Một nghiên cứu trường hợp của một công ty thời trang người ý mục nhập vào thị trường Trung QuốcNghiên cứu trường hợp được dựa trên một số kinh nghiệm làm việc của tác giả trong thời trang Trung Quốcthị trường. Tác giả được sử dụng như là một trợ lý quản lý thương hiệu cho người ýcông ty (được gọi là công ty X) trong năm 2006, khi công ty đã bắt đầu quá trìnhnhập thị trường Trung Quốc bằng cách giới thiệu một thương hiệu mới (được gọi là A thương hiệu). Ởbổ sung cho kinh nghiệm cá nhân này, trang web công ty x cung cấp bổ sungdữ liệu. Công ty X là một công ty thời trang người ý hàng đầu, có tổng cộng 15 thương hiệuphân phối quốc tế. Thiết lập một sự hiện diện trong thị trường Trung Quốc hấp dẫnlà một sáng kiến chiến lược quan trọng cho công ty. Công ty đã cố gắnghai mục riêng biệt vào trung thị trường. Mục đầu tiên là lúc bắt đầunăm 2005; Công ty X bắt đầu từ một JV với một công ty địa phương để phân phối của công ty B thương hiệu.Trường hợp nghiên cứu tập trung vào mục nhập Thứ hai của công ty, nơi A thương hiệu nhập cácThị trường Trung Quốc vào năm 2006. Một thương hiệu được đặc trưng bởi giá cả hợp lý và hợp thời trangthiết kế. Nó đã trở nên rất phổ biến tại ý và là nhận được tốt ở nhiềuthị trường quốc tế. Cho các thương hiệu, thiết kế và tiếp thị là chìa khóa để thành công.Một chế độ nhập cảnh của WOS được chọn bởi công ty phân phối A thương hiệu trong cácThị trường Trung Quốc. Công ty x ra quyết định quá trình và mục nhập chế độ lựa chọnphân tích dưới đây liên quan đến các yếu tố 9 đề nghị trên.Asset specificityIn comparison to its Chinese competitors, Company X had a clear advantage inspecialized assets/unique managerial capabilities such as advertising, operating aquick response inventory system, and establishing a distinctive retail concept. Theseadvantages would enable the company to distinguish itself from local competitors andcompete successfully in the Chinese market, which encouraged a higher resourcecommitment in the market and the use of a WOS. At the same time, a WOS would bethe optimal governance structure to ensure a successful replication of these specializedassets in the Chinese market. This supportsP1: to be successful in a foreign market, afashion retailer with high asset specificity should choose a higher control entry mode.Brand equityBrand equity was one of the most important competitive advantages associated with ABrand. Compared to a JV, establishing a WOS gave the company sufficient autonomy toprotect the brand from possible local partners’ opportunism, such as counterfeiting andknockoff, and to avoid potential damage to the brand image by inattentive practices oflocal partners. The company also benefited from the established marketing practices ofthe firm with high brand equity, which further facilitates the company’s entry into themarket (Samieeet al., 2004). This supports P2: to be successful in a foreign market, afashion retailer with high brand equity should choose a higher control entry mode.Financial capabilityBeing one of the largest fashion retailers in Italy, the company was able to provide thefinancial support necessary for setting up a WOS. At the same time, the company’sEntry modechoice69financial commitment was consistent with its determination to establish a long-termpresence in the Chinese market.P3suggests that to be successful in a foreign market, afashion retailer with low financial capability should choose a lower control entry mode.Accordingly, with its high level of financial capability, Company X was able to select ahigher control entry mode.International experienceCompany X had accumulated considerable knowledge from its 2005 JV for B Brand.The company gained a better understanding of the Chinese market and processes ofdoing business with Chinese partners. Their choice was in line with P4:to besuccessful in a foreign market, a fashion retailer with high international experienceshould choose a higher control entry mode.Country riskWhereas caution has been raised about doing business in China, e.g. laws andregulatory systems are interpreted inconsistently and in favor of local retailers(Dickson et al., 2004), the business environment in the country has neverthelessimproved for foreign investments (Zhanget al., 2002). P5suggests that to be successfulin a foreign market, a fashion retailer should choose a lower control entry mode whencountry risk is high. Given that country risk appeared to be increasingly alleviated inChina, Company X selected a higher control entry mode, a WOS.Cultural distanceThere is significant cultural distance between China and western countries, includingItaly (Pan and Tse, 1996). According to P6, to be successful in a foreign market, afashion retailer should choose