Yahoo in China = prison time? The worst PR ever…
There’s a fine line everyone has to tow when doing public activities in China — that line between absolute freedom and the Chinese government. I touched on this a bit in my previous post on the One China Policy. But what if your concessions result in jail time for a Chinese dissident? That’s what’s at […]
Still pointing your finger at China for the lead toy recalls? Not so fast…
I wrote several weeks ago about a case for Mattel apologizing to the Chinese manufacturers. In particular, I highlighted the fact that US companies often share some of the responsibility for negligence. Today, an article in the New York Times titled Lessons Even Thomas Could Learn really hits that point home. After all of the […]
A case for Mattel apologizing to Chinese manufacturers
There’s been a great brouhaha in the press over Mattel’s apology to China — particularly over the allegations that Mattel apologized directly to its Chinese manufacturing partners. It’s not a surprising reaction. This supposedly “Golden” year of the Pig is turning out to be more porcine than prosperous, thanks to the slew of recalls — […]
Face Shopping: the role that “mianzi consumption” plays in consumer choice in China
When I walked into the wedding flower shop in Tonglu, China — my husband’s hometown — I knew exactly the kind of flowers I wanted: roses, just like the roses on my wedding dress. The shop owner, however, didn’t ask us what type of flowers we wanted. Instead, she asked us how much we were […]
“No commerce, no evil” is no more: how China’s ethical standards affect your business
There was a Chinese saying: “no commerce, no evil”. Merchants were thought to be unscrupulous, and commerce was historically considered an ignoble industry in China. This contemptuous attitude towards businessmen no longer exists in current China. Making money is given priority now. However, problems come up when this priority may be the only consideration for […]