Original link: https://www.latepost.com/news/dj_detail?id=1823
Bubble Mart waited until consumption recovered
Bubble Mart initially confirmed its “anti-cycle” ability.
In the first half of this year, Bubble Mart’s revenue increased by 19.3% year-on-year to 2.814 billion yuan, and its profit increased by 43.3% to 477 million yuan. At the same time, inventory and turnover days decreased, and gross profit and net profit margin increased.
At the performance meeting on the 23rd, Pop Mart CEO Wang Ning specifically mentioned overseas business. It is estimated that overseas revenue will reach 1 billion yuan this year. Southeast Asia and East Asia are key areas for increasing revenue. He is confident that next year’s overseas revenue will exceed the company’s pre-IPO revenue. of total income. According to him, Pao Mart has about 500 overseas employees, equivalent to 12% of the total number of employees.
- In the first half of the year, Pao Mart’s revenue in mainland China increased by 10.7% year-on-year to 1.18 billion yuan; the annual revenue of the flagship store on Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street in Shanghai exceeded 100 million yuan;
- Overseas revenue increased by 1.4 times to 376 million yuan; it is expected to be at least 1 billion yuan next year;
- The gross profit margin was 60.34%, an increase of 2 percentage points year-on-year, which is related to the tightening of sales discounts and cost control. But it is emphasized that quality will not be sacrificed, “quality is the most fundamental and eternal requirement”;
- The net profit was 477 million yuan, which was higher than that of last year and 30% more than that of the same period in 2021. It was the first half of the year with the highest profit.
For those who are not familiar with Bubble Mart, it is difficult to understand how Bubble Mart has been popular for so long. According to reports, a Hong Kong toy store owner originally sold designer toys worth several thousand yuan each, but later deliberately introduced Bubble Mart, because the unit price is low and there are many styles, which can broaden the source of customers.
He said that Bubble Mart is very good at choosing spots. He has seen a group of middle school students “exploding boxes” around the blind box machine. The process is very interesting. There are also customers in the store who spend a lot of money to chase hidden items, such as Molly, which has a chance of appearing only 1/720. The gold model of Journey to the West even cost several thousand yuan to buy the original box, which contains 144 blind boxes.
In Taipei, the Bubble Mart robot store has opened into famous business districts such as Taipei Main Station. In addition to arranging check-in points with different themes, some of them also set up small tables to facilitate opening boxes and taking pictures on the spot. The agency operators of these stores describe their “own” box-drawing experience in this way: a sense of expectation, a sense of tension, a sense of intimacy with the players next to them, and a sense of exchange of ideas…
On Shopee, an e-commerce company in Southeast Asia, the official Bubble Mart store has 127,000 fans and 36,000 comments, with an average score of 4.9. Some users said that they bought it as a gift, hoping that the cute appearance can heal their mood, and some users complained that they always get unpopular models. There are also Japanese bloggers sharing Bubble Mart unboxing videos on YouTube, and carefully matching them with scenes. Many comments below share their favorite styles.
Under a YouTube video analyzing the business logic of Bubble Mart, netizens from all over the world gathered. Some mainland netizens compared Bubble Mart to raccoon crispy noodles, while some Hong Kong and Taiwan netizens thought of it as Kinder Surprise Eggs. Some commented that this is cutting leeks, and some said that only those who have bought it know the charm of the blind box. Some netizens called Bubble Mart a “happy little waste”. They can afford it and love to watch it, so they keep buying it as an ornament.
Regarding Wang Ning, the founder of Bubble Mart, there are many versions of entrepreneurial stories on the Internet, most of which mention that he spent most of his childhood in his parents’ small shop, which sold videos, clocks, fishing gear, etc. There are also all kinds of guests coming and going. At least from the current results, Bubble Mart understands young people’s consumption. (Lin Guangying)
Grab salt, from supermarket to stock market
If weather conditions and sea conditions permit, Japan will launch the discharge of Fukushima nuclear treatment water at noon on August 24. Although TEPCO, which operates the Fukushima plant, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have said it releases radiation levels so low that their radioactive impact on humans and the environment is negligible, it has faced opposition from neighboring countries and Japan’s own fishing industry groups .
The South Korean government said in a statement yesterday that Japan’s sea-drainage plan had no scientific or technical problems, but added that it did not represent approval or support for the discharge plan. South Korea’s largest opposition party, the Democratic Party of Korea, has strongly criticized this. In addition, South Korea still prohibits the import of seafood from the waters near Fukushima.
