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A visitor chooses. |
Two recent exhibitions in Beijing showed the relative value of gifts compared to the past, with a new trend towards elaborate or occupational gifts.
At the 2011 Beijing International Gifts and Premium Exhibition and 2011 State and Government Gifts and Memorabilia Exhibition, exhibits reflected high standards in quality, creativeness and contemporary significance, with "nature" and sustainability as particularly meaningful themes.
"Gifts have close links with our everyday lives," said Yang Guangyuan, General Manager of Reed Huaqun, organiser of the two exhibitions.
"Enterprises are willing to make breakthroughs in innovation because this will enable them to stand out from competitors, reduce pollution and energy consumption, all of which is conducive to sustainable development," said Yang.
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| Crystal artwork. |
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Exhibitions held at the end of the year are significant platforms for government bureaux, enterprises, professional buyers and ordinary people.
Many manufacturers and dealers use these occasions to test how well their latest products will be received over the coming year.
Since moving into the China World Trade Centre, the Huaqun gift sourcing fairs have saved buyers a lot of manpower and resources. The fairs' respective roles bringing suppliers and buyers together were hailed by domestic as well as overseas manufacturers.
The latest exhibitions were on a larger scale than before, covering two floors of the China World Trade Centre, with a total exhibition area of more than 20,000 sqm.
Dragon gifts arrive
Beijing Yuanlong Yato Culture Dissemination is a company that's developed its latest LOOO series of gifts for the Year of the Dragon. These included multimedia speakers, clocks, digital photo frames and hubs.
Its dragon paper-cut designs combined traditional culture with modern technology. Along with these, the company licensed the World Horticultural Exposition, NBA and Astro Boy gifts and souvenirs.
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Fabric toys for the Year of the Dragon. |
Zhengji is a smaller, fabric toy company that designs and makes Chinese horoscope toys. It has proprietary intellectual property rights for all its products, which are meticulously handmade and keenly sought on the market.
The dragon toys this year from Zhengji came in more than 10 different styles and sizes. Orders were signed for all products.
"Good business requires not just financial expertise but also good design, with cultural connotations. This is especially true for the Year of the Dragon. People will say our products have 'cultural value' if they are well-made," said Zhengji's Manager, Mr Jin.
A few years ago, digital gifts were confined to USBs, MP5s and cameras but now they embrace a much wider array of products.
Exhibitor Oregon Scientific is a pioneer and international market leader for smart clocks and home weather stations. It introduced its i.relax aroma diffuser, a product that brings users to aromatherapy, light and sound therapy, stimulating their senses and relaxing them.
China's long history of glass art was evident at the fairs. Each piece of glassware goes through more than 10 meticulous procedures from concept formulation to forging and polishing.
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| Artistic lamps. |
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Japanese lacquerware. |
Shanghai Glass Gallery counters showed techniques handed down over generations, with products combining traditional art with cultural and design concepts.
Nominations for "Beijing Gifts" and "Top 10 Beijing Tourist 'Must-Buys'" organised by the Beijing Tourism Administration also attracted buyers from various quarters.
Presentation of the winning pieces attracted plenty of interest.
Changing market
One survey purported to show that the Mainland gift and premium market is going through a stage of industrial upgrade, making the shift to one dominated by creative, green, low-carbon and environmentally-friendly products.
The market is also taking on regional characteristics. Coastal areas like Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shanghai are market pioneers because they have had a head start in reform and opening up.
In southern China, especially the affluent coastal areas, consumers tend to pay less attention to the practical uses of gifts and are more interested in factors like creativeness, trendiness and brand names.
In the northern and western regions, consumers still attach greater importance to practicality.
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| Products from Hunan. |
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Multifunctional mobile. |
An industry analyst said the "touch screen concept" has been going strong on the Mainland since the entry of Apple's electronic products. Apple accessories and peripherals have become sought-after items in the gift market.
Other new "touch screen" products like gloves, touch-screen watches and touch-screen music players, have risen in price.
This trend for market upgrade comes a bit later in the northern and western regions, as much due to mindset and cultural differences as prices.
"A large number of brands and enterprises will face elimination, and this will inevitably affect the survival of some enterprises in the manufacturing sector and increase unemployment in the affected industries," said one analyst.
However, there will also be opportunities for other enterprises to emerge.
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| Backpacks with individualistic designs. |
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The state and government gifts and memorabilia exhibition has given a great boost to the integration of China's gift industry and traditional Chinese cultural industries because such products combine Chinese elements with cultural connotations.
Some exhibitors were long-established firms like the Gongmei Group from Beijing and Laofengxiang from Shanghai, as well as up-and-coming firms from Shenzhen, Putian, Yunhe and Dongyang.
Many cities sent delegations. Their exhibits included purple clay ware, wood carving, jewellery, New Year paintings, electronic gifts and office appliances.
There were also bronze and lacquerware, business gifts, toys, Shoushan stone, red wood arts, precious metal gifts and fashion accessories.
Zeng Huishi, Executive Vice President and Secretary General of the China Gift and Leisure Products Association, said the state's call to "energetically develop cultural industries" and "actively expand domestic demand" would fuel opportunities.
from special correspondent Xu Lin, Beijing
