Branding opportunities for British groups in Asia

I read with interest your comments on opportunities in Russia and other emerging economies for UK designers following the story of Bill Wallsgrove of Big Idea making a showing in Russia through his link with Moscow consultancy Mildberry (DW 3 February).

I very much agree that there are great opportunities for British designers and my own consultancy Brand Frontier is testimony to the possibilities, with clients in Taipei and Shanghai.

While we would prefer to be helping British manufacturers lead in world markets, many of them are reluctant to launch new products.

We have found that Chinese and Taiwanese companies will each year develop and launch seven times as many new products as their British counterparts.

Chinese and Taiwanese companies rightfully love and respect British design and appreciate that if their economies are to continue to grow at their current phenomenal rates they must be known not just for manufacturing goods, but more importantly, for the design and innovation of their goods.

Chinese and Taiwanese companies are also becoming aware of the value of brand. For many years they have been happy to make products for others, but they now want a valuable brand of their own.

Mark Pinder

Co-founder

Brand Frontier

London E14