Haunted Houses In Hong Kong

1500 Words6 Pages
In Chapter 10, “Global Product Development” the different global product strategies are introduced. There are three main strategies that companies use to access foreign markets: extension, adaption and invention. In the CNN article titled “Hong Kong’s hot market in haunted houses” there is an adaption strategy that is being used to help market undesirable houses. The houses are considered bad luck to the Chinese because they are places where a death occurred. This article discusses how one website, Squarefoot.com.hk, is taking advantage of these houses and what they have to offer a foreign consumer. Adults tend to think of superstitions as childish or even uneducated beliefs--and they may be. However, superstitions abound all over the world, each influenced by the cultures of different people. (Gonzalez, 2011) In Peter Shadbolt’s article “Hong Kong’s hot market in haunted houses” the Chinese superstitious locals have denoted apartments where an undesirable death has occurred as 'hongza' – haunted or unlucky. The term derives from the Chinese word 'xiong,' pronounced 'hong' in the Hong Kong dialect, which means 'calamity,' 'violence,' 'murder.' 'Za' means 'residence.' (Shadbolt, 2011) This superstition concerning hongza is affecting the real estate market of Hong Kong. In Hong Kong the housing market has been one that has consistently grown throughout the years, and has become one of the most expensive areas to buy property. However, in the case of houses where an unfavorable death – suicide or murder – has occurred, the prices and demand are both low. Though death sounds like a bad selling point, companies have actually started to capitalize on the opportunities these unfavorable houses have to offer for international buyers. Squaregoot.com.hk is an independent website, promoting and showcasing properties for sale and rent from Hong Kong’s leading independent real

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