What Makes a Good Chinese Celebrity Endorser

An article from Red Luxury Western brands have found another way to break into the Chinese market: they are using the most influential Chinese stars to endorse their products. Labels as diverse as McDonald’s and Hugo Boss have benefited from the trend. Chinese celebrities also benefit from doing endorsements as their star power rises with the association. “In the China …

Luxe Brands Embrace Chinese Celebrities

MGI Entertainment founder Michael MacRitchie is interviewed by Casey Hall from WWD (Womens Wear Daily) SHANGHAI – It’s difficult to avoid the ubiquitous smiling faces of China’s favorite celebrities.They appear on billboards, in magazines and in television commercials. In short, they are everywhere. And fashion show attendees in New York and Europe are almost certain to spot them as increasingly important front-row fixtures.As they put …

Five Tips for Working With Celebrities

An insight by Michael MacRitchie Celebrities bring visibility, credibility and attract more media attention to public relations, advertising and marketing campaigns because of who they are. Contacting, negotiating and working with celebrities, however, can require critical research and an in-depth understanding of the consumer/brand/celebrity perspectives in order to maximise the potential celebrity partnership. Here are some tips to and also some guidelines that …

Sponsorship can result in powerful marketing

  An insight by Michael MacRitchie Sponsorship is one of the fastest growing forms of marketing globally. So, why should your company be interested in sponsorship? When done well, it offers significant opportunities for ‘high impact branding’, heightened consumer engagement and a way to bring to life a brands DNA.  This leads to distinct marketing and competitive advantages, as well …

Will.i.am, U.S. State Dept. to Back Beijing Concert

News by Michael MacRitchie BEIJING — The Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am is heading back to China in support of the Obama Administration’s 100,000 Strong initiative, designed to boost the number of American students studying in China, for a concert announced for later this year. The U.S. State Dept. said that following a meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, will.i.am …

China and Luxury branding

An insight by Andrew Howie China has experienced a relentless surge in consumer buying power since the 1990’s. The Chinese consumer has become wealthier and more accepting of western retail formats- with international supermarket chains, department stores and mass retailers paving the way for luxury retailers. Luxury brand companies have been investing in the China market, with  Louis Vuitton, Bally, …

Tips when looking for sponsorship in China

An insight by Michael MacRitchie You are organizing a big event. It can be an a charity fundraiser or a rock festival or a film project. To organize any event or produce any entertainment you require sponsorship money. And where will the money come from? It comes mostly from brands and corporate who are interested in aligning with the entertainment …

‘weighing up if a celebrity is right for your brand’ value

An insight by Michael MacRitchie It is not uncommon to switch on the television and be confronted by celebrity after celebrity propounding the virtues of some brand or other. Celebrity advertising has always been popular and a fast growing economy attracts celebrities by the dozen in this space. People are easily influenced and impressed by celebrities, and consider it a …

3 Steps for an E-commerce platform in China

Our strategic partner, the Mailman Group offers brands and organizations a way forward in setting up ecommerce platforms in China. Tackling China’s online eccomerce market can be a daunting experience.  It’s our job at Mailman to ensure this transition is smooth and ultimately successful.  Our recent experience tells us the immediate opportunities available through major Chinese online malls such as …

Chinese models for global brands

I picked up this article from Frances Wang a freelance journalist based in Shanghai. The complete article can be found here and also below…. SHANGHAI, China – The Chinese market – with China surpassing Japan as the world’s second largest economic power in August – has become an important Asian market for big foreign companies. Cosmetics makers, for example, are …

US Sports lead with value….sucess follows

Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. A. Einstein (Picked up this article from the Mailmangroup where CEO Andrew Collins talks about international sports who are successfully breaking into China market and the game plan for doing so) Someone had it right very early – the digital age is now living proof of how a …

TV sponsorship on the rise on Chinese TV

An insight by Michael MacRitchie CHINA’S UGLY BETTY “UGLY WUDI” China — A raft of new Chinese television advertising restrictions have made sponsorship and product placement a strong alternative route to reaching a ballooning consumer market, according to an independent analysts’ report released recently. The series of new TV ad rules put in place in the first quarter of 2010 …

Want to know what kind of Chinese man western women want to marry?

An insight by Michael MacRitchie Ok China readers it is official…. Not that this is entirely breaking news but Andy Lau is “officially” the hottest Asian actor.  Apparently he now not only ticks all the boxes for Chinese Women but now Western women are also swooning for him… The movie star came out tops in a survey of 108 Western …

China Love US TV Series the Most..?

An Insight by Michael MacRitchie China-To understand the widening digital gap between the Chinese state and its people, consider the underground success of the American TV shows “Gossip Girl”, “Lost” & “Prison Break”. Prison Break: There isn’t much about this Fox drama that would suggest a Chinese hit. Shot partly at Joliet Prison in Illinois, the show is an unabashedly …

World Cup- China advertising is starting to heat up.

A  insight from Michael MacRitchie To follow on from Andrew Howie’s piece on the FIFA world cup, I would like to turn the readers attention to China… Here in Shanghai one of the biggest TV networks CCTV (China Central Television) has won the rights to broadcast the World Cup and is now blowing the whistle for bids on advertising slots …

The Founding of the Republic

A review by Michael MacRitchie This is not your typical war movie. Instead of dwelling on bloodshed on the battlefield, The Founding of a Republic focuses on the psychological war between China’s Nationalists and Communists, and the complex negotiations of their power struggle. The inclusion of archival black-and-white footage, from pivotal battles such as as those at Huaihai and Pingjin …

Chinese Music Scene?

This is an outsiders look into the Chinese Music industry told from the perspective of indie rock band ‘handsome furs’. China Music Radar reports that In September 2009, China based promoter Split Works organized an 8 city Asian tour through China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore.  The tour was picked up by CNN, who gave Dan and Lex a …