what's wrong with local brand? Singapore branding?
this notion really got into me when i was shopping with my wife this evening.
i was at isetan and most of the products that they sold are from Japan, even the POS is NEC (from Japan) too. this is really how Japan and Korea can flourish, their own people supporting their local brand. it is especially tough for American or European brands to break into these 2 markets for the past decades until recently. look at the cars on the Japanese roads, almost all Japanese brands (Toyota, Mitsubishi, Honda). look at the electronics at Japanese stores, Panasonic and Sony are common (or rather commodity). it is like Peugeot (my brand of car now) in France.
let's not talk about local food brand (like Old Chang Kee, Bee Cheng Hiang, Sakae Sushi, etc). look at Creative, how many Singaporeans are using their audio equipment? hardly. it is still way behind Apple iPod. most will say that in terms of quality, design and features, Creative player are not on par with iPod.
this is really a chicken and egg thingy, if no one support the local brand, they will have no money to invest in R&D and without research, the product sucks and deteriorates over time. if every Singaporean gets a Creative MP3 player rather than other player, don't you think that Apple will see Creative as a threat? once Creative is in the lead, Singapore and Singaporeans will be highly sought after. image or impression last for decades.
think about it, money aside.
1) if you were to choose a brand for electronics, it is a Japanese brand?
2) if it is a video console, is it a Japanese brand too?
3) if it is a luxury car, is it a European brand?
4) if it is a luxury handbag, European or American?
our real success stories are SIA and DBS. these are service-based industries.
can we ever have a successful product-based industry to brag on?
maybe we should come up with a 4th video console to fight Microsoft XBOX360, Sony PS3 and Nintendo Wii? maybe we should market our first luxury handbag?
it is time that we re-looked into having our car factory again. why only IR? we probably need to convert Pulau Ubin into a mega car factory or car town. ask for bidders to do a joint venture, with local firm (part government owned company) it will definitely create massive jobs, technology know-how, economy boom, entreprenuership, etc.
with the transparency in the global markets now, marketing products will not be as difficult as in 10 years ago.
if you have the passion and idea, i am willing to be part of it. write to me.
PS: i am actually interested in video console.
i was at isetan and most of the products that they sold are from Japan, even the POS is NEC (from Japan) too. this is really how Japan and Korea can flourish, their own people supporting their local brand. it is especially tough for American or European brands to break into these 2 markets for the past decades until recently. look at the cars on the Japanese roads, almost all Japanese brands (Toyota, Mitsubishi, Honda). look at the electronics at Japanese stores, Panasonic and Sony are common (or rather commodity). it is like Peugeot (my brand of car now) in France.
let's not talk about local food brand (like Old Chang Kee, Bee Cheng Hiang, Sakae Sushi, etc). look at Creative, how many Singaporeans are using their audio equipment? hardly. it is still way behind Apple iPod. most will say that in terms of quality, design and features, Creative player are not on par with iPod.
this is really a chicken and egg thingy, if no one support the local brand, they will have no money to invest in R&D and without research, the product sucks and deteriorates over time. if every Singaporean gets a Creative MP3 player rather than other player, don't you think that Apple will see Creative as a threat? once Creative is in the lead, Singapore and Singaporeans will be highly sought after. image or impression last for decades.
think about it, money aside.
1) if you were to choose a brand for electronics, it is a Japanese brand?
2) if it is a video console, is it a Japanese brand too?
3) if it is a luxury car, is it a European brand?
4) if it is a luxury handbag, European or American?
our real success stories are SIA and DBS. these are service-based industries.
can we ever have a successful product-based industry to brag on?
maybe we should come up with a 4th video console to fight Microsoft XBOX360, Sony PS3 and Nintendo Wii? maybe we should market our first luxury handbag?
it is time that we re-looked into having our car factory again. why only IR? we probably need to convert Pulau Ubin into a mega car factory or car town. ask for bidders to do a joint venture, with local firm (part government owned company) it will definitely create massive jobs, technology know-how, economy boom, entreprenuership, etc.
with the transparency in the global markets now, marketing products will not be as difficult as in 10 years ago.
if you have the passion and idea, i am willing to be part of it. write to me.
PS: i am actually interested in video console.
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