How Healthism Can Change the Consumerism in China's Retail Industry: A Study on the Lululemon Ad Campaigns and Branding in China

Research Article
Open access

How Healthism Can Change the Consumerism in China's Retail Industry: A Study on the Lululemon Ad Campaigns and Branding in China

Qiqi Peng 1*
  • 1 Simon Fraser University    
  • *corresponding author qiqipeng06k1@gmail.com
Published on 14 September 2023 | https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7048/9/20230367
LNEP Vol.9
ISSN (Print): 2753-7056
ISSN (Online): 2753-7048
ISBN (Print): 978-1-915371-99-7
ISBN (Online): 978-1-83558-000-4

Abstract

With the rapid expansion of the Chinese consumer market, more and more Western brands are bringing their unique ideologies and concepts to the Chinese market and trying to change the Chinese consumers consumption concepts. Healthism is a typical example. As a representative brand of healthism in the western world, Lululemon has launched a series of promotional activities on healthism in the China market. This article will explore the impact of Lululemon on China's retail consumer industry through healthism advertising through in-depth interviews, and study how Lululemon’s branding in China can be understood in the context of a new market cultural dimensions at the post-economic reform China. This paper has explored the entry of Lululemon in China in the context of the consumer society and a challenge to traditional privileged discourses. This paper conclude that the healthism concepts that Lululemon spreads in China can drive consumers accept the healthism ideology and also consume on the healthism related products.

Keywords:

healthism, Lululemon, consumerism, China

Peng,Q. (2023). How Healthism Can Change the Consumerism in China's Retail Industry: A Study on the Lululemon Ad Campaigns and Branding in China. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,9,461-472.
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References

[1]. Giddens, A. (1991). Modernity and Self-identity:Self and Society in the Late Modern Age. Polity Press.

[2]. Hearn, A. (2008). `Meat, Mask, Burden`: Probing the contours of the branded `self`. Journal of Consumer Culture, 8(2), 197–217. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469540508090086

[3]. Kline, S. (1993). Out of the Garden: Toys and Children’s Culture in the Age of TV Marketing.

[4]. Leiss, W., Kline, S., & Jhally, S. (1990). Social Communication in Advertising: Reasons, Products and Images of Well-Being (Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged). Nelson Canada.

[5]. Bourdieu, P. (2000). The aesthetic sense as the sense of distinction. In J. B. Schor & D. B. Holt (Eds.), The Consumer Society Reader (pp. 205–211). The New Press. (Original work published 1979).

[6]. Jenkins, H., Ford, S., & Green, J. (2013). Spreadable Media: Creating Value and Meaning in a Networked Culture. New York University Press.

[7]. Powers, D., & Greenwell, D. (2017). Branded fitness: Exercise and promotional culture. Journal of Consumer Culture, 17(3), 523–541. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469540515623606.

[8]. Chen, J., & Chen, N. (2018). Everyday knowledge on the move: Dynamic process and micro politics of the transfer of Guangchang wu. Mobilities, 13(6), 921–936. https://doi.org/10.1080/17450101.2018.1500097

[9]. Lavrence, C., & Lozanski, K. (2014). “This Is Not Your Practice Life”: Lululemon and the Neoliberal Governance of Self: lululemon and Neoliberal Self-Governance. Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue Canadienne de Sociologie, 51(1), 76–94. https://doi.org/10.1111/cars.12034

[10]. Li, H. S. (2009). The turn to the self: From “Big Character Posters” to YouTube videos. Chinese Journal of Communication, 2(1), 50–60.

[11]. Who Knows China. (2018). An Opportunity or A Challenge: Lululemon in China. https://whoknowschina.com/case-study/lululemon-entering-chinese-market/

[12]. ]Nan, Z. (2019). Athletic brand Lululemon expands in Chinese market. China Daily. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201908/08/WS5d4bce50a310cf3e355649de.htm

[13]. Havens, T., & Lotz, A. D. (2017). Understanding Media Industries (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.

