gmtPLUS09 | live from Seoul

The WSJ reports:

As the iPhone announcement sparked fears that Apple, Cupertino, Calif., would steal market share, the stocks of competitors dropped. Shares of RIM dropped 7.9%, while those of Palm dropped 5.7%. Shares of some larger telecom equipment makers dropped as well, though not drastically. After the news, Apple’s stock rose $7.10, or 8.3%, to $92.57 in 4 p.m. composite Nasdaq Stock Market trading.

Here’s an insightful 2-cents bit (report) on alcoholic drink trends.

In Korea, the notion of well-being is still the denominating factor to recreational, non-agenda-driven drinking rituals (i.e., not getting piss drunk for the purpose of relieving stress or gaining workplace comradeship). Wine is one genre that is really catching on. And the free trade agreement with Chile that brought over cheap alternatives definitely shaped the economics of it all. Its signature positively reinforced and defined the naïveté Korean consumer behavior towards wine: wine now came in all price point brackets; and with the increased number on- and off-trade distribution points…it could be available for consumption for unlimited drinking occasions much like beer.

Traction wasn’t visible until the consumers adopted or revised their lifestyle including dining experiences. The sticking points included 1) restuarants that primarily sold soju or other grain-based drinks, were also offering reds to compliment the barbeque dishes; 2) bars extended their menus to wines or the ones that primarily catered to these patrons who sought well-being alternatives, and/or the modern/cosmopolitan emotional attachment that came along with the drink or the on-trade atmosphere.

Body awareness (conscientious of consumption of food and drink) also crossed the void into the hard spirits. Lotte’s Lancelot whisky brand became widely popular because the "Morning Calm" marketing campaign communicated it had a lessened degree of hang-over effects. (FYI: Korean men mostly drink whisky for the sake of team-building and/or the drinking atmosphere offered in the room salons. They DO NOT drink for the actual taste. Whisky is mostly consumed after it is mixed with beer.)

Jagermeister, the German herbal liqueur, which is increasing its off-trade distribution with the addition of E-mart hypermarkets and Costco wholesalers, is riding this body awareness momentum marketed as a herbal drink.

It’ll be interesting to see whether Jagermeister continues in gaining marketshare outside of the modern on-trade (i.e., clubs) that it is locally known for.

Link: Brand Noise: Trend Report: Rethinking Libations.

From Portio Research’s recent market study…

• By the end of 2009, half the world’s population will be using a mobile phone
• Africa boasts the fastest growth rate in the new world, forecast to add 265 million new mobile subscribers over the next 6 years
• The Asia Pacific Region will account for 50% of the total number of
  subscribers worldwide by the end of this decade with a staggering 1.067
  billion subscribers shared between China and India alone, the world’s
  two biggest mobile markets

Notable growth markets ranking (2006-2011)
1. India
2. China
3. Brazil
6. USA
11. Russia

Link: Half the World Will Use a Cell Phone by 2009 - Mobiledia.

A really interesting alarm:clock Q&A read on VC in Korea. Although I already knew the key opportunities/differences between VC in US and Korea, the article gave solid insight into what goes on in this sector.

I should look into finding (discovering) more English-language articles on this subject. I’m sure there are plenty of success cases about mid- to late-seed firms out there. I haven’t kept up with this issue during the latter half of 05, hopefully I will stick with it longer in the new year.

This is worth checking out: Trends vs. Fads.

I’m a trend, I set one every time I’m in/ I go out and just come
back full circle again/You a fad that means you something that we
already had/ But once you’re gone you don’t come back/ Too bad, you’re
off the map now radar can’t even find you
-Dr. Dre