Effective Business Matching Platform for Eyewear

The HKTDC Hong Kong Optical Fair 2012, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) with the cooperation of the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association (HKOMA), was held during 7-9 November 2012 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.

The fair was a fitting showcase for eyewear, one of Hong Kong’s leading export industries and the world’s third-largest exporter of optical goods, after Italy and the US. In the first nine months of 2012, Hong Kong’s exports of spectacles, lenses and frames amounted to HK$11 billion (US$1.4 billion). Its top export markets for optical goods are the US, the Chinese mainland, Italy, France and Germany.

Record Breaking Numbers of Exhibitors and Buyers

The 20th edition of the fair presented a record-breaking number of 629 exhibitors from 22 countries and regions, with exhibits by companies engaged in design, manufacturing, retail and related services. Among them were pavilions representing the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and for the first time, France.

Three new product zones – “Diagnostic Instruments”, “Eyewear Accessories” and “Sporting & Professional Eyewear” featured 73 exhibitors from Hong Kong, Chinese mainland, Italy, Japan, Korea and Taiwan were featured. Other product zones included “Contact Lens & Accessories”, “Eyewear, Frames & Lens”, “Optometric Instrument”, and “Equipment & Machinery Zone”.

The event attracted a total of 12,836 buyers from 98 countries and regions. Out of them, 4,663 were from Hong Kong and 8,173 were from overseas. The Chinese mainland, Taiwan and Japan were the top three sources of overseas buyers, followed by the US, Korea, Australia, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia.

A total of 68 buying missions, representing 1,897 companies or 2,889 buyers from 51 countries and regions, were organized for the Fair. Among them were major eyewear companies such as Leopoldo Godemberg SA from Argentina, Uniglass Ltd from Bulgaria, Coastal Contacts Inc from Canada, Krys Group from France, Rodenstock GmbH and Silhouette International Schmied AG from Germany, Vision Express from India, Carl Zeiss Vision Sunlens Luxottica from Italy, and SC Opticris Optica SRL from Romania.

Fair Highlights

Brand Name Gallery
The Brand Name Gallery showcased 166 brands from 20 countries and regions, its largest to date. Among the major brands exhibited were Guy Laroche, Hummer, ic! berlin, Issey Miyake, Karen Millen, TD Tom Davies and Vera Wang. Four eyewear parades were held during the three-day event.

Seminars and Buyer Forum
Three seminars and one buyer forum were held under the theme “Retail Outlook in Optical Products”, “Opportunities in Mature Markets”, “A European Fashion Tour” and “Opportunities in the Emerging Markets”. Experts from Italy and France were featured, with market research company GfK Italy spotlighting the latest trends in eyewear and fashion design.

The 10th Hong Kong Optometric Conference
Organised by the HKTDC, the Hong Kong Optometric Association and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, this year’s conference carried the theme “New Frontiers in Ophthalmic Dispensing.” The latest trends and technology in prescription eyewear were discussed, with featured speakers from Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and Hong Kong. They include the US’s Dr Richard Clompus, Vice President, Global Professional Affairs, PixelOptics, who introduced the company’s innovative electronically focusing eyewear.

The 13th Hong Kong Eyewear Design Competition
Under the theme “Timeless”, the competition, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association, saw more than 200 entries this year. Eleven prizes were awarded to nine local designers. All winning and finalist pieces of the 14th Hong Kong Eyewear Design Competition are on display at the Wine Cellar, Hall 1B, during the fair.

Networking Reception
Three networking receptions, Kick-Off Reception, Networking Reception, and “Meet the BRICS” Reception were held to facilitate business matching between exhibitors and buyers.

Quick Response

It is always one of HKTDC’s missions to create as many business opportunities as possible for SMEs. The Optical Fair was the first in Hong Kong to feature Quick Response (QR) technology, which instantly connected exhibitors and buyers and provided a summary of all booths visited during the event. Buyers who registered for the service simply used their smartphones or tablets to scan the QR code at each exhibition booth they were interested in. With this, they obtained exhibitor profiles and e-catalogues instantly and, within 24 hours, a personalised email listing all exhibitors scanned.

Looking Forward

Building on this year’s rave reviews and thriving business, Hong Kong Optical Fair will repeat its success on November 6-8, 2013 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. Be sure not to miss it!