ShanghaiZhan: All Things Global Marketing, Advertising, Tech & Platforms
ShanghaiZhan is a podcast that offers lively debates on global tech, advertising, and creativity. Hosts Ali Kazmi and Bryce Whitwam discuss the intersection of these fields. They provide timely insights into the world of marketing and advertising. The show covers topics ranging from digital platforms to cultural trends.
Episodes
After 20 Years of China Advertising: Is There a Bright Future?
Welcome to Shanghai Zhan, aka. Shanghai Station. The only station in Shanghai’s world-famous metro that exists as a podcast.
Listen to Bryce Whitwam and Ali Zein Kazmi debate with guests on their experiences and aspirations for China. Bryce and Ali are connected to China for over 20 years and are still in Shanghai working in the industry. Both fluent Mandarin speakers, Bryce writes the language
Pernod Ricard's Pierre Delfosse on 11/11: the Day After the Dust Settled
In this episode, we talk with Pierre Delfosse, E-commerce Director at Pernod Ricard China, on the world's largest shopping festival, Double 11, which climaxes on the 11th of November of every year.
We are still big in Japan. We are a lot bigger in Hong Kong (S.A.R.) and even bigger in the USA.
In this episode we discuss:
1. What we shopped for Double 11
2. How has the spirits business ev
China: Luxury's 2021 Comeback Story feat. Artefact's Mike Zhu & Serena Shen
When the pandemic hit, the luxury business was doomed, or was it? China was not only Luxury's comeback kid, but it also helped redefine the category for the post-pandemic world. How can you define luxury through a complete mobile experience? In this episode, we have modern luxury experts Artefact's Mike Zhu & Serena Shen talk about how China made it happen, and what are the lessons for the wo
Talking Trash on China: The Sustainability Race With Richard Brubaker
China is one of the fastest-growing economies and faces serious sustainability challenges. Like the hosts, today’s guest completes 20 years in China, all of it helping China and the rest of Asia with real issues on waste, waste management, and social responsibility. Richard Brubaker is Founder & Managing Director at Collective Responsibility and Executive Volunteer at HandsOn China. He draws com
Shiseido’s Carol Zhou on C-Beauty & Big China Beauty Trends for 2022
China’s Beauty market is #2 behind the US at US$71 billion (Euromonitor 2020), and it’s expected to be the world’s biggest in 3 years. Chinese women today are notably confident and embrace their own identity and style. Popularly, we call this "C-Beauty" as it competes with the more identifiable ‘J’ & ‘K-Beauty’. ShanghaiZhan welcomes Carol Zhou, Sr. Vice President for Innovation & Investments at
BONUS EPISODE: Bryce Whitwam: Why China Has Leapfrogged the World in Digital Marketing
ShanghaiZhan podcast host, Bryce Whitwam, expounds on the sophisticated Chinese consumer and innovations in the Chinese marketplace on "The Reorient! Podcast", interviewed by Jesse Freidlander on September 1, 2021. "The Reorient! Podcast" is available on Apple Podcasts.
1. Bryce's life story: from South Dakota to Shanghai
2. China's marketing evolution, starting 2010
3. The early days of Chi
Wavemaker APAC CEO’s Gordon Domlija: Bold Predictions for 2022: PART 1
What’s in store for the industry in 2022? During the first half of our two-part series, we speak to Gordon Domlija from WPP media agency, Wavemaker, about what brands in China need to do to stay relevant, and why client in-housing agency work isn’t necessarily that easy of a task. Gordon also reflects on his career, why he came to China and the first place, and, despite being the Asia-Pacific le
Wavemaker APAC CEO’s Gordon Domlija: Bold Predictions for 2022: PART 2
Here's part 2 of our fantastic interview with Wavemaker's APAC CEO, Gordon Domlija. In this episode, Gordon discusses the challenges of managing a regional agency during Covid, and how his focus has been on creating a corporate culture in some markets that may have not seen each other for the past 2 years. Gordon also discusses the need for structural organization in his agency to meet the chan
The Beijing Winter Olympics Preview: Covid, Sponsorships & Eileen Gu
Meet China's most famous and insightful sports insider, Mark Dreyer, who's a regular commentator on the Chinese sports industry. Now that the Winter Olympics is just around the corner, we felt it was time to get Mark's opinion on sponsorships, the events, and what it's like in Beijing these days. Mark writes weekly columns for SupChina & SportsBusiness & is co-host of his own show, the China Spo
Evolving From KOLs to Chinese Influencer Groups: Insights Guru, Julien Lapka
