ALL ARTICLES AND INSIGHTS
Explore strategy, markets, and business perspectives.
The SKU You Already Make Isn't Automatically the SKU the Market Wants
Existing production does not guarantee market fit. Learn how to identify SKU selection bias and ensure expansion decisions reflect local market preferences, not manufacturing convenience.
A Distributor Operating in the Market Is Not a Distributor Able to Sell Your Product
A search for distributors in an Asian market returns dozens of names within minutes. It cannot tell you which of them can handle your category, clear your product through import requirements, and carry no conflicting brand. Availability and suitability are different tests.
The Strongest Distributor on Paper May Be Wrong for Your Route to Market
Distributor strength is not absolute. A partner with impressive reach can still be wrong for an e-commerce-led entry, or unable to import your category at all. This Insight examines why partner suitability depends on decisions made before the search begins.
A Distributor Can Look Legitimate and Still Have a Network That Has Gone Quiet
Checking that a distributor exists is not the same as knowing it is still commercially alive. This Insight examines why visible market activity may reveal more about a partner's real capability than its credentials, and what dormant networks mean for market-entry decisions.
The Best Distributor Lead in the Market May Already Belong to Your Competitor
A competitor's distributor looks like the safest lead on any list. But the same brand roster that signals category credibility can also signal conflict, or stretched resources. This Insight examines how executives should read a distributor's portfolio before treating it as proof of fit.
Every Asian Market Has Dozens of Distributors. Which One Can Actually Deliver Your Brand?
Any team can build a list of distributors in an afternoon. Far fewer can say which of them genuinely fits their brand, category and route to market. This article explains why partner selection is a growth decision, and why fit, validation and the right contact matter more than the size of your list.