(BroBible.com)
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
The Asian Invasion Continues
South Coast Plaza Looks a Lot More Chinese These Days--And It's Not By Accident
Industry experts credit Werner Escher, South Coast Plaza's executive director of domestic and international markets and the man responsible for much of South Coast's international success, for creating the mall's Chinese wave. Now in his mid-80s, he has worked for South Coast Plaza for nearly five decades, back to when the Segerstroms were transforming their lima bean fields into buildings. It was Escher who convinced the clan to let him court Japanese starting in the 1970s, at a time when that country's economy was booming and Americans still dismissed its residents as goldfish farmers.
Japanese at South Coast became a trend piece for local journalists for years. But as the Japanese economy sputtered in the 1990s, Escher pivoted toward China. He first visited in 2004; by the next year, long before any large influx of Chinese were coming to the United States, Escher helped bring a production of the National Ballet of China's Raise the Red Lantern to the then-Orange County Performing Arts Center (now the Segerstrom Center for the Arts).
"We have adapted," Escher says. "We certainly have Mandarin-speaking concierge and sales associates. We have the largest selection of brands, particularly luxury, and so many of our stores have stories to tell. There's a history to the shoes, the clothes."
(OCWeekly.com)
Industry experts credit Werner Escher, South Coast Plaza's executive director of domestic and international markets and the man responsible for much of South Coast's international success, for creating the mall's Chinese wave. Now in his mid-80s, he has worked for South Coast Plaza for nearly five decades, back to when the Segerstroms were transforming their lima bean fields into buildings. It was Escher who convinced the clan to let him court Japanese starting in the 1970s, at a time when that country's economy was booming and Americans still dismissed its residents as goldfish farmers.
Japanese at South Coast became a trend piece for local journalists for years. But as the Japanese economy sputtered in the 1990s, Escher pivoted toward China. He first visited in 2004; by the next year, long before any large influx of Chinese were coming to the United States, Escher helped bring a production of the National Ballet of China's Raise the Red Lantern to the then-Orange County Performing Arts Center (now the Segerstrom Center for the Arts).
"We have adapted," Escher says. "We certainly have Mandarin-speaking concierge and sales associates. We have the largest selection of brands, particularly luxury, and so many of our stores have stories to tell. There's a history to the shoes, the clothes."
(OCWeekly.com)
Changes Should Bring A Growth In Popularity
Is This What Drifting Needs In Order To Progress?
If you think about it, the tried and tested formula of competition drifting is pretty much the same world-over. What’s more, it hasn’t really changed much since its inception, despite the sport coming on leaps and bounds.
In order to operate as viable businesses, drift competitions have had to change their approach over time, not only to attract fans, but also to appeal to sponsors and the essential financial backing that they bring, motorsport authorities and the power of being recognised officially and, of course, drivers – because without them, there is no competition. It’s a delicate balancing act, and you aren’t going to please everyone all of the time, it’s simply not possible. Actions taken to appease sponsors might end up wearing thin on the fans and turning them away. Decisions made to keep governing bodies on side could prove costly, or prohibitive for the drivers.
Changes in safety regulations, how events are run, judging criteria – every little alteration to what we’ve become accustomed to as ‘the norm’ in competitive drifting is almost always met with resistance from one or more angles. Running a successful series is an unenviable task, because through all of the hoops you have to jump through, hurdles that you have to overcome and different parties that you have to keep happy, your ultimate aim is to make the series and, on a larger scale, the sport grow as much as possible. I think a lot of people forget that.
(SpeedHunters.com)
If you think about it, the tried and tested formula of competition drifting is pretty much the same world-over. What’s more, it hasn’t really changed much since its inception, despite the sport coming on leaps and bounds.
In order to operate as viable businesses, drift competitions have had to change their approach over time, not only to attract fans, but also to appeal to sponsors and the essential financial backing that they bring, motorsport authorities and the power of being recognised officially and, of course, drivers – because without them, there is no competition. It’s a delicate balancing act, and you aren’t going to please everyone all of the time, it’s simply not possible. Actions taken to appease sponsors might end up wearing thin on the fans and turning them away. Decisions made to keep governing bodies on side could prove costly, or prohibitive for the drivers.
Changes in safety regulations, how events are run, judging criteria – every little alteration to what we’ve become accustomed to as ‘the norm’ in competitive drifting is almost always met with resistance from one or more angles. Running a successful series is an unenviable task, because through all of the hoops you have to jump through, hurdles that you have to overcome and different parties that you have to keep happy, your ultimate aim is to make the series and, on a larger scale, the sport grow as much as possible. I think a lot of people forget that.
(SpeedHunters.com)
I'm Suprised That It's Only 60%
Nearly sixty percent of cigarettes are smuggled in New York due to a high tax of $5 a pack
- . . . . . for smugglers, the rewards can be huge. With a van and some start-up money, a day trip to Virginia — where cigarettes are taxed 30 cents per pack, compared to $5.85 in New York City — could net a smuggler more than $40,000 in profit when the goods are resold in the city. All for a few relatively low-risk hours along I-95.
Volvo Continues To Thrive With 'Race On Sunday, Sell On Monday'
Why Volvo races, and what it means for us
Volvo Enters The World Touring Car Championship, We Win
It's important to understand that the Swedes have a wholly different view of performance than our horsepower-and-hole-shot frame of reference. Hans Bååth (pronounced "boat"), Polestar's marketing director, said, "These cars should take you to everywhere you want to go, and you should be able to utilize the performance 365 days a year, not just, 'Now I'm brave enough to push the button.'" When we asked for a clarification that an American mind could quickly comprehend, he said, "I'm going to be faster on Angeles Crest in my Volvo than in your Hellcat on a rainy day."
(AutoBlog.com)
Volvo Enters The World Touring Car Championship, We Win
It's important to understand that the Swedes have a wholly different view of performance than our horsepower-and-hole-shot frame of reference. Hans Bååth (pronounced "boat"), Polestar's marketing director, said, "These cars should take you to everywhere you want to go, and you should be able to utilize the performance 365 days a year, not just, 'Now I'm brave enough to push the button.'" When we asked for a clarification that an American mind could quickly comprehend, he said, "I'm going to be faster on Angeles Crest in my Volvo than in your Hellcat on a rainy day."
(AutoBlog.com)
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