Core Insights - The article discusses the declining performance of traditional Chinese hair care brands, specifically Lafang, Mingchen Health, and Bawang Group, which have seen significant drops in revenue and profit despite a growing market for hair care products [1][2][3]. Group 1: Market Overview - The hair care market is projected to reach 899.95 billion yuan in 2024, with a year-on-year growth of 59.32%, indicating a positive outlook for the industry overall [1]. - Despite the optimistic market growth, traditional brands are struggling to maintain their market share and profitability [2]. Group 2: Revenue Performance - Lafang's revenue peaked at 1.101 billion yuan in 2021 but has since declined, reaching 860 million yuan in 2023, with a slight projected increase to 889 million yuan in 2024 [6]. - Mingchen Health has shown a more favorable trend, with revenue increasing from 681 million yuan in 2020 to 1.638 billion yuan in 2023, although it is expected to drop by 15.71% in 2024 [6]. - Bawang Group has consistently lagged behind, with revenue hovering around 250 million yuan, experiencing a decline from 2021 to 2023, but showing a potential recovery with a 9.33% increase in the first half of 2025 [6]. Group 3: Profitability Challenges - Lafang's net profit fluctuated significantly, peaking at 117 million yuan in 2020 but dropping to 41 million yuan in 2024, with a 77.01% decrease in the first three quarters of 2025 [10][11]. - Mingchen Health's net profit has been volatile, with a peak of 102 million yuan in 2020, followed by a drop to 25 million yuan in 2022, and a rebound to 70 million yuan in 2023, but again declining to 47 million yuan in 2024 [10][11]. - Bawang Group has faced continuous losses, with net profit of 14 million yuan in 2023, but falling to 7 million yuan in 2024, and a loss of 3 million yuan in the first half of 2025 [12]. Group 4: Gross Margin Trends - Lafang's gross margin has shown volatility, decreasing from 48.37% in 2020 to 47.18% in 2022, then recovering to 48.49% in the first three quarters of 2025 [15]. - Mingchen Health's gross margin peaked at 60.27% in 2023 but fell to 52.50% in 2024 due to rising raw material costs [16]. - Bawang Group's gross margin has been low, ranging from 36.20% to 39.17% from 2020 to 2022, but increased to 50.38% in 2023 before dropping to 43.95% in the first half of 2025 [16]. Group 5: R&D Investment - Mingchen Health has led in R&D investment, peaking at 99 million yuan in 2021 but dropping to 40 million yuan in the first three quarters of 2025 [20][21]. - Lafang's R&D investment has remained stable around 30-40 million yuan, but decreased to 23 million yuan in 2025 due to revenue decline [20][21]. - Bawang Group's R&D investment has been the lowest, consistently below 15 million yuan, indicating a lack of innovation [20][21]. Group 6: Brand Strategy and Market Position - Lafang's main brand continues to dominate, accounting for 80.41% of total revenue in the first half of 2025, but other brands have not made significant contributions [26]. - Mingchen Health's focus on gaming has led to a delay in updating its hair care brands, resulting in marginalization of its traditional products [26]. - Bawang Group's reliance on traditional products has left it vulnerable to competition from both established and emerging brands [26]. Group 7: Industry Challenges - The article identifies four main challenges for these traditional brands: product iteration lag, lack of user engagement, pressure from domestic and international brands, and quality compliance issues [27][31][35]. - The emergence of new brands and changing consumer preferences have intensified competition, particularly on platforms like Douyin [28][31].

