My mother told me that its not polite to say “I told you so”, but I can’t help it. From the start of the global economic crisis last year, we’ve been blogging and Podcasting like maniacs saying, “Yea … I know it is rough out there. But China could be a shining light at the end of the tunnel for companies going through the rough stuff. If the rest of your world is crumbling, now might be the time to really look at China.”
And now, no less an august body than the U.S.-China Business Council is saying just this. In their recent survey, released on October 7th and highlighted in this article from Industry Week, they say, and I quote, “Most U.S. companies doing business in China are profitable and many want to step up investments despite fears on the economy, protectionism and intellectual property rights.”
Yep, I told you so.
The USCBC survey is quite revealing. 51% of the 100 respondents projected that their revenues in China will grow in 2009, and 84% said their China operations remain profitable. How many of you can say that about your U.S. operations?
A year ago, when the nasty stuff hit the fan, the one question we asked was “Where are you going to look for growth?” We received a number of comments using words that my mother would never approve of … but all of them were along the lines of, “Are you nuts??? Growth?? Who can look for growth? We are only interested in survival at this point!” Yea, I get it … when you are shedding employees and operations faster than an Eskimo stripping on a Miami beach, its tough – maybe even unnatural – to ask about growth opportunities. But that’s what separates the men from the goats, isn’t it … asking questions and using different words from what your competition is asking. They say “tomato”, you say “kumquat”.
So I am going to go out on a limb here and repeat what I said a year ago … in 2010, companies should be looking to China for new growth opportunities. I’m talking blue ocean, limited competition, boldly-going-where-no-person-has-gone-before stuff. Seriously, most market sectors are still doing double-digit growth in China, more than the existing suppliers can supply.
Yes, the signs in the U.S. and Europe seem better … capital markets are improving a bit, money is starting to flow and buyers are starting to buy. But recovery is going to be slow … slow like glacial slow … slow like the speed of mammal evolution slow. Dollars to donuts, you are not going to be able to sustain your company waiting for your domestic markets to come back. China could be part of your answer.
Now I know my smarmy tone is probably not appropriate … going after China is NOT easy. We’ve never said it was … in fact, this blog and Podcast is dedicated to exploring just what a royal pain in the backside China is to succeed in. But the difficulty of success here should not be confused with the importance of the pursuit.
Everyone is deep into planning for 2010 so you are setting priorities and budgets. If China is not among your top priorities, then it probably should be. Almost 90% of USCBC’s members surveyed indicated that China remains the top or among the top five priorities for their global investment plans. Is it yours?
Now, my momma done raised me right. I try to keep my elbows off the table when I eat, say “excuse me” when I sneeze and open doors for people when I can. Mom also told me its not right to say “I told you so.” So do it right this year … listen to what everyone is saying and get things in gear for China. Get your team together Monday and ask yourself a simple question: “What are we going to do in 2010 to grow in China?” Don’t make me have to say “I told you so” again next year. I am already in enough hot water with Mom over missing holidays, birthdays and not writing as often as I should … and I don’t want to make it worse.