Jun Dong

Labor market reforms hit the realities of demographic decline and labor market shortages across various segments of Japan. A perfect storm is brewing in Japan that will result in accelerated changes in Japan Inc. Recently Uniqlo announced an initiative to have 80% of their middle management being foreign in the next several years, companies like Toyota have launched new companies to tap into global talent markets and your average convenience store in Tokyo is basically run by at least 50% foreigners (big change for those of us who have been here for 10+ years). With the right mindset and approach, Japan (and Japan Inc.) is one the most interesting B2B opportunities globally right now in my opinion. #talent #reform #japan

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According to Thailand's authoritative Suan Dusit Poll and IPG Media Brand survey results, 45.39% of Thais are more concerned about healthcare due to the pandemic. In terms of healthcare information dissemination, maintaining health and boosting the immune system are the primary focus, leading consumers to pay more attention to related health products. Analysis of trends in health food discussions in Thailand by i-Buzz Asia reveals that discussions about collagen are the highest and steadily growing, followed by whey protein, which has gained popularity in recent years for its ability to complement fitness results. Reishi mushroom products, which can boost immunity, have also seen an increase in discussion after the outbreak of the pandemic, but the overall health food market is still dominated by the whitening holy grail, "collagen."

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🌸 My key takeaways from Vietcetera Media Meet-up in Tokyo last Sunday: 👋 Opportunity Abounds: Japan stands as one of Vietcetera's top five audiences. This signals an open opportunity for Vietcetera in Japan. 🙋‍♀️ Consumer Trends: Japanese products and services have widespread appeal among Vietnamese consumers, who often perceive them as luxurious and high-quality. 🇻🇳 Vietnam's Potential: With Vietnam's economy ranking among the fastest-growing in the region and globally, Japanese businesses have a golden opportunity for growth in Vietnam. In contrast, the Japanese economy is still suffering from years of deflation and low inflation. 🇯🇵 Navigating Challenges: Japanese investors eyeing Vietnam encounter difficulties, one being the risk-averse nature of Japanese society. The way business is done in Vietnam is quite different than in Japan. It’s less formal and less structured, and decisions are often made outside of a board room, more often during coffee chats. This led to hesitancy among investors. 📈 Rising Standards: Despite challenges, Vietnam's business landscape has evolved significantly. Companies now prioritize hiring international talent and refining processes. The pandemic catalyzed a shift in business models, compelling adaptation to the new normal. ✨ Inspiring Stories: Taku Tanaka san, one of the guest speakers, shared his inspiring journey from a retired investment banker in Japan to a pivotal role at Pizza 4P's, and now the CEO of his own company. Taku saw a potential growing opportunity for Japanese business in Vietnam, one of which was Pizza 4P's. At the time, Pizza 4P's was still growing modestly. Taku emailed the founder introducing himself and saying he could help grow the business given his background in investment banking. Later, he became the COO of Pizza 4P's in Vietnam. His advice to proactively pursue opportunities resonates with me deeply. Sometimes, a simple email introducing yourself can open doors to exciting new ventures, as it did for me in Tokyo 🗼

