Blog and Twitter updates: global markets, furniture industry, and global sourcing http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/pipe.info?_id=6b6cbddab0633349d5258395181799c7 Sat, 10 Mar 2012 17:47:46 +0000 http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/ ayofurniture: [BMI] Vietnam Freight Transport Report Q2, http://j.mp/eTDIj0 ayofurniture: [BMI] Vietnam Freight Transport Report Q2, http://j.mp/eTDIj0 http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/47759005925388288 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 20:40:08 +0000 http://bit.ly/dzhl3N ayofurniture: Ayo will be exhibiting at the International Casual Furniture Market in Chicago, September 21-14. Booth #8-8106 http://bit.ly/dzhl3N http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/40461839082979328 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:23:48 +0000 http://t.co/XFYOcBM ayofurniture: Alibaba Tumbles After Probe Finds Vendors Created `Fraudulent' Storefront - Bloomberg http://t.co/XFYOcBM http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/40091523047628800 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:52:18 +0000 http://bit.ly/dzhl3N ayofurniture: Ayo will be exhibiting at the International Casual Furniture Market in Chicago, September 21-14. Booth #8-8106 http://bit.ly/dzhl3N http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/28708761572999168 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 07:01:16 +0000 http://bit.ly/dzhl3N ayofurniture: Ayo will be exhibiting at the International Casual Furniture Market in Chicago, September 21-14. Booth #8-8106 http://bit.ly/dzhl3N http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/28414854851207168 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:33:23 +0000 http://on.wsj.com/f0ARJH ayofurniture: [WSJ] Not really 'Made in China' http://on.wsj.com/f0ARJH http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/15942034917433345 Sat, 18 Dec 2010 01:30:51 +0000 http://on.wsj.com/etPsoK ayofurniture: [WSJ] Vietnam Battles Dark Side of Boom http://on.wsj.com/etPsoK http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/15111166325952513 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:29:17 +0000 http://on.wsj.com/egFrLJ ayofurniture: [US Economy] Why Didn’t Retailers Hire? http://on.wsj.com/egFrLJ http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/11879308406562816 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 20:27:02 +0000 http://nyti.ms/eOMSAz ayofurniture: [Amazing people around the world] Managing Risk for JPMorgan, and Blindness http://nyti.ms/eOMSAz http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/11873916385497088 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 20:05:36 +0000 http://bit.ly/azwNHJ ayofurniture: Companies find outsourcing can backfire as quality, customer service suffer http://bit.ly/azwNHJ http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/7938141667201024 Thu, 25 Nov 2010 23:26:15 +0000 http://bit.ly/f0pH3n ayofurniture: [Ayo Blog] A recommended read for importers: Poorly made in China (and Vietnam, and everywhere else) http://bit.ly/f0pH3n http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/7379634345742336 Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:26:56 +0000 http://www.ayo.net/blog/160-poorly-made-in-china <p><img style="margin:10px;float:left;" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT45kqp9_Q49pvPWUVHITaLg6RfLaS2q2cddHeaBQ4dRddeIGKN" alt="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT45kqp9_Q49pvPWUVHITaLg6RfLaS2q2cddHeaBQ4dRddeIGKN"/><em><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/Poorly-Made-China-Insiders-Production/dp/0470928077/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1290586239&amp;sr=1-6">Poorly made in China: An Insider's Account of the China Production Game</a></em> is an interesting read about the risks of doing business in China, as well as in Vietnam or other low-cost countries. As a manufacturer from Vietnam, we have to say that the author tells only half of the truth (or he knows only the half).