In this second installment of our engaging dialogue with Ed Sander on The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley continues to explore the dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape of China's digital technology scene. Ed, known for his deep insights into the intricacies of Chinese e-commerce, shares his expertise on the roles of major players like Alibaba and JD.com and dives into emerging platforms like Douyin and Little Red Book. The episode begins with a discussion on Alibaba and JD.com, tradition...
Aug 29, 2024•48 min
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Ed Sander, a renowned analyst specializing in China's digital technology landscape. In the first part of this two-part conversation, Ed shares his expert insights into Pinduoduo and the meteoric rise of its international marketplace, Temu. The episode kicks off with Ed discussing the innovative business strategies, such as group buying and aggressive discounting, that have propelled Pinduoduo to immense success within Chin...
Aug 21, 2024•52 min
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Jason Ang, Co-founder and CEO of CONTEN.T, a forward-thinking agency dedicated to crafting digital experiences for global brands across the Asia-Pacific region. Jason delves into the evolving digital landscape, the unique challenges of engaging Gen Z consumers, and the strategic nuances of marketing in APAC. Jason begins by sharing his current location and the exciting developments at CONTEN.T, including their latest proje...
Aug 14, 2024•43 min
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley welcomes Dr. Benjamin Herscovitch, a Research Fellow at the Australian National University's School of Regulation and Global Governance. Dr. Herscovitch brings a wealth of knowledge on China's economic statecraft and the dynamics of Australia-China relations, offering deep insights into recent developments and future prospects. The discussion begins with Dr. Herscovitch sharing his background as a China scholar and detailing his curren...
Jul 31, 2024•39 min
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Alex Phillips, the China Corridor Director for Santander UK. Alex shares insights into the evolving trade relationship between the UK and China, and how Santander UK facilitates international growth opportunities for British companies looking to expand into China and other Asian markets. The conversation kicks off with Alex discussing his current location and his role in the ongoing China Business Roadshow in the UK, which...
Jul 24, 2024•36 min
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley sits down with Zarina Kanji, WPIC’s newly appointed Managing Director for the UK and Europe. Zarina shares insights into her career, the evolving e-commerce landscape in China, and the promising opportunities for UK and European brands in APAC markets. The conversation begins with Zarina recounting her career journey, including her lengthy stint at Alibaba, detailing the experiences that shaped her expertise in Asian e-commerce and her...
Jul 03, 2024•32 min
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley welcomes Maren Steinnes, Co-founder and CEO of Fjorda, the innovative Norwegian supplements brand that has made a significant impact on the Chinese market. Maren shares the intriguing journey of Fjorda's entry into China, exploring the strategic decisions that led to its success and the broader implications for international brands in the APAC region. Maren begins by introducing the origins of Fjorda, explaining how the unique aspects ...
Jun 14, 2024•32 min
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley sits down with Julienna Law, Managing Editor at Jing Daily, to discuss the current state of luxury brands in China, evolving fashion trends, and the impact of cultural shifts on consumer behavior. The episode kicks off with Julienna sharing her journey into China-focused journalism and what currently excites her in this field. They delve into her recent reporting, starting with Ralph Lauren's impressive sales growth in the APAC region,...
May 30, 2024•45 min
In this informative episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Olivia Plotnick, the founder of Wai Social and a renowned expert in China marketing. Since her last appearance on the podcast in 2020, the landscape of digital consumption in China has evolved significantly, and Olivia is here to shed light on the latest trends and platforms shaping the Chinese market. Olivia kicks off the discussion by updating listeners on the shifts in consumer behavior and the emergence of ...
May 23, 2024•58 min
In this engaging episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley sits down with Joe Mazur, Senior Analyst at Trivium China, a research firm specializing in China’s politics and economy. Based in Beijing and with his finger on the pulse of US-China relations, Joe provides valuable insights into the current state of the bilateral relationship, as well as the economic landscape in China. Joe begins by discussing the latest tariffs imposed by the US on China, placing them within the context of ...
May 17, 2024•37 min
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Dean Diabate, an expert in the world of China e-commerce and Africa/EU-China trade relations. From his early career beginnings in Paris, Dean recounts his initial venture into China's burgeoning e-commerce sector, the pivotal transitions that led him to Alibaba, and the lessons he learned along the way. A significant part of the conversation focuses on the opportunities for African industries on Chinese e-commerce platform...
