Office at Night
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Why Facebook is the Future?
Facebook unique visitors grow from 14.07M per month in May 2006 to 27.97M per month in Jan 2007. Indeed, many Hong Kong friends joined Facebook since the last two months.
Facebook was started by Havard student in 2004 as tool for meeting with other Havard students, and it still has a reputation as a hangout for teenagers and the teenaged at-heart. Which is ironic because Facebook is really about making the Web grow up.
Facebook is structured around an opt-in philosophy; people have to consent to have contact with or even see others on the network. Facebook has taken steps this year to expand its functionality by allowing outside developers to create applications that integrate with its pages. Facebook is primarily a feat of social engineering. The most important function of a social network is connecting people and that is second most function is keeping them apart.
Facebook unique visitors grow from 14.07M per month in May 2006 to 27.97M per month in Jan 2007. Indeed, many Hong Kong friends joined Facebook since the last two months.
Facebook was started by Havard student in 2004 as tool for meeting with other Havard students, and it still has a reputation as a hangout for teenagers and the teenaged at-heart. Which is ironic because Facebook is really about making the Web grow up.
Facebook is structured around an opt-in philosophy; people have to consent to have contact with or even see others on the network. Facebook has taken steps this year to expand its functionality by allowing outside developers to create applications that integrate with its pages. Facebook is primarily a feat of social engineering. The most important function of a social network is connecting people and that is second most function is keeping them apart.
Monday, October 08, 2007
H&M Fast Fashion Business
Today H&M has 1,400 stores in 28 countries, including 114 in the US, there it is still a small player but its $687 million in sales in 2006 has retailers such as Banana Republic, Wal-Mart and Abercrombie & Fitch all launching fast-fashion initiatives.
H&M has struggled to compete with Zara’s short turnaround time but that advantage disappeared in Asia. H&M source more than 60% of its products in the region with more than half from China compared with Inditex’s 34%.
Which way should H&M go in China?
H&M should concentrate on the luxury market where Shanghai young people aspire to. Brand names are effective in China as its nouveau riche try to emulate the West’s fashionista. It’s a mistake to discount as young people aspire to luxury. H&M should leverage on its celebrity designers such as Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney.
Today H&M has 1,400 stores in 28 countries, including 114 in the US, there it is still a small player but its $687 million in sales in 2006 has retailers such as Banana Republic, Wal-Mart and Abercrombie & Fitch all launching fast-fashion initiatives.
H&M has struggled to compete with Zara’s short turnaround time but that advantage disappeared in Asia. H&M source more than 60% of its products in the region with more than half from China compared with Inditex’s 34%.
Which way should H&M go in China?
H&M should concentrate on the luxury market where Shanghai young people aspire to. Brand names are effective in China as its nouveau riche try to emulate the West’s fashionista. It’s a mistake to discount as young people aspire to luxury. H&M should leverage on its celebrity designers such as Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Saturday, October 06, 2007
China-Free
Browse here for another news on the return of China commodities in US. It's no surprise some US senator advocate the lable of "China-Free"
Definition \ A term proposed for use on food labels to show that the products are not made in China
Context \ In light of recent health and safety scares regarding Chinese-made food and precuts, a US-based company called Food for Health International has announced plans to put “China-free” sticker on its goods. The subtext: These products won’t make you sick or have harmful contaminann
Browse here for another news on the return of China commodities in US. It's no surprise some US senator advocate the lable of "China-Free"
Definition \ A term proposed for use on food labels to show that the products are not made in China
Context \ In light of recent health and safety scares regarding Chinese-made food and precuts, a US-based company called Food for Health International has announced plans to put “China-free” sticker on its goods. The subtext: These products won’t make you sick or have harmful contaminann
Friday, October 05, 2007
Hospital Helper
Someday, robots could replace humans as nurses’ aids. It is the RI-Man - under development. With sensor to enable it to see, smell, and hear its environment, it also have 320 pressure points on its arms and chest allow it to sense the exact position of whatever it’s holding. It can lift 36KG. Browser here
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Going Fast or Going Together
Reading an interview on Al Gore on his passion on environmental protection. I likes that Al Gore is not going to provide a definite answer for everyone, but the path for people to walk together for the common direction.