What's the future of influencer marketing in China? To insights expert, Julien Lapka, successful brands focus on influencer groups rather than KOL powerhouses such as Austin Li. It comes down to uncovering unique insights, not often found in databases. Julien is the founder of Inner Chapter, an agency that turns insights into commercial IP. Julien is also co-owner of Revolving Door, a speakeas
Genesis Motor China CEO Markus Henne: Building a Luxury Auto Brand in China
Meet Genesis Motor China's CEO Markus Henne as he describes his experience of building a luxury auto brand in China from the ground up. Markus joined Genesis Motor in 2019 from a distinguished career at Mercedes-Benz, and it has only been since October of 2021 that they have begun to distribute cars. How to build a luxury brand amongst all the competition? How to keep customers interested for 6
Annie Su & the Unique Intersection of Food and Advertising
Meet Annie Su, she's a full-time marketing executive and part-time foodie. Originally from Taiwan, most of her career has been in advertising agencies before recently joining the client side. She spent the prime of her career with Ogilvy, first in Taipei, then Beijing, and finally, Shanghai. Annie is also the author of 2 books, 1. 日尝时光：下班陪你进厨房 2. 当冰箱：只剩下乌鱼子, books about food, stories, cultur
Shanghai Under Covid Lockdown: Praises, Frustrations & Predictions
Ali and I decided we needed to have a "Covid lockdown in Shanghai" episode since we are all stuck at home, dividing our time between work, food hunting, and waiting in line for PCR tests. Where are we headed?
We're joined by Professor Andrew Field, a Professor of History at Duke Kunshan University and our returning champion, a friend of the podcast, Richard Brubaker, Founder of sustainability
Shanghai Under Lockdown: the Global Supply Chain & Future of Business
We are now in the 4th week of the great Shanghai lockdown. How will the lockdown impact business and the supply chain? To answer this question, we have invited supply chain expert, Cameron Johnson, Head of APAC Strategy for FAO Global. Mr. Johnson is also an Adjunct Professor at NYU Shanghai as well as a Board of Governors for the American Chamber of Commerce Shanghai.
1. Business impact: h
The Great Shanghai Lockdown's Impact on Marketing
Shanghai's Lockdown will enter its 5th week starting next week. How are brands in China reacting now or should they react at all? And more importantly, how will the lockdown impact the market in the long term and how should brands prepare for the future? Is this a great moment in advertising to connect with the masses?
Please welcome McCann Health China's Chief Strategy Officer, Henry Shen, an
Can Chinese Beauty Brands Go Global? - Lisa Shiqi Yu + Elijah Whaley
We're taking a much-needed break from Shanghai's recent Covid lockdown to talk about the globalization of C-Beauty. What will it take for Chinese beauty brands to go global? How important are influencer networks and what is the role of technology? Will fast-fashion platform, Shein.com's use of AI predictive analytics be a beauty industry game-changer?
We're joined by Lisa Shiqi Yu, Founder, an
Is There a Future for SaaS Marketing Platforms in China?
Do SaaS Marketing platforms have a future in China? Yes, the platforms here are different, but there are also a lot of cultural reasons why SaaS hasn't taken off here. According to McKinsey, China is still 10 years behind other markets in SaaS platform development. Why? What needs to change?
We spoke to our good friend, Alex Duncan, Co-Founder of social media SaaS platform, KAWO, who has live
The Future Of The China Media Agency Business
We've seen a lot of change in the Chinese media landscape over the past 20 years, so what about the next 20? Where is it going, and is there a future for media agencies given all the sophisticated technology, in-housing and big platform plays that control the data?
We're joined by Doug Pearce, the former Chairman, and Group CEO at the Omnicom Media Group. Doug left OMG in 2018 to form his own c
The Leaving China Show
This episode is for those who are thinking of leaving China, maybe now or in the future.
In this episode, we're joined by 2 "experts of experience" who left China to return home and can share their experiences about adjusting, why they left and what they really miss. For many, especially the expatriate population, the Shanghai lockdown has become a time to re-evaluate future priorities as foreig
The Next Generation of China Advertising: Super KOL, Mia Liu
Our 20th Episode! Today we meet Mia Liu, she's a famous influencer and fashion blogger, or, as they say in China, Key Opinion Leader (KOL). With over 3 million fans on Weibo, Mia creates engaging content for big global brands including, Tom Ford, Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo, and L'Oreal. Armed with a Master's in Marketing, Mia represents the new face of China advertising..
