China's Bird's Nest Stadium

There were also concerns that most of the growth have come from investments especially in real estate. However, government moves to reduce the amount of risk-taking in real estate have worked well in bringing housing prices down. According to a report on The Economist, new home prices have fell in 52 of 70 cities in China.

Ken Peng, an economist at BNP Paribas says, “Today’s data [on manufacturing] further confirmed a soft-landing for China. However, consumer demand may weaken after holiday effects disappear.”

If you are currently an importer from China, let this piece of good news reassure you that the economic Armageddon is not as close as we thought it might be. ChinaDirect Sourcing offers you the opportunity to find the right suppliers and learn how to deal with them effectively. This February, come to our “Doing Business in China” workshop and see how you can save millions in your import transactions. You can also learn how to protect your intellectual property through our supplier agreements that can help you ward off possible theft. So sign up now and see what a whole world of difference ChinaDirect Sourcing can do for your company.

O’Neill is one of the analysts who feel confident about the world economy. With the current concerns in Europe, it’s often overlooked that China and the other emerging economies are in and by themselves growth centers that can keep the world economy from spiraling into another major recession. According to him, the world can survive a Greek default primarily on the back of growth in emerging economies, especially China. O’Neill predicts China will grow consistently during this decade by about 7.5% annually.
Exactly how big is China, and what makes it capable of neutralizing a possible Greek default? O’Neill says China creates economies the size of Greece every four months. He added that China’s political structure has enabled it to control inflation and avert a property bubble, because of its greater flexibility in adjusting its economic policies. The recent changes and the better than expected growth results in China in spite of the European morass, can mean the government might even have the capacity to begin some kind of stimulus. The predictions of a hard landing for China have not held water. If China, according to O’Neill grows at the pace he predicts to be at 7.5% annual GDP, its economy will be bigger than Europe and the US combined by the end of the decade.
The current worries heard from many analysts are in the Italian and Japanese economies. Italy is a concern because of the size of its economy and debt, while Japan struggles with an overvalued Yen.
So how important is China for the global economy? Let’s just pray that China and the other emerging economies and some of the healthier developed economies continue to flex their muscles for the remainder of this decade.
As an importer, you can also be part of a group that continues to experience growth in spite of the lingering uncertainties. Lindy Chen and her team of experts invite you this February to a workshop that will open your eyes to the possibilities of importing and saving your company millions of dollars. Ms. Chen will teach you how you can improve your importing procedures and introduce you to the best ways you can deal with your Chinese suppliers. Treasure is found by those who seek it. Come to the February 9th edition of “Doing Business in China,” and see how Lindy Chen and her ChinaDirect Sourcing team can help your bottom line.

Here’s the interview with Jim O’Neill:

Other traditions include giving away of “hong bao” which literally means, red envelope. These are cash gifts wrapped in special red envelopes. Family and friends come together during this time dressed in beautiful clothes.
According to Catherine Harris, the custom among New Zealand’s Chinese residents is to wear red and to start cleaning up accounts by paying off debts. Red is for good luck and clearing up accounts is believed to be a good start for the new year. The year of the dragon has traditionally been considered good for business. An official at the New Zealand China Trade Association believes that the dragon year will be the first of three years of major positive changes. The official mentions an old saying, “In the spirit of the dragon horse.” This meant that the luck of the dragon will continue on through the following years of the snake and horse.
This article was brought to you by ChinaDirect Sourcing. Start the year of the dragon right by focusing your resources on your core business. Let Ms. Lindy Chen and her CDS team take care of your importing needs. You can start by joining her on February 9 for CDS’s Brisbane edition of “Doing Business in China.” This will be the first in 2012. Be a witness to all the updates for this year of the dragon. So hurry! Book now and see what 2012 has to offer your importing business!

According to recent news reported on NBC news, things can go out of control in these widely anticipated sales. The introduction of the iPhone 4S in Beijing was a case in point. Perhaps even an extreme case.

Fearful of a repeat of the riots that happened in the launch of the iPad 2, Apple store officials decided not to let a hoard of buyers into their store on the pre-announced day of initial sales for the iPhone 4S. It turns out that many of these buyers are actually hired by scalpers who resell Apple products at a handsome markup. These scalpers need to hire people to circumvent the Apple rule that each buyer is only entitled to buy 2 iPhones.

Well, the results were eggs being thrown and security personnel being hurt. The people outside felt betrayed. “Yes it’s expensive. I spent a whole month’s salary to buy an iPhone 4S. It’s just so cool!” says one (NBC).

Do the Chinese love their iPhones? Well…

Perhaps what these people also know is that some of the parts inside the iPhone may yet be one of the products that China exports to Apple. China is not just a leading exporter of merchandise, but also intermediate components that make up many of our electronic devices.

