China Business Cast

Ep. 129: M on the Bund closes after 23 years - my last afternoon tea with Michelle Garnaut

About Michelle Garnaut Michelle Garnaut, AO is an Australian restaurateur and best known for her series of restaurants and philanthropic work in China. She began her career as one of China's most celebrated restaurateurs in 1989, when she opened M at the Fringe in Hong Kong. It swiftly grew into a city institution, and in 1999, M on the Bund opened, the first independent restaurant on the historic Shanghai waterfront. Like its predecessor, it soon became a beloved oasis for locals, visitors and lovers of good food and warm service. In 2009 she opened Capital M on Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Michelle is also a founder of the Shanghai International Literary Festival, the M Literary Residency, the Village People Project and has spearheaded Mentor Walks across Asia, where up-and-coming professional women can seek advice from experienced mentors. Mentor Walks now operates in Hong Kong, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane and continues to spread around Asia. Michelle is the recipient of many international honours, including the inaugural award in Food at the Advance Global Australian Awards. She sits on various boards including the Advance Global Board. In 2015 Michelle was invited to the 'Legends Hall of Fame' which pays tribute to the leaders, ground breakers and visionaries of Australia and Victoria’s food and wine industry. She was made an ‘Officer of the Order of Australia’ in the Australia Day Honours List 2018. Episode Content: Closing down one of the oldest Western restaurants in Shanghai might seem discouraging for some entrepreneurs, yet the founder has several learnings to keep us inspired. During the interview we spoke of business in China, women entrepreneurs and what it means to be ‘successful’. Michelle says ‘being successful’ means a business needs to make money and allow her to do things that she really wants to do. And to get there you need to work hard and become the best at things you really want to do. She says it’s really that simple. 🤔 The questions we discussed in the episode: * What is the most important thing to focus on when starting a business? * How to know when you should listen to someone's advice and when you should follow your own gut feeling? * How to build a social enterprise that is profitable and contributes to the society? * How to renegotiate financial structure with your business partner and gain control? * What are some of the most common limiting beliefs female entrepreneurs that stop them from becoming successful? * How did the local tastes change over the past 20 years? * What do Chinese people really want from a Western business? * Why doing 'discounting' on Chinese apps for a restaurant is a terrible advice? * What are some strategies that helped the restaurant adapt to the changing environment amidst COVID-19? * When to make an exit and how? * What can a great leader do to inspire their employees and partners to work with them for 30+ years? Episode Mentions: * Reach out to Michelle Garnaut on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-garnaut-ao-74453b8/] * Website: https://m-restaurantgroup.com/m-on-the-bund [https://m-restaurantgroup.com/m-on-the-bund] * Follow the official WeChat with ID: monthebundsh * If you have memorable moments taken at the restaurant send photos for a memory photo album via memories@m-onthebund.com [memories@m-onthebund.com] * Find your host Lina on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/linabartuseviciute/] or reach out via lb@litaogroup.com [lb@litaogroup.com] * Website: https://litaogroup.com [https://litaogroup.com/] Download and Subscribe * Download this episode [https://china-business-cast-62d2e74f.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-112-being-a-commercial-diplomat-in-china-with-agnese-sturmane] right click and choose "save as" * Subscribe to China Business Cast on iTunes [https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/china-business-cast/id677220250] * Or check out the full list on subscription options [http://www.chinabusinesscast.com/subscribe-to-china-business-cast] * Add Lina ('lina-litao') on WeChat to join China Business Cast WeChat group

