WPIC Marketing + Technologies

WPIC Marketing + Technologies today announced the release of its latest market data report: “The Breakout Sectors Powering China’s Consumption Growth”. Leveraging WPIC’s proprietary data solution, Discripto™, the report provides insights into the market dynamics and growth opportunities across key consumer sectors in China. Access the full report at the link below.

📢 Webinar Alert | Appel à tous les francophones du Québec ! If you're looking to better understand how to reach Chinese consumers through digital channels, don’t miss this exclusive webinar hosted by Canada China Business Council | Conseil d'affaires Canada-Chine member WPIC Marketing + Technologies. 🗓 Wednesday, April 23 at 11:00 AM EST 🎤 Featuring Charles Lavoie, VP Marketing at WPIC & David Perez-Des Rosiers, CCBC’s Beijing Chapter Director. The webinar will cover: - Which sectors are growing in 2025 - Where Quebec brands have a competitive edge - The most common mistakes companies make and how to avoid them - Why branding and digital presence matter - How WPIC and the CCBC can support your expansion Join us for expert insights and practical strategies tailored for companies aiming to connect with the Chinese market. The webinar will be in French. 👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/ghRXYE3Q // Eddie Tabakman 🎙️Liam Mather Claire Zhang

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Rui Ma, a distinguished expert with nearly two decades of experience working in technology and finance in the U.S. and China. Rui shares detailed perspectives on the state of open-source collaboration in China's AI ecosystem compared to the U.S., and explains the significance of emerging players such as DeepSeek. Additionally, she explores the latest AI advancements from major tech giants like Alibaba and Baidu, as well as the rise of innovative startups like Manus. The conversation also touches on practical AI applications within China, guided by Alibaba's strategy of reducing costs and maximizing use cases. Rui concludes with her thoughts on the future of AI in China, offering an insightful outlook on opportunities and challenges ahead. Listeners should stay tuned for Part 2, where Rui will discuss additional key trends shaping the broader tech landscape in China. Listen to Part 1 below. 🎧 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/g7T-DaQC 🎧 Apple: https://lnkd.in/gUZurXDi

I'm so excited to share the latest market data report from the team at WPIC Marketing + Technologies. The report highlights robust growth across several major categories—beauty & fashion, health & wellness, sports & outdoor, premium pet care, and mother & baby products—looking at sales data from Tmall, JD, and Douyin from 2022-2024. There couldn't be a better time to release this report, as the report underscores a point I've been making for years: China continues to represent a massive growth opportunity for premium international consumer brands. Brands that are serious about international growth need to put China at the centre of their strategy, especially with uncertainty around U.S. market access in light of the recent tariff announcements. China is eager for foreign investment and consumer demand for foreign brands is growing. Please reach out if you want to chat about how we can activate or grow your sales presence in China.

Deutsche Bank recently released a China consumer sentiment survey showing a notable rebound: 54% of respondents said they feel better off financially than they did a year ago—up sharply from just 32% in the same survey last year. 60% anticipate income increases. With 4.0% retail growth in January-February (counted together due to Chinese New Year), and the recent announcement of aggressive stimulus measures, it's clear that Chinese consumers are feeling more confident. At WPIC, we’re seeing this optimism translate into category-specific growth, particularly in sports, wellness, pet, beauty, and other lifestyle verticals. While there are still challenges across the broader macro landscape, the improved sentiment combined with stimulus is setting the stage for stronger consumer demand growth in 2025. We’ll be releasing updated market data shortly. If you’re watching China’s retail recovery, stay tuned.

Insightful article in Jing Daily exploring three of the top fashion content creators on Douyin and Xiaohongshu. WPIC Marketing + Technologies has a report coming out this month which found that online sales in China in the fashion category grew by 36% in 2024, hitting US$280.8 billion. A significant portion of sales are driven by fashion KOLs who inspire instant purchases. Our report found that Douyin fashion sales amounted to US$138.3 billion, up by a whopping 120%. Selecting the right set of influencers is absolutely crucial for fashion brands looking to succeed in China.

I recently had the opportunity to contribute to a new report from Informa’s Fi Global Insights on the nutraceutical and supplements landscape across Asia-Pacific. As we've seen firsthand at WPIC Marketing + Technologies, APAC continues to be one of the most dynamic markets globally for health and wellness brands—with each country reflecting distinct consumer preferences, regulatory structures, and competitive environments. In China, we’re seeing strong demand across a variety of categories—from mobility supplements for an active aging population, to "beauty supplements" driven by younger consumers. Sports nutrition is a standout: rising fitness participation is driving demand for protein powders, amino acids, and recovery products. And across the region, interest in gut and immune health remains elevated post-pandemic. The full report dives into category trends, key ingredients, and how brands can navigate local regulations and market entry. Thanks to Denis Faye for including us in the report. If your brand is exploring this space, happy to chat.

Was happy to contribute to this Jing Daily piece by Lisa N. on the decline of beauty counters in China, which in my opnion reflects a shift towards digital platforms and experiential offline engagements. Chinese consumers are increasingly favoring online channels over traditional department store beauty counters, seeking personalized and convenient shopping experiences, while also being driven by KOL and KOC content. Platforms like Douyin have become pivotal in this transition. A WPIC market data report set to come out found that beauty sales on Douyin reached $34.8 billion in 2024, up 11% year-on-year. At the same time, the role of offline retail is transforming. Consumers aren't necessarily browsing multiple brands at generic beauty counters, but offline still has a role as consumers want to experience the brand directly. With so many sales moving online, it makes more sense for brands to invest in flagship stores that serve as immersive environments for direct consumer engagement. Brands can own the experience and customer touchpoint in a flagship store, which a generic beauty counter cannot provide. Great piece below. https://lnkd.in/geEdMXmT

Some really encouraging news for China's consumer sentiment over the last few weeks. China announced 4.0% retail sales growth in January and February, which is up from December's 3.7%. There's strong momentum in key discretionary categories like cosmetics, jewelry, and sports & outdoor gear—all of which outpaced overall retail growth. This growth comes alongside fresh policy moves announced Sunday aimed at bolstering consumption—including measures like wage increases, childcare subsidies, and better medical and pension services. These measures address real structural issues and would put more money in consumers' hands. Some implementation details are still unclear, but this is the most comprehensive consumption plan we've seen in decades, arguably. At WPIC Marketing + Technologies, we're also releasing a data report next week showing that key consumption categories performed well in 2024—stay tuned for that. So the outlook for consumption across 2025 is looking up. Brands should take note.

My latest op-ed for Tech in Asia on how Temu's investment in a "semi-consignment model" has positioned it for success in the U.S. even in the new regulatory environment. Unlike Shein’s traditional direct shipping approach, where each order is shipped from China to the U.S. in individual parcels, with sei-consignment Temu merchants can send bulk inventory to U.S. warehouses. This model enables 3–5 day shipping times to end consumers and avoids the risks associated with de minimis. This shift also allows Temu to expand into larger product categories with higher average order value, such as appliances and home goods, where faster shipping and bulk logistics matter more to consumers. Check out the full piece below.