podcast</a>, we are joined by Alex Palmer. Alex is a highly accomplished marketing executive and currently serves as the Executive Vice President at <a href="https://www.wpic.co/">WPIC Marketing + Technologies</a>,. With extensive experience and a strategic mindset, he drives growth, fosters client relationships, and leads innovative marketing strategies, contributing to the company's success and its position as an industry leader helping brands successfully expand into Asia. In our conversation with Alex, we get valuable insights into his recent trip to WPIC's offices in Japan and China, as well as WPIC's latest initiative,<a href="https://www.wpic.co/events/2023-apac-ecommerce-accelerator-program/"> the APAC E-commerce Accelerator Program</a>. The program is designed to help brands expand into the Asia-Pacific region efficiently by taking care of the complexities of the supply chain, customs, financial reconciliations, and taxes. We also talk about the importance of having a reliable partner to manage operations in the region and highlight the significance of human relationship management skills in the future of business in Asia. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Golf retail in Japan● Honma, “the Titleist of Japan” ● Efficiency gains for brands in the APAC E-commerce Accelerator Program● Implementing marketing strategies in the APAC region● Scaling businesses in different markets: Strategies and considerations● Managing business growth, decision-making, knowledge transfer, and outsourcing challenges● The rise of tech-driven health and wellness products in a consumer-conscious market● The importance of having the right partner in addressing regional consumer differences: education, adaptation, understanding, and bridging gaps for success● Building successful teams through effective stakeholder management and collaboration at scale● The importance of human relationship management and skill development 
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Daniel Mabey | Nutraceuticals - One Of The Fastest Growing Market Segments In Asia
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation podcast</a>, we are joined by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-mabey-08680331/">Daniel Mabey</a>. Daniel is the Asia Region President of the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA). He is also the director of UNPA's Market Development Cooperator Program with the U.S. Commerce Department's International Trade Administration, which aims to increase exports of US-made natural health products to China through a new export certification and quality program. Daniel’s role is crucial to the newly established export certification and quality program, which aims to expand the export of natural health products produced in the United States to China. In our conversation with Daniel, we get valuable insights into the various segments of the nutraceuticals market in China, the cultural factors driving its growth, and the regulatory environment for foreign companies. We discuss effective sales channels and marketing strategies for companies looking to enter the Chinese market. Daniel also predicts continued growth in the nutraceuticals market in China, driven by factors such as the aging population and increasing health awareness. We also talk about the importance of data and analytics in predicting customer behavior to be successful in China. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The power of exposure● The booming nutraceuticals market in China● Consumer attitudes in China toward nutraceuticals● The Blue Hat registration process in China● The motive behind the Chinese government setting up the cross-border e-commerce system● Effective marketing tactics and strategies e-commerce enterprises can use to achieve prosperity in the Chinese market● Challenges of importing products to China● The importance of using the right marketing and trading partner in China● WPIC’s data-driven approach to the Chinese market● The regulatory environment of the nutraceutical industry in China ● Dietary supplement health and education act of 1994● Why we could see the consolidation of foreign brands in China in the future● Why having relevant data and market knowledge are keys to succeeding in China
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Jacob Cooke | Japan's Booming E-commerce Market
In this episode of The Negotiation, we are excited to welcome to the program, Jacob Cooke, the Co-Founder and CEO of WPIC Marketing and Technologies. Jacob is usually based in Beijing where he oversees the China operations for WPIC Marketing and Technologies, however today he is joining us from Tokyo, where WPIC also has a significant and growing presence. We thought it would be perfect timing for him to join us and tell us what he sees in Japan and update us on the country's booming e-commerce landscape. We cover all the significant topics one would expect if looking to enter the Japanese market as a new entrant, including a high-level overview of e-commerce in Japan, emerging consumer trends and preferences; key regulations and legal requirements that foreign brands need to be aware of when entering the Japanese e-commerce market; the role of social media, influencer marketing and live-streaming; & Japan’s unique logistics and distribution systems landscape and some of the challenges it may present for foreign brands who are unfamiliar Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● WPIC's operational landscape in Japan● Overview of the current e-commerce landscape in Japan● The hottest sectors for cross-border e-commerce in Japan● Key regulatory and legal requirements, with nutraceuticals as an example● The role of social media, influencer marketing, and live streaming● The unique logistics and distribution systems in Japan & how they impact e-commerce● How WPIC is able to serve multiple APAC markets with a single source of inventory and ERP 
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Kirsten Johnston | Place Identity & Branding Some Of China's Most Iconic Areas
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation podcast</a>, we are joined by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstenjohnston/">Kirsten Johnston</a>, Founder and CEO of <a href="https://www.jwdkpartners.com/">JWDK</a>, a brand design firm specializing in cultural and place identity in China. An expert in place branding, Kirsten has consulted for some of the most influential properties in Mainland China. Based in Shanghai, Kirsten also serves as the Vice Chair of <a href="https://www.britishchambershanghai.cn/">BritCham Shanghai</a>. In our conversation with Kirsten, we get to learn more about her work in place branding for some of China’s most notable landmarks. We discuss the importance of understanding human behavior and cultural identity in placemaking and place branding, and the need to adapt international models to fit local contexts. Kirsten also shares case studies of her work with Rockbund, a community space in Shanghai, as well as other projects across Mainland China. We finish our conversation by exploring what makes a great design and some of the mistakes made that result in what she considers poorly designed places. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Place branding.● The evolution of design and branding. ● Consumer trends and placemaking.● Rapid urban development in China and its impact on town planning and real estate investment.● The creation of "ghost malls" that remain empty in China.● Xintiandi and al fresco dining in Shanghai.● Elements that make places work in the physical sense: human scale, intimacy, and walkability.● Chinese developments and walkability.● Human behavior in public spaces, the safety zone., and how people maneuver within spaces.● Shanghai’s Rockbund.● The differences between engaging with Chinese companies and international companies.● The change in workspace design due to the pandemic.
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Susan Heffernan | Breaking Down The Furniture And Home Decor Industry In China
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation podcast</a>, we are joined by<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanheffernanchina/?originalSubdomain=cn"> Susan Heffernan</a> on the show. Susan is a strategic advisor for brands in the health, wellness, beauty, and lifestyle sectors. She has a track record of growing profitable international businesses and helping them navigate the complexities of the China market. She is also the CEO of <a href="https://www.soozar.com/">Soozar</a>, a design-led production company specializing in designing, developing, manufacturing and supplying bespoke art pieces, props and visual display accessories. In our conversation with Susan, we gain valuable insight into her experience of operating a business in China as well as her current role as a strategic advisor for companies that want to enter the Chinese market. We dive deep into the nuances of conducting business in China, how IKEA's business model may have influenced the market, the process of sourcing materials for manufacturing, and the current trends in China's furniture and home decor industry. Susan also offers her predictions regarding the future of the health and wellness industry in the Asia Pacific region and the home and house space in China over the next three to five years. We conclude our conversation by exploring the effects of COVID-19, particularly on the furniture industry. Enjoy!Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>Susan’s background and experience in China, founding and operating a business </li><li>The challenges IKEA faced in China and how it overcame them</li><li>Challenges of sourcing raw materials in different regions of the world </li><li>The importance of maintaining close connections with partners in China</li><li>China’s growing awareness of preventive medicine</li><li>The market’s increasing popularity of fitness activities.</li><li>Platforms that consumers are paying attention to today in the health and wellness industry</li><li>Stunt marketing </li><li>Advancement in packaging </li><li>China's emerging role in organic skincare production</li><li>The increasing popularity of Scandinavian slimline furniture </li><li>Impact of COVID-19 on the home furnishings market</li></ul>
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Diego Dultzin Lacoste Part 2 | The Impact of Data Analysis on Pricing Online & How AI Can Automate The Process To Further Drive Revenue
This episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation podcast</a> features part 2 of our discussion with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/diegodultzin/?originalSubdomain=hk">Diego Dultzin Lacoste</a>. Diego is the co-founder of <a href="https://www.onthelist.asia/">OnTheList</a>. OnTheList is an innovative online flash sales platform that offers Members-Only flash sales, allowing members to enjoy exclusive access to luxury brands at reduced prices. By transforming inventory into opportunity, OnTheList is revolutionizing the retail industry in Asia for both brands and consumers. In this episode, we continue our discussion with Diego, kicking off by discussing data in the luxury brand industry in Asia. We talk about how <a href="https://www.onthelist.asia/">OnTheList</a> uses customer data to optimize sales for luxury brands and the importance of pricing strategy in the market. We also touch on the use of AI in pricing strategies, and then shift the discussion to the booming luxury market in Asia, as well as the future of retail in Asia. We finish our conversation by diving into the impact of COVID-19 on the luxury industry in Asia. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Importance of pricing strategy and adjusting based on data analysis● The potential for AI to automate price changes but why it can be difficult to replace the human element● The importance of localization in each market segment ● The future of retail in Asia ● The booming luxury market in Asia ● Why luxury brands are re-focusing their investments in Asia ● Surviving and thriving through COVID
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Diego Dultzin Lacoste, Part 1 | Founder Of The First Independent, Members-Only Flash Sales Site In Asia
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation podcast</a>, we are thrilled to be joined by Diego Dultzin, co-founder of <a href="https://www.onthelist.asia/">OnTheList</a>. OnTheList is an innovative online flash sales platform that offers members-only flash sales, allowing its members to enjoy exclusive access to luxury brands at reduced prices. By transforming inventory into opportunity, OnTheList is revolutionizing the retail industry in Asia for both brands and consumers. In part one of our conversation with Diego, we discuss how he and his partner have built <a href="https://www.onthelist.asia/">OnTheList</a>, and how they view the future of retail in Asia. We also discuss topics such as building partnerships with well-known brands, finding and retaining good talent in the retail industry, and the importance of understanding the specificities of each market in Asia. Don't miss out on this insightful conversation with Diego. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The launch of OnTheList ● Helping brands unload excess inventory sustainably● Building a diverse team in Asia● Approaches to partnership building● The difficulties of hiring, particularly in Asia● Sustainability in Asia https://www.onthelist.asia/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/diegodultzin/
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Jerome Spitzer | Going from 0 To 18 Restaurants In 15 years In HK
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation podcast</a>, we are joined by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerome-spitzer-825149b/?originalSubdomain=hk">Jerome Spitzer</a>, co-founder of <a href="https://hivelife.com/french-creations/">French Creations</a>, a prominent F&B group headquartered in Hong Kong. Jerome has now established a new venture named <a href="https://www.brg.hk/">Boheme Restaurant Group (BRG)</a>, which focuses on the restaurant industry. In our discussion with Jerome, we learn about his experiences in the restaurant industry in Asia and Europe. We also talk about the challenges of customer acquisition and his growth strategies in Hong Kong's competitive market, as well as the importance of adapting to different types of clientele. Jerome also shares his experiences designing and operating restaurants in Hong Kong and France, as well as the impact of COVID-19 on the industry. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>The origin of the name “Boheme”</li><li>The difference between expatriate and local clientele in China</li><li>How Jerome met Olivier and opened their first restaurant</li><li>The reason for the success of Pastis restaurant </li><li>Customer acquisition </li><li>Adapting to changing customer expectations</li><li>Jerome’s growth strategy for his company</li><li>The importance of speed of business in Asia and how it differs from the standard approach in North America and Europe</li><li>How Jerome and his partner managed to open 18 restaurants in 15 years </li><li>Challenges of opening a restaurant in France compared to Hong Kong</li><li>Business operational efficiencies </li><li>The efficiency and pragmatism of government officials and laws in Hong Kong, including the process of obtaining licenses.</li><li>Future expansion plans for BRG</li></ul>
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Gordon Domlija Part 2 | How Brands Can Reinvent Themselves In Asia, & How The Metaverse In Asia Is Shaping The Future Of Marketing Globally
This episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation podcast</a> features part 2 of our in-depth discussion with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordon-domlija-5363692/recent-activity/posts/">Gordon Domlija</a>, an advertising and media specialist with over 25 years of experience in communications and marketing. In Part 2 of our conversation with <a href="https://elucidatex.com">Gordon</a>, we continue talking about marketing in different regions of Asia. We dive into the various strategies Chinese domestic companies use compared to that of international brands, highlighting the importance of understanding customer needs and adapting marketing strategies accordingly. Gordon shares his insights on the role of self-expression in Chinese marketing and how the shopping experience has changed over time. Last, we also discuss national pride's impact on consumer behavior and the challenges that Western brands may face when trying to compete in China. Gordon stresses the importance of localization and the need for brands to understand cultural differences in shaping consumer tastes. We conclude our conversation by exploring the potential of the metaverse in the advertising industry and how it may shape the future of marketing, especially in the APAC region. Enjoy!Gordon can be reached at gordan@elucidatex.com Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The importance of self-expression in marketing and how Chinese companies have capitalized on this trend● The changing experience of shopping in brick-and-mortar stores and how Chinese companies have improved their retail spaces and customer experiences● National pride and consumer behavior in China● The importance of heritage and history in Western brands, and the shift towards valuing quality and exclusivity in China● Effective localization of global products● The challenges potentially faced by foreign brands in China and the importance of understanding customer needs and competition● Gordon’s experience managing different APAC markets during COVID● The importance of understanding local nuances and customer needs in order to succeed in different markets● The population shift in Southeast Asia● The development of the metaverse and its relevance in Asia● Entertainment shopping 
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Gordon Domlija Part 1 | The Most Incredibly Responsive Market in the World, & The Complexity of Consumer Behavior and Targeting in China
This episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation podcast</a> features part 1 of our BIG discussion with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordon-domlija-5363692/recent-activity/posts/">Gordon Domlija</a>, an advertising and media specialist with over 25 years of experience in communications and marketing, and an expert in growing companies in China and Asia Pacific. Most recently, Gordon has launched <a href="https://elucidatex.com/">Elucidate X</a> as Co-Founder and Managing Partner. In Part 1 of our conversation with <a href="https://elucidatex.com">Gordon</a>, we explore the dynamic world of marketing and advertising during China's rapid urbanization and opening up between the mid-2000s and today. We take a deep dive into the innovative marketing strategies that have emerged in China, the challenges of implementing some of these strategies, and some of the effective communication strategies that fit the market that may be different from the rest of the world. Our episode offers a comprehensive look at how both technology and China’s modernization have shaped marketing and advertising in the region and today’s best practices around connecting brands and customers. From social media platforms to cutting-edge marketing tools, we explore how brands can leverage the latest technologies in-market to drive business growth and stay ahead of the competition (which is a full-time job in and of itself). Tune in to gain valuable insights into the world of marketing and advertising in China and beyond, and discover the strategies that can help you achieve success in this rapidly evolving landscape. Enjoy!Gordon can be reached at gordan@elucidatex.comTopics Discussed and Key Points:● The rapid urbanization and economic growth that occurred in China in the early and mid-2000s.● How investment from the Chinese government led to unprecedented urbanization and opportunity in China● The marketing landscape in China in the year 2008 and how it evolved over the past 15 years● The importance of staying ahead of trends and keeping up with technology in advertising and marketing - especially in China● Gordon’s most memorable campaigns and experiences while working with innovative brands in China like Nike, Land Rover, and Meituan● Adapting effective communication strategies to fit the market● The complexity of consumer behavior and targeting in China● Why China is still an incredibly responsive market ● Role of technology and modernization in shaping marketing● Best practices for connecting brands and customers● Leveraging the latest technologies for business growth● Unique consumer behavior in China● Rapid responsiveness and monitoring of sales targets● Need for good advice and contingency plans for the China market
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Joanna Hutchins | China’s Approach To Innovation & What The West Can Learn
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-hutchins-aa10772/?originalSubdomain=cn">Joanna Hutchins</a> is an expert in brand growth and innovation, with extensive experience across various product sectors of the China market. Joanna also serves as an adjunct professor at Duke University's China campus, and she has authored a new book titled Chinafy: Why China is Leading in Innovation and How the Rest of the World Can Catch Up. The book is scheduled to be released in March / April 2023 and will be available in stores in the US, UK, and SE Asia, as well as online globally. UPDATE - Joanna's book is now available on Amazon Singapore!! https://www.amazon.sg/Chinafy-Joanna-Hutchins/dp/9815044508/ In our conversation with Joanna, we learn about the evolution of the Chinese market over the past two decades and how major international organizations like Unilever (where Joanna worked) have found success in the region. We also discuss Joanna's new book, Chinafy: Why China is Leading in Innovation and How the Rest of the World Can Catch Up, which offers a deep dive into China's role in global innovation over the past decade, and what the rest of the world can learn from the market. As an innovation expert, Joanna also highlights several emerging innovations expected to shape the Chinese market in the next five to ten years. We discuss the pace of innovation in China and the potential opportunities that exist for businesses to take advantage of this wave. Our conversation offers a compelling look into the role of China in global innovation and how businesses can navigate the ever-changing landscape of the Chinese market. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Joanna’s new book ● Influences that have led to the growth of domestic Chinese brands ● The impact of China’s melamine milk scare on the branding landscape in the country● The era of multinational consumer brands in China and their dominance● The Unilever corporate master brand and how it was significant in marketing products in China● The early days of the internet and e-commerce in China● The role of e-commerce in addressing logistics and transportation challenges in second and third-tier cities in China● The intersection of design and business growth, and the importance of design in the China Market● Brand collaborations in China and why they make sense there, better than anywhere else● How China is an effective sandbox for brands to flex their design muscles● China's innovation and influence on the West● BYD: a Chinese firm that has expanded its business from producing rechargeable batteries to selling electric cars and buses● Social commerce in China and the rise of Tik Tok as a marketing tool ● The potential that exists in reverse innovation● The velocity of innovation in China● The future potential of China’s consumer brands ● How technology can disrupt consumer segments 
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Gil Chavez Part 2 | Big In Japan - 20+ Years of Training CEOs, & The Art Of Negotiation And Communication
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a>, we continue our conversation with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gil-chavez-9b33644/?originalSubdomain=jp">Gil Chavez</a>, a seasoned specialist in global marketing and communications. With a career spanning over three decades, Gil has honed his expertise in marketing, particularly in the Asian region. In addition to his vast experience, he is also a top-rated professor, having taught over 100 courses in a 24-year teaching career. In this episode, we continue to dive into some of the cultural differences between the West and the East. We explore various negotiating tips for Japan and how that process can vary from that of the USA and Canada, including the ceremonial aspects of negotiation and effective communication. We conclude our conversation with Gil by discussing famous business leaders and how they are perceived in Japan. Enjoy listening! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The difference between a CEO’s humility and arrogance ● Negotiations and building relationships in Japan● Reverse negotiations in Japan● Ceremonial aspects of the art of negotiation and communication in Japan ● The potential lack of self-awareness among executives when moving up the ladder ● Diverse approaches to managing both oneself and others that can aid in progressing from a young executive to a senior executive
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Joseph Cooke | Boots On The Ground - China's Business Climate Is Booming
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a> podcast, we are thrilled to be joined by Joseph Cooke. Joseph is the Co-Founder and President of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/">WPIC Marketing + Technologies</a>, and he recently returned from his first trip to China in 38 months, having spent a week and a half there. As one of the first North American business people to visit China since the initial COVID lockdowns in 2019, we thought it would be a great opportunity to bring him back on the show to share his insights on the current situation in China. Today, Joseph provides insights into the changes in China he’s seen over the 3 years since he last visited. Our discussion focuses on China's economy and markets, examining how the country is expected to evolve in the future. We discuss sectors in China that have undergone significant transformations before concluding with a discussion on major upcoming marketing, sales, and shopping events in the country. If you plan to expand your business into this lucrative market or even travel to China in the coming year, don't miss out on this episode. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points: ● Joseph’s life in China pre-COVID● Arriving in China and going through the airport● Domestic travel in China● Rebuilding connections ● China’s economy and where it is heading● China’s welcoming of foreigners post-COVID● Sectors in China that have seen a drastic metamorphosis● Changes in the Chinese market over the previous few years● Habits in China impacted by COVID ● Micro breakdowns of specific sub-sectors ● Queens Day and 618- the major holidays in H1 in China 
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Gil Chavez Part 1 | Corporate Communications, CEO Media Training, & Social Media Marketing In Japan
This episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a> features part one of our conversation with<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gil-chavez-9b33644/?originalSubdomain=jp"> Gil Chavez</a>, a seasoned specialist in global marketing and communication. With a career spanning over three decades, Gil has honed his expertise in marketing, particularly in the Asian region. Alongside his vast experience, he is also a top-rated professor, having taught over 100 courses in his 24-year teaching career. In this episode of the podcast, we dive deep into the corporate communications differences between Japan and the US, starting off with the financial services sector. We then discuss social media marketing in Japan, including the rise of TikTok in promoting major brands and how the principles of success in the space have evolved over time. We also discuss how broader corporate communications differ between Japanese and North American audiences, as well as CEO advice for B2B versus B2C communication. Additionally, we touch on international brands that have found success in social media marketing in Japan and the different approaches for media training that Gil uses in Japan versus the West. Gil also highlights some of the skills that have contributed to his success in his work, and best practices for succeeding in the Japan region. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points: ● Gil’s experience with IBM's Asia Pacific team● Corporate communications in Japan● CEO media training in Japan● Stories about Toyota's first significant losses back in the ‘90s and Akio Toyoda's takeover● The financial services sector in Japan and the US and the differences in corporate communications in that space● Social media marketing in Japan and the principles for success● How TikTok has taken Twitter's position as the leading platform in Japan for promoting major brands● The role celebrities and influencers play in social media marketing ● Why Japan is all about quality
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Morgan Keldsen Part 2 | Growing The World's Most Iconic Streetwear Brands In Asia
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a>, we continue our conversation with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-keldsen/">Morgan Keldsen</a>, a renowned international business development and retail expert. With a career spanning over two decades, Morgan has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Stüssy, <a href="https://www.nike.com/">Nike</a>,<a href="https://www.converse.com/"> Converse</a>, and <a href="https://www.vans.com/">Vans</a>. Today, he offers his expertise to organizations in the athletic and fashion lifestyle space, helping them navigate the complex business landscape of the Asia-Pacific region. For brands without existing relationships in the Asian market, the episode provides tactics and strategies to help them enter the market successfully. This episode starts off by taking a deep dive into the history and growth of Stüssy, a popular streetwear brand that Morgan worked with, helping them in APAC. We explore how the company transformed from a wholesale-focused business to a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model by tightening its distribution. The conversation also touches on the significance of choosing the right collaboration partner in Asia and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the fashion and lifestyle industry, which, among other things, exposed companies who suffered from poor relationships - especially in Asia, where so much of the world’s supply chain is managed. We then hear from Morgan about his experiences navigating the pandemic while working at Vans. Finally, we discuss the potential of the metaverse as a marketing tool in Asia and the future of consumer behavior in the APAC region. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Introduction to Stüssy and its origins as a skate brand● How Stüssy focussed on tightening the brand's distribution and moving away from wholesale to a DTC-forward brand● Tactics and strategies for brands entering the Asia market without existing relationships● How important it is for brands to allow consumers to feel your personality or soul● Brands Collaborations in Asia and why they resonate in the region● The Covid-19 pandemic and how it exposed companies that had poor relationships ● Market Authenticity● The future direction of consumers in Asia.● APAC region: macroeconomic and geopolitical evolutions that are affecting the relationships between different markets● The metaverse as a marketing tactic
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Morgan Keldsen Part 1 | How Nike Crushed It In China & Running The Air Jordan Brand In Asia
This episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a> features part one of a two-part series with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-keldsen/">Morgan Keldsen</a>, renowned international business development, and retail expert. With a career spanning over two decades, Morgan has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including <a href="https://www.nike.com/">Nike</a>,<a href="https://www.converse.com/"> Converse</a>, and <a href="https://www.vans.com/">Vans</a>. Today, he offers his expertise to organizations in the athletic and fashion lifestyle space, helping them navigate the complex business landscape of the Asia-Pacific region. In this episode, we learn about Morgan's background, how he got into China and began working with Nike, and what makes the brand so iconic around the world. Morgan also shares his insights on the challenges he faced while working with the Jordan brand and how he navigated them. Additionally, we dive into the importance of localization in product design, marketing, and merchandising, and how it differs between different consumer markets in Asia. Whether you are a seasoned business professional or just starting out, you can’t afford to miss this enlightening conversation with Morgan Keldsen. So, sit back, relax, and get ready for part 1 of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a> with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-keldsen/">Morgan Keldsen</a>. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>What makes Nike an iconic brand </li><li>Morgan's work and achievements with the Nike brand in Asia</li><li>Consumer market nuances in Asia</li><li>Why it's important to find ways to appeal to local consumers</li><li>The different ways to find business success in the athletic and fashion industry</li><li>Localization of product design, marketing, and merchandising </li><li>Consumer offline shopping in Japan versus that of Vietnam and Singapore</li><li>The effects of DTC on the merchandising of products</li><li>The challenges of launching the Converse brand in Asia</li></ul>Notable Quotes“As I was getting ready to go to college, Mom said, " you know, French is nice, but you're gonna have to get a job. You should think about the future, and Asia is the future.”“My whole goal was to see if there was a way to work for a big American company to help crack the China market. And as you all know, looking back at China in 1991, it was a very different landscape than where we are now.”“The thing that I'll always say about Nike, that I'll always have the utmost respect for the brand is the focus on innovation in all regards. So obviously the product - but when you look at the marketing and retail and digital, they really are world-class.”“Being in Asia in the late nineties, early 2000s, those were the earliest days of Nike sportswear really coming to birth and we were allowed and took advantage of making a lot of great collaborations with Japanese streetwear artists, creatives. We did all the initial Chinese New Year products for China as we were first coming out.”“The time I was managing the Jordan brand, I was also managing Nike basketball. So, I was in a bit of a hybrid role at that time. The Jordan brand was still a relatively small part of the business globally, unlike today.”“We were blessed with so many resources, but at the same time, there's a lot of attention and pressure. So, it's a challenge in that way, but it's more managing the opportunity than scratching out and trying to create something from nothing.”“I think when you look at North Asia, if you look at Japan, China, Korea, there's a real synergy between the markets as far as influence goes, whether it's music or art that does influence, this space for products.”
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Igor Duc Part 2 | Tech Accessories & The Future Of Omni Channel Retail
This episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a> features part 2 of our conversation with Igor Duc. Igor is the Founder & CEO of <a href="https://www.nativeunion.com/">Native Union</a>, a consumer electronics accessories company that combines the finest hand-picked materials, thoughtful design, and considerate details to create products with personality, empowering the modern lifestyle. Today's episode continues our conversation with Igor, as we talk more about omnichannel retail and marketplaces, premium branding and pricing, and the future of retail and commerce. We finish the chat by discussing environmental sustainability. Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>Omni-channel and marketplaces </li><li>Why Hong Kong's retail industry is still relevant today</li><li>Premium branding and pricing </li><li>Insights and nuances of the consumer electronics accessory space</li><li>The future of retail and commerce around the world </li><li>The purpose of retail today </li><li>Why modern retail must be thoughtful and design-oriented</li><li>Environmental sustainability </li></ul>Notable Quotes“It's much more difficult to sell a premium product and experience when your product is not well displayed.”“We are not very good and we absolutely have to adapt our game online. But I believe, that we could do it, we could completely sell the craftsmanship, the attention to detail online.”“It's probably more difficult to be selling premium than a luxury in Asia and to be selling premium than [mass market].”“People say, oh, I created a brand. I don't think you create a brand. I think you create products and you become a brand”“If the right people see you in the right places, that will make you a cool brand. So you must be careful not to be in the wrong places and be good enough to interest the right places”“If your consumers care for brands that do high-quality crafted products, I think these consumers could be all over the world..”
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Igor Duc Part 1 | Convincing Consumers To Invest In Their Tech Accessories
This episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/podcast/">The Negotiation</a> features part 1 of our conversation with Igor Duc. Igor is the Founder & CEO of <a href="https://www.nativeunion.com/">Native Union</a>, a consumer electronics accessories company that combines the finest hand-picked materials, thoughtful design, and considerate details to create products with personality, empowering the modern lifestyle. In today’s episode, we caught up with Igor to learn more about why he chose to base his business in Hong Kong, the impetus behind <a href="https://www.nativeunion.com/">Native Union</a>, and his goal to enhance the way we live with technology. We also explore the consciousness of consumers today, how it has developed over the years, brand legitimacy, and other engaging topics. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points: ● Why Igor created a brand in Hong Kong● The story of Native Union's conception● Dealing with counterfeit products● Why Native Union almost died ● How to deal with trademark and copyright infringement issues for new brands entering Asia and the APAC region ● The consciousness of consumers today Notable Quotes“I could qualify myself as a creative person but without creative talent. And fortunately, since I started my professional career, I've always tried to surround myself with talented, creative people." “Hong Kong can offer probably even more vibrant outdoor experiences than the very interesting city centre. I loved Hong Kong so much that I decided to craft a life project around relocating here.” “It's very unconventional to create a brand in Hong Kong. I don't think you can name any brand that you know that was born in Hong Kong." “At CES< there is a world of technology, but it is a world of utilitarian technology, kind of boring technology. We came up with something fun, and colourful, and it had never been seen before. .” “I think people should think about and spend on what they use intensively every day. That's the smart thing to do.” “It's much better to buy a premium cable. It is maybe 30%, 40% more expensive than the cheap mass one. But that's going to last you five years, instead of buying five cables every year.”
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Dave McCaughan Part 3 | Responding To Shifting Demographics In Asia
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a>, we feature Part 3 of our conversation with legendary APAC marketer and thought leader Dave McCaughan. Dave has spent the last three decades in the Asia Pacific, in senior management roles with <a href="https://www.mccann.com/">McCann</a>, one of the world’s biggest advertising agencies. He joined <a href="https://www.mccann.com/">McCann</a> in 1986 in his native Sydney, where he built the Strategic Planning function, and since 1995 has been based in Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, leading regional strategy and communications campaign development for clients like Coca-Cola, MasterCard, Nestle, Cathay Pacific, Sunstar, Hitachi, Johnson & Johnson, and many others. In 2015 Dave launched <a href="https://bibliosexual.weebly.com/">BIBLIOSEXUAL</a>, which works with brands to bring together his long-term passion for understanding the relationship between form and content. In this episode, we conclude our extensive discussion by talking about Dave's time at Coca-Cola, how he got ads approved in the Chinese market, and, specifically, the first-ever romantic kiss seen on Chinese television. We also talk about how brands should approach countries in Southeast Asia (which are all different from one another and see significant nuances inside each country). We finish our conversation by diving deep into AI technology -- is it going to disrupt the marketing world? Discover more by tuning in. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points: ● China's first-ever kiss ad● Understanding local nuances - as evidenced by the controversy around Lionel Messi and the Emir of Qatar during the FIFA World Cup final ● China's shifting demographics● The cultural debates that go on in North America versus the rest of the world ● Nestle’s Kit-Kat treats, and how they’ve managed to be so successful in Japan● Is the world really homogenizing?● How should businesses expand to Southeast Asia?● Comedy as an underlying theme in marketing● How shopping malls are magnets for what is happening around the world● Cultural soft power, as evidenced by Japan and Korea● Major shopping events in Asia and why they resonate● The expected impact of AI on marketing 
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Dave McCaughan Part 2 | Responding To Shifting Consumer Demographics In Asia
This episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a> features part 2 of our conversation with Dave McCaughan. Dave McCaughan is a Marketing Thought Leader and Storyteller. He has spent the last three decades in Asia Pacific leading strategy planning and in senior management roles with <a href="https://www.mccann.com/">McCann</a>, one of the world’s most successful advertising agencies. He joined <a href="https://www.mccann.com/">McCann</a> in 1986 in his native Sydney, where he built the Strategic Planning function, and since 1995 has been based in Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Tokyo leading regional strategy and communications campaign development for clients like Coca-Cola, MasterCard, Nestle, Cathay Pacific, Sunstar, Hitachi, Johnson & Johnson, and many others. In 2015 Dave launched <a href="https://bibliosexual.weebly.com/">BIBLIOSEXUAL</a>, which works with brands to bring together his long-term passion for understanding the relationship between form and content. In this episode, we continue the discussion by talking about Japanese consumer trends, youth marketing, and how it has changed over the years, product placement and decision fatigue. Dave then shares his thoughts on how brands should pay attention to older consumers in Japan (a category with growing influence and purchasing power). Finally, we do a deep-dive into the topic of toilets, and how Dave got involved with them. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Japan’s changing population demographics● Manga mongers ● Youth Marketing● Mobile gaming as an impactful medium● The K-Pop revolution in Asia● The attention economy● The silver population and how consumer brands need to engage them● Cost of customer acquisition versus the lifetime value● Why the future globally is all about aging populations Notable Quotes “If you watched Western movies made in the eighties, American Hollywood movies, there was a big thing that Japan was about to overtake the world. Right? It was going to buy out everything.” "The more people got used to Korea as a cool place, the more they're going to feel good about buying Korean brands.” “Statistics say that for people under 30, the number one medium that they engage in every day is mobile games - as in the amount of time they put into it. And it's usually somewhere between 3 to 4 hours a day.” “Sometimes we think of gaming as entertainment. We don't think of it as media. In the same way that we might think of television as media, right? But mobile gaming is a medium.” “The truth is that if you want to get people's attention, young, young people, particularly in Asia, the thing they're paying attention to is this the screen on their mobile phone.” “When you look at the numbers and you find out in nearly every category - yes, it might be an advantage to have a repertoire of, you know, five or six flavors. But the truth is that two flavors will always sell 80, 85, 90% of all your product.”“We're finding out that people seem to be fatigued because they're bored. Right? It's not necessarily that they are really fed up with something or that they don't like [it] - they want something else.”“The single most powerful medium in the world to get your brand success is word of mouth. It is people who like your product or your service, talking to other people about why they like it and getting them to try it.”“Very soon we're going to get to the point where 25% of the world's population is over 60.”“Other institutions have sort of shown that people in their sixties are as adaptable and probably have adapted to more new technologies [over their lives] than people under 30. Because for people under 30, there has been no major new technology for 25 years.”
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Dave McCaughan Part 1 | BIBLIOSEXUAL & Advertising Iconic International Brands In Asia
Topics Discussed and Key Points: ● The Coke vs. Pepsi challenge ● How great brands figure out what matters to people and play to that● Why storytelling is fundamental when you are in business● The reason Dave chose the name BIBLIOSEXUAL for his company● Why it is important for a marketer to understand the mediums that matter to consumers ● The potential future homogenization of the Asia Pacific region● Japanese advertising and what flawed perceptions exist among international companies ● Why cultural context is so important for Japanese consumers● Cultural stereotyping and country stereotyping Timestamps [03:09] Introduction to Dave and what he does, as well as where he is located[04:43] Dave’s background[13:59] Why “BIBLIOSEXUAL”[22:52] Dave's description of the Japanese consumer[24:48] The reason behind Japan's usage of celebrities in advertising[25:53] The misconception behind Japanese consumers' transference of identity[29:32] Do we have to present a brand as technologically advanced when we go to Japan? Notable Quotes“My one belief is that a marketer's main role is to understand what matters to people. It's not about understanding how they use your product. It's what matters to those people.”“The term BIBLIOSEXUAL is something I've been playing around with for 20 years using in different presentations.”“When you're in business in general, when you're in the marketing business, you know, storytelling is fundamental. And so, you want to have a chance to tell a story.”“There are different mediums. Everybody has particular mediums that - for reasons we just can't figure out - we are totally biased towards, we fall in love with, or we think ‘that's much, much better’. Right? And if you're a marketer, it's really important to understand which mediums really matter irrationally in many ways to people.”“When I lived in Japan, we did projects where we did very successful campaigns and the only thing we changed was a single line on the back of the pack.”“Japanese ads are more likely to use celebrities in ads than anywhere else in the world. It's the number one [celebrity] market in the world. And so, typically, you're twice as likely to use a celebrity ad in Japan as you are in the United States.” “[Visual] context in Japanese culture is most important. So, if you can't see the background, you can't understand the person, you can't understand why they're saying it or how they're saying something.”
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Year In Review, Part 2 | The Greatest Hits Of 2022!!
This episode is our Year In Review: 2022 Greatest Hits Part 2! We've put together some of our favourite clips and moments for you to enjoy over the holidays, and look forward to seeing you again in 2023 for some of our best guests to date!The 2022 guests featured in this episode are:#1 - Louis Houdart, E150 & E151, October 5th & 12th 2022 Episodes 150 and 151, released on October 5th and 12th, brought us Louis Houdart, Founder of Creative Capital. Louis is an entrepreneur, a business and investment coach, a board member and an advisor to many start-up companies. The Creative Capital China team has worked with European companies in China and helped launch little-known brands into major Western markets. By establishing pre-eminent international brand awareness and strong brand relationships, Creative Capital is one of the only firms in China focusing on widening awareness of Chinese companies beyond their home market. In this clip from episode 2, I ask Louis if he would agree or disagree, and why, with the statement that Chinese brands have met some headwinds in their attempts to be successful in Western markets, and here’s what he had to say.#2 - Jacob Cooke, E155, November 9th 2022 On November 9th we brought back Jacob Cooke for our 155th episode. Jake is the Co-Founder & CEO of WPIC Marketing + Technologies, a leading e-commerce and technology consultancy that drives growth for global brands in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Having lived in Beijing since 2003, Jacob is a regular contributor to international media on e-commerce, retail, and technology trends in China. He’s a member of the MIT Sloan School of Management and holds an Advanced Certificate in Engineering from MIT’s Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Although we brought him in to discuss the impending Singles Day shopping bonanza at the time, I was really intrigued to discuss what Douyin is doing in the market lately so that’s the clip I’ve chosen and here’s what he had to say.#3 - Karen Raghavan, E129, February 8th 2022 On February 8th of 2022, we released episode 129 with Karen Raghavan, a Brand and Business Development Consultant and Growth Advisor to both heritage beauty brands and startups. She is also the Vice President of Brand Development at the natural ingredient company Purissima. Karen is a member of Chief, a private network built to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there. I asked Karen for some tactics she’s seeing used that are driving growth in China in the beauty space that Western brands should take notice of.#4 - Jeff Daggett, E142 & E143, July 27th / August 3rd 2022 Released on July 27th and August 3rd, were episodes 142 and 143 with Jeff Daggett, Founder and CEO of Aisonne, a brand and retail development & management company offering brand, retail, hospitality, and licensing management services and representation in Japan and the United States. Since 2002, Aisonne has assisted a number of big-name retail brands such as Apple, Columbia Sportswear, Nordstrom, Shinjuku Takano, and NBC Universal. Jeff’s background includes over three decades of experience at leading global companies in the Asia-Pacific, specifically in investment banking, real estate, retail operations, merchandising, marketing, and general management. He also spent 6 years at Disney as VP of Consumer Products, which is why I just had to ask him, given the massive catalogue of IP and products, how difficult it was to manage the trademark and brand IP, or was that a naive question and it didn’t require managing at all?#5 - Akio Tanaka, E148 & E149, September 21st and 28th 2022 On September 21st and 28th, we released episodes 148 and 149 with Akio Tanaka, Co-Founder and Partner at Headline VC. Headline VC is a technology-focused venture capital firm that sees the world’s future through the lens of exponential technologies. The aim of Headline is to identify, fund, and partner with companies who are building these new products and services—and to make them more accessible to mainstream consumers. Akio Tanaka is one of the most influential investors in Japan and has been known to be passionately committed to the local ecosystem. With that in mind, we asked him for his opinion of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Japan, and to compare it to those of its neighbouring countries. #6 - Bill Tung, E137 & E138, June 22/29 2022 Our last clip celebrating an amazing 2022 for the podcast, comes from episode 137 released on June 22nd, featuring Bill Tung, Managing Partner at Peaks Consulting, a global brand, retail, and management consultancy. Since its founding in 2015, Peaks Consulting has built an internationally recognized consultancy based on trust and relationships before business. Peaks currently serve consumers in 20 countries and counting. Bill has also served as the VP of Europe and Asia-Pacific at Rockport, VP of International Sales a Columbia Sportswear, Executive VP of International Sales at New Balance, Managing Director of Fanatics Inc, and Asia-Pacific General Manager at Clarks. This final clip is when I asked Bill, given his 13 years at Columbia Sportswear, how the outdoor equipment and apparel market has changed and evolved in APAC.We hope you enjoyed Part 2 of our 2022 Year In Review, and we look forward to seeing you all again next year. Again, from all of us here at The Negotiation and WPIC Marketing + Technologies, we wish all of you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. 
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Year In Review, Part 1 | The Greatest Hits Of 2022!!
