Ing-Dan: Social Commerce’s frontier and The Future of Entrepreneurship

Posted on 21 luglio 2016 by SiteAdmin

In an age where advanced methods of communication and networking have led to new strategies, such as crowdsourcing and social media, to make entrepreneurship more accessible to everyone, a new medium has made the production side of creating a new product easier for people to access. IngDan is a new company based in China that was founded by Cogobuy CEO Jeffrey Kang. It puts entrepreneurs in touch with manufacturers in China in order to produce the products that they think of. IngDan has recently expanded to Italy, giving more opportunity for Italian entrepreneurs to be able to produce their ideas.

The way IngDan works is simple. A client submits his or her idea on Ing-Dan’s website. The client then works with Ing-Dan to create a prototype. Afterwards, the client is put in touch with manufacturers in China, who then produce many versions of the prototype. The next step is beta testing to find and correct any flaws in the product. Finally, IngDan uses its connection to help distribute the product once it is ready to be sold.

The company’s partners include, but are not limited to, Lenovo and Intel. Ing-Dan Italy’s CEO is Marco Mistretta. Mistretta has held previous posts as the CEO at ACSI Informatica and Senior Investment Manager at Technico Group Moscow Branch. He has a background in the Internet of Thing and Finance, as well as in international markets.

Some of the projects featured on the Ing Dan Italy company’s website include: B-Phone U-10, a cell phone designed for young children by programming three numbers to corresponding buttons, making the phone easy to use, and Olo, a printer that hooks up to a phone.

Ing-Dan Italy has participated in many exciting activities lately, including the recent APEC fair in Shenzhen, China. The fair took place July 14-16 and included over 1,000 technology companies, as well as speakers, such as Elon Musk.

These start-ups are; Archon, a Modena based company started by Davide Venturelli that makes software that allows a user to control multiple drones at once (archon.ai), GET, a Rome based company started by Edoardo and Emiliano Parini that provides bracelets that serve as a medium between a person and their smartphone (getwearable.com), Horus, by Saverio Murgia of Milan that helps relay information, such as the location of a crosswalk, to blind people (horus.tech), IOMOTE, by Claudio Carnevali of Rome that helps create mobile applications (openpicus.com), Biotechware, by Alessandro Sappia of Turin that makes it easy to detect a cardiovascular issue (biotechware.com), and Xmetrics, by Andrea Rinaldo of Milan that a swimmer can wear to track his or her performance.

Mistretta is teaming up with Kang, a Chinese billionaire who founded Cogobuy, a company that sells IC components, and The Comtech Group, that sells electronic components. Kang describes IngDan’s mission as, “To enable an everyday, normal, young entrepreneur to enjoy the resources held by only large companies, is the idea of IngDan. To allow them to make mistakes at a low cost is the biggest help that can be given to young entrepreneurs.” So far, IngDan has facilitated over 4000 successful projects and, with their expansion into Italy, that number to only continue to rise.

I introduced Ing-Dan as content / case history in module of digital marketing and social media communication for business development for Master in International Business in China MIBC of LUM University that recently has taken place as first edition in Milan in cooperation with NIBI – New Institute for International Business of Milan. With my students we classified it as perfect example of Social Commerce: where community of users represents perfect source of skills to produce and sell directly something and it defines a new important trend in chinese netizens behavior: everybody is protagonist in business dynamics. Online community is the only way to make these perspectives a concrete commercial scenario, because they are market. Cogobuy as leader of electronic components in B2B perspective well supported the creation of online-community of companies that can buy and use components for prototyping. Engineers as fan and project proposers create the perfect environment to make technical discussions really dynamics and with concrete feasibility. Finally the users and followers are potential market for testing sales of neo-products and they make the companies more aware of the importance of their investment. Ing Dan is creature of chinese online community’s behavior, where internet represents the only way to do something (not to know something) . Now this vision is also part of western challenge for start ups and Italy is part of the game.

Made in Italy: Food & Beverage in Vietnam – Project Hanoi 2016

Posted on 20 luglio 2016 by SiteAdmin

ADM-EA Consulting is pleased to announce the creation of a group for the food and beverage industry for the Vietnam market with the work program called “Project Hanoi”, which aims to set up integrated services for globalization, as well as training and consulting services for industry sectors with the involvement of institutional and operational partners.

Vietnam Business Project is the first integration of specialized services for the SME segment that includes

-Specialized training on the dynamics of globalization and cross cultural management

-Research and preliminary advice

-Analysis of company profile and entry strategy

-Advice for reconfiguration/product selection,

-Accompaniment for the target market

-Direct matching with importers and operational development of commercial dynamics.

The group proposed and coordinated with Milan from our consulting practice with the involvement of operational and institutional partners with proven experience in Italy and in Vietnam including AICE Italian Association for Foreign Trade and ICHAM Italian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam. The specialized training is coordinated by Asian Studies Group Italy in collaboration with the law firm De Masi Taddei Vasoli. The food segment is done by the consolidated partnership with EatHealthy LTD Hanoi, regarding configuration of the trade matching content and operational support to the B2B on site.

