Another reason why China’s industrial might isn’t as scary as you think

A few months ago, the Economist had an article on the crisis of middle management leadership in China, namely that there is none. Now, Slate jumps on the bandwagon, saying that Chinese may be able to make stuff but they sure can’t sell it.

You don’t have to go to China to see how much of the U.S. manufacturing base has relocated to the Middle Kingdom. On a trip to Germany with a group of journalists, I spent a few hours at the Messe Düsseldorf, a massive trade and convention center on the banks of the Rhine. (Trade fairs in European river cities have been essential to East-West commerce since the Middle Ages.)

To see just how far things have come””?and how far they have yet to go””?I visited Hall 16. The massive space was entirely filled with row upon row of booths manned by Chinese sales reps. They were hawking Chinese-made vacuum cleaners and power tools, fans and air conditioners, masking tape and panini presses, drill bits and tape measures, shovels and irons, clocks and coffee makers, juicers, and blow-dryers.

What was just as remarkable as the goods on display was the incompetent salesmanship that accompanied them. Here is a piece of good news for America: The Chinese can make anything, but they still need us to teach them how to sell it.

The US remains king of the hill when it comes to sales, marketing, advertising, and brands were invented, one reason why Chinese companies are interested in buying American companies. The article is eye-opening and amusingly worded (such as: “with all the enthusiasm of Dick Cheney at a MoveOn.org rally”). Read it here.