The 2008 Emergence of The Magic Dragon
I was born and raised part of my youth in an immigrant neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio.
Both sets of my grandparents immigrated to America from Europe in the 1920s.
By the time I was born in 1959, my relatives had deep suspicions about Japan, China and Korea. We were also right in the midst of the Cold War and many thought the Soviets were plotting with China to take over the US.
I remember my father telling me that if our dog kept digging holes in the yard that she would wide up digging her way to China.
One of the trends in the 2008 BrandVenture Trendcast is titled “The Chinese Revolution.” It talks about how the Chinese economy is driving global change.
Depending upon your cultural roots, the 2008 Summer Olympics are like China’s Debutante Ball, Bar Mitzvah, First Communion and Coming Out Party all wrapped in one.
Get a load of these stats:
• 1,350,000,000 people in China vs. 301,0000 in US
• China contributed more to global growth than the US…First time another country has done so since the 1930s
• China passed US as the world’s largest consumer in four of the five basic food, energy and industrial commodities
• China now ranks third globally in ad spending behind US and Japan
• 450 Starbucks in China…coffee now equal to tea!
Even if you do not subscribe to it, the current issue of National Geographic is a must read.
The issue is titled “China. Inside The Dragon.”
As we tell our clients constantly, while the economics of the market are important, cultural dynamics are really what drives business.
Here is some of what is reported in the National Geographic issue:
• China has the world’s largest number of Internet users – 220 million surpassing Web surfers in the US
• Authorities have added 171 new pop culture phrases to China’s national...