1. Why on earth would
Making Documentaries in China: Oscar Winner, Malcolm Clarke + Producer, Han Yi
We are talking about making documentary films in China with 2-time Oscar-winning, 4 time nominated Academy Award documentary film director, Malcolm Clarke. We are also joined by Han Yi, a Golden Horse-winning producer of documentary films. Malcolm is originally from the UK while Yi is from Chengdu, but both are currently living in Shanghai.
Malcolm and Yi reside at Artefact Entertainment, and h
Taking Brand China to the World: Ogilvy PR's Scott Kronick
We sat down with former Asia-Pacific CEO of Ogilvy PR, Scott Kronick, who is indisputably the father of modern PR in China. Scott lived in China for 29 years and is easily one of the longest serving agency leaders, foreigner or Chinese, in the China ad business.
What's it going to take for Chinese brands to go abroad? This is the question we asked Scott, who's been behind the effort to take
China + Europe: The Cross Continental E-Commerce Connection: Victoria Glanz
Meet Victoria Glanz, a 12-year expert in bringing foreign brands to China and successfully launching them in e-commerce. Until recently, she led international expansion for Baozun, China's leading e-commerce service provider, launching its offices in Paris. She is launching a new company called Sesame that helps brands sell better online, taking her experience from China. You'll quickly dis
Reimagining the Chinese Workspace Under the New Normal - Dominic Penaloza
What's the state of the workspace in Shanghai these days? What are the latest trends in work environments what's the role of technology? Will China go with the rest of the world and adapt the hybrid working model?
Meet ex-Naked Hub/ex-WeWork China executive Dominic Penaloza to answer these questions. Dominic is a serial entrepreneur and has lived in Shanghai for 16 years. He was previously t
The Eventual Demise of the Automobile & The Rise of Chinese Mobility - Bill Russo
OUR 25th EPISODE!
Meet Bill Russo, Founder and CEO of Shanghai-based Automobility. Bill founded a strategy and investment advisory firm that helps its clients build and profit from the future of mobility. In this episode, Bill provides a bleak outlook for the foreign automobile manufacturers in China who have missed the opportunity to re-think mobility as something more efficient, more environme
The Future of the Chinese Metaverse: Unilever's Tom Hui Young
Tom Hui Young talks about his real passion, the metaverse, and how it will change how we live, shop, work, and interact with products. Tom is a molecular biologist, but his true passion lives in the human experience in a virtual world. If you thought the metaverse was about geeky Mark Zuckerberg avatars and bulky Oculus glasses, this is the episode for you!
Tom is an innovator, software archite
The China/America Education Connection: NYU Shanghai's Jeffrey Lehman
Is China still a great place to study? Despite the geopolitical differences, some institutions are keeping the spirit of positive collaboration between China and America alive, and one of them is NYU. We spoke to NYU Shanghai's Vice Chancellor, Jeffrey Lehman, about the globalization of education. Why, despite Covid restrictions, should students consider China a place to study?
The Rising China Sports Fashion Industry: Gavin Lum of Lululemon
What's new with the sports fashion industry in China? Now at $45 billion US annually, it continues to expand and grow. Everyone is getting into the game, including luxury brands. Gucci, Prada, and LV are all getting into street fashion to attract younger targets. And with the strength of local brands, will market leaders Nike and Adidas weather the storm?
We are talking to Gavin Lum, who's sp
Exporting Made in China Through Influencers: Relay Club's Jim Fields
Can Chinese brands get a voice abroad? Today we are talking to Jim Fields. He's a social media influencer on YouTube and BiliBili with tens of thousands of followers - and he recently founded an influencer management platform for Chinese brands going outbound called relay.club, which has just finished a round of angel fundraising.
The Road to China Marketing Effectiveness with Dhiren Amin
Has China’s obsession with achieving sales targets sacrificed long-term brand growth, or does it matter anymore? Now with another Single's Day shopping event behind us, we look at the state of brand building in a market dominated by e-commerce sales campaigns.
