Episoder

  • Since its founding in 2001, Element Fresh has been a beacon of fresh and healthy western food in China’s most bustling cities. The Founder and President, Scott Minoie has been in China for 22 years and has accumulated over 30 years’ experience in the food and beverage industry. He is also co-Founder and COO of Planet O, a location-based mixed virtual reality and social experience hub. Moreover, Scott is the co-chair of AmCham Shanghai's Food, Agriculture, and Beverage committee. Let’s turn to the interview and see what Scott has to share!

    00:00 – Scott Minoie’s introduction and background
    05:21 – How did Element Fresh Start? From sandwich making in a friend’s bedroom to a premium restaurant chain in China.
    07:31 – Element Fresh concept was created accidentally. Cross-industry is a clever way to find your niche.
    10:52 – The two big steps that lead Scott Minoie to take Element Fresh seriously
    13:27 – Where did the initial investments go to?
    14:45 – How did Element Fresh make it through the SARS pandemic in 2003?
    17:30 – What was the impact of Covid-19 on Element Fresh? How was it different from the SARS outbreak?
    21:53 – How many months did Element Fresh need to be cash-flow positive and break-even?
    21:51 – What was Scott Minoie’s vision after raising 250,000 USD and having a clear business plan?
    29:04 – When did Element Fresh start to receive Chinese consumers?
    31:11 – How does Scott Minoie ensure the safety, quality and consistency of the delivered products?
    35:55 – How was the process of setting up the 2nd restaurant? Was it harder than setting up the 1st restaurant?
    40:00 – How did Scott Minoie convince Frank Rasche (Coca-Cola’s operation director for mainland China and Coca-Cola’s general manager in Taiwan) to join the team?
    46:40 – How did Scott Minoie raise the second round of financing?
    48:35 – What was the growth model of Element Fresh?
    50:49 – How did Element Fresh innovate to keep up with the different evolutions taking place in China at that time?
    56:20 – Element Fresh’s marketing innovation: collaborations and customer loyalty program
    1:03:00 – What did the partnership with LiNa (李娜) bring to Element Fresh?
    1:04:00 – How does Scott Minoie innovate the menu and come up with new recipes and dishes?
    1:10:10 – What is Planet O about?

    daxue consulting website: https://daxueconsulting.com/
    What do you have in mind for your expansion in China? Contact us now: https://daxueconsulting.com/contact-us-now/

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

    #ChinaParadigm #RestaurantChina #FoodAndBeverageChina

  • We interview Yael Farjun, who is present co-leader at Travel Massive and an experienced entrepreneur, who founded 2 travel companies. Both have now been shut down due to travel restrictions. In this episode, Yael shares her 10 years of experience in the travel industry in China, talking honestly about the ups and downs, challenges and achievements.
    Growing a travel business in China has a learning curve that is different than growing a travel business in the West. So what are the pitfalls of growing a travel business in China? Where on the Chinese travel market should foreign travel entrepreneurs concentrate their efforts? How has the pandemic affected the travel industry in China vs the rest of the world? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this new China Paradigm podcast.

    00:00 Intro
    7:11 My Way PCM and ChinaClickGo - companies history
    13:54 What is the size of the travel market in China?
    18:57 Why has TripAdvisor failed to take over the Chinese travel market?
    25:03 Yael Farjun's thoughts on the flash sale approach targeting people living in China
    29:54 What would Yael Farjun do differently if she were to be on the board of a travel company trying to get a share of the Chinese travel market?
    41:58 What is the standard commission charged by intermediaries functioning in the travel industry?
    49:59 2 Travel Industries - China vs the rest of the world
    55:46 Who are some of the players in the Chinese travel industry that have disappeared because of the pandemic?
    1:04:04 What travel businesses have strived during the pandemic in China?
    1:06:50 Outro

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

    #ChinaParadigm #TravelIndustry #TripAdvisor

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  • We interview Douglas Corley, who is a Beijing-based healthcare entrepreneur and the Co-Founder and CEO at DHB Global. For ten years DHB Global has acted as a bridge between foreign private healthcare companies trying to get into the Chinese healthcare market and the Chinese healthcare regulatory institutions to facilitate successful transitions from foreign frameworks and regulations to Chinese frameworks and regulations.

    00:00 Intro
    5:36 DHB Global - a brief company history
    9:33 What services does DHB Global provide its customers?
    13:22 How does DHB Global facilitate the link between the Chinese public health institutions and foreign private healthcare companies trying to sell their services on the Chinese market?
    19:30 Are research universities in China incentivized totally different than foreign universities?
    22:19 A precise example of the scope of services DHB Global provides
    24:59 What is the level of internalization of operations for DHB Global?
    31:43 Deep dive - the Chinese healthcare system
    35:01 Is there a private healthcare sector developing for smaller Chinese cities?
    38:52 Healthy China 2030 - what are the main directions?
    43:55 What means will the Chinese government employ in order to fulfill the Healthy China 2030 objectives?
    48:25 How much autonomy do science parks have in provincial China?
    50:41 What is China's current vision on nursing homes?
    54:59 How good is the Chinese public healthcare system? Is there room for a private sector?
    1:03:28 What is DHB Global's experience in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis?
    1:10:45 How does DHB Global use cryptography to reinforce transparency on its suppliers and supply chain?
    1:16:15 What books have inspired Douglas Corley in his entrepreneurial journey?
    1:17:18 What does Douglas Corley read to stay up to date with China?
    1:20:01 What books on China have been a game-changing read for Douglas Corley?
    1:22:25 What other activity would Douglas Corley pursue should he have extra time?
    1:24:15 What advice would present Douglas Corley have for his ten years younger version?