The attitude of the Korean people towards this matter is intuitively reflected on the supermarket shelves. A few months ago, due to concerns about the pollution of nuclear wastewater, some South Korean consumers began to rush to buy and hoard sea salt. As a result, the price of salt soared and the supply in supermarkets was in short supply. The government had to put sea salt in reserve on the market.
Similar scenarios appeared as early as 2011 when the Fukushima nuclear crisis occurred. At that time, there were rumors in mainland China and Hong Kong that consuming iodized salt could prevent nuclear radiation. In addition, they were worried that the production of sea salt would be affected if the seawater was polluted, and people rushed to buy table salt in large quantities.
The A-share market will never miss such an opportunity for speculation. Yesterday and today, the stock prices of many listed companies in the salt industry rose sharply. The market value of Jiangyan Group, Su Yanjingshen, Xuetian Salt Industry, and China Salt Chemical Industry increased by more than 6 billion yuan; Ushering in a sharp rise, the market value of the three companies Dahu, Baheal, and Guolian Aquatic Products increased by nearly 1.8 billion in two days.
Among other countries, Australia, the United States and New Zealand expressed their support after the IAEA declared Japan’s sea-drainage plan in line with international standards, and the European Union has lifted all restrictions on fish and agricultural imports from Fukushima.
According to media reports, Russia, together with China, asked the Japanese government to explore an alternative to using steam to discharge Fukushima nuclear wastewater in July.
The Japanese embassy in China stated on social media today that the proposed release of tritium (an isotope of hydrogen) from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant based on the disposal guidelines is lower than the maximum content of tritium in wastewater discharged from nuclear power plants in neighboring countries and regions such as China and South Korea.
Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, retorted that the Fukushima nuclear polluted water in Japan is the water that has passed through the melted core of the nuclear power plant. It is different in nature, source, and treatment difficulty from normal nuclear power plant wastewater. Environmental disaster day.
In July this year, China’s General Administration of Customs banned the import of aquatic products from 10 prefectures in Japan, including Fukushima, and aquatic products from other regions that are not on the prohibited list must also pass inspection before they can be imported. Yesterday, Hong Kong, China and Macau, China announced similar import control measures.
According to the diffusion model simulated by the team of Academician Zhang Jianmin and Associate Professor Hu Zhenzhong of Tsinghua University, nuclear sewage will reach the coastal waters of China after 240 days of discharge, and will reach the coast of North America after 1,200 days and cover almost the entire North Pacific Ocean.
Fisheries organizations in Japan are also strongly opposed to the sea discharge plan. Fishermen themselves may not worry about the safety of nuclear wastewater, but consumers’ ideas and the regulatory policies of various countries are more important. Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan show that in the first half of this year, Japan exported a total of 10.3 billion yuan in aquatic products, and China accounted for nearly half. By July, Japan’s exports of aquatic products to China fell by 30% year-on-year, and the export value of fresh fish (excluding fish nuggets) was halved. (Qiu Hao)
Europe completed natural gas reserves two months ahead of schedule, mainly relying on the United States
The European Natural Gas Infrastructure Association recently announced that the EU’s natural gas reserves have reached 90.12% of capacity, ahead of the heating season (November this year to March next year), completing the reserve target nearly two and a half months ahead of schedule. Natural gas in Europe has an obvious off-peak season, and the monthly consumption in the heating season is about 1.9 times that in the off-season.
In November last year, the EU also reserved more than 90% of its natural gas inventory in advance. Thanks to the warm winter, about 60% of it was not used up until March this year, which means that the EU only needs to replenish 30% of its inventory in the past five months, plus the off-season The limited demand has greatly reduced the pressure on imports.
According to CICC, in the first seven months of this year, the EU and the UK imported pipeline natural gas (PNG) from Russia by 90% compared with the same period in 2021, and only about 60% of the gap was made up by newly imported liquefied natural gas (LNG). In recent months, gas prices in Europe have dropped nearly 90% from last year’s high.
From 2022 to the present, the EU’s new LNG imports are basically purchased through spot purchases, and the import volume of long-term contracts has declined. The advantage of spot procurement is flexibility. In the fourth quarter of last year, gas prices in Europe were significantly higher than those in Asia during the same period, which attracted traders to ship natural gas to Europe for sale.
Data show that in the fourth quarter of last year, the EU’s new LNG imports mainly came from several major energy producing countries. Among them, the import volume of the United States increased by 105% year-on-year, and the share reached 35%, followed by Qatar (+37%, 16%), Russia ( +36%, 15%).
Nigeria, Algeria, Norway and other countries were originally the main importers of EU LNG, and their year-on-year changes were only in single digits. Some African countries with a relatively small share have grown faster, such as Equatorial Guinea, which has tripled year-on-year growth, Angola, which has grown by 16%, and Cameroon has also begun to export LNG to Europe.
