RX Greater China’s Post

Nordic brands are making significant strides in China, capturing the attention of consumers across various sectors such as fashion, home furnishings, personal care, supplements, and food & beverage. At WPIC Marketing + Technologies, we’ve observed a notable increase in demand for Nordic brands in China. Their strategic assets—simplicity, functionality, and sustainability—are not just trendy buzzwords but key drivers of their success in the Chinese market. For a long time it was assumed that Chinese consumers didn't care about sustainability—but that assumption has proved false. Consumers across demographics are increasingly prioritizing sustainability in their purchasing decisions. With their emphasis on sleek, minimalist design and a steadfast commitment to sustainability, Nordic brands resonate strongly with Chinese consumers who value quality and eco-friendliness. Our latest blog explores why Nordic brands are flourishing in China and provides insights on how these brands can capitalize on this momentum for sustained growth. From the rise of Scandinavian fashion to the health and wellness boom, and the eco-conscious movement, the opportunities are vast. Read more about the rise of Nordic brands in China and how you can benefit from this growing trend.

Last month, our Director, Chi Ly, delivered a presentation at the Retail Asia Forum in Ho Chi Minh, where fellow industry professionals gathered to share the latest insights on Vietnam's retail landscape. During her presentation, Chi spoke on the current state of sustainability within Vietnam's retail industry, highlighting key market trends and how involved players (consumers, retailers, and investors) can further foster sustainability in light of the sector's promising retail outlook. Her informative session delved into the following domains: 🌱 Emerging focus areas 🎯 Key drivers and barriers 📝 Regulatory framework ✍️ Key retail sustainability practice across relevant subsectors 🛣️ Sustainability roadmap (commitment & implementation) 💡 Future outlook Special thanks to Retail Asia Forum and Charlton Media Group for organizing the event, and congratulations to Chi Ly for a successful engagement! ===================================================== 先月、ベトナム・ホーチミンで開催された @Retail Asia Forum に、当社ディレクターChi Lyが登壇しました。 この講演では、ベトナムの流通業におけるサステイナビリティの現状や市場動向、関係者（消費者、企業、投資家）がサステイナビリティを向上させる方法について、以下の点に焦点を当てて解説しました。 🌱新たな注目分野 🎯主な成長要因と課題 📝規制の枠組み ✍️関連分野における主なサステイナビリティ施策 🛣️サステイナビリティに関するロードマップ（コミットメントと実行） 💡今後の見通し イベントをご開催くださった @Retail Asia Forum および @Charlton Media の皆様に深く感謝申し上げます。

Day 2 (continued) at NRF 2024: Retail's Big Show Asia Pacific and an inspiring fireside chat with Frank Cancelloni CEO of Jim Thompson – an iconic Thai retailer - The session discussed the amazing transformation of the brand from a group of disparate operating companies in 2020 to a cohesive lifestyle brand: - Taking the pulse of the company and of the brand back in 2020. Morale not very high – needed to address this. Wanted to know what people in Thailand thought of the brand. 99% of the people interviewed knew and liked the brand but hadn’t bought from them. - Answer was that it was old-fashioned / tired / ‘dusty’. Customers were confused – are you a brand for tourists? Luxury? - Had all the pillars to become a lifestyle brand – had fashion, home, hospitality, art centres, restaurants but all run separately. Realised that Asia does not have a lifestyle brand. - Biggest challenges faced in the transformation: internal resistance, change of mindset. Repositioning of the brand – want to attract new, younger customers but don’t want to lose the tourists. How to manage this? - All goes back to product. Began segmenting the product. Targeted communication to local customer base. Tourists know the brand - Jim Thompson 4th largest visited ‘attraction’ in Thailand. - Customer experience: “creating a reason for people to spend time with your brand” - "We created an environment around the brand eg. fashion / fabric shows, art centres" - Social commerce: “critical to our growth plan”. All fashion stores are in Thailand so social commerce even more critical as want people to purchase Jim Thompson online when they are home. - ESG: behind the game, was not a priority. Now ensuring factories catching up, recycled products. - Future: potential for the brand – Netflix series. Hotels, train journeys both being considered. Tom Hanks to play Jim Thompson? #NRFAPAC #TRE #TopRetailExpert

At a time when many economies are struggling, the Netherlands offers a place of relative calm and stability for brands, which is evident in our 2024 ranking with its strong brand value growth.” Bram van Schaik, MD, shares an overview of the results from the new #KantarBrandZ Top 30 Most Valuable Dutch Brands Report in this article: https://lnkd.in/gJfjZz94 #KantarBrandZ #BrandZ

At a time when many economies are struggling, the Netherlands offers a place of relative calm and stability for brands, which is evident in our 2024 ranking with its strong brand value growth.” Bram van Schaik, MD, shares an overview of the results from the new #KantarBrandZ Top 30 Most Valuable Dutch Brands Report in this article: https://lnkd.in/edHixVNq #KantarBrandZ #BrandZ

