Ed Sander
@edsander.bsky.social
China Tech Research Editor for techbuzzchina.com
Speaker for ChinaTalk.nl | edsander.com
Study tour leader for ChinaTechTrip.com
Speaker for ChinaTalk.nl | edsander.com
Study tour leader for ChinaTechTrip.com
STATUS OF CHINA’S INSTANT RETAIL BATTLE - PART 2: WHAT DOES ALIBABA PLAN NOW?
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
November 11, 2025 at 9:06 AM
STATUS OF CHINA’S INSTANT RETAIL BATTLE - PART 2: WHAT DOES ALIBABA PLAN NOW?
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
STATUS OF CHINA’S INSTANT RETAIL BATTLE - PART 1: WHAT HAS IT BROUGHT ALIBABA?
The dust on this battle has largely settled, and Latepost just released a long article on the current status, which I will summarise in two posts, today and tomorrow.
www.linkedin.com/posts/edsand...
The dust on this battle has largely settled, and Latepost just released a long article on the current status, which I will summarise in two posts, today and tomorrow.
www.linkedin.com/posts/edsand...
November 10, 2025 at 8:43 AM
STATUS OF CHINA’S INSTANT RETAIL BATTLE - PART 1: WHAT HAS IT BROUGHT ALIBABA?
The dust on this battle has largely settled, and Latepost just released a long article on the current status, which I will summarise in two posts, today and tomorrow.
www.linkedin.com/posts/edsand...
The dust on this battle has largely settled, and Latepost just released a long article on the current status, which I will summarise in two posts, today and tomorrow.
www.linkedin.com/posts/edsand...
October 4, 2025 at 11:55 AM
That's quite a nice stage tomorrow ...
www.virke.no/konferanser/...
www.virke.no/konferanser/...
September 17, 2025 at 6:04 PM
That's quite a nice stage tomorrow ...
www.virke.no/konferanser/...
www.virke.no/konferanser/...
In my keynote at the Hovedorganisasjonen Virke Arena conference on 18/9, I will share how Temu keeps changing its business models and the impact of the cancellation of the import tax exemption on Temu in the US.
There is a lot to learn from this for us in Europe.
See you in Lillestrøm, Norway.
There is a lot to learn from this for us in Europe.
See you in Lillestrøm, Norway.
September 16, 2025 at 3:25 PM
In my keynote at the Hovedorganisasjonen Virke Arena conference on 18/9, I will share how Temu keeps changing its business models and the impact of the cancellation of the import tax exemption on Temu in the US.
There is a lot to learn from this for us in Europe.
See you in Lillestrøm, Norway.
There is a lot to learn from this for us in Europe.
See you in Lillestrøm, Norway.
In this 2nd part of our investigation into Tencent’s e-commerce revival, we explain Tencent’s vision for WeChat e-commerce and take a closer look at the way WeChat’s ecosystem facilitates e-commerce.
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/tencents-e...
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/tencents-e...
September 12, 2025 at 6:55 AM
In this 2nd part of our investigation into Tencent’s e-commerce revival, we explain Tencent’s vision for WeChat e-commerce and take a closer look at the way WeChat’s ecosystem facilitates e-commerce.
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/tencents-e...
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/tencents-e...
In a new Tech Buzz China report, I evaluate TikTok Shop’s progress.
▶️ How TikTok Shop is changing its e-commerce model and how live commerce is developing.
▶️ Details about the layoffs and management changes at TikTok Shop US.
▶️ The outlook and targets for TikTok Shop.
▶️ And much more ...
▶️ How TikTok Shop is changing its e-commerce model and how live commerce is developing.
▶️ Details about the layoffs and management changes at TikTok Shop US.
▶️ The outlook and targets for TikTok Shop.
▶️ And much more ...
July 13, 2025 at 11:56 AM
In a new Tech Buzz China report, I evaluate TikTok Shop’s progress.
▶️ How TikTok Shop is changing its e-commerce model and how live commerce is developing.
▶️ Details about the layoffs and management changes at TikTok Shop US.
▶️ The outlook and targets for TikTok Shop.
▶️ And much more ...
▶️ How TikTok Shop is changing its e-commerce model and how live commerce is developing.
▶️ Details about the layoffs and management changes at TikTok Shop US.
▶️ The outlook and targets for TikTok Shop.
▶️ And much more ...
▶️ Why it's not the cancellation of the de minimis in the US that caused Temu's sales to collapse.
▶️ Why we should look at what TikTok Shop did in elsewhere to manage our expectations.
▶️ Why a war broke out among food delivery/instant retail companies.
Full keynote:
mediathek.k5.de/video/the-bi...
