{"id":31248,"date":"2014-05-02T13:50:43","date_gmt":"2014-05-02T11:50:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/?p=31248"},"modified":"2014-05-02T13:50:43","modified_gmt":"2014-05-02T11:50:43","slug":"saying-no-to-marine-le-pen-national-front-yes-france-their-competing-in-real-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/eclectic\/saying-no-to-marine-le-pen-national-front-yes-france-their-competing-in-real-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Saying NO to Marine Le Pen-The National Front and Yes to France and their Competing in the Real World"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Marine<\/a>
Marine Le Pen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is going to be a very short yet succinct article of my perceptions of\u00a0Marine Le Pen, the National Front and saying NO to her and YES\u00a0to France and a few ideas, some esoteric, that\u00a0may aid it in becoming much more\u00a0competitive in the Real World.<\/p>\n

As a Canadian living in France, I am amazed at how short lived the French memory is. France was occupied by Hitler’s Fascists for over 4 years during World War 2 and that they would even consider more of the same is mind boggling to say the least. Marine Le Pen\u00a0is just wrapped up with a new colourful bow and Red, White and Blue satin packaging and sold to the public as a homogenised version\u00a0of the same old thing. Just read their manifesto. If that does not speak loudly, than start from scratch and read it again.<\/p>\n

Now to veer off track for a moment…<\/p>\n

\"Airbus<\/a>
Airbus Industries<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Over the last ten years or more what France and most other major players understand, is that national-centric economies are literally non-existent. \u00a0As many of us know, we are living in a global economy\u00a0 and in order to compete on a global scale, France like so many other industrialised countries, must adapt to the new rules of engagement or become a 3rd world economy very rapidly indeed. Le Pen will only sink France further in to the hole by alienating her neighbours, frightening off investors and reduce co-operative R&D between neighbouring countries, which is often needed to foot the bill for projects that otherwise would not be do-able due to financial constraints. Airbus Industries<\/strong><\/a> is a prime example here.<\/p>\n

\"Peugeot<\/a>
Peugeot Shine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Marketing, Marketing and More Marketing…<\/p>\n

France must become more competitive\u00a0 in all areas and develop their hi tech infrastructure and at the same time, get the best Marketing people in the World to sell their products as well as their image. France could become the next Apple<\/strong><\/a> if they get their Marketing savvy together. France could\u00a0be marketed\u00a0as a Product<\/strong> something like this;\u00a0“France is the Ipso Facto\u00a0Hi-End, High-Tech and Forward Thinking Nation amongst Nations”.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Apple\"<\/a>
Apple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In many cases, it is perceived as thus already. \u00a0But that is primarily in the High End Luxury goods sector. Of course, I will not deny, that France has a relatively stable ship building, armaments, aviation,\u00a0automotive and high end rail industry sector as well as aerospace and pharmaceutical industrial<\/span> savvy. France is also the food producing bread basket of Europe as well as being renowned for their exquisite French cuisine, fine wines and delicate pastries, Haute Couture and last but not least Champagne.<\/p>\n

\"Champagne\"<\/a>
Champagne<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Not withstanding, much improvement is needed in the creative marketing of their wares. Let’s remember, that France in many respects is like a multi national corporation and as such must be Marketed on a world wide scale. I am still amazed that you cannot buy a Peugeot,<\/strong><\/a> Renault<\/strong><\/a> or Citroen<\/strong><\/a> in Northern, North America, i.e. Canada and the USA. That is an absolutely unbelievably bad business strategy, as those three manufacturers produce some of the most technologically advanced and aesthetically beautiful cars in the world, bar none. I am a total Citroen and High End Peugeot fan.<\/p>\n

\"france-terroir\"<\/a>
france-terroir<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As I said above, they\u00a0do a great job in the Luxury Sector and are still on top of the game in that area. Take CHANEL<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and Louis Vuitton<\/strong><\/a> for example, they do an amazing job at Marketing their product. However, I do think Italy does a better job on the Fashion side of the sector. They are brilliant at marketing their products world-wide. D&G<\/strong><\/a> is just one of many examples.<\/p>\n

\"Chanel<\/a>
Chanel N\u00b05<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

France might consider developing more profound futuristic forward thinking R&D and establish new trends in Hi-tech allowing them to always be\u00a0slightly ahead of the wave, but not so far that they are not commercially viable. Knowing when to release a product is vital for a successful launch. At the same time France could create a Major BUZZ about their products through\u00a0marketing them intelligently and creatively for the long haul\u00a0and of course on a world wide basis. Unfortunately, marketing is\u00a0 where the French are behind the\u00a0curve and where there is a lot room for improvement.<\/p>\n

\"Hi<\/a>
Hi Tech World<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The French loose so many of their talented minds to other markets that have better opportunities for growth and development. This is so evident when you look at silicon valley near San Francisco or Hollywood in the film animation industry. I can cite several other sectors like micro chip technology and alternative energy research and development to name just a couple.<\/p>\n

\"France\"<\/a>
France<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The other major \u00a0problem is that literally NONE of the French leadership and that includes\u00a0Marine Le Pen, etc. have any REAL HANDS ON executive business experience. They go directly in to politics after graduation, thus have little knowledge nor direct frontal\u00a0experience in the Real Business world. They are blind to\u00a0 business attitudes, strategies, rules of engagement and language. How can one expect to swim with the the sharks, when you don’t know what the sharks rules of engagement are? Get rid of\u00a0 the notion of politics as a life long career. Be driven\u00a0to being in politics to\u00a0serve the people and to\u00a0completing\u00a0very specific goal oriented projects in the short and long term. If this can be accomplished, I believe France like so many other countries in the Western world will start to thrive again.<\/p>\n

\"Grenoble<\/a>
Grenoble Industry<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n