Author: Andrew Hupert More Articles: http://www.chinasolved.com/blog
Maybe this is a good time to re-activate your OLD network. I mean the one back home. It’s holiday time and you’ll be talking to lots of old friends. Try looking through your old books of business cards or Outlook address books and reconnecting with former associates. Right now, managers are being defensive and thinking about ways to cut costs. In a little while, however, businesses will start looking for ways to grow the top line.
Many Americans who hadn’t seriously considered building a presence in China before may be much more open to the idea in 2009. These people are going to make excellent partners for someone. Consider now whether or not you can benefit from a cross-border tie-up - and then use the holiday season to get the ball rolling.
Don’t be too surprised if there is a lot more interest in expanding to China than there has been for quite a few years. I remember heading back to NY after my first year in Shanghai back in 2002 – everyone was fascinated by what I had to say. Each year after that the response grew more and more jaded, and it seemed that China was old news.
Well, people are interested again. And while in 2002 China was a manufacturing story, today it is a market story. And your old colleagues and classmates are going to be desperate for new markets in 2009.
This could be a great opportunity for you to find new partners and tie-ups with US B2B service firms who need access to the China market. US firms who are new to China actually make great natural partners for expat entrepreneurs who already know the ropes about business set-up and marketing.
Put out a few feelers over the holiday season and see what kind of response you get. Don’t be surprised if you get a lot of interest – just make sure that you have interest in them.