China – New Normal

Hello, greetings again from Shunyi, Thursday 13 May. As a back drop, lets recall that Aim2D was created to provide better data and insight into China for international marketers thinking of setting up business here. Consequently, naturally, most of our readership is business orientated. Most, not all. For example one of our followers is Change Therapy, run by Steve, in Edinburgh, Scotland, a practising Psychotherapist, using his Psychology and Counselling background to promote Wellbeing in the Community. One of his posts inspired this article.

Think China

In case this is your first visit – welcome by the way- a short introduction. Aim2D is a curated link reference / informational site developed to bring up to date, relevant and useful marketing, tech and social media news for businesses researching the China market. We do this in a couple or three ways.

Bitcoin Sextortion – What to do.

Hello, good morning from Shunyi. A fine, sunny, spring day ahead. Now watch some so and so come along and mess it up. And sure enough it happened. A series of SPAM emails suggesting we might like to make a BITCOIN donation to prevent our intimate sexual details being broadcast globally. Likely as not this has happened to you, or will. It is a scam. Read on to learn more.

May in Beijing

Something of an ambiguous, even provocative title for today’s article. Hello again and greetings from Shunyi where it is Thursday, May 6th. This is a short post around that stalwart of British conversation; The Weather. We bestowed it with CAPS in honour of its importance!
And no, that is not May in our head image.

The China Daily

Hello again from Shunyi for Tuesday, 4th May where, probably like you, China is getting back to work after a 3 day long weekend for the annual May Day Holiday. To outsiders it may seem that China has a lot of holidays. True. Sort of. But we can discuss that in another article – maybe. Today, we will focus on the much maligned, misunderstood, oft castigated, poor old China People’s Daily.

Power of China Social Media

Hello, greetings from Shunyi for the last Thursday of April – 20th. Social media is a powerful marketing tool, we all know that. However, China’s culture has led to social media being even more potent. And that can also mean problematic. As Tesla China recently found out.

China Internet Watch

Hello, greetings again from Shunyi, a stones throw from Beijing Capital Airport for Tuesday, April 27. Where did that month go? Today’s, short post is one of abbreviations, starting with CIW, or China Internet Watch. Our headline. But before we go there, lets dig back a wee bit into our history. Yes, we were once known as WPBeijing, however before even that …….

Traffic Lights for Camels- China

Diverging from our usual content a little bit here to feature something unusual. The story was originally covered by ECNS – not one of our recommended media because, well, they tend to be a rather long way from objective in many articles. A bit like their US counterpart – CNN. We posted it as an out of the ordinary piece, and a for the rather upbeat Chinese music background track.

Buy Chinese Sneakers for $7,000?

Hello and greetings again from Shunyi for Tuesday 13th April. A little scary, we are half way through the month already. Well, nearly. Aim2D is a platform for cutting edge China business, Marketing, Technology and Social Media News. Yet we rarely feature China Social Media.
Why is that?

The Business of Luxury in China

Hello again for Thursday, April 8th from a warming up and more humid Shunyi. Those who read our earlier post on Qingming Festival and travel will recall that it is said to coincide with the warming up and onset of the rainy season in China. So far, it has. Today we are going to continue our slightly more indepth look at some of the publications we follow and recommend for CEO’s, CMO’s and foreign marketers or businesses owners generally who have or looking at developing a China presence.

Death in China Culture

A couple of weeks back we wrote about Qing Ming or Tomb Sweeping Day in China. We also covered the mis steps many brands make in their attempts to “relate'” to their Chinese customers. More recently, last Tuesday in fact, we also took time to remind you of some of the truly excellent online resources for foreign businesses investing in China. Today, we will- attempt- to put these together in a short, hopefully enlightening- article.

Stress of China Business

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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Running a business in China can be stressful, no doubt about that. In truth, running a business anywhere is stressful. But China is not just the focus of our site and business, but also an important keyword. so the more times we mention China in regard to business and Chinese consumers, not just in the body text but also the headline, the better. Hmmm, that should just about do it!

Why are Chinese spending big on empty bottles?

Hello, good morning from Shunyi for Thursday, April first. Actually, we thought long and hard about releasing a post today given that it is also April Fool’s Day. The tile of today’s short article: “Why are Chinese spending big money on empty bottles” is also likely to be thought of as a joke. However, it is not.

Breaking China Business News

OK, yep, we admit it, today’s title is a bit click baitish. But in a nice way with the best of intentions. We know this is what many serious firms are looking for when they consider their China venture. After all, if you in China, you are playing to win – right? But we also know it is not so easy to find. Which is of course, the reason d’etre behind the existence of Aim2D:

China 5g

Hello, good morning, our time, from Shunyi on Thursday 25th March. Just 9 shopping months left till Christmas~ Time to start shopping for your new 5G handset.
We have been able to get 5G connectivity on some of our devices here via our Netgear Nighthawk router for a while now. Not that I am recommending the router, it is just mediocre. Better ones are available and their customer support reeks. However, to day we are going to look at 5G in China generally.

China’s New Data Collection Laws

Coming into effect 1st may 2021 China has updated its old data and personal information laws in the wake of the digital age and customer complaints. If you have or are contemplating a business in China, it is in your very best interest o ensure you are not only aware of these laws, but that your operation fully complies.

2021 China Travel and Tourism

Hello and welcome to Bic Brands for Tuesday, March 23, 2021.
We are going to jump around a bit in this episode and cover a couple of things. Both related to Chinese travel. Well, sort of. First up is a quick look at domestic Chinese tourism followed by Qingmin Festival. Or maybe t’other way ’round. OK, lets go…………………..

315 Consumer China TV Show

We are going to take a punt here and suggest that most of you understand what we mean by “Consumer Association.” Very likely there is one in your country. Not to be confused with the Consumer Brands Association. But just in case here is a definition from the Cambridge Dictionary:

Beware of Yellow Peril

We interrupt our normal programming to bring you this news flash!
Well, maybe not exactly a news flash and it does wander quite some way from what we would call “usual” items. But we can – just – squeeze it into a business theme as it does give you insight, not just into the fickleness of China’s weather, rather like any where else really, but also the character of the people.

Genuine respect or cynical strategy?

Chinese food https://unsplash.com/@ruthyyang

We have, on past occasions, referenced the pitfalls and dangers of trying to leverage another’s culture for marketing and financial gain. Even if, in the very rare instances the motive is pure and not driven by marketing or economic reasons, it is, in our view not something to be taken lightly.