In its first edition, “Vietnam Business Project – Hanoi” creates a calendar of activities seen in Vietnam Foodexpo 2016 from November 16th to 19th in Ho Chi Minh City along with accompanying opportunities for B2B direct. The following is some information about the services offered by our work with Vietnam Foodexpo (calendar is subject to change and will be updated as frequently as possible);

-From July 4th to September 30th: Presentation of questions of interest and collection of company profiles (full program, only training program, training program + consulting, and complete program are all available for selection at the fair)

-From October 1 to October 14: Preliminary talks with companies and business consulting orientation (with professionals from Italy and Vietnam) and consolidation of assisted trip/mission with B2B in Vietnam

-October 18: Executive Training Day “Vietnam for Italian Food and Beverage Industry”

Dr. Pierantonio Cantoni – International Business Development Manager AICE

Prof. Paolo Cacciato – Scientific Director Asian Studies Group and MD ADM-EA Consulting

Avv. Federico Vasoli – MP de Masi Taddei Vassoli law firm

Dr. Pham Hoang Hai

Executive Director of Italian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam – Area Coordinator of Italian Chambers of Commerce in Asia

Conf Call/testimonials by importers from Vietnam

-November 2nd and 3rd, Delivery of the schedule of appointments with importers in Vietnam for each participant in the mission.

-November 7th to 9th, Accompaniment for B2B with Hanoi sector importers in Hotel Melia (scheduled departure on November 5)

For those who request it during registration, it will be possible to evaluate displacement of Ho Chi Minh City at the trade fair (Vietnam Food Expo 2016) as both an exhibitor and a visitor. We will put you in touch with a manager for the exhibition at the fair.

Vietnam Business Project in the first stage of Project Hanoi Food & Beverage is offered as a whole (along with, training, completion of preliminary consultation meetings with trade matching, importers for B2B, and accompaniment on site including interpreting) at €1500.00. (Additional discount program: 1000 euro for companies that confirm their attendance as early booking in July – 1250,00 euro for companies that confirm in august)

Thanks to the inclusion of the services mentioned in the project activities, supported by the Fund for Specialized Training and Internationalization of C.U.P.I. (Centre for Union of International Perspectives), the union can be fully funded at zero interest in installments from €125.00 monthly rate for 12 months, making the initiative sustainable to any interested party.

(Excluding the flight costs, hotel accommodation, meals and incidental costs for delivering samples. These costs will still be sustained from the interest-free financing offered by the CUPI partner lending institutions)

For inquiries info@adm-ea.com

Brand’s perception in China: from coolness to substantiality

Posted on 9 novembre 2015 by SiteAdmin

If customer – target for luxury segments in China is much bigger than its counterpart in US , it means that society is still growing up towards new era for consumptions that makes two different middle classes facing with the market : approximately 110 millions of chinese are going to represent the new upper middle class with specific “commercial identity” that’s clear representation of new awareness about products and quality in particular in terms of substantiality.

It’s like how we are passing from the commercial equation for middle class that was used to say “foreign brand = cool = prestigious = not for all = I must have it” toward much more consciousness for foreign products and in particular for their ” substantiality” as crucial point to define characteristics like quality, tradition and luxury.

That’s why two specific ways of doing advertising and promotional campaigns are characterizing the commercial scenario in China for those segments that concern fashion, luxury and design for example.

Regular promotion for middle class that is mainly focus about spreading logo’s attractiveness through digital marketing with discount and special campaigns and some offline events in department stores with parallel events to promote special offers doing brand and product placements in strategic location
Innovative promotion for upper middle class, which make on focus the “characterization” of brand going beyond the “logo-strategy”. It represents a competitive solution for those corporate that got something to educate about. That’s what upper middle class is looking for: values, imagination and charm

If we are choosing as potential target the new upper middle class (that according with McKinsey’s analysis is growing for 12% on annual base and it registers as household income more than 35.000 dollars x year) we should consider that we are dealing with mature customers with international vision and high-competence in purchasing. This segment will go probably over 160 millions in the next five years and it will improve household income reaching peaks of 40.000 dollars.

They are people aware of their status, and their style is basically going toward something of “well characterized”. Maybe they discovered european brands in some multi brands stores during their leisure travels in Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, Macao, Japan, Korea) and now they are much more interested to buy products that have something to say beyond the logo. It represents a good opportunity for those operators that maybe even they got good placement on international commercial scene with specific distribution they for sure didn’t have the funds to be a well-known world-wide label.

Of course foreign nature of brands could be a plus (however it’s not always the best selling point for this target ‘cause they also like chinese style, in particular when the product is result of research and commingling with exotic influences from external scenarios) but this target wants to understand them now not only enjoy the equation “foreign brand is cool and it’s definitely for nice people like us”

History, own identity but also care about renovation of distinctive features in step with time’s changes are elements which strategical plan for marketing toward upper middle class must be focused about.