This episode is our Year In Review: 2022 Greatest Hits Part 1! We've put together some of our favourite clips and moments for you to enjoy over the holidays, and look forward to seeing you again in 2023 for some of our best guests to date! The 2022 guests featured in this episode are:#1 Patrick Deloy, E146 & E147, September 7th & 14th, 2022 Our first feature comes from episodes 146 and 147 on September 7th and 14th with Patrick Deloy, Managing Director at Merkle, an award-winning e-commerce solutions provider which supports medium to large B2C and B2B companies with the planning, development, localization and long-term support of multi-country e-commerce website deployments in the APAC region. I had asked Patrick ‘what is the omni-channel retail ecosystem and environment today in the APAC region? #2Liam Mather, E134, March 15, 2022 Our second clip features Liam Mather, Head of Public Affairs and Communications at WPIC Marketing + Technologies. Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer, Liam helps guide WPIC's public and government affairs, strategic communications, media engagement, corporate branding, and sales enablement. Liam previously worked in BCW's Corporate and Public Affairs practice in Beijing, where he helped clients manage reputations, respond to crises, and navigate policy issues. This was from episode 134 released on March 15th, and for those who didn’t get to hear the full episode, it’s quite unique as we had the opportunity to talk to Liam about his time covering the Winter Olympics from within the Olympic bubble. Specifically, Liam was able to cover the hockey event, so we asked him about the state of hockey in China, specifically women’s hockey, and here’s what he had to say. #3 William Bao Bean, E152 & E153, October 19th & 26th, 2022 Up next is a clip from episode 152 on October 19th, the first of two episodes with an old friend of mine and an old friend of the podcast, William Bao Bean. William is a General Partner at SOSV and Managing Director of Orbit Startups. Orbit Startups helps companies scale breakthrough technologies across emerging and frontier markets to the regions with the most aggressive growth. William is a senior advisor at SOSV who has been a pioneer in the tech and telecommunications space in Asia. During his time with SoftBank China & India Holdings, he led investments in companies such as Yodo1, DemystData, Lekan, and Massive Impact. He was also an equity research analyst at Deutsche Bank covering the Internet and Telecom Equipment sector in Asia for 11 years before joining Innov8 Ventures as Managing Director where he is focused on supporting China investments. He is definitely one of the foremost experts on early-stage startups and investing in Asia Pacific, and in this particular clip I asked him ‘what are the strengths and differences of the teams you invest in and work with within Asia versus outside Asia?’ #4 Zarina Kanji, E133, March 7th, 2022 On March 7th we released episode 133 with Zarina Kanji. Based in London, Zarina is the Head of Business Development for Health & Wellness and Food & Beverage Brands at Alibaba. She previously served as VP of Global Fashion Brand Partnerships at Lazada in Singapore. Zarina spoke with us about Tmall’s upcoming International Women’s Day—a key event tied to the company’s Super Brand Day—on March 8, 2022. It has proven in previous years to be the third-largest shopping festival in the nation, behind 11.11 and 6.18, and is a unique opportunity for brands to engage with women across China. So, for this clip, we chose her response to my question ‘Can you tell us a little bit about what the Gen Z female consumers really care about in China right now, and how does that differ from their elder counterparts?’ #5 Alvin Wang Graylin, E125, January 12th, 2022 On January 12th we were blessed to be able to interview Alvin Wang Graylin, China President at HTC. For anyone unfamiliar, HTC is an award-winning developer of smart mobile, connected technology, and virtual reality products. Alvin is also the Vice President of the Industry of Virtual Reality Alliance (IVRA) and the President of the Virtual Reality Venture Capital Alliance. He has almost three decades of business management experience in the tech industry, including 20 years in Greater China beginning with a Senior Management position at Intel in 1993. Prior to HTC, Alvin was a serial entrepreneur, having founded four venture-backed startups in the mobile and internet spaces, covering mobile social, "ad tech", search, AI, big data and digital media. I asked Alvin to tell us about some of the coolest & most innovative examples of VR that are heading our way in 2022 and beyond. #6 Charles Lavoie, E154 & E156, November 2nd & 16th, 2022 Our last clip for Part 1 of our Year in Review is from our conversation with Charles Lavoie on November 16th, episode number 156. Charles is the VP of Creative & Head of Creative Labs at <a href="https://www.wpic.co/">WPIC Marketing & Technologies</a>. A creative strategy & data analytics leader, Charles has incredibly strong cross-cultural backgrounds in international growth, go-to-market strategy, growth marketing, data analytics, creative planning, storytelling, sales, e-commerce, design and retail in the APAC region with projects focused in China, Hong Kong, Japan & Singapore. I asked Charles a very nuanced question at one point, probably one of the most granular questions I’ve asked anyone about brand entry into the APAC region, specifically “if a brand wants to take a multi-market strategy, how do you advise them, especially if they are also trying to stay ahead of an aggressive market competitor who might be going after the same regions for expansion themselves and may not have time to take a step by step approach?’
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Arnault Castel Part 2 | Online vs Offline And The Future Of Retail In Asia
This episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a> features part 2 of our conversation with Arnault Castel. Arnault is the founder of Kapok, a retail experience that focuses on designers and brands whose work provides quality craftsmanship and creativity in design. Arnault has developed an extensive knowledge and understanding of the Asian consumer goods and retail environment since 1996 when he moved to Hong Kong from France. In 2001, he joined the team in charge of the development of the Lomography brand in Asia as the head of Southeast Asian operations. Arnault was also the co-owner and director of Working Unit Limited founded in 2005, the exclusive distributor for the Moleskine brand in Southeast Asia. In part two of our conversation, Arnault discusses how Kapok works with brands in his store, which brands are doing well resonating with consumers in Asia, whether or not it’s important to have a brick-and-mortar presence in today’s D2C environment, and more. He also discusses some of the risks he’s taken that have paid off (and the ones that haven’t), his experience as the managing director of Lomography Asia-Pacific, and what business principles he learnt while there. We close out the conversation by diving deep into the future of commerce and retail in Asia. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>Creative control in a retail environment </li><li>Market localization and why it is important</li><li>Why the Japanese market is so special and distinct from the rest of the world</li><li>Why Kapok failed in Singapore and Taiwan, and the lessons learned</li><li>What makes Hong Kong so special for Kapok</li><li>What Arnault did while at Lomography Asia-Pacific </li><li>Why certain geographies and markets do not work for Kapok </li><li>The future of commerce and retail in Asia</li><li>Changes he is seeing at the intersection of commerce and creativity in Asia </li></ul>Timestamps [00:57] How Arnault works with brands in their stores, how he promotes their brands,, and what creative control he has[06:44] Arnault's market risks, which didn’t always work[13:00] Arnault's experience as the MD of Lomography Asia-Pacific and the business principles he learned[26:05] Fashion and lifestyle brands that are doing well in Asia today[29:25] Are customers shifting from brick-and-mortar to digital?[34:00] How will the intersection of commerce and creativity change in the coming years? Notable Quotes[00:01:32] “When a brand is inside Kapok, we have to respect the brand. But they are also in our environment, you know.”[00:02:18] “We need to localize because people need to feel that a particular model is someone that is like me, that looks like me, that has the same job as me, and the same height as me.” [00:03:38] “Japan is special. Japan is not like the rest of the world. And that can be limiting because what might work in the rest of the world doesn’t work in Japan.” [00:07:14] “When I tried to bring Kapok outside of Hong Kong, you know, in Singapore or In Taiwan, it didn't work out, you know, because multi-brand retail is very, very detail oriented, you know? You receive new products, so you need training on the products and the brand.”[00:09:51] “Sometimes you like something, and you realize you like something only when you don't have it anymore. So, when we closed in Singapore, people said:, ``Oh, we're so sad, Kapok closed. I loved the shop.” [00:15:48] “I was not this natural born entrepreneur, but you arrive here and everyone is doing it.”[00:16:14]” I would never have opened up and done all this entrepreneurialism if it's not in Hong Kong, because this is a place where people take a lot of risks.”[00:21:22] “In order to succeed, I need to do things in a different, different way. If 50 people tell me ‘you have to do it this way, then I have to find the 51st way.” [00:35:27] “Over time, the marketing set of skills is going to be distributed to everyone, and you cannot defend yourself anymore by how well you play the digital marketing game. So, it's going to go back to how good your product is, how happy it makes your customer, and how strong is your brand story.” 
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Arnault Castel Part 1 | The Coolest Store In Hong Kong
This episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a> features part 1 of our conversation with Arnault Castel. Arnault is the founder of Kapok, a retail experience that focuses on designers and brands whose work provides quality craftsmanship and creativity in design. Arnault has developed an extensive knowledge and understanding of the Asian consumer goods and retail environment since 1996 when he moved to Hong Kong from France. In 2001, he joined the team in charge of the development of the Lomography brand in Asia as the head of Southeast Asian operations. Arnault was also the co-owner and director of Working Unit Limited founded in 2005, the exclusive distributor for the Moleskine brand in Southeast Asia. In today’s episode, Arnault tells us what brought him to Hong Kong, what made him start Kapok, his curated ecosystem and why customers keep coming back. We also talk about price positioning in the market, how distribution and merchandising happen and the importance of having an entertaining shopping experience for customers. Tune in for more! Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>What brought Arnault to Hong Kong </li><li>The Kapok identity and customer base</li><li>Why do customers return to Kapok?</li><li>Arnault’s curated ecosystem</li><li>Price positioning</li><li>Geography and culture's impact on Kapok's identity</li><li>Why the shopping experience for customers has to be entertaining</li><li>Why it's necessary to have both online and offline stores as a brand</li><li>Online shopping's introduction in 2006 and its effects on Arnault's businesses</li><li>Characteristics of successful brands in Asia </li></ul>Timestamps [00:07] Who is Arnault Castel?[01:22] How Arnault ended up in Hong Kong[04:09] A little bit about Kapok and what it does[04:44] What makes someone a Kapok customer?[06:10] The reasons behind repeat purchases of Kapok’s products[10:03] What criteria does Arnault use to select the products and brands for his carefully curated ecosystem?[12:49] What does it mean to Arnault to “not be Kapok”?[19:41] How have geography and culture shaped Kapok's identity?[22:53] Kapok’s customer loyalty in the APAC region[29:05] What is the origin of the name Kapok?[33:01] Major evolutions in the APAC region's retail market since 2006[41:07] What are some of the characteristics that cause a brand to succeed in Asia? 
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Charles Lavoie Part 2 | Using Creative To Fuel Growth In Asia
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/the-negotiation-podcast/">The Negotiation</a> podcast, we continue our conversation with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/charleslavoie/?originalSubdomain=ca">Charles Lavoie</a>. We talk about creativity and the role it plays in APAC marketing. Charles is the VP of Creative & Head of Creative Labs at <a href="https://www.wpic.co/">WPIC Marketing + Technologies</a>. Among other topics, we discuss the growth of digital commerce, evolutions in that space, why it might be necessary to create cartoon characters for brands, gamification and the digitalization of the shopping experience in Asia. Charles also gives insights into brand localization and how best to activate a multi-market strategy. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>The growth of digital commerce</li><li>Casework example with Xero shoes and the notion of barefoot running </li><li>Why it might be necessary to create cartoon characters for brands, which can personify hero products</li><li>Gamification and digitalization of the shopping experience</li><li>The different layers of brand localization</li><li>How to activate a multi-market strategy</li></ul>Notable Quotes[00:00:11] “Where social commerce hasn't actually taken off, e-commerce has still had massive growth.”[00:00:43] “People are appreciating the convenience of online shopping for pretty much all categories. But unlike China, there may still be a little bit of apprehension [regarding fully shifting to digital commerce].”[00:01:50] “Technologies are getting more and more sophisticated. We've seen a really cool integration of augmented reality that is being tested.”[00:07:32] “Everyone is busy in Asia and everyone's working lots. And basically, the thing that you can’t buy is time. But a product like Vitamix can help you buy time.”[00:13:09] “[A mascot] is not going to make or break your brand, but it's definitely an addition you have to have a really, well, I do at least, a really strict schedule of what your day looks like, how your prospecting business, what your timeline looks like to have a mascot that can go online or offline, can stick to the minds of consumers, and thoroughly represent your brand.” [00:21:09] “You can't teach customers to buy in a different way than what they’re used to. It is too time-consuming to teach a customer to buy in a new marketplace that they're not used to.” 
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Jacob Cooke | Assessing The 2022 Singles’ Day 11/11 Shopping Festival And Consumption Trends In China
In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome <a href="https://cn.linkedin.com/in/jakecooke">Jacob Cooke</a> to the show. As the CEO of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/">WPIC Marketing + Technologies</a>, Jacob is the perfect guest to discuss what’s going on in Asia right now, and how brands can take advantage of the growth opportunities. In this conversation, we dive deep into the current state of China's consumers, and what Jacob is seeing from his vantage point as we are in the midst of the 11/11 Singles’ Day shopping festival. We also discuss Douyin's evolution as a platform for commerce, how it compares to other Chinese platforms like Tmall, evolutions in the Japanese online ecosystems, and so much more! Let’s dive in! Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>Jacob’s currently sitting in quarantine in Shanghai, after travelling throughout North America. What does that look like today?.</li><li>The world of creativity in Asia.</li><li>The changes in consumer behavior over the past few years</li><li>This year's 11/11 Singles’ Day shopping festival and what to expect</li><li>The Chinese consumer class in 2023.</li><li>Austin Li's return to Taobao Live.</li><li>The impact of Douyin on commerce in Asia and the difference between satisfying existing demand versus stimulating new demand</li><li>Evolutions in the Japanese online ecosystems.</li></ul>
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Charles Lavoie Part 1 | How Creative Drives Impact In APAC
In this episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/podcast/">The Negotiation</a>, we welcome back <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/charleslavoie/?originalSubdomain=ca">Charles Lavoie</a> to talk about creativity and its role in APAC marketing. Charles is the VP of Creative & Head of Creative Labs at <a href="https://www.wpic.co/">WPIC Marketing & Technologies</a>. Over the course of the conversation, Charles shares insights on how technology is transforming the creative space in APAC and illuminates why it is critical for brands to lean into creative marketing if they hope to drive growth in the region. He talks about how brands and marketers can harness the significant evolutions in digital platforms and digital commerce in Asia today to improve their creativity, marketing and, ultimately, sales performance. In particular, he gives pointers that help brands learn how to leverage social media and social commerce on platforms like Douyin for product discovery, brand affinity and awareness, and conversions. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>Charle’s background. </li><li>The importance of creativity in APAC for all brands.</li><li>The democratization of content creation.</li><li>How technology is transforming the creative environment in the APAC region.</li><li>Social commerce strategy and best practices.</li><li>The adoption of e-commerce live streams globally.</li><li>Gamification of the purchasing experience.</li><li>Between traditional and social commerce, which is stronger?</li><li>Consumer product discovery shifts.</li></ul>
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William Bao Bean Part 2 | Current Markets & Future M&A In Asia
In recent years, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, with countries such as China, India and Japan leading the way. They have been developing businesses quickly by deploying new technologies and building massive startup ecosystems. As a result, VCs in this region is witnessing huge opportunities for growing companies. The number of startups in APAC is increasing rapidly, presenting massive opportunities for consumers, businesses, and capital allocators. This episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/podcast/">The Negotiation</a> is part 2 of our conversation with William Bao Bean. William is a General Partner at SOSV and Managing Director of Orbit Startups. Orbit Startups helps companies scale breakthrough technologies across emerging and frontier markets- the regions with the strongest growth potential. William is a senior advisor at SOSV and has been a pioneer in the tech and telecommunications space in Asia. During his time with SoftBank China & India Holdings, he led investments in companies such as Yodo1, DemystData, Lekan, and Massive Impact. In this insightful episode, William shares his insights on what is happening in the APAC region. He talks about the current, turbulent waters in the private, crypto and public markets, and discusses why it is essential to identify a startup's unfair advantage in today’s landscape. He also discusses his view of M&A activity in Asia over the coming years and explains why there is a flood of capital coming to the region. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>Turbulent waters in the APAC region for the private, crypto, and public markets as we head into 2022</li><li>Identifying a startup's unfair advantage and why it matters</li><li>M&A activity in Asia over the next few years</li><li>Why is there a flood of capital coming to Southeast Asia?</li><li>Maintaining a "startup attitude" is important when entering new markets.</li><li>How technology has been used in the USA, specifically artificial intelligence, to bring about major changes</li><li>How there are fewer barriers to starting a business in China thanks to technology</li><li>Demographic changes in China and Southeast Asia and the opportunity for start-ups in the region.</li></ul>
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William Bao Bean Part 1 | The Distinguishing Characteristics Of Successful APAC Startups
Over the past decade, businesses have witnessed an incredible evolution in how people communicate. Along with this shift came innovations and technologies that changed the way we interact with one another, not least in business. Where communication was once centered around traditional means such as face-to-face meetings or phone calls, it is now increasingly driven by technology such as email, text messages and video conferencing. This has given rise to new social practices, enabling us to carry out some tasks faster. In fact, many businesses would struggle without modern technology for core functions such as recruiting new staff and managing customer enquiries. This episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/podcast/">The Negotiation</a> is a return to the show for William Bao Bean. William is a General Partner at SOSV and Managing Director of Orbit Startups. Orbit Startups helps companies scale breakthrough technologies across emerging and frontier markets to the regions with the most aggressive growth. William is a senior advisor at SOSV who has been a pioneer in the tech and telecommunications space in Asia. During his time with SoftBank China & India Holdings, he led investments in companies such as Yodo1, DemystData, Lekan, and Massive Impact. He was also an equity research analyst at Deutsche Bank covering the Internet and Telecom Equipment sector in Asia for 11 years before joining Innov8 Ventures as Managing Director where he focused on supporting China investments. William discusses his work as a venture investor, what he did during the pandemic (and how COVID impacted his activities), and what defines successful startups in Asia. He also unravels some of the brilliance during accelerator programs, describes why founder characteristics may predict success, and what distinguishes teams he works with from those outside Asia in their approach to building a startup or portfolio company. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>A brief description of Orbit startups' activities.</li><li>Consumer internet became widely used during the COVID period.</li><li>The discipline of designing and running experiments</li><li>How to drive engagement and value over a screen or through the power of voice.</li><li>William's startup activities and how COVID must have affected them.</li><li>Some of the brilliance that happens during accelerator programs.</li><li>What you need to do a startup revolution in the USA.</li><li>Communication is vital for international startups</li><li>The culture of experimenting in Asia is pretty strong. </li><li>Japan as a market is generally focused on Japan. </li><li>Potentially predictive factors for startup success in Asia.</li></ul>
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Louis Houdart Part 2 | Nuances Of Consumers In China
The recent unprecedented growth of Chinese brands, most of them being start-ups, has become one of the hottest topics in business and marketing. The growth of Chinese brands is starkly contrasting when compared with other global categories such as western brands in China. There is no doubt that China is one of the most exciting markets in the world. The sheer size and number of people living there make it very difficult for a foreign company to enter. For domestic brands, it's even harder to compete with their sophisticated and vast technological and geographical advantages. But all this is changing fast and we are seeing more Chinese companies making inroads into other countries and regions. One of the biggest trends we are seeing at the moment is how they are transforming themselves from traditional Chinese brands into global players by leveraging their knowledge, technology and scale to penetrate new markets like the west. This episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/podcast/">The Negotiation</a> is the second part of our conversation with Louis Houdart, Founder of Creative Capital. He is also an entrepreneur, business and investment coach, board member, and advisor to many start-up companies. The Creative Capital China team has worked with European companies in China as well as pushing little-known brands in Western markets. By establishing pre-eminent international brand awareness and strong brand relationships, Creative Capital is one of the only firms in China that focuses on widening awareness of Chinese companies beyond their home market. In today's episode, Louis shares insights on how the world is truly changing from a geographical and category angle when it comes to Chinese brands, especially in the West. He highlights why better-positioned product categories are necessary for Chinese brands to succeed in the west. The podcast also explores brand loyalty, The relationship between the success of Western brands in China and Chinese brands' increasing competency over the whole product life cycle is also explored in detail. Why are Chinese brands successful in places where it is least expected in the world like Indonesia? Louis also discusses the startup and entrepreneurial ecosystem in China, among other topics. Enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>How the world is truly changing from a geographical and category angle when it comes to Chinese brands, especially in the West.</li><li>Chinese brand perception.</li><li>Louis’ updated viewpoint on brand loyalty.</li><li>What lessons should the West take away from the East and China?</li><li>Why better-positioned product categories are necessary for Chinese brands to succeed in the west.</li><li>The relationship between the success of Western brands in China and Chinese brands' increasing competency over the whole product lifecycle.</li><li>Why Chinese brands are successful in places where it is least expected in the world like Indonesia.</li><li>Chinese startup and entrepreneurship ecosystem.</li><li>Chinese entrepreneurs make sacrifices that the West is renowned to indulge in and enjoy.</li><li>Why are Chinese consumers so demanding and what drives them to be so?</li></ul>
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Louis Houdart Part 1 | From Flower Shops To Chinese Brand Building
The truth is there’s a lot more to China than just Alibaba. Getting your business in China can be a challenge. It is not like other countries where you can open up a shop around the corner, with time and patience. In order to enter the China market, you need to get your branding right. The Chinese market has been very competitive and difficult for giants like Apple, Google and Samsung to penetrate. Many brands are getting it wrong because their marketing strategies are not focused on the Chinese customer. Getting your branding right before entering a new market can make all the difference. This episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/podcast/">The Negotiation</a> is part 1 with Louis Houdart, Founder of CREATIVE CAPITAL, Entrepreneur, Business and Investment Coach, Board Member and Advisor to many start-up companies. The Creative Capital China team has worked with European companies in China and pushed little-known brands into Western markets. By establishing pre-eminent international brand awareness and strong brand relationships, Creative Capital is one of the only firms in China that focuses on widening awareness of Chinese companies beyond their home market. In this thought-provoking and engaging episode, Louis Houdart shares his story about how he founded Creative Capital, what Chinese culture means to him, and how he got rid of "The Secret Garden." Also covered are the importance of strong concepts, branding in China, why Creative Capital is relevant and why we should care when it comes to brands being successful and much more! Please enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>Secret Garden and how Louis got rid of it.</li><li>How Creative Capital was founded and what they do. </li><li>Why Louis found the wedding business to be both amazing and nightmarish.</li><li>Why Creative Capital was relevant in China.</li><li>The significance of a brand's concept strength.</li><li>The meaning of creativity in China and Europe, as well as the nuances surrounding it.</li><li>The lazy economy and what it entails.</li><li>Glamping and the rise of Frisbee.</li></ul>Notable Quotes“So, we were in 2006 in Shanghai and China was changing both in terms of the way consumers were consuming and also in the way brands were developing in China and saw a market opportunity in the retail of flowers.”“In terms of a top line, it was an interesting business. In terms of the operation, it was a total nightmare for me for many different reasons..”“In France, it's very easy to get bank financing as a small entrepreneur in China, I mean, you are definitely on your own.”“The steward of Creative Capital is very much of course linked to a history of secret Garden; I think it's also very much linked to the way China intrapreneurship has been developing. So being a very fluid thing, I had this beautiful little secret gallery business. It was very painful to operate but still an interesting small business.”“China is not a place where you come with a small amount of money when you want to play on the Commerce part.”“Most of the branding agencies in Europe in the US are not really there to create brands, they are there to fine-tune an existing concept, which often is fairly good.”“If you try to be perfect, the market is already gone and your competitors have taken your spot. So, we were trying to be maybe not 100% Perfect, but being like 85% or 90% fair but in a very, very, very quick period of time. So, the concept would have taken two years in Europe, we are delivering them in four to five months.”“In the past, I've seen so much creativity in China in solving problems, turning the wrong puzzles and resulting in solving them. I think there's definitely a lot of creativity, so much creativity in China going on.” 
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Akio Tanaka Part 2 | Japan's Startup & Investment Landscape
The APAC region is witnessing the most exciting innovation of recent times. Technology platforms and disruptive business models are entering industries traditionally dominated by incumbents. Traditional business practices are being challenged and disruptors are leading the way. In the coming years, the digital economy in APAC will continue to expand at a faster rate than in any other region. The adoption by private institutions of technology and innovation is no longer an option for every entrepreneur, but an opportunity for every entrepreneur. The capacity for startups to address market failures and create new value is growing exponentially. This episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/podcast/">The Negotiation</a> is part 2 with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/akiotanaka/">Akio Tanaka</a>, Co-Founder and Partner at Headline VC. Headline VC is a technology-focused venture capital firm that sees the world’s future through the lens of exponential technologies. The aim of Headline is to identify, fund, and partner with companies who are building these new products and services—and to make them more accessible to mainstream consumers. Akio has over 20 years of technology experience. He served as the Senior Director & CTO at Macromedia Japan; in 2005, he spent less than a year as the Vice-president and technology advisor to the CEO at Macromedia Inc.; since June 2008 he has been the Co-founder and Managing Partner at Infinity Venture Partners. Akio Tanaka is one of the most influential investors in Japan and has been known to be passionately committed to the local ecosystem. Incredible insight into the investing landscape in Asia with Akio Tanaka. He gives us his thoughts on the investment landscape and what drives success, discusses the characteristics he looks for when evaluating founders and startups, shares unique insights into the failure of startups there and how they address it and talks about private and public markets, Blockchain gaming and cryptocurrency - one of the biggest opportunities we've seen in years. You don't want to miss this episode! Let’s delve in! Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>How investment in internet/software eliminates the physical limitations of traditional businesses. </li><li>Why business guarantees were detrimental to the growth of the start-up culture in Japan.</li><li>The emergence of female founders in Japan.</li><li>The structure of investment deals in Asia.</li><li>Why it’s better to have multiple co-founders with significant equity stakes on the cap table.</li><li>Headline’s increased investment in blockchain gaming.</li><li>How traditional gaming concepts are becoming applicable to modern blockchain technology.</li><li>What is going to make crypto a mass phenomenon instead of a playground for a minority of Internet users?</li><li>Institutional barriers to expansion in Asia compared to Europe.</li></ul>
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Akio Tanaka Part 1 | Backing Technical Founders & Growing Businesses In Asia
Entrepreneurship in Japan fits the definition of the word ‘entrepreneur’. Japanese culture is one that can be described as ‘wabi-Sabi’, which literally means "frugal, simple, and expressed in a refined way’. Entrepreneurship is a newly emerging culture in Japan. The gap between the traditional business and the new generation of start-up companies is widening. A small number of entrepreneurs in Japan have gained attention and investment by large enterprises through focusing on innovation, expansion and improvement in the quality of business operations. Japan, not unlike China, has a very unique startup ecosystem, due to its somewhat homogenous society and unique ways of doing business, something not easily understood upon market entry. Today on <a href="https://www.wpic.co/podcast/">The Negotiation</a>, we have <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/akiotanaka/">Akio Tanaka</a>, Co-Founder and Partner at Headline VC. Headline VC is a technology-focused venture capital firm that sees the world’s future through the lens of exponential technologies. The aim of Headline is to identify, fund, and partner with companies who are building these new products and services—and to make them more accessible to mainstream consumers. Akio has over 20 years of technology experience. He served as the Senior Director & CTO at Macromedia Japan; in 2005, he spent less than a year as the Vice-president and technology advisor to the CEO at Macromedia Inc.; since June 2008 he has been the Co-founder and Managing Partner at Infinity Venture Partners. Akio Tanaka is one of the most influential investors in Japan and has been known to be passionately committed to the local ecosystem. Akio Tanaka talks about his own professional backyard and walks us through his investment methodology with some examples of the companies he likes to invest in and why. He also talks about his own startup background and the acquisition by Adobe, along with some insights on the Japanese entrepreneurial ecosystem, and some conversational dabbling into personal-interest verticals like ski equipment-on-demand services and self-storage in Japan, among other exciting topics. Enjoy! Please enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points:<ul><li>How Adobe was created.</li><li>Why geeks can create far bigger companies than salespeople.</li><li>Who performs better, technical founders or non-technical founders?</li><li>The story of Freee the Cloud-based accounting company and why it was created.</li><li>Why an entrepreneurial society in Japan was started.</li><li>Headline VC and their early-stage investments.</li><li>The beginning of the entrepreneurial culture in Japan.</li><li>Lessons learned from Groupon in Japan.</li></ul>
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Patrick Deloy Part 2 | The Future Of Omni-Channel Retail In Asia
The future of omnichannel retail in Asia is inspiring. With the barriers to omnichannel integration falling, consumers are more comfortable switching channels and purchasing goods online, while retailers are evolving beyond physical retail stores to become full-service providers of products, services and experiences. Today on <a href="https://www.wpic.co/podcast/">The Negotiation</a>, we continue our conversation with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricknxg/">Patrick Deloy</a>, who is a Managing Director at Merkle, an award-winning e-commerce solutions provider which supports medium to large B2C and B2B companies with the planning, development, localization and long-term support of multi-country e-commerce website deployments in the APAC region. Patrick’s insights on the future of omnichannel retail in Asia and beyond are a must-listen for all retailers, e-commerce businesses and product owners. He shares his thoughts from the perspective of both a storeowner and an e-commerce entrepreneur trying to figure out how online and offline retail will coexist in the future. Please enjoy! Topics Discussed and Key Points: <ul><li>The merging of omnichannel retail consumers in Asia and the metaverse.</li><li>Prominent trends following COVID's emergence.</li><li>How curbside pickup became popular.</li><li>Why there's still plenty of room for growth in omnichannel retail in Asia.</li><li>The fractured ecosystem across APAC.</li><li>The concept of total commerce</li><li>The partner ecosystem and why it is critical</li><li>Why customer experience is everything and how to enable superior customer experience.</li><li>The future of offline retail and what customers expect from offline retail.</li></ul>Notable Quotes “A lot of people, you know, had an interest in the metaverse, even though they did not know what it really was.”“South Korea itself is not, you know, a huge country, but it's one of the largest, you know, crypto markets.”“The response, obviously, to the emergence of COVID in countries across APAC has been very varied.”“There’s still a big pool of, you know, consumers that have not, you know, done a lot of, you know, online commerce transactions, yet, you know, have not ordered a lot on DTC channels online.”“Consumers will more and more expect that whatever they do offline is reflected online, whatever they do online is recognized offline.”“Asian markets have become so important for most international brands that they know, you know, they can't screw it up, right, they have to get it right.”“There has to be a layer of, you know, centralization, and, you know, enough room for localization as well.”“Well for us Customer Experience is everything, really, the way we look at it, really only a superior customer experience will make consumers real and loyal advocates for the brand. So only, you know, superior customer experience can help brands as well to outgrow their competition.” 
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Patrick Deloy Part 1 | The Omni Channel Experience In Asia
APAC has been a hotbed of e-commerce innovation for some time, with companies like Alibaba, Amazon, and Tencent leading the way. But where does this leave traditional retailers? And what's next for the omnichannel retail ecosystem and environment? In today's episode of <a href="https://www.wpic.co/podcast/">The Negotiation Podcast</a>, we are joined by Patrick Deloy. Patrick is Managing Director at Merkle, an award-winning e-commerce solutions provider which supports medium to large B2C and B2B companies with the planning, development, localization and long-term support of multi-country e-commerce website deployments in the APAC region. Patrick talks about his journey from a DTC entrepreneur to becoming one of the top experts in APAC. He talks about what he does, where he is physically located, and how he entered into e-commerce and became the DTC expert he is today. Patrick also shares some insight on what omnichannel ecosystems are and the environment today in the APAC region! Here are key things to listen out for: <ol><li>Patrick's entrepreneurial journey into eCommerce.</li><li>About the Dentsu group.</li><li>How the whole eCommerce landscape and consumer expectations are evolving across all the markets in APAC.</li><li>The development of omnichannel retail over the past few years in the APAC region.</li><li>Companies with the highest eCommerce growth and what has held these companies back when it came to omnichannel retail.</li><li>How COVID propagated consumer habitual change.</li></ol>
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Chuk Besher Part 2 | Partnerships, News Media, & eCommerce In Japan
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Being a news anchor for CNN Japan● How foreigners can partner with Japanese companies or government entities● Managing influencer marketing for 3Minute● Best practices for entering the Japanese market● The future of marketing in Japan Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we continue our conversation with Chuk Besher, Executive Producer at 3Minute, the digital media arm of GREE, a Japanese internet media company that provides mobile social networking and mobile technology services.A content marketing specialist, Chuk’s clients range from the luxury, hospitality, fashion, and pharmaceutical industries. He leads the production of a variety of branded content for these companies, from events to video storytelling to advertising.In 1997, courtesy of his father’s encouragement, Chuk had the opportunity to be a news anchor at CNN in Tokyo for its budding Japanese language broadcast section. He talks about his first-ever experience being in front of the camera and how he found success in his brief role by learning to connect to audiences via imagination.From 2006 to 2007, Chuk served as the Japan Director for The Asia Foundation, where he developed partnerships within both the public and private sectors to engage in dialogue regarding international affairs, ODA, national security, and Corporate Social Responsibility. He discusses the best approach to developing relationships with Japanese companies and government entities as a foreigner.Chuk breaks down his current role and the most memorable campaigns he has worked on so far as Executive Producer for 3Minute, a media and influencer marketing company focusing primarily on young female consumers in Japan.Finally, Chuk gives his best advice to those who are looking to enter the Japanese market in a post-COVID world. He says that cultural insight is foundational, as well as a commitment to patience since, as with other foreign markets, establishing roots in the country takes time. Key Quotes:“Whatever you are trying to communicate, it’s important to imagine how other people are seeing it and to put it in context around what is the best way to reach them. You have to make sure that the story isn’t meaningless, but that it resonates with them.” “Whether you’re partnering with a government agency or a corporate entity on a project because you need the funding or a venue, you have to think in terms of what the benefit is to them.”
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Chuk Besher Part 1 | Creative In Japan With Coca-Cola & Grey Group
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The type of advertising that resonates with Japanese consumers● Marketing lessons learned after working at Grey Group from 1988-1991● Ecommerce in mid-1990s Japan● Brands that did in-store marketing well in the 1990s● Producing media for Coca-Cola in Japan● Working with the teams at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, and the 2010 FIFA World Cup Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Chuk Besher, Executive Producer at 3Minute, the digital media arm of GREE, a Japanese internet media company that provides mobile social networking and mobile technology services.A content marketing specialist, Chuk’s clients range from the luxury, hospitality, fashion, and pharmaceutical industries. He leads the production of a variety of branded content for these companies, from events to video storytelling to advertising.Chuk speaks on the type of advertising which resonates with Japanese consumers, which he calls “advertising that is not advertising”. He says that consumers are sophisticated enough to turn away from traditional, in-your-face messaging. Good marketers craft stories around their products and services which not only inspire, entertain, or educate, but also allow consumers to relate to the brand itself.He shares lessons learned about brand localization after being recruited into Grey Group as a fresh grad in 1988. Chuk explains that if you have a local brand which you are bringing into a market like Japan, it is not simply a matter of translating the copy. Grey taught him that having local knowledge and insight was even more important in bringing success to a brand in a new market.Speaking on his 8+ years of experience as Director of Branded Media for Coca-Cola, Chuk explains that the brand’s immense success can be traced back to Coca-Cola’s commitment to omnipresence. In today’s market, however, it has now become important not just to be everywhere, but to be meaningful everywhere. This means having a symbiotic relationship between marketing and creative, and having the message, as well as the delivery of the message, be specific to the target audience.Finally, Chuk shares how he continued to use the approach of “advertising that is not advertising” during his involvement in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, along with the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Key Quotes:“The type of advertising that resonates with Japanese consumers—and it’s not unique to Japanese consumers, per se—is advertising that is not advertising.” “Maintain brand integrity—do not lose sight of what the brand stands for. At the same time, make sure that it is meaningful and resonates with the local consumer.”
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Jeff Daggett | 30 Years Of Helping Iconic Global Brands Enter Japan - Part 2
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Leading Disney in Japan● Growing Baroque Japan Limited● Common branding mistakes made in Japan by foreign companies● How COVID-19 impacted the Japanese retail market● Technology-related trends that will shape commerce in Japan over the next decade● About Jeff’s olive oil manufacturer Green Valley Olive Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we continue our conversation with Jeff Daggett, Founder and CEO of Aisonne, a brand and retail development & management company offering brand, retail, hospitality, and licensing management services and representation in Japan and the United States.Since 2002, Aisonne has assisted a number of big-name retail brands such as Apple, Columbia Sportswear, Nordstrom, Shinjuku Takano, and NBC Universal.Jeff’s background includes over three decades of experience at leading global companies in the Asia-Pacific, specifically in investment banking, real estate, retail operations, merchandising, marketing, and general management.This time, we focus much of our discussion on Jeff’s time as Disney Japan’s Vice President of Consumer Products from 2004 to 2011, followed by two years at Baroque Japan Limited from 2011 to 2013.Jeff then talks about the major mistakes that foreign brands make in the Japanese market, pulling lessons from his current role as the visionary behind Aisonne, which he founded two decades prior. To him, while localization is an obvious consideration, the common thread that spells success for any company looking to succeed is a focus on effectively telling the story of the brand.In fact, despite the aging population, Jeff believes that there is a lot of opportunity for foreign brands to establish a strong base in Japan as long as “you have a compelling product that’s attractively displayed and appropriately priced with a good story.” Key Quotes:“There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ corporate culture. Every corporate culture has evolved to be ‘right’ for that entity.” “Japan is a different place, but what Japan is really looking for is your authenticity.”
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Jeff Daggett | 30 Years Of Helping Iconic Global Brands Enter Japan - Part 1
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Launching Gap in Japan in 1994● Growing a retail brand in the pre-eCommerce economy of Japan● Recruiting the first management team for Gap in Japan● How Levis became an iconic global brand● Building loyalty around an athletic brand in Japan● Why Jeff’s involvement in Nike’s first campaign in Japan went global● How Nike does retail differently from the rest● Restructuring Sephora in Japan and reversing declining year-on-year comp store sales in under six months Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Jeff Daggett, Founder and CEO of Aisonne, a brand and retail development & management company offering brand, retail, hospitality, and licensing management services and representation in Japan and the United States.Since 2002, Aisonne has assisted a number of big-name retail brands such as Apple, Columbia Sportswear, Nordstrom, Shinjuku Takano, and NBC Universal.Jeff’s background includes over three decades of experience at leading global companies in the Asia-Pacific, specifically in investment banking, real estate, retail operations, merchandising, marketing, and general management.Listen in as Jeff reflects on his 30-year career in the retail business development world in Japan, beginning with an opportunity to launch Gap in Tokyo in the Summer of 1994. He speaks specifically about the challenges of localizing and growing an established foreign brand decades before the dramatic rise of eCommerce.Asked how differently such an experience would be if he were to launch in today’s market, Jeff refers to the quote: “There are no overstored markets, only under-merchandised ones.” In other words, successfully establishing a brand in any foreign market largely comes down to telling a compelling story⁠, particularly via visual merchandising, ⁠around one’s product.Jeff gives a few examples from his career to illustrate the power of “compelling merchandise, attractively presented”. He highlights his work on Nike’s first-ever campaign in Japan, which was so successful that elements of the campaign were adapted by other brands on a global scale. Key Quotes:“For anyone who works in retail, the store is company headquarters, and company headquarters is the back office.” “A lot of folks will tell you that you have to change what you do to succeed in Japan, and this is true. But you can’t lose the essence of what you are.” “There are no overstored markets, only under-merchandised ones.”
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Massimo Lazzari | Bringing European Luxury Brands To Japan
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● How Tod's Japan developed from 2001 to 2007● The importance of brick and mortar retail in the early-to-mid-2000s● The Japanese perception of European luxury brands in the late 1990s● The footwear and leather goods market in Japan● How the Japanese outdoor industry evolved throughout the 2010s● How COVID influenced the move toward more online sales● Building professional relationships in the Asia-Pacific● Upcoming trends in Japan Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Massimo Lazzari, President and Representative Director at Columbia Sportswear Japan, where he has lived and worked for over 30 years.Massimo discusses the changes he has seen firsthand in the Japanese retail clothing market since his time as a sales manager for Ferragamo in 1995. Following his time there, he served as the Managing Director for Tod’s from 2001 to 2007, when the brand was only a startup.Massimo explains that foreign brands need to embrace consistency when establishing their companies in Japan. He talks about developing “the ability to build a tangible aura around the product”.He then speaks about his almost 12-year career at Columbia. He shares how he has seen the outdoor industry develop over that time, as well as how the pandemic accelerated the already ongoing trend of consumers moving away from offline and toward online commerce.Finally, Massimo explains why fighting for market share is considerably more vital in Japan relative to other countries, and what foreign companies need to keep in mind when establishing their brand among an aging population. Key Quotes:“The importance of the craftsmen who add value to their work is something that you can’t see in the product that you have in front of you in the store.” “The nature of the Japanese consumer when they go shopping is less transactional and more about the value that they get, not only from the product but what’s around it.” “COVID was more of a short-term trend that built upon an already existing long-term move from offline to online.”
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Ricky Samuel | Marketing Consumer Electronics Brands In Southeast Asia - Part 2
Topics Discussed and Key Points:· Ricky’s experience working with the Japanese market.· Adapting to the new normal.· The benefits of working with local distributors.· What it takes to have a successful omnichannel approach.· How the approach to being successful in the Indonesian market has changed.· How consumer behaviour has changed. Episode Summary: Today on The Negotiation, we continue our conversation with Ricky Samuel, E-Commerce Lead at Mindshare, a global media agency, where he helps clients in understanding their e-commerce-related challenges to drive success. Over the past 10 years, Ricky has served in roles at large corporations, including Bose, ASUS, and HP. In 2019, Ricky moved to Schneider Electric, and in 2021, he joined Mindshare Indonesia as E-Commerce Lead. Regarding his move to Schneider Electric, Ricky says “I want to understand the regional point of view.” Ricky also talks about Schneider’s E-Commerce partners, lessons from the Japanese market, adapting to the new normal of Covid, what it takes to have a successful omnichannel approach, changing consumer behaviour, and Ricky looks at the next 5 years. Key Quotes:“Price has now become less important.” “You don’t need to have the same product in each marketplace.” “Engagement to your customer is the key.”
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Ricky Samuel | Marketing Consumer Electronics Brands In Southeast Asia - Part 1
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● How Bose approached omnichannel sales in Southeast Asia in the early 2010s● Bose’s commitment to consistency across resellers● How much control Microsoft had over ASUS’s local marketing strategy and pricing● Localizing messaging and marketing for Indonesian consumers● Driving preferential product placement on search platforms● How customer feedback impacts HP’s product roadmap in Indonesia Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Ricky Samuel, E-Commerce Lead at Mindshare, a global media agency, where he helps clients in understanding their e-commerce-related challenges to drive success.Ricky speaks on the digital landscape in Southeast Asia as well as the development of broader digital transformation strategies for the region since his entry into the marketing world in the early 2010s.Ricky worked as Bose Indonesia’s Brand Marketing Manager from 2013 to 2015. Looking back at this experience, he offers some insight into the evolution of the company's omnichannel sales strategies during a time when digital commerce was rapidly gaining prominence. He talks about Bose’s focus on “customer excitement” to maximize the in-store experience, as well as Bose’s commitment to consistency in quality, service, and experience across their resellers.As the Product Marketing Lead for ASUS from 2015 to 2016, Ricky discusses the unique challenges of localizing the brand in Indonesia. He then does a deep dive into HP’s omnichannel operations during his time with the company from 2018 to 2019, emphasizing the importance of partnering with Key Opinion Leaders and top e-commerce platforms to drive brand equity. Key Quotes:“We need to ensure that experience and engagement is at the same level every time a new customer walks into our store.” “On the local level, showcasing and using the products is more powerful than communicating to the customer who we are. So, we had better engage with Key Opinion Leaders about our products for more powerful messaging.” “We need to understand the needs of the population itself. We need to understand their behavior: how they spend their money and how they use our products in their daily lives.