</p> <p>However, as we pointed out, there's truth in it and that shouldn't be taken lightly. Global sourcing is not an easy game as people may have thought. Sure, the rewards may be high (due to lower cost), but hence comes greater risks as well. The book shows how awful it is could be when doing business in Asia. It's good to be warned, isn't it?</p> <p>There're a lot of reviews and comments on Amazon about the book so we'd rather introduce the book and point you to the website.</p> <p>----------------------------------------------</p> <p>On a second thought, importers are also partly responsible for the cheating culture at many manufacturers in low-cost countries. Why? Importers typically keep pushing the price down for higher profit (many don't even show respect to the manufacturers). In a nutshell, both sides are profit optimizers: one being greedy and the other cheating. Obviously, that's a negative sum game.</p> <p>Hence, whether doing business in the US, Europe, or China/Vietnam, we still have to base on the Win-Win priciple. That means: respect the partner, build trust, think in terms of mutual benefit and long term, etc.</p> <p>And this is Ayo's approach.</p> http://www.ayo.net/blog/160-poorly-made-in-china Wed, 24 Nov 2010 09:42:01 +0000 http://bit.ly/amZafI ayofurniture: Vietnam Freight Transport Report Q4 2010 http://bit.ly/amZafI http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/6293064549138432 Sun, 21 Nov 2010 10:29:18 +0000 http://bit.ly/bEf3Wa ayofurniture: IKEA plans to double its orders from Vietnam in the next three years http://bit.ly/bEf3Wa http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/3606086057725952 Sun, 14 Nov 2010 00:32:12 +0000 http://bit.ly/cdaWEj ayofurniture: Stronger yuan to pull down China exports http://bit.ly/cdaWEj http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/29014106665 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 18:47:25 +0000 http://bit.ly/dnn1wC ayofurniture: [Ayo Blog] [ADB] Vietnam's Economy Outlook - Sep 2010 http://bit.ly/dnn1wC http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/25899606114 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:47:37 +0000 http://www.ayo.net/blog/152-adb-vietnams-economy-outlook-sep-2010 <p><img style="margin:10px;" src="http://www.obayashi.co.jp/english/works/uploaded_attachment/page/main_image/larger/f/e/c7fed4b4-28b9-4514-b7bb-67dfd7365ed4.jpg" alt="http://www.obayashi.co.jp/english/works/uploaded_attachment/page/main_image/larger/f/e/c7fed4b4-28b9-4514-b7bb-67dfd7365ed4.jpg" width="272" height="212"/></p> <p>Here's the summary:</p> <p style="padding-left:30px;">Steps taken by the government to stabilize the economy have contributed to an improvement in the external and foreign reserves positions. <strong>Economic growth quickened in the second quarter of this year relative to the first and is now forecast to be slightly higher in both 2010 and 2011 than anticipated in April.</strong> Projections for inflation are lowered a touch. This outlook assumes that policies during the forecast period focus on macroeconomic stability and that the policy stance is communicated effectively, while also addressing structural reforms.</p> <p>The report also mentions that: <strong>Industry expanded by 6.5% in the first half of 2010</strong>, with double- digit growth in production of electricity, gas, and water, <strong>and a rebound in manufacturing to nearly 8% growth</strong> (from just 2% a year earlier) as world trade in manufactured goods recovered.</p> <p>Your can download the <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://stox.vn/stox/download.asp?id=2845">full report here</a>.</p> http://www.ayo.net/blog/152-adb-vietnams-economy-outlook-sep-2010 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:56:24 +0000 http://www.ayo.net/blog/152-adb-vietnams-economy-outlook-sep-2010 <p><img style="margin:10px;" src="http://www.obayashi.co.jp/english/works/uploaded_attachment/page/main_image/larger/f/e/c7fed4b4-28b9-4514-b7bb-67dfd7365ed4.jpg" alt="http://www.obayashi.co.jp/english/works/uploaded_attachment/page/main_image/larger/f/e/c7fed4b4-28b9-4514-b7bb-67dfd7365ed4.jpg" width="272" height="212"/></p> <p>Here's the summary:</p> <p style="padding-left:30px;">Steps taken by the government to stabilize the economy have contributed to an improvement in the external and foreign reserves positions. <strong>Economic growth quickened in the second quarter of this year relative to the first and is now forecast to be slightly higher in both 2010 and 2011 than anticipated in April.