May 08, 2024•53 min
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Tom Parker, National CEO of the Australia China Business Council (ACBC), for an insightful discussion on the evolving dynamics of Australia-China relations and the expanding opportunities for Australian businesses in China. Tom begins by introducing ACBC, outlining its mission, membership, and the vital role it plays in supporting Australian businesses looking to enter or expand their presence in the Chinese market. He dis...
Apr 22, 2024•34 min
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley welcomes Gerald Hoe, Head of Global Marketplace ROW at Coupang, one of South Korea's premier e-commerce platforms. With its customer-centric and innovative approach, Coupang has cemented its position as a leader in the South Korean digital marketplace. Gerald provides a comprehensive overview of how Coupang has revolutionized the way Korean consumers shop online. He compares Coupang's robust ecosystem to other global internet giants, s...
Mar 25, 2024•22 min
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, host Todd Embley is joined by Leif Rogers and Gino Gordon of Red Phoenix Entertainment, a sports marketing agency facilitating the expansion of North American sports, athletes, and franchises into Asian markets. Leif, the Founder and CEO, alongside Gino, Chief Strategy Officer, share their unique insights and experiences in bridging sports cultures across continents. The conversation further explores the popularity of North American sports in China, wi...
Mar 06, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Global skiing participation is on the decline—but in one crucial market, skiing is perhaps the hottest recreational pastime, with millions of people taking up the sport in the last few years. That market is China. In this episode of The Negotiation, host Todd Embley welcomes back Justin Downes, who has led efforts to develop snow resorts across China over the last two decades. As President of Axis Leisure Management, Justin has played a crucial role in growing China’s ski industry and developing...
Feb 28, 2024•44 min
In our latest episode of The Negotiation podcast, we're excited to welcome back Mark Dreyer, a luminary in the world of sports in China. With the Paris Olympics on the horizon, Mark gives us a sneak peek into the key stories and athletes poised to make headlines for China in the upcoming summer games, and whether China is expected to dominate the medal table. Mark highlights the feel-good story of Zheng Qingwen and her remarkable performance at the Australian Open, as well as the rising populari...
Feb 22, 2024•1 hr 1 min
In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, we're excited to have Crystal Tai, Senior Managing Editor at Jing Daily, rejoin us for a deep dive into evolving fashion and lifestyle trends in China. Jing Daily is the premier source for insights into China's digital consumption trends and luxury market, and Crystal brings her extensive expertise back to our listeners, offering a fresh perspective on what's currently shaping the market. Crystal brings us up to speed on the burgeoning popularity of Ca...
Feb 14, 2024•36 min
In this episode of The Negotiation , Todd sits down with Filip Zieliński, a seasoned entrepreneur and long-time China resident with a wealth of experience across various industries, including green energy, tech, F&B, retail, and education. The conversation starts with a deep dive into China’s booming green energy space. Filip has had a front-row seat to China’s EV revolution - shaking up the global auto industry - through his work for Green Cell, a leading green battery company. Filip also s...
Feb 07, 2024•48 min
In this episode of The Negotiation , we welcome back to the show, Charles Lavoie, VP of Marketing & Head of Creative Labs at WPIC Marketing & Technologies and longtime guest of the pod. In our conversation, we explore the transformation that China's e-commerce scene has witnessed due to the rise of Douyin, which has provided global brands with a new platform to connect with Chinese consumers We examine how Douyin fostered consumer trust by initially incentivizing local brands to lower th...
Jan 20, 2024•52 min
We dive into the evolving e-commerce and consumer trends in China for 2024, starting with analyzing the performance and tactics of leading e-commerce giants like Douyin, Pinduoduo, Taobao, and Tmall. What drove ByteDance's revenue growth of 30% to $110 billion? How is Pinduoduo's western-facing discount platform Temu adding to its incredible growth, if at all? And where does all of this leave Alibaba, the darling of e-commerce in China for over a decade? Our discussion also touches on the influe...
