Thoughtful China Podcast

This week on “Thoughtful China,” find out which companies are winning China’s e-commerce race, how Alibaba’s upcoming IPO in the U.S. will change China’s online retail landscape and hear from one of Alibaba’s main rivals, Yihaodian co-founder and Chairman Yu Gang, about his strategy to compete going forward.

This week on “Thoughtful China,” learn about Chinese companies' expansion into international markets from Joel Backaler, author of “China Goes West: Everything You Need to Know About Chinese Companies Going Global.” Find out why and how Chinese companies invest in developed countries in Europe and the U.S. and hear from David Wolf about whether Chinese companies are ready to build global brands.

China’s post-90s consumers grew up in more affluent households than any generation China has seen to date. They are well-traveled, highly adept at using personal technology and social media, and very sophisticated shoppers familiar with western brands, making them the most challenging group of consumers in China that luxury marketers have faced so far. Find out how to market your luxury brand to the next generation of Chinese shoppers this week on “Thoughtful China.”

Porter Erisman, a former Alibaba VP and filmmaker of “A Crocodile in the Yangtze” answers questions about Alibaba’s “David and Goliath” battle with eBay, its overseas ambitions, its recent M&A spending spree, its growing battle with Tencent to dominate China's social commerce market and its upcoming IPO in the U.S.

The mobile industry has seen tremendous growth globally, but advertisers in China are still trying to figure out the best way to engage consumers and generate sales through mobile devices and wearables. Find out the latest trends in mobile marketing this week on “Thoughtful China.”

Ogilvy PR’s Scott Kronick, who has lived in Beijing for nearly two decades, recently published a book about his experiences and observations called “The Lighter Side of China,” depicting some of his crazier experiences. This week on “Thoughtful China,” he shares humorous yet insightful views about living and working in China with host Andrew Lok.

China’s state-run sports industry has been less friendly to marketers compared to the West’s brand-savvy teams, leagues and players, but that’s changing as athletes like Li Na forge their own path and the sports followed and played by Chinese expands. This week on “Thoughtful China,” find out where China’s sports industry offers opportunities to grow your brands.

Agency-client relationships face many challenges in China, from lack of transparency, the talent shortage and the importance of personal friendships over corporate relations. Find out how to overcome these issues from Royce Yuen, Chairman, Greater China at Aprais and ex-P&G China head of media, Pon de Dios, this week on “Thoughtful China.”

Marketers selling luxury goods face significant challenges when it comes to building online sales in China. This week on “Thoughtful China,” our e-commerce experts will tell you how to avoid mistakes made by early entrants, how social media plays a much bigger role in online sales in China compared to western markets and how to tap future trends like the rise of mobile commerce.

China’s ad market is big in size but in stature, it doesn’t measure up to developed markets like Japan, Australia, the U.S. and the U.K. Is that trend changing? Find out this week on “Thoughtful China” as we look at how Chinese agencies performed at AdFest 2014.

Many companies in China have been accused of cutting corners to lower costs, leaving consumers wondering which products and brands they can trust. This week on “Thoughtful China,” our experts discuss the issues that can tarnish a brand’s image in this market and tell you what to do if trouble hits.

Starting an e-commerce business there requires a lot more than translating a western website into Chinese or launching an e-store on TMall. This week on “Thoughtful China,” find out how your company should build its e-commerce strategy for China in our interview with ex-Alibaba executive Julia Zhu, founder and managing director of Observer Solutions.

Marketers in China are putting greater emphasis on social media and digital campaigns. Does that mean television should be ignored as part of your media mix in China? Find out when and how TV still matters for media buyers on this week’s episode of “Thoughtful China.”

idier Depond, president of the Salon-Delamotte Champagne house, talks about trends in China's wine industry. Find out how the top French houses are customizing their communication to appeal to Chinese palates and how the Salon-Delamotte operation has been sustained over 12 generations.

This week on "Thoughtful China," learn about the influences driving fashion trends in China. Our experts examine which styles and products are popular in China today, what Chinese women look for when they are choosing brands and designers and why social media and e-commerce play a bigger role in China compared to the U.S. and Europe.