[14]. IHRSA. (2021). Fitness Industry Roundup: Top Health Clubs & Female Franchisors. Relative from: https://www.ihrsa.org/improve-your-club/industry-news/fitness-industry-roundup-top-health-clubs-female-franchiso

[15]. Xinhua. (2022). Singer Liu scores smash hit with workout videos. China Daily. Relative from: https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202205/05/WS62730cc3a310fd2b29e5a97b.html

[16]. Williams, R. (1980). Problems in Materialism and Culture. New Left Books


Cite this article

Peng,Q. (2023). How Healthism Can Change the Consumerism in China's Retail Industry: A Study on the Lululemon Ad Campaigns and Branding in China. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,9,461-472.

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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the International Conference on Social Psychology and Humanity Studies

ISBN:978-1-915371-99-7(Print) / 978-1-83558-000-4(Online)
Editor:Faisalabad Matilde Lafuente-Lechuga, Muhammad Idrees
Conference website: https://www.icsphs.org/
Conference date: 24 April 2023
Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
Volume number: Vol.9
ISSN:2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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References

[1]. Giddens, A. (1991). Modernity and Self-identity:Self and Society in the Late Modern Age. Polity Press.

[2]. Hearn, A. (2008). `Meat, Mask, Burden`: Probing the contours of the branded `self`. Journal of Consumer Culture, 8(2), 197–217. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469540508090086

[3]. Kline, S. (1993). Out of the Garden: Toys and Children’s Culture in the Age of TV Marketing.

[4]. Leiss, W., Kline, S., & Jhally, S. (1990). Social Communication in Advertising: Reasons, Products and Images of Well-Being (Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged). Nelson Canada.

[5]. Bourdieu, P. (2000). The aesthetic sense as the sense of distinction. In J. B. Schor & D. B. Holt (Eds.), The Consumer Society Reader (pp. 205–211). The New Press. (Original work published 1979).

[6]. Jenkins, H., Ford, S., & Green, J. (2013). Spreadable Media: Creating Value and Meaning in a Networked Culture. New York University Press.

[7]. Powers, D., & Greenwell, D. (2017). Branded fitness: Exercise and promotional culture. Journal of Consumer Culture, 17(3), 523–541. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469540515623606.

[8]. Chen, J., & Chen, N. (2018). Everyday knowledge on the move: Dynamic process and micro politics of the transfer of Guangchang wu. Mobilities, 13(6), 921–936. https://doi.org/10.1080/17450101.2018.1500097

[9]. Lavrence, C., & Lozanski, K. (2014). “This Is Not Your Practice Life”: Lululemon and the Neoliberal Governance of Self: lululemon and Neoliberal Self-Governance. Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue Canadienne de Sociologie, 51(1), 76–94. https://doi.org/10.1111/cars.12034

[10]. Li, H. S. (2009). The turn to the self: From “Big Character Posters” to YouTube videos. Chinese Journal of Communication, 2(1), 50–60.

[11]. Who Knows China. (2018). An Opportunity or A Challenge: Lululemon in China. https://whoknowschina.com/case-study/lululemon-entering-chinese-market/

[12]. ]Nan, Z. (2019). Athletic brand Lululemon expands in Chinese market. China Daily. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201908/08/WS5d4bce50a310cf3e355649de.htm

[13]. Havens, T., & Lotz, A. D. (2017). Understanding Media Industries (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.

[14]. IHRSA. (2021). Fitness Industry Roundup: Top Health Clubs & Female Franchisors. Relative from: https://www.ihrsa.org/improve-your-club/industry-news/fitness-industry-roundup-top-health-clubs-female-franchiso

[15]. Xinhua. (2022). Singer Liu scores smash hit with workout videos. China Daily. Relative from: https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202205/05/WS62730cc3a310fd2b29e5a97b.html

[16]. Williams, R. (1980). Problems in Materialism and Culture. New Left Books