Certainly the “regular” middle class is still majority and it’s embracing, in particular in second tier’s cities , the boom for brands in department stores and before that they are used to follow with big interest the “foreign sounding” of some advertisements and online commercial campaigns (sometimes it doesn’t matter if the brand was originally born in Italy or not but it’s the communication’s strategy used to make the brand featured with international elements as distinctives to make it a cool brand)

I don’t want to say that the importance that chinese people gives to “name” and “logo” is going to disappear but we have for sure to consider as new and mature commercial perception is becoming part of their behavior. How can this influence on functional way the marketing strategy of high level’s brands to improve sales? As follows some tips that should be added on marketing agenda of things to do

The history of brand means something to tell to your customer. In China it’s used to say “business got eyes”, it means that besides the quality of the product, first of all the value of the goods is emanation of human skills, vision about particular style or way of living, adaptability with social needs. Make your advertising like an educational tour in your group’s history, show your competence and why not the challenges you joined, it doesn’t matter if you’ve been the loser for some particular choices, what you’ve done is part of your commercial charisma
Make your target sure that you are really into to talk with people who are conscious of their status and are abel to understand your message. Try to communicate with them before making them your clients. They are looking for brand that can create such cultural and emotional liaison
Events. The scenario where upper middle class is proud to show and communicate own goals is the world. If you are not part of this world you cannot be part of their life. Don’t waste time of improving distribution’s channel if you are not ready to support him being present beyond the campaign to launch new products. We’ve already seen a lot of “cathedrals in deserts” in China, some investments for launch of specific brand or nee jv with chinese potential distributors never followed by specific and intense mission aimed to be in the market with consciousness of communicate own features.
Be yourself but take care of chinese taste. We don’t have to configure all our style elements in function of chinese mass target. The Upper middle class wants something different by us. And if we served them in periods when they still was “regular” middle class we should show that now we are aware of their new status and needs (some players are going to diversify their brands keeping on mind that they are talking with mature segment that maybe will not continue of being client if not satisfied on way that respect such awareness)

Our Made in Italy is for sure good horse to ride but now more than ever we need to show that’s not only a “logo” if we want to be one of favorite purchases by chinese middle class.

Why does Milano EXPO represent an integrated strategy to relaunch Italy

Posted on 4 luglio 2015 by SiteAdmin

Recently I started working on some analysis about Italy as most favorite destination for main target of tourists from East Asia in particular chinese, japanese and south korean users. To demonstrate it we should just consider that Italy is 1st country in EU-zone for number of nights spent by asian people (2,8 millions of nights by chinese, 2,8 millions of night by japanese and 800 thousands by koreans – source Unioncamere)

It’s common for marketing advisor to spend some hours x day on researches that may concern strategies on providing business services for specific market’s segments trying to figure out the method which companies consolidate their brand / services with promotion.

I decided to put on comparison some important players involved on services for tourism and I’m not only referring about tour operators but I’ve also included in my prospect some national agencies (government) that operate in tourism industry like JNTO (Japan National Tourism Association) or Official Korea Tourism Organization.

Usually such kind of public agencies are mainly focused on attraction of foreign tourists toward their countries so they are well specialized on own territorial marketing. But if we consider the contents introduced through their websites about Milano EXPO 2015 in occasion of announcements about delegations or packages for business groups we can understand how promotion of Italy, in particolar of Milan, boosted following some key- value points, has been adopted by these agencies as functional method to make on focus some features of their country.

In particular, using this retrospective method of analysis I would like to explain the functionality that an integrated strategy for national tourism can have if managed with well framed marketing tools based on some specific elements like

1) History: Italy represents for asian users the center of Europe for that it may concern its origins. Rome for example is one of most important cities in the world for chinese political representatives and it’s considered the valid scenario to introduce bilateral issues (China – Europe) due of long history generated by roman empire and chinese dynasties in two part of the world that for long time have been considered like yin and yang of our globe, west and east. Lot of delegations are coming to Milan to present territorial focuses during EXPO and on doing so they are also introducing new cooperation’s opportunities in some specific areas of fresh developed China.

2) Food: italian agro-food’s system dominates the international markets. According with recent research by Coldiretti we got primate of exportation in the world for more than 20 classifies of products and we are in the second and third place for more than other 54 classifies. But pretty interesting is the first place we received thanking innovation, as it has been implemented for biologic production recently by more than 43.000 companies, that represent 17% of european players. These successful results are introduced in many articles and scientific argumentations posted on some websites of japanese prefectures in the sections that refer to delegations that are joining Milan EXPO 2015,

3) Creativity: Milan is the capital of creativity according with official statement signed by korean ministry for trade and development during important anniversary that celebrated in Milan 150 years of bilateral relations between Italy and Korea (6 june 2014). And when we talk about italian creativity usually we think about arts, design, fashion but in last report issued by ISTAT and Eurostat, Italy is the first country in Europe that adopted creative skills for optimization of dynamics inside corporate governance and to regulate production in innovative and efficient way as well (more than 60% of companies in the survey declared the involvement of creative personalities in their corporate-assets)

We can easily understand as Milan EXPO well combines in its programs and entertainment’s structure some high value elements like history, creativity, quality, and of course food (introduced by main topic of Expo like energy for life and for the planet) that are featured as default’s contents in many strategic plans of companies and agencies specialized in services for tourism.

