The Negotiation

The recent unprecedented growth of Chinese brands, most of them being start-ups, has become one of the hottest topics in business and marketing. The growth of Chinese brands is starkly contrasting when compared with other global categories such as western brands in China. There is no doubt that China is one of the most exciting markets in the world. The sheer size and number of people living there...

The truth is there’s a lot more to China than just Alibaba. Getting your business in China can be a challenge. It is not like other countries where you can open up a shop around the corner, with time and patience. In order to enter the China market, you need to get your branding right. The Chinese market has been very competitive and difficult for giants like Apple, Google and Samsung to penetrate...

The APAC region is witnessing the most exciting innovation of recent times. Technology platforms and disruptive business models are entering industries traditionally dominated by incumbents. Traditional business practices are being challenged and disruptors are leading the way. In the coming years, the digital economy in APAC will continue to expand at a faster rate than in any other region. The a...

Entrepreneurship in Japan fits the definition of the word ‘entrepreneur’. Japanese culture is one that can be described as ‘wabi-Sabi’, which literally means "frugal, simple, and expressed in a refined way’. Entrepreneurship is a newly emerging culture in Japan. The gap between the traditional business and the new generation of start-up companies is widening. A small number of entrepreneurs in Jap...

The future of omnichannel retail in Asia is inspiring. With the barriers to omnichannel integration falling, consumers are more comfortable switching channels and purchasing goods online, while retailers are evolving beyond physical retail stores to become full-service providers of products, services and experiences.   Today on The Negotiation , we continue our conversation with Patrick Deloy , wh...

