Market familiarity is one area where international students are at a disadvantage vs. American students or those who have lived in the U.S. for a number of years.

Professors at American business schools – both graduate and undergraduate – are constantly working to incorporate international brands and retailers into classroom discussions and homework.  In my program at NYU, in the last year I have incorporated cases on Revova (a toilet paper brand from Portugal) and                 Ad-Lider Embalagens (a Brazilian garbage bag company).  I will be adding a case of a Chinese company next semester.  Students often pick international businesses as the subject of their Term Projects – past topics have included Tencent, Unilever’s attempts to reestablish a successful presence in the ice cream market and a major Japanese retailer’s attempts to execute a successful business in the U.S.

However, no matter how hard we try, those of us who have grown up and spent most of our careers based in the US will tend to discuss US business institutions more than international ones; and students who have spent a considerable amount of time in America will also refer mainly to American brands, companies and retailers in their discussions.

So how can you minimize the disadvantage from the lack of familiarity with the U.S. market?  There are several relatively simple things you can do.  If you are going to be majoring in marketing, the following are recommended.  Try to begin these activities at least 6 months prior to coming to the United States:

1. Subscribe to Advertising Age.  Advertising Age is a weekly publication that covers what is going on in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods, commercial marketing, advertising, social marketing and promotion world.  It is not only informative, but an easy and enjoyable read.  If you love marketing, this is a must read and one which will get you up to speed on what is going on in the U.S. marketing world.  The website for Advertising Age China is http://adage.com/china.

1. Subscribe to the Wall Street Journal.  Although this is seen as mainly a financial publication, the WSJ provides a lot of information on businesses around the world and its daily Media and Marketing page is outstanding.

1. If possible, access the following websites:

1. http://www.prophet.com/blog/aakeronbrands – David Aaker is a professor who founded a brand consulting firm, Prophet.  He is among the most respected marketing strategists in the world and has authored over 100 articles and 15 books, incuding one of the most widely used textbooks in MBA programs.  His site is full of analysis regarding brands’ and companies’ marketing efforts and insights into the marketing profession.

David Aaker教授创办了Prophet品牌顾问公司。他是全球范围内享有声望的市场营销策略师，曾发表了超过100篇文章及15本著作，其中包括MBA课程中被广泛使用的教科书。他在以上网站上的专栏收录了许多与品牌及公司的市场策略相关的分析，此外还有营销案例的专业点评。

1. http://www.marketingpower.com/aboutama/pages/ama%20publications/marketing%20news/marketingnews.aspx – this is the link to Marketing News, a publication of the U.S. marketing industry, the American Marketing Association.  Click on the link for current issue.  You may be able to sign up for free to read the entire articles, but if you can’t do this you still get access to summaries of the articles, which provide good knowledge about different businesses and marketing topics.

这是Marketing News的网站链接，点击即可获得最新咨询。用户可以免费注册并阅读完整文章。即使不用这种方式，你也可以浏览文章梗概，熟悉不同商业及市场营销界的有用知识。

1. http://www.marketingpilgrim.com – this marketing and media blog has built a solid reputation as a marketing news powerhouse. It features up-to-date marketing news and reviews and advertising spots for growing businesses.

这个营销和媒体类的博客作为一个业界新闻发布的权威平台，始终关注最前沿的市场营销咨询及市场反馈，同时也及时报道成长产业的广告热门话题。

Once you come to the U.S. and before you start class, do the following:

一旦你来到了美国，在你真正开始走进课堂前，请做如下准备：

 

1. Subscribe to any of the above publications and websites that you could not access from China.  Spend some time reading current issues/articles as well as perusing past issues and posts.  You need not become expert in every article – just get a feel for businesses, brands and what is going on in the U.S. Market.

订阅以下任何刊物或登陆网站，其中一些是你在中国无法获取的。花一些时间阅读最新发表的文章，同时也可浏览过去的内容。无需每篇文章都逐字逐句读完，只要对美国市场及品牌有大致的感觉即可。

 

1. Most importantly, go visit different retail outlets.  Go to different drug store chains like Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid?  What differences do you sense and see?  DO they carry the same products?  Are the stores laid out the same?  Pick out one or two products and record their price – and then compare it to the other drug chains.  What is their relative price position?  And what about the reliance on own label?  What is the name of Walgreen’s private label and do they have offerings in lots of categories?  How about the other chains?

最重要的是，你应该多出去看看不同的零售品牌店铺。你是否去过不同的药品连锁商店，比如Walgreens, CVS及Rite Aid？你是否感觉出不同店铺之间的区别？不妨选择一到两种商品，记录下它们在不同零售店中的价格并进行比对，得出其各自价格定位。他们自己品牌的信赖度如何？Walgreen自己独立商标的名字叫什么？他们是否提供许多不同种类商品？其他的连锁品牌情况又如何？

Do the same for the two largest mass merchandisers, Walmart and Target.  Why is Walmart known as the lowest price retailer?  Do you get a different feeling when you walk into Target?  Are there more designer brands in Target?  Why do Americans, especially younger women, refer to this retailer as Targe (indicate French accent)?