Thanking of this combination of elements we’ve been able to reach immediately great target of diversified users like those, in particular from East Asia, want try and enjoy Italy in the shape they always studied, imagined or, why not, tasted even only once in their life.

Milano got the big opportunity to experiment how to make this big structure (EXPO) moving ahead for 6 months with participation of well framed operators and cooperation of public offices with private organization and thanking concrete action boosted by all social counterparts for the first time we improved the awareness of potentiality that such diversified structure and skills put in sharing can offer to our Nation and economy.

Now we have to continue to consider that to re-launch Italy we needs definitely an organic system for tourism and hospitality in general where cooperation with strategic segments can be a fundamental base to provide high level services and meet international needs.

As consulting company and no profit organization i’m in charge of we are following this perspectives on two different ways. About business solutions we are developing marketing events inside some prestigious hotels in Milano making as main target of the program international guests.

We are selecting operators from food and tourism industry and we are arranging calendar of contents that we are going to communicate on social networks and online using directly some interfaces well known in Asia and not so common in usual online campaigns. It’s important for us to associate online marketing tools with concrete offline occasions to promote and meet potential clients. At the same time the companies are joining the project can receive special visibility as creators of promotional event in Milan during Milano EXPO. http://fuoriexpo2015.eventsmilano.com

At the same time we are boosting international participation for those aspects may concern creativity as key value for italian economy in particular for Milan city. Recently we produced international cross cultural contest in cooperation with Milano Expo and during the Gala Night for the assignment of the awards we introduced a new board aimed to concentrate and develop proposals about youth international creativity in Milano.

This group of creative personalities joined for the constitution of Charter of Values for Youth Creativity that has been presented to the institutions which are aware of our intentions for creation of cooperation’s network on this theme.

We are already planning calendar with productions and contents starting by september 2015 and we’ll follow the mentioned strategy to assure international participation as featured characteristics of our agenda.

Marketing online: If China reinvents Milan EXPO…

Posted on 14 marzo 2015 by SiteAdmin

Chinese people are really interested about Milan EXPO 2015 for some specific reasons: first of all their holistic and circular vision on proceeding of situations in terms of cause and effects inevitably links Milan EXPO as important consecution of successful edition of Shanghai EXPO in 2010, then recently Milan is going be configured as one of most preeminent places for style, design and luxury among european cities.

We should consider that one good selling point about “Italian Dolce Vita” for common chinese visitor would be more fashion, design and luxury as part of prestigious life than italian tradition about food and gourmet, that’s because China also got important and long tradition for that concerns food and cooking experience. For sure the main topic of this italian edition of EXPO will be a great opportunity to educate chinese visitors about our well framed production of excellences that we can offer as special selection from wide italian gourmet’s scenario.

As international event with some hundreds of thousands of participations from China (maybe more than 1 million of visitors from China) the occasion is great to boost communication and promotion concerning business ventures in particular for those chinese companies or investors who are improving their operative presence in Europe starting from Italy. And cause China presents specific own system for those online applications regarding social networks, video sharing platforms, search engines, instant messaging and blogging and all those tools that are necessary to reinforce online marketing, it means that from chinese side it’s going to be created a new image of Milan EXPO on communicating contents and specifications that are useful to introduce chinese vision of EXPO.

In particular if we check some comments in chinese using sina weibo among thousands of “tweets” about Universal Exposition of Milan 2015 we can understand how sceptic they are about completion of pavilions, general organization and logistic issues in Milan comparing with Shanghai 2010. But chinese operators who are involved in business issues from Europe to China and viceversa are introducing the semester of EXPO as special prosecution of glorious start for boosting of chinese economy from 2010 and they are focusing on strategical campaign managed on chinese social networks keeping on feature those elements that are more connected with their business purposes than with those analysis could promote Milano EXPO itself.

So we can understand, following a concrete aptitude that is intrinsic of chinese behavior, how is important for italian companies and investors too to plan marketing strategy that should emphasize our presence or brand or business focusing on elements and discussions that have been already set up by chinese people in their structure of communication.

If China doesn’t allow any campaign on Facebook let’s start on practicing contents on Sina Weibo; if it’s not convenient to invest on optimization of keywords, tags and corporate’s web address on Google as search engine, let’s consider to analyze Baidu; if our corporate videos, produced to communicate something to potential chinese partners, cannot be uploaded on Youtube or Vimeo let’s check the efficiency of YouKu: if we wanna communicate on wide range directly to chinese visitors we should consider to buy campaign on “we chat” or informing them through this instant massaging system about calendar of events will take in Milan during Milan EXPO.

