The Refinishing Touch Blog

In my last post I chronicled my recent trip to China and shared more of my personal experiences throughout the journey. I wanted to take some to write about the trip from a business perspective as well and highlight the journey to the stone manufacturers plant as well as share some of my overall business and economic observations that came about during my trip.

The relationship between China and the United States becomes more and more apparent as the financial crisis continues to impact our economy. The housing economy has supported China's growth and the financial issues in the US have greatly affected China as a whole. US factories in China are continually growing more concerned about our economy and the potential loss of business due to our struggling economy. I learned, in fact, that many factories and businesses are closing down due to the economic slow down. China is throttling back exports to avoid overheating internal growth.

As we entered Hong Kong through customs we were the 5^th car in line and saw less than a dozen containers on trucks. Coming through customs usually takes 2-3 hours and seeing thousands of cars and containers on trucks is not an unusual sight. Even the hotels were empty - a sure sign of the times taking effect world wide.

On my trip I travelled to Shenzhen, now known as the furniture capital of the world. More than twenty years ago, Shenzhen just was a small fishing village called Baoan County, but in 1979, it was renamed Shenzhen City. When the Special Economic Zone was built, the city was divided into six zones, four of which are located in the Special Economic Zone.

While in town, I had dinner with a furniture manufacturer for whom we had done business with to finish furniture pieces on their arrival to the states. They own the factories and reported firsthand that many small and large factories are going out of business. Mostly all of the factories were dependent on the housing market bubble in the US, however now because of decline in the housing market they are now shutting down more and more.

The Chinese have a different approach to business. The locals I spoke to share a more thoughtful way of doing business they say it is "communism that works." Despite the fact that there are strong Western influences everywhere, the business side of things is still very rooted in Communism. I learned the average pay of a factory worker is $65-150 per month. I had the pleasure to have dinner with a group of workers from the solid surface factories and these people are highly educated with engineering degrees from universities. What astounded me was that these people make $350 a month at the factory and they are thankful for their pay.

The work ethic, conditions and culture in China are certainly nothing like they are in the US. Something struck me as interesting as I was sitting in the car waiting for some friends, I noticed leaves falling off of the trees onto the side walk- just as they do on an ordinary fall day in the states. The peculiar thing was not the leaves but that there were two women walking up either side of the street sweeping the sidewalks by hand to clear them of the fallen leaves. I couldn't help but think how this incident showed a very distinct culturally difference between the US and China - which is reflected in the culture both personally and professionally. This trip truly enlightened me.

Labels: China, Culture, economy, Financial Crisis

This month I had the pleasure and experience of visiting the People's Republic of China. It was a combination of business - visiting our stone manufacturing facilities- and pleasure, visiting friends.

On October 2^nd after traveling more than 8,400 miles, I stepped off a Boeing 747 onto Hong Kong International Airport to change planes. I've been lucky to travel extensively throughout my life and career, but a 20 hour flight and a 12-hour time difference resulted in one of the most grueling travel experiences.

Security, something that Americans are now getting more used to since the awful events of 2001, was incredibly tight, with various levels of security checks including a point where you have to stand still for three seconds and stare into an infra-red camera.

Finally, after I'd been up for 36 hours straight, I landed in Xiamen. Xiamen is an island city situated on the south east tip. With a population of slightly over two million, it is regarded as "the most agreeable city in China." The port ranks among the country's top ten and it boasts a modern airport that has become a major aviation hub. It has a bustling economy, thanks to its designation as one of several Special Economic Zones in China and the large amount of foreign investment that the hub is known for.

After the grueling journey, I was exhausted but glad to see my friends waiting to pick me up at Xiamen airport. They drove me to the luxury that is the Sofitel Hotel in Xiamen. By then, I urgently needed a rest, and I wasn't disappointed. The hotel's standards were incredibly high with impeccably crisp and clean rooms that would be inviting to any traveler, but especially so to such a weary one!

My whole experience was a mixture of the unusual and the out-of-context, including an Italian meal in Xiamen. As an Italian-American, I have a deep love and appreciation of Italian food - though the meal itself seemed to be lacking in the 'Italian' aspect, aside from the Chianti Classico, which was authentic.

Meanwhile, my temporary 'base' of the Sofitel with its slick service and presentation, reflects my overall impression of the People's Republic of China. As a visitor, I found every part of the country that I visited to be immaculately organized and business-like. Any service was like clockwork, and while smiling and welcoming, there was a work ethic that seems to pervade every person. There was a constant sense of control and management, which, as a business person, I can fully appreciate.

My meetings were fruitful - details of those to follow in my next post - and the time I spent with my friends was unforgettable.

The worst bit? The jet lag, both on the journey out and returning home, took its toll, with my body taking days to catch up. Visiting China made me feel like I'd really traveled!

Labels: China, Hospitality, travel