We're talking to Dhiren Amin, currently CMO at NTUC Income, based in Singapore. H was previously Asia CMO for Kraft-Heinz, based in Sha
Big 2023 China Retail Predictions with Kantar's Jason Yu
We've spent much time talking about China's e-commerce boom, but what about traditional trade? 9 out of 10 purchase decisions in China are aided by a trip to the store. Today we're talking about traditional trade and big retail trends, and we're honored to have Jason Yu, Managing Director for Greater China at Kantar Worldpanel. You'll quickly learn why Jason is the undisputed expert on China re
China Marketing During the Tough Times: Inner Chapter's Julien Lapka
Season 1's Final Episode welcomes our #1 most downloaded guest, insights expert, and Founder of Inner Chapter, Julien Lapka. Julien gazes into his crystal ball and gives us some "healthy" predictions for 2023. And despite the recent opening of Zero Covid, Julien remains optimistic for 2023.
1. Why is 2022 his best year of business so far.
2. Moving from brand to product-based marketing
3. Rea
(ENCORE PERFORMANCE): Evolving From KOLs to Chinese Influencer Groups: Julien Lapka
Encore Performance: (Recorded, Feb 8, 2022) - Our #1 most downloaded episode from Season 1!
What's the future of influencer marketing in China? To insights expert Julien Lapka, successful brands focus on influencer groups rather than KOL powerhouses such as Austin Li. It comes down to uncovering unique insights not often found in databases. Julien is the founder of Inner Chapter, an agency tha
(ENCORE PERFORMANCE): Annie Su & the Intersection of Food & Advertising
Meet Annie Su, she's a full-time marketing executive and part-time foodie. Originally from Taiwan, most of her career has been in advertising agencies before recently joining the client side. She spent the prime of her career with Ogilvy, first in Taipei, then Beijing, and finally, Shanghai. Annie is also the author of 2 books, 1. 日尝时光：下班陪你进厨房 2. 当冰箱：只剩下乌鱼子, books about food, stories, cultur
Civilization's Andrew Lok & the Business of Creativity
Welcome to Season 2!
Today we are talking about creativity in the marketing and advertising industry, and we’re honored to have one of China’s most award-winning Creative Directors, Andrew Lok, on today’s show. He started his career in Singapore as a journalist for UPI, but decided it was more fun to create news than report it, so he joined the advertising industry. After stints raising the cre
Tapping into China's Great Outdoors - Matthew Jung of Jack Wolfskin
Recreational camping used to be a niche in China, but now it's become a bit of a rage. The China outdoor market reached $60 billion in 2018 and is expected to hit $100 billion by 2025. By all estimates, around 100 million Chinese go camping every year, which is a small number relevant to the population, but that's a higher number than the 40 million Americans who go camping!
What's causing the s
Marketing Consumer Occasions on Douyin/Tik Tok with VMLY&R's JJ Wang
Can Tik Tok market to specific consumer occasions, encouraging trial and purchase?
Meet JJ Wang, Senior Business Leader at WPP agency VMLY&R, based in Shanghai. She's the recent author of an interesting whitepaper about occasion marketing, co-authored with Douyin/Tik Tok. JJ has been in the industry for about 10 years and believes in building brand culture, even in digital times. For Myers Br
How China is Leading in Innovation & How the West Can Catch Up: Author, Joanna Hutchins
Joanna Hitchins is the recent author of "Chinafy: How China is Leading In Innovation and How the Rest of the World Can Catch Up," now available on Amazon & Kinokuniya. In the book, Joanna explores 9 key catalysts that all businesses can effectively "Chinafy" their business. Joanna has over 25 years of experience leading B2B and B2C businesses globally, with over 20 years of experience in China.
The Future of Brands, Creativity, & Technology: A Conversation with Ogilvy China CEO, Chris Reitermann
We recently had the opportunity to speak with Chris Reitermann, the Co-Chief Executive of Ogilvy Asia and CEO of Greater China, about the role of AI in the advertising business in China. With an impressive 28-year career at Ogilvy, Chris has been instrumental in the successful rise of advertising in China. Ogilvy China is one of the largest and most respected agencies in the country, and it was aw
Inside China's Beauty Business with Stéphane Wilmet
Stéphane Wilmet, a highly accomplished executive in the consumer beauty industry, joins our show today. With over 30 years of experience, Wilmet has held prominent positions in the United States and China. Notably, he served as the Chief Consumer Officer at L'Oréal China, overseeing consumer strategic branding, insights, foresight, and M&A activities, playing a crucial role in shaping the company'
Unmasking China's Underrepresentation at Cannes: A Missed Opportunity?
