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China's new gig economy: Pretending to see a Rolex exhibition | Following the Yuan
As brands chase traffic KPIs in the slowed economy, a new gig economy has emerged to manufacture attention — one paid attendee at a time.
Jul 6
•
Yaling Jiang
10
4
Consumer news digest 📆
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#76: Lululemon China events flop, Häagen-Dazs shops sold to Chinese brand, Seesaw files for bankruptcy, Sinopec opens pet salons | Following…
Two of Lululemon China's biggest recent events have drawn controversy as the company grapples with slowing sales growth.
Jun 19
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Following the Yuan
14
1
4
#75: Devil Wears Prada II underperforms, Xinhua enters GEO, Labubu fridge goes viral, Samsung exits China | Following the Yuan
Is the backlash against Miu Miu and Saint Laurent fair?
May 14
23
3
#74: AI short drama, Patagonia’s “earth tax” backlash, “drink-for-you” on demand, Lay's potato resto 🥔 | Following the Yuan
Brands mentioned in this issue: Master Kong, BOSS Zhipin, Meituan, MUSINSA, Didi, Tencent, Lay’s, RedNote, Foxconn, Apple, Patagonia, ZXMOTO.
Apr 16
•
Rongrong Zhuge
14
2
Deep dives 🤔
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“We are just keeping the business running for China Tobacco’s sake”: when state monopoly meets consumption downgrade
A Chinese tobacco shop owner offers a rare window into China’s state tobacco monopoly as oversupply and shrinking demand reshape the industry.
Jun 24
•
Following the Yuan
16
3
What one talks about when one talks about chuhai | Following the Yuan
While there’s an overlap between export and chuhai, the latter is much more complex, involving not just sales but also investment, manufacturing…
Aug 26, 2025
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Yaling Jiang
25
6
8
It's never been so easy to be a spy 📸 | Following the Yuan
The business behind #Maskpark, China’s largest known digital sex crime ring — and why it might harm the country’s plummeting birth rate and continue to…
Aug 2, 2025
•
Yaling Jiang
25
1
2
China explainer 📙
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