At a time when many economies are struggling, the Netherlands offers a place of relative calm and stability for brands, which is evident in our 2024 ranking with its strong brand value growth.” Bram van Schaik, MD, shares an overview of the results from the new #KantarBrandZ Top 30 Most Valuable Dutch Brands Report in this article: https://lnkd.in/ga4Pr4Zc #KantarBrandZ #BrandZ

🌟 Exciting Event Ahead! 🌟 Packaging Week Asia will take place from June 4th to 7th in Singapore, with online participation options available! This premier event will bring together top experts, innovators, and industry leaders from around the globe to explore the latest trends, technologies, and solutions in packaging. With less than two weeks to go, don't miss your chance to secure your spot. Tickets are going fast, so make sure to grab yours now: https://lnkd.in/gVmDdgi; https://lnkd.in/d4F3Atqf Don't miss this opportunity to network, learn, and be inspired by the best in the industry. Whether you're attending in person or virtually, there's something for everyone. #PackagingWeek #lastchance #IndustryConference #PackagingWeek2024 #Sustainability #FoodSafety #Recycling #SmithersPackaging #SustainabilityInPackagingAsia2024 #EcoFriendlyPackaging #InnovationInSustainability #Sustainablepackaging #packaging #plastics #recycling #sustainability #regulatorycompliance #packagingsolutions #packagingmaterials #packaginginnovations #Sustainabilepackaging #circulareconomy #packagingcirularit #recycling #packaging #sustainability

LRQA attended the NRF 2024: Retail's Big Show Asia Pacific in Singapore this week - the Asian take on the New York event. Wonderful to see friends from the retail and sourcing worlds. But if the show is to live up to its potential and namesake, I have a few hopes for future years: More Asian retailers. Where were the Asian retailers and brands? Asia now controls an unprecedented amount of global consumption, either indirectly (Amazon's marketplace brands), directly (Shein, TikTok Shop, Cider, Temu 等等等) or structurally (how many iconic Western department stores are owned by Asian capital) A handful of Asian case studies don’t do the global place of Asian retail justice, nor did the small number of Asian brands that trickled through the exhibition hall suggest that this event is yet able to command relevance locally.   Less hawker market: as someone else put it, the exhibition hall felt like a trade show for shelving solutions pitched by street hawkers. I hope the place of Asian solution providers can be more substantial than point of sale systems or tech companies with their spin on quick solutions for the supply chain. Supply chain problems are hard and complex. Asian solution providers are in an excellent position to advise on these problems pragmatically: like sustainability. We were the single sustainability solution provider with a booth. Why? Last, and similarly... where was the factory? Why doesn't the factory have a more substantial voice at these conferences? Factories are often relegated to the exhibition hall, but hold an important vantage point for examining changes in global consumption models and the value chains backing them. This is true elsewhere, but we can do better here! Nonetheless, great to have NRF out here for three days of learning. I look forward to seeing how this is built on moving forward.

🌱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🌱 🌟On Sept 19, the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆 organized by 𝐇𝐊𝐒𝐂𝐀 and Hong Kong Retail Technology Industry Association（𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐀）and inXpire, gathered over 60 industry leaders focused on reducing carbon emissions and promoting environmental sustainability. Our founder, 𝐃𝐫. 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐠, proudly served as a judge, collaborating with esteemed leaders from CLP, The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas), HKPC - Hong Kong Productivity Council, and Invest Hong Kong to recognize outstanding efforts in sustainability. Congratulations to the grand prize winners:  Tai Hing, Sa Sa Cosmetic Co. (S) Pte Ltd, DBS Bank (Hong Kong), Champion Group International Limited, and other all of the awardees. 👏🎉 💡At T-Chef Tech, we are dedicated to embedding 𝗘𝗦𝗚 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 into our product development, viewing it as a crucial driver for societal advancement. Our intelligent cooking robots are transforming the culinary landscape by enhancing operational efficiency, minimizing energy consumption, and significantly reducing kitchen waste.🔋🍽 🚀 As we navigate the AI-driven future, our mission remains clear: to provide eco-friendly, efficient, and safe solutions that empower the global food service industry in its journey toward green transformation and innovation. This commitment extends beyond corporate responsibility; it embodies our dedication to the planet and future generations. 🤖 Together, let’s forge a sustainable future!💪🌎 Hong Kong Internet & Ecommerce Association (HKIECA) #HKIECA #InteractiveTechnology #Retail #Restaurant #Hospitality  #Sustainability #GreenInnovation #ESG #SmartTechnology #AI #GreenTech #SustainableFuture #EnvironmentalResponsibility #SmartKitchens #CarbonReduction #TechForGood #FoodTech #CulinaryInnovation #RestaurantTechnology #SustainableBusiness #GreenTransformation #CorporateResponsibility #Zerofoodwaste #EcoFriendlySolutions

"Oriental Star connects brands with consumers through organic, highly effective methods. The brands I take under my wing are meticulously selected, each one embodying the highest standards of quality and sustainability. We foster collaboration, enabling them to benefit mutually."  Read my interview with Loulou Gao, published in the latest issue of Resident Magazine: https://lnkd.in/emMUdh8Y