There are already more than 20.000 events collected in EXPO IN CITTA’ official website promoted by Milan City and it’s not easy for sure to put one of them on feature to attract specific target of international users but I think that if China is re-inventing parameters to understand EXPO with online social networks, that could represent a specific solution to underline those events or marketing campaigns we want to manage in behalf of chinese visitors (for specific strategic market’s purposes).

My consulting company with other partnered organizations is already involved on providing marketing services during Milano EXPO for operators from Food & Beverage industry and we’re planning specific online and offline promotional contents managed for chinese target. It means we are guiding clients on duplex way: first of all as offline segment we are providing services to organize small exhibitions and promotional product – placements (promotional corners, gadgets, events, products tasting, educational contents) in some hotels in the center of Milan, on the other hand we are following the chinese way to approach Milan EXPO online, and on doing so we are exactly reinventing campaigns as chinese users are used to do through chinese social media: discussions, word of mouth’s methods, advertising for cultural events with specific sponsors from food and beverage industry, surveys etc everything is perfectly adapted for chinese destination in their online crossing media system.

China represents always challenge and opportunity at the same time. It’s up to you to choose the way to get the best.

If Milano EXPO 2015 means improvement of standards for tourism operators let’s provide high qualified trainings to support development of corporate services

Posted on 9 agosto 2014 by SiteAdmin

Probably, as common perception, the range of international participation to next Milano EXPO 2015 is still lower estimated in terms of affluence and business appeal by investors and international operators. For sure I think we need to improve some structural elements in the event’s management and co-related services, in particular for that regards Milan City’s transportation system and facilities for participants (over 20.000.000 joiners expected in approximately 6 months).

But I well know how from some countries, in particular the “chinese side”, they are looking to participate to this event like natural prosecution of Shanghai EXPO 2010 that was successful to inaugurate the role of chinese market on international scenario also as new destination’s market (for investments, retail, trends, business model and business dynamics in general)

We remember also the big investment issued by Vanke LTD, giant of real estate from China for the development of chinese pavilion in Milan EXPO’s area. For most of people not familiar with chinese perception about this event it was like an unexpected news but the country that hosted previous edition of EXPO cannot “lose its prestigious face” in front of new opportunity to show to the whole world the concrete attitude and powerful approach to western markets reached by China

This ferment is well expressed by number of tickets already sold by official agents and network that cooperate with Milano EXPO 2015, as reported officially for something like 900.000 tickets sold in China. In such scenario I firmly think that companies operating on tourism and hospitality as well as service providers for business development, private equity and international business ventures that are already planning to develop some aspects in their corporate management to facilitate commercial matching with chinese counterpart should invest on time in specific tools to improve their standards.

For example, it’s already well known as the italian private railways company NTV received recently the “Welcome Chinese Certification” official attestate of guarantee about the quality and number of services that the company can offer in Italy to Chinese guests.

Viceversa the Chinese Tourism Academy, partnered institution and specialized institute under control of Party Committee of China National Tourism Administration(CNTA), in joint with Welcome Chinese Certification Association and key operators in the tourism field, is going to promote officially on chinese chain the sales of services and cooperation’s activities with those operators.

As Studies Centre for oriental studies, our Asian Studies Group started two years ago trough our branches in main cities in Italy, on providing new courses in behalf of tourism operators (hotels, tour operators, recognized guides, transportation’s companies, agents involved in hospitality field etc).

Recently we have introduced new specific module of Mandarin classes focused on speaking skills and intensive training about chinese characters pointed towards specific operators like tour guides. The program consist of 4 or 6 months of training (4 or 6 hours x week) and it aims to train attendants to pass HSK exam (levels 1-2-3) in very short period.

Separately the centre offers some short courses about business culture and cross cultural communication for commercial operators or for those services companies are looking to Milano EXPO 2015 as new frame to boost B2b opportunities.

As part of the same program we provide 1 or 2 days seminars to train hotels and restaurants about hospitality’s features, lifestyle’s elements, and specific characteristics of chinese guests according with regional differences of origin.

Consider as follows some scheduled training programs for our quarters of Milan – Lodi – Turin – Rome

Intensive Mandarin Course for tour guides : read and speak (it includes simulation and preparation HSK 1-2-3 levels)

– September Registrations and level check

– 1st part: October from 6th official start till 19 of december (preliminary test module 1-2)

– 2nd part: from 12 of January till 27 of March (final test module 3 -4)

– April: simulation of HSK exam and preparation for oral interview with chinese external teachers.

– May: HSK exam / get ready for Milan EXPO 2015 official opening

In the same period our organization will introduce the institutions or corporates that joined our linguistic programs to Welcome Chinese Certification’s representatives.

It’s also available Iper Intensive program that takes 4 months of classes and it aims to complete preparation around 6 week before the official start of Milano EXPO 2015.

