The Hot Pot Table

Hot Pot Agency
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Strategic conversations, served hot. The Hot Pot Table is the monthly deep dive for global executives and brand managers who need to move past the headlines and into the operational reality of the world’s most dynamic consumer markets in Asia. Hosted by Jonathan Travers-Smith (Founder & CEO of Hot Pot), alongside our bicultural strategy experts and industry leaders, we help you navigate Asia's seismic shifts that actually matter for your P&L.  Hot Pot is a strategic marketing agency with a difference - commercial and operational success in Asia is built into our DNA. With offices in London and Shanghai, we act as a natural extension of global brand teams to deliver long-term success. Learn more via https://www.hotpotagency.com/. Go deeper at the China Playbook strategy hub. Access full video masterclasses, visual data summaries, complete transcripts and more resources with paid access: https://chinaplaybook.hotpotagency.com/.

Episodes

  1. FEB 9

    China’s Family Policy | Pragmatic Retail Growth | AI Innovations

    China has entered an era of ‘aggressive innovation’. While global headlines focus on the "slowing economy", the real story is a fundamental pivot toward hyper-pragmatism. In this episode of The Hot Pot Table, the Hot Pot team explores three shifts where creativity is being used to solve China's most practical problems: Marriage & Birth Rates: From state-led night club marriage registration parties to the subsidised antenatal checks for retirees—what is the state really doing to move the needle on demographics?The Practicality Boom: Why Sam’s Club is winning by mastering the high-effectiveness retail model.The AI Paradox: What’s the latest innovative tech coming from China? How are they impacting the local workforce and the world? For transcripts, downloadable data audits and deep dive resources, visit the Strategy Hub: https://chinaplaybook.hotpotagency.com/ Sign up for the China Playbook Brief newsletter for the latest updates: https://hotpotagency.com/china-playbook-free-newsletter Book a strategic workshop with us: http://hotpotagency.com/china-strategic-workshop Email us: nihao@hotpotchina.com  01:30 – Topic 1: The Family Policy Pivot. Why births hit a historic low and why encouragement policies failed to move the needle. 04:15 – Nightclub Weddings & Compound Eggs: A look at the creative methods government officials use to boost marriage and birth registration numbers. 07:40 – The Silver Economy Opportunity: Why the 50+ demographic is the only growing market segment in China and why brands may "waste" investment on Gen Z. 11:50 – The 165 Million Person Gap: The staggering math of China’s population shrinkage and what it means for long-term category demand. 18:45 – Topic 2: The Era of Pragmatic Shopping. The death of "blind spending" and the rise of the high-efficiency consumer. 21:10 – The Sam’s Club vs. Hypermarket War: How SKU reduction and forward warehouses allowed Sam’s Club to reach 120bn+ GMV while others struggle. 28:30 – Arc'teryx’s Mountain Exploding Scandal: Who’s wearing Arc'teryx and Salomon in China? Analysing the Arc'teryx controversy and the shift toward functional status. 33:50 – The Wisdom Tax: Why Chinese consumers are ditching premium brands for ingredient-first alternatives like down jackets from Sam’s Club or Costco. 41:20 – Topic 3: AI & The Synthetic Workforce. China as the global sandbox for AI application—moving from ethics to execution. 43:10 – Virtual Idols & Emotional Connection: Can an AI pop star like Wu Ai-Hua really build trust with a consumer? 48:20 – 24/7 Digital Livestreamers: The no-brainer ROI of AI-hosted commerce and the risks to brand authenticity. 51:30 – Humanoid Robots as Social Solutions: Why the $16,000 Unitree G1 might be the ultimate solution for China's single-child elder-care crisis. 56:15 – The Food Minute: The team’s recent food discoveries, including a know-how Chinese restaurant in Vienna and an egg meat bun (danroubao) in Northeast China's vibrant breakfast scene.

    1h 3m
  • 1 Episode

About

Strategic conversations, served hot. The Hot Pot Table is the monthly deep dive for global executives and brand managers who need to move past the headlines and into the operational reality of the world’s most dynamic consumer markets in Asia. Hosted by Jonathan Travers-Smith (Founder & CEO of Hot Pot), alongside our bicultural strategy experts and industry leaders, we help you navigate Asia's seismic shifts that actually matter for your P&L.  Hot Pot is a strategic marketing agency with a difference - commercial and operational success in Asia is built into our DNA. With offices in London and Shanghai, we act as a natural extension of global brand teams to deliver long-term success. Learn more via https://www.hotpotagency.com/. Go deeper at the China Playbook strategy hub. Access full video masterclasses, visual data summaries, complete transcripts and more resources with paid access: https://chinaplaybook.hotpotagency.com/.

Information

  • Creator
    Hot Pot Agency
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    1
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Hot Pot Agency
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    The Hot Pot Table