The Impulso Podcast

The United States was TikTok Shop’s biggest market in 2024 - with a GMV of US$9 billion! In this episode, we unpack how the 400k stores and 11 million influencers are driving TikTok Shop (and video commerce – contributing to 58% of GMV) in the U.S., featuring insights from our “TikTok Shop in the U.S. 2024” report.  Tune in as we explore why beauty products dominate video commerce sales (not just in the U.S. but globally), the cultural and logistical hurdles why live commerce thrives in China but struggles in the US, and what TikTok’s uncertain future could mean for the development of live commerce in the US.  Chapters: 00:05:16: Unpacking TikTok Shop's Revenue Streams 00:10:00: Influencers as The Powerhouse Behind TikTok Sales 00:15:00: The Potential of Live Commerce in the U.S.? 00:17:21:  Beauty as the Top Category of TikTok Shop 00:21:13: TikTok Shop's Potential Impact on U.S. Live Commerce Featured materials:  TikTok Shop in the U.S. 2024, Momentum Works

Freeman Ding, a pioneer in China's consumer internet boom with experience at Baidu and Dianping, shares fascinating insights into Shanghai's role in fostering tech innovation. He discusses the rise of Meituan, explaining its food delivery dominance and navigational challenges in low-frequency markets. Freeman argues that only WeChat qualifies as a true super app and examines the global ambitions of Chinese giants like TikTok and SHEIN, questioning whether they can replicate their success abroad amid regulatory hurdles.

So, TikTok went dark after the US ban, for about 14 hours. Then, it was back online, with a message crediting its return to “President Trump’s efforts.” TikTok, with over 170 million users in the US, is one of the biggest platforms in the U.S. with a huge ecosystem of creators, merchants, and consumers. Its brief shutdown caused a stir, even prompting some users to flock to Xiaohongshu with the trending hashtag  #TikTokRefugees. TikTok’s return came after President Trump specifically confirmed there will be no liability for any company that helped TikTok from going dark before an executive order to be issued on day 1 to keep TikTok running. How would things evolve from here? Will TikTok survive in the medium and long term in the US?  Tune in to find out more!  Chapters: 00:00:15: The Dynamics of the TikTok Ban 00:01:16: Trump's Role in TikTok's Temporary Shutdown 00:14:02: TikTok's CEO 00:18:33: Users Seeking Refuge in Xiao Hong Shu? Featured materials:  How will TikTok’s fortunes in the US evolve from here?, TheLowDown E66: TikTok has no good options, The Impulso Podcast

What makes capybaras so irresistibly popular amongst Chinese youth? From their zen-like calm to their unbothered personalities, these gentle rodents have become internet sensations. Tune in as we dive into the capybara craze—their rising popularity in China, the carefree energy they represent, and how that resonates with today's youth. But are capybaras just a passing trend, or do they symbolise something deeper—like the dream of a carefree life in an increasingly competitive world? Join us as we unpack the cultural phenomenon, discuss how it reflects modern work-life stress, and reflect on 2024 while embracing "capybara energy" as we go into 2025. Chapters: 00:00:10: What is a Capybara? 00:01:45: Rising popularity of capybara in China 00:07:00: Why do people relate to capybaras? 00:11:00: The aftereffects of involution 00:18:15 Our wishes for everyone in 2025

A Chinese EV manufacturer, Ji Yue Auto, faces turmoil as unpaid social security leads to employee distress, with one live streamer breaking down mid-broadcast. The podcast explores Ji Yue's struggles in China's fiercely competitive EV market and the reasons Baidu and Geely withdrew further investment. It also discusses the industry trend of consolidations and bankruptcy, alongside the rising use of live streaming in car sales. The challenges emerging manufacturers confront, especially in a hyper-competitive landscape, are critically analyzed.

