Alibaba’s ‘Store X’

Hello from Shunyi, for Tuesday August 3rd. Today’s post is short, we will let the 3 minute video do the talking instead. But first a quick question:
Q: What is an Alibaba Store X?

#30 week that was – China Biz News

Hello from Shunyi again where we are supposed to be looking at tech, marketing, business and social media in China making “News.” However, July is turning out to be our bete noir as, once again, this weeks top news focuses on finance, economics and generally themes outside our scope. So we look briefly at a couple of smart phone brands making news, retail on Beijing subway, the good old weather and end of Bitcoin in China- well, it is sort of techish! ,

Quality of Foreign Brands in China

Last Tuesday, July 20th, we published a piece loosely looking at the changing trend of Chinese consumers towards buying domestic rather than imported goods. In particular relating to luxury items. We noted how many commentators are justifying this as part of the growth in China National Pride among the younger set. We countered with some alternatives. Today, we want to expand on that.

#29 week that was – China Biz News

Hello from Shunyi again where we look at tech, marketing, business and social media in China making “News.” In fact, it has been a week of slim pickings, most China business news is centred around China’s carbon trading, economics and finance, all outside our scope. Other than Xiaomi, more fake meat news, and Maglev trains, the topic making the most news in China has been the weather-so we will take a quick peek at that too.

China Local Brands Gain Favour

An interesting story form Nikkei Asia caught our eye Friday morning. In a way it is a rehash of a story we saw on Caixin a month ago re the sales pattern during the 6/18 shopping promotion. To recap, JD.com, the originators of the festival reported that  “over 70%(of sales) were Chinese.” Alibaba also reported similar figures. Some observers are interpreting this that foreign brands, esp luxury, have lost their lustre and allure among Chin’s younger gen consumers.

However, there may, we feel, be other factors at play. To begin with, during the lead up to the festival, JD in particular put considerable effort in to mass promotion. Everywhere we looked it was JD and 6/18. Local brand seemed, to us, to be in the forefront of mass advertising.

Secondly, lets not forget that the globe is only just, ever so slowly coming out of a massive close down. Production and logistic issues have hampered brands ability, not just to produce but also distribute. The law of supply and demand means that shortages drive up prices. This ends up as an advantage to local manufactures who can not only “deliver the goods” but at a competitive price.

One fact overlooked is the steady improvement in quality of MIC goods. Particular in some sectors such as smart phones, fashion and cosmetics. Several years ago, Apple for example, were quick to blame “National Pride” for the rise of Huawei at the expense of their I-phone. They refused to accept the obvious: Huawei made a superior phone for around the same price. Very little to do with national pride when not only Chinese were flocking to the brand. Of course, eventually ways were found to counter that.

However, it could also be down to a state of uncertainly in the market. Consumers are still coming to terms with “the new normal” and perhaps cutting their dress to fit the cloth. Recent figures tend to point to a slow down in China’s economy and a GDP slightly below expectations for the second quarter. China’s 7.9% Second-Quarter GDP Growth Falls Short of Expectations. Again, this is not, we feel, unexpected, given the incentives and financial assistance poured in to the economy over the past year and a bit.

#28 week that was – China Biz News

Hello from Shunyi again where July is turning out to be a humid month. In this weeks issue we look at food, in particular a Japanese comeback, DIDI hits some unsealed roads, TESLA, China’s carbon trading scheme.

Email Bitcoin Extortion – a new game.

Hello, good morning from Shunyi. This article is an update of an earlier, very popular, piece we released May 2021. Since then scammers changed or updated their game, time we did the same. Our original article dealt mostly with sextortion as that was the flavour of the day. However, email scams come in many forms – today most depend on Bitcoin as ransom payment because of its anonymity. We will outline them and their history below:

Chengdu: A good China Business Choice?

WPBeijing was a marketing studio founded by Peter Bic and Everlyne Yu in Beijing, October 2003. Now known as Bic Brands NZ Co Ltd and Uengager, a Beijing registered Martech company.
Aim2D is an umbrella media arm of Bic Brands.

This article is part of a Weekend Series where we dare to share some of our experiences, insights and off topic commentary (usually caustic) oft supported by links to third party articles or sites.
As with all our work, there is no copy-write. You are free to share, sub-edit, reproduce, sell, heck, even claim it as your own work if you are so desperate. But we are sure you can do better!