    Learn more about DHB Global: https://www.dhb.global/

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

    #ChinaParadigm #Healthcare #BusinessPodcastChina

  • We interview Jean-Philippe Benoist, Founder and CEO at GED. GED helps establish cosmetics brands on eCommerce platforms in China and helps them drive sales in the Chinese market. Their services include both distribution and marketing. So what is GED’s winning formula for brand integration on the Chinese market, which products tend to sell the fastest, and what are the pricing challenges when transitioning a product from the foreign market to the Chinese market? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this new China Paradigm podcast.

    00:00 Intro
    1:12 Guest introduction
    14:29 GED - company size and services
    17:59 What does the price point look like when GED buys products from brands they want to be in business with?
    21:29 What is GED's business model?
    26:58 Does GED tolerate Daigou trade?
    28:31 What is typically the initial cost for GED to start distributing a new brand and how high was the very first funding to start the company?
    31:31 What would be the characteristics of brands that would have the potential to be big in China, in Jean-Philippe Benoist's point of view?
    34:04 What revenue should a brand earn on their original territory before considering selling products in China?
    37:08 The Quick Win Formula for successful branding in China
    42:34 Using networks of KOLs to find out if the product could be a winner
    45:20 How has the beauty market evolved in China from Jean-Philippe Benoist's perspective?
    51:30 How does GED handle competition from already established brands when introducing a new brand of make-up in China?
    55:46 Which products from the make-up sector have the most momentum in China right now?
    58:19 Why is festival promotion a phenomenon in China?
    1:03:18 Is live streaming part of the market strategy for GED?
    1:07:56 What books have inspired Jean-Philippe Benoist the most in his entrepreneurial journey?
    1:12:19 What unexpected success and failure has Jean-Philippe Benoist witnessed in China?
    1:16:44 Why does Jean-Philippe Benoist not have a Linkedin page?
    1:18:30 Outro

    Learn more about GED: https://www.gedchinabeauty.com

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

    #ChinaParadigm #BeautyBrands #CosmeticsBrands

  • In this episode of China Paradigm, we interview Philip Beck. Philip Beck - 贝曦贤 is an Australian-born entrepreneur who’s been living and working in China since 2005. After 32 years across Asia-Pacific (1976-2008) as CEO and/or COO of publicly-listed international 4A’s media agencies and recruitment companies, Philip became a full-time Entrepreneur and Non-Executive Director in 2009. Philip Beck is a highly experienced angel-investor in China and a chairman & co-founder at Moojing Market Intelligence. In this new China Paradigm podcast we find out why Philip beck decided to move from Australia to China, what is his formula for good investments and how to stay away from potentially bad investments as well as why his SaaS Moojing is one of the best on the market in China. Stay tuned.

    0:00 Guest introduction
    3:12 What made Australian Philip Beck establish his roots in China?
    4:39 Why is life in China "7 times faster" than in Australia?
    6:49 What is Philip Beck's screening method for good investing?
    13:15 In how many companies has Philip Beck invested in since 2009?
    14:36 How does Philip Beck protect himself from bad investments?
    18:14 Does Philip Beck belong to a pool of investors?
    20:45 Why is Philip Beck involved in angel investing rather than real estate investing?
    24:39 What is Philip Beck's current rate of return on his investments?
    27:14 What is Philip Beck's focus after investing in a company?
    29:30 How are the companies that Philip Beck is still invested in performing currently?
    36:18 Should investors also be vetted by company founders?
    41:36 In what business sectors do foreign entrepreneurs have a bigger chance of succeeding in China?
    48:46 What do clients value most about Philip Beck's non-executive involvement in their companies?
    52:12 Are entrepreneurs late on making the decision of getting coaching for their businesses?
    55:42 Breaking things - the process of growth for companies
    57:55 Moojing Market Intelligence - how do they extract data from the marketplace?
    1:04:51 Why are APIs less used than scrolling and crawling for data gathering in China?
    1:06:25 Can Moojing be used as a tool by investors to make smart investments?
    1:08:04 Being a SaaS does Moojing offer another layer of services to its users?
    1:12:49 What is Philip Beck's view on the evolution of advertising in China, in the past 10 years?
    1:18:23 How does Philip Beck manage his time?
    1:21:02 Philip Beck's formula for saying "No"
    1:23:12 Are to-do lists still a relevant way to approach business schedule?
    1:26:49 Outro

    Philip Beck: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philiphbeck/

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

    #ChinaParadigm #Investment #ROI

  • In this episode of China Paradigm, we interview Jie Zhang, a serial entrepreneur with a strong tech background and founder at AdChina.io a software as a service (SaaS) platform that makes advertising in China easier for foreign brands. The differences between advertising in China and the West are staggering when it comes to how the various Chinese social media platforms handle the way they push content to their users. This is where AdChina.io can be used by brands as a tool to test out different marketing strategies and gather valuable information about Chinese consumers’ behavior. But how does AdChina.io actually work and what level of integration does it provide in relation to the different Chinese social media platforms out there? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this new China Paradigm podcast.