If you have a product that you’ve worked hard developing but are afraid of your supplier stealing your intellectual property, ChinaDirect Sourcing offers you the peace of mind you’ve been looking for. To catch a glimpse of what ChinaDirect can offer, here’s an open invitation for you to join this February’s, “Doing Business in China” workshop. This could mean thousands and even millions of dollars saved by you or your company, simply by protecting you from intellectual property theft.

You can also learn more about the Chinese business culture, the way the importing process can be made more cost efficient, and many other ideas that can set you on your way to importing more effectively. Lindy and her team and experts will be very happy to welcome you there. See you!

The Petronas Towers in Malaysia

Here are some examples from history and even current ones:

The Petronas Towers in Malaysia was built in 1998, just when the Asian financial crisis began.

The Empire State Building was built during the Great Depression.

The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, 2010. We all know what happened.

A Barclays Capital analyst attributes this to “a widespread misallocation of capital and an impending economic correction.”

There also are fears of China being one of the dominos that have yet to fall because of such improprieties in capital allocation. In London, any surprise that The Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe, is now near its completion?

So the next time you want to show off your prescience to your friends, just look up to the skyline of your city. You might be able to earn a living being an economic analyst!

This article was brought to you by ChinaDirect Sourcing, Australia’s leading name in import consultancy.

As managing director, Ms. Lindy Chen would like to invite you to her first “Doing Business in China” workshop this February 9, 2012. If you have been reading this article, you must be one of many who have been frustrated with missed deliveries and stolen intellectual property from your dealings with some import brokers. ChinaDirect is the clear alternative to your importing needs. Attend this February event and find out how Ms. Chen and her team of experts can help you solve your problems. See you there!

In its most recent edition, retailers, consumers, and manufacturers got a glimpse of what the future holds in the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The only question is, “When will these goods actually make it to the showrooms?” How soon will these products become the new standard for household appliances?

John Taylor, Vice President of LG Electronics USA says, “Smart appliances, while they’ve been kind of a pipe dream for the last couple of years, are really becoming a reality.” (AFP)

Just to whet your appetites, here are some of the exciting possibilities! Imagine a refrigerator that will tell you how much food you have from a built-in touchscreen! Not only does it tell you what you have but also where items are located in your fridge! If you hate reading labels to know where the expiration dates are, no worries, just let your smartfridge tell you what they are!

You can even do an automatic inventory of the items you have in stock. Simply take a picture of your receipt with your smartphone and send it to your smartfridge! You can also opt to scan the barcodes, just like checking out of the grocery store!

Whether these smart appliances become part of the mainstream consumer choices remains to be seen. At this time, these new entrants to the household can be very expensive. They are still products that only certain markets can afford or even dream about owning. There is also that lingering apprehension that these products can, like computers, reach obsolescence very quickly. Imagine feeling the same way you do about having an older version of Windows and seeing everybody else using the latest updated versions. Let’s just hope you can keep your fridge and update your software.

If you are an importer who sources most of your goods from China, it may not surprise you that China is still one of the world’s biggest exporter of electronic parts and software. There is perhaps no place on earth where an importer can go and find most of what he or she needs.

ChinaDirect Sourcing could be your guide as you go through your importing project. Ms. Lindy Chen, ChinaDirect’s managing director can teach you everything she’s learned from her years of experience in dealing with Chinese suppliers. You can begin your new journey to successful and more efficient importing this February! Come to our, “Doing Business in China” workshop on February 9th! It’s your big step to creating the importing system that your competitors can only dream about.

This article is based on an AFP report.

Word has it that the 60′s are back!  Here are some of what the fashion blogosphere (fashionising.com) is saying:

-Bright block colors
-Penny loafers
-Peter-pan collars
-Ultra-short hemlines
-Monochrome
-Full circle skirts or slim pencil skirts
-Cropped pants with high waist
-Cat eye sunglasses
-Kitten heels

Old fashion may not be such a bad thing after all! It’s time you pick up pictures of Twiggy, Jane Birkin, or Brigitte Bardot!

If a you’re a businessperson or merchandise manager planning your merchandise collection for 2012, it might be a good reminder to think about the kind of suppliers you need to find. People in the fashion industry know what it means to get the right products on their shelves at just the right time and at the right price. If your supply of goods needs to come from China, there is only one authority you can trust.

This February, ChinaDirect Sourcing will be holding its first “Doing Business in China” workshop for 2012. Be one of the first to attend this year’s edition. Lindy and her team will be there to make sure you improve your importing system. Register now and see what makes ChinaDirect Sourcing, Australia’s best name in import consultancy!

