Written by Nick Bartman.
At any one time, legitimately manufactured original goods sit in warehouses or float around the world waiting for customers mainly outside the brand owners' official distribution network. International distribution hubs such as Panama, Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore are awash with such products. Known as the grey market, it comes about, in part, due to excess stocks manufactured by even the world's major brand owners.
Prior to my involvement with the wine industry (see Fighting fakes in China – a guide), my work in China was combating mass-production fakes such as car parts, textiles...