Similar to the pharmaceutical supply chain, luxury goods have their own complexities.

Until a few years ago, distribution of luxury goods in China were controlled by state owned companies with little knowledge about sophisticated marketing, distribution and supply chain management strategies. Under WTO commitments, companies like Alfred Dunhill were allowed to open their own stores in China in 2003 – the problem was they didn’t have an effective distribution and logistics solution for mainland China.

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Chinese market has been a highly preferred market for many organisations worldwide in the past twenty years. However, it is not an easy market to penetrate. Australian companies are among those Europeans and Americans who have been tackling the market with little positive results. One primary reason is that they do not appreciate the important role and impact of Chinese culture.

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By Mona Chung

China has become a synonym for future business growth. It is the business nirvana of the 21st century. It is the place to be. Companies are scrambling to get a share of the action. Not a day passes without some company making an announcement of an investment in their future which involves China.

Their reason for this scramble is the expectation of gaining vast increases in shareholder value. Reported performance would suggest that these expectations are difficult to realise. Anecdotal evidence would suggest that decreases in shareholder value rather than increases in shareholder value should be the expectation. Why is this? One reason for this is poor marketing performance. Comparing companies that have been successful with those that have not suggests that better preparation directed at understanding the market context, marketing operating requirements (this includes marketing management) and their surrounding culture would have seen fewer red faces at senior management level and less red ink at shareholder level. Read the rest of “Marketing-China and Getting it Right” or post a comment

Luxury retailing in China clearly presents tremendous opportunities, but also risks and challenges. In addition to heightening competition as is common among emerging markets, the most significant and relevant of challenges for luxury brands concern Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) regulations, the time frame for a return on investment, low luxury brand awareness, booming Chinese tourism and limited retail infrastructure.

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For certain luxury brands, China has already outstripped both Japan and Hong Kong as the largest single market in Asia Pacific. But the growing presence of luxury brands in China is bringing with it greater competition. The country’s busiest streets, such as Nanjing Road in Shanghai, are witnessing fierce competition among the world’s luxury brands. While some have warned that the China market is becoming saturated, for the time being the environment is still a positive one for potential entrants.

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