For the past three years, we’ve been wanting to sit down with our female community here in China to chat about the changes in the way women shop and spend their money, while Covid kept us shut out. From increased online shopping to a greater emphasis on brand values, women are driving some major shifts in consumer trends.

Now that we’re taking off our masks, why keep the SHE power behind the masks?

Did you know according to a recent report by Oliver Wyman, women in China are expected to contribute $4.9 trillion to Chinese incremental GDP growth from 2021 to 2025? That’s an incredible figure that highlights the powerful role that women play in the Chinese economy.

With China reopening and things looking up, it’s the perfect opportunity for businesses to recognize the evolving expectations of female consumers to thrive in the China market.

Let’s take a closer look at the shifting demands of Chinese women consumers.

Innovation Catered to Women’s Needs

As women focus more on their careers and financial futures, brands that prioritize female-focused innovation can appeal more to them as consumers.

A recent report by Accenture found that Chinese women are empowered and picky shoppers, with almost 90% saying they’d switch to brands that cater better to their needs, for example, provide greater access to education and training, mentorship, and networking.

Service for Convenience and Self-development

Chinese women lead busy lives balancing multiple responsibilities, including their careers and family. As a result, they highly value services that offer convenient and accessible products to save time and energy for self-development and growth.

For example, smart homes are becoming increasingly important for Chinese women, who want to balance the demands of managing their households with their own personal needs. Based on the data from JD.COM, the number of female customers purchasing household floor-cleaning robots, window-cleaning robots, and dishwashers increased by 440%, 104%, and 69%, respectively.

Enhance Social Values

Chinese women seek brands that align with their social values, including gender equality, diversity, and inclusion.  

A survey conducted by Kantar shows that 76% of Chinese female consumers would like to pay more for products from companies that support gender equality.

Companies that demonstrate their commitment to these values through their products, marketing, and culture can build trust and loyalty among female consumers.

Empathetic Marketing

Chinese women consumers respond well to empathetic marketing that acknowledges their unique challenges and concerns. Brands that can authentically connect with women through their messaging are likely to build stronger relationships and loyalty.

So, how to innovate your business identity and onboard the trend of She-conomy?

First, you may need to discover what makes more sense to women consumer today. With independent consumption consciousness, identifying the key factors behind decision-making becomes critical. Brands need to take time on consumer insights and cultural trend analysis to rationale the brand and product concept, communication, interaction with targeted female audience, this is where empathy and effectiveness come in and make an impact.

Secondly, looking internally, a good approach is to build a team that inspires and supports the growth of the next generation of women entrepreneurs and leaders and creates a more inclusive and equitable industry for the future. By fostering a women’s community, companies can gain valuable insights into the perspectives and priorities of this demographic and communicate with them better.

Contact us to find more about China Consumer Market Insights on the 4 topics (She-conomy, New Luxury, Gen-Z, Omnichannel Experience) we‘ve covered about the post-pandemic Chinese market and how to navigate through the ever-changing business landscape with an innovative spirit.