▶️ Why we should look at what TikTok Shop did in elsewhere to manage our expectations.
▶️ Why a war broke out among food delivery/instant retail companies.
Full keynote:
mediathek.k5.de/video/the-bi...
July 5, 2025 at 7:00 AM
▶️ Why it's not the cancellation of the de minimis in the US that caused Temu's sales to collapse.
▶️ Why we should look at what TikTok Shop did in elsewhere to manage our expectations.
▶️ Why a war broke out among food delivery/instant retail companies.
Full keynote:
mediathek.k5.de/video/the-bi...
▶️ Why we should look at what TikTok Shop did in elsewhere to manage our expectations.
▶️ Why a war broke out among food delivery/instant retail companies.
Full keynote:
mediathek.k5.de/video/the-bi...
Mid-December, WeChat launched a new ‘Send Gifts’ functionality. It was enthusiastically received since it echoed WeChat’s digitisation of the ‘hong bao’ (red envelopes) during Spring Festival in 2014.
Read all about it in our new Tech Buzz China report.
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/tencents-e...
Read all about it in our new Tech Buzz China report.
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/tencents-e...
June 20, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Mid-December, WeChat launched a new ‘Send Gifts’ functionality. It was enthusiastically received since it echoed WeChat’s digitisation of the ‘hong bao’ (red envelopes) during Spring Festival in 2014.
Read all about it in our new Tech Buzz China report.
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/tencents-e...
Read all about it in our new Tech Buzz China report.
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/tencents-e...
HOW JD HYPES ITS TAKEAWAY BUSINESS AND HURTS COFFEE STORES
Since the launch of its takeaway business, JD has been constantly releasing stunning numbers that I found hard to believe. Zouma Finance released an interesting article that sheds light on the numbers.
Read more: substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
Since the launch of its takeaway business, JD has been constantly releasing stunning numbers that I found hard to believe. Zouma Finance released an interesting article that sheds light on the numbers.
Read more: substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
June 19, 2025 at 10:33 AM
HOW JD HYPES ITS TAKEAWAY BUSINESS AND HURTS COFFEE STORES
Since the launch of its takeaway business, JD has been constantly releasing stunning numbers that I found hard to believe. Zouma Finance released an interesting article that sheds light on the numbers.
Read more: substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
Since the launch of its takeaway business, JD has been constantly releasing stunning numbers that I found hard to believe. Zouma Finance released an interesting article that sheds light on the numbers.
Read more: substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
Last month, I delivered a 100-minute session at a Philips event in Eindhoven.
Compared to China, Philips and many Western brands still hold competitive advantages in branding, service, quality, and innovation. But would that last?
Watch the video here: www.linkedin.com/posts/edsand...
Compared to China, Philips and many Western brands still hold competitive advantages in branding, service, quality, and innovation. But would that last?
Watch the video here: www.linkedin.com/posts/edsand...
June 18, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Last month, I delivered a 100-minute session at a Philips event in Eindhoven.
Compared to China, Philips and many Western brands still hold competitive advantages in branding, service, quality, and innovation. But would that last?
Watch the video here: www.linkedin.com/posts/edsand...
Compared to China, Philips and many Western brands still hold competitive advantages in branding, service, quality, and innovation. But would that last?
Watch the video here: www.linkedin.com/posts/edsand...
FOUR LITTLE DRAGONS GOING OVERSEAS
A video of my keynote at Fashion Talks 2025 in Antwerp, Belgium, explaining the wave of Chinese webshops that have arrived in the past years.
youtu.be/zc_7D75IAVA?...
A video of my keynote at Fashion Talks 2025 in Antwerp, Belgium, explaining the wave of Chinese webshops that have arrived in the past years.
youtu.be/zc_7D75IAVA?...
June 11, 2025 at 6:52 AM
FOUR LITTLE DRAGONS GOING OVERSEAS
A video of my keynote at Fashion Talks 2025 in Antwerp, Belgium, explaining the wave of Chinese webshops that have arrived in the past years.
youtu.be/zc_7D75IAVA?...
A video of my keynote at Fashion Talks 2025 in Antwerp, Belgium, explaining the wave of Chinese webshops that have arrived in the past years.
youtu.be/zc_7D75IAVA?...
