Hurun Report, in association with the UK Expo Pavilion, is hosting an exclusive and unprecedented event today showcasing British excellence, entitled 'Best of British Luxury: Connecting with the Chinese Luxury Consumer'.

Hurun Report is being joined by a host of leading British luxury brands representing the pinnacle of several high-end industries. These include car manufacturers Jaguar and Land Rover, iconic gentlemen’s fashion brand Alfred Dunhill, yacht makers Sunseeker, private financial services provider RBS Coutts, London luxury property agents Savills, whisky brand Windsor, interior brand de Gournay, high-end education providers British Education, concierge and entertainment services provider Quintessentially, polo promoter Hussars, and the Shanghai Race Club. The event is also being joined by senior figures from diplomatic circles, including UK Deputy Consul-General Jacqui Booker and UKTI Head of Trade Peter Wickenden, as well as senior representatives from the local government of Luwan District.

The day began with a discussion forum, which considered the state of the current market in China for British luxury goods, and likely developments over the next five years. Themes discussed included British Luxury: True to its heritage, yet moving with the times.  Panelists discussed how to strike the right balance between nurturing the brands’ heritage and keeping abreast of contemporary trends, whilst addressing how to stay relevant to the Chinese luxury consumer. Other topics included the effect of the rise of the Renminbi on consumption of British luxury goods for Chinese international travelers, and whether China’s high taxes are simply making it easier to sell British luxury in Hong Kong and abroad.

For the second topic British Luxury: Facing to the Future, panelists give their insights into how they expect British luxury to evolve across the medium-term in the next 3-5 years, with China as the fulcrum, whilst taking into account how the ‘competition’ from Italy, France, Switzerland and other relevant European countries is shaping up. Speakers considered the key drivers one ought to be aware of when looking at the future growth of British luxury.

 “In a troubled economic climate internationally, the Chinese luxury consumer is providing a lifeline for British luxury” said Hurun Report founder Rupert Hoogewerf. “For this increasingly discerning market, British brands remain a world-class benchmark”.

Deputy Consul General, Ms Jacqui Booker said "The global economic uncertainties of the past few years have urged a reconsideration of British luxury and focused attention towards emerging markets. Amongst these new markets, the aspect of China looms increasingly large; presenting both a vast challenge and a vast opportunity."

Proceedings will continue with a sumptuous cocktail reception and gala dinner to be held this evening. The event will be attended by over 100 high-level guests, including Anglophile Chinese entrepreneurs, who will be treated to a showcase of British luxury excellence. Highlights shall include guided tastings of Windsor whisky, a display of the stunning Jaguar All New XJ and Range Rover Autobiography.

The day’s event is to be marked by the official launch of the The Schools Guide: Best of British Education. This 220-page guide provides a comprehensive overview of the British education system for affluent Chinese parents looking to send their children overseas for study. For the third consecutive year, the guide lists the top boarding schools, and features columns from some of the UK’s leading educational figures including the headmasters of Eton and Charterhouse schools, the rector of Imperial College London, the University of Oxford’s Head of Student Recruitment and the Good Schools Guide’s Lord Lucas.

The Chinese Luxury Consumer

As the world's second largest luxury consumer, China represents a key market for luxury brands. According to the Hurun Wealth Report 2010, released in April this year, there are 875,000 millionaires and 55,000 super-rich (those with more than USD 15 million) in China. According to the Hurun Best of the Best Survey of Chinese millionaires, a quarter of their average annual consumption of USD 100,000 is spent on luxury goods, as their recognition of luxury brands becomes increasingly sophisticated.

Polo and Croquet

Hurun Report has been actively promoting in China two of Britain’s most archetypal sports: polo and croquet.

Hurun Report has been the exclusive sponsor of the British Polo Team for the second year since the inception of the Consul General’s Cup and is actively involved in promote the world of horses and polo through its Hurun Horse & Polo magazine, now in its fourth year.

With regards to croquet, Hurun Report hosted three-times world champion Khaled Younis from Egypt in 2008, in the first ever world class exhibition match of croquet in mainland China.  

The Schools Guide Series

Unlocking the Doors to the World’s Best Schools

The Schools Guide Series is the definitive Chinese language guide for Chinese parents looking to send their children to high school and undergraduate courses overseas, and it is the first of its kind to be published in Mandarin. The Schools Guide Series is about the leading schools and universities, explaining the key issues Chinese parents need to think about when sending their children overseas with a wealth of useful information. The UK guide is now already in its third year, the US in its second year and later in the year we are extending the range to include Canada, Switzerland, Singapore and Australia and New Zealand. The Schools Guide Series was created in 2008 by Hurun Report Inc and British Education Ltd. For further information about The Schools Guide Series please visit www.theschoolsguide.com.cn

About Hurun Report

Nobody Knows China’s Rich Better!

Hurun Report Inc is a leading publishing group based in Shanghai, China, comprising a luxury monthly magazine, the Hurun Report, The Hurun Research Institute and an active business events division targeting China’s entrepreneurs and high net worth individuals.    

Hurun Report magazine is published monthly, with a proven circulation of 98,000, targeting China’s wealthy elite. It is widely recognized as the Mainland’s foremost authority in tracking the rapid changes and trends amongst China’s high net worth individuals. 

Founded in 1999, the flagship is the annual Hurun Rich List published each October, considered the bible of wealth and a de-facto ‘Who’s Who’ of Chinese business.  

Throughout the year, Hurun Report also publishes the Hurun Philanthropy List (May) ranking the charitable donations of China’s most generous, the Hurun Art List (Mar) ranking China’s Top 50 living artists by their previous year’s sales at public auction, the Hurun Best of the Best (Jan) which ranks the leading luxury brands in China and the Hurun Wealth Report (April) detailing the number of millionaires in China broken down by region.

Hurun Report Inc also publishes a series of six other magazines focusing on the special interests of China’s wealthy, notably the Schools Guide, Polo/Equestrian, Luxury Property, Watches, New Year Gifts and Luxury Travel.

For further details about the full portfolio of Hurun publications and business activities and events, see www.hurun.net - the website of choice for the gatekeepers of China’s wealthy elite.

Magnolia Award presented by Shanghai Government

In September 2009, the Shanghai government presented Rupert Hoogewerf, founder of Hurun Report Inc with the Magnolia Award. Hoogewerf was one of the few entrepreneurs, with the others primarily senior representatives of large multinationals, including GE, Diageo, Shiseido, IKEA, Accenture, Mitsubishi, Bosch, Krupp, ABB, General Motors and Yum. "This is a significant government endorsement of the work Hurun Report has done this past decade." says Rupert Hoogewerf.

Named after Shanghai’s official flower, the Magnolia Award is the highest honour bestowed by the City on foreigners who have ‘contributed significantly to Shanghai’s economic performance, international relations, business environment, management standards and community development.’

For media inquiries, please contact:

Porsha Pan

Communications Manager, Hurun Report

Tel: 021 – 5010 5808*607

Mobile: 139 1838 7446

Email: porsha.pan@hurun.net