Originally dubbed Singles day by 4 university students, 11.11 has transformed into one of the world’s largest shopping festivals. In 2009, Alibaba launched the first 11.11 shopping festival, generating RMB 50 million in GMV despite a website crash. Since then, it has grown massively, and today, 11.11 spans several weeks instead of just one day. But has 11.11 lost its charm? Tune is as we explore why Chinese platforms stopped reporting GMV, how the festival’s expansion impacts consumer behavior, and whether the rise of frequent sales like 7.7 and 12.12 has led to “sale fatigue.”  Are shopping festivals still relevant, or have they lost their significance in today’s competitive ecommerce landscape?  P.S. Did you know Taylor Swift kicked off Alibaba’s 24-hour 11.11 shopping event in 2019? Chapters:  00:00:15: The beginnings of 11.11 00:05:00: How Alibaba turned 11.11 into a shopping festival 00:09:00: Why companies stopped announcing GMV  00:12:00: Has 11.11 lost its meaning?  00:18:00: What does this mean for retailers?  Featured materials: Behind the Labubu craze: PopMart business explained | Impulso E103: https://youtu.be/PLIq2UkvgwA Commentary: What’s behind the rise of Chinese e-commerce platform Temu in the US?, CNA: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/china-e-commerce-shopping-app-temu-shein-tiktok-us-amazon-4245901 What 11.11 Singles’ Day sales no longer say about China’s economy, The Lowdown: https://thelowdown.momentum.asia/what-11-11-singles-day-sales-no-longer-say-about-chinas-economy/

Unbox the allure of blind box collectibles with a dive into the Labubu craze! Discover how Pop Mart's quirky characters have become a sensation among Gen Z, fueled by addictive collecting psychology. Explore the innovative business strategies behind this phenomenon, including successful designer collaborations and exclusive IPs. As Pop Mart aims for Disney-like success, will they forge lasting emotional bonds with their audience, or is it all a fleeting trend? Join the fun and uncover the excitement behind this global toy empire!

On 21 November, two stories rocked China’s ecommerce scene, with global implications.  (In the previous episode, we discussed the first story: Alibaba’s merger of its domestic Chinese and international ecommerce businesses.) In this episode, we dive into the second story—PDD Group’s Q3 earnings miss. But was the ‘miss’ engineered deliberately because all the merchant support costs were planned, or was it a lapse in execution?  Tune in as we explore:  Pinduoduo’s ¥10 billion merchant subsidies; Why PDD or Temu seems to choose to directly engage rather than hire lobbyists; Temu's opening of a full marketplace mode in the United States;  Pinduoduo’s focused operations, and its similarity to global retail giants like Walmart The ecommerce competition in China and globally is entering a very interesting and probably even more intensified phase now.  Chapters: 00:00:45: Pinduoduo’s stock price falls 10%?  00:03:45 PDD’s frank earnings spook investors  00:06:45: Was the miss deliberate?  00:12:20: Temu launched a marketplace model 00:14:45 Intensifying ecommerce landscape - how are players adapting?

On 21 November, two stories rocked China’s ecommerce scene, with global implications.  In this episode, we discuss the first story: Alibaba Group’s announcement to merge its domestic Chinese and international ecommerce businesses into the new Alibaba E-Commerce Business Group, led by Jiang Fan.  This move aims to streamline operations, foster synergies, and better position Alibaba against formidable rivals like Pinduoduo. (The second story—PDD Group’s Q3 earnings miss—is covered in episode 102.) In this episode, we explore: Jiang Fan's journey from a mobile advertising entrepreneur to a pivotal leader at Alibaba; Challenges of navigating leadership amidst corporate restructuring; The significance of this merger in a rapidly evolving ecommerce landscape;  How this merger mirrors Pinduoduo and Temu’s strategy The ecommerce competition in China and globally is entering a very interesting and probably even more intensified phase now.  Chapters: 00:00:20: Alibaba’s ecommerce merger 00:00:50: Who is Jiang Fan?  00:08:30: Transforming Alibaba, and its reversals 00:11:45: Challenges of leading a big organization

China has shattered records with over 150 billion parcels delivered in a single year—enough to cover 30 million football fields! The podcast dives into the reasons behind profitable sales at just ¥9.9, despite the low prices. It also compares automation and human efficiency in managing millions of daily shipments and shares firsthand experiences from a bustling logistics hub. Listeners will discover the fascinating story of the 150 billionth parcel as well as surprising peaks in parcel volume, even on ordinary days.