http://www.cheskin.com/blog/perspectives/ en-us http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/001013.html The story about China in the Western media is shifting, from celebrated miracle economy to potential global threat. In particular, the Western media is paying more attention to the developing trade relationships between China and Africa and the implications of that on China’s access to resources from regimes that the... Emerging Markets LiAnne Yu 2008-08-01T16:11:14-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/001007.html Here at Cheskin, we often use examples to help our clients consider all of the elements that contribute to a great brand experience. Nike, Apple, Starbucks offer more than just a product to their customers - they create the conditions for meaningful experiences. Disney is one such brand that is... Meaningful Experience LiAnne Yu 2008-07-07T11:06:11-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000977.html While doing research in rural China, my team heard about a very special place in Henan provice called Nanjie Village. Nanjie Village is one of a handful of truly Communist-run villages left in China. I begged our local Chinese partners to take us there (they gave in but thought I... Emerging Markets LiAnne Yu 2007-10-25T11:28:38-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000974.html Shanghai is a dazzling city, no doubt about it. I’ve heard it described as Manhattan on steroids. But when it comes to really understanding the vast majority of China’s emerging economy consumers, I would recommend getting out of the first tier cities like Shanghai and Beijing, and visiting a 2nd,... Emerging Markets LiAnne Yu 2007-10-11T14:35:21-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000968.html Here in the West, we often take for granted that computers are primarily personal devices. Even if our computers don’t belong to us but come with the job, there’s a strong sense that “this is my computer” and I can put “my stuff” on it, which nobody else has the... Emerging Markets LiAnne Yu 2007-09-06T17:03:20-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000868.html China has a long tradition of guanxiwang, the concept of a personal connection between people in which each may prevail upon the other for a favor or service. In a recent trip from Beijing to Shanghai, we personally experienced how guanxiwang works.... China Markets LiAnne Yu 2006-12-21T11:06:03-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000852.html Congratulations to Renee at Down the Avenue for recently surpassing her 2000th post! I can personally connect to her musings in the entry “Pen to Paper or Blog”. Although typing and blogging are so much more immediate and ‘fresh’ than taking the time to write things out in longhand, “the... Etcetera LiAnne Yu 2006-09-20T09:50:47-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000848.html Under Mao, individuals gained status by adhering to socialist doctrine. Displaying Mao’s image at home and carrying around his Little Red Book were signs of correct thinking. Those symbols are largely irrelevant to today’s young urban Chinese except as kitschy fashion statements; other icons are gaining power in their place.... China Markets LiAnne Yu 2006-08-08T09:08:30-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000843.html Myths and stereotypes about the Chinese abound in the press, in marketing books, and in presentations. One of the most prevalent false characterizations is that the Chinese are a homogenous people. In truth, China is a multicultural country that recognizes 56 nationalities within its borders. Ethnic groups often cluster in... China Markets LiAnne Yu 2006-07-10T12:11:30-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000836.html China is in the news every day, but many business people we meet still don’t have a sense of the country’s magnitude. We think the simplest way to gain that is through comparison. China is geographically about the same size as the U.S., but it has four times the population.... China Markets LiAnne Yu 2006-06-27T08:18:28-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000802.html In China, food is love. Food represents familial ties and status between people: the elderly and most prestigious guests are always served the first and best parts of the dish. Food represents commitment: business deals and marriages aren’t sealed with paperwork but by the opulence of the dinner banquet. Food... China Markets LiAnne Yu 2006-02-18T22:04:19-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000797.html It’s commonly believed that Asians value collectivism over individualism – and that’s what differentiates them from Westerners. This dichotomy is attractive because of its simplicity (and its subtle implication of Western superiority), but fails to capture the complexity of modern-day Asian consumer lifestyles. Our ethnographic research across the region has... China Markets LiAnne Yu 2006-02-04T21:21:04-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000756.html I recently spoke on two separate panels, both addressing China’s consumer revolution. One was at the U.S. - China Executive Summit, which included business and political leaders. The second was for World Trade Week in NYC, which included leaders in design and brand management. The key question on everyone’s mind... China Markets LiAnne Yu 2005-11-06T13:46:17-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000706.html China is once again on the cover of Time. I’m happy to see the coverage, but I'm concerned about the media's obsession with the so-called U.S.-China “competition.” Articles focus on questions like “What does China want?” as though the country were a petulant child or indecipherable woman. Why are the... China Markets LiAnne Yu 2005-06-25T15:38:07-08:00 http://www.cheskin.com/blog/blog/archives/000696.html As China continues to climb in prominence as a world market, it's become common for US companies hoping to expand in China to conduct focus groups and individual interviews with customers, especially in Shanghai and Beijing. But for companies really hoping to make a significant impact in this country, deeper... China Markets LiAnne Yu 2005-06-13T23:18:49-08:00