Ownership of smartphones among China’s ageing consumers (over 50 years) was half the share in America in 2016. Yet once on the internet, they spend big. We’ve been saying this stuff for years yet it would seem that now China’s tech companies are waking up to this massive opportunity. Consider; In 2017 ageing consumers in […]
China
The mere scale of ageing China makes a compelling business opportunity.

If Japan is the future of ageing and Singapore is a handy test-market, then ageing China is the Godzilla of markets. China’s population is ageing fast and it is massive. In the next 6 years, the population of people over 60 in China will reach 300 million. An ageing crisis and a business opportunity in […]
China’s online shopping behemoth wants Senior Experience Officers – Under 60’s need not apply!

Taobao, the online shopping mall, wants to hire two Chinese senior citizens, influential in their social circles and maintaining “harmonious” relationships with their children. They must also have at least one year of online shopping experience. Why the fuss? With well over 760 million product listings (March 2013), Taobao is one of the world’s most visited […]
23 billion reasons not to forget the older Chinese online shopper

While it may be true that 70% of Tmall customers are aged 24~32, let’s not overlook the power of the older Chinese online shopper. Tmall data suggests that among their older shoppers, 75% of customers are aged 50-59 and almost 20% are in their 60’s. Tmall.com, formerly Taobao – an independent business under Alibaba Group, […]
Demographic marketing has become irrelevant in China; Research

Demographic marketing is dead. Long live psychographics! This has been a constant theme of my thinking for the past 5 years and it is now confirmed to be true even in the exploding market of China. Today Chinese people are far less siloed by age, cohort or region according to research conducted by advertising company […]
Across Asia-Pacific the stereotypes of older consumers simply don’t apply anymore

Every day, week, month and year ‘new’ people are turning 50, 60 and 70 and in so doing, they change forever the outdated stereotypes often held by younger marketers. To remind the context, “the older consumer market is is the largest, fastest-growing (in some cases the only growing) segment of population in most developed markets of […]
Shanghai’s department stores revamp their retail customer experience to attract old and young

An increasing number of State-owned department stores have been temporarily closing across Shanghai as part of a renovation strategy to modernise and boost the retail customer experience. According to this article in the Global Times, these moves by traditional department stores are in response to the rapid growth of online retailers in Shanghai. Obviously, this […]
Reebok China advertisement promotes longevity without really trying

While it may not have been Reeboks primary intention, I’m pretty sure this ad campaign will promote more age-inclusive thinking in China. Campaign magazine focussed on how the advert represents the brand’s drive to associate itself more with pull-up bars, kettlebells and medicine balls than basketball hoops. But what interested me is the positive use of younger […]
App taps into the lucrative, time-rich market of China’s park dancers

Anyone who has visited China will have seen the hordes of park dancers who flock to the public parks to get their daily dose of exercise and socialisation. A few years ago while in China advising one of the worlds leading sportswear brands on the ageing consumer, I suggested that the company could develop a […]
Consumers aged 60-plus will account for up to 60 percent of urban consumption growth to 2030 – McKinsey

An excellent report from McKinsey identifies nine groups of urban consumers that are projected to generate three-quarters of global urban consumption growth from 2015 to 2030. That’s now!