In this episode of The Negotiation, we are delighted to welcome back Jacob Cooke, Co-Founder and CEO of WPIC Marketing + Technologies. 

In our conversation with Jacob, we talk about the consumption surge during China's Golden Week, which saw over 800 million domestic trips and more than $100 billion in spending. He highlights other booming sectors like travel, athleisure, and lifestyle, despite macro pressures on Chinese consumers. Jacob also talks about the rise of "special forces tourism" and predicts continued growth in off-the-beaten-path destinations. We also touch on the upcoming Singles Day and the relationship between real estate prices and consumption.

Topics Discussed and Key Points:

●      Golden Week's impact on consumer trends

●      Consumption recovery during Golden Week

●      Increase in domestic trips and spending during Golden Week

●      Weakness in sectors like large durable appliances and auto, but strong performance in personal consumption, travel, athleisure, and lifestyle 

●      The rise of "special forces tourism"

●      Singles’ Day optimism 

●      Growth in health and wellness, athleisure, nutraceuticals, and pet products

In this episode of The Negotiation, we are excited to welcome MJ Park, Key Account Manager at WPIC Marketing + Technologies, to discuss the South Korean e-commerce market. 

With over a decade of experience in marketing and business management in both Korea and Canada, MJ Park brings a wealth of knowledge about the e-commerce landscape in South Korea, the world's fifth-largest e-commerce market.

In our conversation, MJ discussed popular platforms like Naver Shopping and Coupang and booming consumer sectors such as wellness and health supplements. We touch on the market for secondhand goods, local life services like food delivery, and the appetite for international brands in South Korea. We also dive into practical strategies for entering South Korea, including how to set up e-stores and which platforms brands should prioritize for digital marketing. 

Topics Discussed and Key Points:

●      The e-commerce giants of South Korea

●      Comparison of South Korean platforms to Chinese platforms

●      Notable consumer trends in South Korea

●      The secondhand market in South Korea

●      The ecosystem of local life services in South Korea, such as food delivery platforms

●      The appetite for international brands in South Korea

In this episode of The Negotiation, we are honoured to welcome Michael Hart, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China).

In our conversation, Michael discusses his background and 20-year business career in Mainland China. He talks about the vital work of AmCham, which includes policy advocacy, business development support, and community building for American businesses in China. Michael shares his view on member companies' current business environment and investment outlook. We also talk about the chamber's interaction with different levels of government in China and the eagerness to attract foreign direct investment.

Michael has a unique window into what America’s largest companies are thinking and doing on the ground in China—it’s a must-listen for anyone looking to understand US-China relations and China’s business landscape. 

Topics Discussed and Key Points:

●      The role of AmCham China

●      The evolving business environment in China

●      The US-China relationship and its impact on US business in China

●      China’s 24 points to encourage investment

●      The "great decoupling" during the COVID-19 pandemic

●      The impact of foreign investment in China

●      Importance of feedback in policy changes and promoting progress

●      Interaction of AmCham with local and central governments in China

●      Understanding the different levels of government in China

●      The current state of foreign direct investment (FDI) in China

●      Foreign direct investment (FDI) in China: government’s eagerness, key sectors, and timing

●      The future of investment in China

●      AmCham's upcoming visit to Washington, D.C., and the message they will deliver

In this episode of The Negotiation, we are excited to be joined by Shai Oster, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who recently served as Asia Bureau Chief for The Information. Shai previously worked at the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, with postings spanning China, Europe, and the U.S. He's now working as an independent strategy and communications consultant based out of Bangkok.

In our conversation with Shai, we dive into various topics related to China's economy, the tech industry, and investment flows. We explore different sectors in China, such as biotech, clean tech, and semiconductors. We also talk about the rise of electric vehicles in China, the success of Chinese auto exports, and how that’s playing out on the ground in places like Bangkok.

We conclude our conversation by looking at the platform economy in Southeast Asia, including a breakdown of the e-commerce, food delivery, and digital payment ecosystem in Thailand. 