Why was China a no-show at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity this year? Is it the quality of the work, or is it because China is no longer interested in participating on the global stage? We talk to 2 people who have just come back from Cannes Lions, and they give us their unique perspective.
Our guests today are Robert Sawatzky, Asia Editor Director at Campaign Asia, a part of Haymarket M
China Transforming Digital: Insights from Wiredcraft's CEO, Ronan Berder
What does it take for brands in China to transform their businesses to be digital-ready? We asked Wiredcraft CEO and Co-founder Ronan Berder to provide his insights into what companies need to evolve their businesses. Ronan has been instrumental in driving digital innovation and transformation for such brands as Starbucks, Nike, and Hilton and provides us with stories and strategies behind China'
Rocking China with Dr. Andrew Field
We're talking rock and roll with Dr. Andrew Field, Associate Professor of Chinese History at Duke Kunshan University. Andrew is the recent author of "Rocking China", a book that traces the rise and spread of indie rock from the rock capital of Beijing to Shanghai and to other places in China. Through interviews with key players, Dr. Field explores the meanings of rock music in China society and m
Shanghai Ning in NYC: Estee Lauder's Gary Chu & Mark Jiang
Ali and Bryce were expats in Shanghai; what's it like for two Chinese senior global marketing executives living in New York?
Today's podcast interviews Gary Chu and Mark Jiang from the Estee Lauder Companies, based in New York. ELC includes brands such as Estee Lauder, Clinique, MAC, La Mer, and Tom Ford Beauty. Gary was VP for the Online business from 2014 to 2020 and was responsible for leadi
Managing Businesses & Talent in Low Growth China - Mark Wang of Grace Blue
For 20 years, China was about speed and scale, but it seems now that era has ended for many agencies and companies. Sales are dropping; budgets are being cut. Project pitching is now weekly for many agencies as brands focus solely on performance marketing. How should China businesses adjust for times that may not go as quickly as before? This week we speak to Mark Wang, Senior Consultant at Grace
Charting China's Hotel & Travel Industry's Post-Pandemic Course
We're talking about the Chinese hotel and travel industry today and are joined by Hugh Xu, a veteran in the travel and hospitality sectors with over 20 years of experience. Hugh has held critical roles in several Fortune 500 companies. Most recently, he served as the General Manager of Sales & Marketing at Sunmei Hotel Group, overseeing over 500 properties and 28 brands. Before that, he was with t
Chinese Design & the Making of a Multinational Brand: Danny Du
This episode focuses on the elements behind Chinese design, its unique characteristics, and how it's shaping global design ethos. Please welcome Danny Du, whose work in Shanghai, particularly with the Geely Design Global and now at BASF's Creation Center has marked him as a leader, bringing Chinese design aesthetics to the world.
Will Livestream Commerce Become a Hit Outside China? Agree or Disagree?
Welcome to Season 3 of ShanghaiZhan! We thought for this season, we would try something a bit different. In addition to our popular interviews, Ali and I will cover pressing issues ourselves in a series called Agree or Disagree.
Will live stream commerce become a hit outside of China? Livestreaming is projected to hit $65 billion in the U.S., representing 5% of total e-commerce. Livestream chan
The China Entrepreneur Show: Jing-A Beer & the Making of a Local Brand
What does starting a successful brand from ZERO in the Middle Kingdom take? We spoke to Alex Acker and Kristian Li, co-founders of Jing A Beer. Based in Beijing, Jing-A now has 10 tap rooms in the capital, with one in Shenzhen. Jing-A is also available in Singapore.
Jing-A describes itself as a brewery that is in constant motion. Started by Kris and Alex in 2012, Jing-A is obsessed with hunting
Performance Marketing China: The End of Advertising as We Know It?
