An American friend and I recently discussed how much easier it is to start a multinational company than it was even five years ago. With support from Chinese and American financing the company he and his partners are launching has as many as 175 new products, product combinations and kits within two years from seed investment. With a factory and suppliers based in the Yangtze River Delta, the company has commitments for sales from retailers in the United States, Europe and Russia. My friend believes the combination of Chinese investment (unaffected during the global economic downturn), the relatively low cost of manufacture in China as well as information technology that allows American headquarters in China can effectively communicate with designers in the States and distributors around the world. “The barriers to entry to be a multinational have never been lower,” my friend mused.

Proctor and Gamble watch out!