H&M set for further international expansion, but reports declining results

Cotton price and strong krona take toll at H&M set for further international expansion according to the Financial Times. 

Hennes & Mauritz Q4 results
Sales	Net profit	Earnings per share	Dividend
SKr29.7bn	SKr5.4bn	SKr3.32	SKr9.5
↑6%	↓10%	↓10%	↑18%

The world’s third-biggest fashion retailer by sales reported a surprise 10 per cent drop in profits as margins were hurt by rising input costs.

H&M is especially vulnerable to rising raw material costs because its rapid global expansion has been based on a reputation for high-quality fashion garments at low prices.

H&M is also facing currency pressures after a 14 per cent appreciation in the Swedish krona against the troubled euro over the past year.

Karl-Johan Persson, chief executive,

 said H&M would press ahead with plans to open a further 250 stores this year and expand its online retailing operations in the US and elsewhere.

Technovator IPO to fund international expansion

IPO to fund international expansion according to Reuters. 

Chinese computer maker Tsinghua Tongfang Co Ltd said on Monday (2011-01-24) that it planned to list its subsidiary Technovator in Hong Kong in the second half of 2011 to fund its international expansion.The planned listing would enable Technovator, which makes building automation systems, to further consolidate global resources through direct financing or mergers and acquisitions, using Hong Kong as a platform for capital raising, Tsinghua Tongfang said in a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

Bigmouthmedia continues international expansion

International expansion into Spain was announced by Iain Bruce, Media Strategist of bigmouthmedia. He posted the following on printdayly.com:

... Marking the latest stage in the group's international expansion programme, Europe's largest independent digital marketing agency has now opened for business in Madrid. Led by two of Spain's best-known search professionals, the new office will offer bigmouthmedia's full range of search engine optimisation, PPC and digital marketing services to the Spanish market. 

"Spain is somewhere that any company with ambition wants to be. It's a dynamic place to do business in, has many opportunities, and is fast becoming one of the most exciting markets in Europe," said Steve Leach, bigmouthmedia's Group CEO. 

"We're delighted to have secured a very experienced Spanish team with an established track record, and I am confident they will lead the business with the same passion as the rest of our 10 international offices." 

... Founded in the UK in 1997, bigmouthmedia has built an international reputation for delivering maximised online returns and exposure for its big brand customers. A recognised industry leader with annual turnover of €140million, it provides clients with a comprehensive range of digital marketing services and is the recipient of multiple awards. 

The company's international clients include Europcar, Samsung, Hilton, British Airways, DKNY and Lacoste. 

...

Otherwise world wise companies forget to to check out names internationally

.On January 7th, 2011, International Expansion found this article by tema, which points to frequently occurring mishaps by even the largest, most sophisticated companies when it comes to naming products for the international markets. This article says, in part:

...Product designations and even abbreviations can even mean something offensive in foreign languages.

One good (or rather bad) example is the Mitsubishi Shogun (UK name). The ... vehicle is sold in most countries under the name "Pajero"... In Spanish, especially in Latin American Spanish, “Pajero” is a very pejorative term, meaning “wanker”. For that reason, and after much turmoil, the car’s name was changed to “Montero” for these markets...

www.gelaendewagen.at" src="http://gelaendewagen.at/images24/mitsubishi_pajero/mitsubishi_pajero_1982.jpg" height="306" alt="Mitsubishi Pajero (1982)" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none;" />

A good way to prevent misunderstandings is to have no wording at all in your logo, although this requires either a very iconic/pictographic logo or huge brand recognition. Starbucks are doing exactly that at the moment. They plan to scrap the letters from their logo, just leaving their mermaid on green background to remain on their cups, the reason for that being massive expansion aspirations. [See separate International Expansion post on that subject]. 

Another problem, not pointed out by tema, is the ability to use and protect trademarks: many a large company miss out in this area, as well. 

International expansion in 2010 at Actlabs

International Expansion is committed to bringing you up-to-date information on global companies such as Actlabs. 

Actlabs is committed to bringing the most modern technologies and a higher level of competencies to the analytical laboratory for the mineral industry. In 2010, the company has grown rapidly by expanding 5 existing facilities and opening 12 new facilities in North and South America, Africa, and Asia. Here's a list of current geochemical and assay laboratories:

• North America
  • Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
  • Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
  • Geraldton, Ontario, Canada
  • Timmins, Ontario, Canada
  • Red Lake, Ontario, Canada
  • Ste-Germaine, Québec, Canada
  • Val d’Or, Québec, Canada
  • Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
  • Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada
  • Stewart, British Columbia, Canada
  • Chihuahua, Mexico
  • Zacatecas, Mexic

• South America
  • Coquimbo, Chile
  • Lima, Peru
  • Tumeremo, Venezuela
  • Georgetown, Guyana 

• Australia
  • Perth, Australia 

• Asia
  • Ulaan Bator, Mongolia 

• Greenland
  • Nuuk, Greenland 

• Africa
  • Namibia