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Bill Tung | Localizing For Consumers In Japan - Part 2
Topics Discussed and Key Points:· Covid and its effects on Direct-to-Consumer.· Online consumer strategies in APAC versus in North America.· How to measure success in retail.· How consumer feedback is applied· The importance of a good D-to-C strategy.· The future of D-to-C in the APAC region. Episode Summary: Today, I talk to Bill Tung, Managing Partner at Peaks Consulting, a global brand, retail, and management consultancy. Since its founding in 2015, Peaks Consulting has built an internationally recognized consultancy based on trust and relationships before business. Peaks currently serves consumers in 20 countries and counting. Bill has also served as the VP of Europe and Asia-Pacific at Rockport, VP of International Sales a Columbia Sportswear, Executive VP of International Sales at New Balance, Managing Director of Fanatics Inc, and Asia-Pacific General Manager of Clarks. Regarding Covid’s effect on Direct-to-Consumer, Bill says “brands learned that you could still conduct business without travel.” “Is that the right way to do things? No. That’s for established businesses.” Bill also talks about online consumer strategies, applying consumer feedback, the importance of having a good D-to-C strategy, and the future of D-to-C. Key Quotes:“Brands learned that you could still conduct business without travel.” “If shopping was an Olympic sport, Asians would win Gold, Silver, and Bronze year after year.” “It’s not good enough just to be on the site. It’s not good enough just to have inventory nearby. You need to do the proper marketing.” 
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Bill Tung | Localizing For Consumers In Japan - Part 1
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Helping Rockport and The Body Shop grow across the APAC region in the 1990s and early 2000s● Marketing to a demographic that you are not a part of● Marketing outdoor apparel and equipment in APAC● Localizing well-known Western brands in different APAC countries● Common mistakes brands make when expanding in APAC● Optimizing your organizational structure to thrive in foreign markets● Preparing for complaints and returns in overseas markets Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Bill Tung, Managing Director at Peaks Consulting. Bill reflects on his time establishing Rockport and The Body Shop’s sales operations across the APAC region.It was from those experiences that Bill learned the value of knowing thy customer, becoming aware of your home country's biases, and ignoring consumer differences at your peril—especially important considerations for Western brands looking to successfully expand into Asian markets.Bill also discusses the unique challenges of growing Columbia—a sports and outdoor apparel brand—in China while he served as VP of International Sales from 2003 to 2016.Finally, Bill talks about the common mistakes that brands make when attempting to expand into foreign markets, and why it is so important to optimize a company’s organizational structure, which includes everything from operations, customer service, and marketing, to merchandising, HR, and finance.“These really need to be part and parcel of a global mindset,” says Bill. “Otherwise you’re just exporting.” Key Quotes:“When you fail to understand the consumers that you’re trying to sell to, that gets a lot of companies into trouble.” “Retail is detail.”
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Elyse Ribbons Pt. 2 | Navigating Philanthropy, the Arts, and the Corporate World in China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● All about the highest-rated nationally syndicated show, Laowai Kandian● What is Peking Opera● The world of philanthropy in China● Being a board member of the China Pacific Construction Group ● The eating and drinking culture of doing business in China Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we continue our conversation with Elyse Ribbons, CEO and Founder at GeiLi Giving, which has built a WeChat app connecting charities to Chinese netizens through engaging challenges to encourage giving.She is also the Founder of Cheeky Monkey Theater and host of the nationally syndicated news-talk show Laowai Kandian, the success of which she goes into in today’s conversation. The show invites people of different nationalities to come together and speak candidly about difficult topics—a practice that Elyse notes may just be that elusive key to achieving world peace. “At the end of those conversations,” she says, “you can always find that human element. Even if you agree to disagree about little details, you can always agree on the important basics.” Elyse then describes her experience in the Peking opera scene, describing the art form as “the crystallization of so many Chinese values: aesthetic, artistic, moral”. She also speaks on an interesting connection between the classic 14th century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, and the culture of business in China. Finally, Elyse describes the world of philanthropy in China as well as the nature of business unique to the country, drawing from her own experience as a former board member of the China Pacific Construction Group. Key Quotes:“[Peking Opera] is the crystallization of so many Chinese values: aesthetic, artistic, moral.” “When you have a passion for something, you study it, you learn it, and you hold it much more dearly than people who just sort of passively have to accept it. They didn’t choose to learn Chinese; they had to. I choose, on a daily basis, to continue learning Chinese.”
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Elyse Ribbons, Part 1 | Theater and Cinema in China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● What it takes to become truly fluent in another language● All about Cheeky Monkey Theater and Star Theatre● Chinese versus Western cinema● The speed of Chinese business as both a blessing and a curse Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we talk with Elyse Ribbons, a startup founder, radio show host, actor, and writer in China, who is also incredibly fluent in Mandarin. She is the Founder of Cheeky Monkey Theater and host of the nationally syndicated news-talk show Laowai Kandian. She kicks off the conversation by talking about what drew her to China all the way back in 2001 and how she was able to achieve an impressive level of fluency in Mandarin. Aside from her work in theatre, Elyse has also been cast in a number of Chinese films. All of this gives her a unique perspective on the local entertainment industry that most foreigners never get a chance to see.She speaks on her various opportunities to work in the Chinese movie industry and along the way touches on how the culture of speed in China’s business world influences even the entertainment sphere. Key Quotes:“There are so few people, especially in China, who do business and art—especially theatre art. Broadway is a business. Broadway is not pure art; so, you have to be able to understand business to do good shows.” “This culture of going by the seat of your pants is a benefit and a curse. It’s one of the reasons Chinese startups actually can do so well with the changing environment around them—because there are no plans. So, you’re pivoting constantly, because you’re dealing with whatever is directly in front of you.”
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Liam Mather | Inside the Beijing Olympic Bubble
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Liam’s work in Public Affairs and Communications at WPIC● Becoming involved with the Olympics● Looking back at the Beijing Olympics● The level of interest of the Chinese population in the Olympic games● The stars of the Olympics● The state of Chinese hockey post-Olympics● Lesser-known notable news stories in China that did not make the headlines● The lasting impact of the Olympics on winter sports in China Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we talk with Liam Mather, Head of Public Affairs and Communications at WPIC Marketing + Technologies. Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer, Liam helps guide WPIC's public and government affairs, strategic communications, media engagement, corporate branding, and sales enablement.Liam previously worked in BCW's Corporate and Public Affairs practice in Beijing, where he helped clients manage reputations, respond to crises, and navigate policy issues.He was a 2020 Fellow of the American Chamber of Commerce in China’s Leadership Development Program. He has a Bachelor's degree in Honours History from McGill University, where he focused on international Cold War history and served as Chair of Debates for the debating union.Liam’s work at WPIC is focused on telling “the story of the enormous opportunity that exists in China for foreign brands,” and educating these brands on how working with WPIC is the best way for them to tap into this opportunity.Following his recent role as a spotter for the hockey program at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Liam left with a very positive impression of the planning and execution of the whole event. Calling it “an enormously impressive organizational feat,” Liam highlights the management’s success at keeping COVID at bay, particularly via the massive quarantine bubble that was able to hold 70,000 people, including 5000 athletes, at the peak of the event.Hockey—and winter sports in general—has a bright future in China. The numbers of ice rinks and players have exploded in the last five years: from 200 to 900 rinks, and from 1000 to 13,000 players, both since 2015. Those numbers will only continue to climb, especially in the aftermath of the Olympics. Key Quotes:“I’m trying to tell the story of the enormous opportunity that exists in China for foreign brands. Part of that story is how working with WPIC is the best way for brands to tap into this opportunity.” “In terms of the state of hockey in China, before the Olympics, we saw very significant growth in hockey participation and hockey infrastructure. In 2015, the year Beijing won the game’s bid, there were 200 ice hockey rinks. Now there are 900, which is a pretty massive increase. That actually makes China one of the top countries in the world for the number of ice rinks. Just five years ago, there were about 1000 players in China, according to the IIHF; but, now there are 13,000.” “I think we’re going to see China in the future as being a strong winter sports nation just like it’s been such a strong country in the summer games.”
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Zarina Kanji | Health, Wellness and Food in China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Tmall’s International Women's Day● The most sought-after products among women in 2022● Trends in the food & beverage space● Why there is more demand for sleep supplements● Health and wellness trends in the West that might make it to China very soon● UK and Nordic products that have captured the attention of Chinese consumers● What Gen-Z female consumers look for compared with their older counterparts● Differences between consumers across different geographies in China Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we talk with Zarina Kanji. Based in London, she is the Head of Business Development for Health & Wellness and Food & Beverage Brands at Alibaba. She previously served as VP of Global Fashion Brand Partnerships at Lazada in Singapore.Zarina speaks with us about Tmall’s upcoming International Women’s Day—a key event tied to the company’s Super Brand Day—on March 8, 2022. It has proven in previous years to be the third-largest shopping festival in the nation, behind 11.11 and 6.18, and is a unique opportunity for brands to engage with women across China.From influencer parties to limited edition product launches, International Women’s Day, or “Queen Day” as it is sometimes called, is a celebration of all things female.The five major trends predicted for this International Women’s Day are inner beauty, beauty tech, probiotics (gut health), sleep supplementation (which include the phenomenon of 朋克养生 or pengke yangsheng, also known as “punk health”), and sportswear.With regards to food & beverage, Zarina notes that China is rapidly becoming the world’s largest market for healthy eating, and especially healthy snacking. This trend, adopted primarily by millennials and Gen-Z, was largely spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 30 million consumers purchased healthy food on Tmall global alone in 2020, a 30% rise from the previous year. Alibaba saw a 56% rise in healthy on-the-go foods, which include sesame balls, goji berry beverages, and meal replacement shakes. Zarina sees plant-based consumables as an upcoming trend in the near future.She also says that there is a growing demand for health and wellness products in the UK and Nordic countries thanks to the quality of ingredients typically used in these items.Finally, Zarina discusses the importance of catering to the demands of younger female consumers as a Chinese brand. With Tmall Global alone, around 70% of consumers are female. 85% are 39, and 59% of those consumers are under 30. Key Quotes:“The health and wellness industry is estimated to grow by 19% from 2020 to 2025—up to $145 billion. Much of this will cater towards China’s 685 million women.” “In China, what you put in and on your body absolutely matters.” “China is rapidly becoming the world’s largest market for healthy eating, and notably healthy snacking is what we talk about a lot.” “It’s really important that brands are looking towards the demands of Gen-Z, millennial, female consumers in China. If we take Tmall Global alone, around 70% of our consumers are female. 85% of our consumers are under 39, and 59% of those consumers are under 30.”
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Art Dicker | Navigating China's Legal System
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The Shanghai/Beijing rivalry● Companies that are finding success in China● The nature of legal risk in China versus North America● How Chinese law develop into its current framework● Data privacy considerations● China’s corporate laws● Common mistakes foreign companies make in negotiating and drafting contracts with Chinese companies Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we talk with Art Dicker, Director at R&P China Lawyers, a boutique PRC law firm that supports international business in China. He is also Director at Acclime China, which offers a complete suite of premium accounting & tax compliance services in China.Art has spent the last 14 years working in China to advise technology, manufacturing, and consumer companies on structuring their investments and managing legal risk in their operations. He has a deep understanding of the practical difficulties and cultural gaps faced by international headquarters in managing their legal risk in China, having served as Asia Pacific General Counsel at Cadence Design Systems for 6 years prior to R&P.Art speaks with us about the differences he has encountered between working in Shanghai and working in Beijing. He refers to Beijing as “the real China” while Shanghai is more of a global city, akin to New York. Shanghai is also the location of choice that many multinationals choose to establish their base in, which means more opportunity.China has a reputation of being a very difficult country to penetrate as a foreign tech company, particularly due to its complex legal environment. Art talks about the types of businesses that succeed in the country. LinkedIn, for one, has become a mainstay in the China tech ecosystem. He also mentions that foreign enterprise SaaS companies, while often flying under the radar, have been an extremely successful category of business in China simply because they are providing products and services that are not yet widely available locally.He also explains why foreign companies do not need to fear the complex and often nebulous framework that makes up China’s corporate laws. He says that there is no need to have the “perfect” contract ready upon entering the country to do business with Chinese partners.In fact, Art says that “in China, the contract is not worth more than the paper it’s written on.” Further, a contract means nothing if the foreign company has no legal representatives or local operators on the ground. Key Quotes:“At the end of the day, you have to take risks, and you have to take them eyes wide open. It’s a big market. If you try to cover every risk, you can’t do business—here or anywhere—for that matter. There is more risk here, but you just have to accept it and cover your bases as best as you can.” “What we’re trying to give clients is a story. Nobody can perfectly comply with these laws because they’re so vague. So, what you’re trying to do is to come up with a story where you have done, as best as possible, to comply with the law, as it’s written, and as you understand it.”
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Kimberly Kirkendall | Global Supply Chain Upheaval & Managing Vendor Relationships in China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● How the last 18 months changed the economy forever● How things have changed in Kimberly’s line of work in China● What happened to the global supply chain and its impact on the Chinese economy● Moving forward in 2022 and beyond● Maintaining business relationships in China● How the business landscape in the region has changed overall● How the B2B buying process has evolved throughout COVID Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we talk with Kimberly Kirkendall, founder and President at International Resource Development.We recently had Kimberly on the show in September 2020 to discuss a myriad of topics, including the art of negotiation, building relationships, and managing suppliers, as well as interpreting and navigating written procedures and policy documents. She sits down with us almost 18 months later to speak on what’s changed since that last conversation.In a nutshell, she believes that nobody should count on any semblance of the “old normal” rearing its head until at least 2024. From drastic shifts in the supply chain to the now-dead culture of on-demand travel to continued logistical issues and labor shortages, the many challenges of the new normal are here to stay for a long time.With regards to the many changes in the global supply chain over the past two years, Kimberly says that China has effectively been scrambling to stay ahead of an ongoing chain reaction. It has been particularly damaging for manufacturers who for a couple of decades had been relying on just-in-time inventory and lean supply chain and logistics.Today, building and maintaining relationships in China has become even more important than it already was prior to COVID. “You have to have trust on both sides,” stresses Kimberly. “You have to trust that they have your best interests at heart, and it’s harder to do when you can’t be face-to-face.” Partners should be mindful in their communication, taking care to feed the personal side of the relationship instead of being all business.Overall, Kimberly believes that the new normal is here to stay. Regionalization and decentralization are not going away. Geo-political tensions and the rise of hierarchical government structures will continue to develop. Concerning international trade, business, and labor, Kimberly simply says, “I don’t see us going back to where we were. I just don’t.” Key Quotes:“Companies that thought they could triage their supply chain problems, and that it was going to be six months of hiccups and they would go back to normal, that obviously hasn’t been the case. So, more and more companies are realizing that there is a new normal.” “Across Democrats and Republicans and economic divisions, the one thing that unites people in the United States right now is the threat of China. We need to have the ability to have a conversation about that, where you can actually influence somebody that what they’re reading is not true and is not all bad. It’s crazy how divisive it's gotten.” “You have to have trust on both sides. You have to trust that they have your best interests at heart—that they’re acting as a good distributor, that they’re acting as a good supplier on your behalf. And they have to trust that you’re a good customer. And it’s harder to do when you can’t be face-to-face.” “You really need to understand your market in China and how your products are used. It’s critical. [...] For foreign brands going into China, you really have to challenge your own bias and expectations, and how you judge and value what the customer—whether it’s a business or a consumer—thinks about your business, because they may have a completely different perspective in the use of it or a different value system around what makes it work.”
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Mark Williams | Triumphs, Challenges and Threats: The Politics of the Asia-Pacific
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The main thesis of The Politics of the Asia-Pacific● The biggest evolutions in the Asia-Pacific over the last 15 years● Relationships between countries in the Asia-Pacific● Major non-governmental actors in the Asia-Pacific region● How average citizens regard tensions in the region● How the pandemic impacted politics in the region● Often overlooked factors by the West concerning politics in the Asia-Pacific region Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we talk with Mark Williams, Chair of Political Studies at Vancouver Island University. He is the editor of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Politics-Asia-Pacific-Triumphs-Challenges-Threats/dp/1487525990">The Politics of the Asia-Pacific: Triumphs, Challenges, and Threats</a>, published by the University of Toronto Press. He previously authored a book on the politics of Indonesia titled <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Indonesia-Islam-International-Political-Economy/dp/0415788870">Indonesia, Islam, and the International Political Economy: Clash or Cooperation?</a>.Says Mark: “My road to China is through this broader prism of the politics of the Asia-Pacific.”In Politics of the Asia-Pacific, Mark discusses the so-called “East-Asian Miracle” as it was referred to by the World Bank in a 1993 publication. In that publication, it is said that the economic success of the Asia-Pacific had a 1 in 10,000 chance of occurring.This success did not come about by chance, of course; it’s by design, thanks to public officials working with government bureaucracies as well as heads of major industries to coordinate what is sometimes called a “developmental state model” for the region. This way, the government channels investment into specific industries to try to find and maximize comparative advantages rather than just leaving it entirely to market forces.Mark notes that world order is a “nebulous” concept influenced by a number of different factors such as questions of legitimacy. But certainly, one pillar of world order is the distribution of power in the international system, and that distribution of power has shifted considerably over the past decade.The dynamic between the different countries within the Asia-Pacific is characterized by “a thin degree of institutionalization”, or the delicate balance between the supreme sovereign authority of the state and the “pooling” of the sovereignty of every state for the purposes of maintaining a rules-based international order.With this in mind, China looms over the rest of the countries in the region. Mark dissects the various moving parts that contribute to tensions within the Asia-Pacific and what Western observers need to consider when discussing these tensions. He touches on the question of why the Western conception of liberal democracy may be largely incompatible in Asia, and how ASEAN can serve as a dialogue partner to find a shared purpose between every nation in the region. Key Quotes:“Back in 1993, in this World Bank publication called ‘The East-Asian Miracle’, it said that, if it was random chance, the economic success of the Asia-Pacific would have had a 1 in 10,000 chance of occurring.” “By 2050, the Chinese economy will probably be about 150% the size of the United States. This is just an unprecedented transformation and redistribution of power in the international system.” “The rise of China, and the uncertainties and anxieties that it provokes, is something that reverberates across Southeast Asia as well as Japan and South Korea.” “This is going to be the approach to working with China: Every country in the region really needs to be careful about its bilateral relations. It needs to look for these multilateral relationships where possible, and that’s not easy to do.”
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Karen Raghavan | The Beauty Market in China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The dynamic between heritage brands and startups● How consumption patterns for Chinese consumers change when purchasing abroad versus within China● Comparing travelling Chinese consumers with travelling Western consumers● Whether most big beauty brands need to have a dedicated travelling consumer program● How COVID-19 has changed beauty brands and their marketing● How the pandemic impacted retail● Considerations regarding KOLs and KOCs● How to market hero products versus new products● All about VIPKid● Addressing the “pressure cooker” environment around academic expectations Chinese parents have of their children● Comparing the American and the Chinese school systems with regards to setting students up for success in the workforce Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we talk with Karen Raghavan, a Brand and Business Development Consultant and Growth Advisor to both heritage beauty brands and startups. She is also the Vice President of Brand Development at natural ingredient company Purissima.Karen is a member of Chief, a private network built to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there.Years ago, it was incredibly difficult for a new company to gain traction in China. Observing this, Karen set out to discover what captures the minds of Chinese consumers.She found that consumers travelled to neighboring countries such as Japan and Korea to take advantage of price differentials, while at the same time introducing new brands to friends and family back home. She also discovered that younger Chinese consumers tended to travel abroad individually while older generations tended to do so in groups.Today, eCommerce has become an indispensable avenue for the majority of brands. It is important for a company to hone their brand messaging and create compelling content that helps them stand out and attract their ideal consumer amid a sea of countless brands competing within the attention economy.Further, the barrier to entry has now been lowered, again thanks to the ease of access to eCommerce solutions. What remains to be seen is whether all of these new brands launched during the pandemic will be able to scale moving forward.Finally, Karen speaks on the “pressure cooker” environment around academic expectations Chinese parents traditionally have of their children. She also gives her thoughts on how well the American and Chinese educational systems prepare students for success in the workforce. Key Quotes:“The Chinese have a very intentional purchasing behavior, where they will research the brands at length, research the products at length, research the pricing at length, then create a list per location, per destination, and even do a group buy.” “I don’t think there needs to be a specific Chinese traveller program anymore. I believe that a lot of brands have gotten way more educated over the last few years on the China market and the Chinese consumer.” “We’re still human beings at the end of the day; so, having somebody talk me through a compelling brand story or demonstrating how a product actually could solve some of my skin problems or makeup needs—it’s hard to compare that with an Instagram ad or even somebody showing me how to do it on TikTok.” “Unless there is a structural change in how children and students enter university, that pressure cooker environment will remain.”
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Jim Fields | Creative Video as an IPO Marketing Tool in China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● About Relay Video● The typical dynamics between creative agencies and their Chinese clients● How Relay aims to “create China’s ﬁrst truly global brand”● How roadshow videos become an IPO marketing tool for companies● Monetizing your YouTube channel as a China vlogger in 2022● About Jim’s upcoming app, Relay.club Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we talk with Jim Fields, Founder and CEO of Relay Video, a Beijing-based creative marketing agency that specializes in creating stunning pieces of video content, both for disruptive startup businesses and large technology brands.Established in 2016, Relay Video was built on the belief that Chinese brands are the brands of the future. Relay’s mission, therefore, is to make films that tell the stories of these brands to a global audience.Jim is also a marketing consultant for the Chinese venture capital investment fund 10Fund and a mentor at Chinaccelerator.Asked about Relay’s unique thrust as a creative marketing agency in China, Jim explains that “the rush to iterate” that the market is known for comes at the expense of the brand story. “Each story is different,” says Jim. “But, the key thing is clarifying the narrative and then using that clarified narrative in a visual format that makes the company’s mission make sense to viewers.”Further, the goal is to create videos that those who do not live in China can relate to, not just on a rational level, but on an emotional one, too. To this end, Relay makes sure “to visualize not just the company but the actual landscape of China” in its films.Jim also talks about his YouTube channel, GRTR, and his experience so far as an American China vlogger in 2022. Key Quotes:“You’re starting to see brands in China that have products which are either at the same level or perhaps even surpass their counterparts in other markets. The interesting part about it is, in China, a lot of the founders of these companies are STEM graduates who know a lot about engineering and how to create a product; but, they might not know about the soft skills—storytelling, communications, PR, marketing. Especially when these companies take that step onto the global stage, many of them are lacking marketing collateral and materials that are going to tell that story—particularly in English—to a global audience.” “For a lot of folks who live outside of China, China is a complete unknown. So, when you think about film, we really have to find a way to visualize not just the company but the actual landscape of China—whether it’s things like the ease of delivery that takes place in Chinese cities or the ubiquity of mobile payments or the fact that most folks are interacting primarily with technology products on mobile as opposed to via desktop. So, we have to really find a way to encapsulate the entire landscape of China in 2022 via these films and do it in a way that someone who lives in a Western market who has never stepped foot in China can actually understand.”
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Mark Simon | Growing Hockey in China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● China’s hockey culture versus that of America● How China’s youth is typically introduced to hockey● Hockey leagues and training programs available for adults in China● Active recreational rinks in China● A geographical layout of hockey in China● The business of sports development in China from a Westerner’s point of view● Chinese parents’ motivation for getting their kids involved in hockey● Chinese hockey referees● Hockey fans in China● Professional hockey in China Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we talk with international hockey consultant Mark Simon. He has spent 15 years as an expert in the Chinese hockey industry, from team coaching to program creation to on-the-ground operations. He has also collaborated with numerous media outlets on navigating the Chinese landscape from a marketing perspective.Mark is a key member of the leadership team for China Hockey Group, the country’s largest organization dedicated to running high-level adult and youth hockey programs both locally and on the world stage.He is also the founder of Hockey Hands, a non-profit organization teaching English and hockey to orphans, migrant children, and children with disabilities.Hockey’s popularity in China is nowhere near that of Canada or the U.S., nor is there much of a “grassroots” movement around the sport. Mark points out that the youth largely treat hockey as just another “class” rather than as a genuinely fun activity they voluntarily engage in, not to mention the fact that enrolling a child in hockey is a particularly expensive endeavor in China.Teenagers who do develop passion and demonstrable skills for hockey end up migrating elsewhere to be able to pursue their sport in a country with an established hockey scene. As for adults, ex-pats make up a large majority of local hockey players and enthusiasts as hockey remains a minor sport in China.Mark gives his thoughts on the role of guanxi in any business interaction among the Chinese, hockey and sports, in general, being no exception. He also notes the glaring lack of professional teams in the country, especially amid the pandemic, and what the future of hockey might look like going forward. Key Quotes:“There isn’t much of a hockey culture in China, unfortunately. It doesn’t enter the zone of the common person at all. It’s really only the hockey parents—the hockey families—who end up learning anything about the sport.” “In China, it’s very much about relationships—guanxi. [...] I had to learn that you can’t just be as honest as you’d like to be because, typically, Chinese people don’t want to have a confrontation.”
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Cameron Wilson | The Future of Football (Soccer) in China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● China’s football landscape● Why football has a more active fanbase than basketball in China● Grassroots football in China● How prioritization of education over almost all else impacts sport culture in China● The biggest football teams in China and their dynamic with fans● Chinese football and the Chinese government● Where Chinese football players need to improve on a tactical level● Covering football in China as a foreign journalist● The future of football in China Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we talk with Cameron Wilson, a writer on all things Chinese football published by World Soccer, The Guardian, and AFP. He is the Founding Editor of Wild East Football.Football has been “on the go” in China since 1994 but has had uneven development since its introduction. From corruption scandals to failed investments in an attempt to give local players a platform on the world stage, Cameron says that Chinese football “is in a bad place” up until today.Cameron names another issue regarding the slow growth of football in China as the lack of a grassroots system. As with other sports in the country, attempts at development very much come top-down—and so far, there has been no Yao Ming of football to inspire the youth. The relatively low interest in building the national player base is further compounded by the fact that parents continue to push education as a priority above all else.Chinese football, according to Cameron, is probably “too tactical” for their own good. That is, there is very little if any, encouragement to be creative on the pitch, as opposed to the football culture of the West.Finally, Cameron speaks on the difficulty of being able to paint a full, well-rounded picture of Chinese football as a foreign journalist, considering there is a lot of suspicion toward the foreign press.Overall, football is not dead in China, but it is developing at a snail’s pace. Now that the pandemic has further hampered the growth of the sports landscape in general, the future of Chinese football is uncertain. Key Quotes:“The U.S. has been a consistent World Cup qualifier since it was launched. So, basically, the domestic league in the U.S. has supported the national team; whereas in China, it has not had the same effect. China has only been to the World Cup once, which was in 2002, and they basically went home after three defeats and scored no goals.” “Grassroots football in China is quite unlike grassroots sports elsewhere, because there is simply a lack of people involved. [...] There is not really a casual or leisure grassroots sports system in China. Everything is based on identifying young talents at a very young age and whisking them off to an Olympic gold medal factory.”
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Alvin Wang Graylin | The China President of HTC Talks VR & Metaverse
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● China’s consumer PC market in the early-to-mid-90s● Why many companies struggled in the 90s while Intel thrived● Building the Chinese social networking app Guanxi in the early-2010s● Co-founding mInfo, the official mobile search provider to the Beijing Olympics in 2008● What internet marketing looked like 20 years ago and the impact of mobile in the 2000s● The early days of eCommerce and the reasons for its dramatic growth● What foreign VR companies should do to localize for the Chinese market● How VR is perceived in China versus the West and why it took a long time to take off● Where the world of VR will be in five to ten years● What Alvin means by: “The metaverse will expand—not replace—the internet.” Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we talk with Alvin Wang Graylin, China President at HTC. Established in 1997, HTC is an award-winning developer of smart mobile, connected technology, and virtual reality products.Alvin is also the Vice President of the Industry of Virtual Reality Alliance (IVRA) and the President of the Virtual Reality Venture Capital Alliance (VRVCA)He has almost three decades of business management experience in the tech industry, including 20 years in Greater China beginning with a Senior Management position at Intel in 1993. Prior to HTC, Alvin was a serial entrepreneur, having founded four venture-backed startups in the mobile and internet spaces, covering mobile social, adtech, search, AI, big data and digital media. Additionally, he has held $100+ million P&L roles at a number of public companies.Today, Alvin is a sought-after speaker and thought leader on the topics of VR/AR/AI in China and globally.According to Alvin, the key consideration of the Chinese government when scrutinizing foreign companies is the potential for technology transfer. It is a tit-for-tat attitude that Intel was able to abide by, resulting in a collaboration that allowed Intel to thrive while most other foreign consumer PC brands of the time failed to penetrate the market.Alvin looks back on an early career in the Chinese tech space where innovation was rampant, including his experience building the Chinese social networking app Guanxi in the early-2010s, as well as co-founding mInfo, the official mobile search provider to the Beijing Olympics in 2008.Finally, Alvin discusses his current role at HTC developing smart mobile and VR products. “In every area of this industry,” he says, “there is innovation happening.” The common thread tying these innovations together is the ever-blurring line between distinct features that make up many of today’s devices. In the near future, Alvin foresees smart mobile devices for both personal and business uses, incorporating both VR and AR technologies.Alvin concludes: “Anybody at any age can put on these devices and behave as they do in the real world.” Key Quotes:“There were tons of consumers out there, but how could we get them into this new internet and multimedia trend that’s starting to happen? One was getting the prices way down. Two was helping to take all this global content and localizing it. And three was creating low-end consumer channels that were able to reach out to all the different Tier 2, 3, 4, 5 cities that didn’t have access to computer stores at all.” “COVID has really accelerated the interest in the VR industry because people are now recognizing that you’re able to be productive and eliminate a lot of business travel. But having a video-only interaction doesn’t feel personal enough; so, VR is a good alternative to help enhance that sense of being together.” “The old internet—the 2D internet—does not go away. I actually see the Metaverse as, essentially, the internet of today expanded to interact with 3D content, and uses an immersive device—like an AR or VR device—to experience this 3D content. But at the same time, these 3D devices can be used to experience 2D content. [...] This Metaverse needs to be something that’s completely open, that anybody can get into through any device, and it needs to be at global standards to be operable across different countries and different operating systems.”
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Michael Zakkour | 5 NEW DIGITAL’s Predictions For 2022 In China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Major trends across China eCommerce and consumer behavior in the past year● Categories that are doing really well in China today● Non-traditional categories that are on the way up● The younger generation’s move “back to basics” and “materialism fatigue”● Finding the keys to finding purchase motivation amid China’s “post-consumer high”● China’s anti-monopoly policies and their long-term implications● What digital online platforms Michael is most excited about● The rising dominance of “information capitalism” and its implication on culture● Bridging the in-store and the digital experience● Why live streaming has not taken off in North America yet (and when it will) Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we talk with Michael Zakkour, founder of 5 NEW DIGITAL, an exclusive consulting organization that advises its clients on strategy, structure, implementation and transformation in the age of the digital industrial revolution - across the "5 New" - New Retail, New Technology, New Finance, New Supply Chain and New Manufacturing. He is also the author of "New Retail: Born in China, Going Global.” We look back on the past year and note the major developments across China's eCommerce and consumer behavior.Michael says, “What we’re really seeing now is a blending of the idea of, ‘What is eCommerce?’ with the idea of, ‘What is social commerce?’” He contends that this is an inevitability that was fast-forwarded as a result of the pandemic. The typical Chinese consumer now no longer sees a distinction between the two—that live streaming, AR, VR, ER, and the like are now one and the same. “It’s all becoming part of this larger-than-life, technicolor, robust experience of shopping.” He then goes into the current and rising trends in the market, which turn out to largely be the home, beauty, and kitchen industries as consumers—particularly the younger generation—have begun to embrace a “back-to-basics” lifestyle in the wake of “materialism fatigue”.Michael also does a deep dive into the question of monopolistic practices in China and how they relate to those in the U.S. He addressed the potential for decoupling, saying that it is not so much the economies of the West that we should be considering in this particular case, but the decoupling of the world of technology and information between East and West. Finally, Michael looks forward towards the retail landscape in 2022, touching on the economic and cultural impacts of what he calls “information capitalism”, China’s mastery in bridging the in-store and digital buying environments, and why live streaming is set to take the world by storm this year—even in the West. Key Quotes:“What we’re really seeing now is a blending of the idea of, ‘What is eCommerce?’ with the idea of, ‘What is social commerce?’ [...] Live streaming, VR, AR, ER—it’s all becoming part of this larger than life, technicolor, robust experience of shopping.” “Chinese companies have been far better than their Western counterparts at making digital commerce, shopping—where people are actually shopping: It’s social, it’s fun, it’s engaging, it’s robust, it’s loud, it’s colorful. It’s everything that shopping should be.” “You will find all the keys to purchase motivation in China through [their] language, culture, history, and philosophy. Over and over and over again, the brands and the retailers and the CPGs and the companies that make it in China spend the requisite time ahead of time, and are constantly looking into those core four in order to build the Chinese version of who they are.” “Are we headed to a decoupling? Now, when people talk about decoupling, they’re usually thinking about the decoupling of the economies of the West in China. But in this particular case, we’re talking about: ‘Are we heading towards the decoupling of the world of technology and information between East and West?’ That’s the big question.” “Our relationship with and the usage of technology and information, along with our relationship with the environment and sustainability, and our relationship with our government are going to be the three mega-forces that will shape the rest of this century.” “Physical retail matters and it always will. So, the question then, is, ‘How do you build a relationship between the physical and the digital worlds, and the physical and the digital experiences?’”
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Year In Review | The 'Greatest Hits' of 2021
This episode is a look back at all of our podcast guests and the topics we covered in 2020, putting together some of our favorite moments for you into one single episode of goodness. The guests featured in this special episode are: Matt Sheehan, episode #75 John Pomfret, episode #78 Anne Stephensn-Yang, episode #82 James McGregor, episode #83 Chloé Goncalves, episode #85 Charles Lavoie, episode #91 Benjamin Wahl, episode #92 Greg Turner, episode #93 Ambassador Dominic Barton, episode #100 Zak Dychtwald, episodes #101 & #102 Mark Dreyer, episode #106 Rui Ma, episodes #110 & #111 Freddie Bacon, episodes #112 & #113 Craig Smith, episode #121 Gordon Houlden, #122
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Craig Smith | The CEO Bringing Burton Snowboarding To China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Snowsports culture in China versus Japan● Consumers in China’s snowsports industry versus the West’s● How Burton markets and localizes snowsports in China● Marketing snowsports as a lifestyle in China● The evolution of retail in China and how Burton has adapted● How to set goals and strategize for a market entry into China● The impact of the 2022 Winter Olympics on Burton China Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Craig Smith, CEO of Burton Snowboards China. Founded in 2013 in Beijing, Burton China has grown to over 40 dealerships nationwide and seven premium partner resorts.Craig started with Burton at their Tokyo office two decades prior. Regarding snowsports, Craig says that “the cultural differences in China and Japan are numerous.” One major example is Japan’s strict attention to detail as compared to China’s spontaneity and love for adventure.Likewise, consumers in the Chinese snowsports industry differ considerably from those of the Americas and Europe. For one thing, snowsports only began to explode in popularity in 2016. Also, Chinese consumers generally make most of their buying decisions based on the Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) they follow, whereas consumers in the West—particularly with regard to the sports industry—refer to magazines for the information they need.Asked about how Burton goes about their marketing snowboarding in China, Craig says that education and painting a vivid picture of the lifestyle around snowsports rather than the products and facilities themselves is key to winning consumers’ hearts. In Burton’s own words, “We’re bringing the spirit of snowboarding to the consumer 365 days a year.”Craig goes on to offer his advice to foreign companies looking to enter the Chinese market, which includes doing deep research on the cultural nuances of the market and your ideal customer, finding a local partner to help you navigate government regulations, and being prepared to move at China speed.Finally, Craig speaks on Burton’s plans for the 2022 Winter Olympics and how they aim to be a player in the Chinese government’s goal to create “300 million snowsports enthusiasts” in the country. Key Quotes:“Chinese consumers are in a very different stage of development in the snowsports industry compared to consumers in the Americas and in Europe, just because snowsports are so new—snowsports really only took off in 2016.” “The most important focus for Burton China is sharing the fun of the lifestyle around snowboarding.” “My suggestion for companies looking to enter the Chinese market is: Learn about the market first and foremost. Learn about the consumer. Learn their wants—what motivates them to engage with a brand. That takes time, and that takes a lot of patience.” “In China, government relations are extremely important. It’s difficult for foreign companies to come in and build government relations, and that’s where a local partner certainly can help.”
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Elsbeth van Paridon | China's Contemporary Fashion & Underground Culture Scene
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Contemporary China through the lens of fashion and culture● The new thinking around fashion and individuality among China’s younger generations● China’s fashion scene today and how it differs from that of New York● Does China have fashion icons?● China’s urban underground scene● The future of fashion in China Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Elsbeth van Paridon, a sinologist, journalist, and lover of China fashion, lifestyle, and urban culture. In 2018, Elsbeth founded The China Temper, a print and digital publication which “offers a gritty slash grungy look at contemporary China through a fashion-focused lens.”Aside from her work with The China Temper, Elsbeth serves as an editorial consultant at the Beijing Review, an editor at WeAr Global Magazine, and a contributor to SupChina and RADII China.“With economic development comes the development of the individual,” says Elsbeth. With regards to fashion and culture, for the longest time Chinese people as a whole have shied away from standing out from the crowd as individuals. However, in the last decade, those living in Tier 1 cities have largely shifted away from this attitude dramatically.Elsbeth gives her thoughts on the idea of individuality in the country, from the rigid conformism of Mao’s China to a new generation “caught between tradition and innovation”. She refers to the modern fashion scene itself not as “trendsetting” but as “trend-dictating”, driven by the power of the stories behind the clothes.She goes on to speak on China’s urban underground, particularly in Beijing (as she contends that “everything in Shanghai is above-ground”) and the trends that have emerged out of it, such as tattoos.Finally, Elsbeth believes that gender-fluid fashion—which unbeknownst to most actually has strong historical roots in the country—is here to stay. Key Quotes:“With economic development comes the development of the individual, and fashion is a major part of that. It is a complete reflection of what is going on in society.” “Fashion is a daily conversation between you and the world.” “I only make fashion statements. I don’t make political statements. That way, it’s quite easy to create content. I’m telling stories about China from a completely different angle. Nobody’s doing it, and it’s the ultimate soft power.”
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Rosie Hawes & Carly Ramsey | Assessing Political Risk in APAC
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The story behind Control Risks and how it expanded to other markets● Defining “political risk” and its relevance to businesses in China● Does the government move as fast as the economy and how do businesses adapt to changes in China’s regulatory landscape?● How to do due diligence in China versus other North Asian markets● How should political and regulatory issues be considered when approaching due diligence?● With what types of situations can business intelligence and political and regulatory risk analysis be helpful to businesses in China? Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Rosie Hawes and Carly Ramsey of the China division of Control Risk, a global risk consultancy headquartered in London. The firm’s clients include national and multinational businesses of all sizes in all sectors, law firms, government departments, and non-governmental organizations.“Political risk,” says Carly, “is very relevant to businesses in China” due to the country’s strong drive to turn China into a modern, developed nation. Regulations abound, therefore, to ensure that business growth in almost every sector is steering the nation toward accomplishing its various political objectives.And these political priorities, Carly continues, “are not new. Those are long-standing, multi-decade long priorities to develop China into a modern country.” Businesses should operate with this strict regulatory environment in mind by having the right people in place who can closely follow these developments and translate those observations into company action. “This is where we focus: Are you set up to manage this shift?”Rosie stresses the importance of considering the political and regulatory landscape when conducting due diligence no matter the size of your company as “any company that wants to succeed in an unfamiliar market needs to test the information that they’re being provided”, preferably via a neutral third-party. Key Quotes:“‘Political risk’ is just the risk from political decisions, political events, political actions on business. That is very relevant to businesses in China. [...] There is a strong political priority to develop China into a modern, developed nation. That means that there are political goals in almost every aspect of society.” ~Carly “Regulatory enforcement is here to stay. It will continue. And new firms and sectors will be targeted. That is just the reality now. But it’s also equally important to remember that Beijing does want the private sector to thrive—and foreign investment to thrive. But there is no hesitation now to make sure that businesses are falling in line in terms of meeting these higher-level political goals.” ~Carly “We do have to be careful to balance Chinese reporting with Western reporting because both have an element of truth and both have an element of bias. A lot of our clients are not familiar with China so the first thing they will do is Google the company and get a very limited set of information, if at all; or, something that is perhaps not fully contextualized so they really don’t understand what they’re seeing. So, a lot of what we do is trying to make sure that the broader local context is provided so that they can assess how good or bad what is being reported in the media really is.” ~Rosie “We do work with smaller firms as well. Really, any company that wants to succeed in an unfamiliar market needs to test the information that they’re being provided, and really need to understand—through a neutral third-party—the extent to which their potential supplier or their potential investment target is really trustworthy and really capable of delivering what they’re saying.” ~Rosie
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Jacob Cooke | Exploring and Explaining Another Record-Breaking 11/11 Singles Day
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● How Singles’ Day performed relative to Jacob’s expectations● Platforms that will gain traction at next year’s 11.11● Notable creative or marketing tactics used at this year’s festival● How this year’s GMV may compare to 2020s● Whether there is still room for foreign brands going forward● What to know about Pipl (Personal Information Protection Law)● WPIC’s plans for Southeast Asia● Demographic differences in China versus Southeast Asia Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Jacob Cooke who shares his observations on Singles’ Day in 2021 and how closely the festival met his expectations.In his words, how 11.11 unfolded was “almost bang on” with what Jacob anticipated, with a couple of categories “going a little bit over” and toys being the only underperformer.It was a “Tmall-dominated shopping festival” that was largely untouched by the influx of new government regulations this year which, again, Jacob expected. He predicts more platforms gaining traction at next year’s 11.11 as Walled Gardens continue to come down and cross-platform functionality increases in scope.Platforms also doubled down on live streams which had already been immensely popular in the Chinese market for some time, precisely because they know that live streams have become such an effective way to move product.In many ways, “China is starting to become comfortable in their skin,” pushing for local champions in each of the different categories. While the country had been playing catch-up as recently as a decade ago, today local brands have been dominating in the market.Finally, Jacob gives his thoughts on how companies will have to deal with the legal implications of Personal Information Protection Law, WPIC’s budding work in the Southeast Asia market, and demographic differences between the China market and that of Southeast Asia. Key Quotes:“There are a lot of misconceptions about why local brands are doing well. In a lot of cases, they have an easier time because they’re focused solely on China. Very few of them have global ambitions because the market is so large here.” “I don’t think we’re done with regulators in terms of what’s done with personal data. I think that’s actually going to be further enhanced. [...] I think that what’s happened this year [with Pipl] is that the regulators have started to take action to make people take these new laws seriously.” “eCommerce has normally been adopted by younger consumers. China’s done a really good job at making eCommerce universal.”
