When red is green: the outlook for the environmentally friendly market in China
Can red be green too — if it’s red China we’re talking about? Headlines such as “With the Olympics Looming, China Goes Green”, “China urges end to polluters’ tax breaks”, and “Greenpeace rates Apple least green, China’s Lenovo scores high” suggest a new momentum to remake China as environmentally friendly. Let’s be clear here — […]
Book Review: Mr. China by Tim Clissold
Mr. China: A Memoir is a book for all of us who have ever longed to “crack” the China market and Chinese culture — and come out as the ultimate “Old China Hand”. “But in the end, it’s an illusion” states the author Tim Clissold of this pursuit. He should know — he’s gotten about […]
The muddled and perplexing state of Japanese brands in China
With the recent visit by Wen Jiabao to Japan, the press is in a frenzy about Sino-Japanese relations. After all, it’s been seven years since any top-level Chinese officials set foot in the land of the rising sun, and anti-Japanese sentiment looms large as China has historically considered Japan a rival. It was only two […]
On managing the departure of a valued Chinese employee — Part I
Our guest article this week comes from Gary Baney, CEO of Boundless Flight. Managing Chinese hires is an important part of a corporation’s reputation and impression in China. Gary shares somes of his practical and valuable insights on this topic. Here’s Gary: ————————————————————————————————— One of the reasons many companies have hesitated to hire Chinese national […]
Interview with Gary Wells of Dix & Eaton about international communications
Jocelyn: Good morning, this is Jocelyn, we’re at the Wu Way, this is January 29, and I’m here at the BP Building and I have the pleasure of meeting with Gary Wells, who is the Senior Managing Director for Media Relations and Global Communications for Dix & Eaton. I might add that Gary is a […]
McKinsey looks into China’s hinterland…and sees opportunity
Seems like Shanghai, Beijing and other major cities in China are the current darlings of the international business world. Who can blame them? The breakneck pace of development has produced a dizzying array of buildings, shopping malls — and accompanying stats — to make any marketer swoon. Meanwhile, one has to wonder about the 70 […]
Cultural icons as a brand: Starbucks in the Forbidden City revisited
Back in January, I wrote about Starbucks’ unwelcome presence in the Forbidden City. Just yesterday, NPR’s Morning Edition did an interview with the man who gave the cause an extra jolt of caffeine – CCTV TV anchor Rui Chenggang. Steve Inskeep interviews Rui about the “invasion”.
Full moon fever on the Lantern Festival
The brightest moon of the new year welcomes a festival of light – the Lantern Festival, also the official end to Chinese New Year. Thought the new year was over after Chinese New Year’s Eve? Think again. In China, celebrating the new year is not just a matter of swinging around a few firecrackers and […]