Strike the right note with global buyers
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Size definitely matters when it comes to expanding your market. Within the industry, it is acknowledged that the world's largest timepiece event, HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, is the Big Ben of trade fairs, attracting the number - and the quality - of buyers to generate significant new business for exhibitors. Nearly 17,000 trade buyers attended the 2011 show, with visitors from emerging markets up over 12% from 2010. |
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Star brands shine |
For the consumer, the visual appeal of a watch must be backed up by reliability. The strength of great brands is that they deliver both to a high degree. Such brands find their natural home at the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair in the Brand Name Gallery. It is a rich mixture of brands which are timeless in their appeal as well as those which are design-driven and surprise buyers with their novelty. The Gallery is also the perfect showplace for brands which have a unique story to tell.
In a record-breaking size at the 2011 fair, Brand Name Gallery featured 110 international brands including Alexis Garin from Switzerland, EDWIN from Japan, o.d.m. from Hong Kong and FIYTA from Chinese mainland. The Gallery is a magnet for buyers, attracted by big names, outstanding decor and glamorous watch parades. It provides a superb marketing platform and loyal exhibitors find it the ideal environment to host marketing events for launching new products or brand building.
Within Brand Name Gallery is the fascinating World Brand Piazza, where limited-edition and rare timepieces are on display. In 2011 the Piazza expanded with 12 participating luxury brands, all legendary in the industry: A. Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, Breguet, Chopard, Franck Muller, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Omega, Panerai, Piaget and Vacheron Constantin.
On the final day of the fair, Brand Name Gallery is open to members of the public, allowing exhibitors to interact with end-consumers, increase brand awareness and receive immediate feedback on their products.
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Past performance, future success |
The most recent edition, Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair 2011 featured 700 exhibitors from 12 countries and regions. They formed a microcosm of the industry, exhibiting a full range of products in the following categories:
- Branded Timepieces
- Clocks
- Packaging
- Trade Services
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- Complete Watches
- Machinery & Equipment
- Parts & Components
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For timepieces of distinction |
Exhibitors of premium timepieces shine in the Pageant of Eternity. This premium zone is dedicated to displaying complete watches which are of exceptionally high quality. The Pageant of Eternity has proved a winner with buyers, who appreciate its consistently superior offerings and the atmosphere which promotes serious business negotiations in its comfortable and discreet environment.
The zone is very striking as it is composed of deluxe booths and also custom-built stands by major industry players such as SMB SAS, Renley Watch Manufacturing Co Ltd, Comtech Watches Company Limited and Crystal Electronic Enterprises Company Limited drawing the attention of buyers.
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Up-to-the-minute information |
This world-class fair is host to a major industry event, the Asian Watch Conference. Conference speakers are among the top experts in their fields with the keynote speaker always an industry figure associated with some iconic watch designs. Topics range from design to marketing to technology.
Another important networking and information opportunity is the Hong Kong International Watch Forum, in which vital issues are discussed. Office bearers of watch industry associations from around the globe gather for the Forum.
The 29th Hong Kong Watch & Clock Design Competition, to be held in conjunction with the 2012 fair, will promote young design talent in its Student and Open categories. Finalists' designs will be displayed at the fairground.
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Effective outreach to buyers |
Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has an international reputation as the organiser of specialist trade fairs; 10 of these fairs are the largest of their kind in Asia and three are also the biggest events of their kind in the world. HKTDC promotes its fairs to buyers through its global network of offices, including 11 on the Chinese mainland.
Among the tools in its marketing arsenal are advertising through trade press and general media, direct mail and eDM to its continually enlarging database and events such as roadshows. The worldwide reputation of HKTDC and its close relationship with all media ensure editorial coverage as well.
HKTDC resources are used to identify companies with strong buying potential from emerging and mature markets and buying missions are organised from these markets. For the 2011 event, 68 buying missions from 62 countries & regions were facilitated by HKTDC. Among the important buyers who visited the fair were Hengdeli Group Ltd. of Chinese mainland, Uhrenfabrik Junghans Gmbh of Germany, Titan Industries of India, House of Woohing of Malaysia and Al Daham Watches of Saudi Arabia.