Al Gore cites an African proverb that says” If you wish to go quickly, go alone. If you wish to go far, go together.” He recited a famous line from the poet : Antonio Machado: “Pathwalker, there is no path. You must make the path as you walk. “
Al Gore said” We have to go far quickly.” “We must find a path that we create together quickly”. Gore is not selling himself; he’s selling a cause, a journey. “The path I see is a path that build consensus to the point where it doesn’t matter as much who is running.”
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
YouTube has removed the category browsing several months ago. Yet YouTube users have expressed many comments / concerns. Finally YouTube editor added back the category browsing and users are now very happy about it. Browse here for the YouTube Editorial Team blog which outline such changes in the last few months.
It is not surprised to understand why YouTube is so popular.
- Category Browsing is important / critical to users (even though Search is so popular nowadays).
- Open environment to take users comments (login members) to improve the website with an open blog / forum for users comments + youtube proactive feedback, making the website more user centric and sticky.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Vietnam Trades Up
China and Vietnam are two dragons in Asia, sharing similar rumbling characteristics.
While China Annual GDP growth reach close to 9% for several years, Vietnam reach 8% from 2003-2006.
China exports annual growth reach 25.5% for 2001-2005 and Vietnam ranked second in Asia, reached 17.7% and overtook India.
Despite the uncertainties, optimism over Vietnam’s economic prospect runs deep.
To gain WTO entry, Vietnam made greater concessions than other nations have been required to make upon joining, agreeing to lower trade barriers, reduce many subsidies and allow virtually unfettered foreign competition in some sectors of its domestic economy. It’s tougher deal than even China got. Local industries and business will need to withstand the foreign competitions.
Vietnam economy is characterized by culture of corruption, secrecy and state intervention.
Vietnam does not have any deep-water port to handle the new larger super container ship, most exports must first go to Singapore before shipping to US and Europe, meaning more expensive and delay.
With the WTO membership promising even up the odds, Vietnam is ready to rumble.
China and Vietnam are two dragons in Asia, sharing similar rumbling characteristics.
While China Annual GDP growth reach close to 9% for several years, Vietnam reach 8% from 2003-2006.
China exports annual growth reach 25.5% for 2001-2005 and Vietnam ranked second in Asia, reached 17.7% and overtook India.
Despite the uncertainties, optimism over Vietnam’s economic prospect runs deep.
To gain WTO entry, Vietnam made greater concessions than other nations have been required to make upon joining, agreeing to lower trade barriers, reduce many subsidies and allow virtually unfettered foreign competition in some sectors of its domestic economy. It’s tougher deal than even China got. Local industries and business will need to withstand the foreign competitions.
Vietnam economy is characterized by culture of corruption, secrecy and state intervention.
Vietnam does not have any deep-water port to handle the new larger super container ship, most exports must first go to Singapore before shipping to US and Europe, meaning more expensive and delay.
With the WTO membership promising even up the odds, Vietnam is ready to rumble.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Magazine Subscription
Each year I take some times to review my magazine subscription. Rethink whether I really take my times to read the magazine I have subscribed and what else I want to know more.
In List
Each year I take some times to review my magazine subscription. Rethink whether I really take my times to read the magazine I have subscribed and what else I want to know more.
In List
- Time Magazine - This is my flagship magazine that I have subscribed for over 10 years. I have renewed my subscription for 3 years more and my expiry subscription date will be in Year 2011. With the Times Magazine, I have the foot print into the Asia and World business and issues where I can broaden my outlooks and perspectives. It is so wonderful to know more about Burma political unrest, India uprise, the Northrock bank criris and the US presidential election.
- Cheers Magazine (Taiwan) - This is my favourite monthly magazines from Taiwan, talking bout career development of business executive. With this magazine I always remind myself to keep "double positive" about career hurdles and challenges ahead. I have subscribed this magazines since its early release 5 years ago.
- Mckinsey Quarterly - This is the dream bi-monthly magazine that I would like to subscribe when I worked in Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. I have come across this Quarterly in our research library but it was too expensive to subscribe as outsider. Mckinsey clients or alumni will get a free copy. Mckinsey quarterly offer me the hot business consulting theme and key business issues what global executive is thinking about. I just start my two-years subscriptions and looking forward to receiving it shortly.
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