Many of my family and friends in back home in USA ask me how do I celebrate Christmas in China. I have been celebrating Christmas in China for the past 4 years now (almost 5), well, technically last year I crossed over to spend Christmas in Hong Kong…as I almost was here in Christmas 2007, but Spent it with my …
Feel Like I’m in Uncharted Waters….Submerged in China Business
As a new year approaches, I’m behind on my blogs (my buddies remind me as they check up)…but seriously I am working harder then ever this year. As I said, noticing more and more expats leaving China while there is a fresh batch of new ones come in (like doug)…. And then there is the Christmas holiday approaching…the foreigner friends …
Excited for 2012 – Marketing a Chinese Ecommerce Group to the West!
2011 was the year “I “returned” to China” after a half year in Philippines and a couple months in USA (almost staying in NYC, USA)….and now I am entering 2012 with some very interesting projects and goals. In 2011, I was doing SEO and ecommerce consulting with Five Islands ecommerce center going between Dongguan, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen like a …
Chinese Sign – Empty Talks Damages a Country’s Reputation
I have seen this sign, in the same location here in Shekou district of Shenzhen since I first moved here in 2007. I remember it used to have the English translation underneath it, and that is what inspired me to take a photo of it and discuss today. I wonder why they removed the English translation from underneath the billboard? …
Great Experience At China Merchants Bank! (yes, seriously!)
No, I am not being sarcastic. And no, I did not receive any bribe or Red Envelopes or endorsements to say good things about a Chinese state operated bank! I was an idiot, when I was paying my Dave Ho monthly rent, I turned back to pass him the cash and walked away from the ATM! In China, the card …
Do You Think an commerce store #in shop.michaelmichelini.com
Been thinking more about about the direction of the business. And I am really thinking the above idea could have an interesting twitter to today’s ecommerce + social meda. Create an online store from my blog. Put my “personal brand” behind the products we are selling. I can cross promote thosse products on this blog have discussions on the products…show …
Confirmed, Chinese Work Permit Renewed – Sticking It Out Another Year!
I got a couple calls and emails from friends thinking I am leaving China after one of my latest posts about expat friends leaving China…but to confirm..I am here I think its always stressful for someone living outside their home country to submit a renewal of their work permit in the country they are planning to stay in. I have …
Interviewing Ebay China #1 Seller in 2009, Lu Haichuan
Please bear with me, no video / voice yet in this interview….but its my first effort in interviewing some of these facinating Chinese based Chinese ecommerce (export driven) companies I am coming across. Yesterday (Tuesday) in Shenzhen we took about an hour drive up to the outskirts of the city (Bao An) to a new place I had never heard …
How Much Longer Can The Chinese Economy Withstand its Growth?
Tweeted earlier about hearing all these talks of China finally feeling its growth is unstoppable (LA times article)….it talks about 3 main issues for the Chinese economy: slowing GDP growth – exports are lowering….Chinese factories are struggling to survive, accepting lower margins….the small factories are getting squeezed out. They are thinking of all kinds of ways to differentiate from their …
More Expat Friends Leaving China, Its Getting Harder to Stay!
After doing more hyper networking in China, I am meeting more and more foreigners who are coming and going….learning from those who are leaving and coming and trying to reflect on it…. This article was shared to me by Boyd Jones over the weekend and it inspired this blog post – China’s Ex-Expats: Emerging Asia Beckons, discussing how many foreigners …
My Internal Struggle to determine my Future with Shenzhen Team Coworking
….maybe not everyone will be happy with this blog post. I have had some friends tell me I should hold off on blogging….but this is how I get my mind “at ease”…. After scrambling to get Shenzhen’s official startup weekend going, we did have a pretty good success, and I thank Kawai, Nik, Rafael, Sammi, Bruce, and many others. Also …
Discussing English Social Media in a Chinese Foreign Trade Conference
Still makes me laugh, and a bit worried at the same time….discussing Facebook, Google+, Twitter inside of China – where the country blocks these online social media platforms. But again, these export-based internet and ecommerce businesses cannot allow politics to get in the way of them making money – and as social media becomes more and more important for SEO, …
Speaking at Chinese Entrepreneur Meetup, SYB (start your business)
Yes, there are actually networking meetings on a FRIDAY night! Every Friday night, they have been hosting these events. Its all Chinese people, Chinese language. Below is the description they gave me: Shenzhen SYB (start your business) entrepreneur club is starting! The SYB club was found in Shen Zhen in August 2011 to existing and would-be Entrepreneurs with a regular …
Preparing Speech for Chinese Ecommerce Foreign Trade Federation Annual Meeting
Talking on QQ now to tons of Chinese ecommerce EXPORT executive on a QQ tree group. They are all so excited for this weekend’s Hero Meets Hero Ecommerce meeting, where I will get a chance to speak …. here is the exciting chat we are having: Aleshia hiwto 15:10:56 well, I should let you know who are going to attend …
End of the First Shenzhen Startup Weekend, Many More to Come!
Typing this up monday morning on the hong kong bus, traveling there with ahmed and his wife mona who came to facilitate shenzhen’s first official startup weekend! he gave me a ton of support and feedback on how the weekend went, how to improve and confidence that we are heading in the right direction in building up shenzhen startup community. …