a lower control entry mode when country risk is high.Company X may have been better off selecting a lower control entry mode. However,the company’s acquired experience in the Chinese market helped to reduce the riskassociated with cultural distance, making it a less salient challenge. Furthermore, thebenefits of WOS (as related to other factors) outweighed the concerns associated withcultural distance in this entry mode decision.Government restrictionsBefore 2005, most foreign companies had to distribute their brands only throughcooperation with local partners and were not allowed to enter the Chinese marketindependently. However, beginning in 2005, the Chinese government implemented aseries of reforms to relax these restrictions, such as simplifying application proceduresand reducing company-related requirements (Ni, 2004). As a result, by the timeCompany X introduced its A Brand, foreign fashion retailers were being givenunprecedented freedom in terms of access to the Chinese fashion market(PriceWaterHouseCoopers, 2006). As discussed in P7, to be successful in a foreignmarket, a fashion retailer should choose a lower control entry mode when governmentrestrictions are high. Therefore, perceiving a loosening of government restrictions,
Company X selected a higher control entry mode.
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Market potential
Due to the advantages of A Brand, such as distinctive design, reasonable price range,
and well-honed brand management skills, popularity of the brand among Chinese
consumers was anticipated. Furthermore, given the ever-increasing demand of fashion
brands by Chinese consumers (Kwanet al., 2008), a promising market potential for A
Brand was expected. The selection of WOS enabled the company to fully exploit the
perceived market potential both short- and long-term, which is in line withP8:to be
successful in a foreign market, a fashion retailer should choose a higher control entry
mode when market potential is high.
Market competition
With the growing presence of international fashion brands, the competition in the
Chinese fashion market has become increasingly intense (Kwanet al., 2003). However,
due to its competition advantages, such as its well-built managerial competence, the
marketing strength of A Brand, and great financial resources, Company X chose a high
control entry mode. This illustrates an apparent conflict between the entry mode choice
selected by the company and that proposed inP9: to be successful in a foreign market,
a fashion retailer should choose a lower control entry mode when market competition is
high. However, a high control entry mode was a logical choice given the company’s
competitive advantages and its fit with other entry mode factors.
In summary, high control over the foreign operation was preferred by Company X
to protect its brand equity from possible damage by inappropriate operations on the
part of local partners. A high control entry mode was also beneficial to the company for
gaining a higher profitability during long-term operation in the market. At the same
time, the company had sound financial resources as well as the international
experience necessary for operating in the Chinese market, which enabled it to select the
higher control entry mode of a WOS. The case study demonstrates that a firm needs to
consider trade-offs among all of the nine factors and make an optimal choice based on
the firm’s priorities. For A Brand, cultural distance and market competition suggested
that Company X should select a lower control entry mode, while the other seven factors
indicated that a higher control entry mode would be a better choice.
The success of Company X’s entry mode choice has been demonstrated by its
performance in China. By the time this paper was written, the company has opened 20
stores in several locations in China, all through WOS, and is planning more locations in
the future. According to a news release issued on the company’s web site, the fast
growth of the brand in China can be attributed to the company’s strategy of employing
the same brand positioning that has been used in Italy. All the stores in China have
adopted a similar concept and environment as those in Italy, including product
assortments, product presentations, and pricing, all of which were directly controlled
by the company’s headquarter in Italy. This emphasized the importance for a fashion
retailer to select a higher control entry mode to ensure a successful transfer of its
special assets and brand equity across markets, which are fundamental considerations
in a fashion brand’s foreign expansion decision (Moore and Burt, 2007).
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