DHgate brings creators to China to turn audience insight into products

DHgate took four content creators to Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Yiwu starting July 27 for a creator journey focused on co-developing products with manufacturers and merchants. The effort is already moving some ideas into sampling, including a skincare line Michele is developing with Liyan Technology.

Why it matters: - DHgate is trying to move creator partnerships beyond promotion and into product development, which could give creators more durable business assets. - The model also gives manufacturers access to overseas consumer insight before they build products, which can help reduce guesswork and support stronger product-market fit. - Community needs and feedback are being treated as inputs for design, packaging and storytelling, not just as demand after a product launches.

What happened: - Beginning July 27, DHgate brought four content creators to Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Yiwu for the DHgate China Creator Journey. - The program was designed to connect creator insight, community needs and China’s supply-chain capabilities to explore new products, brands and businesses. - The creators met with manufacturers, merchants and the DHgate team in co-creation and business-matching sessions. - The trip focused on what creators could build with supply-chain partners, rather than what they could simply promote.

The details: - Ryan Tang, founder of fragrance brand XAV, is exploring a creator-led product shaped by storytelling, scent and audience participation. - Michele, a lifestyle creator focused on mature women, is looking at beauty products and new possibilities for later-life consumers. - Hayley Herms, a plus-size model and entrepreneur, brought a perspective centered on confidence, representation and products designed for real bodies and needs. - LaQuia, co-founder of NEWD STYLE, shared feedback from women looking for authentic, inclusive and timeless fashion. - In Shenzhen, the creators joined a co-creation workshop focused on their long-term ambitions and what they hoped to build. - In Guangzhou, the group examined the beauty supply chain and saw how formulation, packaging, sampling and production fit together. - Two creators identified supply-chain partners and moved their ideas into the sampling stage during the Guangzhou sessions. - Michele is working with Liyan Technology on initial samples for a skincare line inspired by her community’s needs and preferences. - In Yiwu, creators and merchants explored small-batch sourcing and fast-response production capabilities. - DHgate CEO Qingqing Yang said the company sees its role as a bridge connecting creativity, community insight, supply-chain expertise and production capabilities. - DHgate said the journey is part of its movement From Good to GoodSphere, which focuses on trust and shared value creation.

Between the lines: - The trip reflects a broader shift in the creator economy, where creators can act as founders and product strategists rather than only as distribution channels. - For merchants, the opportunity is to become long-term brand partners instead of one-off suppliers. - For community members, the pitch is that their needs and tastes can shape what gets made, not just what gets marketed. - The approach also signals a move toward creator-owned assets that can generate value beyond one-time commissions.

What's next: - Several ideas from the journey are already moving into supply-chain matching, product development and sampling. - DHgate plans to keep refining the concepts with creators, communities and manufacturing partners. - The company expects the process to become a repeatable path from audience insight to product concept, sampling, brand creation and long-term collaboration. - DHgate says the journey marks only the beginning of broader creator-led business development.

The bottom line: - DHgate is betting that the next wave of creator commerce will be built with audiences, manufacturers and merchants in the same room from the start.