I just finished reading a 16,000+ word account of a Chinese-born former R&D team manager’s 2.5 years at TikTok Shop US. It sheds some interesting insights into the issues at Chinese Tech companies in the US, in general, and TikTok Shop US specifically. Summary:
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
June 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
I just finished reading a 16,000+ word account of a Chinese-born former R&D team manager’s 2.5 years at TikTok Shop US. It sheds some interesting insights into the issues at Chinese Tech companies in the US, in general, and TikTok Shop US specifically. Summary:
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
Predictions on the share of China's e-commerce in total retail sales:
Jack Ma (Alibaba founder) - 2013 - "will exceed 50% by 2022"
e-marketer - 2021 - "58.1% in 2024"
e-marketer - 2022 - "48.9% by 2024"
Joe Tsai (Alibaba chairman) - 2024 - "will exceed 40% in the next 5 years"
Reality check:
Jack Ma (Alibaba founder) - 2013 - "will exceed 50% by 2022"
e-marketer - 2021 - "58.1% in 2024"
e-marketer - 2022 - "48.9% by 2024"
Joe Tsai (Alibaba chairman) - 2024 - "will exceed 40% in the next 5 years"
Reality check:
June 6, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Predictions on the share of China's e-commerce in total retail sales:
Jack Ma (Alibaba founder) - 2013 - "will exceed 50% by 2022"
e-marketer - 2021 - "58.1% in 2024"
e-marketer - 2022 - "48.9% by 2024"
Joe Tsai (Alibaba chairman) - 2024 - "will exceed 40% in the next 5 years"
Reality check:
Jack Ma (Alibaba founder) - 2013 - "will exceed 50% by 2022"
e-marketer - 2021 - "58.1% in 2024"
e-marketer - 2022 - "48.9% by 2024"
Joe Tsai (Alibaba chairman) - 2024 - "will exceed 40% in the next 5 years"
Reality check:
WILL THE CHINESE DITCH QR CODE PAYMENTS?
QR codes have their limitations, especially for the elderly, and they could get damaged or be replaced by criminals. Ant Group, the Alibaba spin-off and company behind Alipay, now wants to change that with Alipay Touch.
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
QR codes have their limitations, especially for the elderly, and they could get damaged or be replaced by criminals. Ant Group, the Alibaba spin-off and company behind Alipay, now wants to change that with Alipay Touch.
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
June 3, 2025 at 11:34 AM
WILL THE CHINESE DITCH QR CODE PAYMENTS?
QR codes have their limitations, especially for the elderly, and they could get damaged or be replaced by criminals. Ant Group, the Alibaba spin-off and company behind Alipay, now wants to change that with Alipay Touch.
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
QR codes have their limitations, especially for the elderly, and they could get damaged or be replaced by criminals. Ant Group, the Alibaba spin-off and company behind Alipay, now wants to change that with Alipay Touch.
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
The 90-day tariff war truce is a good moment to take stock of where we are. In this new Temu Watch update, we examine the phases of the tariff war, both before and after May 12th, the impact of various policies, and how Temu has adjusted its strategies.
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/temu-watch...
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/temu-watch...
June 1, 2025 at 12:12 PM
The 90-day tariff war truce is a good moment to take stock of where we are. In this new Temu Watch update, we examine the phases of the tariff war, both before and after May 12th, the impact of various policies, and how Temu has adjusted its strategies.
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/temu-watch...
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/temu-watch...
ONPOPULAIRE OPINIE?
Ik werd gisteren door Wilke Wittebrood van Change Inc. / MT Sprout geïnterviewd over de brandbrief van de mode- en textielbedrijven m.b.t. Chinese platforms als Shein en Temu ...
www.linkedin.com/posts/edsand...
Ik werd gisteren door Wilke Wittebrood van Change Inc. / MT Sprout geïnterviewd over de brandbrief van de mode- en textielbedrijven m.b.t. Chinese platforms als Shein en Temu ...
www.linkedin.com/posts/edsand...
May 28, 2025 at 10:43 AM
ONPOPULAIRE OPINIE?
Ik werd gisteren door Wilke Wittebrood van Change Inc. / MT Sprout geïnterviewd over de brandbrief van de mode- en textielbedrijven m.b.t. Chinese platforms als Shein en Temu ...
www.linkedin.com/posts/edsand...
Ik werd gisteren door Wilke Wittebrood van Change Inc. / MT Sprout geïnterviewd over de brandbrief van de mode- en textielbedrijven m.b.t. Chinese platforms als Shein en Temu ...
www.linkedin.com/posts/edsand...
WHAT TWO CHARTS REVEAL ABOUT CHINA'S INSTANT RETAIL
Recently, Zouma Finance published its analysis on the instant retail market. I combined all of their data in the line chart below. I also translated their pie chart of the market shares.
A few things that stand out.
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
Recently, Zouma Finance published its analysis on the instant retail market. I combined all of their data in the line chart below. I also translated their pie chart of the market shares.
A few things that stand out.
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
May 26, 2025 at 2:18 PM
WHAT TWO CHARTS REVEAL ABOUT CHINA'S INSTANT RETAIL
Recently, Zouma Finance published its analysis on the instant retail market. I combined all of their data in the line chart below. I also translated their pie chart of the market shares.