    1:10 Guest introduction
    8:20 INSEAD - the missing link for beginning the entrepreneurial journey
    10:18 AdChina.io - company size and funding
    16:04 AdChina.io - how does it work, what does it offer clients, and pricing policy
    23:47 How does AdChina.io handle censorship?
    25:01 Can AdChina be used as an advertisement tool on Linkedin?
    26:23 Does AdChina have access to all the big social media platforms in China?
    27:50 SaaS - how can AdChina.io be used by it's customers?
    31:45 The AdChina.io philosophy
    36:13 Gathering the right info - what level of information does each platform offer AdChina.io?
    38:54 Which social platform is the best to be targeted by advertisers in China?
    40:37 Which Chinese social media platform makes it the easiest to target demographics according to their interests?
    43:09 What level of programmable advertising can AdChina.io offer?
    46:23 How are Nordic brands perceived in China?
    50:29 What advice can Jie Zhang offer brands regarding cross-border eCommerce?
    53:03 Which Chinese platform is best to start with for eCommerce?
    55:31 What did Jie Zhang learn during his time spent working for Huawei?
    1:01:24 Does the mispronunciation of Huawei in different parts of Europe affect brand recognition?
    1:03:03 What is Jie Zhang's point of view on the success of Chinese brands overseas?
    1:05:33 What does the next wave of Chinese companies that will be successful in the West look like in Jie Zhang's opinion?
    1:09:31 Maotai - what is the experience of selling baijiu in the Nordic countries?
    1:13:02 What unexpected business success has Jie Zhang witnessed in China?
    1:15:20 How does Jie Zhang feel about working overseas as opposed to living and working in China?
    1:16:50 What unexpected business failure has Jie Zhang witnessed in China?
    1:18:41 Outro

    Learn more about AdChina.io:
    https://adchina.io/

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

    #ChinaParadigm #Advertising #Huawei

  • Matthieu David interviews Pierre Gilson, founder and chef at Stoneground Consulting. When it comes to the bakery & pastry industry there is definitely a paradigm in the context of the Chinese market. While westerners consume baked goods and pastries on a daily basis, Chinese consumers enjoy them on relatively special occasions. Pierre Gilson has been at the forefront of this industry in China, helping Stoneground Consulting’s clients open and adapt their bakeries to China’s market. How long has he been doing this and what type of success he has had over the years? How has the bakery & pastry market changed in China over the last 5 years and why is it that some popular products in the West are not so successful in the Chinese market? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this new China Paradigm podcast.

    0:00 Guest introduction and current bakery & pastry market state in China
    8:51 How sweet should a product be in order to satisfy the needs of Chinese costumers?
    10:30 What other characteristics of a product need to be adapted for the Chinese market?
    12:33 What is the process of coming up with a good mix of ingredients?
    14:04 What other ingredients besides Sichuan Pepper does Pierre Gilson consider using for his products?
    17:29 Does the addition of Chinese ingredients contribute to the marketing strategy?
    18:55 What was Pierre Gilson's perception of the Chinese bake & pastry market when he first arrived in China 5 years ago?
    21:11 How has the Chinese bakery & pastry market changed over the past 5 years?
    23:05 Do Chinese costumers consume baked goods on a daily basis or does that happen more on special occasions in China?
    26:32 How do Chinese people approach the consumption of croissants?
    29:07 What new interesting pastry and beverage pairings has Pierre Gilson discovered in China?
    30:46 Why are baked goods and pastries overpriced in Shanghai?
    32:52 What is Pierre Gilson's opinion on the fact that there aren't any major French entrepreneurs in the restaurant industry in China?
    36:36 What type of services does Stoneground Consulting offer on the marketing side of a bakery & pastry business?
    41:56 What was the experience of opening the biggest Starbucks in the world like for Pierre Gilson?
    44:15 What other types of market constraints have impacted the way Pierre Gilson works?
    45:41 What are the challenges of operating a Starbucks kitchen?
    47:22 Recruitment: how hard was it to find well-trained people?
    48:49 What is Shanghai Young Bakers and what does it do?
    51:11 What source of inspiration has impacted Pierre Gilson the most in his entrepreneurial journey?
    54:08 What does Pierre Gilson do to stay up to date on China?
    55:02 Should he had extra time what other business ideas would Pierre Gilson pursue?
    56:29 What is the most surprising experience that Pierre Gilson has had so far in China?
    57:49 What surprising business success or failure has Pierre Gilson witnessed in China?

    Learn more about Stoneground Consulting:
    https://www.facebook.com/stoneground.consulting/

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

    #ChinaParadigm #Bakery #PastryMarket

  • Matthieu David interviews Kai Hong, Chairman and Partner at JINGdigital. Customer Relationship Management is part of the day-to-day life of any company that needs to understand its customers better and in turn offer better services or products. JINGdigital is using its digital marketing automation platform and has been successfully serving 100+ global Fortune 1000 companies in China. This SaaS company offers its clients CRM software solutions that, in their own words, “do not reduce costs but increase revenue”. This is one of the many reasons why they are able to target high revenue companies and are able to stay highly competitive in the tech market. But what specific features do their services have and how hard is it to tailor a software according to specific guidelines proposed by the client? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this new China Paradigm podcast.