For more info about mandarin course for specific operators or for other programs like business culture and cross cultural communications please contact our general secretary at info@asianstudiesgroup.net

The dynamism about a new and more “towards Asia oriented” profile for corporate’s management in Italy drived by Milan EXPO 2015 could represent a new “era” not only for improvement of language skills achieved by specific operators but also for building of cross cultural scenario into social environment that for sure will have a part in the completion of business joint projects between Italy and China. Maybe the baton from Shanghai 2010 and Milano 2015 would be well represented by such goal.

EXPO 2015 – Events and Delegations are going to get ready. Introducing Nagoya

Posted on 31 luglio 2014 by SiteAdmin

As italians we are well informed about agenda of activities that every day are going to make the schedule for next Milan EXPO 2015 full of participations. Usually we are more into updates that regard italian pavilion and public administration involved in dynamics of management and general organization for the most important event of the year than news concerning business opportunities linked with EXPO scenario.

But we well know that big expectations from companies and professional operators are in particular towards international opportunities that such event could represent as pole of attraction for dozens of millions of participants (more than 20.000.000 of visitors are expected in 6 months )

Beyond institutional participation and delegation that usually follow specific schedules according with standards of interest not always addicted to market – segments or operative business needs, I already collected some requests from specific associations and consulting firms as well as group of promoters for investment’s solutions and similar operators that are really up to introduce specific contents and develop mutual potential cooperation on commercial front with counterparts from different markets.

‘Cause I’m specialized advisor with strong competence on eastern asia markets, and thanking knowledge on japanese and chinese languages, following such needs, as consulting studio, we are already getting busy on specific researches about participation of prefectures and regional delegation from East Asia.

The purpose of such activity is for sure to identify concrete events that can represent good point of start for boosting services, involvement of volunteers, business matching for well framed operators as long as setting up nice framework to plan twinning perspectives for territorial administrations from both sides.

Today we have completed our first selection of special contents / participations about Japan Pavillon and we are preparing official analysis about the presentation of Aichi Prefecture for contents and operators from this prefecture during 5 days in August 2015, when the events square of Japan Pavilion will host performances and contents from Aichi end in particular from the main city of Nagoya.

At the moment the organizers are expecting to introduce around 40 organizations from Aichi and the new has just been introduced as official announcement from website of the prefecture recently.

Honestly we didn’t find more details on websites and official channels managed by organizers of Milan EXPO 2015 (Italian and english version) about such micro – attendance in August and due of the intense planning it would be for sure difficult monitoring so many contents but as japanese side is already collecting participations and interests to finalize delegations profiles, I think it is really important getting ready to select functional opportunities on time.

Thanking our network of partnered consulting firms and official relations with local institutions in Japan we have prepared letter of proposal as supporting studio for what it may concern matching of operators, official introduction and services providing. About services could be interesting for such delegations or events we are including some elements that should be useful on bilateral dynamics of involvement like

– accommodations with transfer service included

– interpreters and volunteers (japanese speakers) in cooperation with Asian Studies Group Italia© already involved on official selection for volunteers and professional profiles for Japanese Pavilion

– communication agency to develop specific contents on international dimension in cooperation with japanese PRs

– business tours in Italy according with shared schedule after selection about specific fields of interest

– B2b corner in Milan with participation of specific event during Fuori EXPO (list of events that will take place in the city with involvement of private operators)

– Training opportunities or joining specific seminars on well framed series of contents according with purpose of analysis

– General Assistance

We are going to introduce more well detailed info about those delegations from East Asia that we consider interesting to approach and meet with direct cooperation ‘s opportunity during the Universal Exposition of Milan 2015 as we invite you to send us comments or introduce your profile (as organization or company) if you want to get in touch with my studio and network of structures involved in these dynamics in Milan.

Our main office is in the centre of Milan and we are really focusing on such business agenda for preparation of internationalization’s tools during Milan EXPO 2015

E-commerce in China: when platforms support to master the market

Posted on 21 luglio 2014 by SiteAdmin

E-commerce in China is for sure becoming literally a boom-phenomenon. It’s like the first fast crazy running we got towards East at the end of 90’s when everybody was looking at China as new economic power in the world.

And it must be so when we are facing with the biggest market in the world in terms of demand and wideness for online sales.

According with recent analysis we are going to overpass 600 millions of internet users until 2015 and around 150 millions of users in 2010 have been confirmed as already frequent buyers online; but more interesting to know, the number of buyers should grow till approximately 520 millions of users before the end of 2015: effectively an incredible result if we consider that in Europe according with Statista© we will be able to reach approximately 190 millions of buyers at least in the same period.

Usually when we think about e-commerce in China we could be stunk referring to complicated and un-protected system to develop online selling platforms. I think that problems concerning property rights and copycat’s risks should be pointed out as first element of the matters, but I would like to remind you that “the democracy of buying whatever you want” is one of most important perspectives followed strongly from 2010 by central Government and in general the legal system and also the awareness of consumers on buying original brands are bringing investors and developers to enjoy more safe and equilibrate environment.

