After 3 days

After three days, you would think I have some idea about perspective and orientation. Well, I look forward to day four. Today I went by car to an every day shopping centre (30min trip) Carrfours. On the way I spotted the apartment building I live in. That was good except I thought we were going in the complete opposite direction.

My store visit to do product reviews for a pitch we are working on was an experience. The shops are so busy (and I was told it was actually quiet and that on a Saturday it would be 10 times as busy). The competition in every category was huge. Looking at moisturiser, there would be around 20 brands on shelf. It's way more competitive than in Aust. And you should see the instant noodle aisle (wall to wall colours and screaming text). It's adds a new meaning to competition and the challenges breaking through the shelf clutter.

In a previous post I found Eddy's store (Pringle), well tonight I did one better.

I found the Number 001 store (see pic). And, its just down the road from where I am living. It's not quite high fashion, but very popular and dependable with its own unique style.

Some more insights into the roadways and traffic signals (no I am not developing an obsession - yet).

1. The pedestrian lights have a countdown light as well as the red and green men. The countdown is from 10 back to 0 and then it goes red. It's like they warn you before you get ran down by the average 30 push bikes, 20 scooters and a dozen taxis.

2. I asked a colleague, that given there are so many cars on the road, where do they all get parked. Answer; "I don't know." There are very few places to park cars (that I have seen). So maybe people just drive around all the time.

Today I got a real taste of working in a Chinese environment. When discussing strategy, it inevitable all gets translated one way or the other. For those that know me at work, will understand the value and pleasure in succinctly expressing a great thought in an engaging way. That's part of strategy and often the stimulus for creative. Now I have learnt that not everything translates, and when I describe something, thinking I have nailed the thought, my colleagues either laugh or shudder a bit because what I said wont translate for the same meaning in Chinese. Makes for a longer discussion than normal. And, it certainly makes one think even more about the words they choose. It's an interesting challenge.

The other thing I am getting used to is not being able to read creative. Appropriately as the market is in Chinese, so is the communication, therefore English is the second language and creative gets translated back. all that makes for a lot more work and a lot more to think about. It's a wonderful challenge.

Finally for the lovers of architecture, this is a classic art deco theatre. Now a hip club, it's got the look.