A blend of tradition and innovation is on offer

In the first of two episodes, Ed Rowland, principal of Rowland Global LLC, and Alice Wang, a Shanghai-based consultant and instructor at Alibaba’s Taobao University, share insights about the brick-and-mortar pharmacy business in China. Among the topics they discuss are the Chinese consumer’s expectations of a drug store, the role of the pharmacist, and the mix of homegrown products and international brands available in China. Next week’s installment will examine the booming e-commerce business there.