Let’s check what kind of de-regulamentation nowadays represents a concrete step ahead for the development of the e-commerce environment in China

– 2010 with the shangzizi 2010 n 272 the online sales are accepted as regular and natural prosecution of usual commercial activity for foreign companies so also foreign investors are now allowed to make their products on sale online without any particular requirement as involvement of chinese co-investor and without any particular approval or distinctive business license issued by MOFCOM

– Then if you are not service provider for other operators but if you want to sell throughout your online platform your goods you don’t have to apply for specific ICP (internet content protocol) as it’s compulsory for providers that create online stores in name of third operators

The second point is very interesting and represent a boost for online businesses: if you are a foreign company with base in China you can immediately open your e-commerce service without any other specific approval or license.

I’m used to suggest to follow this way to my clients ‘cause it represents a great system to educate customers to approach specific brand or production enjoying in particular sharing opinion’s tools and crossing information through social networks. I really think that even if volume of sales are one of most important goals for an online-store, we have to remember that in China the access to information through browsers represent the first step to get well detailed info and in particular comments from other users.

Even if it seems more easy and quick try to being represented by third platforms like some services that T-Mall (owned by giant Alibaba) in particular when the company doesn’t present any legal entity registered on chinese market, we should remember that in this cases it’s more difficult to guarantee legal safety against fraudulent dynamics and payment is required oat of the times in foreign currency by exporters (due of absence of corporate- presence on chinese market) and it’s not always easy to pay for common users.

As researcher on marketing strategy for China I well recommend to place own brand or group of brands through e-commerce platform after registering own WOFE into chinese market , not only because it would be for real a concrete internationalization’s goal but also due to head for more well framed condition to boost own identity and at the same time to speed the realization of direct online store in safe and well guarantee condition without any specific additional business license.

as i’m used to say, chinese market follows specific P’s to ensure successful results on sales then

– Products: quality and distinctive features must be mediated with concrete perception of what chinese consumer is looking forward; and sometimes such elements cannot be put on focused so much through general e-commerce portal not directly managed by own management and partially created with third operators.

– Popularity: being online doesn’t mean only be sold on the web. The strategy of “word of mouth” needs to be boosted through social networks and specific promotion about brand and production that sometimes needs more intensive effort than general information summed up in general categories of multi brand online sales.

– Price : information without price it’s not so attractive for chinese customers. They need to feel they are enjoying special bargain (it doesn’t matter if we are talking about middle level products or luxury). In particular if we have something to sell that fits with medium target, the announce of special sales are really attractive among young customers, otherwise the placement of products with high price for luxury field should be successful among specific senior targets

– Passion: chinese people loves to join shengyi (business) on both sides, as sellers as long as clients; being present in the market make us more aware about chinese culture and market’s needs. I think that e-commerce can express for real such passion on doing business into chinese market as more as you can be aware about what does China represent not only as producer but also as commercial operator who choose to invest in China.

I think that chinese law’s system will proceed on more concrete and responsible way to protect property rights against copycat’s actions and government will do all the best to boost development for one of crucial factors for contemporary chinese economy like online businesses.

Looking for new business opportunities on shopping online in Asia? Get a chance on Vietnam

Posted on 29 aprile 2014 by SiteAdmin

There is a real Vietnam’s booming for new perspectives on business development’ opportunities. It’s time to consider that if relocation of production and supply chain is already growing a lot, on doing that we are introducing society and workers into new era of consumptions: the on line sales. Even if we cannot compare the consumers from Vietnam to chinese users for that it could concern skills and experience about do shopping online or access to credi card’s payment methods (about 35% of population now got complete access to the web and approximately 32 millions of people represent potential market for online sales) we have to admit that the potential of this growing market is really big; in fact big operators from Asia like Rakuten is already investing on promoting their online selling platforms on vietnamese web scenario.

According with Dezan Shira’s research, VECITA ( Vietnam’s E-commerce and Information Technology Agency ) affirms that by 2015, 40-50 percent of the country’s population will be online and will spend around US$150 per capita on e-commerce purchases.

Cause the 73% of users are under 35 years old marketing online is basically focused on specific communication’s strategy that involves and make young users really interested on promotional campaigns and brand-stories introduced on social networks.

Clothes, shoes and cosmetics represents more than 60 % as most popular categories bought online, followed by technology and electronic products that represent 30% of the whole online sales. About business opportunities for operators on this field for sure we should consider IT companies specialized on online secure – payment’s methods as web developers with particular skills and experiences about creation and management of online stores.

Cause the country seems to lack of skilled labors with experience on such contents the government is investing on internship programs to introduce students in international projects developed in cooperation with big private groups (like Intel for example) with specific purpose to create skilled environment to start boosting these resources in behalf of the e-commerce.

