SmithStreet Featured in Reuters regarding Best Buy’s Exit from Europe and Its Situation in China
NEW YORK, MAY 2, 2013
One of Best Buy's problems was that the retailer's own-brand stores never adapted to the local market or succeeded in wooing the Chinese customer, who often shops on e-commerce sites like 360buy.com.

SmithStreet Featured in the Women’s Wear Daily regarding Alibaba’s Acquisition of Minority Stake in Weibo
NEW YORK, MAY 2, 2013
What is missing from e-commerce in China is the ability for consumers to have an online shopping experience that feels like shopping in brick-and-mortar retail with friends. Adding Weibo to Taobao creates an experience that is closer to the offline experience.

SmithStreet Featured in the Wall Street Journal on LVMH's Pricing Increase
LONDON, APR 16, 2013
Louis Vuitton’s recent decision to increase their prices in Europe was the resulting slowing of revenue growth, and in relation to purchases by Chinese tourists abroad.

SmithStreet Featured in the Women’s Wear Daily on In-store Leasing Trends in China
NEW YORK, APR 15, 2013
Concession deals is a dominate trend in Europe and is becoming more accepted in the U.S. However, the in-store shop model in China is beginning to face increased competition, as more and more retailers that sell multiple brands, such as Hong Kong’s IT and Lane Crawford, begin to open up in China.

SmithStreet Featured in the South China Morning Post regarding the Uphill Battle for Domestic Chinese Fashion Brands
HONG KONG, APR 7, 2013
Local brands such as Exception are beginning to realize that the mainland consumer is increasingly more sophisticated. Western brands such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci must also try to differentiate themselves in the China market and evolve their brands.

SmithStreet Op-Ed on Chinese Apparel Consumers Featured in the China Daily
HONG KONG, MAR 29, 2013
While Chinese Apparel Consumers in tier 2 and 3 cities still focus on “brand” in their apparel choices, the shopping elite in tier 1 cities are beginning to base their consumption choices on “style” over “brand.”

SmithStreet Featured in the China Daily Asia Weekly on Online Shopping Agents
HONG KONG, MAR 29, 2013
As every major brand available in the US and Europe will be in China over the (next) five years, according to Yao, only those selling products with a high profit margin will survive in the long run.

SmithStreet Featured in the Wall Street Journal regarding US Retailer Strategy in China
HONG KONG, JUL 31, 2012
SmithStreet CEO, Franklin Yao, was featured in a Wall Street Journal article focused on the expansion strategy of fashion retailing brands into the Chinese market, in particular, JCrew.

SmithStreet Joins the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai
SHANGHAI, JUN 27, 2012
SmithStreet now joined the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai as a corporate member. By joining the CanCham Shanghai, SmithStreet will be more active on helping the Canadian companies with their China market related strategy building. The membership will also enable SmithStreet take more chamber activities.

SmithStreet on China's Super-Rich on The Economist
HONG KONG, MAY 12, 2012
Franklin Yao, CEO of Smith Street, provides invaluable insight about the expanding super-rich market of China on The Economist ".

SmithStreet on Coach in the Wall Street Journal
NEW YORK, JAN 23, 2012
Franklin Yao, CEO of SmithStreet, discussed Coach's brand awareness among Chinese consumers in the Wall Street Journal in the article named "Coach's Shares Should Remain in Fashion".

SmithStreet's CEO on Jyllands-Posten
COPENHAGEN, JAN 21, 2012
Franklin Yao, CEO of SmithStreet, shared his insights into the challenges foreign brands might face when entering the vast and highly diverse China market in an exclusive interview for Jyllands Posten, Denmark's largest daily newspaper.

SmithStreet' s Insights into E-commerce Published in China Daily
SHANGHAI, NOV 11, 2011
"Cashing in on click and buy", an article about China's E-commerce industry co-authored by SmithStreet' CEO, Franklin Yao and project manager, James Button is published on China Daily, a national English newspaper.

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