In December, reports show that the US economy had created 200,000 jobs. For all of 2011, there were 1.6 million jobs added in the US, the most it’s been since 2006. Employment figures show that hiring had mostly come from the private sector. Some states even showed signs that their revenue streams are on the mend (Reuters). US stocks showed little effects from the recent bad news coming out of Europe. Some analysts call this a sign of decoupling of the US stock market from the events happening in Europe.

If the US continues to register the same jobs growth experienced in December, pre-recession unemployment levels could be reached in 2-1/2 years. Nevertheless, some of the jobs registered in December could be attributed to the unusually mild weather that lifted construction activity. Courier jobs also rode on the strength of online shopping orders for the holiday season. These jobs may no longer be around in January. Unemployment could also tick up when those who have given up looking for a job rejoin the hunt. The headwinds for the US economy remain in the European crisis, the threats in Iran, and unemployment numbers that are still far from how they were before the recession (Reuters).

In China, no less than its premier Wen JiaBao stressed the importance of growth in the real economy. He has urged the financial sector to direct its resources to the real drivers of economic growth. This means that the financial industry will keep its focus on agriculture, manufacturing, and services; away from virtual bubbles that artificially inflate the economy (Chen Jia, China Daily).

The Advantage of Backwardness

“The reason why I think China has potential to maintain 8 percent growth rate for another 20 years is because of the ‘advantage of backwardness,” says Lin Yifu, World Bank chief economist.

According to the Xinhua news agency, Lin Yifu, a chief economist and senior vice president of the World Bank, is confident that China’s economy will grow at an annual rate of around 8% for the next 20 years. He explains his prediction using the phenomenon he called the “advantage of backwardness.” This means that developing countries are able to advance much faster using the technologies from the more developed countries than if they used the innovation themselves. Furthermore, China’s per capita income as measured by purchasing power parity (PPP) had reached 21% of US per capita income in 2008. Lin compares this to the experiences of Japan and South Korea. Both countries had yearly average growth rates of 9.2 and 7.6 percent respectively after attaining the same PPP per capita income compared to the US. Japan had twenty years of high economic growth from 1951 to 1971, and South Korea from 1977 to 1997.

China has also shown strength in the face of lower exports due to the sagging economies of Europe and the US. In 2009 when the recession began, China became the world’s largest exporter, surpassing Germany. Its global trade is still predicted to have grown by 20 percent in 2011. Ahead of the official pronouncements on China’s trade data, Chen Deming, China’s commerce minister cited figures that suggest China’s 2011 exports had gone up to $1.9 trillion, 19 percent higher than 2010 levels, and imports had risen by 24 percent at $1.7 trillion (Associated Press).

Here is a video from Bloomberg TV:

All said, there are glimmers of hope for this new year. Two of the world’s largest economies and major trading partners for much of the world are showing positive signs. There is confidence in a faster recovery for the US and robust growth numbers for China. We all hope that it would be business as usual this year.

If you are in the importing business, this kind of news may well mean better things to come! All signs indicate that consumer demand and Chinese exports will continue to improve. It now depends on you if you want to do a better job finding the right suppliers and improving your importing system.

If you have doubts about your import operations or would like to start anew after a failed attempt, ChinaDirect Sourcing offers you an opportunity to start the year right. Our February event, “Doing Business in China” could be what you are looking for! It’s time to break the pattern of missed delivery dates, substandard quality, and stolen intellectual property. Your business deserves better!

In June, you could become a master importer with our “2 day Importing Blueprint Event!” Here’s what attendees have said about last November’s Importing Blueprint Seminar:

Katie Bedding of Bedlaw Industries:

The sampling process is outstanding. Exchanged details and good to network with others on same journey. Thank you so much for this opportunity to become a part of your company and your company to help me with my importing dream! You have made me realize this is possible, but I must be patient-and it will take time. I am glad I made the sacrifices to Brisbane and attend the workshop! Very informative and I have had a great time. I am looking forward to getting my quotes back and start the sampling process- I am very excited about starting my project! Thanks!

Phyllis Seisll of Phyllis:

I feel and would like to work with Chinadirect (if possible) become the philosophy of ‘win win’ is important to Chinadirect and is important to me.

If you’re not quite ready to join our workshops, we invite you to take an initial look at what you can learn from CDS’s multi-awarded speaker Lindy Chen. You can simply order online resources that you can add to your library. These resources can mean millions of dollars saved for your business! From our ebook to our nitty-gritty sampling agreements, these resources can be your first step to fulfilling your dreams of running your importing business like clockwork!

