SHANGHAI, April 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- How does a childrenswear brand spark nostalgia for childhood across generations in the whole nation? How does a childrenswear brand transcend borders to convey the message of "Every Child Is Unique" on behalf of "Chinese kids"? balabala, China's leading childrenswear brand by market share, has provided its answer.
Since its founding in 2002, balabala has dominated China's childrenswear market. According to its parent company's 2024 annual report, revenue from balabala - Semir Group's core brand exceeded ¥10 billion, marking a nearly 10% year-on-year growth. Euromonitor International data further confirms balabala's leadership in both China and the Asia-Pacific region, solidifying its pioneering role in the industry.
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What Makes balabala Able to Speak for "Chinese Children"?
What Makes balabala Able to Speak for "Chinese Children"?
What Makes balabala Able to Speak for "Chinese Children"?
What Makes balabala Able to Speak for "Chinese Children"?
In 2006, balabala became the first childrenswear brand to advertise on China Central Television (CCTV), reshaping public trust in the industry. This legacy evolved in 2024 with China's Children With balabala Since 2002, a documentary-style film co-produced with Xinhua News Agency. The film, which distills two decades of insights into childhood growth and companionship, sparked a national cultural dialogue, amassing over 500 million views and cementing balabala's role as both a commercial icon and a chronicler of societal shifts.
balabala's mastery of breakthrough marketing is no accident. As China's undisputed leader in childrenswear—commanding the largest market share for 23 consecutive years - the brand has redefined industry benchmarks through strategic ingenuity. Its journey transcends conventional tactics, crystallizing into a revolutionary philosophy: children's apparel is not just "miniature adult clothing," but an intricate interplay of biomechanical precision for developing bodies and empathic design for evolving minds.
Three Key Approaches of balabala for Business Success
Every marketer recognizes "people, product, place" as the three pillars of brand breakthrough, yet operationalizing this triad in practice remains a daunting task. balabala's repeated success in cutting through market noise lies in its razor-sharp precision: the brand has honed a trifecta of tactics to activate the "people-product-place" synergy, transforming theoretical frameworks into cultural resonance.
balabala, China's preeminent childrenswear titan commanding 23 years of market leadership, has redefined brand storytelling through its radical "human-centric paradox" – it crafts narratives not about children as abstract concepts, but for children as sovereign individuals, honoring each child's uncharted constellation of needs and identities.
As China's childrenswear leader for 23 consecutive years, balabala has honed market insights to capture shifting parenting dynamics. Recognizing that millennial parents now educate children with heightened self-awareness, the brand observes a transition from traditional hierarchical ("top-down") relationships to egalitarian "eye-level" interactions. This evolution prioritizes children's emotional needs and individuality – a consumer sentiment shift balabala has strategically leveraged. The collaboration with Xinhua News Agency on China's Children With balabala Since 2002 breaks from conventional emotional marketing. Instead of nostalgic manipulation, the campaign presents authentic childhood experiences – from confronting mortality to processing rejection – to maximize the societal companionship value inherent in childrenswear. This approach transforms the "people" dimension of the "people-product-place" framework from vague demographics to individualized engagement.
Since 2000, balabala has walked alongside over 80 million Chinese children, its market dominance enabling campaigns that resonate like cultural symphonies. This emotional currency gains amplification through strategic alliances with state media titans like Xinhua News Agency, transforming localized sentiment into nationwide cultural movements.
balabala's partnership with state-backed media entities transcends conventional brand alliances; it represents a strategic symbiosis rooted in shared ideological DNA—a mission-critical imperative to architect authentic Chinese brand narratives that resonate across cultural frontiers.
How to Sustainably Elevate Emotional Resonance in a Fragmented Era?
In this era of fragmented information, sparking even a single moment of resonance is challenging. Yet how does balabala consistently ignite collective empathy, amplify public discourse, and transform fleeting connections into sustained cultural momentum?
The answer lies in: 23 years of rigorous refinement in marketing fundamentals, Anthropological observation of human dynamics, and Strategic brand personification.
