| Read a magazine article today by Jimmy Lai, the publisher of a popular but highly controversial HK-based publication called Next Magazine. Mr. Lai is a highly successful businessman and a self-made man. He got his start in textile and was one of the brain child behind the HK retailer Giordano in its early days. Anyway, Lai writes a piece in the magazine each week that talk about his past and the secret to his success. Today, there was a quote about how his real job as a top manager is to solve problems. He thrives on changes. While at Giordano, he strived for constant change to make things better -- be it the use of a different type of fiber, changing the production processes, importing new technology, expanding the distribution network, etc etc. The key to success is constant innovation. If there is nothing more to change, then he'd have nothing to do. In some of the old articles, I remember he said he like to give retail customers only a small selection of colors each season/sales cycle. If he makes the clothes in all different colors all the time, then customers don't get the thrill of seeing new things. I don't know if you have Giordano in Shanghai, but it is definitely worth visiting to see some of the system that Lai has put in place -- much of it is still at work! |
The Devil's in the Details