With all these notwithstanding, there are soothing signs that things will improve in the coming year of the dragon. In the US, the numbers of those seeking unemployment benefits seem to have slowed. Baby boomers are beginning to start their years of retirement, opening employment opportunities to the next generation of American workers. China looks determined to address concerns about its property market and continue its rapid and unparalleled economic growth. Many economists and pundits are pinning their hopes on the BRIC economies (Brazil, Russia, India, and China). One observer recently noted that these nations will eventually move about 3 billion people into the middle class. Such a large consumer base can be potential markets for the struggling economies of Europe.

“In this global patchwork, we (Australia) don’t carry with us the skills destruction that Europe and the US do because of a whole generation of their workforce being relegated to long-term unemployment. Nor do we have the long-term capital destruction which has come with the annihilation of so many of their businesses. We are in a position to maximise the opportunities that will flow from the strongest part of the global economy, the Asia-Pacific,” Wayne Swan, Deputy Prime Minister, Australia

Australia’s deputy prime minister, Wayne Swan has come out with positive prognostications about Australia’s prospects for the coming year. He indicated in a recent interview that the local economy has remained strong with very little concerns about its own public debt which remains one of the lowest in the world.

All said, barring any major shocks, the world economy seems poised to overcome the problems in Europe with glimmers of hope in Asia and the United States. For the businessperson on the street, it seems like all systems go. The year 2012 beckons a year of new beginnings and improving world economic growth.

Here’s a little review of the more notable events of 2011:

This article was brought to you by ChinaDirect Sourcing. If you are optimistic about the new year, then so are the people at ChinaDirect! Managing director, Ms. Lindy Chen is excited to see you start the new year right in your importing business. This is an open invitation for you to join her and the ChinaDirect team for our upcoming “Doing Business in China” workshop. In June, you can be a part of ChinaDirect’s exclusive “2 Day Event: CDS Importing Blueprint” where you can learn everything you need to know about creating the importing system of your dreams.

ChinaDirect Sourcing also offers you resources that you can order online to help you get started right away. You can choose from a wide variety of resources. Our ebook version of “Importing from China: How to Start Your Own Importing Business Without Losing Your Shirt” is your trusted guide to importing the right way. You can also find supplier agreements like exclusive distribution and sample making agreements. ChinaDirect has the right materials that will not only teach you how to import, but to protect your intellectual property as well.

NEWS!!!!

Last November’s “2 day CDS Importing Blueprint” exclusive event proved to be another momentous experience for its attendees. Here are some of their rave reviews:

From Natalie Junee Hardman of ARK Ventures:

I love Lindy’s energy!! Really enjoyed the workshop. Thanks for your insight.

From Anna Allica of Gorgeous Hospital Gowns:

Very, very valuable few days-have never before been to a 2 day conference where time went so quickly and where everything said was of extreme relevance. Thank you, I look forward to further working with ChinaDirect.

From Chris Preston of Powerboards:

This would be the best course I have ever been to for information given ever two days. In two days I have learned more about important from China than I have learnt in the whole year. I would suggest anyone interested of importing from China to do Chinadirect course so your questions will be all answered.

Thank you for your time on abundance of knowledge that you have shared with us over the two days. We look forward to having a long relationship for many years to come. Thank you for your time.

According to eHow contributor, Connie Whiting, chukka boots today can be made from suede, leather vinyl, or canvas. Some boots are even made from snake and crocodile skin. They have now become popular among women and children as well.

Here is how a pair of chukka boots looks like:

In fashion retailing, it always pays to be ahead of the pack. Being the first to spot a trend can mean all the difference between having a blockbuster year and one that you would rather forget. Not only is it necessary for an entrepreneur to develop the kind of updated merchandise that will fly off the shelf, but also to find suppliers who will respect sample making agreements and provide the best quality products.

If you are looking for opportunities to communicate with the right suppliers that will produce the products you want, it’s time to think about the kind of importing agent you employ. Do they work solely for your interests as a buyer or are they sharing in chunks of your profits through the secret deals they make with your supplier? Maybe you prefer a company that will serve your needs with integrity and with your full interest in mind.

ChinaDirect Sourcing offers you the chance to save millions in hidden commissions that you may not know are being charged to your account by your importing agent. Come to this year’s last offering of our renown Doing Business in China seminar. You may also want to join us in our 2 day Import Master Class which will teach you what it takes to be a master importer nonpareil.

If you feel more inclined to studying our resources alone, you can browse through a number of options on our website. You can find supplier agreements that will protect your intellectual property. You can also find some comprehensive guides like our ebook and paperback versions of “Importing from China: How to Start Your Own Import Business without Losing your Shirt.”