China Cuts Tariff On Imported Consumer Goods

China's Ministry of Finance announced its plan to reduce import duties by half, on average, on imports ranging from cosmetics to fur garments by June 1, 2015. Aimed at promoting local consumption, the tariff cuts would include those on cosmetics, which will drop from 5 percent to 2 percent and diapers, from 7.5 percent to 2 percent. Data from market research firm Mintel showed 90 percent of Chinese consumers who traveled overseas in 2014 purchased personal-care products and cosmetics, 85 percent bought clothes and footwear, and 64 percent bought baby food or baby-care products.

"China to Cut Taxes on Some Imported Consumer Goods to Spur Spending", Wall Street Journal, May 25, 2015

Shiseido Seeks To Revive Sales In China After Revenue Drop In FY 2014

Shiseido announced a three-year plan the company hopes will help it revive its business performance in China. In fiscal 2014, the company saw its Chinese unit post the sharpest sales decline among its international operations. For the fiscal year ending in March 2015, sales in China dropped 4.8 percent on fixed foreign exchange rate, and 2.9 percent in Japanese yen. For the period 2015‒2017, the company targets 9 percent in average sales growth, as part of its Vision 2020 medium- to long-term strategy.

"Shiseido seeks rebound in Chinese market", WantChinaTimes.com, May 11, 2015

Walmart China Tests Comprehensive O2O E-Commerce Platform

Walmart hopes to boost sales performance in China by making it very easy for smartphone customers to shop, select, pay for and pick up purchases in stores using a comprehensive “Walmart to Go” O2O (“online to offline”) e-commerce platform. The pilot program is being tested in 23 stores in the city of Shenzhen, just north of Hong Kong in Guangdong Province. Using either an iOS or Android smartphone app, shoppers can access more than 10,000 products, including fresh/dairy/frozen, grocery, health, beauty and household chemical items. Walmart China CEO Sean Clarke said the O2O program will make Walmart “the most trusted omni-channel retailer in China.”

"Walmart launches Hypermarket O2O platform 'Walmart To Go' in China", Enterprise Innovation, May 30, 2015

Sehpora Launches First China Online Store On JD.com's Platform

Beauty retailer Sephora launched its Chinese online flagship store on local online direct sales company JD.com's e-commerce platform. Highlighting an important e-commerce step for the beauty retailer, Sephora's online store will be the largest cosmetics store on JD.com's platform. It will feature more than 1,200 products from over 70 major international cosmetics brands, such as Dior, Guerlain, and Givenchy.

"SEPHORA Opens Flagship Store on JD.com Marketplace Platform to Serve Growing Chinese Market for Authentic Cosmetics", GlobeNewswire , May 13, 2015