WeChat’s Mini Programs can facilitate e-commerce functionality on WeChat and is amongst the most popular in China for social commerce. In 2020, the platform facilitated transactions worth an estimated 1.6 trillion yuan ($250 billion). That was double its 2019 transaction value.
WeChat hosts over 2 million Mini Programs, compared to Apple App Store’s 1.96 million and Google Play Store’s 2.87 million. This platform is growing year on year and has rapidly established itself as a highly effective low-cost route to reaching the China market.
Regroup China has been building WeChat mini programs for many European luxury and high street retailers as well as food and drink brands and developing booking capabilities for the student property market.
China accounted for around 50% of global online retail sales in 2020! As China’s online population is set to increase, this figure will only go up and selling to WeChat’s rapidly-growing audience will become ever more important.
Join Regroup in a Webinar on Friday 19th March, at 11am BST on how to set up and use a WeChat mini program to establish a direct sales route to the world’s largest online market. Click here for further details
We are pleased to announce the launch of Anglepoise’s digital presence in China.
Anglepoise has been making lamps for over 90 years, from the creation of the original 1227™ lamp, to the development of extended collections by famed designers such as Sir Kenneth Grange, Paul Smith and Margaret Howell.
Today Anglepoise lamps can be found in homes, offices, restaurants, bars and hotels in over 50 countries worldwide.
As part of ambitious plans in China, Regroup have overseen the design and build of a dedicated Anglepoise China web site (https://anglepoise.cn), the set up and maintenance of an official WeChat account, and the build of a WeChat store, allowing customers in mainland China to buy direct via WeChat.
“For an UK based SME like Anglepoise, export to China represents a huge growth opportunity – but a potentially bewildering array of hurdles to overcome. We’ve therefore been immensely fortunate to work with ReGroup, in helping establish our online presence and social media platforms in China. Their market expertise, insights and professionalism have made this a very rewarding project and given us an invaluable partner going forward.”
Scott Muir, MD of Regroup China stated “We are delighted to be working with such an iconic and respected brand as Anglepoise, and we very much look forward to building awareness and sales online in China going forward”
It is great to see the first shipment for the Great British Food Program WeChat store is on its way to the port of Shanghai. We hope the first of many! This unique and exciting initiative backed by the Department for International Trade and Business West, in conjunction with Regroup China and Elanders is a first of its kind, and provides a real opportunity for UK food and drink brands in the UK to reach China, the World’s largest market.
WeChat has over 1 billion users. Regroup China helps businesses reach China via WeChat, Baidu, Weibo, Tmall and JD. Call us to discuss how to get your brand selling in China.
#rethinkchina #regroupchina #businesswest #elanders #departmentforinternationaltrade
Steelworks is state of the art student accommodation in central Sheffield. Regroup China was selected to design and build their new Chinese/ English web site alongside a raft of promotional activities across WeChat, Weibo, Facebook and Instagram. click here to vist the new web site – https://steelworks-students.com/zh-hans/
We are happy to be co-hosting the upcoming webinar for the Great British Food Program; helping UK food and drink brands enter the China online market. Click below for further details
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/great-british-food-store-how-to-successfully-sell-in-china-through-wechat-tickets-125303055813
#rethinkchina
Great to announce Regroup China’s involvement in this very exciting project. A trailblazing initiative involving DIT and Business West, helping UK food and drink brands establish customers in the world’s biggest market – China. Regroup China designed and built the WeChat Mini Program store to facilitate the sales. #wechat #wechatminiprograms #rethinkchina #regroupchina #businesswest #DIT
The Great British Food Programme aims to connect UK food and drink producers with a host of Chinese buyers and consumers who are hungry to buy high quality British produce.
The Great British Food Store will be launched in November on the social media platform, WeChat, as a specialist mini-program and will give sought-after food and drink producers in the South West of England the opportunity to showcase and sell their products to a user base of 1.2 billion. According to Tencent, in 2019, WeChat users spent $115 billion through mini-programs, equivalent to £88 billion.
