Brits Get Rich in China
Anyone else see this? Was on Channel 4 this evening.
A pretty interesting look at doing business in China, following three British entrepreneurs who have taken their companies there.
- One who had a failing cushion business in the UK, and borrowed money to build a factory in China to cut costs
- One who had invented a new product (an energy saving device for air conditioning) and wanted to sell it to the Chinese market
- And one who imported Chinese kitchen products to the UK, and moved on to opening his own factories
Of the three, I'd bet on the third as being most successful overall, his very aggressive manner seemed the best suited to dealing with his Chinese business partners.
The cushion guy, while great at dealing with buyers of his product, was very reserved when dealing with the Chinese - which led to the building of his factory being delayed several times.
And the air conditioning guy could potentially make a lot of money - but, as was mentioned in the programme, he needs to do it quickly before it's copied and sold much cheaper.
Comment by Adnan — May 29, 2007 @ 9:17 am
Hey Oli.
Yeah I saw this, it was a very good program. I think the main conclusions I would draw out of it (like the guys did) would be to say that China can be a very risky place, you've gotta know what you're doing, how you're gonna do it, and you've gotta be firm and strict. Any small/big timers can take you for a ride if you're too arrogant to realise it (like the old guy nearly turned out).
But all in all, it does make you realise what a fantastic place China is, good ploy by the Brits Government to get some more businesses up and running
Comment by Gary — May 29, 2007 @ 9:57 am
I meant to watch this, damn.
We have a Chinesia expert who reads this Blog. I wonder if MrtT has any plans for global domination?
Comment by paul — May 29, 2007 @ 10:55 am
Not sure if the pompos old colnol will make a single yen from the deal. The programme left me wondering if he was getting strung along and then eventually ripped off. After the great news from super slick Cecil about the deal. Old duffpots spent the money before he got paid. Has he been paid yet? The programme mentioned at the end something like "… but actually getting paid would be a lot tougher…" .
Adnan "good ploy by the Brits Government to get some more businesses up and running" I'm just wondering what you ment, I mean what had any of this got to do with the UK Gov. ? If you mean the 3 businessmen, then I must say that it was my impression that they did it all themselves.
Great prog. overall though. Vance was brilliant, he made the show for me. His tactics were a little over the top and he came accross as a paronoid, screaming, borderline nutter at times. That said, he was the best bet for success in China as he rode off into the sunset to buy a Mongolion oak forest.
Comment by Adnan — May 29, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
Hey Paul. Sorry I forgot the programme was on Channel4 not BBC. If it was on BBC, it would have been a good tactic by the government to make everyone aware about the possible business advantages about outsourcing to China - and in turn to possibly give some new businesses the courage to turn towards the Far East, thus attracting trade and profits for the firm - and for the government through taxes.
But my bad.
Comment by jameal — May 29, 2007 @ 5:39 pm
i want the detail ov th guy that did the coshion
Comment by Steve — May 29, 2007 @ 6:46 pm
Hi Guys. I watched and enjoyed the programme myself, enought to look up this blog on the internet! Anyway, does anyone know if there is a sequel to this show? I got the impression with the comment near the end of the programme about the colonel having trouble actually getting paid, that there might be. I've been dealing with the Chinese for a few years now and I have been through a lot of the troubles that Vance came across and although I operate in a different area (not kitchens) I found the show to be quite funny. The tricks these guys try to pull are un believable!
If anyone knows of a sequel please speak up?
Comment by conall — May 29, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
missed the program does anybody know if it will be repeated
Comment by Oli — May 29, 2007 @ 9:30 pm
Looking for info about the programme is great when the first result is this post
(Only made it last night too!)
jameal: Looks like this is their site -> http://www.caldeira.com
conall: Not sure if it's repeated, maybe email Channel 4 and ask - let us know what they say!
No idea about a sequal, though I agree that one would be interesting!
Comment by Patrik — May 29, 2007 @ 10:55 pm
I watched it and I've been thinking about it all day. That's a mark of a really good program for me!
The cushion guy had a successful business based in UK, but succumbed to competition from China. If you can’t beat em, join em! He risked everything and borrowed 2 million quid to set up a factory in China. That’s what I call fighting back!
The inventor, a retired army colonel 70 years old, knew he had a good product and the biggest market would be China. So he went for it!