By humanizing its brand identity, balabala has built its marketing around four core values - "empathy," "forward-thinking," "accountability," and "environmental care" - shaping a relatable personality that creates emotional connections across age groups.
balabala has redefined brand strategy through cultural storytelling, embedding traditional aesthetics into modern children's fashion. The brand pioneers a human-centric marketing framework through collaborations with cultural icons like the Palace Museum's Baoyun Tower and National Museum of China's cultural IP programs (Guo Bo Yan Yi), transforming heritage elements into wearable art. This cultural alchemy positions balabala at the forefront of China's "new guochao" movement, where Dynasty-inspired embroidery coexists with contemporary silhouettes in their Hanfu collections.
Meanwhile, balabala drives ecological transformation across the supply chain. Partnering with global textile leaders, the brand implements circular production from fiber sourcing to finished garments. Its 2024 breakthrough collaboration with Sateri introduced FINEXâ„¢ fiber - a closed-loop textile innovation from post-consumer waste - making balabala the first children's brand adopting this technology. Beyond fabrics, the brand extends sustainability to touchpoints like biodegradable hangtags, getting more consumers involved in environmental protection.
Simultaneously, balabala demonstrates deep commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles, actively shaping sustainable business models as China's leading children's apparel brand. In 2024, the company unveiled its Sustainability Whitepaper declaring "Zero Carbon as Brand Ethos", with sustainable products already constituting 19% of total offerings. Strategic milestones outline full transition to 100% sustainable product lines by 2050.
balabala has pioneered transformative social initiatives through its signature Box Gift program launched in 2010, mobilizing societal goodwill to nurture childhood development while preserving ecological diversity. Building upon this legacy, the brand introduced strategic philanthropic engagements like 2022's Tailored for Love campaign, creating customized solutions to empower children with special needs.
As a trailblazer in China's children's fashion industry, balabala continues to advance its corporate mission of " let children worldwide have a happy childhood" through ecosystem collaboration. The brand is forging strategic alliances with value chain partners and consumers to co-create an environment where joyful childhood experiences thrive, fostering a collective achievement that elevates all stakeholders.
Dual-Wheel Framework: Integrated Domestic-International Advancement for Strategic Market Primacy
With 23 years of sustained market dominance, balabala has demonstrated dual mastery - capturing the zeitgeist of evolving eras while decoding the nuanced consumption patterns of China's rising middle class. The brand's premiumization strategy now stands fully deployed, its chess pieces strategically positioned across the value chain.
balabala is orchestrating a comprehensive upmarket transformation in China through tri-dimensional upgrades: premium shopfront transformation, curated product portfolios, and concierge-style service ecosystems. Synergized with cross-platform campaigns across Tmall and Douyin for mega-brand festivals, the childrenswear leader is accelerating its strategic elevation into the premium segment.
Through a multifaceted strategy encompassing premium commercial hub penetration, curated experiential stores, omnichannel product ecosystems, and specialized category operations, balabala has successfully elevated its offline retail network to a premium tier. In January 2025, the childrenswear leader strategically debuted in Beijing's two landmark luxury complexes: SOLANA Blue Harbor and COFCO Xiangyun Town. Concurrently, the brand has implemented signature upscale service innovations, including personalized children's styling consultations and member-exclusive tailoring services, precisely catering to the discerning tastes of millennial parents seeking value-added experiences.
balabala has established a formidable global presence, penetrating over 30 countries/regions with an overseas store count surpassing 100. The 2024-2025 expansion wave saw strategic store launches across Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Jordan, and Kyrgyzstan. Market expansion ultimately hinges on product strength, and balabala's globalization manifests as hyper-localization. Collaborating with international designers, the brand embeds cultural localization strategies into product development – factoring in regional cultural contexts, geographical adaptability, and aesthetic distinctiveness. This operationalizes its core philosophy "Every Child Is Unique" across each product.
balabala's premium repositioning challenges extend beyond product innovation and distribution networks to demand strategic mastery in cross-market resource orchestration. The brand's core competency now lies in synchronizing localized marketing ecosystems with global brand narratives.
balabala has demonstrated its industry-leading prowess through a strategic trilogy of cultural narratives: collaborating with Xinhua News Agency on the documentary campaign China's Children With balabala Since 2002, initiating the "Future Champions" storytelling project aligned with Paris Olympics' legacy, and executing cross-platform activations with Douyin and Tmall. Anchored in its dual-axis premiumization-globalization strategy, the brand has operationalized its "brand-driven cultural export" philosophy, converting cultural resonance into commercial momentum while redefining global brand-building metrics for Chinese enterprises.