The real test of supply may be yet to come. According to the consumption level of previous years, the EU’s current natural gas reserves can only meet about one-third of the demand in the heating season. According to CICC calculations, during the heating season, if the EU can achieve the goal of reducing gas consumption by 15% (down 17% due to the warm winter last year), it still needs to import the same amount of LNG as last year during the high premium period. If you don’t take into account the reduction in demand, the import volume will have to increase by half. (Lin Guangying)
The free shipping threshold for JD.com’s self-operated products has returned to the level of 2015
On August 23, following the introduction of tens of billions of subsidies, JD.com lowered the free shipping threshold for self-operated products from 99 yuan to 59 yuan, and the free shipping standard for book products remained at 49 yuan. In addition, JD PLUS members purchase self-operated products with unlimited free shipping, and no shipping coupons are required.
Since 2016, JD.com has maintained a threshold of 99 yuan for free shipping. This is the first time that JD.com has lowered its self-operated threshold. Previously, the free shipping threshold for Jingdong diamond members gradually increased from 39 yuan in 2014 to 59 yuan in 2015 and 79 yuan in 2016; the free shipping threshold for ordinary members gradually increased from 59 yuan in 2014 to 79 yuan in 2015 , 99 yuan in 2016. During the same period, a group of competitors such as Suning.com and Amazon China also continued to raise the threshold for free shipping.
Domestic Tmall supermarkets decide whether free shipping is based on price and weight. Shipping is free only if the purchase amount is over 88 yuan and the weight is within 21 kg; 1-hour delivery needs to be over 49 yuan, and free shipping within 10 kg; half-day delivery is also 49 yuan. , free shipping within 10 kg; there is no free shipping service overseas. RT-Mart Fresh, Suning.com, and Vipshop’s free shipping thresholds for self-operated products are 29 yuan, 48 yuan, and 88 yuan, respectively. (Intern Hong Chenyi)
CHART OF THE DAY | China’s non-financial corporate and household debt ratios drop slightly
- By the end of 2022, the debt ratio of China’s non-financial enterprises and residents will be about 219.5%, which is slightly lower than that at the beginning of the epidemic.
- If only bank credit is considered, then the debt ratio is about 185.4%, temporarily the highest point since the Bank for International Settlements has statistics. (Gong Fangyi)
OTHER NEWS
The Zhuhai Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau stated that a certain local real estate was “sold at a 50% discount” and the reference base was the registered price two years ago.
On August 23, the market claimed that the Jinwan-Powerlong City project in the Aviation New City of Zhuhai Jinwan District was sold at a 50% discount. Zhuhai Housing and Urban-rural Development Bureau accepted the “Daily Economic News” interview and said that the news was not true, and the highest recorded price was reported on the Internet (comparison base) is the price two years ago. Previously, the housing and construction department in the area where the project was located told the media that “the practice of reducing prices and promoting products is a reasonable market behavior.” According to Wind, the average price of sample houses in Zhuhai in July was 25,100 yuan per square meter. The average registered price of the above-mentioned properties in July was approximately RMB 18,900 per square meter.
Yuantong reduces costs and accelerates profitability.
In the first half of the year, YTO Express achieved a total revenue of 27 billion yuan and a net profit of 1.896 billion yuan. The year-on-year growth rates of the two were about 7.7% and 4.6% respectively. The revenue was weaker than that of the first quarter, but the profit was stronger than that of the first quarter. According to YTO’s announcement, the company’s single-ticket transportation cost in the first half of the year was 0.47 yuan, a decrease of 0.05 yuan or 9.15% compared with the same period last year. The operating cost of the single ticket center was 0.3 yuan, a decrease of 0.02 yuan or 4.59% compared with the same period last year.
The number of freight orders of Manbang in the second quarter increased by 44.5% year-on-year.
Manbang’s revenue in the second quarter of this year increased by 23.5% year-on-year to 2.06 billion yuan, and its net profit increased by 1.7 times year-on-year to 720 million yuan. During the reporting period, the average monthly number of shippers on the platform increased by 30% year-on-year to a new high of 2 million, and the number of fulfillment orders increased by 44.5% year-on-year to 40.2 million orders.
The price of the menu has been reduced, and the passenger flow has rebounded. In the first half of the year, Jiumaojiu’s revenue increased by 51.5% year-on-year.
