Creativity

Do you have a "Made-in-Singapore" product fit for the world consumption? Are you eager to come up with a creative way of making your business sell?

A good and innovative product is not enough. Here are some tips to get you ahead.

TIP #1 - Creativity
What sets a market leader apart from the other players is often its unique selling point - a way of communicating and connecting with its potential consumers; a reliable distribution network; and pricing that is just right for the market segment.

So how do you carve out a niche in a crowded place? Is branding the answer? Be it a tagline or a symbol, it is what etches into the minds and hearts of consumers that sums up what branding truly is, or is it?

Tip #2 - Marketing Strategy
From product placement to product endorsement to merchandising, what works for one market may not necessarily do for another.

What is the rule of thumb in marketing your business in the new frontiers?

Tip #3 - Packaging
If branding is the selling of an idea, then packaging is all about dressing up that idea. But how much does packaging impact consumer behaviour?

It's time to get down to the creative aspects of your business.

Culture and Connections

Doing business in Asia is more than just about the dollars and cents. It's also about understanding the intricacies of inter-personal relations in the business world.

Succeeding in Asia calls for a deft hand in dealing with the cultural mores and business etiquette of each country.

Just as all of Asia is not homogenous, each country comes with its own set of rules and regulations governing people to people relations.

But, what is the price of flouting these? What will be your best bet to get down to business without threading on the wrong side of the court?

With Asia, perhaps more than with any other continent, culture is all about the history, heritage and way of life of its people. It is also about the religious practices and traditions of the land. Besides getting your business strategies right, what else could be the underlying secret to sealing a deal?

Aside from having a good grasp of a country unique business culture, hitting the right frequency with the right people also matters.

Besides getting connected with the right business partner, connections or as the Chinese puts it quite simply, "guan xi" with the right authorities is of equal, if not more, importance to a company's chances of sailing smoothly into the new market. So what is the connection between "guan xi" and business dealings in China, as well as in quite a few developing Asian economies?

Understand the region's business cultures and get connected with Asia.