Topics Discussed and Key Points:

●      Economic changes in China

●      The current state of China's tech industry

●      Challenges in the IPO market

●      The rise of Chinese electric vehicles 

●      Chinese investment in Thailand's EV industry and the international expansion of Chinese automakers

●      Electric vehicle adoption's impact on electricity prices and household grids

●      The dominance of Lazada and Shopee in Southeast Asia e-commerce

●      Importance of payments infrastructure and role of banks

●      Comparison of payment processes in China and the US

●      Key players in the e-commerce and food delivery sectors in Thailand

●      Lack of consolidation in the Thai market and the potential impact of subsidy wars

In this episode of The Negotiation, we are delighted to welcome back Jacob Cooke, Co-Founder and CEO of WPIC Marketing + Technologies. Jacob is based in Beijing where he oversees the China and broader APAC operations for WPIC. 

Jacob recently returned to China after a summer trip to Canada, so we thought it would be a great time to bring him back on the show to share what he’s seeing on the ground in China and APAC’s e-commerce landscape. 

After sharing his thoughts on China’s domestic and international travel sector, Jacob dives into the narrative around weak consumption in China. Jacob refutes this narrative, emphasizing that there is robust growth in several consumer sectors. We also discuss Alibaba’s performance and leadership shuffle, as well as the latest Li Jiaqi scandal, before turning to a discussion of the e-commerce markets in South Korea and Southeast Asia.

Topics Discussed and Key Points:

●      Chinese travel in the new normal

●      The ongoing e-commerce boom in China

●      Lesser-known cities experiencing enormous growth in China, such as Hangzhou and Dalian

●      Analyzing earnings reports and financial statements to gain insights into the Chinese market

●      Alibaba's leadership transition

●      The e-commerce markets in South Korea and Southeast Asia

●      TikTok's rise in Southeast Asia

In this episode of The Negotiation, we are delighted to speak with Su Cheng Harris-Simpson. Su Cheng is the visionary founder of the Women Empowerment Council (WEC), an organization dedicated to promoting gender equality in business in China and beyond. 

Su Cheng has been an active member of the Beijing business community for three decades. Before moving into entrepreneurship and eventually founding the WEC, she worked at Boeing, the Capital Club in Beijing, and United Technologies Corporation. She’s also a long-standing board member of the American Chamber of Commerce in China.

In this episode, Su Cheng shares her journey from working at Boeing to starting her own consultancy in Beijing and eventually pivoting to philanthropy and women’s empowerment. We delve into the WEC’s initiatives, including its upcoming conference where they will release a white paper that outlines policy recommendations for empowering women. 

All listeners of The Negotiation can get a 20% discount off tickets for the Women’s Empowerment Conference & Awards with the promo code WPIC_2023. They can also use this link to register: https://app.glueup.cn/event/40943/register/?coupon=WPIC_2023.

Topics Discussed and Key Points:

• How SCHS Asia was founded 
• The power of communities: AmCham and the Women Empowerment Council
• Addressing gender disparities: The Women's Economy Summit
• Su's work with the Women Empowerment Council (WEC) 
• WEC’s upcoming annual conference and awards
• Importance of role models and diversity in leadership positions
• Power of consumer spending in promoting equality and supporting socially responsible companies

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, we are joined by Michel de Rijk. 

Michel is an esteemed marketing executive who has held leadership posts at some of the world’s largest agencies, most recently as CEO APAC for S4. 

In our conversation with Michel, we discuss his background and extensive experience in the APAC region. Michel highlights the opportunities and challenges of doing business in China, emphasizing the country's innovation and immense potential. He advises brands to adopt a long-term strategy and understand local market trends when entering China. We also discuss the impact of COVID-19 on companies' strategies in China and the importance of adapting to technological advancements, addressing misinformation, and prioritizing sustainability in the advertising industry. Michel also discusses his excitement about the Indian and Vietnamese markets. Enjoy!

Topics Discussed and Key Points:

●      Energy and growth in the APAC region 

●      China's innovation track record

●      Opportunities and challenges of doing business in China

●      The importance of long-term strategic thinking while entering the Chinese market

●      Impact of COVID-19 on companies' strategies in China

●      The importance of international market exposure and learning from different regions

●      The success story of Tim Hortons and coffee culture in China

●      Exciting consumer markets in APAC beyond China (India and Vietnam)

●      Regional strategies for APAC

●      Importance of local presence in key markets

●      The evolution of regional HQ strategies over time.