In the first half of this year, Jiumaojiu’s revenue increased by 51.5% year-on-year to 2.88 billion yuan, and its adjusted profit increased by 2.6 times to 250 million yuan. During the period, 67 restaurants were opened, and the total number reached 621, an increase of 30% year-on-year. The financial report mentioned that thanks to the return of passenger flow, the turnover rate of Taier, Counseling Hot Pot, and Lai Meili Grilled Fish all increased, but per capita consumption decreased by 3.8%, 6.9%, and 19% respectively. The company said that it was due to menu and price adjustments. Sincerely.
Anta Group’s revenue in the first half of the year increased by 14.2% year-on-year, and the inventory turnover days decreased.
Anta Group’s revenue in the first half of this year increased by 14.2% year-on-year to 29.65 billion yuan, slightly higher than the 13.8% growth rate in the same period last year. In terms of brands, Anta’s revenue increased by 6.1% to 14.17 billion yuan, FILA increased by 13.5% to 12.23 billion yuan on a low base last year, and Descente and other brands increased by 77.6% to 3.25 billion yuan. The report mentioned that the inventory turnover days in the first half of the year fell by 21 days year-on-year, a drop of nearly 15%, and the current inventory has returned to a healthy level.
iQiyi lost 17 million paying members and made profits for three consecutive quarters.
Due to the failure to continue to produce popular dramas, the number of paid members of iQiyi in the second quarter decreased by nearly 17 million from the previous quarter. However, considering that the second quarter is the traditional off-season of the media, film and television industry (after the Spring Festival and before the summer vacation), coupled with the support of the hit drama “Hurricane” in the first quarter, the change in the number of members should be expected. In the second quarter, iQiyi achieved a net profit of 365 million yuan, making profits for three consecutive quarters.
Beijing Hyundai sold its Chongqing plant.
According to information disclosed by the Beijing Equity Exchange, Beijing Hyundai is selling its Chongqing factory at a starting price of 3.68 billion yuan. The factory is a joint venture between Hyundai Motor and BAIC Group. It was put into production in 2017 and has an annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles. Sales of Hyundai and its Kia sub-brand in China have fallen sharply over the past few years as the domestic auto market has shifted to electric vehicles. In June this year, Hyundai said it would further restructure its Chinese operations to boost profitability.
A number of performance indicators of Tongcheng Travel reached new highs in the second quarter.
With the recovery of the domestic tourism industry, the revenue of the same journey travel platform in the second quarter increased by 117.4% year-on-year to 2.87 billion yuan, and the adjusted net profit increased by more than 4 times to 590 million yuan. The average monthly paying users reached 42.2 million. All core indicators hit record highs. The main driving force for performance growth comes from the two business segments of accommodation and transportation, which together account for nearly 90% of the total revenue.
UPS truck drivers agree to new deal after big pay rise.
On August 22, local time, the International Truck Drivers Union stated that its members had voted to approve a new five-year labor contract with UPS, with support reaching a record high. According to the new labor agreement, the starting salary of part-time employees reaches about 153 yuan per hour, an increase of 34%; while the average annual salary of an experienced freight driver can reach about 1.27 million yuan, even higher than the median salary of engineers in Silicon Valley number. In addition, the Hollywood producers, who are also in the midst of the strike, have updated the terms of the agreement and made what they consider the “best proposal” to the screenwriters. The concessions include: increasing wages and replay-related income, controlling the use of AI, and regularly reporting streaming media The viewing hours of each work on the platform, etc.
Tesla Cybertruck reservations are said to have exceeded 1.96 million.
According to a fan-made tracker estimate, Tesla’s electric pickup Cybertruck has more than 1.96 million reservations, corresponding to $148.6 billion in revenue. For reference, Tesla delivered 889,000 vehicles in the first half of this year. However, the fan said that since the reservation only needs to pay a refundable fee of 100 US dollars, and the FSD (full self-driving) price can be locked at the same time, it is difficult to predict the final order volume. The Cybertruck was released in late 2019.
Microsoft plans to transfer the copyright of Activision Blizzard cloud games to Ubisoft in the next 15 years.
Microsoft submitted a new Activision Blizzard acquisition deal to the British Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on Tuesday, planning to transfer Activision Blizzard’s cloud gaming copyrights outside the European Union to French game company Ubisoft in the next 15 years. This means that cloud game providers, including Microsoft Xbox, need to be authorized by Ubisoft to launch Blizzard cloud games. This adjustment is in response to CMA’s concerns about the monopoly of cloud games. CMA stated that it will re-evaluate the acquisition, and the results may be announced before October 18.
The U.S. manufacturing PMI has been below the dry-bust line for four consecutive months.
The initial value of Markit manufacturing PMI in the United States in August was 47%, which was expected to be 49.3%. Both the final value and the initial value in July were 49%.
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