We started off our show with Stephen with an interesting discussion about working in China and adapting to the internet environment there which, as many of you know, can be difficult and slow at times. As Stephen points out, however, the number of digital platforms and services to make your life easier typically far outweigh and disadvantages from a more monitored and thus slow internet environment.

Stephen then talks about his work at Campaign Coach China where he trains CEOs and CMOs on how to build brand and creative strategies. He points to the complexity in the market these days that is driving a need for a reboot of the timeless strategic planning tools and concepts in order to move past using the “borrowed interest” of celebrities and other influencers.

We then discuss the tremendous ‘closing of the cache gap’ between foreign and local Chinese brands (except at the very top). Foreign brands shouldn’t rely on a lift by being foreign because in most product verticals the playing field has leveled. 

We end the show talking about what the next 5 years might hold for brands and Stephen’s take is that the struggle ahead will be brand building in the eCommerce age. It’s crowded, and the opportunities to show customers the ‘face’ of the brand are few and far between. That was one of the luxuries of offline and retail; you were able to really show off your personality and give an experience, but that is rapidly fading away.