The market rewards prepared enterprises. Through 23 years of sustained market leadership, operational excellence, and relentless innovation, balabala has cemented its position as the industry leader, embodying the spirit of "Chinese children" with both capability and conviction.
Fueled by a dual-engine strategy harnessing brand momentum and channel synergy, and through coordinated domestic-international market operations, balabala is positioned to amplify its market share in 2025, with its global retail network now spanning over 4,500 stores.
As balabala celebrates its 23-year journey, the brand is transitioning from China's premier childrenswear leader to a global apparel vanguard, orchestrating a new chapter in Chinese enterprises' global brand narratives through strategic cultural-commerce convergence.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
What Makes balabala Able to Speak for "Chinese Children"?
What Makes balabala Able to Speak for "Chinese Children"?
What Makes balabala Able to Speak for "Chinese Children"?
What Makes balabala Able to Speak for "Chinese Children"?
- CATL opens Middle East's first NING SERVICE Experience Center in Riyadh —currently the largest new energy aftermarket facility outside China.
- The facility offers comprehensive full-lifecycle after-sales support, cultivates local technical talent and accelerates the deployment of advanced electrification and energy storage solutions.
- It also functions as a regional ecosystem hub linking diverse stakeholders and resources to drive industrial synergy and sustainable growth.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 10, 2026, CATL opened the Middle East's first and currently the largest new energy aftermarket facility outside China—the NING SERVICE Experience Center in Riyadh—strengthening its after-sales presence in the Middle East and supporting the region's shift toward cleaner energy systems.
The opening comes as Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East advance ambitious electrification and decarbonization goals under Vision 2030 and similar national initiatives. Taking Saudi Arabia as an example, The Kingdom has set a goal to transition 30% of all vehicles in Riyadh to electric by 2030, as part of a larger strategy to reduce emissions in the capital city by 50%. Sustainability policies are also driving the shift to electric equipment, such as promoting the use of electric forklifts, while encouraging the use of green energy on farms under the Saudi Green Initiative. However, progress is tempered by persistent challenges, including longstanding oil dependency, surging electricity demand, extreme climatic conditions, and limited charging and service infrastructure.
Strategically designed to overcome these obstacles, the Riyadh facility offers comprehensive full-lifecycle after-sales support, cultivates local technical talent and accelerates the deployment of advanced electrification and energy storage solutions.
Covering more than 7,000 square meters, the Riyadh center combines exhibition areas, diagnostics and maintenance zones, refurbishment facilities, training spaces, and a customer lounge. It is designed to serve not only as a localized service hub for the region and a showcase of CATL's system-level capabilities across electric mobility, energy storage, and intelligent electrification, but also as a platform that links diverse resources, fostering industrial synergy across the ecosystem.
A full-lifecycle approach to new energy services
Relying on CATL's deep R&D and extreme manufacturing capabilities, NING SERVICE Experience Center provides customers with full-lifecycle services that encompass battery diagnostics, repair, maintenance, rework, training, recycling, aftermarket logistics and warehousing. Its services span over seven major product categories—from passenger and commercial vehicles to energy storage systems—along with diverse repair scenarios, setting a new benchmark for new energy service delivery in the region.
Leveraging CATL's advanced diagnostics and repair expertise, along with established service processes, the center's comprehensive after-sales services
helps enterprise customers reduce downtime, lower maintenance costs, and extend asset life, providing greater certainty around long-term performance and residual value while reducing long-term ownership costs and delivering more cost-effective and reliable services for end users.
Advancing localized operations and capability building
The Riyadh center serves as a key platform for CATL's localized operations in the Middle East, supporting talent development and long-term local value creation. Through dedicated training facilities, CATL builds after-sales and technical expertise in the new energy sector, contributing to skilled employment and knowledge transfer across the Middle East. Globally, NING SERVICE operates 10 training centers, totalling 2,300 square meters, and has certified more than 9,700 new energy after-sales professionals through partnerships with vocational institutions.