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Steve Hoffman | Startups In China & The Five Forces That Change Everything
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Launching Founders Space in China● Why Steve wrote Make Elephants Fly● China’s unique (and commonly misrepresented) approach to innovation● Mentoring Chinese vs Western entrepreneurs● How evolving family dynamics and the Westernization of much of today’s Chinese youth influences the country’s perception towards entrepreneurship as a career path● What Western startups need to know if they want to enter China, and what Chinese startups need to know if they want to take their business abroad● Why Steve wrote The Five Forces That Change Everything● Steve on whether China will win the battle for AI supremacy Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Steve Hoffman, venture investor, serial entrepreneur, and award-winning author. He is Chairman & CEO of San Francisco-based startup accelerator Founders Space, which was ranked the #1 incubator for overseas startups by Forbes and Entrepreneur Magazines.Steve remembers the moment he was first invited to establish his first Founders Space in China. This was the start of a plethora of opportunities that came his way almost overnight: That same year, Steve was simultaneously doing speaking tours, launching his incubators in other cities, and had just published his first book Make Elephants Fly. His big “break”, however, came in the form of a talk he gave for Tencent which made Steve China-famous.Steve makes the case that China’s business world is actually quite innovative, contrary to its “copycat” stereotype. In fact, he says that it is precisely due to their ability to see what’s working, and to be able to improve upon these products and adapt it to their local market, that defines China’s truly innovative spirit.Asked for his experience in mentoring Chinese entrepreneurs as a foreigner, Steve says that, in order to get the best out of a local, a mentor needs to know their limitations. Specifically, as a foreigner, Steve can only teach from the point-of-view of a Westerner. But that is okay—the Chinese entrepreneur will even appreciate that unique perspective.He then adds that a true, well-rounded business education comes when the foreign mentor collaborates with local Chinese mentors, filling each other’s gaps and complementing each other on a cultural level.The same principle applies when it comes to Western startups who are looking to enter the China market. “Entering China is tough,” says Steve, “because it’s an entirely different ecosystem.”A big part of this is culture, which is centered on relationships. Those who succeed, then, are founders who have a firm grasp of the language and culture of China. At the very least, it pays to have local partners who have an intimate understanding of this ecosystem. Key Quotes:“The reason startups work so well is, by their very nature, they are limited. They are limited in size—they only have so many founders. They are limited in money—so they have to use their resources very cleverly, forcing them to innovate. And they are limited in time—so they have to iterate really, really fast. A big corporation doesn’t have those limitations.” “[Chinese entrepreneurs] are really receptive. Chinese entrepreneurs want to succeed. They are open to ideas. And because I’m a foreigner, they’re really open to our perspective. So, I’m not going to give them the same advice that a local Chinese mentor or innovation instructor would give them. I give them advice from my culture, my background.” “[Chinese] understand that it’s not about what you wrote on the paper. It’s about your relationship with them. And it’s not just about your relationship with one person in China—the person you’re doing business with—but, it’s your relationship to all the other people in that person’s network.
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Justin Downes | Ski Resort Development & Management In China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Problems that Axis aims to solve● How Axis helps to develop resorts● How is China preparing for the 2022 Winter Olympics● How Axis is preparing for the 2022 Winter Olympics● Snowsports culture and the hospitality industry in China today● What Chinese consumers have taught Justin and the Axis team● Building ski resorts in China versus other countries● The development of four-seasons resorts in China● The future of winter sports in China● What the West can learn from China’s snowsports industry Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Justin Downes, President of Axis Leisure Management, a firm comprised of hospitality, leisure and business experts specializing in winter sports, hotels, resorts, restaurants, bars, retail, golf courses, tourism authorities, entertainment companies and various other establishments related to the services and hospitality industries in China.Axis was founded to address the fact that, at the time, “there [was] absolutely no expertise in the China market for building international-level ski resort destinations.” The management firm was thus established to “bring a global, high-quality standard experience across the board into the winter sports market in China.”The company prides itself not only on its ability to facilitate business management but also on the capability of its team of experts to take someone’s vision out of their head and onto paper.Listen in as Justin shares how China is preparing for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, which he says is dependent on the evolution of Chinese industry, the actual preparation and production going into the Olympic Games, and how the governing body intends to navigate COVID-19 before and during the actual Games.The lead-up to the 2022 Winter Olympics bodes well not only for the snowsports industry in China but for the country’s sports world in general. Both the public and the government have contributed to drastic growth in the health and wellness industry in recent times, and the countdown to the Olympics has only accelerated that interest and growth.Finally, Justin explains the ins and outs of developing ski resorts in China, including considerations around establishing and managing four-seasons resorts. Key Quotes:“Finding a piece of land in a remote location, in China, is quite easy. It’s really about, ‘Who’s going to come there?’ and ‘How are they going to get there?’ In some cases, the Chinese government builds fantastic infrastructure such as a rail with nothing at the end of that point, or they build a fantastic destination but no way to get there. We try to link these two components into a more organic growth solution.” “China performed a fantastic job in 2008 with the Summer Games. It’s not as if they’ve not done this type of thing before. [...] From an execution standpoint—if you take COVID out of the equation—I think China will deliver a flawless athletic experience.” “There’s been a lot of interest and pressure, both from the public-up and the government-down, to create an environment where people are healthier and happier. [...] General health and wellness in China is off-the-charts as far as opportunity and growth.”
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Jacob Cooke | 11/11 2021 - A look ahead to the world's largest shopping day of the year
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Trends that shaped consumer behaviour in 2021● How different categories have fared over the past year● How consumer trends have evolved in the past 18 months● Sectors to lead the charge in China’s economic growth going forward● Which categories are predicted to be successful on Singles’ Day● New tactics brands will use aside from discounts● How important it is to have inventory on the ground for Singles’ Day● How the impact has impacted manufacturing and logistics● Potential long-term effects of this year’s 11.11● How brands are preparing for fallout due to supply chain issues Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Jacob Cooke, co-founder of WPIC Marketing and Technologies, to get his pre-and post-11.11 insights and predictions. As 2021 comes to a close, Jacob does a deep dive into the consumer trends that have emerged in China over the past year.The biggest factor that rippled out into all aspects of commerce and consumer behaviour in 2021 was operational continuity. Both buyers and sellers are no stranger to having to navigate ever-changing logistical challenges in the market, and this has led to increased vigilance and meticulousness in the way people purchase.Online retail quickly became the preferred way to shop, the health and wellness category has soared, and even high-end fashion has seen a resurgence over the past year as brands have finally learned to adapt to the limitations brought about by COVID-related restrictions and other obstacles. On the other hand, mother and baby brands have fallen due to lower birth rates. Most other categories, Jacob observes, have seen linear growth.The result of these adaptations is that brands have now gotten their predicted sales down to a science. They do not expect to overperform or underperform on Singles’ Day as big data and machine learning have given companies the ability to calculate the precise amount of inventory they would need to prepare in time for 11.11.“Nothing is truly made in its country of origin,” Jacob reminds us. As manufacturing and logistics continue to experience complications, inventory will become increasingly precious. Companies will largely be playing on defense to preserve the inventory they have along with finding more creative solutions to moving product beyond discounts. Key Quotes:“In general, when we look at the history of 11.11 (I think we’re at year 12 now), a lot of the growth in those early years was from DAU (daily average users) and MAU (monthly average users). A couple of years ago, Tmall hit that $900 million mark [and] reached saturation in the market. Growth then started coming from increased spends between that $900 million but also from broader and broader categories.” “This 11.11 may potentially be smaller than last year’s 11.11 due to the supply crunch. It’s going to be the biggest issue. I don’t think it’s been in the press nearly enough. [...] This is not a new problem. This has been going on for several months. I think now people are starting to notice it with empty shelves; but, it’s no different anywhere in the world. Global supply chains are extremely complicated.” “The Chinese eCommerce system is very public. Those comments are always there. The ratings are incredibly important. And it all feeds back into the search algorithm. So, you have this monstrous platform, but you’re also up against a ton of other brands. Customer feedback is incredibly important. Your reputation is everything. You don’t ever want to misrepresent the products that you’re selling. You want to be as accurate as possible. And if there are disadvantages to your product, you want to be clear about that, too, and provide reasons. You don’t want any consumer to be surprised about the item that they receive at home versus what they think they’re purchasing online.”
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Jia Wang | Canada / China Relationship - The Past, The Present, & The Future
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The focus of the China Institute● How the Canada-China relationship has evolved since the 1950s● How China and Canada may recover from their strained relationship that reached a low point in December 2018● How the relationship between Canada and China may look ten years from now● What lessons can Canada and other Western countries learn from China, especially when it comes to spurring economic growth● Common misconceptions about China in North America’s academic environment● Key differences between the academic environment in China and that of North America Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Jia Wang, Interim Director of the China Institute at the University of Alberta. She brings to her work over 15 years of experience in international relations and public affairs management.Having previously worked as a TV producer and news anchor, today Jia is a sought-after media commentator and public speaker on Canada-China relations as well as the Chinese economy and politics.Born and raised in Beijing, Jia had always been fascinated by the “outside world” thanks in large part to her globally-minded father. After completing her bachelor of law degree at Peking University, she left for Canada where she studied International Relations at the University of Toronto.Through her current work at the China Institute, Jia and her team focus on “policy-relevant studies that are applicable to the real world as China gains increasing importance on the global stage, both economically and on the international relations front.”Listen in as Jia breaks down the evolution of Canada-China relations, specifically between 1950 to 2000, then from 2000 to 2010, and finally from 2010 to 2018. She traces this history from the wheat exports that began in the late 1950s to the point wherein China developed into Canada’s second-largest trading partner.She then shares how she believes China and Canada may “restart” their strained relationship following the rocky events of December 2018. She hopes that the two countries may engage in dialogue centred around common goals such as tackling climate change, all the while becoming more tolerant of each other’s differences in values and governance practices.Finally, Jia explains the common misconceptions that Americans have about China, as well as the differences between the academic environment in China and that of North America after over a decade of being immersed in the latter. Key Quotes:“We focus on policy-relevant studies that are applicable to the real world as China gains increasing importance on the global stage, both economically and on the international relations front. We want to help Canadians better understand where China is coming from, what the country is doing, and hopefully use that information to help policy members and the public to better understand China and to better manage the relationship between Canada and China.” “We do need to know what China is thinking and hoping to do, and of course China needs to know what Canada is hoping to do. Without dialogue, we just cannot move forward.” “China is rising and China is here to stay. It is impossible to try to decouple from China and try to isolate China as if it were the 50s. So, we do have to find a path forward, and we do have to have a strategy that is more forward-looking, and to include China in the global discussion on how to tackle pressing global issues.”
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Freddie Bacon Part 2 | Snowboard Academy Growth & Why Technology Could Be The Key To Increasing Ski Resort Revenues
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● How Freddie is working with Burton Snowboards to create a network of snowboard academies in China● How technology is being used to improve and scale snowboarding in China● Will snow sports in China see more international instructors becoming involved in the future?● The rise of four seasons resorts in China, and considerations around operations and logistics● How the lead-up to the 2022 Winter Olympics is shaping the snow sports world in China Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we continue our conversation with Freddie Bacon, an expert in the snow sports space with over 14 years of global experience. He is currently the Director of Sports Development at Axis Leisure Management.Freddie talks about the long-term goals for the Burton Snowboard Academy’s growth in China, focusing on retention of first-time ski or snowboarders, and creating the instructor certification program that is in line with the international standards so that it is a world-class certification program. They plan to have 20 locations in China in the next 5 years.Freddie believes that technology will pave the way for the business of snowboarding in China to become the gold standard for service quality and customer experience. He sees rapid technological developments as one factor toward the rise of four seasons resorts that will contribute to the overall growth of the snow sports industry.Finally, Freddie talks about the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and how the lead-up to this historic event has caused an explosion of interest in skiing and snowboarding, and what all of this means with regard to the future of Chinese snow sports. Key Quotes: “The way things are developing in China, I honestly think that in a few years’ time, the resorts here will be leading the charge in terms of service quality and customer experience levels, through the use of technology.” “What’s different between China and perhaps other markets in North America and Europe is that the traditional retail store seems to be on the decline in many places; whereas, in China, the retail store is doing very, very well with these lifestyle brands looking at expanding their retail footprint.”
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Freddie Bacon Part 1 | The Culture & Growth Tactics Of Snow Sports In China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Running snowsports schools in China compared to the West● Chinese parent-child dynamics at snow sports schools and how instructors can manage expectations● The economics of lift passes, equipment, logistics, and instruction in the world of snow sport in China● Removing the cost barrier that continues to prevent many Chinese from accessing snow sports schools Episode Summary: Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Freddie Bacon, an expert in the snows sports space with over 14 years of global experience. He is currently the Director of Sports Development at Axis Leisure Management.Headquartered in Beijing, Axis provides a wide suite of services to establishments in the hospitality industry. These include business planning and positioning, resort and facility management, operational consulting, brand management and representation, architecture and design, and construction supervision.Freddie is also leading an initiative by Burton Snowboards to create a network of snowboard academies in China, with the goal of establishing over 20 locations by year five.In today’s conversation, Freddie discusses the cultural differences when it comes to running snows sports schools in China versus those in the West. He touches on the uniquely Chinese attitudes held by instructors, young students, and their parents, and also why private lessons are far and away preferred over group lessons in China (97% of lessons booked are, in fact, one-on-one).He speaks on the changing economics of the snow sports world in China. For a long time, attending these schools has largely been a privilege for the elite. But there has been a push in recent times to provide mass-market solutions that make snow sports schools more accessible to a middle-class Chinese family. This is thanks to initiatives by the government and certain businesses and academic institutions. Key Quotes:“I personally believe that many snow sports schools are grossly undervaluing their instructors—particularly their professional skiing and snowboarding instructors—that are trying to make this a career. There are a growing number of people trying to do just that.” “It is a hugely expensive process to go skiing, particularly if you have a family. [...] Whilst there are millions of people that can afford that, there are also millions that can’t. [...] We do think that there is an element of community responsibility. If it’s done right and the experience is good, skiing and snowboarding are fantastic things to be a part of. We would love to get less-affluent individuals involved in the sport and to work on sustainable ways to ensure that we can have mass participation.”
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Rui Ma Part 2 | China Tech Headed West & Understanding The Phenomenon 'Lookism'
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Trends taking place in China that may soon quickly spread to the rest of the world● Why offline retail continues to prevail in the West● How views toward entrepreneurship and working in the tech industry have evolved over the past decade in China● Emerging Chinese tech companies to keep an eye on● Why lookism has become “rampant in China”● Why Rui revisited Agora and her thoughts on sinophobia and the education crackdown in China● The future of cross-border investments Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we continue our conversation with angel investor and fund consultant Rui Ma, whose work involves identifying superior technology investment opportunities in both the US and China.Rui is best known as the creator of Tech Buzz China, a paid community for investors and operators interested in China tech. Rui also co-hosts the biweekly Tech Buzz China podcast.Live streaming in the eCommerce space is poised to explode in popularity in a few countries outside of China, including India and much of Southeast Asia. After all, according to Rui, “There is nothing culturally Chinese about live commerce.”However, eCommerce penetration is still lower in the U.S. compared to China due to greater development of, and continued preference for, offline retail. Further, major eCommerce companies in China have gone all-in with regard to KOLs, whereas American companies, by large, have not.Over the past ten years, entrepreneurship and the tech space have seen drastic changes on a cultural, economic, and political level. Rui shares how the government “made it socially okay” to become an entrepreneur, whereas as late as 2014 the choice for a young person to go into business for oneself was seen as irresponsible by many parents.She then speaks on the phenomenon of lookism that she believes has become “rampant in China”. She says that “People believe that their economic opportunity or worth is tied to their physical appearance.” That is, lookism is the belief that how good-looking a person is has a direct impact on their job prospects.Finally, Rui addresses the “lack of China perspective” among many Americans, particularly in the business world. She says that it is “very irrational to completely abstain from the Chinese market because it is already so influential, and it’s going to be even more.” Key Quotes:“You probably want to look at all the big consumer brands and consider that there could be the possibility that the number one player, in ten years, is no longer hailing from the United States.” “Overall, there is a human bias for [good looks] as being a proxy for confidence; but, I think that it is even deeper in China versus in America.” “For a lot of people who are not taking a lot of time to understand China, they, unfortunately, take a shortcut and make all of these assumptions that are not true, which I think is a pity because China, whether you like it or not, is a very large economy and Chinese entrepreneurs are very savvy and are now very-well funded, as well. So, regardless of whether or not you want to have anything to do with China, I’m pretty sure you’re going to have to deal with China in one way or another, and it’s better to understand your competition or your potential partners than to resort to some really simplistic assumptions that are often not true.”
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Rui Ma Part 1 | The Tech Buzz Of China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Rui speaks on her work with the Tech Buzz China podcast and community● How accurate is the data we are getting today from the fundraising world in China?● What is it like to do due diligence on Chinese tech companies looking for investors?● Rui describes the trip she conducted in 2019 to bring foreign investors into China● Trends in China’s tech scene today● The impact that new data privacy regulations have had on social media in China● Business trends that are commonly misunderstood by foreign investors● Western digital ecosystems versus China’s Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Rui Ma, an angel investor and fund consultant whose work involves identifying superior-tech investment opportunities in both the US and China.She is the creator of Tech Buzz China, a paid community for investors and operators interested in China tech. Rui also co-hosts the biweekly Tech Buzz China podcast.Finally, Rui is the Executive Chairman of the nonprofit Rookie Fund, which aims to be the best student-run fund for discovering and investing in student entrepreneurs in Asia.Asked how often companies release prevalent misleading or outright fraudulent numbers to potential investors, Rui says that transparency has become the norm in recent years, especially in the tech world. She adds that doing due diligence on tech companies in China is virtually no different from how one would do so in the U.S.In any case, she contends that due diligence is less about determining the accuracy of data, but about understanding the wider economic and even political or cultural context around the company’s performance.What is more important is doing “character diligence” on management, and this can only be done effectively from having extensive experience on the ground as well as being in touch with the right industry contacts.Rui speaks on current trends in China’s tech scene. She directs much of her energy towards cross-border eCommerce which has been on the rise since the market is becoming increasingly populated with both foreign-educated entrepreneurs and those who have simply accumulated a lot of experience working in China’s tech space.Also, many companies are now putting their focus on creating their own branded products instead of exporting unbranded products wholesale, which China had been known for in previous years. Finally, Rui describes common misconceptions that foreign investors have about the business world in China, including the “opportunistic” mentality of Chinese entrepreneurs and business leaders and their continued reliance on Western companies when it comes to deciding on best practices for starting, scaling, and managing their organizations. Key Quotes:“Of course, you hear stories of fraud and such; but, really, it’s about understanding the details of what you’re looking at, because, whatever the company presents to you—you just need to double-check that you fully understand. You could have a contract for x, y, z-million dollars, and it could be true. But when you read the contract and understand the contingencies, you may want to discount that number or look at it differently. The details really matter here. I don’t think it’s at all different from what you would do here in the U.S.” “The most important thing [when it comes to due diligence] is not necessarily data itself, but whether you truly understand what is driving the force or what is behind the economics. [...] I found that a lot of the information or ‘additional color’ that you need—that you can’t get from the data—is very important. This is where being on the ground and having experience and having industry contacts and having worked there a long time really helps you because then you can do, let’s call it ‘character diligence’ on the management.” “These days, if you don’t have the skill to build relationships and execute deals completely virtually, then you need to develop that ASAP because lots of people can and there is a lot of willingness to do that. You do not need to meet face-to-face.” “The opportunistic mentality of Chinese entrepreneurs and companies is underappreciated by investors globally.”
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John Kaller | The Evolving KOL And Influencer Market In China & Unpacking The Future Of Artificial Intelligence
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● How changes in China’s economy and business landscape over the last four years influenced John’s work● Challenges faced by foreign versus local Chinese startup entrepreneurs● Potential advantages for foreign startup owners in China● Changes in the education space in China● The evolution KOLs and influencer marketing in China● Problems that unpackAI aims to solve● What AI is really capable of and how China is exploring these capabilities compared to America Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with John Kaller, a German entrepreneur based in China with an extensive background in AI Product Management.John is the Co-Founder of unpackAI, an e-learning startup that makes AI and deep learning education as accessible as possible by offering affordable, virtual, and project-based bootcamps to business professionals.He is also a Program Consultant for The Startup Yard, a global Think Tank that provides a pre-accelerator bootcamp for international budding entrepreneurs looking to kick-off their startup in China.John volunteers his time as the Managing Director for The German Innovators in China (GINN), a nonprofit that seeks to build bridges between entrepreneurs and innovators from German-speaking countries and the innovation landscape in China.Looking back over his four years in China so far, John has observed that “the market reorganizes itself” at a speed much faster than in Western markets. That is, in a few short years as an entrepreneur in China, John has seen trends come and go, and technological and logistical innovation is a regular occurrence. He also foresees a new wave of foreign entrepreneurs making their way into the China market in a post-COVID world.On succeeding as a foreign startup entrepreneur in China, the biggest challenge is almost always navigating cultural barriers along with a lack of fluency in the language. But, as John says: “You’re not trying to be Chinese or trying to do ‘better’ than Chinese entrepreneurs.”Rather, the key is for the foreign entrepreneur to position themselves as an expert in their particular industry and serve as a “gateway” into the global market for their local Chinese investors. John also speaks on the progressive democratization and privatization of China’s education and influencer marketing spaces. Finally, he discusses the future capabilities of AI and the differences in how China innovates in this field compared to the U.S. and Canada. Key Quotes:“Especially in China, the moment you are able to speak the language, you are able to access such a wide field of people that you normally wouldn’t have access to because they simply don’t speak English.” “Doing a startup is very, very difficult. However, the set of problems that a foreign startup owner encounters in China [versus that of] a Chinese startup owner in China are just different. They’re not worse or easier—they’re just different. As a foreign founder, you have to be able to still show yourself as an expert in a certain market while being in China, while maybe not being able to speak fluent Chinese [or encountering cultural barriers.]” “Education in China is a huge topic because it’s seen as the lever for families to prepare their children for newfound wealth. [...] Education is a cornerstone in China. The willingness of families in China to spend and invest time and money into it is a lot higher than it is in the West.” “KOLs and the influencer space are wildly different from the West’s. It’s a more evolved version. Why is that? It’s because people in China, especially the current generation, have grown up with technologies that were way more embedded in their normal life. Examples of that are payment, education, and social media. They are a lot more ingrained in the culture using digital and phones compared to the West.” “Both the U.S. and Canada are far ahead when it comes to AI research. [...] These are published in papers and top journals that are widely accessible to anyone. However, the application of AI is mainly happening in China, where these techniques are actually being used and put into practice.”
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Elijah Whaley | KOLs & The Influencer Marketing Industry Of China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● How Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) have evolved over the past five years● Co-founding one of China’s top-ranking beauty KOLs, Melilim Fu● The team behind Melilim Fu, and how KOLs are typically managed● KOLs versus Key Opinion Consumers (KOCs) versus micro-influencers● Launchmetrics and the problems they aim to solve in today’s marketplace● Scaling a startup in China as a C-suite executive● The dramatic rise of influencers in China Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Elijah Whaley, VP of Marketing APAC at Launchmetrics, the leading Brand Performance Cloud used by Fashion, Luxury and Beauty (FLB) executives to connect with the modern consumer in a constantly changing landscape.Elijah is also the host of the PARKLU China Influencer Marketing Podcast, a bi-monthly show which features guests who share their unique insights and perspectives on industry developments.Elijah speaks on the development of Key Opinion Leaders, or “KOLs”, in China over the past five years. Before turning into a huge industry in China’s eCommerce space, the impetus for KOLs began with passionate fans of certain products who shared their purchase experiences with a small online community via blogging and live streaming. Elijah speaks specifically on co-founding one of China’s top-ranking beauty KOLs, Melilim Fu.The greatest and most inexpensive approach to customer acquisition is retention. Elijah believes that there is too little focus being placed on customer retention, especially since the real power of retention lies in a brand’s ability to leverage these loyal customers as communication or marketing channels—Key Opinion Consumers, or “KOCs”. Finally, Elijah discusses the dramatic rise of influencer marketing in China—a natural evolution in consumer culture due to the country’s inclination to “feel special about themselves by being involved with a group that they consider special.” Key Quotes:“The intersection between education and entertainment is the sweet spot when it comes to content marketing or content development. Everybody wants to be entertained. To be educated and be entertained at the same time provides the maximum amount of value and bang for your buck as far as your time investment into anything.” “I believe KOCs are something that has existed for a long time: a brand advocate. But it’s a digital brand advocate. [...] A KOC is a brand’s customer. When they talk about your product, they generate more sales. As a brand, if you’re able to identify these customers [...] you can put this label of ‘KOC’ on them and put them into a new basket and say, ‘Hey, this person is an extremely valuable asset to our organization. We need to treat this person differently and leverage them as a communications channel.’” “When the customer comes into the store, we need to overdeliver, surprise, and delight, and create it in a visceral way so that someone wants to take their phone out, capture it, and share it. We know that this is the most impactful way of communicating with other potential customers because it’s word-of-mouth from individuals that others know, love, and trust.” “Timing is the big secret in the startup world. If you can hit that wave right, if you see the swell and you start paddling and you position yourself properly, that’s the big, big secret.”
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Justice Hampton | Merchandising In The Digital Era & How To Do It Effectively In China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● How has merchandising transformed in the age of eCommerce?● Justice’s typical day as Director of Merchandising at WPIC● Examples of companies that exemplify effective online merchandising● Why it is so difficult to master online merchandising● Global merchandising trends, specifically focusing on trends in China● The future of merchandising globally and in China● Why did WPIC develop its merchandising capabilities? Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Justice Hampton, Director of Merchandising at WPIC Marketing + Technologies.Justice joined WPIC in March 2021, bringing with him 15 years of experience in merchandising. He previously held roles at a number of luxury apparel brands, including Lululemon, Abercrombie & Fitch, Coach, Ralph Lauren, and Club Monaco.Justice speaks on how the world of merchandising changed forever with the rise of the digital era. At the same time, the fundamentals remain the same, and these fundamentals should, in fact, be the basis of all decisions made by the merchandising department. That is, social media and eCommerce platforms are at their most powerful when they are used to “amplify the things that you [already] do at the brick-and-mortar level”.Asked for the best examples of digital merchandising done well, Justice points to menswear brand Mr. Porter for its masterful translation of the unique visual and tactile experience of shopping in-store to the online shopping environment.Justice looks at the market in China as “aggressive” wherein consumer products are advertised—in large part by KOLs—as “need-to-haves” more often than not. Chinese consumers also spend a large amount of time on Tmall beyond browsing for products to buy. True to its name, Tmall is very much the new mall-going experience for the modern Chinese.For every new social media platform adopted by the masses, the merchandising world evolves. From Facebook to Instagram, and now to TikTok, the online marketplace has found itself having to adapt to changing consumer trends at a faster rate than at any other time in history. Key Quotes:“Despite all the changes, what makes a really solid merchandising strategy is being able to use digital technology to amplify the things that you do at the brick-and-mortar level. You have all these amazing ways to accentuate your product story and meet the consumers where they are on multiple platforms.” “One of the really cool things that certain online brands do really well is, they take best [practices for great] in-store experience and they figure out a way to replicate [them] as seamlessly as possible online.” “You can localize a brand by having the right look that is appropriate for the country, having the right logos, having the right copy, and having the right visual experience online. But you also have to localize the assortment. This is where the merchandising role comes in.”
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Mark Dreyer | Bolstering National Pride Through Sports Performance on the Olympic Global Stage
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The economic, cultural, and athletic impact that the 2008 Beijing Olympics had on China● China’s reaction to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics● China’s expectations for the 2022 Winter Olympics and future games● Popular and not-as popular sports in China● The intersection of sports, politics, and business in China’s fitness industry● China’s growing interest in health and fitness● How China is investing in infrastructure to aid in the development of the sports industry● Team sports versus individual sports in China Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Mark Dreyer, a China-based media and sports professional. Mark has been based in China since shortly before the 2008 Olympics, where he has worked with several media outlets, both domestic and international.Mark is the Marketing and Communications Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in China and the Founder of China Sports Insider and the China Correspondent for SportsBusiness Group.Asked how the 2008 Summer Olympics influenced China economically, Mark says that, while the event itself was not profitable for the country, the Olympics cemented China’s dramatic rise in the 2000s as a major player on the world stage.Culturally, and in the sports world specifically, the nation gained a massive amount of soft power as a result of their virtually flawless handling of the Olympics—not to mention having won 51 gold medals—showing the world a side of China previously unseen.Mark gives his thoughts on the growth of the Chinese sports industry as a vehicle for bolstering national pride. He shares how this intersection of sports, politics and business manifests itself, such as in the famously “manufactured” athletic prowess of NBA star Yao Ming.However, Mark believes that the top-down nature of Chinese society is limiting the country’s potential in the world of sports. With regards to soccer, for instance, instead of allowing a “grassroots” movement to nurture a competent player base over a decade or two, the Chinese leadership would rather search for ways to create Olympic-level athletes in a matter of a few years.Mark believes that the key to creating a thriving and enviable sports industry in China is to make sports something that people voluntarily do for fun and because they simply love it, as opposed to the current culture of handpicking and grooming promising players to compete solely for national pride.In his words: “How do we get people to play sports in a way that they actually, genuinely want to?” Key Quotes:“China is very, very good at the summer games, less so at the Winter Olympics. [...] Ten of their 13 gold medals are in short track speed skating. As you’d expect, that is where there is a lot of interest for the Chinese people when it comes to the Winter Olympics.” “When your country—when your athletes are winning gold medals—it does make it that much more exciting for your country. [...] That patriotism, that nationalism is more of a factor in China than it would be in other countries.” “China has always struggled to create grassroots sports. Soccer is probably the prime example. Everything here in China is top-down. It is a top-down society. To have success in a sport like soccer, you need to build from the bottom up. That contradiction is, in large part, what has prevented China from becoming a global soccer power as it has many, many times declared it wants to be.”
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Elaine Ann | Defining UI, UX & CX for China, and the Importance of "Xperience Innovation"
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Working in the APAC market● The differences between UI, UX, and CX● What is “product-market fit” and how do you know if you’ve achieved it?● Why neglecting to build the right local team is one of the biggest mistakes a foreign company can make● Tools that Kaizor uses to collect and interpret data for clients● Defining the “fractional” C-suite executive● Elaine speaks on her seven-step methodology to creating products and services that successfully cross cultural barriers between the East and the West Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Elaine Ann, Founder and Fractional Chief Xperience Officer for Tech Startups at Kaizor Innovation, a consultancy that helps companies research, strategize and design new product/services innovation for the China market.Elaine is the author of the book <a href="https://www.elaine-ann.com/xperienceinnovation">Xperience Innovation</a>, in which she details a seven-step innovation methodology to guide foreign companies in creating products and services that translate well in the China market.From 2006-2020, Elaine was the organizer for IxDA Hong Kong. Since January 2021, she has organized events for the Vancouver chapter. The nonprofit aims to advance the discipline of Interaction Design through a series of international events that bring together members of the IxD community. Today, IxDA has over 100,000 members and over 200 local groups around the world.Elaine speaks on how she helps her clients home in on product-market fit, which includes a good amount of cross-cultural translation, whether the company in question is in the F&B or health & wellness space.Without understanding differences in the market, a company will not be able to design, much less sell, a product that fits that market. Elaine explains how important this reality is, since even refrigerators and vacuum cleaners in China are designed differently to those in America.Cars, which are primarily owned by the well-off in China, require different marketing as well. This goes especially for higher-end brands such as BMW, because owners of these cars usually hire drivers instead of driving themselves. “So, now, who is the end-user?” says Elaine. “Is it the person who buys the car or the person who drives the car?” Key Quotes:“Sometimes, our biggest challenge is that our clients don’t know what they don’t know. [...] Once they land in a different country and they experience the place for five-to-ten days, they notice all these nuances. But it’s harder than if they’ve never been to China.” “In the U.S., everybody drives. In China, the people who own cars are relatively well-off. The people who own BMWs most likely hire drivers. So, now, who is the end-user? Is it the person who buys the car or the person who drives the car? And the person who drives the car may have grown up in a village and can’t even read that well. So, the whole context changes when you’re in such a different market.” “China is very good at micro-innovations and refining something that already exists. But in terms of fundamental innovation, I still think that U.S. companies have an edge, and it has to do with education and culture.”
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Gregory Prudhommeaux | Food Tech in China & The Impact of the Spiking Health & Wellness Industry
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● A description of the Shanghai startup scene today and how it compares to France’s and the U.S.’s● What it is like to be a foreign entrepreneur in China● How to know whether you should start your business in China● What most Westerners do not know about F&B in China● Why Shanghai is not representative of China as a whole● How the F&B space and food’s fusion with tech has developed over time in China● The impact of the health and wellness industry on F&B in China Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with serial entrepreneur and angel investor Gregory Prudhommeaux. He is the Founder of NextStep Studio, an accelerator for businesses in food, F&B and food tech-based in Shanghai. He is also a Foreign Trade Advisor for Les Conseillers du Commerce extérieur de la France. Gregory is the Co-President at La French Tech Shanghai, a community aimed at gathering the local tech community with an interest in France and building bridges between major innovation hubs. The community facilitates the cross-fertilization of competencies and helps French businesses & entrepreneurs to foster their development in China. Gregory kicks off the conversation with his thoughts on the evolution of Shanghai’s startup scene and how it compares to France’s and the U.S.’s. While many foreigners have seized the opportunity to set up shop in China, it is a difficult process, particularly when it comes to acquiring seed funding. Unlike France, which offers a number of financing options for the aspiring startup entrepreneur, China is a place where knowing the right person—and knowing how to build a relationship with them—is probably the most important factor. Gregory says that the U.S. is more casual when it comes to networking, whereas “it is a bit trickier” in China. Calling Shanghai “the Los Angeles or the San Francisco of China”, Gregory says that the technologically advanced city of 25 million does not represent China’s market as a whole. This is for many reasons, including the transitory living situation of many in Shanghai, its multiculturalism, as well as Shanghai’s relative independence from fellow Tier 1 cities and the seat of power in China, Beijing. Gregory goes on to speak on his journey as an entrepreneur and investor in China and why he specifically chose to specialize in F&B. He explains what sets this space apart compared to the West and how Chinese attitudes toward food and beverage shape the industry. Finally, he describes the merging of food and tech and how COVID-19 accelerated many developments that were already underway. Key Quotes:“As a foreign entrepreneur, you can start a business anywhere around the world; but, I don’t think China is necessarily the place where you want to start. There are a lot of other difficulties, because of the Chinese culture and the Chinese tech landscape which is very different from the rest of the world. Whatever you do in China will have a lot of specificities due to the market and the digital ecosystem.” “Shanghai is the Los Angeles or San Francisco of China. The administrative and financial power is in Beijing. The industrial power is in Chongqing. [...] Trade is in Guangzhou or Hong Kong. Shanghai is a massive city with 25 million people [...] and very advanced, technologically speaking.”
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Angela Zhang | Chinese Antitrust Exceptionalism & The China's Tech Duopoly
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● What exactly is “antitrust” and why is it so important in the relationship between business and government globally?● What has China’s relationship with antitrust been historically, and have the events of 2008 and 2013 affected antitrust enforcement?● The conversations around antitrust at a time when big tech companies both in the U.S. and China are more influential than they have ever been● Why Angela titled her book “Chinese Antitrust Exceptionalism”● The main consequences of China’s ascent on the global antitrust policy landscape● What the West often gets wrong about how Chinese policy is formed● Is the delay of Alibaba’s IPO due to the current state of China’s antitrust policy?● How Huawei is being affected by China’s antitrust policy● The future of U.S-China relations Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Angela Huyue Zhang, Associate Professor of Law at The University of Hong Kong and former Senior Lecturer in Competition Law at King’s College London. An expert on Chinese law, Angela Zhang has written extensively on Chinese antitrust enforcement.Angela is the Director of the Centre for Chinese Law, which promotes legal scholarship with the aim to develop a deeper understanding of China and facilitate dialogue between East and West. She is the author of <a href="https://books.google.com.ph/books/about/Chinese_Antitrust_Exceptionalism.html?id=mL4cEAAAQBAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y">Chinese Antitrust Exceptionalism: How the Rise of China Will Challenge Global Regulation (2021)</a>.Angela’s research has helped her become a four-time recipient of the Concurrence Antitrust Writing Award, which honors the best antitrust papers published in academic journals each year.Antitrust, which Angela defines as “an area of law that mainly deals with the anticompetitive effects arising from monopoly”, is an incredibly powerful tool for governments to rein in big monopolies—particularly big tech in the modern world.With its state-owned economy, it was debated for a long time whether China should have an antitrust law put in place at all. But one was eventually established in 2007, in large part due to the influx of foreign multinational companies that leave domestic businesses (mostly small enterprises in those years) at risk of being left behind.Angela describes the interdependent relationship between how China regulates and how China is regulated. She also explains why, through its sway over global antitrust policy, China is “nudging” big tech companies to become more integrated.Angela speaks on recent and current issues surrounding antitrust and the clamping down of various big tech companies, including former President Trump’s actions against TikTok and WeChat, the delay of Alibaba’s IPO, and the Huawei situation.Finally, Angela gives her optimistic take on the future of China’s relationship with the West. Key Quotes:“Antitrust is an area of law that mainly deals with the anticompetitive effects arising from monopoly. But I have to clarify that having a monopoly power does not necessarily mean that a firm is in violation of antitrust law. Antitrust law only intervenes when the monopoly firm has abused its power, say by exploiting its consumers or its suppliers or have excluded competitors to the detriment of consumer welfare.” “The fundamental feature of the Chinese bureaucracy is that power is fragmented: Different agencies have a very specific scope of functions. At the same time, the division of labor is not entirely clear; so, there can be overlapping duties over a specific sector or a specific company, and that could potentially give rise to conflicts and competition among agencies. Turf wars are very common in Chinese regulation.” “In terms of how China regulates, its government structure is both concentrated and decentralized. You can see pervasive state influence and fierce competition among Chinese firms at the same time. That makes China an elusive target for regulation.”
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Zak Dychtwald, Part 2 | China's Youth - A Restless Generation Changing The World
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● What brands can do if they want to succeed in China among the millennial and Gen-Z cohort● Major events that have impacted Chinese millennials similar to the Great Recession in the U.S.● What are the differences between millennials who grew up in the Mainland and those who studied abroad?● How prevalent is conspicuous consumption in the life of the average 25-to-30-year-old Chinese individual?● What makes a good brand in China?● How environmentally conscious and focused on diversity and inclusion are Chinese millennials? Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we continue our conversation with Zak Dychtwald, Founder and CEO of Young China Group, a think tank and consultancy with a focus on the emerging influence of China’s millennial generation on the marketplace, workplace, and international politics.Zak is the author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Young-China-Restless-Generation-Country/dp/1250078814">Young China: How the Restless Generation Will Change Their Country and the World (2018)</a>. The book explores questions of identity impacting China’s young generation, specifically the 420 million or so people born after 1990.Asked about what separates the winning foreign brands from the rest of the pack when it comes to finding millennial and Gen-Z fans in China, Zak says that it comes down to “empowering your local Chinese team to drive strategy.”However, the difficult task for local teams when working with multinationals is that they will almost always work slower than native Chinese teams with native Chinese executives who understand, intuitively, what the Chinese market looks like.Another point is to “stop creating products and thinking about marketing to Tier 1 cities.” Trends do not necessarily trickle down from Beijing or Shanghai to Hangzhou or Chongqin. Recognizing trends that do not originate in Tier 1 cities will give a company a head-start over other global brands whose thinking is still mired in that Shanghai bubble.Zak goes on to peel back the curtain into the mind of the Chinese youth, from how a restructured education system in the post-Tiananmen era divided generations around how they perceive history, to how the 2008 Beijing Olympics created a newfound sense of national pride and modernization for China, and finally to how Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign in 2012 served as a huge pivot towards meritocracy for the whole country.He then explains why Chinese students who study abroad now have greater incentives to return to China after graduating; why conspicuous consumption has moved from a need to look wealthy to a need to develop an identity; and current attitudes toward environmental friendliness, diversity, and inclusion. Key Quotes:“Empower the heck out of your local China team and do it so that they can be fast enough to compete with local brands.” “The problem with the city tier visual is we imagine trends cascading downwards from Tier 1. [...] That’s not necessarily the case, and I think it’s a little bit of linguistic determinism. I think that’s the fault of the tiered idea.” “[Conspicuous consumption back then] was a way to posture, particularly around the wealthy class. What you have now is conspicuous consumption oriented toward brand tribes and identity.” “A lot of our definitions of what it means to be ‘Chinese’, even within China, are based on the past. No longer. This generation is deciding what it means to be Chinese in modernity and going into the future.”
