Take time to look at new situation before entering China

The motto of Massimo Bagnasco's architectural business is "Less ego, more eco", reflecting its focus on integrated design that pays full heed to environmental concerns. That ethos now seems particularly apt for a company with a presence in China, where business traits once regarded as a must - big and getting bigger, growing rapidly and growing more rapidly still - suddenly seem to be passe.

So much so that as many multinational companies shut down factories in the country or reduce investment, smaller, more resilient companies and business people like Bagnasco are beginning to find that their best days in China may lie ahead.

After 12 years in China generally enjoying success that paralleled the spectacular growth of the host country's economy, Bagnasco's company Progetto CMR, whose headquarters is in Milan, went through a rough patch in 2013, he says.