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Luxury China: Market Opportunities and Potential
Michel Chevalier & Pierre Xiao Lu; John Wiley & Sons: 300 pp., $29.95
As China's economy surges ahead, the growing urban-affluent segment of its society is an immense draw for luxury goods providers worldwide. China is currently the world's third largest consumer of luxury goods, next to Japan and the United States.
``Luxury China: Market Opportunities and Potential'' hones in on the prospects for luxury brands in the country, and provides insight on this luxury market and gives advice on how to best exploit its tremendous potential.
This comprehensive and practical guide addresses key issues such as the size of the Chinese luxury market, consumer behavior and preferences, and critical on-the-ground issues such as market entrance strategies, elective retailing, successful communication and advertising strategies among others.
Illustrated with concrete business cases in different product categories such as high fashion, leather goods, watches, spirits and wines, decoration and tableware, this book analyzes the current market and its evolution in the future. It will also serve as a detailed benchmark for marketers and managers to check against their current situation and devise their next steps for market expansion.
-Chung Ah-young
Maximizing Human Capital in Asia: From the Inside Out
Elizabeth Martin-Chua; John Wiley & Sons: 256 pp., $24.95
The relationship between the growth of employees and businesses seems evident enough, but short-term financial pressure causes many companies to overlook their interdependence. Business growth cannot be sustainable if the employees'needs are not satisfied ― companies must build on a value proposition that keeps employees engaged, and therefore customers happy.
The newly published ``Maximizing Human Capital in Asia: From the Inside Out'' examines the concepts, strategies and solutions to harness the full potential of an organization's people assets in an organization.
Drawing from the author's many years of experience at the helm, this book takes a close look at HR in Asia, paying close attention to the need to synergize Eastern and Western schools of thought into the decision-making process in order to develop a HR strategy that accurately reflects the diversity of Asia.
The author recommends three approaches ― Global for Local, Local for Local and Local for Global. The first is having a mindset of a global framework allowing for local customization when necessary. The second is encouraging local for local initiatives to capitalize on local advantages. The third is sharing best experiences and strengths for global benefit.
-Chung Ah-young
 Stewardess' Secret Note
Jung Jin-jee et al; Cine21 Books: 284 pp., 12,800 won
Going abroad means meeting different cultures and people, and some of the first people you come across in your travels are flight attendants.
The book ``Stewardess' Secret Note'' is written by eight flight attendants from Asiana Airlines. It presents the inside stories of professional stewardesses, from their pet peeves to favorite and worst passengers and helpful travel tips. The book gives readers a behind-the-scenes look into the life of a flight attendant - including the curtained bunks where they take quick naps, the ``kitchen'' where they prepare meals, and the coveted first-class section.
Donning clean-cut uniforms and always greeting passengers with a smile, flight attendants are not only experts on the aircraft and its services, but they must also have a keen eye for food and wine, know basic emergency procedures and learn how to calm children.
Perfect for those who are interested in becoming flight attendants, ``Stewardess' Secret Note'' is easy to read and features photos taken by the writers themselves and fun and witty illustrations describing their difficult, yet interesting life in the air.
-Han Sang-hee
 Needing Comfort
Takashi Saito; Translated by Park Hwa: Myunggin Publishing: 212 pp., 10,000 won
The author, who is a professor at Meiji University in Japan, an educational psychologist and a bestselling writer, sets out in this book to comfort, rather than chastise, the downtrodden, especially the young.
Saito's 20s and 30s were not years of smooth sailing. He endured numerous years of remaining a relatively unknown writer and a poor academic. He overcame these tough times by delving into reading, interacting with the figures in the books and taking them on as mentors. In the book, he relays his life experience to motivate today's young, who are outwardly cool but weak inside.
The book has simple yet heartwarming advice. He strongly recommends those in their 20s to make lots of friends. "If your pride is one that crumbles easily, then it's better for you to not have pride at all," he writes.
Saito also advises gaining "as much experience as you can when you are young." The book makes for a warm read in this fine season for poring over books.
-Kim Ji-soo |
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