Resources

Resources

Beauty

Cosmetic Trends in China this 2023

The world of cosmetics is constantly evolving, with new trends emerging every year. As we look ahead to 2023, it’s exciting to see what the market trends for cosmetics in China will be. From natural ingredients to futuristic technology, here’s what we can expect to see in the world of beauty in the coming year.

Sustainability is key

Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of the impact their choices have on the environment, and are seeking out products made from eco-friendly and biodegradable materials. Brands that focus on using natural and organic ingredients will likely see a boost in popularity, as consumers seek out products that are not only good for their skin, but also for the planet.

The rise of smart cosmetics

These innovative products use cutting-edge technology to enhance the user’s experience, whether that be through augmented reality try-ons or smart packaging that tracks usage and provides personalized recommendations. Smart cosmetics are set to revolutionize the way we interact with our beauty products, providing us with a more immersive and personalized experience.

Increase in the popularity of multi-functional cosmetics

Products that offer multiple benefits, such as moisturizing and sun protection, will continue to be sought after by consumers who are looking for a streamlined and efficient beauty routine. This trend towards multi-functional products reflects the busy lifestyles of modern consumers, who want to achieve maximum benefits with a minimum amount of effort.

Focus on self-care and wellness

Products that promote relaxation and stress relief, such as aromatherapy and spa-inspired products, will continue to be popular, as consumers seek out ways to take care of themselves both inside and out. In addition, the rise of “skinimalism” – a minimalist approach to skincare – will also continue, as consumers look for simple and effective products that do not over-complicate their routines.

The market trends for cosmetics in China in 2023 are all about finding a balance between technology and nature, efficiency and self-care, and simplicity and luxury. It’s an exciting time to be in the beauty industry, and we can’t wait to see what innovations will emerge in the coming year.

Resources

Resources

Research

Debunking 3 Common Myths of DTC Brands Importing Into China

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands are increasingly looking to import their products into China. With the Chinese consumer market growing rapidly, it’s understandable why entrepreneurs want to capitalize on this opportunity. Unfortunately, there are some myths surrounding importing into China that can cause problems for DTC brands. Let’s take a look at three of these common myths and why they’re wrong.

Myth 1: You Need To Incorporate A Company In China Before Importing

Many entrepreneurs think that they need to incorporate a company in China before they can import their products. This is not true; you don’t need to have a corporation in order to import the goods into the country. However, setting up a legal entity can help with taxation and compliance issues down the line if your business expands in China.

Myth 2: You Need To Deal With Local Customs Clearance Partners

This is another misconception about importing into China that could cost DTC brands money if they believe it to be true. While having local customs clearance partners can make clearing customs easier and faster, it isn’t necessary for certain types of imports or small shipments. As long as you know what documents are required for your shipment, you should be able to clear customs without having to use local partners.

Myth 3: It Takes Longer To Clear Goods In China Than In Other Countries

Finally, many people think that it takes longer to clear goods in China than in other countries like the US or Europe. This simply isn’t true; in fact, most goods imported into China will clear within 48 hours of arrival at the port. The key is making sure all the paperwork is completed correctly and submitted on time so there aren’t any delays due to incorrect information or missing documents.

Importing products from abroad into China used to be considered an intimidating prospect for entrepreneurs, largely thanks to common misconceptions about what was involved with the process. Thankfully, we now know these myths are false—you don’t need a corporation in order to import goods, you don’t necessarily need local customs clearance partners for certain shipments or smaller shipments, and most goods will clear within 48 hours if all paperwork is correct when submitted—so entrepreneurs can feel free and confident importing their products into this powerful consumer market!

Resources

Resources

Research

3 Common Mistakes That Brands Make When Importing Into China

China is a booming market for many international brands, thanks to its vast population and growing economy. However, it can be a tricky process for brands to import into the country. Here are three of the most common mistakes that brands make when trying to import into China.

Not Knowing the Regulations

One of the biggest mistakes that brands make when importing into China is not being fully aware of the regulations and laws that must be followed. This isn’t just a matter of understanding the taxes and customs laws that must be followed, but it also involves understanding the nuances of the market and the different layers of bureaucracy that brands will need to navigate. It’s important to be aware of the requirements that must be met in order to import into China, as well as any restrictions that may apply.