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Social Commerce in Vietnam, Harnessing the Power of Live Streaming & KOL's. 💪 Social Commerce will emerge as a game-changer, redefining how brands connect with consumers. Vietnam’s live-streaming e-commerce market is expected to reach $11 billion by 2026, growing at 28% annually. Over 70% of Vietnamese internet users have watched a live stream, with 50% making a purchase during or after the stream. Live-streaming sales conversion rates can be up to 10 times higher than traditional e-commerce. The appeal of live-streaming lies in its authenticity, interactivity, and instant gratification. Are Asia brands more willing to spend on this, because they understand the eco-system vs Western brands? Consumers can see products in action & get their queries answered by trusted hosts, it's lifestyle / 'shoppertainment'. Discounting for higher volumes is built into the model, however over time in mature markets like China, you observe a shift towards higher value items. Live streamers are influencers, with trusted & established communities. Building community is everything, it's educational value add too, not just flash sales. The format will evolve. Fascinatingly 72% of Vietnamese consumers trust influencer recommendations more than traditional ads. This drives offline & online purchases. Micro and nano influencers, with their highly engaged niche audiences, drive 60% higher engagement rates compared to macro influencers. For brands, partnering with the right KOLs can be a game-changer. Brand creatives & emotionally resonant content in support of Live Selling facilitates converting new customers into loyal, repeat purchasers. One critique of Live Streaming has been the loyalty to the seller, not the brand - but by leveraging data there are strategies to re-engage / re-target. Price alignment within a certain % of offline retail is pivotal, or product splits for online. #vietnam #socialcommerce #ecommerce #asiatech #kol

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𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 “𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘆” 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗳𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆? I did! My memories of my grandmother’s Nonya 𝑧ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔 making process was that of an arduous one taking hours of hard work. Having only eaten storebought 𝑧ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑠 since her passing, I was curious how these were made in massive quantities. So, I hit the local markets of Hong Kong to find my answer. I stood in front of at least 5-6 aunties, watching as they made these yummilicious dumplings. Auntie Mei here was one of the fastest, making a 𝑧ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔 from start to finish in <30secs. 🤯 1️⃣ Did I have to go scour the local markets to actually satisfy this curiosity? No, I didn’t - YouTube probably has many videos of aunties making 𝑧ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑠. But I believe when one gets curious about something, you should chose to look for answers yourself. Sure, YouTube, TikTok and ChatGPT can give you information, formulas and even full-fledged solutions. But nothing beats experiencing something for yourself. ❗️Experiential learning experiences allow you to put things you have learnt into action immediately. Be honest, how many times have you watched a video on YouTube and not actually put the information you watched to use? Precisely. 2️⃣ Nothing beats practice and hard work. Watching Auntie Mei solidified this belief. While she didn’t let me wrap a whole 𝑧ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔 myself, she let me try my hands at putting the leaves together. I took probably a whole minute to do what she does in literally 3secs. Yes, we all want to 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑡 and be more productive. But I’m a huge believer in getting the basics right before putting it into a process. I mean, how can you automate a process without even knowing what it looks like? ❗️Bruce Lee once said “I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times”. While you don’t have to literally kick something 10,000 times these days, deeply understanding the work that you are doing will give you more clarity on what you can improve, automate or change. I’ve seen organisations with so much potential waste away because their founders or leaders are so far removed from the 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 process of how things are done. While AI and automation are of paramount importance these days, I still believe that being solid in the basics of your craft is a fundamental non-negotiable. Your ChatGPT/Gemini responses are only as good as the human writing its prompts. ✨ And I’m glad I took the time to explore and have a taste of 𝑧ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔 making this weekend - cause it something AI and robots can’t do (for now?) I do wonder if robots will be able to make 𝑧ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑠 one day as these intangible cultural traditions aren’t always being passed down. Will it really die out one day, or will it be continued by robots in the future? 👇🏻Place your bets (or guesses) in the comments!

