On The Job Trading in China

By Frank Mulligan, Talent Software

If you have been wondering why the productivity in your factory or office is not all it should be, then take a look at this article on the emergence of the microretailer in China.

The bad news for businesses is that it is likely to be their most highly educated, young, motivated, entrepreneurial, risking taking employees that will choose the option of selling goods online. Ask yourself if someone who is the opposite of the characteristics above would even know about the existence of Taobao or Ebay.

The worse news is that these hotshots will test their business model while they are still your paid employee. They pass all the risk to you as the supplier of their ’monthly spend’, otherwise known as their salary. If the product sells online then they will make online selling their full time career. Exit stage left.

The even worse news is that China has been the workshop of the world for many years now. There is high availability of cheap, saleable products and a ready market overseas.

This is the perfect storm, and the ironic thing is that it’s not that long ago that we all had to bring cash with us everywhere we went in China. Even the slighest hint that this would happen would have been laughed at outright. And, yes, by yours truly.

Times change, I guess, but not people’s instinct to make money.

Comments to: frank.mulligan@recruit-china.com