Ep. 128: Webinar: Mandatory GACC Registration for all F&B exporters

About EU SME Centre The EU SME Centre is a European Union initiative that provides a comprehensive range of hands-on support services to European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), getting them ready to do business in China. Experts in the Centre provide advice and support in four areas – business development, law, standards and conformity and human resources. Collaborating with external experts worldwide, the Centre converts valuable knowledge and experience into practical business tools and services easily accessible online. The EU SME Centre is now managed by five implementing partners who guide the strategic development and management of the Centre through their knowledge and experience of the China market-- China-Britain Business Council, China-Italy Chamber of Commerce in China, Danish Chamber of Commerce in China, EUROCHAMBRES and European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. About Alessio Petino Mr. Alessio Petino has been living in Beijing since 2011 and is very fluent in Chinese. As a frequent speaker and moderator at various meetings and expert-level discussions, he was regularly involved in the activities of various European networks and platforms in China. For the past 5+ years, he has been working on various EU-funded projects in China, mainly doing research and analysis in the following areas: R&D and innovation policy, high-tech zones, investment attraction policies and market access. His key areas of expertise are China’s R&I funding programs at both national (NKPs, NSFC, Megaprojects) and local level, international R&I co-funding mechanisms, government incentives and subsidies, as well as market access and opportunities for SMEs. About China Customs Officer The Customs Officer is the Director of TBT Research Centre of International Research Center for Inspection and Quarantine Standards and Technical Regulation of GACC and the main drafter of Orders 248 and 249 of the General Administration of Customs. He has been engaged in the research of food, chemical technical trade measures, risk analysis and risk warning. He has been awarded with the second and third prizes of the scientific and technological inspections at the ministerial for the research projects he participated in.  Additionally, he edited and participated in a dozen of related books. He has played a positive role in removing foreign technical trade barriers, establishing China’s technical preventive measure system, and promoting the development of foreign economic trade. About Lina Bartuseviciute Ms. Lina Bartuseviciute has been in Shanghai for almost 12 years. Due to her cultural know-how and language proficiency, as well as International Relations Master's Degree in Fudan, she has been included in multiple high stakes governmental meetings and negotiations, hosted numerous delegations and bilateral talks. Since 2015, she has founded LITAO www.litaogroup.com - a business consulting firm focusing on China Market Entry, which works to bring quality European F&B brands to China market, with support from European Union. About Raymond NG Mr. Raymond Ng is the Regulatory Affairs Consultant at Accestra Consulting. He has a Master’s degree from University of Nottingham and has extensive knowledge on Chinese Food & Beverage, Cosmetics and Pharmaceutical import & export regulations. His research specialises in China’s national standards and the impact it has on international businesses. He has vast insight and practical experience in dealing with Chinese market access requirements and accumulated a successful track record with supporting international exporters with market entry in to China. About Lavinia Yao Ms. Lavinia Yao is the Senior Regulatory Consultant at Accestra Consulting. She has a Master’s degree from Zhejiang University in Food Science and Engineering. Ms. Yao has years of experience in the food industry and is an expert in China food laws, regulations and national standards. Her daily work involves solving practical food regulatory problems for global food businesses, covering regulatory compliance in food labelling, food additives registration, health foods, food contact materials related regulations and others. She is often invited as a keynote speaker to numerous high-level conferences organized by the government; an indispensable asset in her line of work for responding to international client's needs. Episode Content: In April 2021, China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) issued two regulations, Order 248 and Order 249, that will prevent businesses to export their products to China if they have not registered on the GAC platform before the 1st of January 2022. We cover all kinds of questions around the mandatory regulations, but in short, it comes down to the following: * What, why, where and who needs to register on GAC’s platform * Procedures for registration: recommendation from national authorities and self-registration * Step-by-step guidance for self-registration on GAC’s platform * Labelling requirements * Impact of the new regulations on market dynamics EU exporters * Insights on successful factors for F&B products, B2B distributors and Chinese consumers preference * Tips and pitfalls Episode Mentions: * Reach out to Alessio onLinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alessiopetino/] or viaalessio.petino@eusmecentre.org.cn [alessio.petino@eusmecentre.org.cn] * Watch this webinar on Youtube: https://youtu.be/RighSyf4RAc [https://youtu.be/RighSyf4RAc] * Website:https://www.eusmecentre.org.cn/ [https://www.eusmecentre.org.cn/] * GACC database:http://english.customs.gov.cn [http://english.customs.gov.cn/] * Export Filing Registry:http://ire.customs.gov.cn/ [http://ire.customs.gov.cn/] * Reach out to Raymond onLinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chinamarketaccess/] or viaraymond@accestra.com [raymond@accestra.com] * Reach out to Lavinia onLinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lavinia-yao-1b929897/] or viayaolu@accestra.com [yaolu@accestra.com] * Website:https://www.accestra.com/ [https://www.accestra.com/] * Find your host Lina on LinkedIN [https://www.linkedin.com/in/linabartuseviciute]or vialb@litaogroup.com [https://china-business-cast-62d2e74f.simplecast.com/episodes/lb@litaogroup.com] * Website:https://litaogroup.com [https://litaogroup.com/] Join China Business Cast WeChat group [http://www.chinabusinesscast.com/wechat]

Ep. 127: Selling imported ice cream online during COVID-19 with Bjorn van der Veen

About Bjorn van der Veen: Originally from the Netherlands, Bjorn is an experienced Digital Marketing and e-commerce professional who has been living in China for 15 years. He has worked in Online and Digital Marketing for 12 years and is a trusted Tmall Partner. In 2015, he launched Arctic Solutions, a full-service e-commerce solutions provider, that focuses on temperature-controlled products for the Chinese market. Ranging from -21 to 21 degrees, Arctic Solutions covers everything from logistics, customs clearance, temperature controlled warehousing, last mile delivery, customer service, cross border payments, technical solutions and marketing. Episode Content: Recently we hear food exporters started worrying that the Chinese consumers are afraid of buying imported foods, especially frozen, because of the severe COVID-19 outbreaks associated with the facilities where imported foods were stored and handled. We wanted to know what are the actual impacts of COVID-19 in the food sector and what can be done to improve the cold-chain  management during the pandemic. We cover all kinds of things around e-commerce and cold-chain, but in short, it comes down to the following: * Market demand for immune-boosting and authentic imported products * Practical process to evaluate your potential in China * The need to be agile and flexible when launching new products * Importance of online reviews and keeping good reputation * New strategies to build trust in your brand during COVID-19 * Different customer expectations in e-commerce and offline stores * 4 types of digital influencers: KOL, KOC, KOS and KOF * The value of having local partners for China Market Entry * D2C cold-chain hurdles and the importance of nationwide warehouse coverage * Seasonal and regional differences in China Episode Mentions: * Reach out to Bjorn onLinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjornvanderveen/] or reach out via bjorn@arcticsolutions.cn [bjorn@arcticsolutions.cn] * Website: http://www.arcticsolutions.cn [http://www.arcticsolutions.cn] * Iceberry -https://iceberrychina.cn/ [https://iceberrychina.cn/] * Iceberry Tmall Store: https://auc6eppu.tmall.com/ [https://auc6eppu.tmall.com/] * Find your host Lina on LinkedIN [https://www.linkedin.com/in/linabartuseviciute] or reach out via lb@litaogroup.com [lb@litaogroup.com] * Website: https://litaogroup.com [https://litaogroup.com] * Join China Business Cast WeChat group [http://www.chinabusinesscast.com/wechat]

