Core Insights - Adidas reported record-breaking third-quarter revenue of €6.63 billion, a 12% year-on-year increase, marking the highest quarterly revenue in its 76-year history [1] - Operating profit surged by 23% to €736 million, with a gross margin improvement to 51.8% [1] - The performance was achieved without the Yeezy line, indicating a new growth phase for Adidas post-Kanye West [1] Revenue Growth - The CEO highlighted a 12% currency-neutral growth (excluding Yeezy), the strongest quarterly performance in Adidas' history [4] - The footwear segment saw an 11% revenue increase, with strong growth in performance and lifestyle products [4] Product Performance - The performance segment's revenue grew by 17% at constant exchange rates, with running business growth exceeding 30%, driven by the success of the Adizero series [6] - The Samba series remains popular on social media, with some colorways in high demand, while the Terrace and Low Profile series also show strong performance [6] Market Expansion - In Greater China, Adidas achieved revenue of €947 million in Q3, a 10% year-on-year increase, reinforcing its localized strategy [8] - The company has implemented channel reforms and embraced direct-to-consumer (DTC) strategies while maintaining relationships with key wholesalers [8] Future Outlook - Adidas plans to focus on the sports year of 2026, which includes the Winter Olympics and World Cup, enhancing its "sport + streetwear" positioning [10] - The company expects full-year operating profit to reach approximately €2 billion, with double-digit revenue growth at constant exchange rates [10]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of cultural understanding in building global brands, highlighting that true global brands must be localized and meaningful in each market rather than merely uniform across all regions [4][6][30] - It discusses the paradox of globalization, where brands must adapt to local cultures while maintaining their unique identity to resonate with consumers [6][30] Cultural Importance for Global Brands - Culture serves as a competitive advantage; brands that understand and leverage cultural nuances are more likely to succeed in international markets [7][30] - Ignoring cultural differences can lead to failure, even for brands with substantial resources [7][8] Cultural Behavior Patterns in International Expansion - The article identifies nine cultural behavior patterns observed in over 40 Chinese brands' international ventures, suggesting that recognizing and balancing these patterns can enhance performance in foreign markets [10][30] - Examples of these patterns include: - **Inclusivity**: Attempting to appeal to everyone often results in a lack of clarity and uniqueness [11] - **Cultural Pride**: High cultural confidence can make brands less relatable in foreign markets [12] - **Cautious Exploration**: A tendency towards caution may hinder competitiveness in more dynamic markets [13] - **Incremental Innovation**: Many brands prefer gradual improvements, which can be effective but may lack the disruptive impact needed in some markets [15] - **Collective Memory**: Brands from collectivist cultures may struggle in individualistic markets due to differing narrative styles [17] - **East-West Fusion**: Combining Eastern essence with Western expression can lead to confusion if not executed well [18] - **Over-Adaptation**: Excessive localization can erode brand identity [19] - **Cultural Absence**: Strong products may lack a compelling brand narrative, leading to emotional disconnect [20] Strategic Framework for Cultural Adaptation - The article proposes a structured approach to cultural adaptation, emphasizing the need for brands to integrate cultural sensitivity from the outset [23][30] - Key steps include: - **Defining Issues**: Understanding why a brand resonates in one culture but not in another [23] - **Co-Creation**: Collaborating with local cultural interpreters to enhance understanding [24] - **Building Cultural Narratives**: Ensuring that global narratives resonate locally [25] - **Real Market Testing**: Engaging in real-world testing to gauge emotional resonance with local consumers [26][28] Conclusion - Building a global brand is a process of developing cultural capabilities within the organization, starting from individuals and extending to the entire company [30][31] - Successful international brands are those that listen across cultures and translate values rather than merely slogans, focusing on resonance rather than domination [30][31]

Group 1 - The 2025 Bay Area Cross-Border New Forces Brand Summit was held in Shenzhen, focusing on the transformation challenges faced by the cross-border e-commerce industry, including declining traffic dividends and increasing compliance costs [1][2] - The summit emphasized the importance of cross-border e-commerce as a key driver of China's foreign trade growth, with a projected import and export volume of 2.63 trillion yuan in 2024, representing a year-on-year growth of 10.8% [2] - The establishment of the "Bay Enterprises Going Global Research Institute" aims to empower high-quality development in the cross-border industry by addressing industry pain points and fostering collaboration among various stakeholders [3] Group 2 - The summit highlighted the need for cross-border e-commerce to evolve from "Chinese manufacturing" to "global branding," focusing on cultural recognition and value creation rather than just price competition [5][6] - The event featured discussions on the importance of supply chain efficiency, brand building, and localized marketing strategies to succeed in overseas markets [10][12] - The roundtable forum discussed the shift from price competition to value creation, emphasizing the need for long-term strategies and trust-building in brand development [14][16] Group 3 - Keynote speakers shared insights on the transformation of supply chains and the importance of leveraging data and content to drive growth in the cross-border e-commerce sector [7][8] - The summit underscored the role of youth entrepreneurs in breaking traditional trade boundaries and utilizing innovative marketing strategies to connect with global consumers [5][6] - Financial institutions like Ningbo Bank are providing digital solutions to support cross-border e-commerce, enhancing the financial backbone for enterprises [13]