So where are all the Chinese brands?

[zoony]

When Europe was the factory of the world pre WWII- thousands of recognizable brand names were created that are with us to this day.

the US became the factory of the world in the 1950s... and with it came the proliferation of tens of thousands of the world's greatest and most recognizable brands, most of which still exist to this day. Everything from Maytag and Frigidaire to Zenith and Xerox and IBM... too many to list.

Then when production shifted to Japan in the 1960s we got brands like Nikon and Sony and Toyota, etc.

For the past decade China has been the factory of the world... and nothing. Or am I missing something?

Seems to me that when production flees from China (it will happen there like it did in the US and Japan, I assure you), all they will have left is their brand names. But they don't have any, as far as I can see.

Do they just suck at marketing? Or is it something else entirely?

Why do I wonder about this stuff? That might be a better question.

[ixcuincle]

There's only one and it's Haier...they make appliances. They are a sponsor of the NBA

[AsburySkinsFan]

I think they are the factory of the world, but who's factories are they?

[zoony]

I think they are the factory of the world, but who's factories are they?

yah, that's kind of the point. When the American facilities leave for India, what will they be left with?

I mean, when our manufacturing base was decimated at least we still had our brands...

[boofMcboof]

Mainland Chinese companies are way behind with their marketing sophistication and most of them simply don't understand western consumer habits. I interact regularly with mainland Chinese businessmen and their mindset is all about price and how to achieve enough cost cutting to beat their competitors. It's so engrained in them.

It's not for the lacking of trying though. Most of the situations I've seen are Americans handling the operations here with Chinese money backing them and a factory back in China manufacturing the products.

[Ancalagon the Black]

Lenovo is the only one i can think of offhand.

They have some incredibly strong domestic brands (eg China Telecom) that aren't exactly muscling in on the world stage yet.

Give it time.

[The Brave Little Toaster Oven]

Lenovo is the only one i can think of offhand.

****, my laptop is made by the Chinese?! I thought Lenovo just bought IBM?

[zoony]

Lenovo is the only one i can think of offhand.

They have some incredibly strong domestic brands (eg China Telecom) that aren't exactly muscling in on the world stage yet.

Give it time.

I'm not sure about that. With all the manufacturing that fled south with NAFTA- we didn't see any Mexican brands bounce back our way. I think the same could be true for China.

The focus on cost boofmcboof points out is interesting. You sort of know that is a terrible long term strategy.... wonder if they do.

[Oldskool]

Many items built in China aren't for export. With a consumer base that is about 1.3 billion people in mainland China alone, coupled with the fact that the rest of the world has stricter guidelines when it comes to such things as toxicity levels for manufactured goods and safety standards for vehicles, there isn't a great need to be an export giant.

[PeterMP]

The world changed. Pre-WWII and even early in the 60's and 70's it wasn't possible to have "head quarters" in one place, and the factory half way around the world. The companies that took advantage of the "cheap" labor where ones that started with the cheap labor.

[10fttall]

Oh, you won't see it. At least not very much, and not anytime soon. I'm sure they've either done studies or rely on common sense. They know that brands we have come to know will sell much better than brands that we don't. Through whatever cultural adaptations customers have made, American and Japanese brands are considered trustworthy. Japan came to be associated with innovation and cutting edge electronics. Some companys like Atari, even took on Japanese sounding names to capitalize. China is still considered to be one big manufacturing plant. The common thought is that somebody else really designs and invents the stuff, and China makes it using workers that earn $5 per week, and it comes out really cheap. There is a large backlash at Walmart for being perceived as "Chinese mad crap heaven."

So, for now, there's no real reason or sentiment for Chinese companies to make a big market splash, or at least, try not to make a big deal out of the fact they're Chinese. Same for Mexico. They make an enormous amount of electronics, but you're not going to see any "Gonzales" Blu Ray players or "Shing Wong" cell phones.

[boofMcboof]

I'm not sure about that. With all the manufacturing that fled south with NAFTA- we didn't see any Mexican brands bounce back our way. I think the same could be true for China.

The focus on cost boofmcboof points out is interesting. You sort of know that is a terrible long term strategy.... wonder if they do.