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Zak Dychtwald, Part 1 | The Identity of China's Millennial Generation
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Who are China’s millennials, and how do they differ from millennials in the Western world?● The downstream effects of the one-child policy on today’s market● The state of mental health among China’s youth● What employers expect from millennial hires Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Zak Dychtwald, Founder and CEO of Young China Group, a think tank and consultancy with a focus on the emerging influence of China’s millennial generation on the marketplace, workplace, and international politics.Zak is the author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Young-China-Restless-Generation-Country/dp/1250078814">Young China: How the Restless Generation Will Change Their Country and the World (2018)</a>. The book explores questions of identity impacting China’s young generation, specifically the 420 million or so people born after 1990.Having first arrived in China in his early 20s, Zak was amazed by the “vast chasm” between the China he was always told about, and the China he was experiencing at that moment. He was inspired to bridge that chasm, and so began his multifaceted career journey around the country.“We believe in a people-first perspective on China for a better world,” says Zack, referring to the thesis of not only his book but of his work as a whole.Listen in as Zak defines the unique gap in China between the strict traditionalism of the previous generations and the modernization of the new, and the “identity formation anxiety” that the youth face in trying to reconcile “the pressures of tradition and the needs of modernity”.He also speaks on China’s education system as undervaluing innovation and people skills, and how this translates into a workforce currently in transition. Key Quotes:“The China that gets described to us versus the China that I was seeing and experiencing on the ground—there is a pretty vast chasm between the two.” “We believe in a people-first perspective on China for a better world.” “I call this young generation the “Restless Generation” for a reason: It’s because they are in charge of defining China’s modern identity.” “In order to understand the children, you have to understand the parents.” “In China, the biggest investment that most families will make is in their children.” “When we’re talking about consumption in China, it’s not a matter of where you’re from, but when you’re from.”
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EPISODE 100 | Featuring His Excellency, Dominic Barton, Ambassador of Canada to the People’s Republic of China, with Executive Director at the CCBC, Sarah Kutulakos
Ambassador Barton Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The major trends witnessed by Ambassador Barton in China since the early 2000s● What lessons should the West learn from China’s drastic growth over the past two decades?● Why Ambassador Barton wrote China Vignettes in 2008 and the book’s main takeaways● Key thinkers and thought leaders in China and the broader APAC region that Ambassador Barton followsSarah Kutulakos Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The most promising sectors in China today● What the West can learn from China● How business relationships between China and the West may change● Whether China is experience an over supply of white-collar workers● Interesting pivots that have taken place in response to the pandemic Episode Summary:Dominic Barton, Canadian Ambassador to the People's Republic of China.Previously, he spent close to 20 years working for McKinsey & Company with a focus on China, at first serving as Chairman of Asia for the firm before taking the helm of Global Managing Director from 2009 to 2018 amid China’s rising prominence on the world stage.Other leadership roles that Ambassador Barton has held in the business world include Chairman of Teck Resources and as Non-Executive Director at the Singtel Group in Singapore and Investor AB in Sweden.Speaking on the trends he has personally seen play out over the past 15 years in China, Ambassador Barton notes that urbanization, infrastructure and logistics, education and the bolstering of human capital, and technocratic leadership have all been top priorities for the country, and will continue to be through to 2030 and perhaps even beyond.There are many lessons that the West can take away from China’s drastic growth over the past two decades, the most important of which, according to Ambassador Barton, is to not treat China as a “monolith”.Rather than looking at it as “China Inc.”, operated solely by its government, the U.S., Canada, and Europe would benefit from acknowledging the different layers that influence the Chinese economy, which also include small to large businesses, consumers, and regional differences between each.Ambassador Barton goes on to touch on the main insights he covers in his 2008 book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/China-Vignettes-Inside-Look/dp/9810580916">China Vignettes</a> and why he decided to dedicate the work to the country’s human element.Finally, Ambassador Barton shares his favorite key thinkers and thought leaders on China and the APAC region. Noting the importance of “balancing the macro with the micro”, he lists a wide range of resources, including works of fiction that offer unique perspectives on the Chinese people that one would not be able to find in any textbook.Episode Summary:Sarah Kutulakos, COO & Executive Director of the Canada China Business Council Sarah talks about her conversations with Western organizations in China regarding current market conditions and where the business world is headed in a post-pandemic society.Canada’s exports to China have only continued to grow in 2021 since the onset of the COVID-19. In particular, the raw materials, consumer, and energy sectors have seen favorable conditions in the past year-and-a-half. In the long-run financial services should also fare well.Sarah describes the most enthusiastic Western organizations in China in this way: “If you are aligned with China’s policies—which would include things like the five-year plan, increasing consumption for their new economic model, etc.—then you’re probably more excited about the market.”“The ability to turn on a dime—that flexibility in business,” is the top quality that Sarah believes every company should try to emulate. Applying this to CCBC, Sarah always encourages Canadian companies to embrace speed and “be more aggressive in going after China.”In a very short period of time, China has transformed its market into a leader with regard to its big data capabilities, and in its emphasis on the consumer as king.Another reality that came about relatively recently is that improved education—not to mention greater access to universities today—has resulted in countless qualified Chinese nationals that are highly sought after by multinationals. Ambassador Key Quotes:“I think there’s too much of a view in the West of treating China like a monolith: It’s China. It’s the government. When we do that—and we all tend to want to simplify stuff as humans—we should first think about our own countries, whether that be Canada or the United States. What is an American? What is a Canadian? We’re all different. And I really think that that gets lost in the haze of ‘China Inc.’” “[I wrote China Vignettes because] I felt I was being too economics-driven or macro-driven [...] and not really thinking deeply enough about the people: What is the consumer like and how might they be changing?”Sarah Key Quotes:“If you are aligned with China’s policies—which would include things like the five-year plan, increasing consumption for their new economic model, etc.—then you’re probably more excited about the market. “[Chinese] companies don’t get married to a particular business model and they move fast to meet opportunities in the market.” “One of the things we’ve tried to do with CCBC is to keep going at that clock speed and to encourage Canadian companies to be more aggressive about going after China, because they tend to sometimes be a little complacent and that puts us at a disadvantage versus Americans or Europeans that might be more energetic in the market.”
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Joseph Constanty | Urban Mobility and Growing the World's Largest Smart Scooter Company Globally
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Joseph reminisces on his time in Beijing during its “up-and-coming” days in the early 2000s● How differently entrepreneurship was regarded in China from 2000 to 2010● How Joseph’s footwear design house became the number one seller in the shoe category on Kickstarter in 2013 and 2014● The opportunities that came out of Joseph’s time at Tangential Consulting● Best practices for setting up a business in China● Countries that are particularly more difficult to penetrate● Advantages and challenges of working at a company based in China as an ex-pat● The evolution, and the future, of urban mobility Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Joseph Constanty, who has been steeped in China's business world for over 16 years. Since 2016, he has been the Director of International at NIU Technologies.As the largest smart scooter company in the world, NIU has been doubling down on its international expansion efforts as the global economy continues to rebound strongly from the lockdowns of the past year and a half.Alongside his work with NIU, Joseph is also a Co-Founder and Advisor at NextStep Studio, an accelerator specializing in the food tech and F&B companies in China.Having entered China back in the early-to-mid 2000s, Joseph reflects on why entrepreneurs were a rare sight back in the day, and the factors that led up to China’s drastic rise to becoming a force to be reckoned with when it comes to innovation and commerce.He compares Beijing in particular to Southeast Asia. While these countries may differ culturally from China, they are now exhibiting the same drive and resourcefulness that the tier 1 cities are known for. He regards them as primed for exponential growth in the very near future.Joseph goes on to share how he found success in a variety of fields in China’s startup world; how he helped to build the largest smart scooter company in the world and a shoe brand that became the most funded footwear Kickstarter project two years in a row.He also describes the advantages and challenges of working at a company based in China as an ex-pat and explains why those looking to found a company in China should consider initially establishing it as a consultancy.Finally, Joseph speaks on changes in and the future of urban mobility through the years and how COVID has impacted the industry. Key Quotes:“[In the early 2000s, entrepreneurs] didn’t exist because, culturally, it wasn’t acceptable for them. Their parents, or those born between 1975 and 1985, needed to get a job, get married, buy a house, have a kid, be financially successful, and do all that by the time they’re 30. Running a startup wasn’t part of that equation.” “What we took away from Kickstarter was simply the power of storytelling and building a brand from nothing. We were literally building it with almost zero marketing and just riding the Kickstarter traffic and influencing those people that were interested in helping makers at the time through the story we were telling.”
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Andrew Sigfrids | Architecture and Design - In China & For China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Opportunities in architecture and design within China● How the design space in the West differs from that of China● Design trends in China today and potentially going forward● The relationship between developers and the local government● The leeway designers have in localizing big foreign brands for China● China’s design influence beyond its borders Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Andrew Sigfrids of ASIG Design and ASIG BIM. Established in 2010, ASIG Design is a multi-disciplinary architectural design firm specializing in the interior design of restaurants and coffee shops.With offices in Shanghai, China and San Francisco, ASIG has worked with large companies like Starbucks, ABINbev and the Li Ka-shing Foundation, as well as small independent business owners. Andrew also heads New York-based landscape design firm Urban Terrace and San Francisco-based direct-to-consumer furniture brand CABA Design.He speaks on his foray into the architecture and design space in China. Realizing that the industry in China seemed to offer much greater “freedom of design expression” compared to that of America, which requires newer designers to go through a “rite of passage” via years of drafting before being allowed to actually spearhead projects.Another primary difference between the West and China is the cost of construction, which is much higher in the West and leads to more conservative designs. Since the cost of labor in China is lower, designers and architects are given more freedom, from the big-picture project designs to smaller interior details such as the design of sockets.Yet another distinguishing factor in China is “a mixture of owner, client, and consumer drive for wanting something new and different, pushing people through the doors via an interesting space.” Unique, selfie-friendly spaces are also growing in popularity.On the other hand, the West is far more driven by efficiency and brand consistency over innovation. However, many big Western brands are now embracing the reality of localization if they want to do business in China, even if that demands an almost complete rehaul of their established branding in the West. Key Quotes:“Another factor [that differentiates America’s design space from China’s] is a mixture of owner, client, and consumer drive for wanting something new and different. [...] The general Chinese consumer is always seeking something completely new and something completely different. [...] The West is far more driven by efficiencies, in things such as service, and general brand recognition. For us, it’s about pushing people through the doors via an interesting space.” “You feel so free as an individual [in China]. In business, it’s the same. The government typically leaves you alone with how you want to run your business and how you want to make your money—until you get big.” “The path to success in China changes year after year. The success path, entering now in 2021, could actually be very different from how it was in 2016—only five years later. The consumer base has changed so much that you might actually want to go a different route in how you design your space and how that tells the story of your brand.”
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Sam Michael | Pollution and Air Purification in China, & How to Nurture Strong Business Relationships in Asia
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Recent and potential developments in the Chinese business world● Air quality and pollution in China● Key mistakes that Western organizations make when they take on projects in China● How foreigners can nurture strong business relationships in China● How businesses in China can manage their relationship with the government● Why it is important to be on the ground in the country when doing business in China● AtmosAir Solutions’ target customer● How AtmosAir Solutions’ sales funnel in China differs from that of America● How negotiations take place between two parties in China Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Sam Michael, Executive Director for the China market at AtmosAir Solutions, a leading air purification technology brand from the United States. Sam made his foray into China in 2008 working in real estate, both with Asia's largest industrial developer and one of Europe's most successful luxury outlet developers. He was brought onboard AtmosAir Solutions’ Shanghai office as Executive Director of Sales and Operations in 2015.Since arriving in China a little over a decade ago, Sam has watched the world of commerce change drastically. In response to the explosion of eCommerce solutions, malls and physical retail stores have put more focus on creating experiences for consumers. Hence the rise of F&B in and around retail establishments in China.Alongside this, there has also been increasing interest in the health and wellness space, including air quality—most especially for ex-pats. Sam does not see this trend slowing down in a post-pandemic world, especially since even China’s industrial sector has finally begun to prioritize air quality.For Western companies seeking to do business in China, the number one consideration is localization, which can be done by finding a reliable local partner, or even a Western China expert like Sam himself, who can work alongside the organization on their strategy. By extension—and as it always has been—it helps to forge strong business partnerships, the old-fashioned, face-to-face way, in the China market. Key Quotes:“If I want the thing, then I’ll just buy the thing online. But people need a place to spend their time. [...] So, it’s nice to have these retail centers where the focus of their tenants has been less and less about the products that you’re going to buy and more about the experiences that you’re going to have with them.”
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Jacob Cooke | China's Economic Recovery, Live-Commerce, JD Logistics' IPO, & the 6.18 Shopping Bonanza Forecast
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The state of COVID in China going into the second half of 2021● Why a work-from-home culture is probably not the future for China● How consumer trends have evolved in the past 18 months● Sectors to lead the charge in China’s economic growth going forward● What to expect at the 6.18 shopping festival this year● The development of the live streaming/commerce craze● How the IPO of JD’s logistics division will impact consumer behavior, shipping, and logistics in the China market, along with Alibaba’s competitive relationship with JD● How the Biden administration is doing so far with regard to the U.S.-China trade war Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Jacob Cooke, co-founder of WPIC Marketing and Technologies, to gain an up-to-the-minute understanding of how well China is economically recovering from COVID and what consumer trends to keep an eye on.Asked about the latest developments around COVID in China, Jacob says that the new normal is well underway: establishments are reopening and flight delays are once again a reality. The vaccine rollout has also been fairly smooth, even in big cities like Beijing.Travel, however, is still quite restrictive, severely limiting the opportunity for ex-pats to return to the country. It is unlikely that the work-from-home culture, at least among foreigners with business in China, is here to stay. From the challenges of working in oftentimes widely different time zones to a lack of high-touch relationship-building and collaboration, Jacob simply concludes, “I don’t see work-from-home as being a thing here in China.”Regarding the shifts in consumer trends over time, Jacob says that there has obviously been greater interest in the health and wellness space, particularly around remote classes and online education. Fashion and cosmetics, which had both seen a downturn at the onset of lockdowns, are fast becoming thriving industries once again.Last year’s 6.18 shopping festival saw a much bigger bottom line than 11.11. With the economy’s drastic reawakening in 2021, the outlook for this year’s festival seems even brighter, especially as the popularity of live streaming/commerce continues to organically attract more people to these thriving online consumer communities.JD Logistic’s IPO will incentivize up-and-coming eCommerce platforms to tap into the resources of these giants. By extension, these new platforms will soon have the opportunity to compete on a relatively fairer playing field as long-time monopolies finally begin to operate independently. Key Quotes:“I’ve never been a real huge fan of work-from-home. I think you lose a lot in the collaboration between your team members. I think you lose a lot in terms of the relationship-building, the creativity—those moments of brilliance that you get from just working together. I don’t see work-from-home as being a thing here in China.” “What we like about Southeast Asia as an up-and-coming market is that we’ve got income levels rising very fast, as well as it being a very young base.”
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Kseniya Otmakhova | China's 'Socio-Spatial' Set of Challenges
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Using the power of design for social impact● Why Kseniya reframed the Belt & Road Initiative as a “sociospatial set of challenges” in her thesis● How Ballistic Architecture Machine factors into the New Silk Road● China’s strengths and weaknesses in architecture and urban design Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Kseniya Otmakhova, a Schwarzman Scholar and Director of Public Relations at Ballistic Architecture Machine. Her role as a PR manager comes with a focus on furthering research on the New Silk Road with the goal of developing it into one of several of BAM’s unique “Urban Initiative” projects.“I have a strong desire to use design for social impact,” says Kseniya, describing what initially motivated her to study urban planning at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. She also helps us understand that proposing concepts is not enough; the key is in convincing stakeholders by understanding the outcomes they desire.Kseniya was thus drawn to the Schwarzman scholarship, not only for the professional opportunities the program would bring but also for the access she would get to sharp minds around the world (including over 100 fellow scholars) to be able to have conversations on global issues with people from a variety of backgrounds.Listen in as Kseniya explains her thought process behind reframing the Belt & Road Initiative as a “sociospatial set of challenges” in her thesis and the three themes that anchor her research.She then describes the mission-vision of BAM, the multidisciplinary design studio based in Beijing and Shanghai, and how the studio’s focus on urban landscape design guides its research on the development of the New Silk Road.Finally, Kseniya discusses the incredible speed and agility of development China is known for, particularly in the world of architecture and city planning, and why this can be both a strength and a weakness for the country’s urban development. Key Quotes:“The Schwarzman program is a one-year Master's program in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing. It’s a very young program—six years old. It’s a scholarship that was created specifically to respond to the geopolitical landscape of our current times. That means China’s growing interactions with businesses around the world and also the realization of the founder, Stephen A. Schwarzman, that there is not enough understanding of this region in the West.” “The Belt & Road Initiative is at the scale of an entire continent. My question was: ‘What does it mean to build infrastructure for win-win collaboration—a structure that will create new people-to-people bonds?’” “I truly believe that the success of the Belt & Road Initiative depends on the built environments and the on-the-ground conditions that are created through ‘Happy Cities’.” “Just building a new highway that will bring your country money is not enough to create people-to-people bonds; to foster collaboration; and to create new, vibrant environments.” “One of the main aspects that brings a lot of professionals—from the best architects, urban planners, and the like—to China is the speed of developments. Things get built very quickly and, as such, an architect working in China for five years might see one or two projects completed; whereas back in Europe, they might as well spend ten years behind the drawing board.”
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Daphne Tuijn | Deriving Insights and Intelligence From Data In China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Why is it vital for 21st century businesses to focus on data● Innovations in the data and AI space in China● What is “growth hacking” and why is it most applied to early stage startups?● What distinguishes data collection and analytics in China from those of other countries?● The typical customer journey in China versus that of the West● How an expat stays on top of all the tech developments in China● Creating brand loyalty in China● How businesses can avoid data overload● Data collection tools businesses can use and Daphne’s favorite strategies Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Daphne Tuijn, a specialist in China’s eCommerce and technology space.She is the Co-Founder and CEO at Chaoly, a Shanghai-based company that offers a proprietary cloud-based data platform that integrates their clients’ data together with big data sources from major Chinese platforms such as Tmall, Baidu, WeChat, Weibo and Little Red Book. Chaoly’s Insights-as-a-Service then provides actionable insights and intelligence derived from the data.Daphne is also the Co-Founder and CEO at WebshopinChina.com, a full-service eCommerce agency with offices in Shanghai and Amsterdam.With 900 million internet users in the country and 52% of all retail being conducted online, China is truly a pioneer in the eCommerce space, globally. This has naturally led to China becoming known for its enormous data collection capabilities; however, Daphne says that data availability is one thing; being able to use it is another. In fact, in China, “there might be too much data. As they say, ‘Data is the new oil.’ But similar to oil, data needs to be refined in order for it to be used.”Daphne also shares her best practices for creating brand loyalty in China as well as how the role of Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) differs between the Chinese and Western markets. She also touches on the various ways brands can collect data in China both personally and from third-party sources while avoiding data overload. Key Quotes:“Data is extremely important in two ways: On the one hand, it allows you to make educated decisions instead of basing your decisions on gut feeling. [...] Using data as a preparation point to understanding the market is a good way to assess your success and to see if, indeed, you should put your money on [a decision]. Also, data helps you assess whether your performance is okay.” “In China, the issue is not the availability of data. On the contrary, there might be too much data. As they say, ‘Data is the new oil.’ But similar to oil, data needs to be refined in order for it to be used.” “You can look at the data but, ultimately, data itself is just a snapshot.”
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Greg Turner | Live Sports & Entertainment Venue Management in China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● How sports evolved in China over the past 1500 years● Why team sports have been slower in China● The role that the Chinese government plays in sports● What reform in the Chinese sports industry currently looks like● How the sports entertainment world looks in China with regards to live events● How foreign organizations can connect with sports fans in China● What is a “venue” in China?● What Greg expects for the 2022 Winter Olympics Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Greg Turner, an industry leader in live sports and entertainment events and venue management in China. He is the Founder and Managing Director at High Performance, which manages and promotes events at Shantou University Sports Park. Greg himself led the development of the STU Sports Park; a $110 million project donated by the Li Ka Shing Foundation to Shantou University.Before Greg’s involvement with STU, he served as the General Manager at XingYang Sports Culture Development, having been recruited directly by China’s first-ever Winter Olympic Gold medalist Yang Yang to manage her investment into the development of ice sports in China. During his eight months working on the initiative, Greg led his team in building up various grassroots programs for ice hockey, figure skating and short-track speed skating, establishing Feiyang as Shanghai’s premier public ice-skating facility.Listen in as Greg talks about the factors that shaped the development of the sports industry and culture in China, from their unique government-driven character to the Soviet-era roots that motivate the nation to dominate the global sports world.Greg then talks about the differences between sports cultures in the West and in China, what foreign organizations should focus on when looking to establish themselves in the local sports industry, and the reforms that the industry is currently undergoing.Finally, Greg explains how live events are organized and promoted in China as well as his thoughts on the 2022 Winter Olympics. Key Quotes:“Sports in China operates a lot different than what we’re used to—it’s very government-driven. Government policy lays the framework for how it’s going to be developing. That dates back to 1918 when the first paper that Mao Zedong published was on the lack of personal fitness for Chinese people and how that was impacting their ability to build a strong nation.” “[China aims to have sports consumption] become one of the new pillars of the Chinese economy. They’re shifting away from manufacturing and they’re trying to have more of a balance between service and manufacturing—maybe more on the service side. Sports are seen as part of that basket of industries that are going to develop the national economy and help it keep growing.” “Sports, [for the Chinese] is just one piece of the entertainment diet that they have. If they have to choose between watching their favorite player or favorite team play a game or watching a movie with friends, it’s actually a really difficult decision. If you add in dinner, they’re probably going to choose the dinner first and foremost. So, sports doesn’t have that same drive and passion that it has in the West.” “Doing business in China is kind of like boiling water: There’s nothing going on for a long time then, all of a sudden, everything explodes. [...] I think sports is right on the cusp of boiling point.” “With everything going on in the world in China and in the U.S., one of the things that I take heart in is that sports is a great uniter. We’ve seen that in the past and I hope we can see that again as we go through the next few years.”
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Benjamin Wahl | The Strategic Business of Sports Solutions in China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Marketing a football league in China● How other EU teams are finding fans in China● Do foreign clubs have limited time to grow their followings as the Chinese government looks to expand local football culture?● How different countries grow their sports and how closely China intends to follow those existing strategies● The future Yao Ming of football in China● Where the majority of Borussia Dortmund’s marketing spend is going● Tactics for growing a sports brand in China● Why China and Germany have such a strong relationship Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Benjamin Wahl, a brand strategy, business, and sports development expert. He is Head of China for the German professional football club Borussia Dortmund. Prior to this, Benjamin led the China strategy for Bayer 04 Leverkusen from 2016 to 2017, establishing a youth football academy in China in the process.Listen in as Benjamin talks about his five-year experience as a sports solution professional working in the China market. He speaks on how his own Borussia Dortmund was able to gain a foothold in the country and the marketing efforts they have been most focused on in order to spread the club’s culture and fanbase.Benjamin also touches on how other EU-based clubs are doing in China by comparison and what makes Germany stand out with regard to its relationship with China compared to those of other European countries.Finally, Benjamin shares tactics that other organizations and clubs can use to grow a sports brand in China and describes Borussia Dortmund’s branding and marketing strategy that he refers to as “The Challenger Approach”. Key Quotes:“When I go to [local football games] I’m always surprised at what a real fan culture they already have. When I speak to fans, I think it’s common that they have two clubs here: the local club attached to a region or a city [...] and a second team in Europe.” “With a team sport like football, and probably even basketball, it takes time—years—to establish the sport and a big base of players.”
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Charles Lavoie | Staying Consistently Creative in China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Charles’s history doing business with China and his current role at WPIC● How Charles defines “creativity”● Maintaining creativity in-house versus outsourcing creativity to KOLs and KOCs● How brands should go about looking for KOLs or KOCs in order to maximize ROI● Teaching creativity● Differences in creative processes between the West and the East● How brands can stay creatively consistent in different markets● How foreign brands can cut through the noise in the Chinese market Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Charles Lavoie, who leads and manages WPIC Creative Labs.Prior to joining WPIC in April 2021, Charles had served as the Marketing Director at BIOTWIN, the Director of Strategy and Business Development at PBB Creative, and China advisor to both Can Life Sports and CareerUp. He is also the co-founder of Beijing-based Infina Vodka and is responsible for the growth of the company from the ground-up to distribution across 10 different cities in China, Hong Kong, and the Northwest of Africa.Charles’s career so far has seen him developing brands, design thinking strategies, and advertising campaigns for clients such as Acura, Uber, Daimler, Tencent, Tourism Vancouver, World Bank, as well as the Quebec and Canada Governments.According to Charles, the challenge of the creative professional is to bridge the “gap between invention and commercialization”, which requires innovation, and not necessarily about creating something new but looking instead at the existing brand and their existing resources, and from that fashion an idea that benefits the business by being both profitable and relevant.Listen in as Charles compares the strengths of in-house creative control to those of outsourcing creative to KOLs and KOCs. He also gives his thoughts on how to “teach” creativity to your team, navigating differences in creative processes between the West and the East, and delivering creativity through a consistent brand framework in different markets. Key Quotes:“[Creativity] to me is bringing past or existing concepts or inspirations together to create something new.” “The gap between invention and commercialization is innovation. [...] We can be creative as much as we can, but the big challenge is to be creative and relevant.” “China is way stronger in anything that is technical and the West is stronger in everything that is strategic.”
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Yoann Delwarde | The Art of Sales in China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● How Yoann’s work with startups and founders differs from his work with corporate clients● Clients that Yoann typically works with as a sales trainer● How B2B selling has historically been done in China compared to today● The value of WeChat in sales● General differences between how sales is done in the West versus in the East● What Yoann has found to be the most difficult lesson for his coaching clients● How Chinese buyers differ from Western buyers● How is public speaking perceived in China and is it used as a tool for sales? Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with sales trainer Yoann Delwarde, Founder and CEO of Infinity Growth Ltd, a Shanghai-based firm that offers sales coaching and consulting to a wide range of clients, including multinationals, startups, MBA students, and accelerators and incubators.Yoann is one of twelve Experts in Residence for Chinaccelerator and a strategic advisor for allrites, Atiom, and GloCoach. He is also a lecturer on sales management and entrepreneurship at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in Shanghai as well as Emlyon business school in Écully, France.Infinity Growth aims to bridge the Western and Chinese mindsets toward entrepreneurship to ensure that they maximize their clients’ sales capabilities. Their key indicator of success is in the fact that they primarily attract their clients via word-of-mouth.Because “it’s so easy to lose your reputation in China”, Infinity Growth looks at their increasing clientele as a sign that their sales training approach is resonating with and leading to great results among the local entrepreneurs and business professionals they work with.Yoann shares what distinguishes sales in China compared to America and Western Europe, including differences in buyer behavior, the role of public speaking in the business world, and how eCommerce and social media are used differently in the East and the West. Key Quotes:“If there’s one thing I came to understand in China, it’s to always under-promise and over-deliver. [...] It’s so easy to lose your reputation in China, it’s insane.” “If I take the angle of B2B sales, I think the main difference [between how sales are done in the West versus in the East] is around trust. In Europe, and even in the U.S., first, you make business, then you become friends. [...] In China, first you become friends, then you make business.”
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Kevin Hui | Growing the Sport of Hockey in China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The rise in ice hockey’s popularity in China over the past decade● Does the lack of infrastructure growth for hockey in China limit how much interest the sport receives?● How Can Life lets the Chinese youth experience the “hockey culture” that Canadians are so familiar with● Why has the development of hockey been emphasized in China lately?● How is China developing players to be potentially drafted into the NHL?● What is the extent of the NHL’s involvement in the growth of hockey in China?● Which famous hockey players have the most sought-after jerseys in China? Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Kevin Hui, a serial entrepreneur and marketer who has worked across the sports, film, education, and capital markets industries with a focus on early-stage businesses.Kevin is the current President of Beijing-based Can Life Sports, the leading company in developing and growing ice hockey in China launched in 2011. He is also the Co-Founder of Northern Lights Media, which provides production and post-production services as well as Chinese localization of foreign content.Kevin attributes the rise of hockey’s popularity in China to the growth of the ex-pat community in the country over the last decade. However, the 2022 Winter Olympics is what has truly skyrocketed interest in the sport. Also, in 2015, the same year the announcement was made that Beijing would host the Winter Olympics, Andong "Misha" Song became the first Chinese-born hockey player to be drafted into the NHL.Since the spike in interest in hockey in 2015, interest has slowly receded. “Hopefully what we’re doing here [at Can Life] and what the Olympics is going to do for the industry will allow it to steadily grow,” says Kevin.The lack of infrastructure growth in China is a huge barrier to entry for those looking to get into ice hockey. In spite of this, Kevin believes that the key to growing the sport in China is by exposing the youth to the same “hockey culture” that he and many other Canadians are so familiar with. The key to this, he says, is the fun factor. “When you get to experience fun, that’s just something that you don’t forget.” Key Quotes:“At Can Life, we promote the competition but we focus more on the fun, the friendship, and the hockey culture that we grew up experiencing in Canada.” “[Growing hockey in China] is about spending five to ten years working together, failing, succeeding, failing again, and creating their own system that’s adapted to the international way of operating but creating it for the local market.”
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Wendy MacKenzie Pease | Translating Global Marketing Success
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● How translation technology has evolved over the past 20 years● The difference between translation and interpretation● How to train interpreters● Why translation and localization of content is so important in China and Japan● What to look for when hiring a translator● Examples of localization gone wrong and how to make amends if this happens to you● Understanding cultural and consumer nuances when translating in a foreign market Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with language translation expert Wendy MacKenzie Pease. For almost two decades, she has been the owner and President of Rapport International, which provides high-quality foreign language translation and interpretation services for businesses.She is the author of The Language of Global Marketing: Translate Your Domestic Strategies Into International Sales and Profits (2021).What differentiates Rapport from other translation services or technologies is the company’s focus on culturally adaptive marketing copy, which currently cannot be replicated by a computer. While Rapport does not use machine translation, it does use translation memory. This allows translators to record phrases or descriptions used over and over again by a particular company. Translation memory helps maintain message consistency across marketing campaigns.According to Wendy, “Translation is written. Interpretation is spoken.” Each activity is done by professionals of different aptitudes: Translators are those who love writing and research while interpreters are naturally empathetic communicators.Human translation and localization are so important for companies doing business in China simply because of their enormous presence in international commerce. As touched on above, today’s machine translation technologies are too inefficient and sometimes outright cumbersome to rely on for such a vital step in a business’s marketing efforts.For foreign brands looking to translate and localize in China—or any country, for that matter—the first step is to have a detailed long-term corporate strategy, which will inform their specific marketing strategy. Finally, this leads to the creation of the company’s global, or multilingual, marketing strategy. All three of these strategies need to be clearly defined and aligned before a company enters a new market. Key Quotes:“Translation is written. Interpretation is spoken.” “Be careful who you’re picking to do your translation. Even though your business partners may speak English well, they may not understand it enough to do the translation. [...] Make sure that you’re getting a professional who’s a trained translator.”
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Professor Min Ye | The Chinese and Asian Political Economies
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The evolution of China’s outbound foreign direct investment● Is China’s outbound FDI being used primarily for political or economic reasons?● Where outbound FDI is headed in the next five years● Differences between China’s bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements● How partner nations have changed their approach to China over the years● The future of the Belt and Road Initiative● How U.S-China relations will evolve under the Biden administration● Where opportunities for the U.S. to collaborate with China lie Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Professor Min Ye, an author and an Associate Professor of International Relations at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University. Her expertise includes Chinese political economy, China and India comparison, East Asian international relations, and globalization with focuses on transnational immigration and foreign investment.Min Ye gives a broad overview of how globalization, state capitalism, and outbound foreign direct investment have evolved in China in the last few decades. She describes China as a “latecomer economy in Asia”. When the country opened itself to doing business internationally in the late 1970s, it embraced outbound FDI because it had to fast-track its technology and manufacturing sectors and make exports earn foreign exchange as quickly as possible.Due to the COVID-19 crisis, alongside shaky U.S.-China relations, outbound FDI may see a change in strategy to adapt to the reorganization of global supply chains. Also, there will be a greater focus placed on China’s digital, health, and ecological sectors.With regard to free trade agreements of any kind, Min Ye explains that China will always take the most pragmatic approach that is conducive toward globalization. “It depends,” she says, “on China’s internal readiness and the external environment.”Asked about the future of the BRI, Min Ye says that, after eight years of laying the foundation for this massive global infrastructure development strategy—and not to mention on the heels of the pandemic—China is now much clearer on what they can and cannot accomplish. She expects “a sharper focus and a clearer context” going forward, including a more risk-conscious strategy, a willingness to cooperate more amiably with recipient governments, less of a need to “create political and social impact”, and a greater focus on digital infrastructure—which is to be the BRI’s core.Finally, Min Ye believes that, with a less hostile approach, the U.S. will be able to better cooperate with China under the Biden administration, especially today when the two countries are sharing pressing concerns around public health, climate, business, and data security. Key Quotes:“Because I understand that domestic politics in Asia typically shape their regional economic policies, I created this framework called ‘Critical Juncture’: When a crisis occurs, domestic leadership and policy networks interact across countries and that leads to new institution-building in the region.” “[With regard to bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements,] Chinese elite thinking and policy establishments do have strong convictions toward globalization. But their perspective on globalization is very pragmatic, so it doesn’t really prioritize one way or another. [...] It depends on China’s internal readiness and the external environment.” “In dealings with China, style matters hugely. I feel like Americans suddenly forgot that it’s about creating relationships when you work with China.”
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Jim Dunn | The Future of Building Design, Construction, & Delivery
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● What are modular buildings and why are they generally stronger than regular buildings?● Stack Modular’s typical customer● How developed is the modular housing industry in China?● The limitations of modular housing and how they are overcome● Shipping modular buildings across the ocean and keeping them intact● 3D printing and home manufacturing● Why Stack Modular has no local customers in China● How COVID-19 has affected Stack Modular’s business operations inside China and sales outside of China● How Jim, a foreigner, is able to manage a business with so many moving parts in China● What the future holds for Stack Modular Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Jim Dunn, President at Stack Modular, a Vancouver-based construction company that manufactures modular buildings for residential, hospitality, commercial, and resource sectors. He is also the President of Dunn Global, Ltd., a Shanghai-based procurement firm now considered the leader in Chinese manufactured housing exported to North America.From his native Canada to Los Angeles to Africa to China, Jim’s passion for the building world brought him globe-trotting opportunities through the years. Today, Jim splits his time between China and North America pushing Stack Modular into exciting new modular fields, from resource housing to hotels to office spaces.The modular housing industry in China has grown exponentially in the last several years, surpassing even the industries of the West. This came after a realization that buildings can be built faster, cheaper, and stronger, and that these can be produced at scale.Jim goes on to talk about the unique budgetary, logistical, and labour-related challenges that come with the territory for Stack Modular, why the construction industry has yet to undergo major innovations in 2021, and how the pandemic has impacted Stack Modular’s business operations both inside and outside China. Key Quotes:“Over the last half a dozen years, China says to itself, ‘Wow, you can build a building faster, cheaper, and stronger in a factory environment. They saw something that made sense and they acted on it. Here in Canada, we’re slow to act.” “People have reinvented every industry that you and I use every day, whether it’s communication, technologies, textiles, or agriculture. Everything’s been reinvented, except construction. Construction is the low-hanging fruit.” “If you can’t hire quality people, passionate people, loyal people, your business will never take off, much less in China.”
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Chloé Goncalves | Exfoliating China's Cosmetics Industry
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● A general overview of the cosmetics market in China● The most popular beauty products in China compared to the rest of the world● The popularity of live streaming in the beauty space● A primer on Key Opinion Consumers (KOCs)● How consumer behaviors in China differ from those in the West in the cosmetics market● Hero products by the largest cosmetics brands in China● Why there are significantly more male consumers for beauty products in China than in the West● Advice for cosmetics brands looking to enter China● Cutting-edge marketing tactics particular to China● What up-and-coming companies are doing to compete with large, even global, brands● How COVID-19 has affected the Chinese cosmetics industry● L'Oréal’s China strategy Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Chloé Goncalves, Asia E-Commerce Manager at L'Oréal. Previously, she served at Alibaba as a Digital Marketing Manager, working up to the role of International Business Development Manager for Tmall Global before leaving the company in January 2021 to work with L'Oréal.The cosmetics market has grown exponentially for the past several years, and today is the second-largest in the world after the U.S, with an estimated revenue of $22 billion—an amount that is expected to triple by 2024. 25% of sales take place via E-Commerce, and this number has been rising faster than ever thanks to COVID-19.Chinese women generally have a more extensive skincare routine than those in the West. Skin whitening products are also a staple in the market. Also, because of the high pollution problem alongside high-stress lifestyles, Chinese consumers tend to seek products that address specific problems, including blemish, wrinkle, and acne removers. Finally, there has been a rise in the popularity of male grooming, which includes makeup, in China.Live streaming is hugely popular in the beauty industry in China. The country is the largest live streaming industry in the world today, with the pre-COVID number of over 500 million live streamers having no doubt skyrocketed in the past year.Chloe mentions that Chinese consumers use E-Commerce not only to save time but to spend time. That is, even without the intention of buying anything, they visit platforms like Taobao or Tmall to watch live streams or read blogs not just from Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) but, even more so, from Key Opinion Consumers (KOCs). There are now more than 100 apps and platforms in China that offer live streaming features.For foreign brands looking to enter the Chinese cosmetics market, Chloé’s first tip is to find great local partners to take care of operations, marketing, and logistics. Her next piece of advice is to home in on ten key, hero products that would best fit China’s particular market instead of bringing in its entire suite. Her final tip is to invest in a marketing strategy that will help the foreign brand cut through the noise that is made up of countless existing brands as well as countless existing E-Commerce and content creation platforms. Key Quotes:“What’s really interesting in China is that consumers use E-Commerce not to save time, as we would do in the West, but to spend time. So, even though they don’t want to buy anything, they would connect on Taobao and Tmall to watch live streams and videos and read blogs and articles.” “[For brands looking to enter China,] the first tip would be to find the right partner; especially if you’re a small brand and don’t know the market well, you really need to have a local partner that will help you do all the operations, the marketing, the logistics, etc.” “China is a long-term journey. In terms of investment, we usually advise brands to invest 20-30% of their annual sales target in marketing to make sure that they can achieve their sales forecast and sales goals.”
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Mark Kristofic | The Boom of Winter Sports in China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Factors that developed Mark’s interest in doing business with China● Building relationships with Xinhua News Agency and Tencent● The demographics of the ski industry in China and why locals prefer to ski abroad● Promoting the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and local winter sports in general● Ski locations in China● The economic drivers behind the development of ski hills● Why many resorts in China have not been able to develop year-round destinations● What about ski TV appeals to Chinese audiences● The difference between programming for a Chinese audience and a Canadian audience● Emerging winter sports in China● What the future holds for ski TV in China Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Mark Kristofic, Managing Partner at S-Media, a television, print and digital production company that provides advertising, marketing, and production in Canada and China. S-Media also owns Snowsports Media, which includes a ski travel show featuring different destinations around the world. Mark is also partnered with the nonprofit events management company, World Snowsports Events Group.Because skiing worldwide had been relatively flat in terms of growth, Mark identified China as an emerging sports market. His interest in expanding into the market only grew with the announcement of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where sports would be a state-sponsored initiative.In October 2017, S-Media began talks with Xinhua News Agency. They had their first meeting in Beijing that December and, only a month later in January 2018, began filming around China, their partnership official.Asked how S-Media was able to build a relationship with Xinhua, Mark says that there were two keys to their success. For one, “they actually wanted the Western validation of the ski industry.” Secondly, they focused their messaging on the two elements that Xinhua wanted to highlight: regional culture (depending on where they were filming) and how the development of snow sports in China led toward their goal of hosting a successful Olympics.S-Media has since partnered with Tencent as well. Mark explains how his company, working alongside Xinhua and Tencent, programs for a Chinese audience compared to a Canadian one. He also goes on to speak on winter sports in China in general, and how the upcoming Olympics is contributing to the industry’s growth around the country. Key Quotes:“Once we had that formula where we knew we needed to talk about the ski area, their preparedness for the Olympics, and the culture, then it became quite simple to produce the product [for Xinhua].” “The content that we built for Xinhua was really information-driven and coming from the mouth of the government. We did have a massive number of views, but whether that was appealing to the audience or not, we don’t really know.” “What really resonates with the Chinese viewers from an entertainment standpoint is having influencers and celebrities involved.”
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Bill Tung | Is Fitness Fashion Big in China & Japan?
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The explosion of fitness culture in Asia● Mainland China’s consumer sporting goods market● Columbia’s brand strategy for the Chinese market● Differences between the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean sports apparel markets● How the 2008 Beijing Olympics impacted the country’s sports apparel market● Establishing a digital and physical presence as a new sports brand in China● Do big-box stores for sports apparel exist in China, or are they independently managed?● The current state of Japan’s sports apparel market● How Japan’s work culture influences shopping habits Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Bill Tung, who currently works as Managing Director at Peaks Consulting. Bill discusses the rise of the sports apparel world in China, Japan, and Korea, which he experienced firsthand as Vice President of International Sales and Market Expansion at Columbia Sportswear.Bill recalls, upon joining Columbia in 2003, that China was “virgin territory” for the brand. Working with their distributor in Hong Kong, they explored potential strategies to introduce their products into the Chinese market. While Columbia was eventually able to foray into the country—and gradually built brand recognition with in-store marketing—it turned out to be a huge challenge because very few Chinese engaged in outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, camping, or trail running.Indeed, one of the more unique elements of the sports apparel market in China is that fashion, rather than function, is the biggest selling point for most consumers. Compared to Japan or Korea where people buy these products for the sport or to stay warm, Chinese consumers of sports apparel tend to value style over technology. Columbia’s success in all three markets is owed to the company’s “flexibility and foresight to localize design” while keeping “the DNA and the history of the brand intact.”New brands looking to enter a foreign market need a multipronged approach going in, and it starts with everyone in the organization, from the C-suite to the rank and file, embodying that global mindset. Marketing and product design has to be specifically tailored to the unique culture of the country in question.With regard to China, the most important part of any marketing strategy is building brand awareness through local eCommerce and social media platforms. But the company has to have a physical presence as well because part of the experience for the consumer is feeling the product. Key Quotes:“For Columbia, it was very much dictated on the features, advantage, and benefits of the product to justify those price points. In China, anybody could buy a down jacket, but why would they buy your products?” “For a new brand that’s looking to go into China, whether you’re a sporting leisure brand or a luxury brand, it’s all about getting online.” “Ignore the concept of Japanese uniqueness at your peril.” “If you can satisfy Japanese consumers’ expectations about quality, you have the rest of the world covered.”
