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                    Connecting with the Chinese community

                    People walking in the Southwharf precinct at dusk
                    More than 680,000 Chinese people visit Victoria each year, spending more than $3 billion. Is your business capitalising on this important market?

                    City of Melbourne is supporting local businesses to better connect with Chinese visitors and residents.

                    Here are our top tips to build better connections:

                    • Get your menu translated: consider having key customer resources translated for your Chinese visitors. Consider menus, size guides and opening/closing times. In hospitality, Chinese customers really like visual menus with images and extra detail on any local ingredients.
                    • Provide special offers to shoppers: businesses in key retail precincts are now able to provide shoppers with special offers through our new Melbourne City Card program on Alipay. Get in contact to find out how.
                    • Employ staff who also speak Mandarin: do you know how to say hello in Mandarin? Consider employing someone who does. Having a bilingual staff member could really help to ensure things don’t get lost in translation. And you could also provide cultural training to staff.
                    • Provide Chinese payment methods: We’ve recently trialled Alipay and WeChat Pay as payment options in our venues. Consider Chinese payment options such as Alipay, WeChat Pay and Union Pay as an alternative payment option.
                    • Use Chinese promotional platforms: investigate promotional opportunities on Chinese social media platforms, like WeChat or other popular platforms, such as travel sites Ctrip, Fliggy, Qunar or Mafengwo. Also consider cross-border sales opportunities through major e-commerce platforms, such as Taobao, Tmall Global, Pinduoduo, JD.com, Kaola, Suning, VIP.com.

                    Resources

                    Partners

                    These tips have been developed with support from Stone Drums.

                    Stone Drums logo

                    How to be featured on City of Melbourne's WeChat channel

                    If you’d like to be featured on our WeChat channel:

                    1. List your business on the City of Melbourne What’s On website to have it featured.
                    2. Contact us via global@melbourne.vic.gov.au to express your interest in additional promotion on WeChat. We prefer stories that update readers on what’s on in Melbourne, such as events, free activities and city activations.
                    3. Our WeChat team will consider your content and contact you for further information.

                    More information

                    ​To find out more contact global@melbourne.vic.gov.au or subscribe to our WeChat channel.

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