Our China Business LinkedIn Group keeps growing (over a hundred members now!), and already it is proving to be of added value. For instance we received a question from Tebogo Lefifi, one of our China Business Group Members writing: “I am moving to Beijing in a few weeks and interested in exploring the Personal Life style management companies (personal concierge). Are there any in China, does the culture exist?”

Now we are pretty sure there are plenty, but which one would you recommend, what are the things you will want to make sure they offer, and how about pricing? What is your experience with Personal concierge Services in China?
We asked our China Business members through one of our crew, and here are some answers. Keep in mind you can still contribute: if you have a LinkedIn account you a most welcome in their Q&A section or simply comment on this post.

Answers to Concierge Services in China so far:

Ken Erickson
CEO, Pacific Ethnography;

I’m checking in with Ming Chuck, our man in Beijing, about this.

My thinking is that you can find a competent personal assistant, but check references, give them a trial period, and don’t expect that good written communication equals good spoken communication. These days, it is ever more easy to find some 25 year old person in China with pretty good English (or even Spanish or French or German) skills; finding someone willing and able to do the business of what we in Los Angeles call “personal assistant” can be a trial and error process.

I think this is an interesting business model, however. The time is probably right for an agency specializing in such services.

Ask around about daily rates. Be aware that the average factory worker is happy to earn 1200 RMB per month (with a housing allowance or dorm housing). If you offer a decent professional salary, and a housing allowance or some on-site housing, you’ll find what you are looking for.

Craigslist has been a helpful resource for English speaking Chinese helpers of this kind: beijing.craigslist.org Better still are Chinese language job-boards and bulletin boards (brush up on your Mandarin for that).

Oh: be sure that your candidate knows Beijing well, and if they can drive (unlikely!) you’ll really have found a gem!

Ken Erickson
www.conference-china.com

Roy Graff
China expert in tourism, technology, marketing, PR and distribution.

There are no western style concierge services in China that cater to expatriates. However there are other services for rich Chinese through private members’ clubs. Because a lot of the convenience of this service can be had for cheap though a driver, personal assistant and services provided by living complexes, there has not been a demand for a company to offer the type of lifestyle service that you are talking about. Companies engaged in this in the West have tried to go into China in the past but failed.

There are many companies that help with relocation of expats and usually provide other services as well. Estate agents frequently offer additional services to help expatriates settle in to their new homes.
Then there are services for booking restaurants etc.

Maybe there is a need for an all inclusive service. But the expat market could be too small for this still.

Camille van Gestel
Owner, Share Networking

I don’t have any experiences with “Personal Life Style Management” co’s in China… But if you’d describe this as a personal assistant, getting you anything you need, I’d say there should be PLENTY English speaking Chinese who would be interested to do this for a reasonable salary. What I would do… simply spend some good nights out in Shan Li Tur district, meeting expats and English speaking Chinese with a Western orientation. Sure that within a few nights I would bumb into people, or referrals who can help me…

Hope this has been helpful.

Jeremy Gordon
Owner, China Business Services

Suggests this expert on this topic:
• Alex Cheatle
Alex is a leader in this field internationally, and is expanding into China via an operation based in Hong Kong.

Ken Erickson
CEO, Pacific Ethnography

See http://www.yellchina.com/

So personal life style management / concierge services companies, are there any in China, does the culture exist? If you have additional insights, let us (and Tebogo who is moving in a few weeks) know!