●      Impact of technology on the advertising industry and daily lives

This episode of The Negotiation podcast is part two of our discussion with Yaling Jiang, Founder of "Following the Yuan," a popular newsletter focused on Chinese consumers. Before launching her own newsletter, Yaling wrote for outlets such as SCMP, Glossy, Vogue Business, and WWD. 

In this, the back half of our interview, we talk about some trends that have common threads with the West such as “quiet quitting” and “lie flat”, as well as the comeback of buffets and the continued rise of health and wellness. We also discuss facekinis, coffee culture, scented candles and more. We conclude our chat by talking about the importance of research and development for Chinese beauty brands. Enjoy!

Topics Discussed and Key Points:

●      "Quiet quitting" and "lie flat" trends, the comeback of buffets, and the focus on health and wellness

●      Rise of health and wellness trends in China

●      The popularity of pre-made meals and food delivery in China

●      The emergence and impact of ghost kitchens on the food industry

●      Rise of ‘facekinis’ and their influence on traditional beauty standards

●      The rise of Chinese perfume and candle brands in China

●      Rise of coffee culture in China

●      Importance of research and development for Chinese beauty brands

In this episode of The Negotiation Podcast, we feature part one of our conversation with Yaling Jiang, Founder of "Following the Yuan," a popular newsletter focused on Chinese consumers. Before launching her own newsletter, Yaling wrote for outlets such as SCMP, Glossy, Vogue Business, and WWD. 

In the first half of our conversation with Yaling, we learn the history of “Following the Yuan” and what drove her to start producing it, as well as an overview of the newsletter-based journalism field in general and its parallels with WeChat official accounts. We also ask Yaling to touch on the “Asian Baby Girl” trend, before diving head-long into the Barbie movie phenomenon, its reception amongst audiences in China, and dovetailing that into a deeper discussion of what toys children in China grow up with. Enjoy!

Topics Discussed and Key Points:

●      Yaling’s frustration with English-language journalism covering China

●      The increasing popularity of newsletter-based journalism

●      The parallels between newsletter-based journalism and WeChat official accounts in China

●      Cultural perceptions and misunderstandings of "Asian Baby Girl" (ABG)

●      The reception of the Barbie movie in China compared to the incredible fanfare received in the West

●      A discussion of what toys children in China grow up with and how it differs from the West both in quantity and style 

Notable Quotes

“When striving to work for bigger and bigger newspapers and platforms, I realized that the newsrooms don't always prioritize people's stories. They don't prioritize the consumer stories in the business world, instead, they go for the click.”

“People see the news as a key way to stay connected with the audience. A bit like how channel marketers see WeChat official accounts as a key form of communication channel with their audience.” 

“In Barbie world, I mean, women or everybody seems they've already changed the world because in their world like they can be president, they can be a supreme judge that can be lawyers. And it's a place ruled by women. So in their mind, they've already changed the world to a better place.”

In this episode of The Negotiation, we are delighted to be joined by Crystal Tai, Senior Managing Editor at Jing Daily, the leading media platform focused on luxury, retail, lifestyle, and digital consumption trends in China. 

In our conversation with Crystal, we discuss her journalism career and the niche filled by Jing Daily in the China media landscape. Crystal breaks down the “-core” fashion trends in China—from Barbiecore to "gorpcore" to “Asian Baby Girl”.  She also discusses the cultural and lifestyle trends that are shaping fashion and broader consumption, including the role of Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book). Drawing on her experience reporting from South Korea, Crystal also discusses the influence of K-pop and South Korean culture on music, beauty, and fashion trends in China and around the world. 

Enjoy this fascinating conversation! 

Topics Discussed and Key Points:

• K-pop as a cultural technology and its global influence
• The decline of the K-wave in China 
• An introduction to Jing Daily
• Emerging fashion and lifestyle trends in China
• "-core" fashion trends in China: normcore, "barbiecore", "gorpcore", dopamine dressing, and more
• The role of Xiaohongshu
• Why “facekinis” have become popular in China
• China’s luxury sector post-Covid
• The rise of digital nomadism among millennials and Gen Z in China