{"id":37688,"date":"2019-03-08T07:05:07","date_gmt":"2019-03-08T07:05:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecommercechinaagency.com\/?p=37688"},"modified":"2021-06-25T01:44:57","modified_gmt":"2021-06-25T01:44:57","slug":"consumption-china-online-retail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecommercechinaagency.com\/consumption-china-online-retail\/","title":{"rendered":"Consumption keeps growing in China, pushed by online retail sales"},"content":{"rendered":"

The household consumption in China is still in progress: it has increased by 9.7% in the first two months of 2018. <\/strong>Since the American consumption expenditure growth just by 2.4% in February, the consumption on the Chinese market approaches one more time 10%. According to the results of the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the total of consumption reached 6,198.2 billion yuan, equivalent to an increase of 9.7% year-on-year. Among this development, the online retail sales of goods and services went up by 37,3% year-on-year.<\/strong><\/p>\n

China is the world\u2019s largest e-commerce market<\/h2>\n

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According to a new discussion paper from the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), China\u2019s digital economy: A leading global force<\/em>, China is the world\u2019s largest e-commerce market. China is accounting for more than 40% of the value of worldwide e-commerce transactions while about a decade ago, it took only a part less than 1 percent. 20.1% of the total retail sales grew are based on online sales.<\/p>\n

In China, everything is simple to obtain through the internet. There are many e-commerce Websites like Taobao, Tmall<\/a>, <\/em>or JD. They gather many products from different categories such as food, clothing, household products, accessories, and from different countries, according to Chinese customer\u2019s needs. E-commerce offers a wide range of choices and opened also the door for abroad companies.<\/p>\n

Moreover, it\u2019s often cheaper to purchase online. To go further, it has become a real way to consume in China. It makes it easier to purchase, and it is saving time at the same moment. Also, quick shipping in China supports this trend.<\/p>\n

A major global force in Mobile payment<\/h3>\n

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China has 11 times the transaction value of the United States. Economists started to describe China as a Cashless society<\/a> because money is almost disappearing within big Chinese cities, replaced by QR codes.<\/p>\n

Thanks to Alibaba and WeChat, which provide Alipay and WeChat Pay, mobile payments have taken China by storm. It is possible to use it almost everywhere, from the Merchant of vegetables and fruits at the corner of the street to luxury stores settled in the center of Shanghai.<\/p>\n

Chinese people are nowadays accustomed to using their mobile phones to buy physically and online. This also contributed to sales growth in China, as desires can be instantly satisfied. Maybe you have also felt it before, when you are using cash, it seems like each expenditure is taken into account. While, when you are facing electronic money or prepaid card, even you had to refill it before, it just appears as numbers and the consumption happens in a way easier to accept. Sometimes, you can\u2019t even notice how much you spent. This is the case for many consumers.<\/p>\n

Retail sales in urban areas were RMB 5,204.6 billion<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>In terms of different areas, the city is still the center of consumption. It concentrates 85% of the activity of consumption, generating 5,204.6 billion yuan (up by 9.6% year-on-year). Foreign brands and companies often target first-tier and second-tier cities for their business.<\/p>\n

However, now third-tier cities also offer a lot of opportunities. In fact, we can notice a growth more important in rural areas, of 10.7% compared to last year. The development of the country and the extension of big cities are helping this growth. The Chinese government will shortly start to care and to help the development in these cities.<\/p>\n

According to Mckinsey\u2019s latest survey of China\u2019s Internet users, online shopping started also to become a habit for consumers in low-tier cities.<\/p>\n

Social media platforms boost China’s economic development<\/h3>\n

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E-commerce penetration beyond first-mover product categories such as apparel, purchases initiated from social media platforms, and the use of cross-border shopping to supplement domestic channels.<\/p>\n

Chinese people are very actives on social media platforms such as Weibo<\/a> (the most visited site for micro-blogging in China) or Wechat (the must-have app for any person in link with China). They get information and also share information with them. Brands and companies have to make sure their online presence and reputation develop in China.<\/p>\n

To increase visibility, they can also collaborate with KOL (Key Opinion Leader). They are generally known as bloggers and generate publications about the brands they carry or the product they use. KOL is influencing the taste and the shopping behaviors of millions of Chinese of the middle class. They often have a huge number of followers on social media platforms.<\/p>\n

The best platform to reach your Chinese consumers<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>The main difference between Weibo and Wechat is that Weibo is more of a public platform, while Wechat is a large circle of friends. Users of Wechat are more valuable than the followers of Weibo because it is possible for the brand to interact in a way more personalized with their target consumer, with the possibility for them to answer their comments. Also, exchanges on WeChat are more warm and friendly.<\/p>\n

Brands and companies can create a WeChat official account to profit from features made by WeChat for businesses in China. See our complete guideline about Wechat official account<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

However, Wechat doesn\u2019t allow you to see the content of a person if he or she isn\u2019t on your contact list. On Weibo, you can see the activities of users even if you don\u2019t follow them.<\/p>\n

GMA is an agency specialized in digital marketing in the Chinese market. We have developed many successful e-commerce projects because we know how to effectively promote in China by using the latest digital tools and managing social media account in China<\/a>. Do you want to start your business in China? The emerging sources of growth in China are creating opportunities for companies that act quickly. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.<\/p>\n

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Read also more about Business & Consumption Trends in China<\/h2>\n