Has performance marketing signaled the end of traditional marketing in China? Traditional marketing focuses more on slowly building brand awareness, creating a slow burn, and driving an emotional connection with consumers. On the other hand, performance marketing is more about results in the quest to drive sales and leads. Thanks to digital platforms, China's advertising is now 79% devoted to per
Future Proofing the China Agency: Mindshare China's CEO: Ben Condit
Will AI become a hindrance or a revolution to Chinese media? Mindshare China CEO Ben Condit says bring it on! Condit sees AI as the answer to much of the overcomplexity in China's tech platforms, some of which require over 11 stops to book a single piece of media. Ben gives us an insider perspective of why Mindshare China is constantly recognized as one of China's largest, most successful, and a
The Best of the Best 2024 China Marketing Trends Show
What are the big marketing, advertising, and technology trends facing China in 2024? Ali and Bryce scoured the internet so you don't have to, uncovering 3 trends we think everyone should be paying attention to. What are the "meh" trends - the ones we have seen before, ones without context or thought, or ones simply that won't happen at all? We call these "BS Trends."
Ali's Trends:
1. China's
Ad Fraud: How Bad is it? With FouAnalytics Founder, Dr. Augustine Fou
China ad fraud has been in the headlines recently, and we wanted to have a show about it. As expected, getting someone on the show to discuss this sensitive topic has been impossible. But we finally found one: Dr. Augustine Fou. He is the Founder of Fou Analytics and a leading expert in the field, boasting a profound understanding of digital marketing, cybersecurity, and advertising. With a Ph.D.
Livestream Recap Episode: 2024 China at the Crossroads: What Stood Out to Us
Where is China heading in 2024? Ali and Bryce decided to do a quick recap of our livestream event last week to highlight a couple of the major trends that stood out for us. You can watch the livestream event by clicking below OR download the entire report yourself. Check out the link below.
1. What surprised you? How will advertisers react based on the trends based on the investment scenarios
Made Better by China: Authors, Bessie Lee & Peter Bomer
Ali and Bryce welcome authors Bessie Lee and Peter Bomer of the book, "China Inside Out," which explores themes of innovation, entrepreneurship, and challenges through interviews with some of China's leading business minds. The interviews were taken from Bessie's popular podcast, Bei Wang Lu(贝望录). Bei Wang Lu showcases the thoughts and actions of leading market and business leaders in China. Bess
China's 10 Considerations for Marketers in 2024: Chris Baker & Minnie Wang
How can brands take advantage of China's new transformation? We decided to invite our livestream episode guests, Chris Baker, founder of Totem, and Minne Wang, Senior Reporter with Campaign Asia, for an in-depth discussion on 5 of the 10 considerations in Totem Media's 2024 report. The report (with links below) is a must-read for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of marketing in China
The Temu + Shein Chinese E-commerce Invasion
Welcome to the latest invasion, no it's not TikTok but Shein & Temu!
It's hard to imagine that 4 of the top 8 U.S. iPhone App Store apps are from China. While TikTok and Capcut make the list, the two big surprises are e-commerce juggernauts Temu and Shein. These companies operate unique, manufacturer-to-customer business models and do not manufacture products but simply work with armies of facto
The 2024 Beijing Autoshow: an Auto Industry Wake-up Call, with Bill Russo
According to this week's guest, automobile industry expert Bill Russo, this year's Autoshow China, held in Beijing, was a wake-up call to the global automobile industry. China has clearly leapfrogged the global auto industry, making products that aren't just transportation vehicles but literally smartphones on wheels. According to Russo, the global auto industry is still living in the 20th century
Idea to Launch & Beyond: Introducing "The Map" of Shenzhen: Henk Werner
How do you bring a product idea to life in the area of the world that produces over 80% of the world's electronic consumer products? Meet Troublemakers' founder, Henk Werner. He's lived in Shenzhen for almost 12 years and guides many worldwide who might have a cool product idea but don't know how to make it a reality. Henk serves as their guide to the Greater Bay network of over 270,000 factorie
Navigating Chinese Beauty Slang for Growing Niche Brands: Red Ant's Elisa Harca & Ching Xie
Episode 60! To talk to beauty consumers on social media, beauty brands have to be adept at Chinese social media beauty slang. What's the difference between the #Boiled Water Look (白开水妆容) and #Rich Daughter Makeup (富家千金妆) )? Elisa Harca, Co-Founder and Asia CEO of Red Ant, and Ching Xie, Client Partner at Red Ant Asia, join us to unpack the important lingo. Red Ant is an award-winning agency tha
Working for a Local Agency or Brand- China PR Expert: Harriet Gaywood
Have you ever considered working for a local Chinese company? We thought we would ask 20-plus-year PR expert, ultra-marathon runner, and ethnic musicologist Harriet Gaywood, who previously worked at Blue Focus and recently was the VP of Public Relations at Huawei. How is it different from working at a foreign firm? What are the challenges? Is this a viable career option for new recruits?
