Estee Lauder's Price-Cutting Move Puts Marketers' Pricing Strategies In China Under Scrutiny

Estee Lauder's reduction of the prices of its Clinique cosmetics in China attracted attention into foreign companies' pricing strategies for their products in China and overseas markets. Estee Lauder said the price cut was part of efforts to narrow the price gap between China and other markets, and to promote local consumption and improve its ability to compete in the market. The rise of the Internet and how it provides consumers with access to information have limited marketers' ability to implement discriminative pricing.

"Unraveling the value mystique", China Daily, September 28, 2012

Men Have Lots Of Options In Fighting Skin Aging

There are many anti-aging treatments and products designed for men’s skin, which ages differently from how women’s skin does. Men’s skin is affected by age, lifestyle, environment, food, and overall health, according to Shiseido senior training manager, Mandy Leung. Although men’s skin ages more slowly than women’s skin, when it begins aging, it does so at a much faster rate and with more visible signs, such as lines and wrinkles, oversized pores, and loss of firmness. Also, men have oilier skin, which continues producing oil longer than women’s skin. For men with tired or dull skin, products that cleanse and hydrate properly are recommended, while products that reduce the impact of shaving are also helpful.

"Damage control", South China Morning Post, September 27, 2012

Reckitt Benckiser Expands Digital Marketing In China

Reckitt Benckiser is expanding its digital marketing in China. In April 2012, the company appointed former Volkswagen executive Jacob Tang as head of its digital marketing operations. Also, the company has created online campaigns for the Durex brand of condoms, using social media sites in the country. Reckitt Benckiser plans to increase the portion of its digital marketing budget going to mobile marketing in 2013, with planned initiatives including tapping local mobile ad networks.

"Reckitt Benckiser Shares Digital Plans for China", ClickZ, September 18, 2012

Unilever Agrees To Support Save The Children's Global Health Initiative

The Unilever Foundation partnered with Save the Children to support the international nonprofit group's Every One initiative, which aims to eliminate mortality among children and mothers in China, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Kenya. The partner organizations also agreed to cooperate with China Development Research Foundation, and signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Meishan Municipal Government of China's Sichuan province. As part of the partnership deal, the organizations will work to improve access to health workers and life-saving vaccines, while ensuring children in need receive health and nutrition services.

"Unilever and Save the Children Launch Global Partnership", Business Wire, September 14, 2012

Chinese Consumers Are An Evolving -- And Complex -- Target For Marketers

Marketers eager to tap into China’s huge – 1.3 billion potential customers – consumer market need to get a better understanding of the country’s economic and cultural complexities, says Chris Davis of Campaign Asia. Consumer demographics, buying patterns and product preferences vary by region and by major city, and each of these is at a different stage of economic development. But there are some key facts: Chinese shoppers look for prestigious brands; women tend to control the family’s purse strings; Internet shopping, product and price comparisons, and buying are surging; and senior citizens form a sizeable purchasing segment and do considerable shopping for their grandchildren. A crucial insight: China is becoming more modern and international in its outlook, but not “Western”.

"Understanding the evolving Chinese consumer", Campaign Asia, September 05, 2012

Singapore Bun Maker Plans Major Expansion In China

A Singapore company whose plan 12 years ago was to create a “bread culture” in Asia with a variety of exotic baked goods has announced plans to double the number of retail bakeries in China to 500 – and globally to 1,000 – by 2014. BreadTalk also said it has begun implementing a new look and feel for its stores, offering new bun flavors, and adding variations to its famous pork floss (dried meat covered) buns. The company now sells chicken buns, tornado-shaped yam buns, a chocolate-filled “Hello Panda” bun, and “numbingly hot” floss buns. BreadTalk also plans to launch an artisan bread line and open an “Icing Room”, where customers get to decorate their own cakes, next year in China.

"BreadTalk set to get them talking all over China", The Straits Times (Singapore), September 26, 2012

Estée Lauder Creates Osiao Brand For China

Estée Lauder Companies created the Osiao cosmetics brand for the Chinese market. The company claims the new skincare brand is designed for the tastes of Asian consumers, using Estée Lauder’s research and development capabilities. Estée Lauder said it plans to initially sell Osiao products, developed at a company R&D institute in Shanghai and manufactured in Japan, in China. Osiao is part of Estée Lauder’s long-term strategy in China; however, some analysts said the company might find it harder to introduce a new brand in the country than an existing one.

"Estée Lauder creates a brand for China", The New York Times, September 25, 2012

Unilever Plans To Build Environment-Friendly Factory In China

Unilever announced its plan to build an environment-friendly manufacturing plant in Meishan, in China's Sichuan province. The planned factory complex will have an area of about 27 hectares, with Unilever investing $47.38 million in the first phase of detergent production, which is expected to go up to 200,000 metric tons each year. Unilever CEO said the proposed plan highlights the company's confidence in China despite the current economic slowdown in the country.

"Unilever to build new production base", China Daily, September 15, 2012

Skin Care, Online Retail, BRIC Markets Will Drive Growth In Men's Grooming Market, Euromonitor Says

Men's grooming products accounted for 8 percent of the world's $33 billion beauty and personal care market in 2011, according to Euromonitor Nicole Tyrimou's presentation at the 2012 Beyond Beauty event in Paris. Tyrimou also said that skin care, the BRIC or Brazil, Russia, India, and China markets, and online retail are key to "unlocking" the men's grooming market. For example, the men's toiletries segment is forecast to grow over $3 billion in 2011–2016, while the BRIC markets will drive growth in the men's grooming market.

"Euromonitor reveals keys to unlocking lucrative men’s grooming market", Cosmetics Design, September 19, 2012

L’Oréal Targets Bigger Share Of Beauty Market In Indonesia

L’Oréal aims to increase its share of Indonesia’s beauty products market from its current 10 percent to 15 percent by expanding sales of its products in beauty salons across the country. As part of its sales expansion efforts, the company helps salons develop their technical skills and salon management capabilities. L’Oréal growth in Indonesia outpaces the company’s global growth. Growing demand has convinced the company to increase its investments in the country, where consumer confidence increased for the fourth consecutive quarter in April–June, according to Nielsen.

"L’Oreal Eyes Boost in Market Share, Output", Jakarta Globe, September 06, 2012