Marketing a product in China is a challenge for many a Western company. The biggest mistake is thinking that this is just one country.Cultural differences and differing socio-economic backgrounds make successfully establishing a brand locally a tough nut to crack.
Author: Laura Schmitt
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The Penny Has Dropped; Transforming Turmoil In The Banking Sector
China is in constant flux. Now, even its most powerful sector is going through a phase of unprecedented change. The transformation of the local banking sector is taking shape with the entrance of Taiwanese Sinopac to Nanjing’s banking scene and today’s announcement of a shutdown of mobile QR payment services. Recent steps by have been speaking a clear language of a government that is willing to open the previously entirely controlled banking system of China to more competition.
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A Time to Shop; Women’s Day in China
While the 8th of May comes and goes in Western countries with hardly anyone noticing, in China San Ba Jie, the International Women’s Day is cause for nationwide celebration and completes the purchasing trifecta of the new year.
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Two-Child Policy; Baby Boom or Baby Doom?
First Beijing, then Shanghai and soon Nanjing? All over China the one-child policy is being relaxed to allow more people to have two children, but is this necessarily a good thing? On 21st February 2014 Beijing announced the changes, which allow parents where only one partner is a single child to have two children; previously only parents that were both single children were allowed to have two offspring.
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Scientific Quotient; Does Nanjing Measure Up?
Nanjing’s women know more about science; the Cultural Revolution lingers on; over half of Nanjing opposes genetic modification; our phones teach us science. These are the most important revelations to emerge from the Nanjing’s Scientific Literacy Survey for the year if 2013, published on 24th February, 2014 by the local government. The survey was conducted from July to December last year in the city’s 11 districts with 1500 respondents in total.
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Mane of Snow descends upon Nanjing
What started as continuous rain two days ago has now culminated in a full-blown snow fest hailed as the biggest amount of snow expected for the year of the horse.
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Clash of the Cultures: Hearts vs Lanterns
“If your mother and your wife were both drowning, which one would you save?” illustrates the worst dilemma imaginable for a Chinese man. Today, the entire nation faces the tough choice between mother and lover.
It is a bit like watching your two favourite sports teams face off in a match. This year’s February 14th has brought about a culture clash in China of unprecedented proportions as Western Valentine’s Day, which has become hugely popular in the Middle Kingdom, falls on the same day as the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival.
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Nanjing Taxi Crisis; Who will Pay?
The introduction of the “double fee system” for taxis is coming in June 2014.With new apps, payment methods and pricing system, the Nanjing Taxi Industry is in upheaval.
In Beijing, where horrendous traffic jams are the daily norm, it was introduced years ago; the “double fee system” wherein passengers pay not only for the distance of a drive but also for its duration. Discussion whether to introduce a low-speed and waiting fee to the taxi system in Nanjing has been going on for quite some time; ten years to be exact.
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When NJ met LA; Jiangsu Pollutants “infect” Western US’ air quality
Chinese factories are responsible for a rise in air pollution in the western United States, reports a paper published on 20th January by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Journal. As China’s leading producer of steel, thermal power and cement; industries that require heavy coal use, Jiangsu province is a major contributor to smog levels.
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Humanity Wins over Legality
In Nanjing, the new Orphan Safety House is playing its part in ensuring the welfare of abandoned children. This marks an important policy shift towards more leniency in order to save lives.