Not Having the Right Partners

Another mistake that brands make when importing into China is not having the right partners. It’s essential to have a reliable, knowledgeable, and trustworthy partner in place to make sure that the import process goes smoothly. This means that brands must be careful to choose a partner who knows the market and the system well, and who can help them stay compliant with all relevant laws and regulations.

Not Being Prepared for Delays

Finally, brands should be prepared for potential delays when importing into China. Delays are common in China due to the bureaucratic system and the need to wait for the right paperwork to be processed. It’s important to plan ahead and be aware of potential delays in order to avoid any major problems.

In conclusion, importing into China can be a difficult process, but it’s not impossible. By avoiding the common mistakes discussed above, brands can ensure that their imports are successful and compliant. With the right partner and the right preparation, brands can navigate the Chinese market with greater confidence.

Resources

Resources

DTC

Seven Growth Hacks Every DTC Business Should Know

Who would even argue if someone says that every business’s goal is to grow? No one, right? And for a DTC brand to achieve sustainable growth requires hard work, creativity, and precision. DTC brands have been showing great figures and performance for the past years, success stories here, there, and everywhere are inspiring a lot of entrepreneurs to start a DTC business. The journey would never be easy, but knowing some hacks can do wonders for you, so here are some DTC growth hacks to help you and your DTC business scale.

Hack #1:
Observe which products are purchased a lot together. After that, target people purchasing only one and promote the second product at a great price. This will help boost sales on both products and generate more profit.

Hack #2:
Plan your audience targeting carefully. Optimize running Facebook ads and make sure you exclude audiences you’re already targeting on other ad campaigns so that you avoid being your own competitor.

Hack #3:
Even though you have ads that perform great on Facebook or Google, taking a small amount from your ad budget to advertise on other platforms like TikTok will help in reaching people that are most likely to buy your products that are only present on certain platforms.

Hack #4:
Observe how the content of all media types performs. Video content has been proven to perform better than those photos or text-only content, so putting money on video content would be a great decision to make.

Hack #5:
Watch out for what your competitors are doing. See what kind of content or ads work for them, that generates the most engagement. This will help you get inspired and work on the content that will help your business outperform theirs, and stand out among your competitors.

Hack #6:
Get involved with social media communities. There are a lot of insights and recommendations from these groups of people that will help you better understand your customers. Thus, helps you come up with something that would be of interest to potential customers.

Hack #7:
Making collaborations or hiring an influencer to help promote your products might cost you a lot. But this strategy is worth the investment as it guarantees results and helps in driving more people toward your product or services.

Resources

Resources

DTC

Three of the Biggest Reasons That Hinder DTC Brands’ Success

When hearing the words “direct-to-consumer brand,” some of the things that come to mind are successful, glamorous start-up businesses that are generating great figures every month. And even though a lot of DTC entrepreneurs have told people their success stories, there are still a lot of entrepreneurs that failed and have never had the chance to share their stories, why they fail, and how they ended up failing. 

What are some reasons behind the failure of many DTC brands? 

Rising Costs

One great reason why DTC brands have been successful for years is that they’ve been saving a lot from advertising. Things such as social media, word of mouth, and cost-effective advertising have been of great help to them, making them minimize costs while maximizing income generation. But as DTC brands become more successful, advertising costs have become more and more expensive. So without enough budget, then it would be a tough road for any DTC brand.

Tougher Competition

Entering the DTC industry was much easier years ago, competition is a little tougher which makes it easy to stand out. But today, DTC brands have already reached the hundred thousand mark in the US alone, a reason for brands to exert more effort and work harder for them to set themselves apart from the competition. Every detail should be checked for a brand to be unique and distinct. 

Customers Have Become Difficult To Convince

Most businesses need to pay more attention to the difficulty of convincing a consumer to switch brands. It is easier said than done. People often think that if a business gets a customer’s attention and makes them spend time learning about the product, then it will be a hundred percent sure that that customer will buy that product. 

