Mega Time Houseware Ltd. is a multifaceted manufacturer in Hong Kong that has long wanted to find an effective way to market its full range of products to new customers around the world. The company's varied range of goods - from houseware, kitchenware and bathroom accessories to gardening tools, gifts, and custom-made products, often resulted in an unfocused marketing strategy. Things changed however, when the company discovered that the HKTDC Business Matching service provided a powerful platform to target potential clients and strike successful deals.
Over the years, Mega Time has accumulated expertise in manufacturing products of different materials - glass, metal, rattan, polyresin, porcelain and wood. The diversity has enabled the company to design innovative products mixing various materials.
"However, with limited space in exhibitions and on product catalogues, we just have too many products to display," said Ischris Li, the company's marketing manager. "Potential customers would easily underestimate our product scope and technological capabilities and so we missed business opportunities. This was our marketing challenge, to acquire new customers," Ms Li said.
Discovering that a simple registration with HKTDC Business Matching service would enable her company to win new customers was a surprise to Ms Li. HKTDC Business Matching found Mega Time's sophisticated design and production capabilities were a perfect fit for a German company, which had been looking for a manufacturer of candlesticks using a mix of materials that would be sold to luxury hotels and restaurants.
"The business matching specialists are knowledgeable about our industry and have expended a lot of effort to understand our business strengths. With their professional service we met a new customer," Ms Li said. "The HKTDC also facilitated a smooth negotiation by making clear to both sides each other's company profile and business requirements. Within two months, we had confirmed the first order of US$100,000."
Ms Li said she was optimistic about her company's long-term prospects with the new customer.
"We expect to generate sales revenue of up to US$500,000 a month," she said. "The HKTDC Business Matching service laid out a smooth path for us and brought in new clients and lucrative business opportunities."
Rewritten from Next Magazine, Hong Kong, 24 January 2008.