    0:00 Guest introduction
    5:57 Current company size and revenue
    7:08 How did JINGdigital acquire luxury brand customers?
    13:28 Why is JINGdigital the top choice for clients when it comes to CRM implementation?
    21:12 The JINGdigital teams - how are they categorized?
    23:15 What is the JINGdigital pricing policy?
    27:16 Why is JINGdigital targeting companies with 50 million USD revenue?
    30:41 Initial funding - how much money did Kai Hong had to raise to start JINGdigital?
    33:55 Marketing automation vs Social CRM
    37:27 What features do companies like about JINGdigital's software and which features do they often end up ignoring?
    45:05 How does JINGdigital's software interact with other digital assets outside of WeChat?
    48:32 Is the phone number still the key to identifying the lead client?
    50:26 Are there regulations similar to the GDPR for personal data collection and storage in China?
    55:08 How does JINGdigital manage client expectations when it comes to CRM software customization?
    57:06 How does JINGdigital define their competition?
    58:15 How does Kai Hong see the future of JINGdigital?
    59:13 Outro

    Learn more about JINGdigital: https://www.jingdigital.com/en/

    Building a SaaS in the Wechat, Weibo & Douyin ecosystems: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WxmtJsXqgQ

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

    #ChinaParadigm #MarketingAutomation #SCRM

  • Matthieu David interviews Rodney Evans, Founder & CEO of Central Studios Shanghai. The photo and video production industry has definitely shifted to a more streamlined approach due to the emergence of social media in the last decade. Central Studios Shanghai, a photo studio based in China, has been able to endure and evolve since its beginnings in 2005. How were they able to retain their coveted location? What services do they offer their clients and how are they managing all the aspects of their business? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this new China Paradigm interview.

    0:00 Guest introduction
    3:12 Brief company history
    6:09 What makes Central Studios Shanghai an international company?
    10:06 How hard was it to keep the current location for Central Studios Shanghai?
    13:15 What are the specific services that Central Studios Shanghai offers its clients?
    14:51 Has the internet changed the request clients have for Central Studios Shanghai's services?
    19:40 How has COVID-19 impacted the media production industry?
    22:04 Current company size
    27:19 What is Rodney Evans's view on artist management?
    31:01 Are Chinese photographers starting to reach the level of fame that western photographers reached?
    35:09 Current market structure for the media production industry?
    37:36 What are the main trends that are influenced by the change of technology?
    41:35 What books have inspired Rodney Evans the most in his entrepreneurial journey?
    48:10 How does Rodney Evans stay informed and up to date with China?
    49:29 What does Rodney Evans recommend for foreigners as a source of information about China?
    51:43 How is the relationship between China and Australia?
    53:37 What productivity tools does Rodney Evans use?
    55:27 What would Rodney Evans pursue should he have extra time?
    56:10 What has been most surprising to Rodney Evans about China?
    58:38 What unexpected success or failure has Rodney Evans witnessed in China?
    1:03:41 Outro

    Learn more about Central Studios Shanghai: https://centralstudios.cn/

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

    #ChinaParadigm #VideoProduction #PostProduction

  • Matthieu David interviews Founder at Maik’s Gourmet & passionate chef and F&B consultant. The Food and Beverage industry is a very competitive one in China and that’s why having a strong backend and a quality frontend are the factors that will make an F&B business succeed. Maik’s Gourmet provides F&B businesses with DIY foreign food deliverables that are fresh, health risk certified and in demand. But how hard is it to be able to deliver fresh food on a daily basis? How does Maik manage different inventory demands and how has the coronavirus impacted the way consumers approach buying food from F&B businesses now? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this new China Paradigm interview.

    0:00 Guest introduction
    1:49 What is Maik Juengst's perspective on how the coronavirus outbreak impacted businesses?
    4:52 Are restaurants less affected by the outbreak than hotels?
    8:39 Maik’s Gourmet - a company introduction
    15:49 What does Maik’s Gourmet bring to the table in their partnership with Haidilao?
    17:26 How much territory can Maik’s Gourmet cover in China?
    19:37 What type of clients would benefit from Maik Juengst's F&B consultancy services?
    23:19 How does Maik's Gourmet tackle the issue of inventory for their clients?
    26:41 How hard is it to ensure the quality and safety of the delivered products?
    30:58 How has the coronavirus outbreak changed the way consumers judge how they buy their food?
    33:10 Was the WeChat platform created during the outbreak for B2B clients or for the end client also?
    35:12 Why does focusing on B2C is not a priority right now?
    37:45 How is foreign food perceived on the Chinese market?
    39:43 Why isn't there a foreign food chain in China?
    41:46 What unexpected success or failure has Maik Juengst witnessed in China?
    44:47 Why has Maik Juengst decide to locate his business in Shenzen?
    49:18 Outro

    Learn more about Maik’s Gourmet: http://maiksgourmet.com/

    Opening 8 Shanghai restaurants & a club in 4 years based on data and tactful branding: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5DxGiDlBAc

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

    #ChinaParadigm #B2BChina #CateringIndustry

  • Matthieu David interviews Vincent Djen, Director of Cheng Kung Garments and CEO of REMAKEHUB. The textile industry has consistently been a labor-intensive industry. In this episode, we explore what the future hold for the garment industry and how a circular economy fits into that. Are Chinese consumers already requesting fashion products made from recycled materials? Can textile factories be digitalized yet or is there still a long way to go before that happens? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this new China Paradigm interview.