There’s nothing wrong with aspiring to be a successful DTC brand because you’ve heard of others’ success stories from the same industry. But we have to accept the fact that establishing a DTC business or any business in particular would not be easy. There are a lot of reasons that will bring you down, will make you fail, and make you think of giving up. What you need to do is to know these reasons and do your best to avoid them. Because if there are reasons to stop, then there should be reasons to continue. 

Resources

Resources

eCommerce

Four Things to Consider When Doing Business in Asia

Asia covers one-third of the world and is considered the continent that has the most population. With this, it shares various cultures, traditions, and beliefs which creates a lively economy that would be ideal for businesses to eye for. As broad as it may sound, it is important to know the precise breakdown of how supreme Asia can be in the world of e-commerce.

Here are four things to consider when doing business in Asia:

It is the World’s Second-Largest Consumer Market

With the United States being the top consumer market in the world followed by the European Union, the totality of three Asian countries, specifically China, Japan, and South Korea, can surpass the expenditures of the members from Europe. Also, these three Asian countries have gone beyond the US consumers’ acquisition of luxurious goods by a quarter. This makes an idea of Asia holding a high global economy and consumption and global GDP in the next decades.

A Partner for the Majority of Western Economy

The exchange of goods is naturally part of e-commerce, and Asia has been a significant piece of it. For example, Japan has been part of the countries that bought a high number of luxurious goods as mentioned above. This has made Japan a profitable business partner for the United States because the aforementioned goods are used for weaponry advancement in their country.

Possess High Potential Skills regardless of Business Sector

Have you ever heard about Asians being so passionate about the things they do? Improving their skill set and enhancing their talents have been part of their lives. Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines and Indonesia, have medical and care workers with competent skills that have met the demand of the business world. Aside from these, learning to use English and other languages has been an additional factor to consider.

The Busiest Cargo Ports and Fastest-Growing Technology Hubs are Located in Asia

Sea freight is considered one of the growing industries in the region, having the eight most operated ports located in Asia. Many ports in Asia are included in the top ranking for total container volume, and only the port of Dubai has the potential to enter the top ranks outside Asia. Furthermore, Many cities across Asia are considered the most prominent global hubs for emerging technologies. Singapore was even ranked as the leading tech innovation hub in the world and home to one of the top tech firms globally.

In the world of commerce, there has been no easy path. However, there are ways and strategies to make things simple. Taking these things into consideration could help you attain your business mission and vision and possibly be one of the most well-known companies in the world within a specific period of time.

Resources

Resources

eCommerce

Four Product Categories That Actually Sell in the Southeast Asian E-commerce Market

With the rise of e-commerce in Southeast Asia, it is no surprise that the region has become a very attractive market for online retailers to get into. And with the e-commerce industry’s current status within the region, it is still expected to witness growth for years to come. Which is good news for foreign brands out there. But before entering this opportunity-filled, ever-demanding, and vibrant market, you need to know what sells and what doesn’t. 

Here are the product categories that actually sell in Southeast Asia:

Fashion and Clothing

When it comes to fashion and clothing, Southeast Asians surely do not want to miss out on the latest trends. This has become the reason why the fashion and clothing industry has become one of the most competitive online selling categories within the region. So for foreign brands looking to enter the market, then you might want to consider having a clothing or fashion line business to establish. 

Furniture and Home Decor

The demand for furniture and home furnishings has skyrocketed because of the pandemic that happened two years ago. This category has become one of those choices if you’re looking for products that would definitely bring you huge returns. Southeast Asians are known to love furniture and home decor of all kinds of materials such as rattan, wood, metal, and more. 

Baby Products

Among all households in this region, about 10% of the whole population have children in their homes and is expected to grow more year by year. So if you’re a business owner who is planning to enter this market but still doesn’t have any products to sell in mind, well, you may want to consider selling baby products such as toddler clothes, formula milk, diapers, and feeding bottles. 

Consumer Electronics

Who doesn’t use smartphones or smart televisions these days? Despite the fact of being pricey and not-so-affordable for a lot of consumers, this product category has always had a strong marketability, which ensures retailers that it won’t give them a hard time and won’t have to exert a lot of effort just to have these products sold. 

Entering this market might not be easy, you’ll encounter a lot of problems, issues, and challenges. But one thing is for sure, with the right products and strategies combined with hard work and dedication, then your business will achieve its goals and become successful in no time. 