A few things that stand out.
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
Recently, Zouma Finance published its analysis on the instant retail market. I combined all of their data in the line chart below. I also translated their pie chart of the market shares.
A few things that stand out.
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
ALIBABA’S XIANYU (IDLE FISH) SWIMS A DIFFERENT COURSE
Our latest report provides a detailed look at Alibaba's second-hand e-commerce platform, Xianyu: the history, user growth and demographics, business model evolution, and strategic shift within Alibaba.
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/alibabas-x...
Our latest report provides a detailed look at Alibaba's second-hand e-commerce platform, Xianyu: the history, user growth and demographics, business model evolution, and strategic shift within Alibaba.
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/alibabas-x...
May 23, 2025 at 4:41 PM
ALIBABA’S XIANYU (IDLE FISH) SWIMS A DIFFERENT COURSE
Our latest report provides a detailed look at Alibaba's second-hand e-commerce platform, Xianyu: the history, user growth and demographics, business model evolution, and strategic shift within Alibaba.
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/alibabas-x...
Our latest report provides a detailed look at Alibaba's second-hand e-commerce platform, Xianyu: the history, user growth and demographics, business model evolution, and strategic shift within Alibaba.
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/alibabas-x...
Team Het Verre Oosten wint VNC China Pub Quiz
www.blogaap.nl/2-3593_Team-...
www.blogaap.nl/2-3593_Team-...
May 21, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Team Het Verre Oosten wint VNC China Pub Quiz
www.blogaap.nl/2-3593_Team-...
www.blogaap.nl/2-3593_Team-...
For those who are playing the VNC China Pub Quiz with @blogaap.bsky.social and me on Monday, here's another hint.
May 17, 2025 at 7:12 AM
For those who are playing the VNC China Pub Quiz with @blogaap.bsky.social and me on Monday, here's another hint.
NO, CANCELLATION OF DE MINIMIS WOULD NOT KILL TEMU AND SHEIN
But the tariffs will, if they remain unchanged. For a better understanding, I have decided to pull the Temu Watch #7 report on Tech Buzz China from behind our regular paywall for at least a week.
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/temu-watch...
But the tariffs will, if they remain unchanged. For a better understanding, I have decided to pull the Temu Watch #7 report on Tech Buzz China from behind our regular paywall for at least a week.
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/temu-watch...
May 2, 2025 at 3:08 PM
NO, CANCELLATION OF DE MINIMIS WOULD NOT KILL TEMU AND SHEIN
But the tariffs will, if they remain unchanged. For a better understanding, I have decided to pull the Temu Watch #7 report on Tech Buzz China from behind our regular paywall for at least a week.
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/temu-watch...
But the tariffs will, if they remain unchanged. For a better understanding, I have decided to pull the Temu Watch #7 report on Tech Buzz China from behind our regular paywall for at least a week.
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/temu-watch...
WHAT IS JD'S FOOD DELIVERY ALL ABOUT?
There's a lot of talk (and PR) about the 'new' food delivery business of JD in China. Many people are misinterpreting this new strategic move. I wrote a two-part report on the topic for Tech Buzz China. Some of the key takeaways.
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
There's a lot of talk (and PR) about the 'new' food delivery business of JD in China. Many people are misinterpreting this new strategic move. I wrote a two-part report on the topic for Tech Buzz China. Some of the key takeaways.
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
May 1, 2025 at 7:15 AM
WHAT IS JD'S FOOD DELIVERY ALL ABOUT?
There's a lot of talk (and PR) about the 'new' food delivery business of JD in China. Many people are misinterpreting this new strategic move. I wrote a two-part report on the topic for Tech Buzz China. Some of the key takeaways.
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
There's a lot of talk (and PR) about the 'new' food delivery business of JD in China. Many people are misinterpreting this new strategic move. I wrote a two-part report on the topic for Tech Buzz China. Some of the key takeaways.
substack.com/@techbuzzchi...
Our new Tech Buzz China report on Xiaohongshu examines whether Rednote and XHS are separate apps, evaluates the impact of TikTok Refugees and plans for internationalisation and cross-border e-commerce. Plus updates on XHS's 2024 results and plans for 2025.
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/xiaohongsh...
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/xiaohongsh...
April 25, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Our new Tech Buzz China report on Xiaohongshu examines whether Rednote and XHS are separate apps, evaluates the impact of TikTok Refugees and plans for internationalisation and cross-border e-commerce. Plus updates on XHS's 2024 results and plans for 2025.
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/xiaohongsh...
techbuzzchina.substack.com/p/xiaohongsh...