Custom consumer experiences the future of retail, expert says

The consumption of China's high net worth individuals (HNWI) will be more refined and more personalized, raising more requirements for merchants, an industry expert said.

Renee Cheng, global managing partner and co-president of Cheng Chung Design HK, said: "China's HNWIs have unique taste. Instead of pursuing big logos to show off, they look for ways to express themselves and align with their own philosophy of life. They need a space where their emotions are carefully taken care of."

She noted that merchants should carefully learn about their customers habits, the structure of their families, what they like and what they don't like in order to fully understand their spiritual pursuit and provide consumers with tailor-made solutions.

"In the future, the most valued service is tailor-made service," Cheng said. "Art, aesthetics, healthiness and sustainability will be more and more important for HNWIs."

CCD launched ROUSSILLON — a lifestyle complex — in Shenzhen, Guangdong province on Wednesday. The complex is a combination of artistic exposition, fine dining, and design consultancy.?ROUSSILLON creates dynamic environments for exclusive experience: a salon and social parlor, a design archive, a source of inspiration, and above all, a diverse and boundless destination for ideal living. The space also brings in Seoul's trend-setting artisanal bakery brand OUR Bakery, as well as Rong Xuan — the high-end dining concept from Xin Rong Ji.

According to a recent report jointly issued by YF Life Insurance International Ltd and Hurun Research Institute, in 2025, there were nearly 5.13 million high net worth families in China.