top of page

About
I started as an English teacher in the university and have come across interdisciplinary areas, editing and translating architecture monograph, serving the patrons in vegetarian bistro, while working in marketing agencies serving local and international brands on insights, design and strategy. Currently, a trend and culture spotter for luxury and premium brands.
My past years of “mass” mutation have empowered me to see the clarity in the complexity with a savvy sense of culture and trends and identify the patterns through connecting the dots to help brands defy the odds in this ever-changing business world.


Make Starbucks Cool Again
A minor step, but a strategic one to rejuvenate a middle-aged brand After Starbucks announced it would lower the price of some non-coffee...
gracemu1020
Jun 244 min read
What Is Driving the Explosion of the Outdoor-Inspired Economy?
Cultural shifts, mindset changes, and hidden factors behind the boom in China’s outdoor-inspired economy Last week, I met my niece and...
gracemu1020
Jun 163 min read


Tracing Change in China: Culture, Care, and Choice
Exciting news! The podcast I collaborated with Amy Daroukakis is live now! Here are the words from Amy: For this week's Culture...
gracemu1020
Jun 141 min read


City Observer – Guiyang From a Remote Mountainous Province to China’s New Economic and Tourism Darling
As a Chongqing native, born and raised near the border with Guizhou Province, I was never particularly impressed by this mountainous...
gracemu1020
Jun 94 min read


Why Do We Still Need Brick-and-Mortar Stores? What Does Offline Retail Tell Us About Brand Building?
In an era dominated by e-commerce and algorithm-driven consumption behaviors, it may seem counterintuitive that so many brands are...
gracemu1020
Jun 23 min read


Is the Brand Hierarchy Being Rewritten? Labubu, Birkin, and the Rise of Disruptive Brand Symbolism
Everybody has been talking about Labubu and Pop Mart recently, as the sharp-toothed, whimsical figurine has dominated fashion trends...
gracemu1020
May 262 min read


Where Have All Those Brands Gone? Lessons from the Rise and Fall of Zhong Xue Gao
Iced watermelon and a fridge full of childhood-favorite ice creams have always been the highlights of my summer. Starting in late April,...
gracemu1020
May 193 min read


Should We Avoid Aesop’s Mistake in China?
When Aesop closed its first flagship store in China, which opened in November 2022 on Dongping Road in Shanghai’s former French...
gracemu1020
May 122 min read


City Observer – The French Concession
In the enchanted months of April and May, when the chill air meets warm sunshine, we’re all drawn outdoors. Shanghai’s French Concession...
gracemu1020
May 62 min read


City Observer – Hangzhou’s OōEli Art Park
In April, Adrien Brody, after winning another Oscar for his performance in Brutalist, visited Hangzhou, once again highlighting the...
gracemu1020
May 22 min read


Documents Revisited
Today, I revisited Documents at Kerry Center Mall, intrigued by its rising popularity among Gen Z consumers in China. How has such a...
gracemu1020
May 22 min read


City Observer – "Documents"
I accidentally came across Documents, a niche Chinese fragrance brand that has recently amassed a huge fan base. It is a boutique store...
gracemu1020
Apr 222 min read


How can global brands revive the Chinese beer boom?
I was born and raised in Chongqing. Chongqingese has been very proud of two local brands. One is Tianfu Coke 天府可乐 and the other is...
gracemu1020
Feb 272 min read


How To Transport The Brand Collaboration Story To Adapt To Local Festival Culture
Shiseido Professional is proud of its Japanese origin and over 100 years of heritage. In 2024, Shiseido collaborated with Hikaru Seino, a...
gracemu1020
Feb 61 min read


Why are we obsessed with Shanghai and Shanghai culture? How to cut through cultural lens to build a powerful brand
Blossoms Shanghai There is no doubt that the most popular TV series is Blossoms Shanghai繁花 at the beginning of 2024, which is the TV...
gracemu1020
Feb 2, 20245 min read


Is Dupe Economy Detrimental To Premium And Luxury Brands? How To Leverage It To Build Strong Brands?
As a trend spotter for premium and luxury brands, a nascent trend – the dupe economy caught my eyeballs in recent years, which has come...
gracemu1020
Sep 12, 20234 min read


5 Neo-Chinese Teahouses in Shanghai
Grace (Yu) Mou TimeOutSH 2023-08-28 17:00 Posted on 上海 Photograph: by Yuangu Yunjing on Dinpin Coffee or tea, it is a question. As...
gracemu1020
Aug 28, 20235 min read


Leave The Big Four: What Are The 4 Biggest Tier-One Cities Losing Population Telling Us?
When I left my hometown Chongqing for Shanghai 20 years ago, I assumed that I would be back a couple of months later after I lost my...
gracemu1020
Aug 28, 20233 min read


Plan your next trip: Travel like a local in Chongqing
Grace (Yu) MouTimeOutShanghai 2023-07-03 17:00 Posted on 上海 Photograph: Iewek Gnos via Unsplash Chongqing is the place where I was born...
gracemu1020
Jul 4, 20234 min read


Chinese Gaokao Culture
China’s Gaokao ( the national college entrance examination) happens on June 7th, 8th and 9th every year. It is perceived the toughest...
gracemu1020
Jun 4, 20231 min read
bottom of page