The Impulso Podcast

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.

The discussion reveals Sea Group’s impressive US$4.6 billion loan book, which has grown significantly while maintaining low non-performing loans. It highlights how Shopee leverages customer data to assess credit risk and boost e-commerce through BNPL services. In contrast, Grab, with a smaller loan book, is slowly but surely expanding its digital finance reach, despite its premium user base and ride-hailing model. The conversation also touches on the disparities in Southeast Asia's lending market and the evolving strategies in assessing creditworthiness.

Sea Group is seeing impressive growth, with Shopee's logistics arm, SPX Express, potentially matching J&T Express in parcel volume. The conversation delves into how Shopee's investment in logistics is creating a strong competitive edge against rivals like TikTok Shop. Innovations like Shopee Express lockers are discussed, highlighting their role in improving reverse logistics and enhancing the consumer experience. Plus, there's insight on market trends and the dynamics of e-commerce logistics in Southeast Asia.

Trump returns to the White House, Mr Modi meets President Xi in Russia. Are businesses ready to survive a world of shifting alliances and tariff threats? Back by popular requests, we’re re-introducing our weekly recap format in this episode as we dive into the latest economic and political developments reshaping business strategies across borders. As the world watches the U.S. elections, many companies globally, especially cross-border businesses in Asia, are already making bold moves to adapt—with some even setting up shop in Paraguay to avoid potential tariffs.  We also discuss the evolving coffee landscape, including Luckin Coffee’s and Cotti Coffee’s ambitious expansion plans. Where does incumbent Starbucks stand amidst this intensifying competition? Tune in as we weigh in on operational differences, consumer behaviour, and brand strategies of coffee giants globally. 

Venture capitalists are resetting their expectations after a staggering $72 billion investment in Southeast Asia. The discussion reveals the challenges of a fragmented market and the evolution of consumer behavior, moving towards sustainable growth. Despite significant funding, major new players are oddly absent, with familiar names like Grab and Gojek struggling post-IPO. The episode critiques the influence of conglomerates and calls for regulatory changes to spur innovation, emphasizing the need for a realistic outlook on the region's potential.