A new report published by Peking University, Sun Yat-sen University and Alibaba’s Taobao and Tmall, offers one of the most data-rich portraits yet of online consumption in China. The China Online Consumer Brand Index (CBI) for 2023–2025, backed by big data from nearly a billion users, reveals a sharp shift in consumer behaviour, from price sensitivity to brand-driven, quality-first purchasing. Here are ten essential takeaways from the CBI that offer …
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Consumer
The 2025 Hainan Consumer Products Expo marked a milestone for UK businesses, with Britain as the guest country of honour. British brands showcased their innovation and heritage, capitalising on China’s growing consumer market. The Hainan Consumer Products Expo, held annually in Haikou, has emerged as a premier platform for global brands to engage with China’s burgeoning consumer market. In 2025, the event took on special significance for the UK, which …
Despite escalating trade tensions between the United States and China, Chinese e-commerce apps like Taobao and DHgate have experienced a remarkable surge in global popularity. This trend underscores the complex interplay between consumer behaviour, social media influence, and international trade policies. In April 2025, Chinese e-commerce platform Taobao, operated by Alibaba, catapulted from 47th to 5th place among free apps on the US Apple App Store. Similarly, DHgate, a platform …
China’s instant VAT refund policy for foreign tourists is a strategic move to invigorate the country’s tourism and retail sectors Effective since 8 April 2025, China’s instant VAT refund initiative allows eligible international visitors to receive VAT refunds directly at the point of purchase, as opposed to claiming refunds upon departure. The policy, which was piloted in major tourist destinations like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, has now been expanded across …
As China enters a new era of economic moderation, the rules of brand marketing in the world’s second-largest consumer market are rapidly evolving. Totem’s 2025 China Marketing and Media Trends report, published in December 2024 in partnership with Campaign Asia, provides a timely and nuanced view of these shifts. Based on a survey of 95 marketing leaders, the report captures the current mood and the strategic recalibrations underway. This article …
The global marketplace is undergoing a seismic shift, driven by the rise of Chinese brands and their increasing influence on international consumers. In 2025, the relationship between global and Chinese brands is evolving at an unprecedented pace, marked by deepening collaborations, bold global expansions, and innovative cultural storytelling. A new report by TONG Global and the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) explores these dynamics, offering insights into how brands can navigate …
The lucrative Chinese consumer market and how UK brands can effectively engage with it was the subject of the expert-led consumer breakout session at the UK-China Business Forum 2025 Chaired by Celine Tang, Retail & E-commerce Sector Lead, China-Britain Business Council, the session featured insights from David Haigh, Chairman and CEO, Brand Finance Plc; Jack Porteous, Commercial Director, TONG Global; Kai-Chuan Chao, Commercial and Cultural Partnerships, East Asia Lead, The …
In the bustling streets of Chinese cities, a bright yellow-and-pink logo has become a familiar sight. Mixue Bingcheng, a Chinese bubble tea and ice cream chain, has quietly grown into one of the most prolific retail brands in the world. With over 45,000 stores globally — more than McDonald’s or Starbucks — Mixue has captured the hearts (and taste buds) of millions. Its rapid rise is not just a story …
On Monday, 10 February 2025, the Holland & Barrett headquarters in London played host to an event that delved into the rapidly evolving landscape of China’s health and wellness industry. CBBC’s first China Chat of 2025 brought together industry leaders, strategists and innovators to discuss the ongoing seismic shifts in Chinese consumer behaviour and the opportunities these changes present for global brands. The event was a timely exploration of how …
In the 1980s and 1990s, London art dealer James Birch built quite a reputation selling works by British surrealists and emerging young British artists (YBAs) from his Chelsea gallery. Then the globally renowned Francis Bacon agreed to let him arrange an exhibition for him in Moscow in 1988. His memoir of that adventure, Bacon in Moscow (Cheerio Publishing, 2022), is both funny and frustrating by turn, and many who did …