China Livestream Commerce 2.0: This Next Evolution Will Go Global
What's the new evolution of Chinese e-commerce, and why will it impact how Westerners shop?
Today, Ali and Bryce discuss China's new livestream e-commerce transformation. It has evolved from the days of the big livestreamers to hundreds of thousands of mini-livestreamers competing for attention with only several hundred viewers. This evolution is happening on Douyin, TikTok China's cousin, which h
The China Outbound Education Industry & the Impact of AI: Jimmy Lim
In 2023, over 1 million Chinese students went abroad to study, and this number is increasing as the job market sours back home. Today, we speak with Sydney-based Jimmy Lim, co-founder and Managing Director of AIG Education Group, about the Chinese overseas education phenomenon and why it shows no signs of slowing down. AI will come into play in the application process as Australian universities ar
The Post-Olympics Show: Opportunities for Chinese Brands
What opportunities exist for Chinese brands post-Olympics? In this world of micro-targeting and community building, smaller brands can take advantage of sponsoring Chinese athletes who may not be as expensive as sports celebrities like Eileen Gu. Did the Paris Olympics help break China's overseas travel slump? Ali and Bryce take a China marketing take on the recent Paris games.
China CRM Redefined: Navigating Clienteling with Aurelien Rigart
Welcome to the world of Clienteling: it's a world where the brand manages the client relationship. It's an online/offline integration ecosystem that is alive in China, but the West has no equivalent. In the clienteling world, retail sales become online sales associates, and brands promote their products directly to the customer database, all possible thanks to WeChat. Aurelien Rigart, managing di
Chinese Women in Tech with Dr. Susan Zhang
What are China's technology opportunities for Chinese women? Are Chinese companies becoming more gender diverse, or are coveted STEM careers still largely avoided by Chinese women? We asked Dr. Susan Zhang about the state of Chinese women in tech. Dr. Zhang is a high-energy business executive and serial entrepreneur. Her journey has taken her to incredible heights in Australia, China and the UK.
Targeting Outbound Chinese Travelers with Subramania Bhatt and Mark Shrives
Chinese outbound travel is returning, which is great news for luxury brands. To many brands, overseas travel has always been a source of awareness, validation and purchase. How can brands take advantage of this opportunity? We speak to Subramania Bhatt, CEO of the China Trading Desk, a digital marketing and research firm targeting these travelers. Subbu's company recently published a travel insig
Time for Brands to Do a Discount Detox? With Jacques Roizen
We’re unpacking a critical issue affecting luxury and prestige brands operating in China’s discount-heavy e-commerce landscape. With platforms like Tmall and JD and emerging competitors like Douyin and Pinduoduo, brands are constantly pressured to use aggressive discounting strategies to boost sales and visibility.
Jacques Roizen, managing director of China Consulting at Digital Luxury Group, joi
From Mass Appeal to Micro Moments: The Future of China Livestream E-Commerce
We're thrilled to re-broadcast an insightful episode from the Sinica Podcast, where host Kaiser Kuo sits down with Bryce Whitwam to delve into the ever-evolving world of Chinese livestream e-commerce. Bryce's latest research highlights a fascinating shift: Chinese consumers increasingly gravitate toward smaller, more personalized livestream shows that foster greater interaction with hosts. While l
Spring Festival to Singles Day: Festivals in Modern China Marketing: Hope Hong
Are traditional festivals still essential drivers in the Chinese marketing calendar? Or are they overshadowing the modern shopping days that seemingly overpower attention? We welcome Hope Hong, founder of Chuanmer, a non-profit organization specializing in cross-cultural marketing consulting, experience planning, curation, and promotion. Hope is based in Vienna. Besides being a cultural ambassad
Social Media Intelligence vs. Traditional Research: Target Social's Wang Tao on the Future of Consumer Insights
How has consumer research evolved since the advent of social media? Can social media drive insights, or do we still need interviews and focus groups? We speak with Wang Tao, who is the Head of Strategy & Innovation for the Shanghai-based agency Target Social. Target Social is China's largest full-service social performance consultancy, providing a complete range of services that help brands take
The 2025 China Brand Equity & ROI Paradox - Totem's Chris Baker & OMD's Ahle Kuang