Beyond talent development, CATL is deepening its localization strategy by reinforcing local infrastructure and building ecosystem partnerships. CATL is in discussion with top-tier local industry players—including fuel network operators to rapidly provide green electricity to gas stations and major infrastructure companies to electrify their truck fleets, as well as energy companies to deploy solar-plus-storage solutions.
These initiatives not only bolster CATL's local service capabilities and market confidence, but also by enabling key partners, jointly drive the scaled adoption of comprehensive new energy solutions across the Middle East.
"As a leading energy company in Saudi Arabia, we see tremendous opportunities in energy transformation. For instance, we plan to deploy solar-plus-storage solutions at our gas stations and electrify forklifts to reduce reliance on oil. We look forward to collaborating with top players like CATL to drive this transition forward," said Ahmed Ibrahim，Assistant General Manager For Procurement of Al Drees, a leading provider of petroleum and logistics services in Saudi Arabia.
"The launch of CATL's Riyadh aftermarket flagship underscores our shared commitment to driving the global energy transition. This milestone not only reflects the growing demand for sustainable solutions in Saudi Arabia but also embodies our collective vision for a cleaner, electrified future. As the investor behind the experience centre, we are confident that this partnership will accelerate electrification and strengthen the region's role in advancing the energy transition." said Lin Chaofan, CEO of F4S.
Part of a global network
The Saudi Arabia opening builds on CATL's global service footprint, which includes more than 1,200 professional service stations across 76 countries and 73 spare-parts warehouses worldwide. CATL ranks No. 1 globally in spare parts inventory stocked with 100% genuine parts, with a total warehouse area of more than 370,000 square meters. To date, NING SERVICE has supported more than six million electric vehicles, providing professional after-sales services for passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and energy storage customers.
A long-term commitment to the Middle East
Bruce Li, President of Quality System, Aftermarket Business, Battery Management System Department at CATL, said the Riyadh center reflects a strategic, long-term view of the region.
"Our decision to establish this center in Riyadh is not only a commercial choice, but a long-term commitment," Li said. "As the first NING SERVICE Experience Center in the Middle East, it is more than a service facility. It is a new energy aftermarket ecosystem hub that brings together advanced technology, professional training, and industry collaboration—effectively connecting diverse stakeholders and resources to foster deeper synergy and sustainable growth across the region. Starting from here, CATL will continue to expand its after-sales service network across the Middle East, align closely with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, and support the region's energy transition through a reliable, end-to-end service system."
As the Middle East accelerates its shift toward electrification and energy storage adoption, CATL's expanded NING SERVICE presence is poised to deliver the technical reliability and sustained partnerships essential for this transformation.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 10, 2026, CATL opened the Middle East's first and currently the largest new energy aftermarket facility outside China—the NING SERVICE Experience Center in Riyadh—strengthening its after-sales presence in the Middle East and supporting the region's shift toward cleaner energy systems.
The opening comes as Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East advance ambitious electrification and decarbonization goals under Vision 2030 and similar national initiatives. Taking Saudi Arabia as an example, The Kingdom has set a goal to transition 30% of all vehicles in Riyadh to electric by 2030, as part of a larger strategy to reduce emissions in the capital city by 50%. Sustainability policies are also driving the shift to electric equipment, such as promoting the use of electric forklifts, while encouraging the use of green energy on farms under the Saudi Green Initiative. However, progress is tempered by persistent challenges, including longstanding oil dependency, surging electricity demand, extreme climatic conditions, and limited charging and service infrastructure.
Strategically designed to overcome these obstacles, the Riyadh facility offers comprehensive full-lifecycle after-sales support, cultivates local technical talent and accelerates the deployment of advanced electrification and energy storage solutions.
Covering more than 7,000 square meters, the Riyadh center combines exhibition areas, diagnostics and maintenance zones, refurbishment facilities, training spaces, and a customer lounge. It is designed to serve not only as a localized service hub for the region and a showcase of CATL's system-level capabilities across electric mobility, energy storage, and intelligent electrification, but also as a platform that links diverse resources, fostering industrial synergy across the ecosystem.
