China’s technological acceleration has come as a shock to many, particularly DeepSeek, however the country’s centrally planned economy, long-term planning and wealth of resources means it is increasingly well-positioned to make breakthroughs. All the more so when cornered by economic pressure such as semiconductor restrictions which contributed to the rise of DeepSeek.

It's a lot cheaper to retain a customer than acquire a new one, so the old adage says. Many marketers in China don't seem to have got that memo, with marketing plans based around increasingly expensive livestreams and KOLs for sales, with limited initiatives to retain those customers once they've transacted.We track many loyalty initiatives at China Skinny, but one of the most exciting we've seen lately is from Chinese EV brand, Nio. Car sales have been one of the brightest categories in China's retail sphere, last month growing 17% year-on-year. As we noted in July, Beijing has been strategic in putting its weight behind car sales - it takes a lot of packaged goods or shoe sales to match that of a single car in making retail sales look rosy.

It wasn't long ago when every marketer in China was talking about ecommerce. Alibaba and JD battled it out for supremacy, and then another challenger, Pinduoduo, came from nowhere, and it became a three-horse race.Whilst the traditional ecommerce platforms still dominate online sales in China, the new world of livestreaming, KOLs and social commerce has dominated marketing forums over the past few years.

Last week saw millions of Chinese kids take the gruelling Gaokao. The average 31 hours a week spent doing homework and extracurricular classes from the age of three, have largely been to prepare for the notorious 9-hour exam which determines the university they get into. Many consider the Gaokao scores to shape the trajectory of their lives.

Nothing beats a good lockdown to dull the spirits of Chinese consumers. As Shanghai's severe lockdown has passed 50 days for some residents, and has recently been re-tightened, a large number continue to struggle to order the staples, let alone purchase discretionary goods and services.

Health has long been one of the most important trends in China. Horrific smog in 2013 drove China-based researchers to conclude that Beijing's pollution made the city almost "uninhabitable for human beings." The soupy air was an unmistakable reminder of the importance of staying healthy. This, coupled with numerous food scandals, more sedentary lifestyles and the lasting Chinese tradition of being proactive about health, brought health further to the fore. That year, health was the number one concern for wealthy Chinese, mirroring findings across many consumer groups in China.

Visitors to a stunning old vineyard in China represent the increasing sophistication in tourism and general consumer purchases in the market

China has almost achieved another lofty goal: becoming a high income economy against all odds. This represents further opportunities for brands

Chinese beauty brands are spending more than 2/3s of revenue on marketing, whereas foreign brands are under half that, and holding strong

Don't underestimate the importance of bricks & mortar touch points in China, and ensure they are integrated and optimised for consumer needs

Singles' Day grew again this year against all odds, with some interesting data indicating why

An omni-channel approach, adapting data-led insights and optimising sales structures are areas foreign brands are falling behind in China

China's fan clubs have become obsessive, and with changing family dynamics are on track to become more so, but Beijing is seeking change

Chinese brands' strategies are markedly different from in the West, and if the success of Shein in the US is anything to go by, we should pay attention

China's punitive new regulations around tutoring may have some unexpected consequences from foreign brands in many categories

The drivers behind China's rising second-hand market provide some important trends which brands selling in China should take note of

There are some staggering numbers highlighting the tough life for kids in China, all contributing to lowering fertility rates

Digital advertising has dominated media spend for some time in China. By 2019, brands were spending more than one and half times of their advertising budget on Alibaba platforms than they spent on television commercials. Once Covid hit, ad spending shifted further to online platforms, with digital ad revenue growing 23% last year in China, against an overall 15% fall in media spend in the 9-months to September.