Your smile is in your genes!

Interesting! http://www.nature.com/news/2006/061016/full/061016-2.html

Trust-Mart to Wal-Mart and The New Chinese Consumer

One billion, three hundred million customers: It's a number that has captured the attention of every company in the world that wants to do business in China. Indeed, it’s world's largest consumer market. But the question is: Who are these consumers? How much money do they have? What do they want to buy? What motivates their purchases? What are the peculiarities of the Chinese consumer? China is home to 1.3 billion people, but only about 400 million are in urban areas. In urban areas, incomes have been growing at the same rate as GDP -- about 10% annually, adjusted for inflation -- in recent years, while incomes of rural people rise only 1% a year(Wharton Publication). Middle Class growth is driving factor for companies investing in China. Wealthier people are becoming richer and poor people are not getting poorer. More and more people are entering into lucrative middle class range. Middle-class and affluent consumers spend much of their discretionary income on items that will help them rise in stature compared to their neighbors. For these consumer Brands are important.

Will the resent news ofWal -Mart acquiring Trust-Mart in china help Wal-Mart? I doubt! Companies that will benefit most of this consumer boom would be Brand names like Proctor and Gamble, Starbucks, McDonald's etc. In Retail market space, Best Buy and Toys ‘R’ Us could be potential winner. Buying Trust-Mart may not make much difference to Wal-Mart situation.