</strong> Projections for inflation are lowered a touch. This outlook assumes that policies during the forecast period focus on macroeconomic stability and that the policy stance is communicated effectively, while also addressing structural reforms.</p> <p>The report also mentions that: <strong>Industry expanded by 6.5% in the first half of 2010</strong>, with double- digit growth in production of electricity, gas, and water, <strong>and a rebound in manufacturing to nearly 8% growth</strong> (from just 2% a year earlier) as world trade in manufactured goods recovered.</p> <p>Your can download the <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://stox.vn/stox/download.asp?id=2845">full report here</a>.</p> http://www.ayo.net/blog/152-adb-vietnams-economy-outlook-sep-2010 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:56:24 +0000 http://www.ayo.net/blog/152-adb-vietnams-economy-outlook-sep-2010 <p><img style="margin:10px;" src="http://www.obayashi.co.jp/english/works/uploaded_attachment/page/main_image/larger/f/e/c7fed4b4-28b9-4514-b7bb-67dfd7365ed4.jpg" alt="http://www.obayashi.co.jp/english/works/uploaded_attachment/page/main_image/larger/f/e/c7fed4b4-28b9-4514-b7bb-67dfd7365ed4.jpg" width="272" height="212"/></p> <p>Here's the summary:</p> <p style="padding-left:30px;">Steps taken by the government to stabilize the economy have contributed to an improvement in the external and foreign reserves positions. <strong>Economic growth quickened in the second quarter of this year relative to the first and is now forecast to be slightly higher in both 2010 and 2011 than anticipated in April.</strong> Projections for inflation are lowered a touch. This outlook assumes that policies during the forecast period focus on macroeconomic stability and that the policy stance is communicated effectively, while also addressing structural reforms.</p> <p>The report also mentions that: <strong>Industry expanded by 6.5% in the first half of 2010</strong>, with double- digit growth in production of electricity, gas, and water, <strong>and a rebound in manufacturing to nearly 8% growth</strong> (from just 2% a year earlier) as world trade in manufactured goods recovered.</p> <p>Your can download the <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://stox.vn/stox/download.asp?id=2845">full report here</a>.</p> http://www.ayo.net/blog/152-adb-vietnams-economy-outlook-sep-2010 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:56:24 +0000 http://www.ayo.net/blog/152-adb-vietnams-economy-outlook-sep-2010 <p><img style="margin:10px;" src="http://www.obayashi.co.jp/english/works/uploaded_attachment/page/main_image/larger/f/e/c7fed4b4-28b9-4514-b7bb-67dfd7365ed4.jpg" alt="http://www.obayashi.co.jp/english/works/uploaded_attachment/page/main_image/larger/f/e/c7fed4b4-28b9-4514-b7bb-67dfd7365ed4.jpg" width="272" height="212"/></p> <p>Here's the summary:</p> <p style="padding-left:30px;">Steps taken by the government to stabilize the economy have contributed to an improvement in the external and foreign reserves positions. <strong>Economic growth quickened in the second quarter of this year relative to the first and is now forecast to be slightly higher in both 2010 and 2011 than anticipated in April.</strong> Projections for inflation are lowered a touch. This outlook assumes that policies during the forecast period focus on macroeconomic stability and that the policy stance is communicated effectively, while also addressing structural reforms.</p> <p>The report also mentions that: <strong>Industry expanded by 6.5% in the first half of 2010</strong>, with double- digit growth in production of electricity, gas, and water, <strong>and a rebound in manufacturing to nearly 8% growth</strong> (from just 2% a year earlier) as world trade in manufactured goods recovered.