危机中的商机

Opportunities amid Economic Downturn

是危,但也许同时是机。一面是需求萎缩,另一面是低价必需品的红火;一面是经济低迷,另一面是政府积极的经济刺激措施;一面是经济数据不断走低,另一面是以小搏大成为可能;一面是信心恐慌,另一面可能是进入市场的时机之门悄然开启。现在不乏逆市增长的企业。他们都有其相似之处:行业内的领军者、资金充裕、技术优门槛高、产品附加值高、多元化市场经营等。幸运从不无故降临,这些企业的存在给了我们危机中发现机会的启示。

Is it the worst of times? It depends. Most analysts are frustrated by statistics in China which suggest that firms around the country are facing an unprecedented crisis and there has been even a baffling closedown trend. This has troubled many, but not all. For some enterprises, these challenging times may be the best times. As more firms do their best to find new opportunities, it is not surprising that some will generate positive results sooner than others will. Wasam Technology Co., Ltd., a firm located in Shenzhen where the impact of the global financial crisis has been more severe than in most other parts of China, had a blistering sales increase in 2008 when its annual revenue rose by a factor of 2.3 times the revenue in 2007. The company has received far more orders than before from overseas markets because its products have become more attractive and many of its rivals have seized up with dwindling demand from markets abroad. Langsha Co., a leading producer of socks in China, has also enjoyed more orders from markets outside China and is increasing the capacity of its factories. An economic slowdown always causes a decline in demand. But there is always demand for life’s necessities and certain forms of relaxation. Demand may change in some ways when consumers become more frugal, but it never disappears completely. The main problem for firms is to find the demand and meet it profitably.