However, please bear in mind, some articles contain content from other creatives.
We ask you at least respect their IP and labour.
Of course, we won’t say no if you want to link back to us, or in other ways acknowledge us!
So, make yourself a pot of Oolong tea, grab a chocolate bar and settle down for a longer read.

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If the view of most non Chinese is taken into account, there are probably only a handful of cities in China – with Wuhan suddenly leaping to the foremost of everyone’s mind thanks the the US media, fake news and the conspiracy theorists. In so far as good places in China for business, the list narrows considerably; Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou / Guangdong (many can’t distinguish province from city) and Shenzhen – which oft gets lumped in with Guangzhou, seem to be the only 4 worthy of consideration. How true is that today?

#27 week that was – China Biz News

Hello from Shunyi for what is shaping up to be a tech centred news week. We start off with a slightly more indepth look into DIDI than is usual, pay a visit to Microsoft, check out China’s newest aspiration to be chip self sufficient, China EV battery makers gain ground in EU ending up at the China UK trade forum. Crammed with techy goodness!

The Beauty of China’s Smaller Cities for Foreign Brands Starting out in China.

Back in June last year, 2020, we published this brief article pointing out the advances of some of China’s lower tier cities for foreign brands starting out in China. Since the data we relied on last year has changed, and subsequently the way Chinese cities are now ranked, we’re reprinting here today as a lead into our Weekend Long read this Friday which deals with the same subject.

#26 week that was – China Biz News

Hello from Shunyi for Friday 2nd of July. We start off with a look at Chengdu’s new airport , the global chip shortage, AI in China, 5G in Beijing and end with a short Elephant update. Uhhm, can you actually have a short elephant?

More Mock Meat Masquerading in China

Hello for Wednesday the 30th June, our last article and last day of the month. Tomorrow we welcome July and what is supposedly the hotter part of the year. But so far, the weather has been anything but seasonal so all bets for July are off. Anyway, today , we are revisiting the artificial meat saga in China. Let’s take an ultra fast scan of the time lines.

#25 week that was – China Biz News

Hello from Shunyi for Friday 25h and the last issue for June. We will look at either keeping this format for July or taking a new direction. Again we are looking at a short round up of China Tech, Marketing, Social Media and business news making headlines in China for week 25 of 2021. We begin with China EV news, cover SPAM in China (no, not the meat), rising value of Chinese brands internationally, Chinese academic debunks Eisenstein (really?)

China Technology

When you think of China what is your first thought, when you think of technology in China, what is your impression? Today we are changing gears a bit, quite a bit actually to look at technology in China from a different aspect.

#24 week that was – China Biz News

Hello from Shunyi for Friday 18h June. Again we are looking at a short round up of China Tech, Marketing, Social Media and business news making headlines in China for week 24 of 2021. This weeks issue is noticeable thin, partly as China is still coming back to work after a long weekend. Have something you fancy hearing about or sharing? Use our contact from or leave a comment.

Chinese Festivals : Duanwu

Hello. If you are an old, seasoned China business hand, you will be well versed with the various festivals and holidays that fall here. And well prepared in advance. That preparation will vary of course, depending on your location and your type of business.

#23 week that was – China Biz News

Hello from Shunyi for Thursday 10th June, almost middle of the year. Again we are looking at a short round up of China Tech, Marketing, Social Media and business news making headlines in China for week 23 of 2021. In this issue we look at, or revisit sextortion, is TikTok following Huawei another look at Huawei, Smart Retail in China and yes, again those Elephants. Got something you fancy hearing about or sharing? Use our contact from or leave a comment.

International Brands in China

From time to time we post in support of the publications and sources we use to collect much of our material. This fits in with Aim2D’s purpose: to provide informative, educational materiel to help brands better understand the China market. However, despite the reference to lux in this weeks title, it isn’t just fashion or luxury brands that can benefit. Why?

#22 week that was – China Biz News

Hello from Shunyi for Thursday 3rd June, just a few weeks to middle of the year. Again we are looking at a short round up of China Tech, Marketing, Social Media and business news making headlines in China for week 22 of 2021. In this issue we look at Lying Flat, Xiaomi, Fast Fashion in China, Elephants in South China and our summer schedule.

#21: China Biz News

Hello from Shunyi for Thursday 27 May. Today we are looking at a short round up of China Tech, Marketing, Social Media and business news making headlines in China for week 21 of 2021. In this issue we look at China EV, from a Huawei perspective, China natural energy, and fat pigs!