Tag: silk market

I’ve been studying intellectual property in China for a few weeks and have already highlighted the complete failure to enforce IP rights effectively. The most egregious example being the Silk Market, which has seven floors of counterfeit goods. Anywhere you look you can spot a dozen trademark violations. Yet, apparently the market continues to thrive.

Here is some data from the People’s Daily Online:

• In 2005, the Silk Market moved into its current building from outdoor stalls.
• It once drew 100,000 shoppers a day.
• It once had sales in excess of RMB 100,000,000 per year.

What baffles me is that the article says,

The Beijing Xiushui Clothing Co. Ltd. was planning to cooperate with Taiwan businesses to set up a new Xiushui Market in Taipei

How can the government sanction such activities when they know the market sells what it sells?

First thing I’ve done in Beijing worth noting.

The Silk Market is a six floor building filled with authentic knock-off jeans, shirts, shoes, pearls, watches, statues, golf clubs, etc. etc. etc. They have anything you want, and it’s as cheap as you can bargain for.

The clerks will literally grab your arm and pull you into their booth. Some people don’t like it, although I found it entertaining and only mildly invasive. The workers also speak very good English, so communicating is easy. Bargaining is done by typing prices into a calculator and finding a middle point.

I bought a pair of white Gucci loafers. They look good, fit well, and are really really white. Dirty Haidain, Beijing will be a great place to break them in.