Consumption experience in a globalized and interconnected society
Participants of the workshop take a group photo
People's consumption experience has changed a lot in today's globalized society, industry insiders said at a workshop held over the weekend in Shanghai.
Scholars, writers and business leaders from world-renowned companies delivered keynote speech at the workshop themed “consumption experience in a globalized and interconnected society.”
“In a more and more globalized and interconnected society, consumption itself has changed a lot,” said Dr Guo Li, founder and CEO of Rhizome Cultural Development Co, one of the sponsors. “People emphasize on how they experience during the buying process. This is a big change in human history, therefore the academic world cares. Meanwhile consumption experience is a key issue for various brands, therefore the industrial world also cares.”
Zheng Wei, associate professor from Takushoku University, told a story of being entrusted to purchase hundreds of Japanese iron kettles for his Chinese friends and also mentioned the popularity of Director Zhang Yimou’s movie “My Father and Mother” in Japan.
“Experiencing consumption can be a way of cultural learning and identity construction. The Japanese find a pure Asian relationship they can treasure, but may lack in their society, through Zhang’s movie. And the Chinese find their ancient tradition which is lost in their society in the Japanese iron kettles,” said Zheng.
Dr Guo Li (left), founder and CEO of Rhizome Cultural Development, and Zheng Wei, associated professor of Takushoku University, pose for picture.
Zhao Yue, general merchandising manager of Fendi China, compared different fashions in China, Japan, France and Italy based on her many years' experience as a fashion industry professional.
“Fashion is something according to what’s fashionable, but style is more about being yourself,” said Zhao.
Kishibe Yuji, director of Japan Airline Shanghai Office, told the story of how Japan Airline shifted its emphasis from quantity to quality after the company filed bankruptcy and reconstructed itself in 2010.
Yu Shi, writer of “A Historical Story of Daddy Boy,” shared her experience of becoming a writer, and consumption and creation in literature.
Other speakers, including Kitanaka Hideaki from Takushoku University, Zhang Hui from East China Normal University, Song Chunlei, vice president of Amazon China, Zhu Huanian, Asia and MENA marketing director of Macmillan Education, Qi Hongqiang, president of NetStar, talked on consumption experience from either an academic perspective or an industrial perspective.
Zhao Yue, general merchandising manager of Fendi China, speaks on different fashions in different countries.
Song Chunlei, vice president of Amazon China, speaks on the topic of how Amazon wins cross-boarder business.
