Southern China Commentary

I came across this signboard-wielding guy at Shipai Computer City (石牌电脑城). He was advertising for a web development company situated in the building behind, which does basic web development for RMB 368 ($53).

RMB368 for a website!!

Ok, so what else can one get in Guangzhou for RMB368?
- A bottle of Chivas at New Era Disco
- Luxurious lunch buffet for 2 at Shangri-la Pazhou
- a *product for non-adolescent use
- 368 sticks of roadside lamb kebab
- A *massage

*Price estimates are provided without actual visit/purchase account. Guangzhouer would not be responsible for price fluctuations.

We’ve heard of cheap websites in certain places but RMB 368 is a whole new (low) level! This sort of price competition might just induce new consumer trends.

Imagine 2 random dudes, for the sake of mentioned randomity,
let’s call them John and Mo:

John: Woah..hot day, What shall we do tonight?
Mo: How about massage?

John: Nah we did that yesterday. Where else can we spend RMB368?
Mo: Oh I know! Let’s get ourselves a website!

John: You’re a F888ing genius!

Ok, imaginary stuff aside, based on my experience as an employer in Guangzhou, here’s a little cost and quality analysis on the company that offers to build and host a 5 page basic website for RMB 368.

Quality analysis (based on http://bilan.cn which I presume to be an initial RMB 368 package that was upgraded)

Templated Design: template-like, with template-like flash elements.
Content layout: little or no variation of content layout and design across pages
HTML Slicing: Not inter-browser compatible, not adhering to standards

Estimated Production Time: 1.25 days
Average salary of a web programmer of said work performance: RMB2500
Cost of Production: RMB2500 / (21 working days / 1.25 production days) ~ RMB150
Gross Profit Margin: (368-150)/150 = 145%

A 145% profit margin is rather healthy, I would say, for a piece of technology development priced at RMB368.

From my humbly brief period in the web industry in Guangzhou, I have not encountered many quality web companies. It’s not just a supply side issue. The habits of the common man on the streets, and the knowledge and practices of small/medium enterprise here, are telltale signs that general appreciation beyond low-cost design is absent.

This industry in this part of China is not yet matured, and has become saturated with vendors who compete on price. Strides will be made with time, as upcoming generations of internet-savvy youth join the workforce and slowly exert their influence. Free seminars exist, like Web Wednesday Guangzhou, a monthly event organised by web evangelists to inform and educate students and professional enthusiasts.

International exposure (writings, visuals, people) also plays an integral part. This is the essential part of our blog offering to the peoples of Southern China. From an Asian-expat perspective, we aim to inform, entertain, and learn more about the vast south as we roll along.

Arise Guangzhouer!