As advisor for business development’s opportunities on eastern asia markets i firmly suggest to operators and investors related with this field to consider approaching Vietnam like market should be discovered as soon as possible to get into fundamentals positions for that will be in the near future new important market for online sales.

That’s why we are intensifying our network of professional cooperations in Vietnam with consulting companies and business mediators that can assist our clients and direct investments during entry market’s crucial step.I think that we should consider that population is already over 90 millions and there’s fast growing middle class there that makes Vietnam an attractive location for businesses. As we can see in the following graph (cfr research published on Dezan Shira & Associates newsletter about Vietnam) the payment’s method commonly used is still cash after delivery! That really helps us to understand that also the bank system will have crucial role in this revolution for “modernization of the country” about online shopping and the most important thing is the society is just still starting to think about new perspectives to save money and then to use them for expenditures. Most of the people never thought about the meaning of bank accounts, credit card etc.

It’s time for operators involved on these key sectors (online marketing, social media communication and strategy, online payments, web developers) to consider Vietnam as new frontier to introduce services for local investors and distributors; the awareness of the importance to build network of cooperation to build up new structure of business is going to become deeper day by day. In Italy i followed personally some training programs for start up companies focused on IT and online sales that were approaching chinese market.

In China as well the revolution has been already boosted from several different frontiers of operative businesses and european’s Know how still represents very important resource for chinese investors, but i think that normative conditions that vietnames government is offering to develop some key sectors are really attractive and should get considered as parallel opportunity beyond chinese dream.

For further info or to introduce your business proposal contact me, we’ll be glad to support you with our partnered team of professionals in Hanoi

Regional network in Lombardia for international cooperation and development

Posted on 20 aprile 2014 by SiteAdmin

When cross culture reaches successful goals about contents mediated with events, researches and creativity it’s time to consolidate these visions and interests on mutual and concrete base. That’s exactly the way we’re approaching this aim with our international contest called Switch on Your creativity: with official patronage of Milano Expo 2015 and technical support of partnered companies and sponsors we launched the special award called “International Dialogue among Cultures 2013 – 2014”. We involved young artists from Japan, Korea, China, Italy and other european countries, making them protagonists of our event introducing personal artistic vision on topic of sustainable development in the city of Expo.

Thanking this edition of the contest we’ve made tight cooperation among well framed institutions, companies and organizations: our purpose basically consist of relaunch of international perspectives for economic operators and cross cultural cooperation among key players from diversified fields.

Even if we guaranteed scholarships for winners of the first edition of the contest, now we’re getting busy on promotion of their artworks on regional scene, aware that through culture and arts is possible to accomunate mutual projects and skills to consolidate new operative sphere for the territory. As follows some projects announced briefly during last vernissage of our exhibition held in Lodi at Punto Enel: main partner of our promotional agenda developed for topics about Expo and International Dialogue.

– English 4 Expo: special intensive training program for operators and professionals based on exercises for daily conversation during the year of the expo. We really trust that international vision useful to achieve concrete results on international markets or through international potential target can be improved only with high level’s skills on communication and listening comprehension. With mother tongue experts of communication we’re going to present 1 month intensive program 4 hours x week. The project is managed in cooperation with C.U.P.I. and Asian Studies Group Italia as twinned centre in charge of involvement of US trainers in cooperation with IES Abroad Foundation. The course will be offered for FREE! (only CUPI annual membership fee’s necessary)

– Mission to Japan 2014: being there to improve connections on time for Expo, that’s our aim we would like to get by business tour in Kobe planned for winter 2014. B2b platform will be introduced on italian side by ADM-EA Consulting Firm from Milan in cooperation with C.U.P.I. and japanese organizations for international trade and business development’s opportunities for foreign investments. Asian Studies Group Italia will provide free mediation’s tools in italian / japanese languages and orientation – coaching services before departure. The program will be offer for FREE only flight ticket and hotel’s reservation needed. (must be members of CUPI Association).

Cause we are going to make these programs as core – activities for Lodigiano Area (south Lombardy) about the operative projects of Lodi Verso Expo (Lodi towards Expo) we’re also introducing that like special networking cooperations’s opportunity for local institutions and specific association in representation of professionals, corporates and key sectors.

I trust for real that it’ll be absolutely useful for the territory to present well framed offers and participation to japanese counterpart, such mission it’ll be great occasion to introduce second step of the B2b dialogue between operators: discover business potential in the year of the EXPO being protagonists of negotiation and deals in our territory as well, where we are already managing agenda of contents and investment’s proposals for 2015, when Milan it’ll be capital of the world.

For further info about English 4 EXPO and Mission Japan 1.0. by CUPI check the Association’s portal www.cupiproject.com (such projects will be featured from May 2014)

Paolo Cacciato – Focusing on East Asia

Consultancy – Professional Training & Coaching – Marketing Strategy & Internationalization – Cross Cultural Mediation on East – Asia

Archivi categoria: Business opportunities