</p> <p>Your can download the <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://stox.vn/stox/download.asp?id=2845">full report here</a>.</p> http://www.ayo.net/blog/152-adb-vietnams-economy-outlook-sep-2010 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:56:24 +0000 http://bit.ly/c9a03e ayofurniture: Legendary short seller Jim Chanos recently equated China to the next Enron. http://bit.ly/c9a03e http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/25618819291 Sun, 26 Sep 2010 19:51:12 +0000 http://bit.ly/9cnIyb ayofurniture: [Ayo Blog] What does the name Ayo mean to you? http://bit.ly/9cnIyb http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/25598115070 Sun, 26 Sep 2010 15:13:29 +0000 http://www.ayo.net/blog/151-what-does-the-name-ayo-mean-to-you <p><img style="margin:10px;float:left;" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:YRhnoncDcYIBOM:http://a56.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/115/l_8878dc79eee533cdc0cc38578fc4fcf7.jpg" alt="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:YRhnoncDcYIBOM:http://a56.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/115/l_8878dc79eee533cdc0cc38578fc4fcf7.jpg"/></p> <p>Many people told us that they like the name. It sounds good. Some of them asked: but what does it mean?</p> <p>Well, if it sounds good, it generally means good <img title="Smile" src="http://www.ayo.net/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/img/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile"/>. In <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoruba_language">Yoruba language</a> (spoken by West Africans, including Nigerians), <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.behindthename.com/name/ayo"><em>Ayọ</em> means <em>"Joy"</em> or <em>"Happiness"</em></a>. That's our original and official idea for the name.</p> <p>How Ayo is pronounced:</p> <embed width="235" height="60" src="http://www.pronouncenames.com/play.swf"></iframe> <p>FYI, we also have found Ayo's meanings in different contexts:</p> <ul> <li>To American youngsters, <em>Ayo</em> could mean <em>"Hey, You"</em></li> <li>In Indonesian,<em> Ayo </em>means <em>"Come and Join In"<br /></em></li> </ul> http://www.ayo.net/blog/151-what-does-the-name-ayo-mean-to-you Sun, 26 Sep 2010 14:31:18 +0000 http://www.ayo.net/blog/151-what-does-the-name-ayo-mean-to-you <p><img style="margin:10px;float:left;" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:YRhnoncDcYIBOM:http://a56.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/115/l_8878dc79eee533cdc0cc38578fc4fcf7.jpg" alt="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:YRhnoncDcYIBOM:http://a56.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/115/l_8878dc79eee533cdc0cc38578fc4fcf7.jpg"/></p> <p>Many people told us that they like the name. It sounds good. Some of them asked: but what does it mean?</p> <p>Well, if it sounds good, it generally means good <img title="Smile" src="http://www.ayo.net/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/img/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile"/>. In <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoruba_language">Yoruba language</a> (spoken by West Africans, including Nigerians), <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.behindthename.com/name/ayo"><em>Ayọ</em> means <em>"Joy"</em> or <em>"Happiness"</em></a>. That's our original and official idea for the name.</p> <p>How Ayo is pronounced:</p> <embed width="235" height="60" src="http://www.pronouncenames.com/play.swf"></iframe> <p>FYI, we also have found Ayo's meanings in different contexts:</p> <ul> <li>To American youngsters, <em>Ayo</em> could mean <em>"Hey, You"</em></li> <li>In Indonesian,<em> Ayo </em>means <em>"Come and Join In"<br /></em></li> </ul> http://www.ayo.net/blog/151-what-does-the-name-ayo-mean-to-you Sun, 26 Sep 2010 14:31:18 +0000 http://bit.ly/akzL6B ayofurniture: Subscribe to Ayo Blog and Twitter updates at once http://bit.ly/akzL6B http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/24089002804 