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🎙️"You are (Japanese) enough to share your story" with Kyoko Takeyama. 8 Key Points and Takeaways from this week's Business Karaoke Podcast with Kyoko! ✨ 1. Value of Unique Perspectives 👉 Key Point: Everyone has a unique story and perspective, which is valuable and worth sharing. 🎯 Takeaway: Recognize that your personal experiences and viewpoints are valid and can offer significant insights to others. ✨ 2. Overcoming Limiting Beliefs 👉 Key Point: Limiting beliefs, such as feeling "not enough" in various aspects, can hinder your communication and professional growth. 🎯 Takeaway: Identify and challenge your negative self-talk. Understand that your story is just as valuable as anyone else's. ✨ 3. Personal Journey and Motivation 👉 Key Point: Kyoko's journey from the US to Spain and her transition from teaching English to communication coaching was driven by her desire to help others communicate effectively. 🎯 Takeaway: Significant life events, like the loss of a loved one, can be catalysts for pursuing your true passion and committing fully to your goals. ✨ 4. Embracing Accents in Communication 👉 Key Point: An accent is a part of your identity and can add depth to your story. It should not be seen as a barrier. 🎯 Takeaway: Focus on the expertise and unique perspectives you bring to the table, rather than striving for perfect language proficiency. ✨ 5. Kyoko's very own CLEAR Method for Communication 👉 Key Point: Kyoko's CLEAR method helps individuals articulate their strengths and create impactful messages. C: Competence - Identify what makes you a great professional. L: Legend - Develop stories that demonstrate your competencies. E: Enlightenment - Reflect on the lessons learned from your experiences. A: Articulate - Create concise messages based on your reflections. R: Radiance - Communicate these messages effectively to be seen and heard. 🎯 Takeaway: Use the CLEAR method to gain clarity on your strengths and improve your communication skills. ✨ 6. Building in the Light 👉 Key Point: Sharing personal stories and struggles can build authenticity and stronger connections with your audience. 🎯 Takeaway: Don’t be afraid to show vulnerability. It can make you more relatable and trustworthy, enhancing professional relationships. ✨ 7. Importance of Travel and Empathy 👉 Key Point: Traveling and experiencing different cultures can broaden your perspective and enhance your empathy. 🎯 Takeaway: Step out of your comfort zone and explore new environments to grow personally and professionally. ✨ 8. Actionable Steps for Addressing Limiting Beliefs 👉 Key Point: To tackle limiting beliefs, start by identifying them and brainstorming what makes you a great professional. 🎯 Takeaway: Write down your skills and qualities Full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gpDTDSph

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📈 Around 20% of LVMH’s sales come from China (Wall Street Journal, 2024). How will LVMH leverage Alibaba’s AI capabilities to unlock more potential? 🤝 LVMH and Alibaba are deepening their partnership to enhance AI in China's unique digital ecosystem. This collaboration aims to boost LVMH's omnichannel, data, and digital prowess to craft more personalized, enriching digital journeys for discerning Chinese consumers. 🌟 Thank you Gemma A. Williams for including me in her piece on Vogue Business diving into the recent news. Check out the full article for more info and expert bites from Thomas Nixon, Luca Solca, and Amber Wu into the elevated LVMH x Alibaba partnership: https://lnkd.in/eYSTk7pX 🌐 LVMH is starting to integrate Alibaba Cloud’s powerful AI tools, including Qwen, the tech giant’s proprietary large language model, and Model Studio, the comprehensive AI model-building platform, into its business operations. This means LVMH can potentially drive innovation in DATA ANALYSIS & utilization, creating huge impact in ads, physical display, content creation, CLIENTELING, customer service, eCommerce / offline / OMNICHANNEL interactive shopping experiences, and even in INTERNAL departments like manufacturing and supply chain. How would they be applied? 🔹 Franck le Moal, LVMH’s CIO, has revealed in the past that AI capabilities are supporting the Group’s wine and spirits sector’s manufacturing side using image analysis. 🔹 Creative directors, designers, and visual merchandisers are also utilizing AI and GenAI as complementary tools for their creative ventures. 💡 Moreover, by analyzing data from the supply chain and various global markets, LVMH can potentially to make better SALES FORECASTS, and fine-tune the level of production and inventory allocation... for maximum ROI. This optimization can be applied to multiple divisions, including fashion, wine and spirits, and perfume. 🔥 LVMH has always stood out for its substantial INVESTMENT in advertising & marketing and R&D. According to Statista, by 2022, LVMH reportedly spent nearly €10 billion annually on its portfolio of over 70 brands, with this amount growing each year. Overall, the continued collaboration with Alibaba for digital transformation in China demonstrates that LVMH has a strong and clear vision for the future, supported by a solid long-term growth strategy both globally and locally, to strengthen customer interactions and relationships. I look forward to how their AI applications would develop :) #LVMH #Alibaba #AI #DigitalTransformation #China

