#vleadersChina 2017: Meet Peter of VIU VENTURES
07.06.2017
Leaving to China on June 25 until July 4, this year’s venture leaders China forming the ‘Swiss National Startup Team China 2017’ reflect the impressive quality of Swiss startups, whose innovations come from the best universities and research institutes of Switzerland. Learn more about their growth objectives prior to the trip in our short interview series, running from May 30 to June 9 on venturelab.ch, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
 Peter Käser
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You can see the whole campaign on twitter.com/venturelab_ch searching the hashtag #vleadersChina.
VIU is challenging the established rules in the eyewear industry. VIU prescription glasses and sunglasses unite brilliant design with a transparent manufacturing process and fair prices.
Why do you choose China as your business development destination?
Most and foremost, the study trip should or must have a significant impact on how we handle our supply chain. How to find supply partners and how to successfully set-up long-term relationships with Chinese companies is a competence that VIU still lacks but that it tremendously needs in the years to come. Additionally, it will be very useful to understand the market dynamics and customer behaviour in China. Just by looking at other Swiss companies and their success in the Chinese market (e.g. watch industry), the Chinese market must be an absolute target market for VIU in the long-term. We are absolutely convinced that the VIU business model cannot only be successful in Europe but also in China and Asia as a whole. Consumers worldwide are more and more interested to have a look behind the product and to learn more about the story and the background of the brand and VIU is in an optimal position to cater to these needs.
What are your expectations and how will you utilize the opportunity to participate in venture leaders China to expand your business?
1. Supply Chain: We want to understand how to find, evaluate and select good sourcing partners in China and how to cooperate with them. If we achieve this, our cost base and consequently our business case could be significantly improved. 2. Establish contacts to potential distribution partner: Before entering the market on our own, our strategy is to find a suitable distribution partner in order to test our products in the Chinese environment. 3. Understand the market situation and challenges: We would like to understand the process of establishing a subsidiary in China and how to successfully launch a consumer product in China. Ideally, we would find suitable contact persons who have experience in this field. In addition, it would be very interesting to receive more information with regards to the regulatory environment and how the traditional optical industry works.
VIU is challenging the established rules in the eyewear industry. VIU prescription glasses and sunglasses unite brilliant design with a transparent manufacturing process and fair prices.
Why do you choose China as your business development destination?
Most and foremost, the study trip should or must have a significant impact on how we handle our supply chain. How to find supply partners and how to successfully set-up long-term relationships with Chinese companies is a competence that VIU still lacks but that it tremendously needs in the years to come. Additionally, it will be very useful to understand the market dynamics and customer behaviour in China. Just by looking at other Swiss companies and their success in the Chinese market (e.g. watch industry), the Chinese market must be an absolute target market for VIU in the long-term. We are absolutely convinced that the VIU business model cannot only be successful in Europe but also in China and Asia as a whole. Consumers worldwide are more and more interested to have a look behind the product and to learn more about the story and the background of the brand and VIU is in an optimal position to cater to these needs.
What are your expectations and how will you utilize the opportunity to participate in venture leaders China to expand your business?
1. Supply Chain: We want to understand how to find, evaluate and select good sourcing partners in China and how to cooperate with them. If we achieve this, our cost base and consequently our business case could be significantly improved. 2. Establish contacts to potential distribution partner: Before entering the market on our own, our strategy is to find a suitable distribution partner in order to test our products in the Chinese environment. 3. Understand the market situation and challenges: We would like to understand the process of establishing a subsidiary in China and how to successfully launch a consumer product in China. Ideally, we would find suitable contact persons who have experience in this field. In addition, it would be very interesting to receive more information with regards to the regulatory environment and how the traditional optical industry works.
What aspect(s) of China would you like to decrypt/know more about, businesswise?
With regards to China, VIU has several supplier relationships with Chinese manufacturers. As many other companies without a local presence in China, we are struggling to establish sound and good-working relationships with these suppliers. With this study trip to China, we would like to learn how to set-up successful relationships and how to improve our supply chain management. In addition, China will also be a target market for VIU in the near future. Hence, the study trip shall also be used to better understand the market dynamics, the consumer behaviour and the competitive landscape. In a first step, VIU could also „test“ the Chinese market with a local distributor. Ideally, we could establish first links to potential distributors during the study trip.
With regards to China, VIU has several supplier relationships with Chinese manufacturers. As many other companies without a local presence in China, we are struggling to establish sound and good-working relationships with these suppliers. With this study trip to China, we would like to learn how to set-up successful relationships and how to improve our supply chain management. In addition, China will also be a target market for VIU in the near future. Hence, the study trip shall also be used to better understand the market dynamics, the consumer behaviour and the competitive landscape. In a first step, VIU could also „test“ the Chinese market with a local distributor. Ideally, we could establish first links to potential distributors during the study trip.