All GLG News Analyses Filed Under: Retail Manufacturing

Toys Imported from China Require Vigorous Standards

August 9, 2007

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:Toy Recall Shows Challenge China Poses to Partners | online.wsj.com

The difficulties of lead and heavy metal poisoning are not new, they have been documented for thousands of years. The best way to handle the problem is with high ethical standards, rigorous testing, and concern for the well-being of the consumer and labor issues involved.

Avon Following Normal Patterns of Sell-Offs, and Economic Fundamentals

August 9, 2007

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:Ugly Quarter at Avon | www.fool.com

Avons flat performance as of 31 July is due to a normal pattern of market sell-offs, and unsurprising economic fundamentals.

China's Sub Standard Health Hazard Jewlery

August 9, 2007

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:Toy Recall Shows Challenge China Poses to Partners | online.wsj.com

1. US Toy supplier should be held responsible to market toys with health hazard to US children. 2. China needs to be penalized for making toys with lead. It took US 100 years to get lead out of gasoline and it only took small time for China to put it back in toys. 3. China has been consistently violating any and all standards set and controlled to US companies e.g. tires, meat, toys and I can go on how many items they have been dumping without any fear of consequences. 4. China shot the Minister who was caught with the last adulteration case. Now, this does not fix the problem. China needs to develop system which would allow to monitor their ability. 5. Chinese products needs to be closely monitored by US Commerce Dept. and see how many other items which could be health hazard. 6. It is high time that other parts of world can supply better toys with little higher costs but "safe". May be it is high time for US consumers to consider safety of their family first....

Rome Was Not Built In a Day But We Destroyed Dresden in An Afternoon

August 8, 2007

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:Ugly Quarter at Avon | www.fool.com

Re: Avon 1. Ambitious turnaround includes bringing in some smart managers, smart advertising and smart marketing 2. After sitting on sidelines for years, it will take patience as Avon get it's stroke back 3. If executed deftly, enormous pent-up consumer demand in Asia more than compensate for giving management breathing room to get back on track

Hong Kong reemerges as a strategic base for Asia Sourcing, Brand Development, and Finance

August 7, 2007

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:HK narrows gap with mainland on expat costs of living | www.scmp.com

There have been several significant developments in China  that are converging into an overhead crisis for businesses that have buying, logistics, wholesaling, and other support services in China. These include 1)The appreciation of the RMB. 2)Real inflation in the double digits in the costal cities. 3)A high demand for Chinese graduates ensures a short supply of managers and engineers and a high staff turnovers. 4)The announced removal of special tax treatment for Special Economic Zones (SEZ) with a uniform national business tax of around 25% to be phased in over the next 2 years. The year on year overhead impact to companies with operations in PRC as result of the above reasons are in the double digits.

Commitment versus Compliance

August 6, 2007

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:Toy Recall Shows Challenge China Poses to Partners | online.wsj.com

True quality control, in any industry, in any supply chain scenario, requires the corporate culture be fully committed to it's standards.  Blaming this problem on China ignores the true locus of responsibility:  the importer of record.  Toy safety standards are not voluntary; rather they are imposed by various government bodies because the industry, left to its own devices, has failed to inculcate the commitment required. China is "involved" in this problem.  Mattel is "committed".

China Product Health and Safety News Raises Bigger Issues

August 6, 2007

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:Toy Recall Shows Challenge China Poses to Partners | online.wsj.com

1.  There is a key distinction between quality control problems, which are remediable by technical and human-resource programs, and intentional acts by profit-maximizing individuals who violate technical standards or contracts to gain short-term benefits for themselves or their companies. 2.  Foreign investors in production in China, and foreign importers of Chinese products, will have to spend more on quality assurance and inspection programs at the Chinese plant level, to avoid even more costly crises such as class-action lawsuits or other punitive responses from customers and consumers when things go wrong. 3.  Changing the culture of business conduct in China today will take many, many years, given the weakness of civil society (e.g. consumer groups), the widespread corruptibility of Chinese officials and legal personnel, and the frequent collusion between enterprises and their government regulators in China.

Nicholas WhitePresidentWhite & Co

European jewelers out matched in the battle for the bride

August 6, 2007

Analysis of:European Jewelers Engage In Global Battle for Brides | online.wsj.com

European jewelers will have to rethink more than their in-store marketing to steal bridal diamond market share from Tiffany.  Here's why.

Global Shortage of Qualified Miners & Drillers

July 31, 2007

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:India to Weigh Automatic Leases to Gold, Diamond Miners | www.diamonds.net

There is a global shortage of qualified miners, geologists, and drilling companies. This shortage of qualified mining companies, miners, drilling companies, and geologists is especially acute in developing nations as India.

Can Major retailers can replace small stores in Mexico?

July 31, 2007

Analysis by: GLG Expert Contributor

Analysis of:P&G's Global Target: Shelves of Tiny Stores | online.wsj.com

Income for most people in Mexico is an issue which determines where to shop. Most of the population in the country, especially in the south, earn less than $200 dollars per month and do not have car or credit cards to buy in a Supermarket the weekly shopping. Some do not even have a cooler to preserve food. That's why we have small stores in the neighborhoods, like OXXO (FEMSA’s convenience stores), which is growing annual sales with rates over 20% a year, and are the 4th major retailer in the country, only behind Walmart, Soriana and Comercial Mexicana, with smaller and more profitable stores. With more than 5,000 stores, and a new one every 18 hours, OXXO is a competitor to study. That’s why some companies are now looking for this channel, but with some concerns of how getting to the more than 350,000 stores within the country.

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