Although surging demand for gold has helped to drive a sales recovery over the past 12 months, intensifying competition in the mainland jewellery market poses challenges for the market leader’s future growth.

A surge in gold sales during the first half of the year supported strong revenue growth in 2013, while its popularity in first-tier cities continues to grow, helped by strict management oversight.

Franchise-led expansion and high-profile marketing campaigns have boosted Luk Fook’s sales and popularity in mainland China.

A heavy reliance on franchised stores and low-margin gold jewellery sales has enabled Lao Feng Xiang to continue to expand its store count and popularity, but at the continued expense of margins, which remain far lower than rival listed jewellers.

Our recent consumer surveys and store visits nationwide suggest a strong pick-up in gold sales in January, which should cap off a glittering financial year for leading Hong Kong-listed mass-market jewellers.

Our survey reveals that shopping remains central to the Chinese outbound tourism experience, but low- and middle-income travellers are becoming more selective about the goods they purchase on each overseas trip.

Our survey of the most commonly purchased designer fashion, jewellery, watch, cosmetics, consumer electronics and liquor brands among Chinese outbound tourists highlights the strong brand loyalty that leading brands across these categories have established among Chinese consumers.

DANWEI – China seems set to get on the Bitcoin bandwagon. The amount of renminbi needed to buy one Bitcoin is rising prodigiously, and a growing number of companies are developing Bitcoin payment facilities. Also in this week’s Danwei Bulletin, China Minsheng Bank is fighting back against the money market funds, controversial price hikes at LV, and Singles Day breaks all e-commerce records.