AmCham Shanghai held its signature China Consumer Conference on October 10 at The Sukhothai Shanghai. Jointly organized by the Food, Agriculture, and Beverage Committee; Retail Committee; and Marketing and Media Committee, this conference brought together leading industry experts in both the Chinese and international market, economists and investors to explore the future of China’s consumer market across a range of sectors.
The conference kicked off with opening remarks from AmCham Shanghai President Eric Zheng, who also presented some key findings from the annual China Business Report, based on the results of AmCham Shanghai's 2024 survey on the business outlook in China.
Following the opening remarks, the first morning session featured a keynote on the general market sentiment in China and trends for Chinese consumers from
Bruno Lannes, Senior Partner, Bain & Company
. The keynote provided a comprehensive overview of what’s happening with Chinese consumers, exploring the changing nature of consumer behavior, preferences, and spending patterns in China.
The first panel of the day focused the China consumer outlook featuring Weisi Xie, Director, Economist Intelligence Corporate Network, Shanghai, The Economist Group; Peihang Lyu, Discretionary Consumer Research Analyst, CICC;
Bruno Lannes, Senior Partner, Bain & Company
; and Charlotte Chang, Vice President Global Opportunities, L Catterton Capital. The panel, moderated by Li Xin, Founder/President, Sustenture, looked at key economic indicators and investment trends, while providing strategic advice on navigating the dynamic market in China. The panelists discussed the evolving consumer landscape from both global and local perspectives, highlighting potential investment opportunities and the importance of seizing long-term growth for success in the Chinese market.
The second panel of the morning then took a deep dive into innovation in durable and luxury goods, with panelists Yassin Tag, Greater China President, Tag Heuer; Simon Song, China President, Bosch-Siemens Hausgerate (BSH); Isao Sekiguchi, Corporate Vice President, Nissan Motor Corporation; and Benjamin Condit, CEO, Mindshare China. Moderated by Emmanuel Hemmerlé, Managing Partner of Emmanuel Hemmerlé Ltd., the speakers delved into the importance of innovation and branding given the impact of the slowing property market on the consumption of big-ticket household items. This panel explored how businesses in the automotive, appliance, consumer electronics and luxury sectors are adapting to these challenges and innovating for the future, with a focus on Chinese consumer trends across different generations and strategies to enhance customer experience and foster loyalty amid shifting market dynamics.