Ep. 126: Navigating Business Leadership Styles of China & the West with Athena Zhu

In this episode, we will mainly focus on the following questions: * What are the key differences between Chinese and Western companies and the way they do business? * How to integrate the Chinese style of doing business with Western companies? * What should a leader do when the team makes a mistake? * What is the required change in brand identity to become a brand suitable for mass market? * How to stay authentic in the transformation? * When working in a corporate structure, how to navigate the very rigid environment and still bring forth vibrant and dynamic decisions? * What can be considered as a good leader? What are the key elements? * How to communicate with people with different jobs in a team? How can you mentor and coach them? * What are the current challenges for an established company to transform themselves in this rapidly changing environment? Episode Mentions: * Reach out to Athena via athena.zhu@marvelousfoods.com [athena.zhu@marvelousfoods.com] or LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/athena-zhu/] * Website: https://marvelousfoods.com [https://marvelousfoods.com] * Tmall store: https://yeyo.tmall.com/ [https://yeyo.tmall.com/] * Find your host Lina on LinkedIN [https://www.linkedin.com/in/linabartuseviciute] or reach out via lb@litaogroup.com [lb@litaogroup.com] * Website: https://litaogroup.com [https://litaogroup.com] * Join China Business Cast WeChat group [http://www.chinabusinesscast.com/wechat] Download and Subscribe * Download this episode [https://china-business-cast-62d2e74f.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-112-being-a-commercial-diplomat-in-china-with-agnese-sturmane] right click and choose "save as" * Subscribe to China Business Cast on iTunes [https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/china-business-cast/id677220250] * Or check out the full list on subscription options [http://www.chinabusinesscast.com/subscribe-to-china-business-cast] * Add Lina ('Lina-LITAO') on WeChat to join China Business Cast WeChat group

Ep. 125: Women in China Business Leadership with Helen Ye

In 2001, China became a member of WTO, and thousands of Chinese companies wanted to go abroad. One big problem was that these Chinese companies didn’t understand the culture, policies and regulatory requirements there. Helen started her career in this field since 2007 when she joined a consulting company which helps Chinese companies to have their presence in other countries. Now she is still working in this field but mainly helps foreign companies enter the China market. It has been only 20 years since 2001. During the first decade, Chinese local companies wanted to go abroad. But in the past ten years, there were incredibly increasing numbers of overseas companies who are quite interested in the China market and want to understand how China market runs. In this episode, we will mainly focus on following questions: * What are the biggest differences in selling consulting services to the foreigners as compared to the local Chinese companies? * How to sell services such as consultancy service to the clients? * What are the key points of maintaining a sustainable relationship with the clients? * How to preserve the core members of a team? * How to make sure that the team fits into the same vision? How to motivate the team? * How to make sure that the messages of the leader go across effectively? * How to talk to the staffs as a CEO when there are mistakes? * How to manage the company like a family? How to find a balance between a CEO and a mother-like person? * What can be considered as the biggest achievement of a company? Episode Mentions: * Reach out to Helen via helen.ye@accestra.com [helen.ye@accestra.com] or LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-ye-bab6a86b/] * Website: https://www.accestra.com [https://www.accestra.com] * Find your host Lina on LinkedIN [https://www.linkedin.com/in/linabartuseviciute] or reach out via lb@litaogroup.com [lb@litaogroup.com] * Website: https://litaogroup.com [https://litaogroup.com] * Join China Business Cast WeChat group [http://www.chinabusinesscast.com/wechat] Download and Subscribe * Download this episode [https://china-business-cast-62d2e74f.simplecast.com/episodes/ep-112-being-a-commercial-diplomat-in-china-with-agnese-sturmane] right click and choose "save as" * Subscribe to China Business Cast on iTunes [https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/china-business-cast/id677220250] * Or check out the full list on subscription options [http://www.chinabusinesscast.com/subscribe-to-china-business-cast] * Add Lina ('Lina-LITAO') on WeChat to join China Business Cast WeChat group