    0:00 Guest introduction
    5:59 How did the current outbreak affect the garment industry?
    7:51 Is the winter collection delayed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak?
    8:17 The story behind Cheng Kung Garments
    10:31 How and why did Vincent Djen decide to take over the family business?
    13:28 Cheng Kung Garments - the current size of business
    14:27 What are the highs and lows of a season in the garment industry?
    17:05 How much of Cheng Kung Garments' production is in-house and how much is outsourced?
    20:53 Is China still the best place for the textile industry?
    24:31 Why is the textile industry still so labor intensive?
    26:39 What are the costs of using robotics for manufacturing instead of people?
    28:56 What are the initial costs for entrepreneurs who would want to get into the textile industry?
    33:01 Is there support from the Chinese government to make factories more innovative?
    37:03 How is 3D printing helping the textile industry?
    41:09 How does Recycling fit into the day to day activities of the Cheng Kung Garments factory?
    44:06 Mechanical vs Chemical Recycling - how many times can a product be recycled?
    46:42 REMAKEHUB - what and why have specific products been picked for recycling?
    48:12 Why was adding traceability for waste products recycled by REMAKEHUB important?
    49:42 REMAKEHUB - following the "Cradle to cradle" design concept
    50:50 Do big fashion companies already use recycled products?
    52:50 Is it easy to tell if a finished product is made from recycled materials or not?
    54:03 Is recycling mandatory for companies or is it still an optional feature?
    56:18 Are consumers already buying products because they come from recycled materials?
    57:51 What are the challenges of creating a brand in the fashion industry?
    1:00:26 What is Vincent Djen's greatest business goal?
    1:01:28 What books have inspired Vincent Djen in his entrepreneurial journey?
    1:02:43 What does Vincent Djen read to stay up to date with China?
    1:05:24 What productivity tool does Vincent Djen use to run his business?
    1:08:25 What unexpected business success or failure has Vincent Djen witnessed in China?

    Learn more about Cheng Kung Garments and REMAKEHUB: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cheng-kung-garments/about/ and http://www.remakehub.co/

    Bridging Chinese suppliers, brands and consumers to make sustainability core product feature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF7Q8pu7eno

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

  • Matthieu David interviews Nathan Siy Founder and CEO at Evoke Motorcycles. The company aims to be a market leader in the transition from gas to electric propulsion motorcycles. There is no doubt that going electric is the future and Evoke’s electric motorcycles seem to be the right type of products for this emerging market in China. Making a strong partnership in terms of manufacturing, how Evoke Motorcycles approach product development, and how do they compare with what Tesla is currently doing in the automotive business – all these topics and more are discussed in this new China Paradigm interview.

    0:00 Guest introduction
    3:00 Evoke Motorcycles – current position on the Chinese market
    5:56 What is the pricing policy of Evoke Motorcycles?
    8:06 What was the initial investment for Evoke Motorcycles?
    10:58 Guanxi - how important is it to build trust before establishing a business relationship in China?
    12:52 Working with Foxconn - how was Evoke Motorcycles able to make that happen?
    17:38 At what stage was Evoke Motorcycles before partnering with Foxconn?
    19:36 How did Foxconn impact Evoke Motorcycles' business strategy?
    20:57 Riding the Industry 4.0 wave - how Foxconn is able to pivot so fast
    25:25 Building the product - how does that process look like?
    29:21 How did Nathan Siy decide to build electric motorcycles?
    33:03 Software - does Evoke Motorcycles have a software development team?
    34:06 Who are Evoke Motorcycles' clients?
    40:19 How hard was it for Evoke Motorcycles to obtain proper certification to be able to sell their products on the Chinese market?
    44:51 Is Evoke Motorcycles' development process a client-focused or a product-focused one?
    47:15 How does Nathan Siy see sustainability evolving in China?
    50:59 What is the core feature of an Evoke motorcycle that would be aligned with the concept of sustainability?
    52:37 Why is Tesla not building electric motorcycles?
    54:28 What books have inspired Nathan Siy in his entrepreneurial journey?
    57:21 What productivity tools does Nathan Siy use to manage his company?
    58:51 Should he have extra time what other business would Nathan Siy like to pursue?
    1:01:22 What unexpected success and failure has Nathan Siy witnessed in China?

    Learn more about Evoke Motorcycles: https://www.evokemotorcycles.com/

    Building a hardware company on one of China’s niche segments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6ePhKtWoT0

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

  • Matthieu David interviews Hong Zheng Founder of Adventi Communication and GREENEXT. Founded in 2004 Adventi Communication was engaged in communications for luxury fashion brands, helping international labels develop marketing strategies in China. Throughout the company’s years of activity, the theme of sustainable fashion has become a center of focus and that’s why the GREEBEXT project was created - to help fashion brands with their sustainability agenda in China. But how health-conscious are the Chinese consumers and how big is their need for natural products? Is sustainable fashion in demand on the Chinese market? Find out the answer to these questions and more in this new China Paradigm podcast.

