Our Conference Day will incorporate:

Panel Sessions

Day one of the forum will feature a morning of panel discussions where UK brands representatives and China market specialists will share insights on trends shaping the future of China’s retail sector – from story-living immersion to 'retailtainment' and look at new lifestyle movements across a variety of Chinese consumer groups, from GenZ luxury spending to emerging counter-culture communities. You will discover the new buzzwords that capture Chinese shoppers' daily experiences and get exposure to creative IP brand collaborations that excite.

Live Sessions

Follow up interactive sessions will address how brands can leverage their own cultural selling points to resonate with a Chinese consumer market increasingly obsessed with China Chic, focusing on popular aspects of British culture amongst consumers, delivering the results of fresh findings from Chinese consumer focus groups.

Break Out Workshops

Break out workshops hosted by our event sponsors will deliver tailored sessions focused on different stages of your China market journey. From designing your individual China market roadmap and sourcing brand ambassadors in the UK to cracking China’s e-commerce sector, our partners will walk you through how to engage your China market, one step at a time.

Event Agenda:

9:30am Arrival and refreshments

10:00am Welcome and start

Three panel discussions of 50 minutes each to include Q&A with the public and small breaks of 10 minutes for change over in-between; Hosted by CBBC specialists and CBBC members with representatives of UK brands and insight experts (some livestreamed from China).

Topics:

• China retail – Forecast of the Future

• Meet China’s Consumer Tribes – from mainstream shoppers to counter-culture communities 

• Cutting through the noise – creative IP brand collaborations and unique marketing strategies that sell in China

1:00pm - 2:00pm Networking Lunch

2:00 pm  Afternoon session start

Four Break Out Sessions of 50 minutes hosted by CBBC with sponsors and partners; Two sessions a pair followed by another two with 10 minutes break in between  

• How to scale your China business? 

• Cracking China’s e-commerce sector – main platforms and key partners to help make selling online a success story 

• East vs West: The differences between UK and China consumers 

• Finding your China influencers – the social media/commerce channels and the must knows

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm – Drinks Reception and networking (Finish)
 

Panel Discussions:

1. China retail – Forecast of the Future

For a glimpse of what the future holds for global retail look no further than China. From omnichannel experiences to “retailtainment” immersion, China is leading the wave of innovation technologies reshaping the ways consumers shop, experience and communicate their needs with retailers. The pandemic has only accelerated new trends of digitalisation and no one has embraced these with more zeal than Chinese consumers. Social retail, gamification, augmented and virtual reality and the metaverse are becoming household names for shoppers in Chinese cities. Are you keeping up?  

Hosted by:

Speakers:

2. Meet China’s Consumer Tribes – from mainstream shoppers to counter-culture communities 

How well do you know China's Consumer Tribes? Get up to speed with this session in which we will learn about Gen Z consumers in China; explore the Metaverse (physical reality / virtual reality) and how its shaping consumer behaviour; Learn about changing buying behaviours – the rise of mindfulness amongst Chinese shoppers; and discover ethical shopping and consumer drivers in the China market, and how these can impact your brand.

Hosted by:

Speakers:

3. Cutting through the noise – creative IP brand collaborations and unique marketing strategies that sell in China

Shopping in China has always been a great pastime for consumers of different generations but today is no longer about simply buying products and services, it is about truly immersive experiences and transcending beyond one’s physical identity. Virtual fashion shows, digital products like NFTs, blind boxes and metaverse boutiques are all vying for the attention of the younger generation of consumers. Curious by nature and hungry for novel experiences, Chinese consumers are always searching for the next quirky brand collaboration, the next fusion new product or out of the ordinary experience. So how do you stand out?  

Hosted by:

Speakers:

Breakout Sessions:

We will be running four afternoon breakout sessions in the afternoon of the event, as shown below. Guests can attend a maximum of 2 sessions. After registering for the event you will be asked to complete a form specifying which sessions you would like to attend (1 session from Group A and 1 session from Group B). 

Breakout Sessions Group A will take place between 14:00-14:50. Guests can choose between:

How to scale your China business?

OR

Cracking China’s e-commerce sector - main platforms and key partners to help make selling online a success story

Breakout Sessions Group B will take place between 15:00-15:50. Guests can choose between:

East vs West: The differences between UK and China consumers

OR

Finding your China influencers – the social media / commerce channels and the must knows

1. How to scale your China business?

To sustain competitiveness in a fast-paced market such as China, companies increasingly focus on innovating their business models to enhance current value propositions or to explore sources of value creation.

However, business model innovation can be complicated by shifting factors such as uncertainty, data availability and its impact on decision making.

In this breakout session we will be exploring the triggers that can help a company to make quick and solid decisions to scale in the market. We will be exploring: The vital foundations that are needed for a company in China to scale; The business models that can help companies to scale in China; and The triggers that can help companies to move quickly from one phase of operation to another. 

Hosted by: 

2. Cracking China’s e-commerce sector - main platforms and key partners to help make selling online a success story

10 years ago, China accounted for just 1% of online global retail sales; now that figure has risen to over 50%. Among the 900 plus Internet users, some 265 million purchased products through e-commerce livestreaming in 2021 using more than one e-commerce platform.

In the China of today, there are established e-commerce players such as Alibaba’s TMall and JD.com but new players are continuously emerging and reshuffling this competitive e-commerce landscape. Some brands are using private traffic on WeChat, others are setting up livestreams on the short video platform Douyin. So what is the right e-commerce or social commerce platform for you? 

Hosted by:

Speakers:

3. East vs West: The differences between UK and China consumers

Do you have a clear view of retail in China and the UK including the rest of Europe? How are we going to engage with the growing middle classes and those Gen Z consumers in China?

In this session, we will explore 10 changing dimensions of consumers as we discuss the impact of value, quality and convenience. Consumers are changing with Covid-19 accelerating everything digital and creating an explosion of social commerce - so what does that mean for businesses as they navigate new retail concepts and the ability to ‘test and learn’ in markets?

Is there a difference between what consumers say and do in this new era? Are we seeing this next generation of purpose-led consumers emerge and will they help to drive a more sustainable lifestyle? Our panel will be discussing how China can help us to innovate our retail businesses for the future. 

Hosted by:

Speakers:

4. Finding your China influencers – the social media/commerce channels and the must knows

Ever since the pandemic first disrupted life in 2020, “cloud living” has become the collective new normal for Chinese consumers - from working remotely to ordering food and fashion products online to spending hours watching their favourite celebrities endorsing brands online.

China had 560 million livestreaming users in 2020. Content commerce, or entertaining content online that can hold the audience’s attention and facilitate online purchases, is here to stay long term. Finding the right Chinese influencers, or Key Opinion Leaders may prove a challenge though. Who are they and how can your brand find them? 

Hosted by:

Speakers:

Day 1 Pricing:

• CBBC Members: £100 (+VAT)

• Non-members: £125 (+VAT)