Moving to China is a big challenge. Who is going to advise you on whether to rent or buy a house, how to build a network, and where to find the chamber of commerce? Colin Friedman has been in China since 1998 and knows all about these things. For two and a half years now, he has been running his own company – China Expert International Ltd – in what he calls ‘getting people started’: helping you utilize your expertise to the best in China.

Know the Market
Informing yourself before moving to a different country seems logical. However Colin Friedman has met many expats and companies that have failed in their preparation. Especially in the sectors where technology is involved: “They are bringing their high-quality products to a society that is prepared to accept ‘good enough’, rather than state-of-the-art. A country in which the average income is so low that people simply do not have a disposable income. Of course, in time they will be Read the rest of “Ask Colin Friedman for China Expert advice” or post a comment

It is an important part of your corporate identity; it is the face of the company and it is the connection between business and client. In many ways a brand name can help make your business, or it can effectively destroy you before you even get started. No wonder formulating an effective brand strategy and finding a proper name for your brand can be a lot like walking a tightrope, especially in a country where literally every syllable seems to have a deeper meaning. So how does Vladimir Djurovic, the founder of Labbrand Consulting, Ltd. – a Shanghai based Brand Strategy, Chinese Brand Naming, Trends & Prospective company – manage to be so successful? “It’s a creative job, it’s about selling a style.”

It was not a gold rush that brought Vladimir Djurovic to China. “I was highly interested in the Chinese culture and the linguistic aspect of it. After mastering several other languages, I found a great challenge in learning Chinese. When I took my first course, my teacher wrote one single sentence on the blackboard. It consisted of five characters and we spent an hour and a half to figure them out. From that moment on, I was passionate about Chinese. From that moment on, I was passionate about Chinese. And by now of course it has become more than a means of communicating in the Chinese environment: it is a necessity to do my job. Mandarin is my key instrument.” Read the rest of “Chinese Brand Name philosophy” or post a comment

Conquering the Chinese market is not easy. Fortunately there are many organizations that have the knowledge and experience to guide you in making your first steps on strange soil as successful as possible. One of these organizations is the Benelux Chamber of Commerce. China Success Stories trotted to the office of this Chamber of Commerce to speak with the General Manager, Helmy Koolen.

The Benelux Chamber of Commerce (or BenCham, as they call themselves) arose out of a merger between the Dutch Business Association and the Belgian Luxembourg Business Association in China. “In 2001 the Benelux Chamber of Commerce started a chapter in Shanghai and in November 2004 we opened a chapter in Beijing. At this moment we have over 550 members. We therefore are strong representatives of the Benelux community in Beijing and Shanghai. The BenCham offers three sorts of activities: Read the rest of “China jump-start” or post a comment