And the one who imports kitchen products to the UK – that’s Vance - ("I'm Mr ****ing Scumbag From Rochdale!"). Buying up machinery from bankrupt manufacturers in UK for just 20 quid and setting up manufacturing in China where wages are only 20 pence an hour. That’s a real business opportunity!
But Vance’s story was full of middlemen trying to rip him off.
The cushion guy gave 30% of his business to a local woman, so the £2m factory would be ready on time. Was it? No! But under pressure she came up with a family connection who incredibly got it finished in time.
The colonel went to Hong Kong where he thought that his Colonial British style would automatically open doors. But did they? No! – He had to find a Chinese business partner with ‘connections’
And Vance – well, he admits he’s made some mistakes, and they’ve cost him a couple of million quid, but he’s paid his entry ticket now and the cash is starting to roll in.
That’s my take on the programme. But what I’ve really been thinking to day, and I can’t quite put into words, is about what this programme says about the global industrial world.
The cushion guy set up a sales exhibition in New York. He got a $3 Million order. He achieved his goal. But – he lives on his own. I hope he meets a nice Chinese girl, with the ‘right connections’.
The colonel – good luck to you sir. I hope you get paid for enough of your products before someone copies and undercuts you.
Vance is incredible! Why is the price for a new kitchen in the UK coming down? I saw Vance go down that ladder in the quarry – what about health and safety? And the Olympic Inspection Bus? You’d never get away with that here! And an Oak Forest in Outer Mongolia? What about the environment?
What about the environment? There’s an oak forest in Outer Mongolia and Vince is going to turn it into kitchen units! And the locals will try to rip him off. And they care about their environment. But they will trade their trees for a school!
Comment by ash — May 30, 2007 @ 4:47 am
I would never invest in Chinese factories with a Chinese partner - they are too much trouble (even though I am generalizing a lot) with too lax an attitude about time frames and deadlines.
I'd do it myself as a WOFE if I was going to open a factory, but its just easier to employ a factory to create something for you and keep your sales contacts close to your chest, just make sure you're on site often to overview the production to make sure they are not cutting corners with materials.
I spend a bit of time with Chinese manufacturers, and most of them are bent. (thats bent as in taking bribes, not homosexual
)
Where can I see this show online?
Comment by Vance Miller — May 31, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
Thanks for talking about a film. Oli if you fax me your address I'll send you a copy of the film and a copy of the BBC film " The kitchen gangster"
Thanks Vance
Comment by Thomas — June 1, 2007 @ 7:14 am
Yes, very interesting film but also quite infuriating. Afraid of Chinese copycats? Funny thought!
"10 years of development" and "made in Britain" - I almost fell off my chair when I heard it!
The aircon energy saving product is a German product, see http://www.Aircosaver.com.
This chap temporarily acted as a distributor of the old first generation product (the orange box which received the award) but quickly left a complete mess.
And now apparently the attempt to copy it in China. Go figure…
Comment by Henry — June 3, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
Vince Miller has a instinct for business…Go to the source and cut out the 'middle men'. Great show.
Comment by Chris — June 4, 2007 @ 12:45 am
It was a very good show, it is still available to watch for free on 4oD, the channel 4 download service.
Comment by Phil — June 5, 2007 @ 9:41 am
Cannot comment on program pieces concerning "Mr Kitchens" or "Mr Cusions", but every program comment made concerning "Mr Aircon" is absolute rubbish and the complete opposite of the factual truth.
Thomas is almost truthfull in his post, actually from UK via Holland (technology) and Germany (build) then to Germany (later sales), just ask cheated UK shareholders trying to unpick the mess left behind.
Maybe the program makers got confused by the colonial waffle (I am being polite here) like many others previously have, to their cost.
Comment by gary — June 5, 2007 @ 1:20 pm
I so wish I had watched this program.
Will try to get it on 4od…
Comment by ash — February 25, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
I found the show on a Chinese website - watching it now!
Comment by burt — February 26, 2008 @ 11:57 am
I still have not watched it. I'll see if I can find it.
Comment by ash — February 27, 2008 @ 9:35 am
Burt,
Its on Youtube!
It was one of the best documentary ive seen to date. The kitchen guy was hilarious, a true inspiration!
Comment by Oli — February 10, 2010 @ 9:55 pm
Just seen Vance Miller on BBC Rogue Traders, and remembered this post