A report published by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), showed that while exports of food and drink to the UK’s top markets fell in the first half of 2020, value sales increased by 0.3% to China.
Joining Regroup China as strategic partners in this initiative will be Elanders, an award-winning logistics company with expertise in getting products safely into China, who will be on hand to cover all the documentation, consolidation and logistical aspects of the store. Intellectual Property specialists, NJ Akers, will also provide advice on IP and other legalities that a business may encounter when launching a product in the Chinese Market.
Lee Hamber, Senior Sales Executive at Lilley’s Cider who has signed up to the WeChat opportunity said:
“Lilley’s see a huge potential in China for our products, including the sheer size of the population. There is also a growing interest in cider as well as English products, so being involved in the program is a great opportunity.
“Business West’s support has been so important as the WeChat program will allow us to tap into large audience of Chinese WeChat users and grow our brand internationally.”
Paul Rostand, founder of Great British Biscotti, who has also been accepted onto the store said:
“China has been a target market for us since founding the brand because of the vast potential in both retail and food service.
“By being part of the WeChat program, we hope to get the awareness and brand exposure to help us grow our exports in the Chinese market.”
Lex Thornley, Director of Blue Goose, producer of compostable coffee capsules said:
“Every lesson, webinar and blog post about launching in China and overseas talks about the need to understand the way those countries do business and all the pitfalls you might face.
“So, as a micro business, to work with Business West and the expert team overseeing the marketing campaigns in China means we have the best possible chance of success without costing us time, money and stress that we can’t afford.”
James Monk, Director of Commercial Services at Business West said:
“In 2019, China was the UK’s sixth largest export market, so this program is a fantastic opportunity for South West food and drink companies looking to expand their company in a lucrative market.”
“Food and drink in the UK and the South West are recognised globally for its high quality and demand for authentic British food products from China has been soaring in recent years.”
“I would encourage businesses in the region looking to grow their brand internationally, to get in touch to discuss the opportunity or apply today to be part of the exciting program.”
Businesses can apply online by following this link and applications to join the Great British Food Store in China close on 16th November.
To learn more about this exciting opportunity and to meet the team behind the store, interested businesses are encouraged to join a free webinar taking place on 11th November. More information can be found here.
Do you want to join the conversation?
Friday 23rd October 2020
China is the biggest online market in the world. How do you protect your name online in China? What are the key considerations, and how to strategise? Join this webinar, with guest speaker Scott Muir – MD of Regroup China. Regroup provide dedicated digital marketing services for UK businesses reaching China. One of Regroups’ core services is in protecting Brands and individuals reputation online in China, providing services for Online Reputation Management, Brand Monitoring and Brand Protection.
Key topics:
- The Digital landscape in China – the key channels
- ‘Owning’ your assets/ protecting your name
- Monitoring brand noise/ How to keep informed
- Addressing negative coverage – pre-emptive/ proactive tactics
- Questions
Speaker:
Scott Muir, Director and Founder of Regroup Media & Regroup China
About Regroup China:
Formed by experienced digital marketeers and technicians, Regroup China is a specialist digital agency committed to helping Western brands define and action strategy for growth in China – the World’s largest online marketplace. We have amassed many years’ experience working with some of the biggest brand names and retailers globally, across multiple online disciplines in China.
Start date: 23/10/2020 09:30 – 10.30am
Venue: Webinar
To register for our ORM webinar please submit the following details:
Sign-up to our free Webinar on unleashing the potential of WeChat, China’s unique Digital eco-system.
Sep 4th 2020 BST
You will learn:
- What is WeChat?
- What are the steps to registering an account?
- How can WeChat be used to reach and engage with your audience?
- What are WeChat Mini-Programs?
- How can Mini Programs be used to sell to your audience in China?
- What do you need to know about WeChat pay?
- How can WeChat be used to advertise to your market? #rethinkchina
Find out more and register here
Scott Muir, Regroup China MD, will be a guest speaker at the Best of British live streaming ‘Meet the Buyers’ event this week, talking about WeChat. Scan the QR code below to register.