WPBEIJING
China Marketing

浩浦工作室

WPBeijing China; Research & Analysis

Research is essential to understanding your customers, competitors and helping form the blue print for the way ahead. It is also a valuable "self evaluation tool" what are your strengths and weaknesses, what is working, what isn't, what do your customers think of YOU and your product.
To paraphrase Lewis Carrol

As we have noted elsewhere, WPBeijing China Marketing is NOT a once size fits all factory, we are a small family firm and believe that each business is individual so we listen to you, your needs and tailor accordingly.
Does this mean we are expensive?
Absolutely not, being smaller means less overheads so our costs are very reasonable.
We are also flexible and can be just effective helping you with secondary research as developing a unique primary research project and evaluation.
Finally, if capital and budget is an issue for you, consider our Angel Venture Marketing Plan where we share some of the risk with you.

WPBeijing China; Strategic Marketing

Research and analysis is the key or cornerstone to your "Strategic Marketing Plan, what you are going to say, to whom your message is delivered and the medium best suited to your target group.
Get this wrong, anywhere, and your Tactical Marketing" is going to struggle, but in China it is very likely a fatal error. We have noted the 1.5 billion dream, but China now is far from an easy market, her consumers are now far more "aware" critical and demanding than a few years ago.

Coupled with this new wave of consumerism comes the competition, the market is increasingly crowded, local industry has leaned from foreign investors, their technology and marketing has improved accordingly and they have the home ground advantage of KNOWING the consumers tastes. China is also a land of extreme patriotism. It doesn't take much to turn people fiercely against a foreign brand in favour of a domestic one as many French businesses discovered during the Olympic Games Torch relay incidents.

So do not make the mistake of thinking that entry into the China market is going to be easy, if you are going to market your products to the Chinese you need a thorough understanding of how the locals feel towards a certain product. The fastest and most efficient way is to conduct thorough market research to determine the best vehicle to carry your product for success.

WPBeijing China Marketing can work as your dedicated research partner or as an extension of your own home based R & A department, bearing in mind our China location makes us extremely, efficient and highly cost effective.

WPBeijing China; Secondary Research

"Ready Research," in China, are reports that have been commissioned for other buyers and are now "available" on the open market. There is a wealth of information available ranging from broad ranging data on provinces, population demographics to the more specific and detailed such as the gage, tensile strength, number and torque of screws attaching the chassis to the body in a Nokia cell phone.
Obviously for market entry the former are more appropriate in a search for any available information that suits our needs being both cost and time effective, rather than having to re-invent the wheel each time.
Secondary research can help focus on gaps in the research, identifying where we need to do more, what has and hasn't been tried or problems and difficulties still unresolved as well as broad definitions of the target market, competition and the industry as a whole.

However the sheer bulk of these reports can also be a disadvantage, it can take time to sort through to find those that are relevant and relatively current. This is complicated by language issues, some reports maybe in English but the people dealing with them may not be so well versed. There is also the omni present "Relationships"

A further limitation is that whilst secondary research is usually cost and time effective, it may be limited in value as it could be generic and not targeted exactly to your needs. It may also be time sensitive, lacking in detail or poorly gathered.
WPBeijing China Marketing has in all likely hood, fielded similar enquiries and so knows where to look, plus being native Chinese speakers can negotiate a fair price. Ultimately, primary research is the key stage in China market research where WPBeijing China Marketing can conduct a tailor made research and analysis report for you and help advise on your market plan.

WPBeijing China Marketing, R & A Services

A basic R & A in China broadly follows the following pattern;

Industry research
An overall look at the industry's scale, competitors, government regulations, current market size and potential for growth, predicted tends and patterns, suppliers and distribution chains, and other economic information provides you with basic "Key" information for decision making.

Product research
A more detailed look at market size and demand with deeper analysis of market segmentation, prices, acceptance, marketability , branding and packaging.

Competitor research
Unquestionably the most demanded of WPBeijing China Marketing's services. We will identify both existing local and international competitors and, as best as we are able, those who are also waiting in the wings or are soon to be entering the market. We will provide you with competitor market share, their distributors, position, partners or parent company, marketing strategy, distribution channels, guarantees and service. Competitor research is critical when entering the home of the Dragon. Many Chinese managers read and follow the writings of Sun Tzu's: Art of War" which alone gives you an insight to their thinking and personality.

Consumer research
As we mentioned, if you want to sell to the Chinese market your products must be accepted by the target customers. Customer research not only tells you who and where your customers are, their needs, expectations, spending power but is also vital to read in conjunction with "Product Research" to ensure your product is acceptable to them.

Logistics, Distribution and Supplier Research
Logistics and supply chains are not just important for businesses entering the China market to establish sales channels, and movement of product and raw materials but also a vital step for off shore businesses want to export to China. We can also screen or vet potential partners or suppliers, critical for off shore businesses who source ex China.