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Among the 4Ps of marketing, Price is a crucial element directly linked to a company’s revenue. Proper pricing is a significant factor in influencing customers to choose a product or service. However, pricing is not just about reflecting costs and profits; it is closely related to the overall marketing strategy. General Approaches to Pricing There are two main approaches to pricing: cost-based and demand-based. The objectives can include maximizing profit, maximizing sales, or maximizing market share. Strategic pricing involves new products, product mixes, and campaigns. Pricing must consider various internal and external factors, and adjustments may be needed based on region, timing, and customer segments. Insights from Apple’s Pricing Strategy Apple’s pricing strategy for the iPhone demonstrates the use of anchoring effects. By initially presenting a high-priced option, it sets a benchmark (anchor), making other price points appear more reasonable in comparison. Additionally, through strategic configuration of price differences and product lineups, Apple makes the mid-priced options attractive to their target audience as value-for-money choices. Embracing a Dynamic Pricing Mindset Dynamic pricing is crucial. It involves using pricing as a powerful marketing strategy, rather than simply assigning a price to a product. Pricing is an act of selecting customers based on their willingness to pay and the value they perceive. Setting prices that match this value is essential. Furthermore, it is important to integrate pricing with supply chain management, accurately forecasting demand and managing inventory, and using pricing to control sales performance. Maximizing Product and Service Value through Strategic Pricing Proper pricing maximizes the value of products and services and is key to successful marketing strategies. It influences product differentiation, customer segmentation, and promotions. Companies need to adopt a dynamic pricing mindset, accurately capturing customers’ willingness to pay, and engage in strategic pricing. https://lnkd.in/gbBsVFMm #marketing #growthstrategy #growthmindset #gamechanger #tokyo #japan

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Leveraging market segmentation for growth – an essential aspect of strategic planning for businesses aiming to understand and capitalize on diverse consumer segments.

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APRW ‘s strategic partnership with Zaihui 再惠 and sister company SpoonX Marketing Agency has opened up opportunities for us to marry our expertise to help clients reach out to Chinese audiences in the effective and cost efficient ways. The campaigns we have developed for our clients through this partnership have achieved very rewarding results! Happy to have a chat if anyone is keen to understand the exciting, unique digital landscape of the China Market and would like to reach out to Chinese audiences for your Marketing campaigns. DM me! 😊 #digitalmarketing #socialmedia #socialmediamarketing #chinamarketing #chinadigitalmarketing #chinasocialmediamarketing

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Article about basic business models and key metrics for data analytics in Thai language. #businessmodel #dataanalytics

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Featuring on Ep 5 of series "Talent also needs strategy" on Advertising Vietnam with Host Donald Nguyen, sharing with students a well & proper preparation during high school and college and how to maximize the first 2 years entering the industry for long-term Marketing career development. 👉 watch 30+ mins Ep 5 here: https://lnkd.in/gHEAjVYA

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Thanks for inviting me ☺️—it was such a great time discussing how I'm transforming marketing with gamification. Traditional ads often miss the mark, so I've blended games, marketing, and psychology to drive organic business growth. Thanks again for Aadityaa Gupta and Hai Thong Nguyen (ธง) for organizing this great time to have a chat together. Catch the full interview to hear about my journey, challenges, and big plans ahead. 🎥 Watch on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gK7_Vgx6 
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gyqYgy_J #Entrepreneur #Marketing #Gamification #BusinessGrowth #InnovativeMarketing #DigitalMarketing #SuccessStories #PodcastInterview

