Reports

    China News Brief
    March 07, 2024

    L’Oréal rolls out podcasting campaign; Lacoste names brand ambassador; Anta opens 1st sneaker collection store.
    L’Oréal turned to the Xiaoyuzhou podcast platform for its latest campaign. Photo: L’Oréal

    L’Oréal rolls out podcasting campaign#

    L’Oréal Men has turned  to podcasting to promote its new product, the High-end Anti-aging Set. The business is collaborating with young people’s favorite Xiaoyuzhou podcast platform to launch a project titled “Life Has More Than One Track” comprising four episodes. The brand invited L’Oréal brand ambassadors actor Zhu Yilong, basketball player Yi Jianlian, and KOL vlogger Pan Tianhong to present their unique perspectives on “extraordinary progress.”

    Lacoste names brand ambassador#

    On the occasion of Lacoste’s Fall/Winter 2024 Paris Fashion Show, it was officially announced  that actor and singer Wang Yibo would become the global ambassador for the brand. Wang was also invited to attend the show, where he wore pieces from the brand’s 2024 Fall/Winter collection, showcasing the first series designed by creative director Pelagia Kolotouros.

    Anta to open 1st sneaker collection store#

    Anta Group’s first sneaker collection store, Anta Sneakerverse (ATSV), has landed  in Beijing’s Taikoo Li, and is set to open at the end of this month. As Anta’s inaugural integrated retail space focusing on sneakers, ATSV will bring together the brand’s products, targeting a broad audience of young consumers. In the future, ATSV will differentiate between "white label" and "black label" collections employing a differentiated strategy for market segmentation. The white label series will be focused on a select number of stores, creating more distinctive retail spaces, while the black label series will have a wider store distribution.

    Revamped Haus Nowhere opens in Shanghai#

    Haus Shanghai marked a new beginning today with its reopening  as Haus Nowhere Shanghai. Haus Nowhere aims to disrupt retail with avant-garde concepts and create a visually striking retail experience. The newly unveiled Haus Nowhere Shanghai spans 3,350 square meters, and brings together multiple brands within its four-story space. Featured brands include eyewear label Gentle Monster, fragrance brand Tamburins, cake brand Nudake, as well as South Korea’s Amomento, Eenk, Open Yy, and Thisisneverthat.

    China unveils new growth target, jobs plan#

    China's annual “two sessions,” a key political event setting the nation’s economic and social agenda, commenced  with Premier Li Qiang announcing a growth target of around 5% and plans to create over 12 million new urban jobs this year. Amid a rebounding economy with a GDP surpassing 126 trillion RMB ($19.84 trillion) and a 5.2% growth rate in 2023, Li emphasized the need for balance between emerging industries and transitioning sectors for growth. Additionally, Li outlined initiatives to boost domestic demand and stimulate consumption, and highlighted technological advancements in areas like aviation and electric vehicles.

    Amer Sports posts narrowing loss for 2023#

    Amer Sports, recently released  its first post-listing financial report. Revenue reached $4.37 billion in 2023, up 23% YoY, with a gross profit margin of 52.1% and a narrowed net loss of $209 million. Regionally, revenue in the Asia-Pacific region (excluding Greater China) surged by 40% to $350 million; revenue in Greater China soared by 61% to $841 million; revenue in the Americas grew by 15% to $1.727 billion; and revenue in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa increased by 14% to $1.45 billion.

    Internet fame, cultural clout top women’s travel lists#

    On March 5, online travel agency Tongcheng Travel released  its “2024 China Women’s Travel Trend Report,” which forecasts female consumer travel trends for 2024 based on big data analysis. The report shows that in terms of destination selection, female consumers are not only attracted to “internet-famous” cities, but also like historical and cultural cities. In addition to popular destinations, women are also interested in exploring niche destinations, with places like Anji, Fuyuan, Dandong, and Yibin expected to be popular choices this year.

    French lawmakers set to tackle fast fashion#

    French ruling-majority legislators have proposed  a new bill aiming to penalize ultra-fast fashion brands like Shein, suggesting fines of up to 50% of garment retail prices to counteract their environmental impact. Highlighting the excessive product turnover and mass introduction of new items daily by such brands, the lawmakers argue that this model fosters consumerism and contributes significantly to pollution. Shein, singled out in the bill for offering over 7,200 new garment models daily and more than 470,000 different products, faces potential penalties. The bill is set for presentation to parliament later this month.