APAC has been a hotbed of e-commerce innovation for some time, with companies like Alibaba, Amazon, and Tencent leading the way. But where does this leave traditional retailers? And what's next for the omnichannel retail ecosystem and environment?   In today's episode of  The Negotiation Podcast , we are joined by Patrick Deloy. Patrick is  Managing Director at Merkle, an award-winning e-commerce...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ●      Being a news anchor for CNN Japan ●      How foreigners can partner with Japanese companies or government entities ●      Managing influencer marketing for 3Minute ●      Best practices for entering the Japanese market ●      The future of marketing in Japan   Episode Summary: Today on The Negotiation, we continue our conversation with Chuk Besher, Executive...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ●      The type of advertising that resonates with Japanese consumers ●      Marketing lessons learned after working at Grey Group from 1988-1991 ●      Ecommerce in mid-1990s Japan ●      Brands that did in-store marketing well in the 1990s ●      Producing media for Coca-Cola in Japan ●      Working with the teams at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, and the 2010 FIFA...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ●      Leading Disney in Japan ●      Growing Baroque Japan Limited ●      Common branding mistakes made in Japan by foreign companies ●      How COVID-19 impacted the Japanese retail market ●      Technology-related trends that will shape commerce in Japan over the next decade ●      About Jeff’s olive oil manufacturer Green Valley Olive   Episode Summary: Today o...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ●      Launching Gap in Japan in 1994 ●      Growing a retail brand in the pre-eCommerce economy of Japan ●      Recruiting the first management team for Gap in Japan ●      How Levis became an iconic global brand ●      Building loyalty around an athletic brand in Japan ●      Why Jeff’s involvement in Nike’s first campaign in Japan went global ●      How Nike doe...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ●      How Tod's Japan developed from 2001 to 2007 ●      The importance of brick and mortar retail in the early-to-mid-2000s ●      The Japanese perception of European luxury brands in the late 1990s ●      The footwear and leather goods market in Japan ●      How the Japanese outdoor industry evolved throughout the 2010s ●      How COVID influenced the move towar...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ·       Ricky’s experience working with the Japanese market. ·       Adapting to the new normal. ·       The benefits of working with local distributors. ·       What it takes to have a successful omnichannel approach. ·       How the approach to being successful in the Indonesian market has changed. ·       How consumer behaviour has changed.   Episode Summary: To...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ●      How Bose approached omnichannel sales in Southeast Asia in the early 2010s ●      Bose’s commitment to consistency across resellers ●      How much control Microsoft had over ASUS’s local marketing strategy and pricing ●      Localizing messaging and marketing for Indonesian consumers ●      Driving preferential product placement on search platforms ●      H...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ·       Covid and its effects on Direct-to-Consumer. ·       Online consumer strategies in APAC versus in North America. ·       How to measure success in retail. ·       How consumer feedback is applied ·       The importance of a good D-to-C strategy. ·       The future of D-to-C in the APAC region.   Episode Summary: Today, I talk to Bill Tung, Managing Partner...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ●      Helping Rockport and The Body Shop grow across the APAC region in the 1990s and early 2000s ●      Marketing to a demographic that you are not a part of ●      Marketing outdoor apparel and equipment in APAC ●      Localizing well-known Western brands in different APAC countries ●      Common mistakes brands make when expanding in APAC ●      Optimizing your...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ●      All about the highest-rated nationally syndicated show, Laowai Kandian ●      What is Peking Opera ●      The world of philanthropy in China ●      Being a board member of the China Pacific Construction Group ●      The eating and drinking culture of doing business in China   Episode Summary: Today on The Negotiation, we continue our conversation with Elyse...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ●      What it takes to become truly fluent in another language ●      All about Cheeky Monkey Theater and Star Theatre ●      Chinese versus Western cinema ●      The speed of Chinese business as both a blessing and a curse   Episode Summary: Today on The Negotiation, we talk with Elyse Ribbons, a startup founder, radio show host, actor, and writer in China, who i...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ●      Liam’s work in Public Affairs and Communications at WPIC ●      Becoming involved with the Olympics ●      Looking back at the Beijing Olympics ●      The level of interest of the Chinese population in the Olympic games ●      The stars of the Olympics ●      The state of Chinese hockey post-Olympics ●      Lesser-known notable news stories in China that did...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ●      Tmall’s International Women's Day ●      The most sought-after products among women in 2022 ●      Trends in the food & beverage space ●      Why there is more demand for sleep supplements ●      Health and wellness trends in the West that might make it to China very soon ●      UK and Nordic products that have captured the attention of Chinese consumers...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ●      The Shanghai/Beijing rivalry ●      Companies that are finding success in China ●      The nature of legal risk in China versus North America ●      How Chinese law develop into its current framework ●      Data privacy considerations ●      China’s corporate laws ●      Common mistakes foreign companies make in negotiating and drafting contracts with Chines...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ●      How the last 18 months changed the economy forever ●      How things have changed in Kimberly’s line of work in China ●      What happened to the global supply chain and its impact on the Chinese economy ●      Moving forward in 2022 and beyond ●      Maintaining business relationships in China ●      How the business landscape in the region has changed over...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ●      The main thesis of The Politics of the Asia-Pacific ●      The biggest evolutions in the Asia-Pacific over the last 15 years ●      Relationships between countries in the Asia-Pacific ●      Major non-governmental actors in the Asia-Pacific region ●      How average citizens regard tensions in the region ●      How the pandemic impacted politics in the regio...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ●      The dynamic between heritage brands and startups ●      How consumption patterns for Chinese consumers change when purchasing abroad versus within China ●      Comparing travelling Chinese consumers with travelling Western consumers ●      Whether most big beauty brands need to have a dedicated travelling consumer program ●      How COVID-19 has changed beau...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ●      About Relay Video ●      The typical dynamics between creative agencies and their Chinese clients ●      How Relay aims to “create China’s first truly global brand” ●      How roadshow videos become an IPO marketing tool for companies ●      Monetizing your YouTube channel as a China vlogger in 2022 ●      About Jim’s upcoming app, Relay.club   Episode Summar...

Topics Discussed and Key Points: ●      China’s hockey culture versus that of America ●      How China’s youth is typically introduced to hockey ●      Hockey leagues and training programs available for adults in China ●      Active recreational rinks in China ●      A geographical layout of hockey in China ●      The business of sports development in China from a Westerner’s point of view ●     ...