    0:00 Guest introduction
    2:13 Adventi Communication - a company introduction
    7:27 How did the need for a service like Adventi come about?
    13:52 Is having a Ph.D. in PR advantage for starting a PR agency?
    18:26 The SARS outbreak vs the coronavirus outbreak - how have these epidemics impacted the PR business sector?
    27:27 Why are Chinese companies not pushing for sustainability?
    33:48 Is the market the deciding factor for sustainability? – the reason GREENEXT was launched
    38:48 Are there any companies in China that are making a name for themselves in terms of sustainability?
    41:37 What other industries will be impacted by the need for sustainability?
    45:40 What social values do brands communicate in China compared to the West and what needs to change?
    48:42 Do Chinese consumers buy natural products for their own health benefits or for society's health benefits?
    49:43 What books have inspired Hong Zheng in her entrepreneurial journey?
    51:17 What does Hong Zheng read to stay up to date with China?
    53:23 What means of communication should people employ in order to get a good understanding of China?
    56:48 What unexpected business failure and success has Hong Zheng witnessed in China?
    1:02:00 Outro

    Learn more about Adventi Communication: http://www.adventigroup.com/

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

    #ChinaParadigm #Fashion #sustainability

  • Matthieu David interviews Michael Chiao, a Founding Partner at MEGI and Axel Standard. Finance and accounting management are important for companies as they weigh heavily in decision-making. That’s why MEGI, cloud-based accounting software has seen a great subscriber count since it’s creation. But is there a local market for such software? Are Chinese companies getting this type of management done internally or are they moving towards streamlining it? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this new China Paradigm interview.

    0:00 Guest introduction
    2:55 MEGI – brief company history
    4:33 The coronavirus outbreak - growing the company in uncertain times
    7:10 MEGI - current client base
    8:03 Small numbers or niche numbers - what is MEGI's focus demographic?
    9:35 Foreign companies vs Local companies in China - the culture difference in finance management
    13:42 Do Chinese companies do analog SaaS services internally?
    17:23 Are Chinese small and medium companies changing the way they manage their business internally?
    23:25 Current company yearly revenue
    26:24 What was the initial subscriber goal for MEGI?
    29:38 What specific key features do clients value for MEGI?
    33:04 How hard is the process of bank reconciliation through MEGI?
    35:23 China's baking system accessibility - how hard is it to integrate with MEGI software?
    37:48 How is MEGI able to handle finance reconciliation in the present?
    41:16 Why did MEGI decide to focus on the financial statements?
    46:12 Big Data Collection - has MEGI achieved critical mass yet?
    51:42 What type of loans can small and medium companies expect to get from other companies or banks in China?
    56:38 What is the process of deciding and then implementing a new feature for MEGI?
    1:00:30 Listening to your client - a key requirement in software feature development?
    1:01:49 What is Axel Standard and what do they do?
    1:06:26 How has computer science evolved since 1998?
    1:08:51 How has China benefited over the years by opening up to the world?

    Learn more about MEGI: www.megichina.com

    Building a SaaS in the Wechat, Weibo & Douyin ecosystems: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WxmtJsXqgQ

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

    #ChinaParadigm #SaaS #accounting

  • Matthieu David interviews Gennadii Bochkar and Chen Feng (Fiona) partners and Co-founders at BIBIMI Group with 10 venues in Shanghai. Situated between the fast-casual and casual dining experiences, the BIBIMI group manages 10 venues successfully and planning to open new spots and even night clubs. But how do they manage such a managerial workload, what principles do they rely upon when building a new venue and how important is social media for their business? Find out the answers to these questions and more on this new China Paradigm interview.

    0:00 Guest introduction
    4:48 Current size of BIBIMI group and revenue
    7:19 Brief group history
    15:06 What was the vision of scaling from Bites&Brew to the BIBIMI group?
    16:54 Fast casual and casual dining - why is the BIBIMI group in between?
    20:31 The Beginning - was money raised to start or to grow the business?
    22:02 What were the investments required to scale the business?
    27:54 The principles involved in building a new concept for a restaurant
    31:46 Leveraging social media for building new restaurant concepts
    38:17 How does BIBIMI group's competition look like?
    41:02 Did the coronavirus outbreak affect the BIBIMI group's business in a positive way?
    43:47 What economy of scale strategies can BIBIMI group employ in the future?
    46:18 It's all about having a great backend strategy
    47:52 What software does the BIBIMI group rely upon in their day to day business?
    50:48 What are Fiona's responsibilities within the group?
    53:43 Is the interior design service internalized or externalized?
    57:37 Paying back investors - a BIBIMI group timeline
    1:01:00 How does Fiona handle Gennadii not being involved in the business full time?
    1:03:10 What books have inspired Fiona in her entrepreneurial journey?
    1:06:12 What books have inspired Gennadii in his entrepreneurial journey?
    1:11:11 Outro

    Creating 5 iconic restaurants in 3 different Asian cities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owlrUttlkf0

    Meet the founder of the iconic 17 year old restaurant in Shanghai’s ex French concession: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjL6OHsNpQo

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

  • Matthieu David interviews Carole Gabay, Analytics Manager & Market analytics consultant. Insightful market analysis is really important in order to accurately determine consumer behavior and make solid market strategies. Carole Gabay has been doing market analysis for 25 years and her skills in this field have been honed and perfected based on a strong professional experience. Her latest project is called covidminute.com What exactly does this project shed light on and how did it come to be? How is the approach to market analysis different for China compared to the rest of the world? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this new China Paradigm interview.

