Hosting for just $3.88/month! Find out MORE!

Monthly Archive for July, 2006

Introduction to WOFEs in China

Published on 26 July, 2006 in China and Entrepreneur. 4 Comments

Kenneth Wong made a very good introduction to WFOE (or is it WOFE?) at SGentrepreneurs.

For many foreigners seeking to setup business in China, the Wholly-Owned Foreign Enterprise model is the the de facto model to go for.

However like another writer Gabriel Yong mentioned, there is “a large grey area when you want to do business in Shanghai“.

My opinion is that WOFE is only for companies that is established, stable and growing. It is the proper channel and safeguard the legal rights of the company.

However if the company is new or startup, there is no point in bringing a wad of cash and start a WOFE.

Nigerian scam comes to Singapore

Published on 23 July, 2006 in Online and Singapore. 0 Comments

Can’t believe it. The famous Nigeria scan is now in Singapore - complete with UOB and Government of Singapore.

If only entrepreneur are as creative…

Continue reading ‘Nigerian scam comes to Singapore’

Building a Company History

Published on 18 July, 2006 in Entrepreneur. 0 Comments

I was look at this and think to myself. “How wonderful if I could document my company over 18 years like this!”

Regrettably I have no photos from my old venture. Sometime, I look back and wish I had collected those photos, from Aljunied (2) to Bukit Merah (2) to Orchard Road.

My China ventures had been through 4 locations in Shanghai. A good time to start is now…

Do you keep track of your company history?

Sending CD via post banned in China

Published on 11 July, 2006 in China. 0 Comments

Do you laugh or do you cry?

Last week, I sent a water-proof camera sample and its software driver in a CD. Today the courier company that the package was stopped at the custom and returned because sending CD via post or courier is banned.

What?! Wait till you hear the reason.

It is a measure against piracy.

Oh well, I will just ask the client to download the driver from the website.

Another business day in China.

Bending over backward for client

Published on 10 July, 2006 in Day to Day. 0 Comments

Yesterday was Sunday. We went to visit a bag manufacturer that is rushing some backpack for one of our client (which is well known, but shall remain unnamed).

As usual, the factory is way out of the city, almost an hour and a half drive.

As usual we arrived near noon, given a tour then we headed for lunch. Typical chinese hospitality.

The factory is running at full capacity, working through weekends and night shift. We were fortunate that they agreed to change production schedule to cater to deliver 150 pieces in advance.

The client’s logistic company was supposed to pick up the item and send them to Wuxi the next day. We waited. We called them. They then told us they can only show up after 8pm. Too late.

We quickly decided to moved the goods back to our office in the city so that the logistic guy could pick up from there. 4pm was the time given to us for the pick up. Again we waited. Until 6.30pm.

Today, this morning, the client told us that they need another 60 in advance to be sent to Shandong.

Ok guys, bend over. Backward.

Bridging the culture gap with local partner

Published on 7 July, 2006 in China, Day to Day and Startup. 0 Comments

Despite being Chinese by race, Singaporean Chinese still have a hard time understanding and adapting to the culture differences of the China Chinese.

An example is the roundabout relationship-authority-money interplay. For someone used to a culture that is direct and systematic, the Chinese way can be a rude shock.

What is this roundabout relationship-authority-money interplay you may ask. It is hard to define, but let’s do an example.

Say you want some permit done so that you could do something. (BTW, if you think Singapore has too may permit, you have not seen anything yet.) So you ask around and maybe surf the Internet for the procedure. So you went ahead to get it done. So far so good.

At the whichever authority that approve your permit, you find that you need to have this information and that information. Maybe you don’t fit certain criteria. The officer points you to other officers and they direct you to even more officers. Hence starts the roundabout.

Eventually you realise that it is getting nowhere and you seek help. Then you discover that who knows who knows someone that have some relationship with the autority. If you are lucky enough, you find this someone and the person get your permit done in a blink of the eyes.

Sure you certainly pay more, in cash or in kind, but aren’t you glad it is done.

If you are doing business in China, expect to deal with that daily. It helps to have plenty fo cash. If you are bootstrapping like me, my advice is to find a good local partner.

In my case, I am very fortunate to have a local partner to help me cushion the differences. He dealt with all these day to day annoyances that could drive one crazy.

As I type this, he just dealt with another. Thank God.

Still playing office politics?

Published on 6 July, 2006 in Quotes and Startup. 0 Comments

Paul Graham, from The Power of the Marginal:

“Rising up through the hierarchy of the average big company demands an attention to politics few thoughtful people could spare… I think that’s one reason big companies are so often blindsided by startups. People at big companies don’t realize the extent to which they live in an environment that is one large, ongoing test for the wrong qualities.”

(via Juice Analytics Be careful what test you are acing)

Do you know what you are doing?

Published on 4 July, 2006 in Entrepreneur and Startup. 0 Comments

If you do. Good for you.

I don’t.

Everytime someone ask me what I’m doing, it is something different. Even wonder why I don’t talk about what I do in detail? Because I do not know when it will change.

Well, the truth is I do know that I have a few major pieces that I’m putting together. At the moment they do not fit together too well.

Someone close to me commented that I’m building a rocket. Nice analogy. I’m figuring out the engineering as I go along. In the end it may not fly.
Going by the textbook, this is a sure formula for failure.

On the other hand, how many people can claim to try build a rocket?

Do you read ST / BT online?

Published on 4 July, 2006 in Online and Singapore. 1 Comment

Compare this to this. Guess which site I read more?

I don’t get it why SPH is blocking readers at the door. I click on a link, see the sign in and leave immediately.

Frankly I never care about their news now that I’m outside of Singapore. Any news of importance are cover elsewhere too, why go where you are not welcomed.