What Does the Consumer Seek?

I found this last article, discussing cross cultural issues in consumer behavior to be quite different from what I expected. To be more specific, as I read, I was surprised by some of the descriptions of Hong Kong, and the Chinese culture.
I realized that much of my view of the Chinese has been shaped by my previous international travel and frankly does not reflect the consumer that is being written about in this article. My experience has been with the label seeking consumer. This article discusses more about the Chinese culture as a whole, their decision making, and their influences.
It was interesting to see the discussion of how the influences in the West have taken some prominence in advertising messages in East Asia.
I am looking forward to finding American brands around town in China - not because I am looking for the comforts of home but to see how they are marketed. I wonder how many - if any- American brands I might see at Fashion Week.

While this picture is not from my trip to Paris I did find that the luxury department stores had lines just like this one of Chinese (and other East Asian) consumers seeking luxury brands.

Crossing lines, crossing borders, crossing cultures

This assignments reading is textbook. I say that in jest. It's really a very informative look (and reminder!) of the importance of culture in the business world. The chapter spends some time breaking down why culture matters in international business. On a most fundamental level, it impacts who were are... Sometimes who we are can make things more difficult. And certainly cultural expectations make things more difficult even beyond the business world.

Corporate culture plays a big part of that. I have a friend who I think has allowed the corporate culture of his company shape his ENTIRE view of the world. It makes me crazy. It's going to make my blog lengthy but indulge me... I think it can really shed some light on the influence of your culture and social environment.

So, all things considered protecting the environment keeps the lights on in my house. And yes, I heard the irony in that. But, my salary doesn't even compare to the salary my husband draws from his environmental work. It supports our family. But for us it is more than the culture of his company. I came into our relationship being a huge environmentalist (and liberal). I believe we are ruining the earth. I remember the moment in 2nd grade that I grasped the concept after reading about it from a mailer our school had subscribed to for us. It rocked my world. It's a view I've held ever since. 
   But, let me tell you about Charlie. Charlie is one of my husband's closest friends in the world. He spoke on behalf of the groomsmen at our wedding. Charlie introduced me to my best friend. They recently bought a home together. I wake up every day wishing for them to get engaged already (that is a topic for a whole different blog). Long story short, Charlie works for Timber Products, one of the largest wood companies in the United States. Charlie is a salesman. He sells the wood. He does very well. He believes the whole environmental movement is a crock of...
  So one day, as we all vacationed in Las Vegas together this conversation came up over breakfast. It wasn't anything that we hadn't heard in bits and pieces from him before. But, that day we really got down in the depths of his beliefs. And in the interest of being brief it got heated. It also made my husband realize that while Charlie may be one of his best friends he thinks that what my husband has devoted his life too is liberal *insert expletive here*.
   Did I mention Charlie is a literal card carrying Native American? A ethnicity that has based it's religion, lifestyle and very existence on Mother Nature?

So, bringing this all the way back to fashion and international business and cultural differences. Culture is everything. It comes in so many different forms, and it develops your entire life. As we become more of a global economy culture becomes even more important.  Culture conflicts, sometimes within one person. So, what happens when you get in the room together?

Okay, so I have gone really long, and not really hit on what these blogs are supposed to accomplish. What am I getting at? What am I trying to say? Well, that day in Vegas Charlie and my husband could have ended an almost ten year friendship. One comment that took it a little too far and it would all be over. Ten years, they have known each other. It could have been erased in a blink.

Business is even tricker. If Charlie and Mike had not had so much history I doubt they would have ever spoken again. Business dealings can be fickle. When you take into the differences that one encounters across the globe a few things become clear. Without a global understanding, and a respect and understanding of another culture it would be tough to get anything done. In order to be successful you must work to understand the other cultures you will encounter.

Frankly, I worry that I don't know much about Hong Kong (really, China) as I go into this trip. I will have to make extra effort to be perceptive of the world around me. I need to be adaptable. I have to think outside my comfort zone. I need to spend the next week just soaking it all in - and staying on my toes!