middle class

Though China is still a comparatively young market for whisky of all stripes, from the rare single-malts sought after by big-city aficionados to the more popular blended varieties that are ubiquitous on bar tables from Shanghai to Kunming it is clear that the market has developed rapidly and is still growing. Read More

Recent events such as China Fashion Week in Beijing have given China's burgeoning home-grown fashion industry a chance to be seen on the global stage. Read More

The rise of the Chinese consumer class is not new, but an interesting development we're seeing become far more ubiquitous is more cultural acceptance of the conspicuous consumer in China. Read More

China's luxury market is clearly an important and exciting place to be right now, but beyond the sales figures it becomes clear that quantitative and qualitative considerations paint very different pictures of the current state of China's luxury industry. Read More

Lawrence L. Allen's Chocolate Fortunes -- a masterfully written journey into the "Chocolate Wars" of the '80s and '90s -- should be required reading for anyone even remotely interested in doing business in China. Read More

China's notoriously high luxury tax, which adds a 30-40% premium to a wide (and ever-changing) array of goods -- from the usual suspects like handbags and jewelry to some sporting goods like golf clubs -- is a source of constant frustration for many luxury brand marketers. Read More

Despite the massive cost inherent in large-scale advertising campaigns, major luxury retailers still contend with relatively low customer loyalty in Mainland China, as Chinese luxury buyers have a knack for mixing and matching conspicuous brands rather than sticking with one. Read More

China's luxury market has gained a lot of attention this year, mainly because it remains one of the few global markets where more luxury retailers are entering the market, rather than cutting back or leaving it altogether (as we've seen by more than one luxury retailer in Japan this year). Read More

Good economic news in China this year has translated to good news for diamond producers, if figures released recently by China's news agency, Xinhua, are correct. Read More

While the Chinese middle class is expected by many to play a major role in the global economic recovery, their buying (and saving) habits, investment strategies, and long-term financial goals by and large remain poorly understood. Read More