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COMMENTS from Exhibitors and Buyers
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Exhibitors' Comments
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"We've been exhibiting at this show since 2003, and through it we have been introduced to a lot of distributors and buyers with whom we now work. More recently, since we have established our network, we find that the show gives us the opportunity to meet with our distributors every year, as well as present our new collections. The Brand Name Gallery is very suitable for us because it helps to differentiate ourselves from OEM companies; all our collections are patented and the Brand Name Gallery delivers the right buyers to us. This year we are promoting our new collection called the Hacker Watch produced in collaboration with British designer Michael Young. We are hosting a cocktail reception with Michael, and HKTDC has given us much assistance in inviting the media and potential buyers. This is exactly what we need!"
Sarah M.Y. So, Business Development Manager,
o.d.m. Design & Marketing Ltd., Hong Kong
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"We have two brands – Zerone and Charles-Hubert – and earlier this year we were appointed as the exclusive worldwide licensee holder for the Edwin brand from Japan. We are using the fair to promote Edwin in particular, and are staging a launch party to introduce it to the market. We've been participating this event for five years – this is where we first met many of our current distributors and buyers. At this show we can find buyers from many different countries and also market sectors, it helps us to develop business opportunities with them all. We're particularly interested in meeting new distributors from Asia and the Middle East where the economies are growing. For example, we've already spoken with buyers from Turkey, Japan and the UAE. The organisation of this show is very good. HKTDC has provided a lot of support, such as arranging press interviews with radio and magazines."
Candice Yu, Sales & Marketing Manager,
Z Laboratory Ltd., Hong Kong |
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"We are the licence holder and distributor of Tonino Lamborghini watches, which we took over earlier this year. The main reason for coming to this fair is to promote the name. It is also an opportunity for us to publicise the new line of mechanical Tonino Lamborghini watches that we will be launching in the fourth quarter of this year. This fair is good – we've seen a lot of different people and received many enquiries. Among those we have met are wholesalers and retailers from Australia, Korea, the Middle East and the US, as well as the Chinese mainland, of course. We've also done media interviews, which is very good exposure for us."
Esther Wong, President, Acestar Concept Limited, Hong Kong
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Buyers' Comments
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"Mitron is a wholesaler of watches and clocks that we buy from Hong Kong and Chinese mainland and supply to 1,300 customers in Austria and Germany. This is my eighth visit to this fair. I am always on the look out for new suppliers and new ideas, and this event is a good chance to see new styles of watches. This year it has been very interesting and I have found new suppliers and products, especially LCD watches; I will follow up after the fair and place some orders. I am very satisfied with the experience. I had some meetings set up in advance of the fair, which is very convenient, while other suppliers I found just by looking around when I got here."
Martin Heinle, Managing Director, Mitron Watch GmbH, Germany |
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"Our company was founded in 1935 and is now in the fourth generation of our family – we manufacture watch dials in the US, and we also assemble and supply watches to special markets, such as employee recognition, corporate anniversaries and other occasions. I've been coming to this fair for many years. Here we can find fresh ideas, find new manufacturers and meet with our existing suppliers. I took advantage of the Business Matching Service and had meetings arranged in advance. I've also had a look around the halls, and it seems there are many interesting things here this year, which I will follow up. We are always keen to see anything that can be customised for corporate customers. For example, I met with one supplier that offered watches with a large face and white strap that was suitable for our purposes."
Larry Abels, Chairman, Selco Custom Time Corp, US |
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"My company is a retailer of Swiss watches, but I want to expand to source Asian watches that will fit into my direct-selling catalogue. I am particularly interested in Chinese mainland suppliers because in recent years they have improved their quality and range and are very innovative. I'm here to make contacts and look at trends with a view to developing business in the future. I've seen some very interesting things. Before I came, I wondered if this part of the world could supply what I want and after my visit to this fair I have new-found confidence that I can do business with suppliers in Asia. Attending this event has been very helpful to me. Everything here – the organisation, marketing and services – is very good."
Mah Weng Kee, Chief Operating Officer,
House of Woohing Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia
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Manage your participation − with just a click
Our online service, Exhibitor Online Platform (EOP), makes managing your exhibition-related matters convenient, quick and efficient.
- Submit booth application online, with immediate acknowledgement from HKTDC
- Track application status and update information online anywhere, anytime
- Receive fair-related information and reminders in timely fashion
Apply for a booth online at www.hktdc.com/hkwatchfair now!
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