Jan 10, 2024•17 min
In this episode of The Negotiation, we are thrilled to feature Andrew Methven, author of the Slow Chinese newsletter, one of the leading resources for keeping up to date with modern Mandarin language trends. Andrew's journey from a planetary science graduate to a Chinese language enthusiast is as fascinating as it is unconventional. Facing limited career prospects in space exploration, he embarked on an overland journey from London to Australia, including a detour in China that ended up lasting ...
Dec 13, 2023•54 min
In this episode of The Negotiation, we're delighted to speak with Claire Urry, Chief Commercial Officer at the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), the premier British organization dedicated to fostering trade and investment between the UK and China. Calling in from the picturesque English town of Horncastle, Claire gives a detailed breakdown of the UK and China’s robust trading relationship, which has benefited British businesses and communities across the country. Claire explains the pivotal...
Dec 06, 2023•42 min
In this episode of The Negotiation, we sit down with Denni Hu, a Shanghai-based journalist for Women's Wear Daily (WWD), a premier fashion industry publication. Our discussion with Denni covers a range of topics, including the latest fashion, consumer, and lifestyle trends in China. We delve into Denni’s career path, the expansion of luxury brands in China, and the intriguing interplay between fashion and food in China's cafe pop-ups. The conversation also touches on the increasing popularity of...
Nov 28, 2023•50 min
In this episode of The Negotiation, we are delighted to feature Heidi Dugan, Chair of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AustCham). Heidi joins the show at a critical juncture in Australian-China relations. After several years of frosty ties, Canberra and Beijing are taking steps to normalize the bilateral relationship—most notably by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese making a state visit to China earlier in November. Heidi discusses the work AustCham did around the state visit and th...
Nov 17, 2023•43 min
In this episode of The Negotiation, we're thrilled to feature Jing Zhang, a renowned fashion journalist and consultant. Jing currently serves as the Global Editor in Chief of Jing Daily, the leading publication on luxury and fashion trends in China. The health of the Chinese consumer has been hotly debated throughout 2023—conflicting market signals have given oxygen to bulls and bears alike. On one hand, luxury spending is up, but pressures on the housing market have led to increased savings and...
Nov 03, 2023•22 min
Welcome to our landmark 200th episode of The Negotiation Podcast! The last four years have been rich with meaningful discussions, profound insights, and memorable moments—and we’re excited about what the future will bring. In this celebratory episode, we are delighted to host the co-founders of WPIC Marketing + Technologies, Jacob and Joseph Cooke. We delve into WPIC's impressive expansion in China, particularly their new office in Shanghai, and reminisce about the company's significant growth s...
Oct 26, 2023•26 min
We are excited to welcome Noah Fraser to this episode of The Negotiation. Noah is based in Beijing, serving as Managing Director, China, for the Canada China Business Council (CCBC). In our conversation, Noah discusses the business landscape in China for Canadian companies, highlighting the enormous opportunities in sectors like consumer goods, agriculture, and more. He also breaks down CCBC’s government engagement priorities, advocacy for improved market access, and the current environment for ...
Oct 20, 2023•52 min
In this episode of The Negotiation , we are delighted to welcome back Jacob Cooke , Co-Founder and CEO of WPIC Marketing + Technologies . In our conversation with Jacob, we talk about the consumption surge during China's Golden Week, which saw over 800 million domestic trips and more than $100 billion in spending. He highlights other booming sectors like travel, athleisure, and lifestyle, despite macro pressures on Chinese consumers. Jacob also talks about the rise of "special forces tourism" an...
Oct 12, 2023•19 min
In this episode of The Negotiation , we are excited to welcome MJ Park , Key Account Manager at WPIC Marketing + Technologies , to discuss the South Korean e-commerce market. With over a decade of experience in marketing and business management in both Korea and Canada, MJ Park brings a wealth of knowledge about the e-commerce landscape in South Korea, the world's fifth-largest e-commerce market. In our conversation, MJ discussed popular platforms like Naver Shopping and Coupang and booming cons...
Oct 05, 2023•29 min
In this episode of The Negotiation , we are honoured to welcome Michael Hart, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China). In our conversation, Michael discusses his background and 20-year business career in Mainland China. He talks about the vital work of AmCham, which includes policy advocacy, business development support, and community building for American businesses in China. Michael shares his view on member companies' current business environment and investment o...
Sep 28, 2023•31 min