By Brianna Zhang, MBA
I often find myself in conversations that ultimately deviate to something about China. I truly cannot help myself. I think China is absolutely fascinating. My most recent conversation was with a well-traveled gentleman from Mexico. He spoke about his many travels, including a visit to China in the 1980s. He recalls seeing bicycles everywhere, and very few cars. He has not traveled back to China since. I assured him that China would be unrecognizable to him upon his next visit.
China has progressed far beyond what many would have expected. Regardless of personal or political opinion on China’s methods of growth, everyone I know, who has witnessed modern-day China firsthand, has left in awe.
Almost anything can be found in the Chinese marketplace. China is a place that can fuel inspiration and spur new ideas. It is important to understand that taking part in the Chinese business experience does not necessarily mean starting a business or exporting items to your home country. Just visiting China provides business people the opportunity to learn new processes and procedures. The best part is that you can witness new processes and procedures outside of company walls. It is easy to spot different approaches to processes and procedures in restaurants, hotels, stores, parking lots, and so on. (Note: I am in no way suggesting that you should rip-off available products or service but allow the existing item to lead you down the road of a potential opportunity.)
One success story, in which a visit to China inspired a new business idea, was borne in the creation of Silly Bandz. Robert Croak was in China in 2007 to visit suppliers and happened upon the Japanese version of an animal shaped wrist band. He felt that there was huge market potential in other markets, and worked to bring his hunch to fruition. Silly Bandz became a phenomenal success. For those interested in learning more about Croak’s China-inspired business venture, read this Entrepreneur Magazine article: Trend-Spotter: The Man Behind Silly Bandz.
A visit to China will definitely leave an impression on anyone making the trip for the first time. If you pay special attention and stay open to exploring, then you may leave China with more than pictures and souvenirs–hopefully with a big business idea in tow.
Let us know (by commenting on this blog) how your trip to China was the inspiration you needed to start a business or even just to develop a new product line.
Brianna Zhang, MBA serves as the program manager of the Kelley Small Business Institute at Francis Marion University (Florence, S.C., U.S.A.). She is also a freelance marketing consultant for Square Meter Ceramics Company Limited (China).
Learn Chinese Business 