In Hong Kong, fair goers seek new markets

HONG KONG — Seven concurrent commerce occasions spanning presents, houseware, trend, printing and packaging, and IP licensing wrapped up in Hong Kong final week, and regardless of world financial and commerce uncertainty, reported elevated purchaser numbers, in keeping with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

Purchaser numbers elevated throughout all of the exhibitions — which included the Hong Kong Gifts and Premium Fair, the Home InStyle present and the Fashion InStyle present — with 100,000 consumers from 131 nations and areas attending.

“Regardless of the present challenges within the world financial and commerce setting, we actively attracted consumers to our gala’s to boost commerce resilience and help exhibitors in gaining a foothold in new markets such because the Center East and ASEAN areas,” mentioned Sophia Chong, deputy government director of the commerce council. The HKTDC’s purpose is to advertise cross-sector and worldwide commerce cooperation amongst exhibitors and reinforce Hong Kong’s place as a global commerce hub.

In a survey of exhibitors and consumers on the reward, residence and trend exhibits that happened, the HKTDC mentioned it discovered that:

• Practically half (49.2%) anticipated their total gross sales would rise within the subsequent one to 2 years;
• 44.5% predicted gross sales would stay steady;
• The largest challenges have been rising protectionist measures (45.7%), fluctuations within the world economic system (43.3%) and the influence of inflation (32%)
• Within the presents and premium market, respondents believed cultural presents (17.6%), tech presents (17.0%) and trend equipment (16.9%) had essentially the most development potential.
• Within the furnishings and houseware market, sensible residence expertise (21.0%), designer furnishings and houseware merchandise (17.0%) and kitchenware and tableware (15.7%) have been thought of to have essentially the most development potential.

U.S. commerce coverage is compelling exhibitors to diversify their companies and search new prospects elsewhere.

“The brand new U.S. tariff insurance policies have impacted 10% of our export share, prompting us to focus extra on the Asian market at this stage,” Charlotte Chui, advertising and e-commerce supervisor for Ethical Group Holdings Ltd., which manufactures eco-friendly baggage and has been a Hong Kong exhibitor for 17 years, in keeping with the HKTDC.

“The Presents & Premium Truthful has supplied us with a platform to attach with consumers from Japan, Singapore and Taiwan,” Chui mentioned in a HKTDC launch. “Our mid- to long-term plan is increasing into the Australian and European markets. The concurrent gala’s have attracted curiosity from trend and houseware consumers. On the primary day alone, we secured a number of orders from the Asian market and anticipate reaching whole gross sales of over U.S. $500,000 on the truthful.”