Aim2D: real time, 24/7 #ChinaBusinessMarketing, Tech and Social Media News Portal of The Bicaverse based in sunny Shunyi, North east Beijing. Tuesdays we look at business, marketing, tech or social news in and around China. Friday is image gallery where we examine a place, topic or subject giving you greater insight, background to life in China, and of course, your Chinese consumer. If hard, practical, realistic China consumer marketing support is what you need, do drop into our sister site: Unegager. Finally, in a sign of the times, we can assure you that our content is 100% loving created and hand crafted by a fellow human. No AI chatter bots here.
Last Friday we republished a montage of some of our older posts re 11/11. Today we are cheating again with a reprint of an earlier article focused on Chinese singles.
A shift in China’s Social System
Had you raised this topic with us back in 2003 we would likely have chuckled. Back then, being single in couple, group orientated Chinese society was nothing to be proud of.
Indeed, it was a stigma. So much so that at Chinese New Year, when people returned home to their families, many young single Chinese would either find an excuse not to return or hire a “boyfriend/ girlfriend” for the duration rather than face the constant pressure, questioning and nagging from parents and grandparents.
Dining out back then was a fulsome affair.
Chinese restaurants were smokey, noisy and busy. Just the way Chinese liked them. Mostly large groups of friends or family dining out, laughing joking, where the pijiu and baijiu flowed freely amid multiple toasts. People generally enjoying themselves with a few couples scattered in between.
In some parts of China smaller restaurants were set up with love swings so couples could dine and stare into each others eyes. Bear in mind this was pre digital. No WeChat. The closest thing to social media then was WeChat’s grandmother- QQ- the Tencent knock off of ICQ.
Which probably many of you reading this have never heard of.
Enter the Reign of WeChat
But of course, like all good things, it had to end.
Post 2008 ushered in the digital era and by 2011 the soon to be ubiquitous WeChat app was ruling China. Society changed. People became more digitally connected and, perhaps, less physically connected. Today of course, couples still dine out but now their eyes are lovingly fixed on their mobile screens- not each other.
As China grew and prospered during the golden age of manufacture and export, other things changed. Pressure of life and work increased, younger people were squeezed into working longer hours whilst the cost of living increased in line with the standard of living.
Relationships came under fire from time constraints and budgets. Dating started to become a cost in energy, time and money. Gradually, a new class of single Chinese were born. Those for whom singledom was a life choice, not a state foisted upon them. They wore their single badge with pride.
The Rise of Singles – and China single’s day
In 1993 a group of of students unofficially founded Singles Day- a day where rather than hide and lament their singlehood, they showed it with pride. Over the coming years singles would treat themselves with small gifts; flowers, chocolates small luxuries.
Naturally this was not missed by, nor was the opportunity lost on big business. In particular, Alibaba who, in 2009 launched what is today arguable the worlds biggest shopping extravaganza, also known as 11/ 11 or “Double Eleven.”
Now, until recently, our story would have ended here. But a while back we noticed a relatively new dining phenomenon. Tables for one. Yes, it seems that some dining establishments are now specialising in settings for single diners. Our only surprise was, why has it taken so long?
A few weeks back we introduced you to Sixth Tone, a new source in Aim2D’s stable so today we will let them continue the story of Marketing to Chinese Singles.
We hope it ignites the flames of inspiration.
If however, you need a hand or extra encouragement with your #ChinaSocialMediamarketing, don’t hesitate to give Fanfan a call. She is waiting~
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