[HUG ] Re: Dollar fall kills Hasselblad? (and Leica?)
Yes, agree fully. It will be a generation or two before the US is equaled in economic power, but that was not the point. IMO, the North American and Western European markets are close to being saturated, while the so called emerging economies, though smaller, are not. It would be easier for Leica to sell an M8 and Noctilux to a new millionaire in Shanghai or Bangalore or Moscow than to a middle class wage earner in NA or Europe. The high end is the market that companies like Rolex and MontBlanc, to name two very successful luxury goods makers, have targeted.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Rabiner" <mark@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: <hasselblad@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, 28 April, 2008 1:11 AM
Subject: [HUG ] Re: Dollar fall kills Hasselblad? (and Leica?)



It's no use blaming  Leica or Hasselblads poor performance on the decline
in the US dollar. European companies have only themselves to blame for
declining sales. Leica, Hasselblad,CZ should have switched their sales
emphasis from the US and Western Europe to Asia and Russia where the growth 
is.
I am not sure if the list members are aware of the enormous economic change 
that is now occurring. For just one example see:

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB118677584137994489.html

China,  Russia, Brazil, India are areas where luxury goods makers need to
focus their efforts if they are to do well.




I think the USA might have one or two last gasps left.
After a lull of a  year or so this is just a downturn.
Can't be up up up all the time.
I predict the US market will have some importance in the years to come.
There's one or two people who want to buy one last camera before they croak. 
After they've bought their loaf of bread for $20,000.
Which they got there in a wheelbarrow.

Mark William Rabiner
markrabiner.com



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