21 February 2014

India and The New Global Consumer

Did you know that there will be nearly one billion middle-class consumers in China and India within the next ten years?
More than 135 Million Chinese and Indians will graduate from college, bringing many new households into the middle and upper classes.

Like happened to me in China, there was first a calling for education, then strategy and finally business development and relationship building. I started teaching Luxury Brand Management courses at Jiao Tong University in Shanghai (thanks to Fondazione CUOA), thereafter bringing new EU brands to fashion trade exhibitions at Novomania and CHIC, communicating luxury and fashion brand values through Fortune Character Magazine, organizing the Luxury in China Summit in Shanghai, all while putting companies together for long-term commitments.

Now after 5 years working successfully in China, India is calling me in a similar way. And I am answering the call here too with an investigative and research mission to Mumbai from February 24-March 2. I am curious to see the contrasts between high and low end, while at the same time feeling the people's need to enthousiastically improve oneself and connect with the rest of the world.

Interestingly, one of my recent keynote speeches in China, at the IAF Conference in Kunshan, was published in the new print edition of India's fashion trade publication Fibre2fashion Magazine, November 2013 issue. Thank you very much India, I like you already! See article below.