The Wrap Dress Lady Is Global

Diane von Furstenberg (pictured) is selling the wrap dress to women worldwide.  Her approach to China's rising middle class is different - more personalized.

Read the entire article:

A Designer Brings 'Best Friends' to China

Pizza in Sanlitun: A Story

I am not sure who authored the article below or perhaps by the time it is published a name will be attached to it, but it's about cab experiences in Beijing, giving a good dose of daily interactions in China.

Read:  Going Global

Sanlitun (pictured) the expatriate district of Beijing.

Defining the Risks Foreign Companies Take When Doing Business In China

Over time, a series of lawsuits will take place in the Chinese courts that could define the risks foreign companies take when they try to make money in China’s booming markets.

Will Chinese courts finally protect foreign IP?

Read:  A Test Case for Intellectual Property in China

Illustration credit here.

Embracing Complexity: China

Wharton is helping China embrace complexity and take the next logical step in economic development.

The Year of the Dragon seems destined to be an inflection point in the dramatic history of China’s economic development. Yes, there is the familiar question: Is this the year that China’s extended period of remarkable economic growth will finally be supplanted by a slower rate? But there is another transition underway as China’s position as the world’s low-cost producer is steadily challenged by increases in wages and other costs.

Read the entire blog post here.

Illustration credit here.

Legal Advisor to the World?

Can the U.K. become a "lawyer and advisor to the world?"  That's what Britain's Justice Minister wants to accomplish.  He desires to make London the preeminent forum for resolving international commercial disputes with Asia (China) being its first target.

Read the entire store here.

Made In USA: Chopsticks Destined for China

How China's Market Is Changing Fast

Find out how China is changing and leaving the companies who wish to do business there  - breathless.

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China's confident consumers

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog

Do Americans Still Know How to Make Stuff?

Paul Fichter, who founded Taphandles in 1999, anticipates $11 million in revenue this year, employing 33 people at its Seattle headquarters and roughly 450 at the Chinese factory that produces the beer-marketing products it sells to breweries.

Mr. Fichter discusses the factors that led him to bring some of his manufacturing back to the United States with The New York Times.

Here's the last question posed by the interviewer:

Q. Do you think Americans still know how to make stuff?

A. Absolutely. My baby’s crib was made here, and that was important to me. I didn’t have to worry about the safety of, for example, the paint used. The key to success for the United States will be using machines instead of brawn. When we surveyed other countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, we didn’t find the skilled labor base we needed. While I’m really proud of creating jobs here in America, it’s not just an emotional decision. It makes sense. 

Read the entire interview here.

Do you see this as a trend to bring manufacturing back to the United States?  We welcome your comments and insights.

Illustration credit:  Taphandles

No. 2 Most Difficult Market to Enter in the World?

China is considered the No. 1 most difficult market to enter and the United States is No. 2 despite attractive growth opportunities.  That's according to a new global report by international legal practice Allen & Overy.

The United States ranks third globally for growth opportunities behind China and India, but second behind China for perceived barriers to entry.

 Read the entire report here.

Results run counter to the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Rankings which shows the United States No. 4.  Once you break into the market, one could say it's easy to do business in USA?

Photo courtesy:  USA at Night (NASA)

Are You Short On Core Competitiveness?

According to People's Daily Online, Chinese businesses ought to do better in the overseas market.

It is true that Chinese enterprises should improve themselves when going global. Compared with large European and American transnational enterprises, most of Chinese enterprises going global are low and middle-end industries. Most of them are traditional contractors. Their primary businesses do not involve science and technology as well as high added value, which make them short of core competitiveness.

Read the entire article here.

Not exactly sure what core competitiveness is?  I am aware of core competencies so I did some checking on core competitiveness ... a lot of Chinese reference this theory:

Identification, Formation and Maintaining of Core Competitiveness of an Enterprise

Discussions on the Core Competitiveness of Tourism Industry

How to Build the Core Competitiveness of Enterprises

Dolce & Gabbana Sees New Era of Glamour For Youth in China

With your business, how will you capitalize on it?

Like other designers, such as American Diane Von Furstenberg and Italian Miuccia Prada, Messrs. Dolce and Gabbana have made multiple expeditions to China to understand what is driving China's shoppers. What they've found in their tours across Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, is that Chinese consumers are far flashier than their American counterparts, said Mr. Dolce.

"Chinese are eccentric, and they will wear the flowers and the lace," said Mr. Dolce, explaining that the industry as a whole has largely catered to consumers who wanted plain and frill-less fashion. "Chinese aren't afraid to be more," he said.

Read the entire article published in The Wall Street Journal:
Dolce and Gabbana to Expand in China
by Laurie Burkitt

Photo credit here (both dresses are Dolce and Gabbana design)

Trouble Ahead: China's eBay, Alibaba

Alibaba announced two of its most senior representatives, David Wei, the chief executive, and Elvis Lee, the chief operating officer, would resign to accept responsibility for the company having granted "golden status" to 2,236 dealers who it says had subsequently defrauded buyers.

Although the two executives were not personally implicated, the company had little choice than to accept their resignations and make a public disclosure about what happened.

Read all about it:

An online-fraud scandal in China:  Alibaba and the 2,236 thieves
The Economist (check out this December 2010 article as well)

Why Alibaba's CEO had to go
Fortune Tech

Alibaba.com CEO Resigns in Wake of Fraud by Sellers
WSJ.com

David Wei and Elvis Lee Quit Alibaba Amid Fraud Inquiry
NYTimes.com

I think this is only the tip of an iceberg ... watch it closely.