Actually the knock off apple and ikea are both in Kunming, where there's alot of money but not enough developments in terms of western brands opening shops there. The knock off IKEA is called 11 Furniture, in mandarin the names are almost. 11 Furniture copies the entire IKEA C.I (Corporate Identity), but they do not copy the furniture that IKEA has.
There's no doubt that there's alot of knock offs in China, but i don't see why there's so much news covering the fake apple store since they are selling real ipads and macbooks anyways..and international warranty applies nonetheless and they still buy their stock from apple which means profits goes to apple. It's not like they're selling fake Macs cos that wouldn't be possible. I have seen fake iphones, i would take a stab in the dark and say there's more than a hundred different models of fake iphones and iphones wannabes lurking in the chinese market. But people who buy them know they are fake, and people around them know it too so it's not like someone buying a fake LV or Gucci who do try to pass them off as the real deal.
One good thing that i've seen happening in China for the past 2-3yrs is that the Chinese are getting afraid of copying wholesale...they're going with the Adopt and Adapt technique so they make some changes here and there and call it their own, still as disgustingly wrong but it's good that they are bothered to be concerned now. Example i've seen Nokia's as Nokla, Apple brand used a PingGuo(chinese for apple) and the logo has 2 bites as opposed to apple's single bite, Predator cues made as Predaior...
China's too big, growing too quickly with TOO MUCH money...the chinese NEED to spend that money...they can't wait for the western world to open stores in every city and it's just not happening fast enough. IKEA only has 9 stores in china now, the one in Beijing is the biggest store by revenue in the world. 9 stores are not enough to cater to the china market, so that leaves a huge a gap for many entrepreneurs to exploit this lack off. I've seen websites buying products on behalf of customers in cities where there isn't IKEA and helps the customers pack and ship that makes tonnes of money every month. I know a mobile phone dealer that has been dealing with the very first version of iPhone til the recent iphone 4 where it's been launched officially in china. This dealer can move 10-30 iphones DAILY and he can't get his stocks fast enough, he profits $100-200 depending on how sought after the particular model is. After 4-5yrs of knowing this guy from a 8 m2 shop he is still running the same 8 m2 shop but now has 2 condo apartments and drives a BMW... now that iphone is officially launched in china, he turns to selling all things apple..
I'm off topic, i know...but i can't help but share with fellow forumers on what goes on in china...
Sorry john...i'm polluting your thread...i'll give u a free bump though? Oh and i'd like a copy of the book, send it to me with my case? I'll pay together for the other 4x8 case ur making me.