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Radley Mackenzie | The Rising Tide of Sports in China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The landscape of sports in China today● How motivation to go into sports differs between kids in China versus kids in the West● The development of sports infrastructure in China● The importance of sports celebrities in driving the popularity of sports in China● Popular sports in China today● Physicality in Chinese sports● Educating Chinese parents in the world of sports● Chinese athletes going international Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Radley Mackenzie, Founder and CEO at SinoSports Development, “a China-focused international sports and education platform, supporting Asian student-athletes with online and offline expertise and exposure” based in Toronto. Radley is also the President of consulting firm Radley Hall International and the Toronto Representative for high-tech manufacturing company Saimen.To this day, education is a higher priority for the youth in China than the arts or sports. Radley notes that, originally, “sports in China was closely tied to national program development. The Chinese government has always thought sports were an important flagship for them globally.” He likens it to the Soviet approach to national pride.The government’s traditional approach was to handpick who they consider to be the best performers and optimize their athletic capacity in isolation, i.e. without the support athletes in most other countries enjoy.Fortunately, this decade has seen a wider adoption of sports. On one hand, parents now see sports as a great way to complement their children’s education at school. On the other hand, the government itself now sees the economic benefits of sports and has encouraged wider participation in recent years. In fact, the Chinese government has announced that they would like to have 300 million winter sports enthusiasts involved in the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.Over the last 20 years, badminton, ping pong, and martial arts have been the most popular sports in China. Western sports have seen massive growth in more recent years, in particular basketball, soccer, and tennis. Last year, according to the NBA commissioner, there were 300 million basket players in China. Today’s soccer players number around 30 million, and tennis players around 15 million. Figure skating is also seeing greater popularity, with around 1 million skaters across China. Key Quotes:“Originally, sports in China was closely tied to national program development. The Chinese government has always thought sports were an important flagship for them globally. “SinoSports was originally founded on increasing human contact between coaches and players in both markets.” “Sports are a sector right now where China is desperate and eagerly looking for foreign expertise and have recognized that they can’t do it alone.” Resources Mentioned:<a href="http://www.sinosportsdevelopment.com/">SinoSports Development</a><a href="mailto:radley@sinosportsdevelopment.com">radley@sinosportsdevelopment.com</a>WeChat: radleym
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Dr. Gang Lu | Building a Tech Media Empire in China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● How Gang Lu became the founder of the premier tech media in the country● The transition from a competitive to a collaborative startup environment in China● The connection between changing family dynamics and the rise of innovation and entrepreneurship in China● The business of media in China● All about BEYOND Tech Expo 2021 in Macau● The future of the 996 working hour system● Gang Lu on the U.S.-China trade war● The current state of blockchain in China Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with tech influencer Gang Lu, Founder and CEO of TechNode.com. Formerly known as MOBINODE.com, Technode.com today is “the leading bilingual tech media in China covering startups and large listed companies, entrepreneurial community, and angel/VC investment activities.” Gang Lu is also the Co-Founder of OpenWeb.asia Workgroup, a blogging network focused on the Asian web industry and enhancing “the intercommunication of local Internet markets.”Gang Lu speaks to the parallels between the relatively recent relaxing of the top-down cultural dynamic in the Chinese family and workplace as the key that sparked the level of entrepreneurship that we see in the country today. With the government now encouraging the growth of new tech startups, Chinese society has become ripe for innovation that, according to Gang Lu, is only beginning.The world of media is obviously very different in China than it is in the West. For one, copyright is not enforced at nearly the same level, leading to a lot of outright plagiarism between companies. Advertisements are also valued much lower in China. Instead, to stay profitable, media companies rely heavily on sponsored articles. It of course follows that since articles can be commissioned by outside parties, the integrity of the information being published is often questionable.With the rise of the tech industry in Asia, TechNode, in collaboration with the Macao International Grand Events Promotion Association, is organizing the first two-day BEYOND International Technology Innovation Expo at the Venetian Macau on June 17, 2021. Gang Lu believed the time had come to shine a spotlight on Asia-based tech startups and other companies at an Asian venue instead of in the West where most of these events are usually held. Calling Macau “the Vegas of Asia”, he pinpointed the Venetian as the perfect place to kick off the first BEYOND Expo.Finally, Gang Lu speaks on the 996 culture, the U.S.-China trade war, and blockchain. To these three developing topics, he adopts a wait-and-see mindset, saying that China does not currently seem to be budging in its big-picture economic priorities despite (or maybe because of) the ongoing pandemic, increasing global dependence on digital solutions, and the transition of power in the U.S. Key Quotes:“I think, before 2011, you didn’t see that many startups. But after 3G took off, suddenly you saw the mobile market booming.” “If we look at the global tech space, there are so many new companies that are not in the States or Europe. They are in China and other Asian countries. We need not just an event, but a platform where people can go every year to showcase their technologies and innovations in Asia.” “Why is China moving so fast? I think China, for many reasons, is able to open the market to adopt new applications and infrastructures like 5G.”
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Nabil Sabet | The Future of Workspace Design in China
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● How workspaces change as people’s work change● Efficient communication with clients in the design space● Redefining the purpose of the office● Differences in the work environment in China versus the West● The impact of COVID-19 on the way work is done in China● Commercial architecture in China Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Nabil Sabet, Group Director at global workplace design firm M Moser Associates in North America and Greater China. The company “has specialized in the design and delivery of workplace environments since 1981, with clients from the corporate, private healthcare and education sectors.” Nabil’s experience in the China market goes back to 2006 when he worked as a space manager at M+W Group in Shanghai.Nabil shares his thoughts on evolving work environments as the nature of work itself changes. He also discusses how different sectors vary in their understanding and appreciation for workspaces that are appropriate to what they do. Ownership of space in the tech sector, for example, is relatively low because there is a lot of sharing of spaces. Legal work, on the other hand, is done in more segmented, even hierarchical, spaces.However, Nabil says that the COVID crisis has put the office space in “an existential crisis”. Due to the many uncertainties that most businesses continue to face moving forward into 2021, Nabil and his team are spending a lot of time “redefining the purpose of the office altogether.” He also explains how China in many respects was able to rebound relatively quickly in spite of the pandemic.Nabil gives his observations on the differences between how Westerners and the Chinese approach work, and how these differences impact the design of their respective work environments. He says that the workforce in China “really has a strong sense of obligation” to the country, the company, the team, and their leaders. This collective attitude makes work incredibly fast and efficient. In the West, there is “a stronger sense of rights and individuality”, meaning organizations spend more time creating consensus among their people.M Moser owes its effectiveness as a design firm to its complete focus on environments to which people go to work, including research centers, office spaces, innovation centers, and so on. This narrow focus allows them to collect an abundance of data and a thorough understanding of both “the hard stuff and the soft stuff”.There are many factors that go into an office that is totally dependent on the nature of the work to be done, and M Moser positions itself as a company that “owns the entire problem”. Key Quotes:“When people’s work changes, then the environments that support that work also need to change.” “The office is a gathering place for the team. The real purpose of the office is for people to come together. Yes, there’s an element of focus: You go to the office and you focus and you work. But, largely, the reason we will be going to the office is for human connection. It’s for connecting to other team members; corralling around a common purpose; getting inspired about our work and seeing our contributions as part of a team.” “Depending on where you live in the world and the culture, the home setting can be more conducive or less conducive to remote work.”
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Matt Sheehan | Semiconductors & Digital Sector Sub-Cultures
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● The increasing simultaneous “closeness” and “friction” between California and China● What makes California special to China as opposed to other U.S. states?● Matt speaks on co-hosting the Heartland Mainland: The Iowa China Podcast● Emerging tech trends in China● Eroding trust in Chinese tech platforms● Key takeaways on MacroPolo’s October 2020 report on what China will look like in 2025● How AI, blockchain, and other emerging technologies will transform Chinese society● How China is able to consistently stay on the cutting edge of AI● Why China has been incredibly malleable and willing to overhaul its society over time● What Silicon Valley thinks of Chinese tech Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Matt Sheehan, Fellow, and Researcher at MacroPolo, the digital think tank of The Paulson Institute. MacroPolo covers politics, economics, technology, and energy in China. Matt’s portfolio features writings on technology in China and its interactions with the U.S. and the rest of the world. His subfield focuses on artificial intelligence, a topic to which he has dedicated 90% of the last three years of his work.In 2016, Matt wrote The Transpacific Experiment: How China and California Collaborate and Compete for our Future. His thesis for the book is that “California is Ground Zero for a new era and a new type of U.S.-China relationship.”Matt notes that the relationship between the U.S. and China back in 2010 was characteristically more distant and “trade-based”. Around 2018, that relationship had become more “ground-level and face-to-face” as a result of the opportunities generated via the gradual influx of Chinese students, investors, immigrants, and homebuyers over the years. Matt’s book goes into how California (i.e. Silicon Valley and Hollywood) and China have been both collaborative and competitive at the same time.Listen in as Matt explains how the multifaceted powerhouse that is California influences the trajectory of China’s economic growth. He also dives deep into what he means by the two regions being collaborative and competitive at the same time.Matt then describes Iowa’s unexpected importance to the U.S.-China relationship and why he, in fact, co-hosted and co-produced the Heartland Mainland: The Iowa China Podcast. He goes on to speak on the future of the Chinese tech ecosystem as written about in MacroPolo’s October 2020 report. Finally, Matt reflects on shifting perceptions of China through the years and how the country is able to stay so malleable all this time. Key Quotes:“Even as California and China have become closer in recent years, that closeness also brings a lot of new frictions.” “In five years, I don’t foresee chip restrictions and export controls hobbling Chinese transition to this industrial tech juggernaut that it wants to become. But as we stretch it out further to 2025 to 2030 and beyond, I do think that restrictions on China’s ability to access leading-edge semiconductors are eventually going to serve as a bit of a cap on how far they can go with this foundational technology.” 
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The Year in Review | 2020's Greatest Hits
This episode is a look back at all of our podcast guests and the topics we covered in 2020, putting together some of our favorite moments for you into one single episode of goodness. The guests featured in this special episode are William Bao Bean, episode 22 released on January 7th; Scott Silverman, episode 28 released on January 31st; Scott Laprise, episode 34 released on March 6th; Dr. Julie Klinger, episode 42 released on April 13th; Gen Kanai, episode 54 released on July 17th; Wei Liang, episode 55 released on July 28th; James McGregor, episode 57 released on August 17th; Anne Stephenson Yang, episodes 58 & 59 released on August 25th and September 1st; Aynne Kokas, episode 61 released on September 16th; Kevin Xu, episodes 66 & 67 released October 27th and November 3rd; and Matthew Brennan, episodes 72 & 73 released December 8th and 15th.
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Matthew Brennan Part 2 | The Middle Platform & Turning Cringe Into Crave
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● What is the “middle platform” and how does it benefit ByteDance?● Other innovations by ByteDance that other companies are trying to imitate● TikTok versus Snapchat, and why the former is thriving while the latter is dying● Up-and-coming tech companies to keep an eye on● Why Oracle attempted to partner with TikTok● The future of TikTok in the U.S. with a Biden administration in place● Why America is seen as a high-risk market in China● The ramifications of Jack Ma’s speech on the Ant IPO Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we continue our conversation with Matthew Brennan, a highly sought-after speaker on Chinese internet and tech innovation, with a particular focus on WeChat and ByteDance. He is also the author of Attention Factory: The Story of TikTok and China's ByteDance (2020).Matthew is the Co-Founder of China Channel, which “provides digital marketing services for brands wishing to perform better on WeChat and China's digital ecosystem.” China Channel also organizes “China’s largest WeChat marketing conference series for international companies, China Channel delivers regular presentations, workshops, trainings and events globally about WeChat.”The “middle platform”, first conceptualized by Jack Ma and Alibaba, is a third-party group that does the “heavy lifting” in terms of technology and resource management. ByteDance’s apps can all plug into this central service called the middle platform, allowing these resources to be shared and ensuring no overlap between different teams.ByteDance has risen to prominence in the China tech space—and that of the world, by extension—through a myriad of innovations, from launching their unique internal tools as a product, selling their recommendation algorithm ala “recommendation as a service”, and their various avenues for growth hacking.Listen in as Matthew goes on to discuss the importance of how psychology can inform the potential success (or failure) of a social platform, other tech companies in China set to explode soon as ByteDance did, make sense of Oracle’s decision to partner with TikTok, and what a Biden administration (as well as current, strained U.S.-China relations) would mean for the future of TikTok and ByteDance as a whole. Key Quotes:“It wasn’t always obvious that TikTok would be so successful because they almost ruined it in the early days.” “When it comes to apps such as TikTok or Snapchat, it’s really important to understand the psychology behind these applications. It says so much about them and where the opportunity is in terms of business.” “When you speak to entrepreneurs and VCs on the ground in China, nobody really wants to invest in America anymore. It’s too risky. They don’t want to launch apps there. They just see it as a high-risk market.”
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Matthew Brennan pt. 1 | Attention Factory - TikTok & China's ByteDance
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● How Matthew built a fascination for WeChat and digital innovation in China● Writing objectively about big tech brands in a country known for heavy censorship● The huge potential of sharing short videos via these newest social media platforms● What is ByteDance, exactly?● How ByteDance compares to the other tech giants in China● What makes TikTok unique?● Localizing TikTok’s content in other markets Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Matthew Brennan, a highly sought-after speaker on the Chinese internet and tech innovation space, with a particular focus on WeChat and ByteDance. He is also the author of Attention Factory: The Story of TikTok and China's ByteDance (2020).Matthew is the Co-Founder of China Channel, which “provides digital marketing services for brands wishing to perform better on WeChat and China's digital ecosystem.” China Channel also organizes “China’s largest WeChat marketing conference series for international companies, China Channel delivers regular presentations, workshops, training, and events globally about WeChat.”Matthew says that his interest in digital innovation in China transcends geopolitics. Since writing his book, there has been a swell of controversy around TikTok as the U.S. and India worked to ban the popular social media app. Matthew, however, would rather focus on the bigger picture that is the trajectory this opens up for internet usage, globally. Short video is changing the way we use the internet, we are only in the early stages of this new trend.Listen in as Matthew goes on to share how ByteDance and TikTok came to be and how they sparked massive innovation in the mobile landscape, as well as how ByteDance compares to China’s other tech giants today and what the future holds. Key Quotes:“I do believe that short video is a very important trend for internet usage, globally. What TikTok provides is a new way that people are using the internet, and it’s not going away.” “China is all about mobile. It’s an app economy. People don’t tend to use browsers that much. Browser usage is very low in China.” “ByteDance has the potential to be a viable option to the Facebook and Google duopoly around online advertising globally.”
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Colin Bogar | The Future of China's Real Estate Sector
Topics Discussed and Key Points:● Commercial and residential real estate trends in China from 2008 to 2011● How real estate investors tend to operate in the China market● Where the real estate industry is going in the next ten years● Why China’s economic future may mirror that of Japan’s● China in the new normal● Property Passbook’s mission● Running a global business based in Shanghai● How COVID-19 has changed real estate planning in China Episode Summary:Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Colin Bogar, CEO and Head of Product Development at Property Passbook. His 12-year journey in China also saw him as Chairman on the Board of Advisors for The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, an Associate Professor at Shanghai Jiaotong University, the Managing Director of MGI Pacific, and Head of Research at Colliers International.Colin discusses his observations on both the commercial and residential real estate markets in China over his decade-long career. With regards to urbanization today, he touches on how bigger cities tend to have a much greater influx of new residents looking for opportunity as opposed to the country. Anecdotally, the first-tier cities of Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen have seen the most growth during Colin’s time. Second Tier cities and below are not expected to see growth anywhere near the same pace as populations and wages stagnate.Listen in as Colin goes on to share how COVID-19 affected the real estate market both financially and around health and sanitation, projected reductions in investments toward office spaces in a post-COVID world, the aim of his startup Property Passbook, the advantages of doing business as an expat in the melting pot that is Shanghai, and whether or not megacities are soon going to be a thing of the past. Key Quotes:“Real estate developers in China today are less concerned with green as much as they are with health.” “People in Western countries tend to want to be green and do the right things to fight global warming, but sometimes their solutions are not the most practical.” “By doing business in Shanghai, you have a pulse on the direction in which the world is going.” “COVID-19 and tensions with the U.S. aside, it’s hard not to be extremely optimistic about China’s economic future.” “Soon, travel to China is going to bounce back in a bigger way than most people would imagine.”
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Simon Zhao | China's Housing Bubble vs. Protecting the RMB
Today on The Negotiation, we are taking aim at trying to understand the housing bubble in China, by speaking with Professor Simon Zhao, Former Director at the International Centre for China Development Studies, University of Hong Kong. Simon has recently published an article on the housing bubble in China, so we thought he would be an excellent place to start our conversation.Simon tells us that it has only been in the last 40 years that its citizens could actually purchase property and homes; before then it belonged to the government, and the government provided housing to the people. Therefore, land and property had no value. However, China was quite interested in the Hong Kong model, and soon adopted the method of allowing private citizens to purchase and own land. Soon the government was pouring resources into land development in order to create a marketplace where it could tax purchases and development and grow its GDP. As Simon mentions, the government “did not allow the market price to go down”, which has contributed to the problem it has today.We ask Simon about the famous ghost towns, rather ghost cities, the massive developments that could house tens of thousands of people, seemingly built with the knowledge it was purely a surplus where no one needed to live. Simon tells us that the government would enable the banks to lend with protection against defaults so that demand stayed high and development would continue, allowing the country to artificially inflate GDP and collect taxes on 30% to 50% of the development and sale costs.When we asked Simon if China has a housing bubble, he said not in Tier 1 cities, there are so many people still moving to these cities the demand is still high and the value is true. Where the issue lies is where there is no liquidity in the market. In smaller cities to the North and to the West, there is shrinking demand, and those that own property is unable to get out from under their mortgages. Simon points to some major milestones to recognize as important dates in history that impacted the housing sector greatly. The first was entering the WTO in 2001, and the other was the Olympics in 2008. They coincided with tremendous growth in the manufacturing sector and China’s economic growth spurt overall. However the “financial tsunami” of 2009 drew $4 Trillion in aid from the government that was largely injected into the housing sector as well, which overcooked the economy in general, but the housing sector felt it the most. From that point to now the government has been doing everything it can to try and cool the housing sector without causing a drastic deflation in the RMB.
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Jacob Cooke | Returning To A New China
Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Jacob Cooke, co-founder of WPIC Marketing and Technologies, and his experiences since returning to China recently.Jacob notes the huge amount of digitization efforts since his last time in China. eCommerce is booming. What was once a convenience has now become a necessity. Digitization now encompasses all parts of society and users now include people of all ages, not just the youth.Masks have always been normal in China. Today, 90% of people continue to wear them despite no reported COVID-19 cases since Jacob’s return. However, contact tracing has become widespread and apps are incredibly efficient, which is especially necessary for a country that cannot realistically maintain social distancing measures due to its population size.Unlike in the West, big companies in China often were not given bailouts. In fact, many were allowed to fail. Instead, the government had begun to invest in smaller businesses. This is how unemployment is being addressed. The country is seeing shifts around the prominence of certain industries. Industries that were dependent upon export markets have suffered, but those who have adapted to the current needs of society have seen a good amount of growth. Namely, the technology and biomedical sectors are thriving. Businesses that cater to the needs of the home, including home exercise solutions, are also doing well this year.There may be a collapse in the commercial real estate market as many organizations have learned that a work-from-home setup yields virtually the same amount of productivity as an office-based one.Companies who do business in both the U.S. and China should not worry about any drastic shifts regarding trade between the two countries. Even in spite of the pandemic, trade has been continuing at practically the same pace as before, and higher taxes should not deter imports into an “already-high-tax environment”.Listen in as Jacob goes to share WPIC’s own investments in China, and what he sees in the future of the Ant Financial IPO, cryptocurrency, the hemp industry, and battery technology in China.
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Bruno Schiavi | Taking Hemp & CBD to China
Today on The Negotiation, we speak with fashion designer and entrepreneur Bruno Schiavi. With a background in the retail industry spanning 25 years, he has launched many brands internationally with some of the biggest companies and names in the world. His latest brand is Uncle Bud’s Hemp and CBD, which focuses on topicals that cover everything from pain relief to anti-aging to bath and body. Uncle Bud’s products are exclusively manufactured in the U.S. and are sold in over 15,000 stories locally. As of today, Uncle Bud’s is available in Australia and is about to launch in China in partnership with Tmall and Alibaba.Bruno decided to expand into China knowing that the Chinese love exploring new brands and are always curious when it comes to new ingredients. Hemp and CBD are, in fact, still novelty ingredients in the Chinese market and the industry itself is seen as the fastest-growing category in the world today (projected to be at $25 billion globally by the end of 2025). For these reasons and more, Bruno believes that the various challenges in doing business in China are worth overcoming.Listen in as Bruno shares the key differences between Chinese consumers and their American and European counterparts, how to find the right brand ambassadors for your product, and tips for building a local team in China when you are based overseas.
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Kevin Xu Part 2 | Interconnecting the Politics of China and the USA
Today on The Negotiation, we continue our conversation with Kevin Xu, founder and author at Interconnected, “a publication that analyzes businesses and trends from the lens of builders (entrepreneurs & engineers), operators (business managers), investors (capitalists), regulators (politicians and government officials), and how they are all connected.” He is also a contributor for and the co-creator of COSS Media, a knowledge media platform aimed at helping Commercial Open Source Software (COSS) founders build lasting companies. Finally, Kevin is an investor and EIR at the venture capital firm OSS Capital, L.P.Unlike the U.S., the Chinese government can make decisions “that could impact your pocketbook tomorrow”. Entrepreneurs in China are, as a result, much more politically astute, as the only way to get ahead in business is to align your vision for your business with the government’s vision for the country for the next several years. Americans, on the other hand, have the freedom to influence outcomes in ways the Chinese cannot; but at the same time, this has paved the way for more ignorance regarding Americans’ knowledge about their own government, simply because they have less to worry about concerning the government's power to control their lives. This difference in worldviews and level of political knowledge between the citizens of these two countries serves as the theme underlying the rest of the topics which Kevin covers.Listen in as Kevin explains his perspective on the countless developments currently taking place between the U.S. and China, from each country’s competitive edge in business to the long-term consequences of decoupling, and whether more Chinese companies will delist from the U.S. stock exchange. He then ties these issues together, explaining just how all of these unfolding events between these two superpowers are, in fact, interconnected.
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Kevin Xu | Open Source in China & Working at the White House
Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Kevin Xu, Founder, and Author of Interconnected.blog, a publication that analyzes businesses and trends from the lens of builders, operators, investors, and regulators, and how they are all interconnected globally. Kevin received his Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Brown University before studying both Law and Computer Science at Stanford. He then spent a couple of years at the White House in the Obama administration before becoming an entrepreneur in e-commerce and then design strategy. He then became very interested in open source projects, something he invests his money in to this day. His blog is bilingual in both English and Chinese, and he also podcasts.When asked about China’s stance on open-source technology, Kevin says that due to sanctions on technologies from the US, by the US, there has been an official attitude shift towards embracing open-source technology, saying they now know there is always some sort of open-source alternative available instead of relying on the proprietary solution that one would normally buy or license. Kevin goes on to say that he believes open-source is “eating a lot of different parts of the entire technology stack.”Given Kevin’s time at the White House, the conversation inevitably took a turn to politics, and wrapping up part 1 we delved into a discussion around whether Facebook and Twitter should be moderating political ads, which Kevin says no but maybe not for the reason you might think, then discussing why it seemed earlier in the conversation he was perhaps surprised to find so many Chinese that come from a Communist country background seemingly eager to be involved in politics in the US. 
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Tom Parker | Taking Australian Football to China
Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Tom Parker, Head of China with the Australian Football League (AFL) and Vice President for the Australia China Business Council. Tom shares his journey in the Chinese business world, beginning in 2007 with the founding of Red Tape Consulting, “a China Advisory business that helped stage the first AFL exhibition match as part of the Shanghai World Expo.” Since 2018, Tom continues to serve a prominent role in the AFL. As Head of China, Tom “drive[s] commercial outcomes from the ongoing engagement and games being played in Shanghai.”Before COVID-19, Tom’s role as Head of China at the AFL was to serve as the bridge between Australian and Chinese brands. As the pandemic reared its head just before the beginning of 2020, Tom had been looking to boost the organization’s social media presence and build on its branding. With both countries currently occupied with their respective challenges heading into the new normal, Tom is optimistic, but at the same time sees the future of the AFL as uncertain. At this point in time, the most they can do is to “ride the ship” onwards and continuously adapt to the situation at hand.Tom describes Australian sports as being a “bottom-up, grassroots”-led part of the culture, while Chinese sports is a “top-down” affair dictated by the state. Traditionally, the Chinese have generally focused on professional sports that are less team-oriented such as diving or table tennis. In recent years where globalization has become more prevalent than ever, ball sports, and the culture of fandom for teams and players have sprung up among the Chinese.
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Bertrand Schmitt | App Annie & The Rise of Mobile in China
Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Bertrand Schmitt, tech entrepreneur, Co-Founder, and Chairman of App Annie, and co-host of the Tech DECIPHERED podcast alongside Strive Capital’s Nuno Goncalves Pedro.Bertrand has been involved in the mobile industry in China since 1999, through what he refers to as its period of “growing pains”. When the iPhone and the App Store came out in 2007 and 2008, respectively, Bertrand quickly saw that they solved, in one go, three big issues in China’s mobile world: discovery, distribution, and monetization. Bertrand was inspired to bring something to market that could contribute to the industry. This led to the creation of App Annie, which aimed to provide tools to business developers to better understand developments in the mobile space via data and analytics.Mobile-only recently boomed as an industry in the Chinese market following the release of the iPhone (considered a luxury item when it first came out). Up until that point, the Chinese communicated through text, and tech giant Tencent was known for its online gaming services. The past decade has seen much innovation and the rise of new giants like Pinduoduo and ByteDance that were built on a mobile-first foundation.Bertrand shares his experience working as a French entrepreneur in China, how the VC “culture” in China has evolved and how it differs from that of America or Europe, China’s unique mobile-related innovations, and what to expect from Bertrand’s podcast, Tech DECIPHERED. 
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Jesse Chester | China's Sweet Tooth
Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Jesse Chester, Category Leadership Director at Mars who leads the category leadership organization in Guangdong, China, and in Arkansas, USA. Jesse’s role was to create strategic plans around category growth by working with retailers to help grow the marketplace as a whole. He also contributed to the reinvention of Mars’ innovation strategy.The snack industry in China “runs the full gamut” compared to that of North America. According to Jesse, the Chinese see food such as corn or bread rolls in the same category that they do chocolate bars or gum. Also, the health angle towards confectioneries and sweets in China is not as prevalent as it is in North America simply because consumption is much lower among the Chinese.It is clear that what works for the sweets industry in the west does not work the same in the east. Marketing is much more reliant on Key Opinion Leaders and capitalizing on events to sell these sorts of products. Also to be taken into account are cultural differences in the presentation and experience of sweets. For the Chinese, it is important to hone in on popular flavors unique to the country, but attention should also be put on the texture and packaging of the sweets.Jesse relates his experience working in China as a foreigner and having to adapt not only to the business environment but the cultural environment as well. His greatest strengths were his determination to focus on key tasks, but he also came to appreciate the power of taking initiative rather than leaving his Chinese business partners to take the lead every step of the way. He also was able to gain trust in an environment known to be rather impersonal and emotion-free by making it a point to build relationships with his partners, many times over baijiu.
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Kimberly Kirkendall | How To Evaluate a Business Opportunity in China
Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Kimberly Kirkendall, founder and President at International Resource Development, on adjusting to the business environment in China as a Westerner.Kimberly discusses the foundational cultural differences in doing business with the Chinese as opposed to Westerners. She had an advantage getting her start in China when she was in her early 20s, as she was able to quickly adapt to the implicit and analogous manner of speech that is characteristic of the locals. She and Todd both agree that a foreign professional in their 30s would have a much more difficult time making this adjustment as they would already be hardwired to interact with others in a particular way according to their own cultural norms.In the early 2000s, Kimberly was told that the China she had experienced in the late 1980s had completely changed and that the culture she had so familiarized herself with no longer existed. Her reply was that the so-called new, modern, Capitalist China was just an observation “at the veneer level”. Beneath this, China was still fundamentally the same as it was in the 1970s and 1980s, with the Communist Party apparatus completely intact. However, in the last five years, some of the veneer had begun to crack and is being replaced by a new one, namely, a “more muscular Communist Party engagement in the world and in business.” To Kimberly, this is simply proof that China’s attitude and worldview as a country never really changed.“China and many high-context language countries are relationship-driven,” says Kimberly. The first thing to understand in any negotiation is that the Chinese are looking to you as a partner, even if you do not yet see it that way yourself. That is, to the Chinese, you are perceived as someone who is either selling or buying, and this perception will remain throughout the negotiation. It is a relationship that is rooted in human nature, taking the emotionality and relative unpredictability of human beings seriously. They do not simply look at a company as a soulless, paint-by-numbers entity.
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Aynne Kokas | How China is Changing the Way Hollywood Makes Movies
Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Aynne Kokas, Associate Professor of Media Studies at the University of Virginia, where she teaches students about U.S.-China media and technology relations. She is also a Senior Faculty Fellow at the Miller Center for Public Affairs at the University of Virginia where she does work related to U.S.-China policy, particularly around how corporations and the governments of the U.S. and China interact in the space of media and tech.Aynne is the author of the award-winning book Hollywood Made in China. The big studios in China include the China Film Group, the Shanghai Film Group, Alibaba Pictures, and Tencent Pictures. These studios are “getting into the cinema game” in much the same way that tech companies in the U.S. are. That is, by producing a large amount of high-budget content, these cash-rich companies are able to drive traffic to their platforms.Netflix’s China strategy is to enter the market in any way it can. While it has been difficult for them to enter as a platform, they have been able to distribute content more successfully. These shows are streamed on Chinese platforms such as Iqiyi. By improving the content on these platforms, they can pull in more subscribers.Analysis has shown “clear colorism” in both Chinese and Western films released in China. Aynne suggests that this might be due to “a lack of great roles for people of color” in Hollywood. That being said, a lot of Indian films have done well in China. So have many Korean and Japanese productions. A lot of the gatekeeping decisions regarding the distribution of foreign media have very much to do with the geopolitical relationships that China has with these different countries.
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Hendrik Laubscher | Why China is Leading the World in eCommerce Logistics & Warehousing
Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Hendrick Laubscher on current and future developments around shipping, warehousing, and logistics networks in China.At first glance, distribution in China may appear more or less similar to the networks and processes of other countries, particularly in the West. However, Hendrick explains that China, by virtue of its 1.3 billion-strong population and well-known penchant for speed, operates at a scale unrivaled by other markets. He points to eCommerce giants JD and Tmall as prime examples of companies that embody this level of speed and scale.Another reality that sets China’s economy apart from much of the West is the same level of respect that people give to every worker, regardless of whether they are a street cleaner, delivery truck driver, or C-suite executive. This is because the country is so reliant on eCommerce that they understand that every person who contributes to the process is someone to be equally valued. It is a unique culture that helped China to become a $1.3 trillion market. “There’s nothing that you can’t buy on the internet in China,” says Hendrick. “You can find repossessed ships, airplanes, flats, and cars. Think about that and compare that to what we see in the West.”China’s speed is unmatched due to the speed of innovation and the demand of Chinese consumers for lightning-fast speeds to be the norm. Also, the Chinese “have almost no influence from outside logistics companies”, with JD, Alibaba and the like having built themselves from the ground-up and, therefore, have only their own data to rely on and learn from.In the near future, Hendrick sees more warehouses using 5G technology so that the data transferences between various parts of the business will be made quicker. This means movement between 15% to 25% quicker among these warehouses compared to warehouses relying solely on human beings to manage them. There will also be more usage of blockchain as consumers demand more security when making purchases. Other investments will be made to bolster distribution, from autonomous vehicles, planes, logistics partners, and international facilities.
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XinYi Lim | Pinduoduo's Change in Leadership, Differentiating and Understanding C2M, and Why Live Streaming is Everything Right Now
Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Xin Yi Lim, Senior Director of Corporate Development at Pinduoduo and former Technology Analyst for GIC in Singapore and New York.Xin Yi discusses some of PD’s latest developments, including founder Colin Huang Zheng’s recent move into an executive chairman role and news on the company’s agritech initiatives, which include its Smart Agriculture Competition to encourage innovation in both AI and traditional strawberry planting methods. She then goes into the role of live streaming in PDD’s marketing efforts and defines the relationship that the company has with its various types of vendors and other strategic partners.“Live streaming is probably the number one industry buzzword this year as well as last year,” says Xin Yi. COVID-19, of course, had a big impact on the popularity (and necessity) of live streaming. For Pinduoduo, the key was to find the value in a live streaming product as opposed to releasing one for the sake of having a product. In particular, one of the goals in using live streaming is to drive conversion which, at its root, is a matter of building trust. According to Xin Yi, “Live streaming should be part of the shopping experience and not a distraction from it.”An MCN is a third-party service provider that has a collection of content providers, akin to such platforms as YouTube. These are intermediaries that brands turn to if they need ready-made solutions for content since every content creator has their own following or fanbase.C2M shortens the distance between consumers and manufacturers. “In essence,” says Xin Yi, “it is a differentiated way of thinking about how products are designed, made, and sold to consumers.” Traditionally, manufacturers do not have a direct connection to consumers and have inefficient systems for getting feedback on their products. Usually, focus groups are used when creating new products, and this process oftentimes causes quite a bit of delay. The concept of C2M takes advantage of the fact that much of the retail world has gone digital in the form of eCommerce, allowing for that direct interaction between consumers and manufacturers.“Longer-term, the momentum behind eCommerce penetration is still very strong. In terms of PDD’s strategy, it has always been squarely focused on, ‘What do our users need and how can we provide the right products that they need for each category? How can we provide value as well as an interactive shopping experience to our 600+ million users?’”
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Wei Liang | Digging Into US/China Foreign Policy, Discussing The Belt & Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Wei Liang, Professor of International Policy Studies at Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. She discusses the current state of the Belt and Road Initiative in-depth, as well as China’s current reputation on the world stage amid a variety of crises, not least of which are COVID-19 and the country’s strained relationship with Hong Kong.The Belt and Road Initiative was first announced in 2013 by President Xi Jinping with the ambitious (and ever-evolving) plan to connect Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The belt begins in the northwest part of China and connects to Central Asia through to Europe. The road refers to the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road which connects China to Southeast Asia, the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean, all the way through to the Middle East and Africa.China’s goal is to connect with regions that it never had much economic influence in previously, while at the same time trying to bypass the influence of the United States by going through the “backyard” of Russia and India. China is intentionally keeping the BRI a “vague concept” striving to make it “open and inclusive”. One thing that has remained constant since its inception is that the United States has not been included thus far and does not seem likely to participate in any capacity any time soon.China’s relations with other powerful countries has been unsteady for a variety of reasons. China’s exponential rise as a global exporter in Asia is one factor. The language and cultural barriers are others. Recently, certain issues have influenced China’s image for the worse, two of the biggest being the impact of COVID-19 and the country’s turbulent relationship with Hong Kong.China’s focus is on infrastructure investments, which is why it put a tremendous amount of resources into the BRI. Its current relationship to the US, particularly after the trade war and the COVID-19 outbreak, is a confirmation to many scholars who have been following the unique relationship between the two countries: China has always sought to remain prepared with alternative markets to do business in.Regardless of which party wins the US presidential election in November, China will continue to have to deal with the profound mistrust between the two countries. Economic issues are one thing. Geopolitical and security considerations are another, and the two nations have continually stoked the embers of conflict throughout the past few years.
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Gen Kanai | Tech in Japan: How Google Won, eBay Lost, and Why Twitter Couldn't Lose, & Lessons Learned Growing Mozilla in Asia
Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Gen Kanai, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Animoca Brands and Mentor at Chinaccelerator.Regarding the challenges of entering the Japanese market, Gen says that Japanese customers generally do not pirate software and content. Japan “can be a very profitable market if you can crack the market.” At the same time, it is a challenging market, with many non-Japanese companies having failed in Japan. eBay is a prime example of a failure, while Google, Twitter, and Snapchat fared better due to a number of factors that Gen enumerates.Sales cycles and establishing stakeholder trust are generally much longer processes in Japan, but the payoff is the incredible loyalty that Japanese consumers have for successful companies in the country. On the other hand, during his five years working in China, Gen has found that it is particularly difficult for foreign entities to enter the consumer segment “for a whole host of reasons”.Asked about his experience working with Mozilla and expanding to other markets, Gen says that the best part about his involvement was interacting with users. Community is incredibly important for Mozilla since it is a non-profit organization with a fraction of the budgets of Google, Apple, Microsoft, and other companies that provide competing browsers. Mozilla enjoys a user base made up of Firefox fans who not only love the product, but also the company’s non-profit mission and the fact that Mozilla does not make money off of its users directly.On the other hand, the most challenging part of Gen’s job was dealing with countries that were completely closed to Firefox such as South Korea, thanks to technical decisions made by the Korean government around internet banking, stock trading, and any other kinds of secure transactions. During Gen’s time, online technologies in Korea only worked with Internet Explorer.Mozilla’s open-source, non-profit business model can still be emulated today, with some caveats. Mozilla rose “out of the ashes of Netscape” when the latter company failed. Sergey Brin struck a deal to feature Google as the default search engine with a fraction of the ads from its search results being paid to Mozilla. Things changed when Google opted for more ownership with the creation of Chrome, but Firefox remains a lucrative product that is able to make “north of $100 million a year” for as long as it can navigate the ever-evolving trends and standards established by the top internet companies of the day.
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Benjamin Qiu | China's First RMB Accelerator Fund, The Development of China's Legal Landscape, & Exit Options For Startups in China
Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Benjamin Qiu, Partner at Loeb & Loeb LLP. Benjamin is an “attorney focused on the capital market, venture financing, corporate governance, IP asset development, and technology protection & licensing.” He discusses the legal side of startup financing in China, of which he first developed expertise during his time at Innovation Works (China’s answer to Y Combinator), where he served as both fund director and a key member of its legal team.Benjamin had the opportunity to join Innovation Works in 2009, an interesting time in the startup world. With his background in international property law, this was his first time stepping into the venture capital space. 2009-2010 saw quite a bit of liquidity due to a lot of government stimulus around the world at the time. The first iPhone came out in 2007 and mobile was on the rise exponentially. Early-stage funding was focused on mobile startups.While Y Combinator used a more “cookie-cutter” deal structure, Innovation Works created the groundwork for new technologies before scouting the market for visionary entrepreneurs to lead innovation and form a startup based on the fresh technology.The legal framework in China, as drawn up by the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), essentially borrows from that of Silicon Valley. In the past, it heavily favored the investor, but with the high number of options startup entrepreneurs have today, the law has approached a “middle ground” structure that protects both investors and entrepreneurs.Asked about similarities between the discovery process in China versus that of Silicon Valley, Benjamin says that “80%-90%” of startup investors look for the same things in a founder, the most important being a firm grasp of industry knowledge. The biggest difference is that local entrepreneurs are the preferred choice, as opposed to Silicon Valley whose many resident founders hail from different cultural backgrounds.A foreign tech startup looking to get funding in China would “find it useful to have outside investors who, on top of the money, also provide local knowledge and guidance.” They can also potentially help the founder in finding the best staff and leadership for the company, and even facilitate deals. Benjamin notes that startups that deal with content such as Google and Facebook will have a significantly tougher time getting off the ground in China compared to an Uber or an Airbnb.M&A and IPO opportunities in China have seen a lot of convergence with Silicon Valley’s own realities. Until several years ago, a lot of the large tech companies (i.e. Alibaba, Tencent, etc.) were not known to willingly acquire younger startups. But, as is characteristic of the Chinese market, things drastically changed. In more recent years, many acquisitions took place. Also, in spite of current tensions between the U.S. and China, the U.S. is still the number one place that publicly lists rising Chinese companies.
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Shanshan Tang | Alibaba as a "Digital Economy", Tmall vs. Tmall Global, and Alibaba's Leveraging of AI
Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Shanshan Tang, Global Business Lead for Canada at Alibaba. Alibaba’s Vancouver office was opened in 2018 with two main goals: to help Canadian brands (especially smaller ones) sell to China using their eCommerce platform, and to promote cross-border tourism and online and in-store enablement of Alipay.Alibaba was founded as an eCommerce company 20 years ago. Today, it has evolved well beyond that. According to Shanshan, today the platform provides “a marketplace, logistics, payment services, marketing, call computing, big data, lifestyle, entertainment, and health.”With the many unique challenges presented by COVID-19 in 2020, some interesting trends have emerged on Tmall’s platform. For one, online tools such as live streaming have become much more popular. In line with this, there has been a closer integration of Tmall’s online and offline stores. Shanshan shares that amid the complete shutdown in China during the pandemic, department store associates took advantage of their tools by live streaming promotional videos right “from their counters”.The future of Alibaba’s eCommerce ecosystem sees the ever-closer integration of online and offline resources. There will also be an increase in the implementation of AI to Alibaba’s online tools to help merchants better customize the buying experience for individual consumers. Tmall has also put a focus on improving its brand loyalty forums in order to foster a greater sense of community among its customers.As the first step for companies looking to capitalize on Alibaba’s many sales and marketing channels, Shanshan recommends that they enter the platform with their hero products initially, using content marketing via social media to promote their brand and value proposition.
