360&5 | Shopify Plus Agency reposted this
I want to extend a big thank you to Shopify for inviting me to speak at the recent Brandstar Innovation Summit in Hangzhou. It was an incredible opportunity to connect with some of the most successful Chinese brands, many of which are already expanding, or preparing to expand internationally. During my talk, I shared some thoughts on what it takes to grow a brand globally — being strategic with your target audience, carefully adapting products to meet the preferences of consumers in different markets, and leveraging local ambassadors to foster deeper connections with new customers. Also facilitated a dynamic and insightful roundtable to discuss how these brands can effectively reach new markets. Ipsos and Inscoder also delivered extremely insightful presentations, highlighting key trends and offering valuable guidance to help merchants expand overseas. Over the course of the 3-day summit, I attended several talks and was impressed by the level of sophistication Chinese brands have achieved—not just in their visual storytelling, but also in their use of data to drive growth. That said, there is a strong emphasis on achieving quick ROI, and I think there’s room to look more closely at long-term brand investments as well. My personal takeaway: Shopify continues to be the quickest and most efficient platform for global expansion, but a shift in approach is needed. Brands can no longer afford to treat ecommerce as an afterthought; instead, prioritising exceptional ecommerce experiences from the outset is essential. Thanks again Elise, Truman Yang, Tony Jiang, Mi Lai for the opportunity! #ecommerce #branding #innovation #shopify