Group 1 - The company reported a revenue of 410 million yuan and a net profit of 6.36 million yuan for the first half of 2025, with e-commerce channels contributing 139 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 18.33%, accounting for 33.97% of total revenue [1] - The hair care industry is undergoing structural changes, and the company is responding through innovation and technology upgrades to meet consumer demands for healthy hair [1] - The "Lafang" brand achieved a revenue of 330 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 10.74%, and introduced the sixth-generation peptide hair repair technology, setting a world record for hair resilience [1] Group 2 - To enhance brand influence and accelerate youth transformation, the company signed partnerships with the Chinese national diving team and prominent athletes, significantly boosting brand reputation [2] - The company experienced substantial growth in e-commerce revenue and market share, exploring successful paths for long-term online development [2] - The company received the title of "Top Ten Enterprises in China's Light Industry Cosmetics Industry for 2024," indicating its commitment to strengthening core advantages and enhancing market competitiveness [2]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" outlook on the hair care industry, highlighting its significant market potential and opportunities for differentiation [3][6]. Core Insights - The hair care industry is the second largest segment in the cosmetics market, following skincare, with substantial potential for domestic brand replacement. The demand for hair care products is evolving towards more personalized and segmented offerings, driven by consumers' increasing pursuit of quality in their daily lives [5][6]. - The market for hair care products in China is expected to grow steadily, with sales reaching 55.9 billion yuan in 2023, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 13.4%. Projections indicate that the market could exceed 70 billion yuan by 2026 [5][6]. - Domestic brands are well-positioned to capture market share due to their understanding of local consumer needs, especially in a market where international brands dominate but face challenges in adapting to rapid changes in consumer preferences [7][8]. Summary by Sections 1. Hair Care Market Overview - The hair care segment is characterized by a wide range of products, including cleansing and conditioning items, and is crucial in consumers' daily routines. The market is experiencing a shift towards more specialized and effective products [16][18]. - The competitive landscape is shifting, with domestic brands gaining traction as international leaders struggle to keep pace with evolving consumer demands [22][27]. 2. Hair Care Product Trends - The demand for functional and gentle hair care products is on the rise, with consumers increasingly seeking solutions for specific issues such as hair loss and scalp health. The market is seeing a trend towards herbal ingredients that appeal to health-conscious consumers [55][67]. - The hair care market is projected to maintain stable growth, with a market size of 55.9 billion yuan in 2023 and an expected increase to over 70 billion yuan by 2026 [63][67]. 3. Facial Cleansing Market Dynamics - The facial cleansing market is also experiencing steady growth, with a market size of 49.8 billion yuan in 2023, projected to reach 52.5 billion yuan by 2026. Multi-functional products that combine cleansing with other benefits are gaining popularity [5][6]. 4. Body Care Market Insights - The body care segment is witnessing a revival, with consumers increasingly valuing emotional well-being and seasonal product differentiation. The market is expected to reach 23.4 billion yuan by 2024, with a focus on efficacy and fragrance [5][6]. 5. Competitive Landscape and Opportunities - Numerous domestic beauty companies are expanding their product lines and adopting multi-brand strategies to capture market share in the hair care sector. Key players include Lafang, Shangmei, Shanghai Jahwa, and Proya, each with distinct strategies to enhance brand recognition and market presence [6][7][8].

Core Viewpoint - The evolution of the Lafang brand's advertising slogan reflects the rapid development of new e-commerce models such as live streaming sales, as the brand seeks to regain its market position in the daily care sector [2][3]. Marketing Strategy - Lafang has actively explored differentiated product positioning strategies in live streaming, establishing multiple official accounts to create a live streaming matrix, and plans to initiate 24-hour live streaming to reach more customers [2]. - The company has significantly increased its sales expenses, with a 22.55% rise in Q1 sales expenses compared to the previous year, amounting to approximately 67.08 million yuan [4]. Financial Performance - In 2024, Lafang achieved a revenue of 889 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 3.36%, with Lafang brand sales revenue reaching 642 million yuan, up 9.11%, accounting for 72.2% of total revenue [3]. - Despite the growth, Lafang's sales revenue in 2016 was already 654 million yuan, indicating a stagnation in growth [3]. - The net profit for Lafang decreased by 53.3% to approximately 13.05 million yuan, primarily due to increased e-commerce traffic costs and advertising expenses [4]. Channel Optimization - Lafang's sales channels remain predominantly reliant on distribution, with 70.11% of revenue coming from this channel, while e-commerce accounted for about 29.8% [6]. - The company acknowledges the risks associated with its marketing model not adapting to market changes, despite efforts to optimize sales channels and increase e-commerce investment [6]. Research and Development - In 2024, Lafang's R&D investment was 41.61 million yuan, with a R&D expense ratio of 4.68%, which is relatively low compared to the significant increase in sales expenses [7]. - The number of R&D personnel is limited, with only 96 employees in this department, and no PhD holders [7].