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 08:53:39 +0000 http://bit.ly/924U5b ayofurniture: [Ayo Blog] Packaging Design - Why is it important http://bit.ly/924U5b http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/24088658063 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 08:45:32 +0000 http://www.ayo.net/blog/147-packaging-design-why-is-it-important <p><img style="margin:10px;" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3mupt_tE3EP0_LMtFLGqfTro7_5sjJ6JKf5IC_1MfnhzT4Kg&amp;t=1&amp;usg=__nieXL0PvUh1aHwktP8d9DVGzQGQ=" alt="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3mupt_tE3EP0_LMtFLGqfTro7_5sjJ6JKf5IC_1MfnhzT4Kg&amp;t=1&amp;usg=__nieXL0PvUh1aHwktP8d9DVGzQGQ="/></p> <p><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;ved=0CBwQFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.intracen.org%2FTdc%2FExport%2520packaging%2FEPN%2FEnglish%2Fepn25e.pdf&amp;rct=j&amp;q=furniture%20package%20design&amp;ei=EeSJTIXUAoKdlgevgpiPCg&amp;usg=AFQjCNF34uZOWNbZPIVOrVWp31fd2sX5jw&amp;sig2=odQtDHF8UFUdHbVdgsCiiA&amp;cad=rja">This article</a> gives a very good overview of why export packaging of furniture is a real challenge for furniture manufacturers. Virginia Tech even has <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.woodscience.vt.edu/students/undergraduate.asp?page=ps-option">college and graduate degrees in packaging science for wood furniture</a>.</p> http://www.ayo.net/blog/147-packaging-design-why-is-it-important Fri, 10 Sep 2010 08:09:31 +0000 http://www.ayo.net/blog/147-packaging-design-why-is-it-important <p><img style="margin:10px;" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3mupt_tE3EP0_LMtFLGqfTro7_5sjJ6JKf5IC_1MfnhzT4Kg&amp;t=1&amp;usg=__nieXL0PvUh1aHwktP8d9DVGzQGQ=" alt="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3mupt_tE3EP0_LMtFLGqfTro7_5sjJ6JKf5IC_1MfnhzT4Kg&amp;t=1&amp;usg=__nieXL0PvUh1aHwktP8d9DVGzQGQ="/></p> <p><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;ved=0CBwQFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.intracen.org%2FTdc%2FExport%2520packaging%2FEPN%2FEnglish%2Fepn25e.pdf&amp;rct=j&amp;q=furniture%20package%20design&amp;ei=EeSJTIXUAoKdlgevgpiPCg&amp;usg=AFQjCNF34uZOWNbZPIVOrVWp31fd2sX5jw&amp;sig2=odQtDHF8UFUdHbVdgsCiiA&amp;cad=rja">This article</a> gives a very good overview of why export packaging of furniture is a real challenge for furniture manufacturers. Virginia Tech even has <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.woodscience.vt.edu/students/undergraduate.asp?page=ps-option">college and graduate degrees in packaging science for wood furniture</a>.</p> http://www.ayo.net/blog/147-packaging-design-why-is-it-important Fri, 10 Sep 2010 08:09:31 +0000 http://www.ayo.net/blog/147-packaging-design-why-is-it-important <p><img style="margin:10px;" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3mupt_tE3EP0_LMtFLGqfTro7_5sjJ6JKf5IC_1MfnhzT4Kg&amp;t=1&amp;usg=__nieXL0PvUh1aHwktP8d9DVGzQGQ=" alt="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3mupt_tE3EP0_LMtFLGqfTro7_5sjJ6JKf5IC_1MfnhzT4Kg&amp;t=1&amp;usg=__nieXL0PvUh1aHwktP8d9DVGzQGQ="/></p> <p><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;ved=0CBwQFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.intracen.org%2FTdc%2FExport%2520packaging%2FEPN%2FEnglish%2Fepn25e.pdf&amp;rct=j&amp;q=furniture%20package%20design&amp;ei=EeSJTIXUAoKdlgevgpiPCg&amp;usg=AFQjCNF34uZOWNbZPIVOrVWp31fd2sX5jw&amp;sig2=odQtDHF8UFUdHbVdgsCiiA&amp;cad=rja">This article</a> gives a very good overview of why export packaging of furniture is a real challenge for furniture manufacturers. Virginia Tech even has <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.woodscience.vt.edu/students/undergraduate.asp?page=ps-option">college and graduate degrees in packaging science for wood furniture</a>.</p> http://www.ayo.net/blog/147-packaging-design-why-is-it-important Fri, 10 Sep 2010 08:09:31 +0000 http://bit.ly/b2Gjc4 ayofurniture: [Global Markets] China (Australia) fact of the day http://bit.ly/b2Gjc4 http://twitter.com/ayofurniture/statuses/24007655660 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:09:34 +0000