Resources

Resources

eCommerce

Three Tips Retailers Can Use To Reach Southeast Asian Consumers

With a whopping population of 600 million people, Southeast Asia has been a hotbed for the e-commerce industry. This Asian region consists of young consumers with demands that local retailers cannot satisfy, which tempts foreign e-commerce companies to take risks and enter its market. But what are some tips foreign retailers can use to introduce their brand in this fast-growing Asian market? 

Mobile is king 

When entering a certain market, it is a requirement to know who your audience is, and by entering this region, you should already know that a large number of its population are young, demanding, and spend most of their time using their mobile phones. 

This is what makes having a website that would provide an easy and seamless mobile shopping experience important. And as we all know, customer satisfaction is what keeps a business alive and growing. 

Understanding logistics

In doing business with online shoppers in Southeast Asia, foreign brands should also find a solution to shorten the time of delivering and transporting goods from their hub to their customers’ doors. The region is known for having heavy traffic, poor motorways, and poorly planned urban development projects which all contribute to a longer duration of delivering customer orders. 

It has been proven that factors such as cost, quality, and delivery time helps a business stand out from its competitors. This is why excellent planning when it comes to logistics should be made to ensure consumers that they will get what they paid for as soon as possible. 

Provide flexible payment options

An easy payment process plays a crucial role in the overall customer experience. This means that in completing a purchase, your business must offer a variety of payment options for your consumers to choose from, especially Southeast Asian consumers. This is because these consumers have different ways to pay for something and it primarily depends on what is the most convenient for them. Some use cash thru cash-on-delivery options, some pay using credit and as the region has already embraced FinTech (Financial Technology), a lot of consumers tend to pay using their e-wallets. 

To successfully enter the Southeast Asian market, one must know what works for a business and what doesn’t. These tips are just “tips” that can make it easier for you to achieve your goals, and don’t guarantee to meet expectations. But these tips together with a lot of patience, dedication, and hard work, can make the chances greater to find the path to success.

Resources

Resources

Cross-border

Top Five Countries For Doing Business in Southeast Asia

If you are a business trying to look for places where you can have your business achieve growth and generate lots and lots of profit, then you might want to consider entering the Southeast Asian market. It became an attractive market to be in after it has witnessed economic growth for the past years and still has a lot of untapped market opportunities waiting to be grabbed. But what are some countries that do well when it comes to business? 

Here are the top five countries you may want to do business with.

Singapore

Who would wanna miss the opportunities behind the “Lion City”? The abundance of skilled workforce and resources, a robust economy, and an attractive tax system, plus a simple and straightforward procedure when starting a business that is fast and easy make it a pot of gold for people looking to start a business within the country. This makes it easy to be a “Zai” in the industry you’ve chosen in no time.

Hong Kong

Another opportunity-packed country at the heart of Asia, Hong Kong can also be a great country to start your entrepreneurial endeavors. As the country offers a plethora of advantages such as an easy incorporation process, a business-friendly environment, and a place where people can speak and understand the English language. This makes it easier to communicate with your target audience and deliver the message your brand is trying to convey.

Malaysia

With a pro-business government and a market-oriented economy, there’s no doubt that Malaysia is a good country to do business with. The country also provides a robust and conducive business environment that promotes and encourages growth, profitability, and healthy competition within businesses of all industries. This makes doing business in Malaysia a profitable country to do business with, as it can get you profits as high as the Petronas Tower.

Taiwan

It is indeed easy to do business in Taiwan, in fact, it ranked 15th out of hundred and ninety economies in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Survey in 2020. It can also serve as a strategic location whenever you have more plans on expanding as it is near some of the world’s biggest economies such as China. And unlike other countries, Taiwan allows foreigners to have full ownership of their companies, without any minimum paid-up capital requirements.

Thailand

Although language barriers can be a problem when doing business in Thailand, the country still offers one of the most promising workforces in the world. This just means that any foreign business can benefit from a large pool of skilled workers to work for their companies. With steady growth, strong exports, and a vibrant economy, there’s no doubt that Thailand can lead your business to success.