The best way to make money in China: stay away

The world's richest brands are struggling in China, as domestic firms are more innovative, faster to market with new products, and aggressively cut prices to grow market share.

Global giants such as Volkswagen, Starbucks, IKEA, and LVMH no longer enjoy pricing power in the Chinese market, and are scrambling to keep up.

But they cannot afford to leave. China is now a hub of innovation that these companies are learning from, instead of the other way around. China is also the world's largest consumer market, with the world's deepest supply chains and talent pools.

To small and medium-sized companies outside China, this is a unique opportunity. You can partner with the same Chinese companies, in hundreds of industries, who are eager to expand across the world.

Closing scene, Guangzhou

Resources and links:

Wall Street Journal, China Used to Be a Cash Cow for Western Companies. Now It’s a Test Lab.
https://www.wsj.com/world/china/china...

Who are you, and why are you here?: Audience analysis of "Inside China Business"
   • Who are you, and why are you here?:  Audie...  

Luckin Coffee blew past Starbucks in China; now it’s coming to the US
https://sherwood.news/business/luckin...

Council Insights: Chinese Shipbuilding Leaves the Rest of the World in its Wake
https://compete.org/2025/06/03/counci...

China produces more ships than the rest of the world combined.
  / china_produces_more_ships_than_the_rest_of...  

Manufacturing sources for farm equipment and maritime, Made-in-China.com, sorted by OEM