Welcome to Season 4! Today, we're also celebrating the 10th anniversary of the 2025 Totem China's Marketing & Media Trends Report, hoping to solve the biggest challenge in China marketing: is performance marketing, and are brands nowadays just focused on short-term sales gains? According to Totem's report, 48% of marketers plan to decrease their 2025 marketing budgets, and 31% now rank sales con
The Decline of TikTok, the Rise of Rednote, and End of App Loyalty - With Olivia Plotnick
Word on the street that Chinese app Xiaohongshu or Rednote, as it is now called, was not expecting nor prepared for the 500K and counting American TikTok Refugees that have downloaded and migrated to the app. Is Rednote a short-lived thing? Will people eventually move back to TikTok, or has the West entered the world of "App Fluidity," where communities move from place to place without little con
The Big China Market Correction of 2025: Trend Spotting with Chris Baker & Minnie Wang
In this report, it's called the 20/80 rule. Are we going to see a lot of brands exiting the Chinese market, or are there still opportunities? We're back for round #2, covering Totem Media's 2025 Marketing & Media Trends. Today, we talk about the 25 considerations, although we go through all of them, just the key ones. We're honored to have Totem Media Founder Chris Baker back on the show. Joining
A China Slowdown: From Patience to Profit with Alex Duncan
We challenge the narrative surrounding China's economic slowdown to reveal an unexpected truth: today's market conditions might be ideal for patient brand builders. Alex Duncan, marketing consultant, former co-founder of a Chinese social media platform and a 15-year China veteran, shares fresh insights from his recent return to Shanghai, making a compelling case for why now – when consumer confide
Opening the Mailbox: Branding, Retail, Livestreaming, Media & More: Stephen Drummond
It's time to open our listener mail! We solicited questions on LinkedIn and WeChat and are ready to answer your questions about China marketing and advertising. We're joined with China's leading brand strategist consultant, Stephen Drummond. Steve is an industry legend who has worked for agencies and clients. He's now a freelance brand consultant, based in Shanghai:
1. Question: 1 : Are brands in
China's Retail Revolution: How SHEIN, Temu, and TikTok are Reshaping Global Commerce - Ed Sander
4 out of the top 8 Apps on the US Apple Store come from China. Many are shopping platforms such as SHEIN, Temu and TikTok Shop. These platforms have strong algorithms, massive supply chain networks, and seemingly bottomless investment pockets. Is the West slowly becoming addicted to Chinese-style online shopping? We talked to Ed Sander, who is the co-founder of ChinaTalk, a Dutch service provide
The Rise of Female Automobile Power in China: Grey/AKQA's Janice Kok & Reiko Wu
Over the past decade, women in China have become a driving force (pun intended) in car purchases, from compact EVs to high-end luxury vehicles. But how are brands adapting their marketing to meet the needs of female consumers? What trends are shaping their buying decisions?
To help us unpack this, we’re joined by Janice Kok, Head of Strategy, and Reiko Wu, Planning Director, both at GREY & AKQA
Tapping into China's Wellness Revolution: Strategic Opportunities for Brands with Henry Shen
China has become a country obsessed with wellness. Over the past few episodes, we have had several guests highlight the growing importance of wellness, whether it relates to fitness or changes in the country's demographics. We thought we'd take the opportunity to take a deeper look at wellness. According to a McKinsey study, 87% of Chinese consumers consider wellness a top priority in their liv
Decoding Brand China Using Semiotics: Panos Dimitropoulos
How can brands visually connect with Chinese consumers? What cultural codes effectively resonate with consumers, leading to trial and purchase? Today we speak with Panos Dimitropoulos, a seasoned semiotician and cultural strategy expert. Panos helps brands culturally connect in China. He spent over a decade in China, leading Kantar's cultural intelligence team, guiding clients through China's ev
Recommended
Bible Tea
TED Talks Daily
Pod Save America
Dateline NBC
صداستان: ساعتی با موسیقی
Becoming: HER with Nikki Spoelstra
Exposing Workplace Bullying
Everyday AI Made Simple - AI For Everyday Tasks
FemTech Focus
Not Too Sensitive - Empowering Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) To Own Their Sensitivity
Mother Daughter Relationship Show
Skin Deep MDs with Dr. Mamina Turegano, Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky and Dr. Jenny Liu