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HK01 報導: 德勤中國與太古地產宣佈，雙方簽署了為期10年的租務協議，德勤將續租其位於太古廣場一座的香港辦公室， 新租約中加入了綠色條款。德勤中國為太古廣場項目中最大的辦公樓租戶，自2006年起承租太古廣場一座35樓至40樓的高層辧公樓，共約125,200平方呎，佔整座辦公樓總樓面面積約兩成。 德勤中國首席執行官曾順福表示，作為立足本土、連接全球的專業服務機構，一直致力於發展香港業務。半個多世紀以來，集團與香港共同成長。員工人數亦由近20年前遷入太古廣場一座時的約1,600人，增至現時的逾3,000 人。 Deloitte China renews 10-year lease with Swire Properties as an anchor tenant of One Pacific Place in Hong Kong. To deepen the partnership on the ESG front, Deloitte China has incorporated green clauses into the new lease. As the largest office tenant in Pacific Place, Deloitte China has occupied the high zone of One Pacific Place since 2006, covering approximately 125,200 sq. ft. across six floors, accounting for around 20% of the office tower’s total space. Deloitte China CEO Patrick Tsang says, "As a global connected and locally rooted professional services organisation, we are fully committed to the Hong Kong market. We have grown together with the city, doubling our headcount to more than 3,000 today from around 1,600 people when we moved into One Pacific Place almost 20 years ago." https://lnkd.in/gcp3CnUR

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Nice article by a talented and passionate tourism marketing professional from Taiwan.

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English Follows 本日、ヴェルトは、大日本印刷と大和シルフィードらが取り組む女性特有の健康課題に関する研究に、弊社のコーザルAI「xCausal™」が採用されたことを発表しました。 https://lnkd.in/diZwHRwj 大日本印刷が、大和シルフィード・大広と取り組む本研究では、女性特有の「生理周期」、心拍数・呼吸・体温の「バイタルサイン（生命兆候）」、睡眠リズム・栄養バランスなどの日常のデータと、練習・試合のパフォーマンスデータを用い、今まで見えなかった“コンディションデータの因果関係”の可視化がテーマとなっております。今回xCausal™は、因果関係の推定と解決策の発見につながる分析ツールとして採用されました。 xCausal™は、一般的なAIの相関関係を導き出すものとは異なり、「なぜその結果になるのか、何を改善すれば結果が良くなるのか」という因果関係の理解を加えることで、人が理解して使える新しいAIです。特に、エビデンスの取得までは必要はないものの、早急な原因究明が必要かつ有用となる領域において、データから素早く因果関係を推定でき、効果を発揮します。今まで解決が難しかった社会課題に対して、様々な領域で採用が進んでいます。 Today, VELDT announced that our causal AI "xCausal™" has been adopted by Dai Nippon Printing, Daiwa Sylphide, and others in research on health issues specific to women. In this research collaboration between DNP, Yamato Sylpheed, and Daiko, the focus is on visualizing the causal relationships within "condition data" - a combination of daily metrics such as the female-specific "menstrual cycle," vital signs like heart rate, respiration, and body temperature, as well as factors like sleep patterns and nutritional balance, along with performance data from training and matches. xCausal™ has been adopted as an analytical tool to estimate causal relationships and discover solutions. Unlike typical AI systems that derive correlations, xCausal™ is a novel AI that incorporates an understanding of causality, answering questions like "why did this outcome occur?" and "what can be done to improve it?" This makes it more accessible for human understanding and application. Particularly in fields where immediate understanding of causality is crucial and beneficial, xCausal™ can quickly estimate causal relationships from data, even without acquiring evidence, thus proving effective in identifying causes promptly. xCausal™ is being adopted in a variety of fields to address social issues that have been difficult to solve until now.

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The youngest on the market and already n. 🥇 Irish Whiskey 🍀 in a great whisky-lover country! 🎎 Thanks to a high-quality product, a distinctive bottle and a solid on trade strategy, The Busker has conquered the Japanese consumers and bartenders. #Whiskey #spiritsbusiness #japan #ontrade #marketingstrategy

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