BMW & BYD: Separated at Birth?
I recently came across the Web site of BYD Automotive in China. Now I have to believe the lawyers at BMW are well aware of this logo, though I’m not …
Business globalization
Multilingual PR
I am on a number of mailing lists. This year I noticed that a few multinational organizations have begun sending releases in more than one language. While it would make …
Health Care en Español
The trend of American companies building Spanish-language Web sites is now in full swing. We are now seeing health care organizations getting into the act, with Delta Dental of California …
Pampering Russia
This is a great article about Procter & Gamble’s adventures in Russia. While currency devalatuations have been challenging, the economy has since stabilized and sales are growing at 50% annually …
FYI: Trade Events Listing
The US Dept. of Commerce has compiled a fairly hefty list of domestic and international trade events. The list is located at http://www.export.gov/comm_svc/eps_events.html.
Starbucks in Paris
Starbucks continues its global expansion with its first French locations, set to open in early 2004. Many pundits have warned that Starbucks will face anti-American resistance throughout the country. I …
Is Globalization Good?
According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, people around the world generally approve of increased international trade. They also “think positively” of international and multinational organizations, such …
World Wide Madonna
This article in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) explains the logistics of Madonna’s foray into children’s publishing. Madonna has never done anything small, so why should her first children’s …
Law & Web Globalization
Thanks to Amy Campbell for pointing us to a note by Larry Bodine about the growing number of law firms with multilingual Web sites. Apparently, Jones Day says it is …
Nextel en Español
Nextel recently launched a Spanish-language site to better market to Hispanic customers. Here is the site: www.nextel.com/espanol. This is good first step. But Nextel still has a long way to …
Can You Find the Global Gateway?
I’m a strong advocate for “global gateways.” A global gateway is the term I used to refer to the navigation system that directs users to their language-specific or locale-specific Web …
Revenge of the Non-Native English Speakers
Here is a very timely article on the growing relevance of multilingual, multicultural employees to the success of their companies within the U.S. and abroad. According to the article: No …
Globalization Case Study
An excellent article on the challenges of running a global team: CNET News Here is an excerpt: Even when employees have good language skills, they naturally interpret written and verbal …
New Generation Latinos
Corporations, anxious for growth, are increasingly opening their eyes to the U.S. Latino market — a market that now has its own Web site: New Generation Latino Consortium. In the …
The Last Days of Brand America
A few savvy American companies have known this for some time now, but it took the recent global protests of “American” products to make the rest of corporate America rethink …