CHINA | IMITATION BRANDS IN SHANGHAI

Amazing imitation brand names in China. What’s interesting is that a lot of these are very well established brands with great retail presence. LiNing (the Nike looking sports brand) is actually the market leader.

CHINA | SHANGHAI TANG BRANDED CAFE

The new Shanghai Tang cafe in Xintiandi in Shanghai.
Very cool place and great brand extension.
(note. the service was not so good, but it was opening day)

CHINA | MCDONALD’S ICE CREAM KIOSKS

I think the Mc Donald’s ice cream kiosks in Shanghai, beat their Kuala Lumpur counterparts (posted previously).
Of course McD’s managed to secure the most spectacular location in the city.
The ice cream?….. not as bad as the rest of the food. “Eat-able!”

CHINA/THAILAND | GLASSES/FRAMES FASHION TREND

It’s a known fact that Japanese consumers have been fashion trend-setters for many years. But now countries like Thailand and China are also emerging as “yet undiscovered” major global trend-setters. Unfortunately most people around the world (who have not lived in or visited these countries) still consider China and Thailand “third world countries” without realizing that in reality they are more developed, on many fronts, than countries like the US. In reality these countries are dictating, or pre-empting, big global fashion trends. This past year I have had the fortune of living in Thailand and travel back and forth to China and Hong Kong extensively, noticing various fashion trends emerging in that region. One trend that stood out is, people wearing frames with no lenses.

At first I though it was an outrageous fad. But when I realized that the trend was growing, happening across the region, and there to stay, I changed opinion. I tend to believe that this is an opportunity to embrace for big global eyeglass brands, to spread the trend around the world, and capitalize from it. Typically people buy glasses out of necessity. But adding an additional use of the product could mean huge growth potential. As a matter of fact, the most profitable component of glasses is the frame, not the lens. Thus a high margin potential business opportunity. Glasses brands could embrace this trend, create fashion only frames, and communicate that it is ok to wear them for fashion purposes only. After all, glasses are like hair cuts; they add to our persona and overall image.

Not every culture will embrace this, but surely in a fashion forward city like Milan or New York, some consumers will. We surely won’t see everyone around the world wearing glasses with no lenses, but given the fact that so many people in Asia are doing this, it is worth trying to “ride” the trend. It is a simple trend to embrace and a little risk task for brands to take. It is a perception change task for brands; a challenge that can be embraced through communication and product placement in movies and commercials. Sure, glasses were created to serve a better purpose, but who’s to say that they can’t become a fashion accessory like a pair of earrings?
Just something to think about.

CHINA | HUMAN FOOZBALL

…quite challenging, but pretty cool.

CHINA/USA | ICE CREAM TRUCK WARS

Which one is better?!?!

Could not help myself from taking a pic of this ice cream truck in Shanghai the other day – to compare it with the ones in NY that for the past 6 years have been annoying me with their catchy jingle playing all day long.

I think China is up to something