A full-lifecycle approach to new energy services
Relying on CATL's deep R&D and extreme manufacturing capabilities, NING SERVICE Experience Center provides customers with full-lifecycle services that encompass battery diagnostics, repair, maintenance, rework, training, recycling, aftermarket logistics and warehousing. Its services span over seven major product categories—from passenger and commercial vehicles to energy storage systems—along with diverse repair scenarios, setting a new benchmark for new energy service delivery in the region.
Leveraging CATL's advanced diagnostics and repair expertise, along with established service processes, the center's comprehensive after-sales services
helps enterprise customers reduce downtime, lower maintenance costs, and extend asset life, providing greater certainty around long-term performance and residual value while reducing long-term ownership costs and delivering more cost-effective and reliable services for end users.
Advancing localized operations and capability building
The Riyadh center serves as a key platform for CATL's localized operations in the Middle East, supporting talent development and long-term local value creation. Through dedicated training facilities, CATL builds after-sales and technical expertise in the new energy sector, contributing to skilled employment and knowledge transfer across the Middle East. Globally, NING SERVICE operates 10 training centers, totalling 2,300 square meters, and has certified more than 9,700 new energy after-sales professionals through partnerships with vocational institutions.
Beyond talent development, CATL is deepening its localization strategy by reinforcing local infrastructure and building ecosystem partnerships. CATL is in discussion with top-tier local industry players—including fuel network operators to rapidly provide green electricity to gas stations and major infrastructure companies to electrify their truck fleets, as well as energy companies to deploy solar-plus-storage solutions.
These initiatives not only bolster CATL's local service capabilities and market confidence, but also by enabling key partners, jointly drive the scaled adoption of comprehensive new energy solutions across the Middle East.
"As a leading energy company in Saudi Arabia, we see tremendous opportunities in energy transformation. For instance, we plan to deploy solar-plus-storage solutions at our gas stations and electrify forklifts to reduce reliance on oil. We look forward to collaborating with top players like CATL to drive this transition forward," said Ahmed Ibrahim，Assistant General Manager For Procurement of Al Drees, a leading provider of petroleum and logistics services in Saudi Arabia.
"The launch of CATL's Riyadh aftermarket flagship underscores our shared commitment to driving the global energy transition. This milestone not only reflects the growing demand for sustainable solutions in Saudi Arabia but also embodies our collective vision for a cleaner, electrified future. As the investor behind the experience centre, we are confident that this partnership will accelerate electrification and strengthen the region's role in advancing the energy transition." said Lin Chaofan, CEO of F4S.
Part of a global network
The Saudi Arabia opening builds on CATL's global service footprint, which includes more than 1,200 professional service stations across 76 countries and 73 spare-parts warehouses worldwide. CATL ranks No. 1 globally in spare parts inventory stocked with 100% genuine parts, with a total warehouse area of more than 370,000 square meters. To date, NING SERVICE has supported more than six million electric vehicles, providing professional after-sales services for passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and energy storage customers.
A long-term commitment to the Middle East
Bruce Li, President of Quality System, Aftermarket Business, Battery Management System Department at CATL, said the Riyadh center reflects a strategic, long-term view of the region.
"Our decision to establish this center in Riyadh is not only a commercial choice, but a long-term commitment," Li said. "As the first NING SERVICE Experience Center in the Middle East, it is more than a service facility. It is a new energy aftermarket ecosystem hub that brings together advanced technology, professional training, and industry collaboration—effectively connecting diverse stakeholders and resources to foster deeper synergy and sustainable growth across the region. Starting from here, CATL will continue to expand its after-sales service network across the Middle East, align closely with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, and support the region's energy transition through a reliable, end-to-end service system."
As the Middle East accelerates its shift toward electrification and energy storage adoption, CATL's expanded NING SERVICE presence is poised to deliver the technical reliability and sustained partnerships essential for this transformation.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
CATL Opens Middle East's Largest New Energy Aftermarket Facility in Riyadh
CATL Opens Middle East's Largest New Energy Aftermarket Facility in Riyadh
CATL Opens Middle East's Largest New Energy Aftermarket Facility in Riyadh