同样的案例分析也可被用于最大的卖场沃尔玛（Walmart ）和Target。沃尔玛为何被公认为价格最低的零售商？当你走进Target时会否有一种不同的感觉？那里是否有更多的设计师品牌？为什么美国人，尤其是年轻女性更乐于去Targe（省去“T”的音节，像法语那样发音）这类商店呢？

Then check out some of the local grocery chains near you.  Why are grocery chains in the US struggling?  What do you sense regarding product selection and pricing vs. other outlets.   Are prepared foods a large portion of the store?  These items account for a minority of supermarket sales but a majority of profits.

最后，多观察附近的当地杂货连锁店。美国杂货连锁店的经营为何步履艰难？在商品选择及相对别的折扣店的价格方面，你有何感受？销售熟食是否是这些商店的重头戏？这些商品在普通超市中占很小的销售份额，但却成为了其主要利润来源。

 

If you are planning on studying finance when you enter school in the U.S., the best thing you can do while in China is subscribe to The Wall Street Journal, Forbes or Fortune Magazine.

如果你计划进入美国学校攻读金融专业，在中国期间你最好就开始订阅《华尔街日报》、《福布斯》或《财富》杂志。

 

Other good websites to subscribe to include:

其他有价值的网站包括：

 

1. http://www.bloomberg.com – The Bloomberg site features articles on companies, financial markets and world news.  Bloomberg also recently acquired a well-known general business publication, Business Week.

Bloomberg侧重报道品牌和世界新闻。Bloomberg最近还获得了一个知名的普通出版刊物《商业周刊》。

 

1. www.ft.com – The Financial Times is a British publication but one of the world’s leading business ne金融市场和全球新闻。ws and information organizations, recognized for it’s authority, integrity and accuracy. They provide a broad range of essential services to the growing audience of internationally minded business people.

《金融时报》虽是一份英国刊物，但它同时也是全球领先的商业及咨询刊物，以权威性、完整性和准确性著称，并致力于为有全球商业敏锐度的人们提供全方位的重要服务。

 

 

Once you get to the United States, sign up for any of the above websites you were not able to access from China.  Then go to some of the leading banks in the area.  Speak to them about what products and services they offer.  How is the customer service they provide?  DO they appear to be more consumer or business focused?  In a time of the lowest interest rates on savings accounts in the history of the US, how are they trying to differentiate themselves?

当你来到美国，注册以下任何一个你可能在中国无法登陆的网站。然后去这个区域一些主流银行，咨询他们提供何种产品及服务，了解他们有何种客户服务。他们更注重客户层面还是商业层面？在美国历史上储蓄利率最低的阶段，不同银行又做了何种尝试以区别于其他银行？

 

If you are going to school in the New York City area, go take a tour of the Wall Street area.  Public tours of the New York Stock exchange are no longer operating (due to security concerns), but a tour of the area is still a great orientation.  Although I do not have experience with any of the following, they have good reputations and are conducted by reputable organizations:

如果你即将在纽约学习，务必去华尔街地区实地考察。鉴于安全考虑，对纽约证券交易所的公众考察被取消了，但自己去走一走还是极为必要的。尽管我自己不是特别经常访问以下网站，但它们都非常有影响力，均由享有盛誉的组织运营：

 

1. http://www.thewallstreetexperience.com
2.  http://www.newyorkpartyshuttle.com/new-york-attractions/new-york-stock-exchange-new-york.php
3. http://gonyc.about.com/od/attractionslandmarks/p/federal_reserve.htm – if you make a reservation, you can tour The Federal Reserve Bank.  This institution basically sets monetary policy for the country.

如果你做预约，还能参观联邦储备委员会。简单而言，这个机构为国家制定货币政策。

 

You will do fine in your studies here in the U.S.  However, my goal is to provide you with some simple things to insure your transition to the American classroom is easier and smoother.  Following the preceding recommendations will accomplish this.

你在美国的学习一定会很顺利的，但我的使命是为你提供一些简单可行的建议，以此帮助你转换到美国课堂时更简单、顺畅。试试看上述方法，它们会帮助你很好地适应。

For readers of IntroAmerica, there is a special $2,000 discount for the August graduate program. Enter IABW  in the Scholarship Code box if you decide to register for the program.

Alan Kerzner is an adjunct professor at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Professor Kerzner worked for a number of companies, including Hartz Mountain Corporation, Rexall, Johnson & Johnson and Proctor & Gamble. Mr. Kerzner graduated from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with an MBA in Marketing. He is also the CEO of the Institute for Global Student Success where he offers an in-depth one year program to help students learn how to be successful in American colleges and the business environment. More information can be found at https://globalstudentsuccess.com/

 

Alan Kerzner是宾夕法尼亚大学沃顿商学院、纽约大学进修与专业教育学院的客座教授。Kerzner教授曾与许多公司合作，包括Hartz Mountain Corporation、Rexall、Johnson & Johnson以及Proctor & Gamble等。他同时也是IGSS项目的首席执行官。此项目致力于用1年时间深入地帮助学生如何在美国大学中成功地完成学业，以及更了解商业环境。IntroAmerica网站读者报名可登录https://globalstudentsuccess.com/ 网站，输入”IABW“更可获得8月份课程2000美元的额外优惠。