Category: Mainland China & Hong Kong

Selling on Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) in China: The Ultimate Guide

Posted on by Editorial Team — 2 Comments

Suggestion: Watch the 10 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

China has one of the biggest eCommerce markets in the world and you can find a plethora of marketplaces here. In the past decade, brands like Tmall, JD, Pinduoduo, and Koala have attracted millions of buyers to become frequent buyers.

Xiaohongshu, referred to as Little Red Book, or sometimes only RED, is a website that started out in a blog format. Here, bloggers could write reviews of products and the rest is history.

Even if Xiaohongshu allows merchants to sell products on the website, it’s primarily used to drive traffic to other websites and for sales on WeChat, for example.

Setting up an account on WeChat and Xiaohonhshu is often done in combination and significantly cheaper compared to selling on Tmall. This is something we review later in this article.

Today, we will go through all the key topics you should know before you start selling on Xiaohongshu.

Today, we review the following:

  • What is Xiaohongshu?
  • Using KOLs and Influencers on Xiaohongshu
  • The Business Model of Xiaohongshu
  • Xiaohongshu’s Market Share
  • The Process when Selling on Xiaohongshu

What is Xiaohongshu?

Xiaohongshu (小红书) started out in 2013 and is one of the fastest-growing e-commerce websites in China, currently having around 100 million users. Continue reading Selling on Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) in China: The Ultimate Guide

Hong Kong Market Entry Guide: An Overview

Posted on by Editorial Team

hong-kong-market-entry

Hong Kong’s eCommerce market is less frequently talked about than mainland China’s. It’s not strange as the latter one has great growth potentials and a population that is around 200 times larger.

Yet thanks to its business-friendly environment with no import duties, VAT, along with a strong purchasing power, exporters should not neglect Hong Kong.

The city is often used as a logistics hub for cross-border sales, and why not profit from the local market if the chance is there.

In this article, we review the most important topics when selling in the Hong Kong eCommerce market

Topics covered:

  • Market Entry Strategy
  • Vietnam Market Entry Obstacles
  • Market Entry Research
  • Incorporation

Market Entry Strategy

Market entries don’t come in one format but can mean an array of things. While some companies just want to conduct market research or test the market, other brands have great ambitions to claim local market shares and establish a strong brand presence. Continue reading Hong Kong Market Entry Guide: An Overview

China Competitor Price Analysis

Posted on by Editorial Team

china-competitor-price-analyzis

The Chinese market becomes increasingly more saturated and competitive with foreign brands. While some companies see great success such as Foreo Luna and Gucci, other brands have suffered and been forced to close operations.

Having a sound knowledge of local competition and a suitable pricing strategy is one of the most important parts of a market entry strategy and crucial for future success to maximize sales.

In this article, I cover a wide range of topics and explain how you can perform a competitor price analysis in China.

Topics covered:

  • What is competitor cost analysis?
  • How do I find out what my competitors are charging?
  • Calculating your unit cost
  • FAQ

What is competitor price analysis?

Competitor price analysis is an essential part of a company’s market entry strategy and can ultimately determine whether you will succeed in a new market or not.

It helps you understand how much other companies charge for their products online and/or offline. From a strategic point of view, the analysis can help to better understand the entry barriers in a market. Continue reading China Competitor Price Analysis

China Market Entry Guide: An Introduction

Posted on by Editorial Team — 4 Comments

china-market-entry

China has the biggest consumer market in the world and its economy shifts towards domestic consumption. As a result, increasingly more foreign companies want to sell here and grasp market shares.

Yet, many exporters are unaware of the challenges that companies face when entering the market. It has a completely separate ecosystem with different search engines, buying behaviors, and legal setups. It’s crucial that you get your feet wet first.

In this article, I share the key info you should know prior to entering the Chinese eCommerce market.

Topics covered:

  • Market Entry Strategy
  • China Market Entry Obstacles
  • Market Entry Research
  • Incorporation

Market Entry Strategy

As disposable incomes and the appetite for foreign products increase in developing Asian countries, we see a greater demand for market entries. Continue reading China Market Entry Guide: An Introduction

Top 5 eCommerce Websites in Asia: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Editorial Team — 1 Comment

Suggestion: Watch the 10 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

Cross-border E-Commerce is set to grow immensely in Asia in the coming decade.

At the same time as China has become the world’s biggest E-Commerce market, neighboring countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines grow at impressive rates.

With increased disposable incomes, mobile usage, and internet penetration, Asia will continue to be the most interesting eCommerce market in the world.

With that said, navigating new eCommerce markets can be a daunting task due to the many eCommerce websites available. In this article, I’ve listed the most popular and interesting eCommerce marketplaces in Asia.

1. Tmall Global (China)

China’s E-Commerce market is not only the biggest but one of the most developed in the World.

With a population of 1.4 billion and a surging middle class, it’s become three times bigger than the US E-Commerce market.

Here, Tmall Global (天猫国际) is undoubtedly one of the most popular cross-border E-Commerce websites.

Continue reading Top 5 eCommerce Websites in Asia: A Complete Guide

How to Export Meat Products to China: The Ultimate Guide

Posted on by Editorial Team — 58 Comments

Suggestion: Watch the 10 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

Increasingly more foreigners want to export meat products to China as everything from Aussie beef to German sausages increase in demand.