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Barbara Finamore | Energy, Pollution, & Why China's Electric Vehicle Industry Might Just Save Our Planet
Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Barbara Finamore, Senior Strategic Director for Asia at the Natural Resources Defense Council and the author of Will China Save the Planet (2018). She started her career with the NRDC as an environmental litigator, a position she left after getting married to a U.S. diplomat in the 1980s. Her husband took her to China in 1990, when the country was considering its earliest initiatives for sustainable development.Barbara was there to witness first-hand the country’s signing of the Framework Convention on Climate Change, as well as the drafting of the world’s first sustainable development blueprint for the 21st century, known as Agenda 21. Since the mid-1990s, Barbara has been heading the NRDC’s energy program in China.Says Barbara: “I got hooked on the challenges that China faced and getting to know the people who were working to address those challenges, many of whom became leaders in China’s energy and climate policy.”China’s environmental problems took off alongside its rapid economic growth in 2001 when the country joined the WTO. Its performance during that decade would earn China the moniker of being the world’s “economic miracle”.China’s most valuable commodity during this period? Coal: the world’s dirtiest fossil fuel and the leading source of CO2 emissions in the world, as well as the source of China’s devastating air pollution. Coal was the cause of 2013’s “airpocalypse”, during which time the Chinese citizens were breathing in an equivalent of one-and-a-half cigarettes per hour every day. In 2018, China launched its Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan which intends to cut down coal use.COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on China’s energy and environmental sectors. Chinese citizens have become less willing to take public transit due to crowding. There is a greater interest in private vehicles (which will have negative effects on climate change in the long run). The government has increased its focus on electric vehicles as essential to its long-term industrial transformation—a major element in its “new infrastructure” initiative (other elements include 5G and artificial intelligence).In the short-term, the Chinese government is taking steps to ease its environmental controls on gasoline-powered engines since the automotive industry as a whole is a pillar industry in China, being responsible for some 10% of jobs and nearly 10% of all retail sales.
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XinYi Lim, Senior Director of Corporate Development @ Pinduoduo | Interactive eCommerce, Observable Trends in Consumer Behaviour, & Pinduoduo's Long Term Growth Strategy
Today on The Negotiation, we speak with Xin Yi Lim, Senior Director of Corporate Development at Pinduoduo and former Technology Analyst for GIC in Singapore and New York.Xin Yi discusses interactive eCommerce, a relatively new term that aims to reproduce the experience of offline shopping by “trying to understand human needs through the community that surrounds each and every one of us.” Pinduoduo has created a team purchase model on a mobile-first, mobile-only platform where, if you buy something with a friend or anybody else in your social network, you enjoy lower prices.According to Xin Yi, traditional eCommerce is “a targeted, solitary shopping behavior that is also ultimately efficiency-driven.” When we shop offline (i.e. at a mall), we typically have conversations with our companions when considering a purchase. This type of interaction and feedback is essentially absent when we shop online on a conventional eCommerce platform—no algorithm can match this element of human touch.Pinduoduo differentiates itself from other eCommerce platforms with their fundamental understanding that “people’s needs can be very dynamic, and they can be influenced by those around them.” The company’s goal is to create true value for money, both for consumers and merchants, by creating a platform that mimics the offline experience and quite literally takes the term “sharing economy” to a new level.Using data gathered from Pinduoduo’s interactive eCommerce platform, certain trends emerged. There is now a tendency towards “rational consumption”, which means that consumers are ultimately looking for value-for-money goods. Xin Yi discusses the trend known as C2M or Consumer to Manufacturer. China, known for decades as having an export-driven economy, is now beginning to focus on manufacturing products that appeal to an increasingly savvy domestic market. Pinduoduo allows its brands to collect anonymous consumer feedback, and from this create better, more marketable products that expand existing markets, and even create new markets.COVID-19 has caused the sale of agricultural goods to skyrocket. These goods have always been available through Chinese eCommerce platforms, but they were “rediscovered” through necessity, by consumers. To further encourage and comfort online shoppers of agricultural goods, Pinduoduo began to conduct livestreams with farmers and other stakeholders demonstrating the quality of their products. Other newly popular verticals include fitness and culinary brands.
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TR Harrington | Exiting in China as a Foreigner, Social Media for Customer Service, & Investing in SE Asia
Today on The Negotiation, we speak with TR Harrington, Co-Program Director at Mobile Only Accelerator and Program Director at SOSV. He is also a Startup Mentor at Antler, Mucker Capital, and Chinaccelerator.TR discusses the mindset and strategies he used to run a Shanghai-based marketing agency in China, and gracefully enact an exit strategy after over a decade of serving as CEO. He says that the key to his success as a foreigner was his ability to adapt to the culture and expectations of the local market.By extension, TR encouraged foreign brands, who approached him for his services, to adopt that same attitude if they expected to maximize their investment in China. In addition to being willing to do their marketing the way the Chinese do, they should also be prepared to move at the speed that the Chinese are known for. Finally, foreign brands should not underestimate the power of utilizing social media to reach customers and clients—such as tapping into WeChat’s customer service capabilities.TR believes that continuous process improvement is a big factor in helping foreign brands stand out in the vast and turbulent sea that is the Chinese market. The key is to go big or go home: TR says that a relatively small company that only makes a 3x improvement will have almost zero impact on their revenue and bottom line. He also says that it is possible to go “too far” or “too deep” with metrics that do not count. Instead, brands should make it a point to prioritize the “500-foot view” metrics.Asked about which behavioral traits startup founders must have, TR says that it is not enough to follow through with the advice given by investors and mentors. It is equally as important for them to ask why they are being given that advice in order to learn how to make consistently sound decisions in the long-term.
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James Lalonde | Innovation in Japan vs China, The Future of Work in China, & The One Belt One Road Perspective
Today on The Negotiation, Todd speaks with author, speaker, university professor, and serial entrepreneur James Lalonde. He shares decades of experiences working in Asia, comparing and contrasting the social, cultural, and political characteristics of Japan, China, and North America to illustrate how these similarities and differences impact each country’s influence on the world stage.James believes that building a business in China as a foreigner does not present any more challenges than building a business anywhere else does. Having worked in multiple countries, James does not see any particularly unique barriers for outsiders looking to start a business in China. “It’s really about how you approach getting your idea to market, and those things are really not specific to any culture. Being a successful entrepreneur is not necessarily a cultural thing.”Different startup ecosystems exist in different regions of China. According to James, “Beijing is not really good at marketing itself” to foreign investors and entrepreneurs by virtue of having more than enough internal demand. Regardless, if your company specializes in software, IT, or AI, it is best to have a base in Beijing. If you are a manufacturer, Shenzhen is the place to be. Places like Shanghai and the surrounding areas deal best with consumer brands, which include lifestyle and fashion products. Other provinces may specialize in data centers or medical tourism. It all depends on what industry the government wishes to promote in the particular locale.James asserts that the higher education system does not prepare students for the future of work. Advanced degrees are not often earned through practical experience, which means that the primary endeavor young people are preparing for while taking these courses is, in fact, the rat race. “You do not get credit for what you know, in a lot of organizations,” James reminds us. For his own companies, he prefers to hire individuals with a thirst for knowledge and an aptitude for creativity, rather than those who are “book smart” in business.Asked his opinion on the Belt and Road Initiative, James questions the long-term ramifications of connecting several dozen countries with this particular infrastructure network. For instance, once the “bridge” is built, China has minimal, if any, control over how individual countries will make use of it. Will these countries truly use the network to improve trade relations with China, or take advantage of this resource and leave China in the dust?
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Justin Mallen | Handling Data Servers for the Largest Shopping Day in the World, How 5G Will Change the Internet, and Huawei's Future
Today on The Negotiation, Todd speaks with Justin Mallen, Founder, and CEO of Silk Road Telecommunication. He shares what it is like being one of the few successful foreign entrepreneurs in China, having entered the market during a time when it was far from the economic powerhouse that it is today.Justin says, “China’s telecom infrastructure is owned and operated by three incredibly large, state-owned enterprises: China Telecom, China Unicom, and China Mobile. Back then, they had the one key resource which you needed: networking; and they did not want people in their space.”Justin defines success, at least in the early days, simply as “being able to create a business that had staying power”. SRT is a capital intensive venture that was founded in 2000. It is a thriving operation today, but the road to get to this point was fraught with scores of challenges in the beginning. Primarily, it was a matter of turning these carriers—and other gatekeepers—from competitors into partners. Justin’s prediction that the internet would take the world by storm in the near future was a driving force that paid off in spades.As a data center business, SRT began with infrastructure as a service as its sole focus: they build, operate, maintain, and own the buildings that house all the servers for the internet. Today, these sites serve as the “heartbeat” for tech companies such as Alibaba, Tencent, and JD.com. Because of recent, rapid advancements in technology, today, SRT also offers platforms as a service (cloud, data, and big data analytics vendors) as a necessary additional layer atop infrastructure.Information traveled incredibly slowly in the early 1990s China. Justin’s initial goal was to simply speed things up. The biggest strength he saw in the country’s carriers was that they were very eager to invest in building up the infrastructure and capabilities of the internet. The goal of SRT was to develop the infrastructure so that the cost of delivery to consumers could be minimized. Over time, this grew the number of internet users in China to over 900 million in the first quarter of 2020.5G takes the latency—the time it takes for data to move between a device and the servers—down to zero. It makes connectivity much smoother and effectively instant. Driverless cars are incredibly prone to accidents if they use 4G, with its latency of 40 milliseconds. 5G removes this barrier, as well as those of many other industries, which allows for further innovations such as telemedicine and remote surgery.
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Andrea Fenn | How the New Rich Changed Luxury Fashion Marketing and the Phenomenon of Live Streaming for Commerce
Today on The Negotiation, Todd speaks with Andrea Fenn, a sinologist and journalist who regularly publishes articles and conducts lectures on China’s fast-paced, ever-evolving digital ecosystem. Andrea is also the founder and CEO at Fireworks, which he refers to as a “post-digital agency”. This is due to his belief that brand growth in today’s digital landscape should go beyond vanity metrics such as likes and followers. Instead, Fireworks focuses on actual conversions.Andrea sheds light on how luxury fashion marketing has changed dramatically in China when the advent of the “new rich” coincided with the rise of social media and eCommerce solutions. Now that there is less exclusivity in the market and more transparency among buyers, improving one’s sense of style is less about showing off one’s status and more about expressing one’s unique personality.Much like in other parts of the world, influencer marketing is also on the rise. Todd points out a few outrageous internet personalities who sell millions of dollars worth of product on a daily basis by the sheer power of their personal brands. Andrea replies that “there is a constant need for reassurance; a constant need for establishing trust in Chinese consumers.” He goes on to quote a certain Chinese scholar who said that “the Chinese are suspicious yet gullible.” This attitude, says Andrea, applies to both published news and consumption choices among the Chinese.There is no “standard marketing protocol” in China. Digital trends are always changing depending on whichever direction the largest eCommerce companies (ex. Alibaba, Tencent, etc.) choose to take. In the West, brands build their audiences from scratch using their unique, individual platforms, Chinese businesses, on the other hand, are beholden to established third-party platforms.
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Mark Greeven | China's 4 Types of Innovators & Building Resiliency Through Organizational Structure
Today on The Negotiation, Todd speaks with author and educator Mark Greeven. He is a former Associate Professor at Zhejiang University’s School of Management in Hangzhou, China. Today, Mark serves as Professor of Innovation and Strategy at IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland.The biggest difference between teaching at Zhejiang and at IMD is that the former “has all the features of a bureaucracy that you could imagine when it comes to state-run public institutions.” Despite the limitations imposed on Mark during his time at Zhejiang, he found it refreshing that the students were nevertheless eager to learn anything that Mark was willing to teach.If a foreigner is considering doing business in China, it pays to know the culture and the ecosystems that are unique to the country. Mark says that it will help greatly to familiarize oneself with all the eCommerce and social media platforms that essentially run the modern Chinese economy.In China, Mark classifies four types of innovators who help shape the country’s business landscape on a cyclical basis. The first type is the pioneers: usually large, well-known business entities who kickstart or capitalize on new systems or technologies that will continue to evolve, such as manufacturing (in the 1980s) and the internet (in the 2000s). The second group is the hidden champions: lesser-known companies who are proficient when it comes to one specific technology, application, or industrial product. The third type is the technology underdogs: mostly younger companies founded by overseas returnees with newfound prestigious academic accolades. The fourth and final group is the changemakers: digital-driven ventures who believe in rapid iterations and offer disruptive new ideas for traditional industries.Everything in China is always moving. In fact, Mark considers 2015 as having occurred “eons ago”. Countless waves of creativity and innovation have come and gone since. The Chinese, in times past, were not known to be inventors of new technologies as much as they were known to be able to adapt and mass-produce products that come from these technologies. Today, things have changed. When it comes to software engineering, AI, and biotechnology, China is now at the forefront of many breakthrough technologies.
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Michael Zakkour Part 2 | Amazon Laid Bare, How Integrated Systems Helped Chinese eCommerce Rebound, and Thriving by Focusing on the Three "C's"
Today on The Negotiation, Michael Zakkour returns to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the state of retail in China and the rest of the world.Setting the context for the discussion, Michael says that it is not a question of which retailers are doing well, but which integrated systems are. One of the factors that held China together during the worst of the crisis was the “ecosystems for retail, commerce, and communication that Alibaba, JD, Tencent, Pinduoduo, and Kaola had built.” These ecosystems reliably put products into the hands of consumers regardless of distance and are made even more seamless via technologies such as contactless delivery.Michael warns that the tail end of the COVID-19 crisis will only hasten the demise of those companies who are “just hanging on”, along with physical retail in general. Specifically, malls and department stores were already in decline before the outbreak—their future does not look any better.The eCommerce landscape, on the other hand, will experience both positive and negative developments. “The difference between eCommerce, digital commerce, and the New Retail,” says Michael, “is that, in the New Retail, physical retail actually matters.” The clicks will not spell the demise of the bricks. Rather, the key is in how a brand will integrate their physical and digital presence. To stay in the race, digital should directly influence physical.Some consumer behaviors in China have been permanently altered. Ecommerce solutions will obviously be on the rise. A “stay-at-home culture” will also emerge as more people realize how efficiently they can continue to live and work in the comfort of their own living spaces, solely using the power of the internet.Even as lockdowns around the world are lifted, the way we do business will be completely different in the new normal. In order to thrive in this upcoming reality, brands will be wise to “rethink how they make, move, sell, and buy” by reevaluating their business model from the perspective of four different Cs: consumer-centricity, customization, convenience, and contribution.
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Bay McLaughlin | Exploring the World of IoT, Innovation Outside the G8, & Juxtaposing Eastern European and Asian Entrepreneurs With North American
Today on The Negotiation, Todd speaks with Bay McLaughlin, Co-Founder, and COO at Brinc.io, an early-stage venture accelerator. He describes his partnership with fellow Co-Founder Manav Gupta as unorthodox in that they were not wholly familiar with each other’s backgrounds when they first met. What they did have individually, however, was the self-confidence needed to dive headfirst into a new venture. This attitude of purpose over profit drives many of Brinc’s thoughts on the IoT startup space.The founding of Brinc goes against the grain of conventional startup journeys. For one, Bay and Manav invested their own money in the business, having had no institutional backers for their first three-and-a-half years. They also decided to focus on and establish bases exclusively in developing countries as they foresaw immense growth in these locations in the coming decades.When it comes to the modern-day investor’s thought process, Bay notes that physical products that require longer and more complex R&D cycles will almost always receive more funding. Investors are also becoming more vertically-focused. That is, they will look at specific problems that businesses are looking to solve within specific industries.Historically, traditional software companies take around 7 to 10 years to go public. IoT companies go through a long life cycle: around 10 to 12 years, according to Bay. However, he does not see a good reason for any business (IoT or otherwise), who is vying to be a market leader, to go public too quickly. The fork-in-the-road decision is whether a founder intends to grow on its own effort (i.e. via fundraising) or to seek outside corporate aid in solving its problems.COVID-19 negatively impacted the IoT startup world from both the supply chain and investment perspectives. The least affected parties are those consumer IoT teams that strive to stay as lean as possible with their inventory. From an investment standpoint, companies now need to consider how wide their nets are with their LPs. This goes back to Bay’s previous point that businesses who play the long game—instead of looking only at their valuation—not only have the best chance for survival but may very well thrive in the new normal.
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Dr. Julie Klinger | Rare Earth Metals - Not Rare, In Everything From Magnets To Missiles, & China Dominates The Industry
Today on The Negotiation, Todd speaks with Dr. Julie Klinger, an expert on the rare earth elements industry whose research focuses on finding solutions for current and potential sustainability issues.Rare earth metals are, in fact, not actually rare. They are as common as copper or lead in terms of their occurrence on the Earth’s crust. The term refers to a family of elements located in the lanthanide series, which makes up the top bar of the “island” found south of the periodic table.Each rare earth element is distinct and unique, but what they have in common are magnetic and conductive properties. It is these properties that make certain technologies possible, particularly any type of technology that requires energy generation. These include fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewable energy. Drastic innovations and increased demand for such technologies naturally contributed to increased demand for rare earth metals in the last 30 years.Since the 1980s, China has been the primary source of rare earth elements worldwide, with over 100,000 people employed in the industry. However, just about every country in the world has sufficient rare earth deposits that could, in theory, be mined. The primary reason they stay untouched is that it is expensive to mine them safely: The geological conditions under which they coalesce happen to be exactly the same as those of radioactive materials. This means that, quite often, rare earth mining creates a radioactive waste management situation.China has a huge influence on global rare earth research and development, as well as applications. Julie divides China’s role in the rare earth metals world into roughly three phases. The first phase took place during the height of the Cold War in the 1950s, where tremendous amounts of research were put into potential rare earth applications. The second phase was post-1978 with Deng Xiaoping’s economic reforms, when other countries were encouraged to relocate their industries to China, effectively making the country “the industrial platform of the world”. The third phase started in 2003 when China’s central government started to impose quotas on the export of rare earth oxides. This is because the country had begun to turn its focus to value-added processing and environmental cleanliness.
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Rick Watson | Amazon vs. Alibaba, Including Seller & Buyer Experiences and Influencer Impact
Today on The Negotiation, Todd speaks with Rick Watson, founder, and CEO at RMW Commerce Consulting. With over 20 years of experience in the eCommerce industry, Rick shares his thoughts on industry giants in China and the U.S.Asked how different Alibaba is from Amazon, Rick starts off by addressing the Western notion that these two eCommerce companies essentially share the same business model—the only difference being that they were founded in different countries. It is inaccurate to assume that Alibaba is simply “China’s Amazon”. Relating Alibaba to the West, he refers to the company as a combination of Facebook, Google, and Amazon. Even then, this would only be an approximation of Alibaba’s true scale.Not only is Alibaba a more “expansive” e-commerce company than Amazon, but it is also “pure to the marketplace model as opposed to Amazon who is developing its own products and buying inventory.” Alibaba considers it a huge risk to buy inventory. The fact is that third-party sellers are taking home more profit than the platform provided to them by Amazon—a fact acknowledged by Jeff Bezos himself.Different eCommerce platforms offer different experiences for both buyers and sellers. Customers need to be particularly cautious on Alibaba as buyer protections are said to be lacking. Tmall is described as the “eyes closed experience” since there is very little chance of being defrauded on the platform. You are also expected to invest in your brand on Tmall. On the other hand, sellers on Amazon are basically “paying rent” to host their products on the platform, which means that you are Amazon’s customer, not the seller’s.“You are replaceable.” This is an unspoken motto that Amazon abides by. Since Amazon sellers have few options in the way of marketing, their products may be buried by the search engine, which is wholly influenced by customer activity at any point in time. “Sellers are lucky to be there, at the blessing and bidding of Amazon,” says Rick.
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Joshua Eisenman | China's Asymmetric Global Advantage and Defining "Relational Power"
Today on The Negotiation, Todd speaks with Joshua Eisenman, an Associate Professor of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame and a senior fellow for China studies at the American Foreign Policy Council.Joshua goes over his four published books on the topic of China and the developing world: China and the Developing World: Beijing’s Strategy for the Twenty-First Century (2007), China and Africa: A Century of Engagement (2012), China Steps Out: Beijing’s Major Power Engagement with the Developing World (2018), and Red China's Green Revolution: Technological Innovation, Institutional Change, and Economic Development Under the Commune (2018).Joshua describes China’s relationship with the developing world as “emerging and reemerging.” In explaining these relations with African countries, as well as almost all developing countries (with the exception of India), Joshua uses the term “comprehensive asymmetry.”Having an asymmetric advantage means that China has power over these developing countries on three measures: the international level (or comprehensive national strength), the state level, and the working (or human) level. Taken together, these three measures shed light on imbalances in trade, capital aid, and the resources available to policymakers. In a nutshell, the importance that China places on developing countries is evidenced by investing in their ability to rise as a major power in today’s world.Another important factor is that China views its connections in terms of “relational power”. This means that China expands its network of contacts because, the larger and stronger that network is, the greater China’s influence is. The goal of the Communist Party of China is to develop relationships with as many high-quality parties as possible in order to enhance this relational power and, by extension, its comprehensive national strength.The One Belt One Road initiative has evolved from a debt-driven finance strategy to enhance infrastructure development throughout the developing world, into a powerful means to push its overall power on the world stage. That is, One Belt One Road initially did not include countries such as Africa or Latin America as it was an entirely Asia-based strategy. Today, beyond the construction of roads and other lines of communication, the initiative now forwards the development of high-tech infrastructure to create Smart Cities. These include 5G networks, facial recognition software, security.In short, One Belt One Road is China’s strategy for the developing world.
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Sarah Weyman | The Impact of COVID-19 & Adjusting To The New Marketing Normal In China
Today on The Negotiation, Todd speaks with Sarah Weyman, Chief Growth Officer at Dentsu Aegis Network. She discusses the impact of COVID-19 on Chinese businesses and the future of marketing as the whole world marches on towards the new normal.The outbreak of Coronavirus at the beginning of 2020 fundamentally changed the business world. A few months into the pandemic, those who continue to not only stay afloat but thrive are those companies that, according to Sarah, are the most authentic. These are the brands that have managed to keep consumer needs at the forefront of their strategy moving forward.Sarah names the sportswear brand Lululemon as an example of a brand who focused on its customers first since the outbreak. Seeing that people wanted to continue exercising even while staying indoors, Lululemon provided a list of trainers who livestreamed workouts. Another example is Microsoft who, not long after the outbreak, announced a package for Enterprise users that gives free access to Office for six months.From a long-term perspective, “preference should not be presumed” when it comes to foreign brands in China. Being a western company used to be an advantage as such brands were usually associated with high-quality. This is no longer true since there is a greater diversity of choice in today’s market. Many modern brands in China are not only at the cutting edge of quality but are able to maintain that cutting edge due to the speed of their operations. To thrive in China today, any brand, local or foreign, must now match this speed.Asked how companies should tackle the remainder of 2020 in the wake of now-outdated marketing plans and budgets, Sarah says that short-term action should include shifts in messaging and platform selection. Long-term, companies should closely monitor how consumer behavior continues to evolve in the following months, which means that CRMs will be more important than ever before. Also, eCommerce solutions—and social commerce in general—will undergo rapid developments throughout the year.Food, beverage, and entertainment will see the fastest rebound once the dust settles because consumers will crave social interaction as soon as the new normal emerges. The travel industry will be one of the slowest to get back on track due to the massive losses that such companies are currently suffering. However, it is predicted that family destinations (Sarah cites Disneyland Shanghai as an example) will have the fastest rebound, also because of the aforementioned social factor.
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Ben Robinson | The Japanese Market - Shopify Success, Building Brand Loyalty & Consumer Trends
Today on The Negotiation, Todd speaks with Ben Robinson, Merchant Success Manager at Shopify Plus. He shares his experience working with a growing number of large Asia-Pacific brands on the ecommerce platform, with a focus on the Japanese market.Many of the brands Ben works with today are generally “high-growth, high-volume stores that are looking to increase their presence in different markets.” Ben and his team evaluate each company’s business model and operational capability in order to help them maximize the platform’s features. Two examples of brands who have successfully gone global are Koala Mattress and Allbirds.To successfully localize products for the Japanese market, Ben says that it all comes down to three factors: trust, presentation, and knowing what is important to the Japanese consumer by region. Regarded as one of the most insular and protective markets globally, consumers generally prefer Japanese-made products and brands. He explains that the three consumer trends unique to Japan today are cost, space-saving, luxury, and eco-friendliness and sustainability. Ben recommends foreign brands to work with local influencers through social media to help grow their level of trust and relatability.Foreign brands should research the already-established ecommerce ecosystem that is unique to Japan. They must then tailor their marketing, copy, and brand message accordingly, with a focus on describing your product’s features, since the Japanese tend to do extensive research on new brands before making a single purchase. It will also greatly help to tailor your SEO per region by understanding different writing systems and styles. Ben notes that Yahoo is as prevalent in Japan as Google is; so SEO must be optimized for both search engines.To build brand loyalty using social media, it is important to first understand that the Japanese use social media differently to Westerners. Line is more widely used over Facebook. Twitter and YouTube also have a large presence, and Instagram is slowly catching on as well. It helps to drive consumer interactions post-purchase. After a sale is made, the brand can encourage consumers—even incentivize them—to leave positive reviews or share their experiences either through writing or video. This can go a long way in nurturing loyalty.
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Ann Lee | Myths & Misconceptions About China, Wall Street to Best Selling Author X2, & The Impact of COVID-19
Today on The Negotiation, Todd speaks with Ann Lee, author of What the U.S. Can Learn from China (2012) and Will China’s Economy Collapse? (2017). Having risen to fame for predicting the market crash of 2008, today she is a leading authority on international finance and economics.Ann worked on Wall Street soon after graduating from business school, but made the transition to academia in 2006 once she foresaw the credit crisis. In 2008, she was invited to teach on credit markets and credit derivatives as a visiting professor at Peking University in Beijing. Chinese policymakers quickly caught wind of Ann’s expertise in this area once the market crashed, and she was subsequently approached to help them navigate the financial crisis which followed. She published her first book a few years later, which received worldwide acclaim and instantly gave Ann a global following.When asked what readers can expect to learn from What the U.S. Can Learn from China, Ann says the message is to “stop demonizing [China]. As wonderful and as powerful as the U.S. is, it does not have a monopoly on good ideas.” She adds that the book is not meant to endorse one country as being better than the other. Rather, it is meant to help readers open their mind to cultural nuances present in the way each country approaches different issues.Ann was able to predict the global financial crisis thanks to her experience working on Wall Street. To her, the biggest problem was that there was too much power in the hands of the federal reserve, big banks, and other prominent financial institutions of the time. In other words, innovation was nowhere near as important as money. China, on the other hand, approached finance as a tool for nation-building, similar to the attitude displayed by the Founding Fathers of the United States.“Doing business in China is like doing business anywhere else.” The important thing is to do your due diligence before making any sort of investment or negotiating with a local business. China is actually ranked as one of the most open countries to do business with. Hypercompetitiveness is the only factor that Ann highlights—there is a lot of ambition in the country. At the same time, there are fewer regulations in China than there are in many Western countries. Ann goes as far as saying that “it is almost too capitalistic in China.”Ann also touches on the attention-grabbing title of her second book, Will China’s Economy Collapse?. In 2015, many on Wall Street believed that China was on the verge of collapse due to a highly volatile stock market and rapidly shrinking currency reserves.
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Marian Danko | Weathering The VC Winter, Why China Will Win The AI Race, & Second Tier Cities To Watch
Today on The Negotiation, Todd speaks with Marian Danko, founder of the tech innovation platform weHustle; and TECOM, a conference for tech entrepreneurs. A native of Ukraine, Marian experienced culture shock upon arriving in China, particularly when it came to the rapid speed that defines the nation’s startup ecosystem.Speaking on Shanghai’s tech startup landscape, Marian says that “the ceiling is very high and the floor is very low”. That is, while Shanghai can be regarded as “an expensive city”, from an entrepreneur’s perspective, it can actually be a wellspring of highly lucrative investment opportunities compared to Silicon Valley, London, Dubai, or Singapore.Secondly, if a business owner wishes to put together an international team, the visa process is easier in China versus in the US. This means fewer costs and hurdles to have an international team based in one location.Asked about the investment landscape in China, Marian notes that a distinction should first be made between local and foreign early-stage startups as each has very different challenges to the other. Foreign companies will not be able to avail of bank loans as easily as local ones, simply because they cannot be trusted to remain in the country after a few years.With this context in mind, Marian says that venture capitalists are beginning to experience a “capital winter” in the country. He attributes this to the market becoming more mature. In the early days of tech startups in China, investors would actually lose money by banking on every trend that came their way. Having learned the hard way, they are now more savvy to the types of startups that are worth investing in. In other words, today’s investment landscape is defined not by quantity, but by quality.Next, Marian discusses “mobile-first, mobile-only”. 90% of startups in China create apps and mini-programs. Some startups do not even have websites; instead, their first and primary focus is mobile solutions. He adds that there is also a lot of reliance on WeChat nowadays, adding to this culture of “mobile-first, mobile-only”.China will lead the way when it comes to VR and AR. A lot of startups today are focused purely on VR and AR solutions. More than one startup is incorporating these technologies into marketing and advertising, and they have already created successful and cost-effective campaigns as a result.Likewise, a lot of Chinese startups are focusing on AI. Much of that influence can be attributed to the government. This is because, in order to dominate the market, China’s government is pouring funds (i.e. for grants, incubators, etc.) into AI-related ventures, giving startups the opportunity to constantly innovate in this industry.
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Scott Laprise | Communism, Guanxi, Innovation vs Adaptation, & Trying to Financially Analyze China
Today on The Negotiation, Scott Laprise discusses his transition from a career in diagnostic medicine to a financial analyst and researcher for emerging markets specifically within China.Scott considers Chinese languages the most important to study because of the country’s position as a key player in world business. Additionally, it is not enough to converse in English because the Chinese express themselves in a way that is fundamentally different from how Westerners communicate. Scott, therefore, always seeks to understand the Chinese point-of-view on any given topic before negotiating or simply engaging in conversation with them.Asked whether China can still be considered a “communist” country, Scott brings context by explaining that, at one point, China (specifically Mao Zedong) sought to partner with Russia, adopting elements of their political philosophy as a result. Today, however, Scott actually thinks of China as the most capitalist country today: While there are semblances of a planned economy, the Chinese themselves are very business-oriented and are masterful negotiators.Scott also touches on the term guanxi as a cultural aspect that is uniquely Chinese. “The more you know people, the more you can ask things of them, and the more they can ask things of you.” He also notes that time also plays a big role, considering the long-term worldview of China. That is, the longer you have known someone in China, the stronger the reciprocal dynamic present in the relationship.Scott goes on to talk about the ever-growing consumer culture in China. The speed and bottom-line-oriented nature of the economy mean less customer loyalty and a higher amount of unregulated pollution, but all of it speaks to China’s ability to pivot and become a dominant player in the market with relative ease.On that note, Scott states that China is not actually innovative but adaptive. The Chinese do not care all that much about patents because they do not focus on novelty. He believes that countries that impose patent laws “are the rich countries that have a lot to lose”. China’s point of view, on the other hand, is to simply “catch up”.Scott shares his point of view on the complicated situation around the US-China “Phase 1” trade deal, as well as what gives him an edge as a financial analyst. His viewpoints on these subjects are obviously influenced by the fact that Scott is a Westerner who lives locally—boots on the ground—in China, with business experience in both cultures.
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Olivia Plotnick | All About WeChat - Mini-Programs, The Power of WOW, & Building Awareness vs. Building Relationships
Today on The Negotiation, Olivia Plotnick talks about her entry into China as an entrepreneur from the United States. She shares how she was able to grow WeChat accounts at a massive rate in a fast-paced marketplace whose consumer culture is so different from her home country’s. She also explains how brands can capitalize on certain WeChat features, such as Top Stories, the “Wow” function, and WeChat groups.When asked how companies should look at WeChat in 2020, Olivia recalls how WeChat gradually transitioned from a purely consumer-based social media platform to a brand-building tool. Before, you could only receive messages from friends and family. Now, Nike and Under Armor can reach out to you. Olivia calls this a “sacred space” in that brands can now develop personal relationships with consumers. This is why it is important for brands to put out relevant content, or risk being unfollowed.In China, there are a large number of social platforms—or what Olivia likes to refer to as “ecosystems”. Olivia prefers to divide these platforms into two different categories. There are eCommerce platforms such as Tmall.com and JD.com, social media platforms such as WeChat, Weibo, and Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok). Each of these two categories serves a different purpose.How does WeChat stand out in this sea of platforms? According to Olivia, while Douyin is an “awareness-building platform”, WeChat is more of a “relationship-building platform”. Many brands use WeChat to educate their audience and provide loyalty programs. Ecommerce platforms like Taobao, on the other hand, are where “you push to sell”. Ultimately, you need to be aware of what most people use the platform for and produce content appropriate to user activity.
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Kevin Johannes Wörner | Helping Chinese Corporates Innovate, Mobile-First Mobile-Only Differences For B2C & B2B, and the Future of AI and Big Data Analytics
Today on The Negotiation, Kevin Johannes Wörner discusses his background in venture capital and the startup space in China. The German-born entrepreneur developed an “appetite” for the Chinese market at an early age. He studied at Tongji University before working for some time in Germany as a management consultant. Following this, he founded the business accelerator Properas in Berlin.It was around this point, however, that he decided it was time he made the move to China. He got in touch with Wei Zhou, founder of XNode, and today Kevin works on the company’s startup acceleration practice. XNode does three things: 1) coworking spaces, 2) corporate innovation, and 3) startup acceleration (with a focus on cross-border acceleration).One distinguishing feature of XNode’s two-month acceleration program is that the company works closely with governments. It is by building trust with these governments that XNode is able to bring in a steady flow of international startups to work with. Not only does this make working relationships easier, but it also allows XNode to leverage this worldwide network to find even more startups and entrepreneurs to partner with. The ultimate goal that XNode has for each and every one of its startups is a tangible business impact.When asked about the difference between how Chinese and Western startups scale their businesses, Kevin says that the Chinese practice the Lean Startup methodology, which makes them practical, incredibly fast, and highly responsive to the market. This was the source of much cultural shock during Kevin’s first month working in China, having been so used to the more gradual speed of German business.If Western companies wish to catch up to China’s speed, Kevin encourages cultural exchange. It is not enough to simply preach speed, pragmatism, or innovation—this will change nothing. Instead, Kevin wishes to have more Western companies and governments working together by “building bridges”. This involves reaching out to those already working in China—which include Westerners such as Todd and Kevin themselves who have developed a deep understanding and appreciation of the market over time.On the topic of “mobile-first, mobile-only”, Kevin likes to differentiate between B2B and B2C. For B2C startups, it is difficult to create applications for Chinese consumers. Instead, it is better to use existing platforms to do sales and marketing. On the other hand, it is easier for B2B startups to create new mobile solutions simply due to their smaller ecosystems—there is no need to change a consumer culture shared by millions (if not billions) of people.
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Cyril Ebersweiler | eCommerce Pre iPhone, Building the Worlds's #1 Hardware Accelerator, & The Next Big Thing
Today on The Negotiation, Cyril Ebersweiler shares 20 years of business experience working with various brands in China.Cyril began his career as an eCommerce project manager for Carrefour, launching China’s first online retail platform. From there, he worked with Adidas for four months before making the switch to Air France, where he would work for the next three years. Air France at the time was taking major steps to invest and promote greater relationships in China.From Air France, Cyril joined TBWA and became heavily involved in the company’s marketing efforts. Initially, Cyril intended to work with TBWA because he wanted to go to the country in the pre-iPhone days when Japan was the leader in mobile technology. Cyril believes that this experience gave him great insight into the future of mobile marketing and eCommerce capabilities. Cyril’s work eventually brought him back to China, in Dalian, where he met investor Sean O’Sullivan. The two worked together with technology startups in China.When it comes to the difference between American and Chinese entrepreneurs, Cyril says that while the Chinese are incredibly efficient in their workflow, their marketing in other countries could improve. Foreigners looking to invest in China, on the other hand, sometimes have trouble adapting to the local culture.In 2011, Cyril founded the venture capital corporation HAX in Shenzhen. When asked why he decided for the company to be based in Shenzhen, Cyril says that “just by being [in a specific location], [companies] are automatically augmented by the ecosystem around them.” Since Shenzhen is known as the “Silicon Valley of Hardware”, Cyril intends to tap into local resources—from large brands down to mom-and-pop stores—that would maximize his company’s capabilities. 
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Jacob Cooke | Special Edition Coronavirus Update
For the past 7 months, this show has been all about China and the amazing opportunities that lie in wait for companies willing to put in the work to be successful there. China’s business landscape and culture have been our bread and butter, it’s what this show has been built upon, and because of that, we need to talk about the tragic events that have been happening there over the last month due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus. The past month has been a difficult one for China and those impacted by the Coronavirus. We at The Negotiation and WPIC Marketing + Technologies have been impacted as well, and our hearts go out to our colleagues, friends, and loved ones that are suffering from the impact of this terrible virus. Our prayers go out to all of you and anyone listening who may have a loved one who has contracted the virus and we wish them and everyone a speedy recovery. Our thoughts are with you now and will be with you through every subsequent episode until this tragedy has been put behind us. That said the show must go on, as they say, so with a heavy heart we’ve asked our helmsman Jacob Cooke, CoFounder, and CEO of WPIC Marketing + Technologies, if he would be kind enough to jump on for a quick discussion about the online and offline commercial landscape due to the Coronavirus outbreak, what the data is showing us given much of the country is shut-in or closed for the time being, and what companies can be doing in the meantime to be prepared for the chapter that follows this one. Again, to everyone impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak out thoughts and prayers are with you.
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Sarah Kutulakos | The Rise of the Middle Class and How eCommerce Has Changed Corporate Infrastructures
Today on The Negotiation, Sarah Kutulakos talks about her experiences working for the Canada China Business Council (CCBC) for twelve years, and how doing business between both countries has changed over the last decade.Sarah talks about the evolution of the “depth of companies’ activities in China”. She highlights eCommerce as a big game-changer for the consumer market, as well as brands’ bolder attitude as a whole towards the creation of IPs.Sarah says that if you do not figure out how to compete in China, you will not know how to beat Chinese competitors in your own core markets. It is not that going to China is a must; but if you have a product or service “that aligns with China’s consumption trends or five-year plan,” then it may be worth entering the market. However, she highly recommends tooling and partnering up before even considering an expansion. Those who try to impose their brand in China without the proper partners or support group will fizzle out fast.The rise of the middle class in China was a key factor in achieving the unmatched speed of its economy today. “The capacity to accomplish is unfathomable,” says Sarah. At the same time, it is much harder to integrate as a foreigner today compared to as recently as 2011 due to changes in technology. “They used to roll out the red carpet for foreigners,” says Todd.Sarah specifically points to April 2019 as a turning point that gave foreigners “second class status”, when, unless one had a local bank account, they would be unable to use digital payment systems. “We are not the shiny new thing,” concludes Todd. “They know now that they are the shiny new thing.”Regarding how CCBC has impacted her home market, Sarah says that their incubation function has greatly expanded. The decision to enter China is not a light one, but Sarah is now confident that the team she is working with can help serve as the bridge between the two countries.
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Scott Silverman | Context Over Content, The Demand for Immediacy, & Experiential Marketing
Today on The Negotiation, Scott Silverman emphasizes efficiency and localizing new technologies as the two keys to brand success.When it comes to promoting your product, your service, or even your company, you must influence the perception around the thing you intend to bring exposure to. As to “what’s in the soup”, the most sacrosanct are 1) the product, and 2) the key benefit. The brand must be aware of the sensibilities of its target consumer and market accordingly.Scott brings up Lenovo’s ThinkPad as an example. Instead of simply translating the copy into Chinese word-for-word, the better approach would be to “calibrate” the benefits to better resonate with the Chinese buyer, which may include the tone and manner of the promotional material. “Content is not key,” says Scott. “Context is key.”Scott works in multiple markets in Asia. To thrive as a marketer in these countries, especially as a Westerner, he says that you must “be like a comedian: You have to know your audience.” For instance, he likens Hong Kong to Shanghai (and even Germany), wherein they simply want the hard facts listed out, sans an abundance of visual metaphors.Specifically, they want to know these three things: “What is it? How much does it cost? Why should we care?” In fact, Scott does not like to use the term “Asian market” as they are all different, to the point that he now focuses on marketing to individual cities.Scott believes that direct response campaigns are the best way to measure consumer insights. These are incredibly valuable in that, for a specific product, a brand may decide on different calls to action or rearranging the list of benefits depending on the city.Measuring data was “very basic” in the 2000s compared to today’s market. This was partly due to changes in communication—back then we had direct mail; now we have email and social media. This allows for more clarity of consumer realities in real-time. “Almost 100% of what I do now is digital,” says Scott.The recent “tsunami” of mobile solutions has completely revamped the economy. This led to brands opting for more experiential marketing that is uniquely mobile native. The immediacy of mobile is its defining trait. People became less patient, and the longer it took for them to receive something, the higher their expectations for it. “This is what brought creative and media together. It forced a relationship that before was a little tenuous.”“In order to succeed in China, you need to be willing to fail many, many times. The speed to fail is the speed to success.”
