International Bathroom Products Have Been Dominating The Entire Chinese Market

It is a commonly known fact that international bathroom products have been dominating the entire Chinese market. Before 2003, Kohler had been dominating the entire high-end bathroom market in China, however, from 2003 to 2007, the Chinese bathroom market became divided by the three major powers including TOTO, Kohler and American Standard due to the emergence of TOTO and the rising of American Standard. What are the other international brands in addition to those three major brands? If we take a look around the market, we will find INAX, a Japanese brand in addition to TOTO, and MOEN and Delta, two American brands in addition to American Standard and Kohler. Moreover, there are also German brands such as Hansgrohe, Duravit, ROY and Grohe, as well as Spanish brands such as Roca. These brands have been developing rapidly and even perfectly as they seem, but in fact all of them have defects and Achilles'heel. Expensiveness is a disvalue Many consumers think that foreign bathroom products are extremely expensive. This is absolutely true, and this is also one of the reasons why foreign famous brands have maintained a rapid growth amid the depression of Chinese bathroom product industry several years ago-- because high profit is the driving force for expansion. The reason why so many consumers still have confidence in these brands while they are so expensive is because they offer good quality, service, design and are able to meet consumers’ psychological need. However, in recent two years, these foreign famous brands have shown disvalue, and this is because that domestic famous brand have become the choice for many building projects and a part of consumers because the entire market is affected by financial crisis and even the country’s real estate control policy. The reason for selecting domestic famous brands is because of their reasonable price, good quality and acceptable service, which can meet consumers’ psychological need. Few varieties and few choices This is also commonly known. Along with social progress, various products emerged and people’s consumption behavior also became diversified. In addition to buying a certain relatively good product, people also need to buy supporting products; Or it may be the case that people do not necessarily like a certain model of product, but like another model. As a result of these factors, foreign brands are unable to compete with domestic brands in terms of varieties, namely they offer fewer choices than their domestic counterparts. 　　 Slow upgrade and failure to meet demand The change of time and the rising of the post-80’s and post-90’s generations as a new consumption power decided that, the bathroom industry needs to adapt to these people’s new, fast and active lifestyle. Despite that foreign bathroom products are developed and designed with human orientation and to meet habitation need, foreign brands failed to keep pace with the trend due to rapid social progress and its nature of operation. Even foreign brands may rely on the 70’s and 60’s generations as their backbone, they still can not fully meet these consumers’ demand. For this purpose, the slow pace in product upgrade is the weak spot of foreign famous brands in relation to their domestic counterparts. Business expansion failed to adapt to local characteristics Foreign bathroom brands enjoy good reputation and relatively higher name recognition, however, they lack adaptability to local characteristics in expanding their production plants and sales outlets. This adaptability includes brand name, the understanding of operational service, and the application of raw materials, as well as the integration of local cultures and customs. Foreign brands were able to adapt in these aspects in the past, but it may not be the case at present or in the future, and this is because Chinese culture is being increasingly valued, and the government is continuously tightening control on real estate, while domestic bathroom brands are trying to seize more market share. All these factors may cause foreign brands to enter a cool-down period of development. Source: Fstcb.com