Imports of beef and veal increased more than 10 times from 2012 to 2017 and the meat market in China is the second-biggest sector in the country’s retail food market, after the fresh vegetable sector.

Even if Europeans and Aussies have exported beef for years, China has lifted sanctions on beef imports from the US, which were put in place since 2003.

Exporting meat to China can be difficult for exporters with little knowledge about local import regulations as well as demand.

Topics covered:

  • What meat products are in demand in China?
  • Process When Exporting Meat Products to China
  • Regulations (GB standards) for Meat Products Imported into China
  • China Trade Shows for Meat Products

What meat products are in demand in China?

Pork is by far the most popular meat product, followed by poultry and beef with the following composition: Continue reading How to Export Meat Products to China: The Ultimate Guide

China Standards & Certification Processes: The Ultimate Guide

Posted on by Fredrik Gronkvist — 1 Comment

Suggestion: Watch the 10 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

China has mostly been known for being the biggest manufacturing country in the world, producing pretty much anything available on this heart.

In the past years, we’ve also seen a shift where China tries to focus on imports rather than exports, boosting local consumption thanks to increased disposable incomes.

The government does its utmost to encourage foreign brands to export products to China, offering reduced taxes for cross-border eCommerce sales, reduced barriers, and more.

With that said, the country has also started to enforce stricter standards and certification procedures for brands who wish to sell in the country. With the increased adoption of foreign standards and measures to improve product quality, many foreign exporters are often aware of local regulations.

In this article, I explain what standards and certification procedures exist in China and what you have to consider before you enter the market.

Topics covered:

  • Mandatory and Voluntary Standards in China
  • Adoptions of International Standards in China
  • Different Types of Standards
  • What authorities are involved in the registration and inspection procedures?

Mandatory and Voluntary Standards in China

China has both mandatory and voluntary quality standards that you should separate. Now, you might wonder why you would even waste money and time following voluntary standards.

You can stand out from competitors if you meet voluntary standards, hence make your products more competitive. This could be the case if your products are ecological, for instance.

Around 85% of all national standards are mandatory and the remaining 15% is voluntary. All companies are obliged to follow mandatory standards and make sure that their products are safe to use and not harmful to neither people nor properties.

Confirm the standards required for your products before entering the Chinese market. Otherwise, your products might be seized or sent back to their country of origin. Continue reading China Standards & Certification Processes: The Ultimate Guide

Canton Fair – China’s Biggest Trade Fair for Exporters and Importers

Posted on by Editorial Team

Suggestion: Watch the 10 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

The canton fair is held in Guangzhou and China’s biggest, most respectable, and oldest trade fair.

Foreign exporters and importers visit the fair bi-annually with hopes and dreams to find reliable Chinese suppliers or importers. Previously, many of its visitors attended the fair to search for Chinese suppliers.

But times are changing. Nowadays, you can find many foreign exporters who visit the fair for export opportunities to the Chinese market. In 2007, the organizers created the international pavilion where foreigners can exhibit and promote their products.

In this guide, I present the international pavilion and explain how you can exhibit your products there.

Topics covered:

  • When is the Canton Fair held?
  • Flights and VISA regulations
  • Hotels and transportation
  • Booths and costs
  • Requirements to exhibit your products

When is the Canton Fair held?

The International Pavilion is divided into two ‘product phases and held on two different occasions each year. The phases are generally as follows: Continue reading Canton Fair – China’s Biggest Trade Fair for Exporters and Importers

AQSIQ in China: What Exporters Must Know

Posted on by Editorial Team — 8 Comments

Suggestion: Watch the 10 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

In recent years, China has implemented stricter import regulations due to various reasons. The increased number of imported goods, domestic scandals, and adoptions of Western standards are just some examples.

Before you start exporting to China, it’s important that you have sufficient knowledge about governing organs that introduce new regulations and standards. Yet, this is generally not the case.

In this article, I present one of the biggest quality management institute in China you should know about, namely AQSIQ.

Topics covered:

  • What is AQSIQ?
  • The AQSIQ-certificate
  • CIQ – China Inspection and Quarantine Services
  • FDA and AQSIQ’s operational agreement
  • AQSIQ-Registration for the Export of Recycling Material to China
  • AQSIQ Renewals

What is AQSIQ?

AQSIQ is an abbreviation from The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and grants approval for imports of a wide range of products. Continue reading AQSIQ in China: What Exporters Must Know

Top Tmall Partners in China & Hong Kong: A Complete Guide

Posted on by Editorial Team — 4 Comments

Suggestion: Watch the 10 minutes video tutorial before reading this article

Selling online is the preferred choice for many foreigners who wish to enter the Chinese market. It’s not strange as the market has literally exploded in the past years and will continue to grow in the future.

If you plan to sell on Tmall (or Tmall Global), the easiest option is to find a Tmall Partner (TP) who can help you through the process. Not only are they experienced and have a presence in China, but they can also save you much time and money.

There’s a catch though. It’s not easy to find summarized information about Tmall Partners, their founders, their management, what clients they serve, and what marketplaces they’re active on. Therefore, I’ve written this article where I list some of the biggest and most popular Tmall Partners in China and Hong Kong.

1. Azoya Group

Azoya Group was founded by Alex Huang and Don Zhao in 2013, it’s one of the biggest Tmall Partners in China and has offices in 12 different locations worldwide. Continue reading Top Tmall Partners in China & Hong Kong: A Complete Guide