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Lauren Hallanan | Live Commerce, Private Traffic & Idle Fish
Today on The Negotiation, marketing specialist Lauren Hallanan talks about all things digital marketing, influencers, and social media for brands in China. Lauren shares her insights on what platforms are on top and which are soon to be left in the past by consumers and brands alike. Listen in to learn what tactics are being used by domestic Chinese brands and why studying their approach could be the key to attracting superfans for a brand or product in China. We kick off this episode by asking Lauren for a breakdown of the social media landscape in China. WeChat, described by Lauren as a “super app” that is well on its way to simply becoming an operating system, has become the dominant social media platform in China. Its rich offerings simplify life for consumers, meeting all their needs in one synergized ecosystem. It also offers brands the freedom and tools they need to reach and interact with their customers in new ways. Other popular platforms discussed are Weibo, a platform that has become a part of the fabric that is Chinese social media; Douyin, the local parent of TikTop, is a short video platform has taken off in China; and Xiaohongshu aka Little Red Book, a fusion of Instagram, Pinterest & a blogging platform like Medium or Reddit. We also talk about the shift away from Baidu for product searches in the buying lifecycle. In recent years Baidu has taken major hits to its credibility by not clearly separating ads from search results. Their handling of advertised post promotion amongst other mistakes has led to a significant loss of trust. We discuss the tactics frequently used by successful brands in China, specifically using KOCs (key opinion customers) like the cosmetic brand Perfect Diary. Brands are also collaborating with thousands of very micro-influencers to get customers talking and reach beyond first-tier cities where physical retail is less available. We also discuss the issue around private traffic, the traffic to a brand’s website that is considered owned by them and not available to any other company. China’s heavy use of social media by brands, where more and more brands are creating hundreds of chat groups on social platforms to get closer to their fan base and even perform customer service, means the traffic is technically owned by the social media platform, not the brand which has its own potential complications.Lastly, we talk about a new movement in China that points to a shift in culture; Idle Fish, an Alibaba platform for buying and selling second-hand goods, has become very popular thanks in part to influencers. We discuss several reasons Chinese consumers are starting to shift their opinion on buying used goods, including environmental and economic reasons. What are western brands missing when they try to enter the market in China? If you ask Lauren, it could be any number of the things mentioned above as well as a lack of perspective. She urges brands to start thinking of WeChat as their core engagement platform for their audience. She also suggests that they humble themselves in order and look to domestic Chinese competition, as they’re often “more agile, deeply understand the target audience and are unafraid of experimenting with the social media platforms that China runs on.WygTFJ5bf83BvIKRpTrf
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Tom Nixon | The Speed of China, An Innovation Mindset, & Reaching the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tier Cities With Your Marketing
Tom points to social changes as most fundamental to the rapid growth of the Chinese market, particularly with how quick consumers are in adopting new technologies. There are three keys to this change: 1) Immersion, or maximizing the buyer experience (i.e. standardizing vertical video); 2) Innovation, and framing these novel platforms as a positive lifestyle change; 3) Entertainment, which was never a huge factor to the Chinese consumer in the past.According to Tom, there are two types of content: 1) Marketing content, which is produced by brands; and 2) User-generated content (UGC), which is created by the consumers themselves. When it comes to content that resonates with Chinese consumers, the focus should be put on who buyers are listening to at that point in time. This is always changing: From Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), today’s “authority figures” are micro-influencers.The common thread here is the democratization of business. While before we were constantly faced with big, flashy, high-budget advertising, now we tend to listen more to raw, down-to-earth, and entertaining individual creators who are (seemingly) “just like us”.Tom advises Western brands to understand their customers’ touchpoints and ecosystems. The biggest mistake companies make is not being aware of cultural nuances. At worst, they risk offending potential buyers with their marketing. At best, they know where consumers go, but not how to actually engage with them or how to tailor their brand to their target customers.Tom’s real-life example is when a company once reached out for help regarding what content to produce on WeChat—without first considering whether WeChat is really the best place for them to be in. Understanding the platforms is important indeed, but it is just as important to understand the culture of the people using these platforms.
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Rebecca Fannin | The Race for Technology Supremacy & Alibaba Life After Jack Ma
The China tech scene has been on the rise for the past decade. However, challenges still exist (and are actually increasing in number) for foreign companies looking to enter China and vice versa. As the first foreign correspondent to interview Jack Ma, Rebecca was witness to the eCommerce tycoon’s early days as an entrepreneur. She remembers him as being charismatic, honest, and open. She notes that he did not seem to have any handlers around him listening to their conversation—although the situation is quite the opposite today. With Jack Ma’s departure as Chairman of Alibaba and his replacement by Daniel Zhang, Rebecca believes that the company will only continue to innovate and thrive with the new leadership. For example, 11.11, or Singles’ Day, was Daniel’s highly successful brainchild. With regards to the US and China’s respective strengths over each other, Rebecca brings up Kai-Fu Lee’s assertion that both countries are on the same level with regards to the development of artificial intelligence; however, China is implementing these technologies faster than the US is. At the same time, the US has the R&D lead on AI. China is also implementing 5G and all-things mobile (particularly when it comes to payments such as Alipay and WeChat Pay) at breakneck speed. When a foreign brand decides to enter China, it’s important to put the right managers in place and not giving autonomy to the local staff when it comes to decision-making. This is mainly for purposes of communication speed, considering that the Chinese economy is moving incredibly fast. Waiting a week or two—or even overnight—for a decision may cost the brand any edge they have. “The challenges in China are more pronounced than in other markets,” says Rebecca. Think carefully on whether entering China, out of every other country, is really the best next step for your company.
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Shawn Graham | From Politician to Chinese Business Consultant & The Importance of Building On-The-Ground Human Relationships in China
Today on The Negotiation, Shawn Graham discusses his transition from a politician in Canada to a business consultant in China. As the 31st Premier of New Brunswick, Shawn participated in a highly successful trade mission to China which brought an influx of new business for the Atlantic province.Speaking of the various Canadian business leaders that Shawn accompanied on his trade mission, the former premier refers to the experience as a “baptism by fire”. At the time, China was quickly evolving and rapidly expanding its access around the world. There was huge potential for growth in this emerging market.Shawn admits that he fell short of how far he could have taken the mission since his first trip to China also happened to take place during his last year as premier. “You need to be in China on a regular basis to cement those [business] relationships.” Beyond simply shaking hands or signing a contract, it is imperative to build an intimate, human relationship with a potential Chinese partner before any business can be done.What amazes Shawn about the Chinese economy is that it seems to have grown dramatically every time he makes a visit (nowadays he visits up to eight times in one year). There are 30 million Chinese citizens that move into the middle class each year. This means that disposable wealth is on the rise, which means that the Chinese have grown very particular about who they do business with in order to maintain a good income. Shawn has seen many businesses fail because they march in to “do the deal” before establishing a friendship.For anybody looking to do business in China, it helps to know a few important things. One of them is understanding the challenges peculiar to Chinese companies. As an example, Shawn brings up the ongoing talks to possibly bring Huawei and its 5G technology to North America. Another consideration is the climate. China has had a pollution issue for a long time and cannot accept being penalized for it when North America has been exploiting its environment for profit for over a century themselves to varying degrees. At the same time, one could say that China’s one-child policy was the country’s biggest sacrifice for their environment.The bottom line, says Shawn, is that “the Chinese are not coming. They’ve already arrived. It’s best to learn to do business with them rather than against them.”
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Doug Pearce | Chinese Megabrands, Agency Pitching Best Practices, & Using KOLs and Social Marketing in China
Today on The Negotiation, Doug Pearce discusses the rapid transformation in recent years of the media and advertising landscape in China.Doug says that the media scene in China “is like nowhere else”. In place of Google, Facebook, and Amazon, the country has BAT, Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, and now TikTok creator ByteDance. The difference between these Chinese companies and their Western “counterparts” is that investments made by megabrands in China give them a huge number of platforms for advertisers to buy into. “They leverage everything to secure as much investment as they can from advertisers.”Any company looking to succeed in China needs to be nimble. Consumer culture in the country is ever-changing, and the Chinese are known to expect speedy and efficient processes. They are also not brand conscious. Agencies can no longer rely on traditional media to do their marketing. Data and eCommerce are two other important factors to focus on. So is making use of Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and social marketing.Because today’s Chinese market is driven largely by eCommerce, social networking is an incredibly important tool for brands to leverage. Trends come and go quickly in China, so focusing on network effects versus corporate advertising is paramount.When it comes to pitching in China, Doug notes that the market is highly competitive and price-conscious. Keys to a successful pitch include having a deep understanding of both local partners and consumer habits, as well as focusing on business outcomes and long-term results instead of just listing features and budget plans. Todd aptly summarizes this with: “Don’t just give me a design for a better mousetrap. Draw me a line to where the cheese is.”Doug says that his number one “secret to success” is partnering with the right agency; particularly one which has a senior leader who really understands the brand’s vision-mission. In addition, “Have deep pockets, and go big, go bold, and go fast.” Brands thinking of entering the market will drown if they start small and slow. Achieving massive scale early on will keep a company afloat. “If you can crack it, the price is big.”
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William Bao Bean | China's First Startup Accelerator, The Chinese Entrepreneur's Modus Operandi, & SOSV's Asia Investment Thesis
Today on The Negotiation, William Bao Bean discusses what makes China one of the most competitive markets in the world. He points to the quick adoption of new technologies—particularly artificial intelligence—as one of the main drivers of the country’s economic growth. William says that machine learning allows for personalization of consumer experience on a virtually infinite scale, and many Chinese companies are using these resources relentlessly to their advantage. William observed that internet entrepreneurs in China operate with the mindset of, “Let’s see what worked somewhere else and make it better.” He refers to it as “Lean Startup with Chinese characteristics”. That is, assumptions are made and tested in the market repeatedly, with each iteration more refined than the last. Chinese entrepreneurs are unique in that the speed at which they test and refine assumptions (typically in two to three-month cycles) is second to none. Also, unlike the American application of Lean Startup where non-existent products may be brought to market for purposes of observation, the Chinese actually make their assumptions purely through real products that are ready to be sold. The world of angel investing in China can be best understood by actually having experience in starting up and managing a company. In addition, it helps greatly to be surrounded by a community of fellow VCs to ensure that you are constantly supported and on the cutting edge. William is a big believer in “Mobile-first; mobile-only.” William refers to a relatively recent phenomenon called “leapfrog effect” which occurred in a large number of non-Western markets. These countries never had a huge, fixed economy-driving infrastructure that was forced to evolve with the times. This turned out to be a key factor in their quicker adoption of eCommerce technologies on a countrywide scale compared to the West. These countries—with China leading the charge—have no problem with disruption from the outside, because they are already used to disrupting themselves.
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Bessie Lee | 3 Decades of Marketing in China, Marketing Technology Startups, and How AI Is Disrupting it All Everywhere
Today on The Negotiation, we talk with Bessie Lee, founder of Withinlink. She shares her experience working for WPP, a marketing and communications holding company. She discusses WPP’s challenging journey as it steadily grew into one of the leading advertising groups in China, from its timely entry into the market during the foreign investment boom in the mid-1970s to the rise of the internet and digital marketing in the country. It was during this latter period, in which online transactions drastically altered the economic landscape when Bessie Lee realized the difficulty of updating the mindset of large traditional advertising companies.The marketing game truly changed when eCommerce rose to prominence. This became a rough transitional period for traditional media holding companies, including WPP. Previously, the entire advertising process ran purely on human capital. Today, becoming a leader in the fast-paced eCommerce world requires integrated marketing. This means working with automated technology to constantly acquire data to be able to do continuous A/B testing. Bessie discovered that large holding companies such as WPP found it challenging to quickly adapt to these rapid changes, and so she left the company to focus on helping startup digital agencies.Today, Bessie runs Withinlink, “a uniquely-positioned strategic investor and incubator of marketing technology startups in China. We insisted on a boutique portfolio, so we can spend more time helping our portfolio companies expedite their growth.” A vertically-focused agency, Withinlink currently has 16 companies in its portfolio. This relatively small number is key to helping Withinlink put more focus and care into each individual company.Bessie has a pulse on the latest marketing innovations in China, which influences which startups Withinlink adds to its portfolio. The “core” mediums utilized by consumers are social, mobile, and, most recently, artificial intelligence. The PC is no longer relevant. Chinese consumers have evolved from mobile-first to mobile-only, making speedy innovation a must for any company looking to thrive in today’s market.
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Elizabeth Campbell | PPC West vs. East, Forming Chinese Marketing Teams, and the Value of Custom Built China Data Analytics Software
Today on The Negotiation, Elizabeth Campbell discusses her experiences working in marketing communications in the Chinese market. She considers building up her businesses’ digital marketing capabilities as a “critical part of the overall growth strategy” in the country.We start out diving into the differences in Pay-Per-Click in China vs. the West. When Elizabeth began looking into digital marketing in China, she and her team started by working with paid search in order to raise awareness and drive traffic to their websites. This was followed by a focus on SEO. As per her experience doing marketing in the west, her team had expected around 30% of their traffic to be drawn in via paid search, with the bulk of it coming in from SEO. However, she quickly found that the opposite is true in China. SEO brought in fewer leads compared to paid search due to the sheer amount of competition they faced for organic ad space. So, while PPC was used to “augment” traffic to her brands in the west, in China PPC is many companies' “bread and butter”.We then asked Elizabeth to talk about her experiences building marketing teams in China. The danger for any global team is to strictly apply marketing practices from their home market to a foreign one. While sticking to certain fundamentals is a good idea, the team working in the foreign market must keep an open mind and be prepared to make use of tools and strategies that their company may not be familiar with. Elizabeth started out with a small team in China that did not have the digital expertise required to compete in the market. She, therefore, partnered with an agency to put her on the right track. This is key for any foreign brand looking to invest in China: look for local partners who know the market and target segments inside and out—not just economically but culturally as well. In this case, Elizabeth made sure to partner with people who understood the current digital landscape.Lastly, we covered data gathering in China. For the sake of consistency, Elizabeth usually utilizes the same marketing platforms across every market she is involved in, which includes Google Analytics. China is an exception. Here, she made use of Chinalytics, a platform built by her partner agency which gave her team the deep insights they needed to see what was working and what was not. Chinalytics gave her confidence in the data they gathered, more so than with traditional platforms. She notes, however, that the Key Performance Indicators she tracked with Chinalytics are the same ones she always tracked using other platforms. Of these KPIs, she did not focus on measuring Cost Per Click but instead focused on the end result: the Cost Per Lead and how those leads actually converted to revenue. Focusing on these fundamentally changed the keywords, ad copy, landing page, etc. that her team used.
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Sally Zhang | A Masterclass in Dominating Alibaba's Taobao eCommerce Platform
Today on The Negotiation, Sally Zhang, a certified lecturer at Alibaba Taobao University, gives us a masterclass on the largest company in China today. What impresses Sally the most about Alibaba is its big data capabilities. “They know their customers, where their customers go, what they like, and what their habits are,” she states.As a lecturer, Sally notes that a lot of new vendors do not know how to run their own e-commerce stores, with regards to legal, logistics, and supply chain know-how. At the same time, while Sally is a lecturer to many “students”, she learns just as much—if not more—from a number of them about running a business. Her students, in fact, include a number of CEOs.Sally speaks on a variety of topics, including Alibaba’s winning edge with regards to their ability to retain competitive prices (Chinese consumers, after all, tend to opt for the lowest available prices). She also discusses Alibaba’s loyalty program, which she believes to be one of the key tools the company used to maximize its 11.11 sales.Sally is then asked about the difference in tactics between how platforms drive traffic versus how the brands using the platform drive traffic. What stands out here is integrative marketing—or “Uni Marketing”, as Alibaba calls it. They reach their customers through a large variety of ways, from traditional to social media advertising.The next major consumer group in China are those generations who have the freest time and are the most mobile-savvy. These are the later millennials and Gen-Z, who were born in the 1990s and the 2000s.For the upcoming Chinese New Year (also called Spring Festival) in 2020, Sally forecasts an increase in wine sales—exceeding even those of 11.11. She encourages wine sellers to take advantage of this occasion, likening it to “cutting the grass” or cashing in after accumulating a large customer base over time.Adaptation is the key to driving eCommerce results on Alibaba’s platforms. Western brands tend to have difficulties entering the Chinese market due to their preference for a lot of flexibility when the government imposes many restrictions on foreign companies. Sally observes that these companies usually refuse to change their ways until they “hit a rock”.It helps tremendously to take advantage of Alibaba’s big data resources in order to create appropriate market strategies. Lecturers such as Sally advise on these very topics, for example by drawing parallels between the foreign company and their vertical competitors on the platform they are using.If a foreign brand is looking to enter the Chinese market, Sally suggests finding a local partner to help with growing the business. This local partner knows the data, the customers, and industry trends.
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Jordan Rosenberg | Unpacking China's Relationship With Bitcoin, Blockchain, and Cryptocurrencies
Today on The Negotiation we speak with Jordan Rosenberg to discuss the world of bitcoin and cryptocurrency with regards to China. Cryptocurrencies were created around 2007 in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis. They were noticed very early on in China, a country that had, in fact, been at the forefront of digital currency. China had already been specializing in server farms and hardware production, both of which are required to produce proof of work for Bitcoin.Bitcoin mining is a very simple business. You have, essentially, four costs: 1) the gear; 2) the place to put the gear; 3) the people to run the gear; 4) electricity. Of these, the most important variable is the cost of electricity.Speaking on the current state of Bitcoin mining in China, Jordan says that the country’s development plans always call for building in anticipation of demand. To that end, they “overbuilt their electrical capacity”. Those in charge of running these resources are tasked to distribute this electrical capacity. Much of it was plugged into Bitcoin mining, which happens to be extremely energy-intensive. Thus, whoever can provide the lowest electrical cost will dominate the industry. Additionally, all of the leading designers and foundries that actually create the mining hardware are Chinese as well.According to Peter Thiel, “China loves Blockchain; but it hates Crypto.” Breaking this down, Jordan notes that Blockchain is basically just a distributed database that anybody can look at, and trust that the data they’re looking at is correct. Having technology that permanently stores data chronologically makes for a useful tool. However, China frowns upon the fact that Crypto operates separately from the banking system. In other words, they not only see the potential of the technology but its disruptive potential as well. Crypto, therefore, is heavily regulated and not treated particularly kindly. Blockchain, on the other hand, is openly supported by the government. It is currently used in China mainly for research purposes.Technically, the Chinese do not need Blockchain as they already have end-to-end digital payments covering every aspect of their life. “Digital payments in China are the only payments in China,” states Jordan. Every single person in China has a smartphone. However, a national Cryptocurrency is currently in development, spurred on due to “the fractured nature of global banking”.Jordan ends by saying that “Blockchain, much like the internet, can either be a force for great good or a force for great evil. It can greatly empower the vast majority of the people in the world who don’t have a bank account.”
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Singles Day Recap with Hao Lin of Alibaba Cloud & Joseph Cooke of WPIC Marketing + Technologies
We kicked off talking about what the opportunities for global brands in China at a high level. Joseph talks about the rise of the Internet citizen rate that has skyrocketed over the last dozen years, making it the largest commerce market in the world, as well as the amount of data that can be collected, yet still facing the struggles that the firewall presents. Hao complimented this point by saying that we haven’t even realized half of the potential that the China internet market presents. Hao then encouraged brands to have a China strategy independent of their global strategy as part of a successful entry process. Joseph then spoke about the necessity of having a local ICP and a .cn web domain, saying “Once you have those, then now you’re in the game.” China internet monitors traffic and throttles foreign traffic at peak times prioritizing local traffic which can greatly impact your ability as a brand to be truly alive in the market at the times you really want to be. This last mile of existence in the China market can drastically impact performance. Hao spoke to this explaining that not only must you register your domain in China, you must do it through a Chinese registrar. Hao then spoke to the different techs involved in China and the tremendous value of having all these ecosystem products all interacting with one user on their mobile phone. In China the government and companies know exactly who is behind all those actions because every mobile number must be registered to a real person (no “burner phones” like in the west for instance), so getting a 360 degree view of your customer is far more real and present in China. Joseph then speaks to the speed of tech in China and if you’re not measuring accurately what’s going on every day you’ll quickly be left behind, and this is especially hard if you’re not, as Joseph said earlier, “in the game” locally. The last third of the podcast covers some of the early data that was coming out of the Singles Day shopping extravaganza. Joseph points out the lull tin the market the month ahead of Singles Day that usually happens wasn’t present this year and the trajectory was positive all the way through. Hao then spoke to some of the winning tactics vendors were using this year, using not just gamification but actual game-show-style interactions with their customers, something that has proven highly effective to capture and maintain the attention of buyers. Joseph then talks about the most purchased item categories and how basket and transaction sizes were all up across the board that wasn’t driven by deep discounts like in the past which is a very encouraging sign, and how there is now a major decentralization in web behaviour where customers are going further and wider than ever seeking intel and content and date from a multitude of sources to validate and verify before they make a purchase. Awareness and conviction is being triggered at different stages in the funnel.
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Mathias Chaillou | China's Video Platforms, Risk Tolerance of Chinese Brands, and the Changing Agency Landscape in China
Today on The Negotiation, we talk with Mathias Chaillou, Global Head of Strategic Operations at Zenith. He relates his decade-long traditional marketing and, eventually, eCommerce career in China. In the days when TV was the medium of choice in the advertising industry, everything was about the cost-per-rating point around roughly a thousand TV channels, along with continuous negotiations with around 26 provinces.Some provinces were more traditionally-minded than others when it comes to marketing communications. Because of varying points-of-view within different regions, Mathias likes to think of the whole of China as a “continent”, and each province as a “country”.Two factors accelerated China’s move to digital marketing. The first, according to Mathias, is Weibo, which is regarded as China’s Twitter. The second is Youku, which functions similarly to YouTube. A lot of money began to flow through social media and online TV at a much faster rate than in the West. In fact, alongside Youku, Baidu and Tencent (and their subsidiaries) together are much bigger than YouTube.There is a lot of pitching involved, particularly with agencies, to obtain contracts. However, agency-client relationships tend to be much shorter than they are in the West (usually under two years). Turnaround times are also relatively quick (around three weeks in China as compared to three months in the West for the same project). The reason for this urgency is the fact that China had to catch up to the West in many ways when digital marketing rose to prominence. This level of speed is part of what defines the business culture in China today. In short, “Don’t look back; just move fast and move quickly,” says Mathias.To succeed as a foreign company in China, you need to be ready to bring something to the market that sets you apart from the big local players. This could be a unique strategy or new technology. Without this “Unique Selling Proposition”, local brands will beat the average multinational on cost and cultural understanding. Aside from that—and just as importantly—you must build a very tight relationship with your local partners, which starts even before the first formal meeting begins. The company that understands and appreciates nuance will thrive.Above all, adaptation is key.
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Todd Embley | Being An Expat Entrepreneur, Building Asia's First Tech Accelerator, and VC Investing in China
In this episode I, Todd Embley the regular host, was put on the hot seat and interviewed by Joseph Cooke, CoFounder and President of WPIC Marketing + Technologies. We started the show discussing how I became involved with SOSV The Accelerator VC, Sean O’Sullivan, and my good buddy Cyril Ebersweiler, and how Chinaccelerator was born in a small North Eastern city named Dalian, and how we made the tough decision to choose Shanghai over Beijing for it’s new home in order to grow and take it to the level it is at today. Joseph then asked me to talk about our formula for sifting through thousands of applications to our accelerator program each year and what we were looking for, and then move to a more broad look at the ecosystem as a whole and how Chinese startups and founders differed from their counterparts in the West. We also touched on how amazing it was to work in digital in China between 2009 and 2016, and how WeChat was responsible for WhatsApp getting a $19 billion dollar acquisition price from Facebook which dovetailed nicely into a discussion about startup valuations in China. We then talked about the talent pool in China and how much it grew over the years as parent’s started to feel more comfortable understanding that there was indeed a path to success for their children striking out on their own and that they wouldn’t turn into “starving artists”. We also discussed how startups in China were prone to manipulating the amounts that they raised in the media but were using it to remain not only competitive for talent but to also stay relevant in the most competitive market in the world for customer and media attention. We ended the podcast talking about one of our best investments ever through Chinaccelerator, BitMEX, the factors that helped them become the massive success they are today, and why China was the right place at the right time for them to be so. 
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Leif Rogers and David Noel | Major Sports Brand Building in China, the Rise of Health and Fitness, and the NBA Tweet to Forget
David and Leif discuss the business they have built helping sports brands enter China and Chinese corporate brands enter the US, the latter of which we dive into a bit more to learn more about how purely China-centric brands look at market entry into North America. We also discuss the different aspects of relationship building with their North American clients vs. their Chinese clients. After asking Dave and Leif to talk about the secret sauce that makes Red Phoenix so successful, it segue’s perfectly into the next topic of why it’s so important to leverage the help of agencies or experts who know how to do business in China at a granular level who’ve experienced not just the geography but also the culture. We then move onto the topic of sports in China and the opportunities that lie in that industry, beyond sports, in general, to include health and fitness in general. We discuss their 5 tiers to success in brand building for sports brands, which includes boots-on-the-ground initiatives like camps and grassroots development as well as government relations. We also discuss where the money is flowing in sports in China, where David cites a very deliberate effort from the top down in China’s culture that clearly understands how important sports can be to a country’s economy. Near the end, we do bring up the now-famous tweet from a prominent NBA executive that got the NBA in hot water in China in order to discuss the importance of understanding cultural sensitivities when entering a new market especially when you don’t have a good grasp of its native language nor its history. Now more than ever it is important to understand what topics one should avoid and issues to let lie. 
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Milo Chao | Auto vs. Infant Milk Powder Industries, the Importance of CSR to Brand Building, and Investing in Customer Service for Chinese Consumers
Milo has a long and distinguished career working with a long list of amazing brands he’s worked with under his belt, so we kicked off the show asking him to discuss the more difficult industries he’s had to work on in China and Milo pointed to the auto industry as the most difficult. He’s worked with Volkswagen, Nissan, Ford etc. and because the market is so competitive and advertising is so homogenous it’s difficult to try and convince them to be different. We then asked for the opposite, the surprisingly easy industry to make a mark in and be different, and he talked about the infant milk formula industry and some examples as to why. We then move on to discussing some of the mistakes foreign brands make when entering China, first discussing the odd fact that many brands will forgo the strengths they had in other countries to try and become overly Chinese. He goes on to say that what really matters is about taking those strengths and figuring out how to make it relevant to the Chinese consumer and then to differentiate and be heard above the noise. He also talks about the importance of local leadership to be able to make decisions on the ground in real-time. Milo also covers how the competitive landscape has changed over the last 5 years, how important it is to learn the local platforms, and suggests that Chinese brands are doing a better job of ‘going guerilla’ in their marketing and that foreign brands need to “take the gloves off” and not be afraid to do what needs to be done to win. We asked Milo to speak to whether the Chinese consumer is paying attention to a brand’s CSR activities or environmental impact along the loyalty-building path. His take is that they are starting to and studies are showing it is starting to impact a brand’s reputation but we’re not yet at the point of a consumer avoiding products that are tested on animals for example. We then move into the arena of authenticity and if it’s important for a brand, and Milo has an interesting take on the first step to answering that question being the definition of what authenticity actually means per industry. He mentions that the younger consumer has an increasingly adept BS radar system and desire to spoken to directly without beating around the bush or being too poetic. We then moved on to a very deep discussion around customer service and how important is it for foreign brands not to overlook this important facet to the customer journey. Milo reminds us how openly conversational Chinese consumers are, how social they are and how often they will complain about bad product experiences, and the level of importance the Chinese put on word of mouth when making their decision on whether a brand is valuable or not. Turning into the longest episode we’ve ever recorded, we discussed whether or not brands should consider and invest in revamping or re-learning their ‘KYC’ or ‘know your customer’ profile. Milo confirms our suspicions that yes you definitely should, and it’s not about throwing out what you already know about your customer but to develop empathy for your local customers without trying to fit them into a global model.
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Rob Arthurs | China Import Regulations, Chinese Consumer Buying Cycles, and Using Free Trade Zones Effectively
After diving into some of Rob’s background in China and learning about some of the products he’s moved into China, he discusses the regulatory environment around health products and how going an ecommerce route can help avoid rigorous registration and regularity requirements. We then ask Rob to talk about overcoming other struggles he’s faced outside of the regulatory environment (like fulfilling an order for 10 containers of pig feet for Chinese New Year) and why it’s important to be ready to back up your products’ claims before being asked to do so. Rob then talks about the buying cycle in China, which he honestly admits is an anomaly could be based on any number of things that are hard to predict. He recommends paying attention to the local holidays in the country and taking clues from social media phenomena. When asked to talk about where brands typically go first, he points to the usual suspects of large metropolitan areas but suggests brands avoid the noise and expense of the typical cities like Shanghai or Guangzhou and look for smaller market entry points where it would be easier to penetrate. Rob then talks about the value of leveraging one of the 18 free trade zones in China to take advantage of lower import taxes to keep costs down, and to research the different zones designed to benefit different industries and products. He also advises not to expect any of the free trade zones to act the same or have the same rules. Rob has tremendous experience working with Chinese distributors and talks about what a brand can expect when dealing with distributors. He points to a tendency of Chinese distributors to try and lock down country-wide exclusivity, and advises that you approach each province as if they were an independent country, and to move through China province by province as most have the population of a European country. 
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Alex Duncan | Exploring the Social Media Landscape in China and the Importance of Quality Content
We started off the show with Alex talking about what Kawo is (the Hootsuite of China), how social media enables brands to help customers make buying decisions, and why in China social media management agencies are so much more prevalent there than in the west. One of the more interesting facets behind the dependence on agencies is due to the lack of a social media management talent pool in China as it has been slow to develop as a course of study in post-secondary education. I then ask Alex to give us a detailed map of the social media landscape in China, and he walks us through the likes of Weibo, WeChat, tiktok, and xiaolongxu (little red book). He also explains more about what these fantastic and light-weight “mini-program” are, how they are used and shared, and why companies should consider creating a “mini-program” instead of a native app. We then moved on to discuss enterprise accounts on WeChat. One of the more interesting points made by Alex in this section was to point out that WeChat has made a concerted effort over the years to put its users first, both in UI/UX design and in data protection, forcing companies to have to work hard to gain their attention. Companies cannot insert their content into a user's news feed, only the user can share it there, and the company can only know that it was shared but cannot collect data or information from it. Our last section of conversation was dedicated to the trends in social media usage for brands looking towards 2020. Alex says brands are going to have to raise their game and really focus on the quality of their content as there is more and more noise being made and it is becoming harder to be heard above it.
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Elliott Zaagman | Trends from US Listed Chinese Companies and Building Partnerships in China
The show kicked off with a quick background on how Elliott came to be in China and why he’s now splitting time between Beijing and Bangkok. Drawing on insights gained from his own podcast The China Tech Investor we then talk about some of the trends he’s seeing in China and how some of them can be attributed to the economic slowdown China has been experiencing, as well as a shift to enterprise as one of the few remaining low-hanging fruits a company can go after. We then talk about why so many Chinese companies list on US stock exchanges and why they are still the preferred choice for companies to go IPO and the sandbox for investors to play in. I ask Elliott to name an area that he would still be confident in investing into and he explains why health care would be his number one choice (hint: it has something to do with the fact that no macro events can impact aging). We also spent a bit of time discussing what the similarities and differences are between Chinese and Western companies, and which industries differ more than others in a comparison (hint 2: it’s not as much as you’d think), before delving into what foreign brands can do to reduce friction and enhance opportunities to partner with Chinese companies.
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Stephen Drummond | China Market Complexities That Drive Brands to Reboot Timeless Creative Strategies
We started off our show with Stephen with an interesting discussion about working in China and adapting to the internet environment there which, as many of you know, can be difficult and slow at times. As Stephen points out, however, the number of digital platforms and services to make your life easier typically far outweigh and disadvantages from a more monitored and thus slow internet environment. Stephen then talks about his work at Campaign Coach China where he trains CEOs and CMOs on how to build brand and creative strategies. He points to the complexity in the market these days that is driving a need for a reboot of the timeless strategic planning tools and concepts in order to move past using the “borrowed interest” of celebrities and other influencers. We then discuss the tremendous ‘closing of the cache gap’ between foreign and local Chinese brands (except at the very top). Foreign brands shouldn’t rely on a lift by being foreign because in most product verticals the playing field has leveled. We end the show talking about what the next 5 years might hold for brands and Stephen’s take is that the struggle ahead will be brand building in the eCommerce age. It’s crowded, and the opportunities to show customers the ‘face’ of the brand are few and far between. That was one of the luxuries of offline and retail; you were able to really show off your personality and give an experience, but that is rapidly fading away.
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Charles Lavoie | Vodka, Hockey, and Blending History With Pop Culture to Build a Brand Identity in China
We start off talking about Charles’ favorite Chinese company, Nongfu, a bottled-water producer who has, in Charles’ opinion as a branding expert himself, accomplished some incredible branding traction to the point of being able to charge in the neighborhood of $40 USD for a bottle of water. Not only is their marketing creative, but also their packaging, down to their unique bottle design. I then ask Charles to talk about the importance of being unique as a success factor in China. Charles then takes us through his fun “How I ended up in China” story which entails studying finance in Beijing which then led to starting up an Italian Vodka company, and how its success was predicated on being able to build the brand and sell the story. Charle’s then points to the limits of the industry as one of the difficulties in scaling his business, eventually coming to the conclusion that their company could not be the one that could lead the expansion of the Vodka market in China necessary to take his company to the next level. All this led Charles into his current arena and love of brand building in China. We then talk about Charles’ efforts to help popularize the sport of hockey in China which leads to a broader discussion around how big companies and brands can typically miss the mark when brand-building in China. He talks about his experience with large Western brands that bring an arrogance, although well-deserved in some cases, towards replicating the marketing that has been successful in the West that should easily and as effectively be deployed through Asia. Charles also gives some great advice around blending history with pop culture or current events and fads. He suggests doing your homework around the long and deep cultural beliefs that are rooted in all Chinese citizens and trying to navigate that while weaving in what popular in today’s local society.
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André-Philippe Chenail | The Multi-Sentimented Business Landscape in China and Their Leap Forward in Sophistication
We start out this podcast asking AP about his transition through the CCBC organization and why they’ve needed to scale so rapidly lately in both services and locations in China and across Canada. He describes some of the events they’ve drawn up and pulled off as some of their biggest accomplishments and why they are so important to their members to gain further footing in China. AP then speaks about the reciprocal sentiments that Canadian and Chinese companies have towards each other and why despite seemingly cool at times it’s more a product of the political sentiment more than it is the business temperature which still remains very warm. He delivers a great example of this through the story of how a leading manufacturer of electric motors in Canada had to wait 18 months for orders to start coming in again during China’s change in leadership back in 2013. AP also talks about the one word that describes China’s recent jump forward, describing it as a leap in sophistication. And not just in transactional sophistication but also consumer behaviour sophistication in how they research and make buying decisions, not just relying on influencer marketing. We wrapped up the podcast by discussion some predictions on what the future trends are for China, including the Made In China 2025 and the rise in China-made electrical components that will strengthen their positioning in such areas as supply chain as well as the way software will be written that we’ll all need to know and understand. And as we always do with each guest, Andre-Phillipe gives his number one piece of advice for foreign brands moving into the Chinese market.
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Jacob Cooke | Singles Day, November 11th, the Largest Shopping Day of the Year
Today on The Negotiation, we talk with Jacob Cooke, co-founder of WPIC Marketing and Technologies. Jacob gives some expert advice for companies who are preparing for China’s Singles Day, also known as 11.11. Singles Day began several years ago as a marketing ploy from Alibaba Group who planned to make a purely commercial shopping holiday for the widest possible demographic, with an emphasis on big-ticket deals. 11.11 has since taken off and demonstrates a growth average of 30-40% year after year. For brands seeking a new growth strategy, it is imperative to prepare well for this popular shopping holiday.Jacob goes into how companies can qualify for Singles Day. Needless to say, these brands have to have a proven track record of being able to deliver efficiently. Internal decisions should begin as early as August. Aspiring qualifiers should discuss which products to sell, discount strategies, and projections based on how much inventory to have by a set date. Companies must submit their proposal by the end of August and lock their stock so that other platforms will not be able to distribute their selected products. The final step is to conduct a presale that will last until 11.11 itself. Jacob also recommends new brands to specifically emphasize discounts in their first couple of years around Singles Day for the sole purpose of getting as much exposure as possible. In the succeeding years, they should gradually return to standard pricing, which may result in fewer sales but, at the same time, higher margins. The e-commerce landscape in China today has changed—and continues to change—the retail (and even wholesale) game. Listen in as Jacob lays out his best practices that any scaling company, whether already in China or seeking to enter the market, should apply to take full advantage of Singles Day.
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Michael Zakkour | Explaining "New Retail" and Cultural Dexterity in the Chinese Market
Today on The Negotiation, we talk with Michael Zakkour, Vice President of Asia and Digital International for Tompkins International, a global consulting firm focused on digital commerce, retail, and consumer products, and also the author of "New Retail: Born in China, Going Global.” Today we discuss why it's so important to deeply understand China's culture, history, philosophy, and language especially with regards to your target market and what new retail is, and why China is leading the global charge.Michael was a part of the Web 1.0 movement in the mid-90s. After the dot com bubble burst in 2000, he flew to China and became the first foreigner to work for particular a Chinese leather garment manufacturing company. The culture shock he experienced during his time as an employee in the Middle Kingdom led to his foundational belief that “in China, anything is possible but nothing is easy”. And that overcoming challenges of any sort as a foreigner requires adaptation or, in Michael’s words, “cultural dexterity”.Four core pillars make up what Michael believes is the key to business success in China: culture, philosophy, language, and history. He says that by understanding the cultural context of the individual and collective Chinese consumer through these four factors, you may achieve a predictable brand or corporate success.Michael proposes additional need-to-knows when it comes to maximizing your brand and corporate identity in China. From the “6 Ds” of understanding your consumer to the difference between e-commerce, digital commerce, and New Retail, our guest unleashes a masterclass into thriving as an entrepreneur in the fast-paced, ever-evolving world of Chinese commerce.
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Phillip Beck | Look-a-Like Data, Managing Bad PR, and Capability Mapping
Philip discusses the value of gathering data to create lookalike audiences in order to predict consumer interests and buying habits, and in the process eliminate wasteful manufacturing costs. He gives the example of the American bag brand coach, which at one time collected data from WeChat users in order to see what consumers liked and shared with friends. With that knowledge, Coach was able to build individual profiles from all of their followers, which were then consolidated and provided actionable insights for the company. This lookalike audience strategy is being used by more than 65% of Chinese brands today, and their targeting technologies continue to evolve by the day. While acknowledging that this practice of collecting consumer data is generally frowned upon in North America, then says that the Chinese market, by comparison, cares little about it. He uses this as a segway to explain that many foreign companies make the mistake of imposing their cultural norms onto whatever market they establish themselves in. Doing this is counterproductive, and makes the adoption of the foreign brand less likely. Even well-known brands are not immune to making mistakes. In fact, among the worst offenders were Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, and Proctor & Gamble, who all at one point made inaccurate and/or offensive statements about China in their promotional material. The Chinese market, according to Philip, will not hesitate to viciously criticize a brand, and many have already been pulled out of the market due to bad decision-making. Developing trends in the Chinese market include the online ad spend and e-commerce, the latter of which is slowly taking over as the country’s primary marketing channel. Philip notes that in China, the speed of doing business is seven times quicker than in the West. Being agile and nimble is the key to growth today. Combine that with consistent social listening (in order to create lookalike audiences) to make sure your business stays on the cutting edge.
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Jacob and Joseph Cooke | Big Data in China and Branding Through Experience not Presence
Jacob and Joseph talk us through the beginnings of WPIC and how operations are handled between their original office in Vancouver and their current head office in Beijing. They discuss how company branding changes as the dynamic between the target market and the business itself evolves. In this case, WPIC started out as an SEO service by the Cooke brothers and evolved to become a full-service technology and marketing organization. Brands are looking to China to “move the growth needle”, according to Joseph. More companies today seek partnership opportunities that allow for more direct sales of products and services in order to preserve as much margin as possible. Considering how large the Chinese market is, there is still a lot of untapped opportunity in the country. The Cooke brothers also address fears of Chinese companies “copying” or creating “fakes” of a company’s products. Joseph says that, while this issue dissuades many from entering the Chinese market, “some people look at it as a compliment and an indicator that there's clearly demand [if it’s] worth doing the faking.” He says the solution can be broken down into two steps: creating visibility and taking action. With WPIC’s data-gathering software, Discripto, for example, Jacob and Joseph can pinpoint every single case of copyright infringement and, from there, take the necessary steps to get rid of blatant duplication and fakers.
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Amanda Liu | Data, Analytics, and China's Social Media Landscape
For Amanda, who is involved in the client support side, gaining a deeper understanding of their experiences and identifying potential needs for their product is of the utmost importance. Amanda also generates web analytics reports based on the client's website data that the company has collected. Amanda talks about the changes in traffic and customer acquisition strategies in recent years, including marketing campaigns. Almost all B2C companies as well as some B2B companies, even in traditional industries, have been expanding and diversifying channels in an effort to broaden their marketing reach using social media campaigns and social media marketing. Amanda also speaks about how a lot of companies have built their own accounts on the popular Chinese social medias. Given the diversification of internet services, the ranking of social media giants in China has changed dramatically. Users moved on to newer platforms such as QQ, Weibo and WeChat in recent years, with the most up-and-coming of them being ByteDance. She goes on to say that people spend less time on search engines because people don't need to search anymore with the invention of machine learning. She then talks about companies in China having a unique relationship with customers and that brand loyalty is key. Building brand loyalty is hard and takes a tremendous amount of time and resources, but once built it is set in stone and hard to lose. Amanda describes data-driven marketing and operations as the key to success in today's world, and not just in China. Omnichannel aggregation data is integrating into our websites, converting to massive insights. It’s the key to knowing our customers, knowing what they want and how to give it to them and on which platform and at what price. She also mentions that this data and insight is also what drives marketing decisions and direction. Finally, Amanda talks about how marketing and operations will go beyond digital, and how more advanced technology, including AI, VR, et cetera, will benefit people working in the industry in the very near future, with the widespread move to 5G playing a large role in that. She believes that we will enter the age of IoT, the internet of things. And IoE, internet of everything. And even AI IoT, combining AI technologies with IoT.
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David Sullivan | Winning and Losing in China
In this, our first-ever episode, we talk with David Sullivan, Managing Partner at Deo Navillus Global Solutions, about winning and losing in China, and what every brand needs to take care of on the home front before they make the leap into the digital Middle Kingdom. For a Westerner looking to have their product or service embraced in a foreign market such as China, a long period of branding is the first step. For David, it took a big investment in warehousing, sales and marketing staff, social media experts, engaging PR companies and celebrity influencers, and, most importantly, having local employees on board who know how to work the local market. Another consideration is knowing whether to be directly involved in operations in China or to serve a more advisory role, as David did. This choice should take into account who has representation rights and their level of understanding of how to nurture a connection between the brand and the consumer. David also speaks on the rise (and continuing rapid evolution) of e-commerce, or online retail, and making sure you have owners and investors who understand this relatively young economic landscape, because certain investments have to be taken that will not see an ROI for some time. For a Western business to enter the Chinese market, a large amount of trust and openness is required to make the business relationship, and of course, the business itself, work. The topic of registering your trademarks and patents is also brought up as a sometimes-overlooked step for Western businesses entering China. Considering the “trade war” between the current U.S. and Chinese administrations, not securing your IP from the very beginning will create a lot of (expensive) challenges down the road. Finally, David relates his experiences in making personal transactions in China, and his subsequent thoughts on how Alipay-type payment technologies are leading the way in the online retail space.
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The Negotiation With Todd Embley
The host of The Negotiation, Todd Embley, breaks down what the show is all about and what you can expect to learn in this intriguing new podcast series brought to you by WPIC Marketing & Technologies.
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