Group-buying is on the rise in China, powered by WeChat groups set up in lockdown. As people tighten their purse strings, retailers and restaurants are encouraging people to pool their purchasing power and get discounts when buying in bulk, not just for groceries, but luxury items, too.

As the world copes with the impact of COVID-19, shifts in Chinese buying habits offer an idea of how global spend will be affected. From the short-term impact to longer, more structural changes in shopping preferences, how can brands best position themselves within this changing landscape?

The lives of Chinese Gen Zers – digital natives who grew up amid prosperity – are vastly different from their parents’. Yet while they’re feeling empowered and connected to the world, they’ve not shunned tradition entirely. How are apps, games, and fashion labels reminding youth of their heritage?

After being cooped up to slow the spread of COVID-19, quarantine measures are being relaxed in China, and people are celebrating by going out on luxury 'revenge spending' sprees. This behaviour could eventually replicate itself across the world as more countries overcome the outbreak.