From Cold Start to Cult Favorite:

A Three-Year Full-Scope Growth Partnership

Shudaxia Hotpot Toronto
Case Study

Intro.

Shudaxia Hotpot is a time-honored hotpot brand from Chengdu, China, offering a unique dining experience that blends Sichuan flavors with the spirit of martial arts chivalry. As it expanded into Canada, particularly the Greater Toronto Area, the brand faced a slow start due to limited awareness and weak customer traffic.

Since 2022, OPT Studio has been Shudaxia’s long-term marketing partner — providing full-scope, year-round strategy and execution support, focused on rhythm planning, system integration, and emotional brand storytelling.

Challenges:

Entering a saturated market with low brand recognition.
No established digital infrastructure: missing membership system, ordering flow, or marketing mechanisms.
Lacked content assets and consistent social media presence.
Fragmented marketing activities with no unified communication rhythm or strategy.

Solutions:

OPT Studio provided end-to-end, long-term strategic support, including:

Brand Refresh & Content Foundation: Developed a unified brand visual system and scalable creative templates.
Digital Infrastructure Setup: Implemented a QR-based ordering system, loyalty program, and integrated point system to align transaction and marketing data.
Annual Marketing Calendar: Designed monthly campaigns themed around holidays, anniversaries, and seasonal moments.
Multi-Platform Growth System: Built a content ecosystem across Xiaohongshu, Instagram, and Google with synchronized advertising and social engagement.
Ongoing Optimization: Monthly performance tracking and real-time adjustment of ad strategy and content planning.

Executions:

Brand Identity Revamp: Redesigned in-store visuals and created the “Xiabao” panda mascot for youthful brand expression.
System Integration & Promotional Engine: Linked ordering and membership systems with recharge promotions, coupons, and loyalty mechanics.
Themed Campaigns & Highlights:
- Designed and executed holiday events for Dragon Boat Festival, Qixi Festival, Halloween, etc.
- Created viral seasonal offers like the Summer Crayfish Combo and “Xia Market” outdoor fair.
Creative Production & Ads: Multiplatform ad campaigns using real in-store assets and visuals to create a compelling conversion loop.

Influencer Marketing

To maximize visibility, we activated a network of Toronto-based foodies and influencers across social media platforms. Each campaign was designed to generate authentic user-generated content and storytelling.

Platforms include: Tiktok, Instagram, Xiaohongshu (Red), Google
400+ influencers collaborations