European Furniture & Household

Before we looked up information about international furniture market, we didn’t know many things about that, even how big it is. Obviously, many global companies start doing their business in Korea. Hence, a number of Korean people and medias are worried about Korean companies’ side. They are afraid of the market share decline. However, we found that is a baseless fear from the Internet and many cases in other countries. Due to the global companies, Korean companies’ outdated marketing strategies and lines are getting improved and developing their own systems. As a result of these changes and efforts, they are experiencing an increase in profits now. 

We got such a nice chance to communicate with employees working at an international company.

Firstly, thanks to this opportunity, we realized some differences between Korean corporate culture and Global corporate culture.

It is communication and discussion. Korean people tend to avoid discussing with their manager and boss. It might be rude in Korea. The guests explained us that we need to share our opinions with the boss directly and don’t have to avoid discussing with them. It is the way to collect nice ideas for us. Both Korean and another way have strong points and weak points. I believe we have to mix the strength of these two cultures to forward good corporate cultures in Korea.

During their speech, they didn’t give us information one-way, but a two way street. Students asked some questions to them and they answered the questions and vice versa. It made us understand the cultural differences easily. 

Secondly, we learned how to save their production cost. They are doing their own best for that. For example, they set some solar panels on the top of their buildings, and they could use this natural energy. Furthermore, they are a furniture retailer, logistic system is important, so they reduce some red tape supply chain channel as well.

Lastly, They are doing many charitable activities around the world. It is getting important to discharge the social responsibility of corporations over the world. Many international companies invest some part of their profits for the organizations to help people in great need such as UNICEF. Once we had heard that they are supporting UNICEF, we have started viewing them from a different angle, ‘It is not the company only for the profits and money, but for the customers and people’.

After we heard many things from them, we really would love to experience what they do. We all said that working for international companies was a good route to widen our mental views. We can’t wait to meet other interesting and helpful people to tell us about themselves.