Jocelyn

Jocelyn Eikenburg knows China from a marketing and advertising perspective. She was a staff writer for three years with Global Sources, the premier international trade media company. There, she worked from offices in Shanghai and Taipei to develop marketing materials for manufacturers in China. She was also a staff writer for one year with the China Chemical Network, China’s largest B2B online portal for the chemical industry, where she assisted with the development of online advertisements and web content for chemical manufacturers in China. Other positions she has held in China include research assistant and writer for the International Network on Small Hydropower, and English teacher at Henan College of Education. Jocelyn is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and has a deep understanding of Chinese culture, through five and a half years of living in China. Since returning to the US, she has established her own firm, offering the unique combination of business-to-business marketing assistance, Chinese translation, and cultural advice about China.

Don’t let your Chinese translation become a pain in the you-know-where

While searching for Chinese Jujubes on the internet, this seller stopped me in my tracks — and not because she’s offering a great product. I scratched my head, wondering if anyone would ever buy her “Chinese Jujube with Ass Glue.” We may laugh — but the real laugh is on the seller, whose unintentionally vulgar […]

Face Shopping: the role that "mianzi consumption" plays in consumer choice in China

Face Shopping: the role that “mianzi consumption” plays in consumer choice in China

When I walked into the wedding flower shop in Tonglu, China — my husband’s hometown — I knew exactly the kind of flowers I wanted: roses, just like the roses on my wedding dress. The shop owner, however, didn’t ask us what type of flowers we wanted. Instead, she asked us how much we were […]

The latest sign of Chinese pride? Tang-style clothing for the “average Wang” in China

Just yesterday, while doing a little post-nuptial shopping (in China, new couples also need new clothes), my husband and I came upon a typical store with the usual suspects for clothing. He and I were about to write the place off our list until I spied this red thing of beauty on the shelves, nestled […]

The appeal and illusion of foreign brands in China

The appeal and illusion of foreign brands in China

Photo: Wal-Mart in China In China, Wal-Mart is synonymous with good quality and a pleasant shopping environment. It’s a far cry from the low quality – low price image prevalent among US consumers. And Wal-Mart isn’t the only one. Holiday Inn in China is often located in brilliantly decorated downtown high rises, instead of being […]