Currently, it's hard for a lot of them to think along the lines of building value in a product. There are also things like putting together a product line that is streamlined and easy to understand, not excessively large, offering every option. Sense of stylized packaging is hard to grasp. I don't know if the Cultural Revolution has anything to do with their lack of design sense but they are way way behind.

As more mainland Chinese businessmen inevitably get westernized you'll start to see more Chinese brands, I think. Right now, they're trying to acquire established companies for the intellectual property and brain trust. Volvo and Hummer come to mind.

They're hungry over there and really embracing capitalism. One big thing they have going for them is a burgeoning meritocratic based system. America has lost much of that in my opinion.

EDIT: I take back Hummer, I forgot that sale didn't go through.

[endzone_dave]

yah, that's kind of the point. When the American facilities leave for India, what will they be left with?

I mean, when our manufacturing base was decimated at least we still had our brands...

As long as they are willing to buy American debt, we won't be moving our factories anywhere.

[HighOnHendrix]

Zoony started a thread??? I just checked and the sky really isn't falling...

You've never heard of Chery, Dongfang, Gonow, or Geely? For shame! lol Geely now owns Volvo and they have a sporty little coupe called the "Beauty Leopard". I'm sure that name will catch on here in a hurry. There's also Chang'an, whose logo looks a lot like Starfleet's:

I don't think Chinese branding will gain much acceptance here in the U.S. in the foreseeable future. There is already too much negativity toward items made in China, more than is even directed at Mexican-made products. You always hear about Chinese drywall, lead in paint from China, etc. - the media and people in general seem to go out of their way to identify defective products from China as being from there, more so than defective items from elsewhere. Chinese brands can't take off here in that kind of climate. I can see them taking off in other parts of the world, though.

[corsair_joe]

The Chinese are actually being pretty clever about it, they are acquiring the known brand names as they go out of business here.

[zoony]

As long as they are willing to buy American debt, we won't be moving our factories anywhere.

Companies have already started. The Chinese gov't has come to the conclusion (the correct one) that their current model is unsustainable. They are going to have to raise taxes. Contrary to popular belief it's not all about labor. Most companies were attracted by ridiulous corporate tax rates.

India will be next. By 2030, I think Africa will be the factory of the world.

[Dan T.]

A bit of a tangent, but it's been interesting to see the expansion and acceptance of Korean brands in the U.S. in the last 15 years or so. Korean electronics companies Samsung and LG, and car companies Hyundai and Kia have worked their way into the U.S. market pretty successfully.

[zoony]

A bit of a tangent, but it's been interesting to see the expansion and acceptance of Korean brands in the U.S. in the last 15 years or so. Korean electronics companies Samsung and LG, and car companies Hyundai and Kia have worked their way into the U.S. market pretty successfully.

It seems like nowadays all you need is a contract with a big box retailer and you're in. LG shows up at Lowes and overnight they are a household name. Samsung got in with Best Buy and Circuit City...

[aREDSKIN]

It seems like nowadays all you need is a contract with a big box retailer and you're in. LG shows up at Lowes and overnight they are a household name. Samsung got in with Best Buy and Circuit City...

Well the quality of their products and product offerings are vastly superior than what the "copycat" Chinese do. Do the Chinese develop anything?? They just rip off others.

[skinfan133]

this is a 100% Chinese brand, you may have seen it around.

[The Brave Little Toaster Oven]

this is a 100% Chinese brand, you may have seen it around.

This is my work laptop -

Not a bad product, but something is wrong with the wireless function...it stops working randomly :mad:

[Ellis]

Isn't China the leader in solar panel cells?

[Pwyl]

I don't know that I would count Lenovo as a 100% Chinese product since it's the result of buying IBM's PC division.

http://www.pc.ibm.com/ww/customerqa.html

[FanboyOf91]

Isn't China the leader in solar panel cells?

Low-cost cells, yes. It helps when the Chinese government throws in humongous subsidies.

[Hubbs]

Companies have already started. The Chinese gov't has come to the conclusion (the correct one) that their current model is unsustainable. They are going to have to raise taxes. Contrary to popular belief it's not all about labor. Most companies were attracted by ridiulous corporate tax rates.

India will be next. By 2030, I think Africa will be the factory of the world.

I think you're anticipating too quick a transition. 2030 for India, 2060 for Africa.