    0:00 Guest introduction
    2:21 What projects is Carole Gabay working on currently and how does she describe the term "market analytics capabilities"?
    7:23 What insightful tool does Carole Gabay use for market analysis?
    10:51 How is market analysis different for China compared to the rest of the world?
    14:04 The China drug market - worth tracking of healthcare insurance agencies come to the market
    16:15 How did covidminute.com came to be?
    20:14 How did Carole Gabay approach the COVID-19 impact analysis?
    23:34 The COVID-19 epidemic - quantitative analysis vs qualitative analysis
    29:13 Testing - an important variable to take into account when analyzing the COVID-19 epidemic on a global scale
    31:55 How does weather impact the coronavirus spread?
    36:05 Lockdown policy - easier to enforce in some countries and harder in others
    39:47 COVID-19 spread in Israel - a brief case study
    41:33 covidminute.com - choosing the everyday topic
    43:18 Learning from mistakes - refining collected data on the coronavirus is crucial for research institutes
    44:43 What books gave inspired Carole Gabay in her professional journey?
    46:35 What does Carole Gabay read to stay up to date on China?
    47:41 What book about China would Carole Gabay recommend?
    51:45 What success or failure has Carole Gabay witnessed in China that could have an impact on Chinese society?
    55:50 Outro

    Learn more about covidminute: www.covidminute.com

    How to score a 1.5 million RMB sales day through live-streaming twice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqJHpSlFpS8

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

    #chinaparadigm #china #covid19

  • Matthieu David interviews Josh Gardner, CEO at Kung Fu Data. The e-commerce sector has never been more relevant and richer in China than the present and Kung Fu Data is a big reason why businesses succeed in this field. Gathering the right data combined with having the right business relationships and taking advantage of present opportunities has made Kung Fu Data a force to be reckoned with in the e-commerce business. Find out why in this new China Paradigm podcast.

    0:15 Guest introduction and Kung Fu Data’s history
    6:48 Current company size and workflow – pre and post COVID-19
    17:13 The quality of the shopping experience - is it changing?
    19:55 Calculation of conversion rates during a live stream – the new way of shopping
    25:23 What other changes might occur as a result of the coronavirus outbreak?
    28:50 Owning the marketing strategy - shopping platforms are integrating with social media platforms in China
    31:51 Learning about e-commerce - how did Kung Fu Data come to be?
    39:41 Rigging the Game - building strong professional relationships makes long term sense
    47:46 How does Kung Fu Data gain it's clients' trust?
    53:39 Valuable Intel - sacrificing a year to learn the market
    58:57 Kung Fu Data strategies for optimizing e-commerce marketing
    1:06:49 The smallest details matter - a Kung Fu Data approach to e-commerce today
    1:13:48 What books about China has inspired Josh Gardner the most in his entrepreneurial journey?
    1:23:47 What surprising success or failure has Josh Gardner witnessed in terms of business in China?

    Learn more about Kung Fu Data: https://kungfudata.com/

    Leveraging data to surf China’s e-commerce wave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvD1DYZgES4

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

  • Matthieu David interviews Alex Duncan, Co-founder and Product Lead, and Alex Li, VP at KAWO Head of Brand and Agency Partnerships. If you are a big brand trying to establish yourself on the Chinese market you’re going to need a strong social media presence. Thus, we decided to arrange this interview to get the answers directly from experts and explore social media management platform, since KAWO offers support for foreign brands across all the major Chinese social media platforms. How hard was it to build this business? What were the challenges the team face when deciding their pricing model and what did they learn about how to handle the ever-changing algorithms of the Chinese social media platforms? Find out the answers to these questions and many more by listening to this interview.

    0:15 Guest introduction and KAWO’s history
    6:11 KAWO is always implementing new features based on user feedback
    8:50 Present company size and user base
    13:26 How did the coronavirus outbreak impacted KAWO's functioning
    15:24 The early days - how did KAWO come to be?
    19:24 How hard is pricing the service in the SaaS industry?
    23:25 More about pricing - how adaptable does the pricing model need to be a for KAWO?
    28:02 How does KAWO handle pricing for multiple account users?
    32:26 Planning and Reporting - very important features for KAWO users
    37:32 Does planning mean just pushing messages or is there more to it on KAWO?
    39:06 How difficult is it to build a software service based on APIs of existing Chinese social media platforms?
    43:15 How is KAWO's API leveraged by their clients?
    45:15 Beside timing what makes a post great by KAWO's standards?
    49:13 WeChat subscription accounts are the safe bet for tailored content
    52:04 How hard is it to be viral on Wechat?
    53:52 Post frequency on Weibo - avoiding diminishing returns
    55:13 Catering content to your niche is the key to success on Wechat
    55:58 What books have most inspired Alex in his entrepreneurial journey?
    58:54 What do you read to stay up to date on China?
    1:01:22 What unexpected failure and success have Alex witnessed in China?
    1:05:41 Outro

    Learn more about KAWO: https://kawo.com/en/

    Going from digital agency to SaaS business in China with Daphne Tuijn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y61fV3Eo3T0

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

  • Matthieu David interviews Steve Mushero, CTO of China MSP YunChang. The cloud internet service is fairly new to China and Steve Mushero’s company has been one of the pioneers on the Chinese market. In 2015 he managed to raise 9 million USD to fund his business, but how embracing is the Chinese market for this type of service? How easy is it to reach Chinese IT investors and what are the main differences between the internet cloud service market in China vs the West? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this new China Paradigm podcast.

    0:15 Guest introduction
    2:54 The niches that an internet cloud service company can take advantage of
    6:07 Company size and a brief history of funding
    7:29 Being part of the club - how hard was it to function on the Chinese market
    9:58 How does YunChang cater to the international businesses that want to operate in China?
    11:17 How does YunChang handle the competition?
    12:58 Does YunChang provide client-tailored services?
    14:14 Has the Coronavirus brought change to the time people spend online?
    16:01 Has the market normalized yet?
    16:53 What actions did YunChang take to cope with the lockdown period?
    18:48 What are the main differences between China and the West regarding the way the IT industry functions?
    26:37 Why is the software market so small in China?
    33:27 How were the 9 million USD raised in 2015 by Steve Mushero used for?
    35:37 The differences between financing an internet cloud service business in China vs the West
    38:06 How easy is it to have access to investors in China?
    41:37 What books have inspired Steve Mushero in building his business?
    43:48 What book, publication or movie about China can Steve Mushero recommend?
    47:04 What productivity tools does Steve Mushero like to use in China to run his business?
    48:07 Should he have extra time, what other business would Steve Mushero pursue?
    51:08 Is AI replacing the human workforce a worry?
    54:03 What unexpected business success and failure has Steve Mushero witnessed in China?
    56:33 A few details about Steve Mushero's blog

    Learn more about YunChang: https://www.yunchangcloud.com/

    Going from digital agency to SaaS business in China with Daphne Tuijn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y61fV3Eo3T0

    Listen & Subscribe:
    Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxue
    Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtx
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriber
    Website: https://chinaparadigm.com/

    Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.

    What is China Paradigms Podcast?
    China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.

  • Matthieu David interviews Johnny Chang Founder at Spa Solutions Training and Management Consultancy Ltd., Shanghai. How big is the spa industry in China and how much more of a quality service does it offer compared to the West? What training does Spa Solutions offer emerging spa businesses and in what way is the spa industry segmented in China? Find out the answers to these and more questions by listening to the interview.0:15 Guest introduction and Spa Solutions’ history 6:12 Why does 19% of revenue comes from Spa retail sales?7:16 Personalization and protocol - the two factors for running a successful spa9:53 Why is the quality of the spa service in Asia better than in the West?13:06 How is the coronavirus outbreak impacting the spa industry short term and long term?18:43 The spa market segmentation - a brief analysis20:50 What equipment could raise the efficiency of spa businesses?23:58 Other examples of the spa business segmentation27:36 The hotel spa pricing system30:06 The spa market in China - big chain spas vs stand-alone spas32:43 How are the independent spa chains impact the spa Chinese market?38:30 How does a spa service business structure look like?40:48 Are there other streams of revenue for spas expect treatment and retail?43:06 The top spa businesses in terms of capital44:04 A few key features a spa needs to have to survive in China49:43 Does it make more sense to view the spa business as a retail business rather than a treatment business?51:35 About the geographical segmentation of the spa business56:25 Getting spa sales improved by 70% - a Spa Solutions quick fix58:49 Spa products retail prices - higher or similar to getting them from another specialized store1:00;21 About problems that need to be addressed in the spa industry1:02:07 Is formal training by cosmetic brands required for spas in order for them to sell their cosmetic products?1:05:28 What training does Spa Solutions offer big brands in terms of integration with spa services?1:07:14 How does technology help the spa industry?1:09:31 How does a profile of a typical premium hotel spa or medical spa look like?1:12:16 Are spas adapting their offers based on the different weather climates existing in different geographical areas in China?1:15:35 OutroStarting a healthy lifestyle business in China: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSzBkv8_GHILearn more about Spa Solutions Training and Management Consultancy Ltd.: http://www.spatm.net/ Listen & Subscribe:Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/china-paradigms-daxueApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/china-paradigms/id1450916630Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78qDpsYgQXWrkPpJyZJLtxYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2y6ixpQB1WIs6GMdUeoq4g?view_as=subscriberWebsite: https://chinaparadigm.com/Thanks for listening! If you like what you hear, do us a favor and write a review on iTunes.What is China Paradigms Podcast?China Paradigms is the China Business Podcast for entrepreneurs and China watchers. Learn from business professionals in China on our China Paradigms.