Holding our new product launch at the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair is part of our strategy to enter international markets. The fair brings together watch enthusiasts, retailers and industry professionals from around the world, giving us an ideal platform to showcase Sea-Gull and Shanghai Watch’s latest products and technology. The response to our launch exceeded expectations, with buyers from the Middle East, India and Russia coming to learn more about our brands.
This year, our two brands have met around 50 to 60 groups of buyers from markets including the Middle East, Russia, India, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. We have already secured an order from a buyer in Foshan for a split-seconds chronograph and a slim tourbillon movement, while Thai buyers are discussing purchases. We expect sales generated by the fair to exceed HK$1 million.
The fair has also helped us build long-term overseas markets. Following last year’s fair, our Turkish partner is now preparing to open a dedicated store, while we are also exploring Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Hungary and France. Hong Kong is another important market for us. After opening our first store in Tsim Sha Tsui earlier this year, we have seen strong demand, with more than 40 online and retail sales channels now in Hong Kong. We will open our second store and flagship in Central in October, further expanding our presence in Hong Kong and overseas.
At Salon de TIME, we introduced our preventive healthcare ecosystem alongside our LINK2CARE technology integrated into watch straps, allowing clients to combine medical-grade sensors with luxury timepieces. The buying atmosphere has been vibrant. On the first day alone, we rapidly sold out over 100 watches priced above HK$2,000 each, generating total sales exceeding HK$200,000 and requiring immediate restocks.
Beyond direct sales, the fair attracted diverse local and international buyers, including a potential client from Bosnia, a US buyer interested in custom watch manufacturing, and a local tour guide with whom we established a cross-industry collaboration to develop health-tourism opportunities. The HKTDC’s bold inclusion of trendy elements, such as the pickleball court at the Time Arena, also drove remarkable engagement. With global buyers eagerly placing orders and making on-site purchases, we are very confident in achieving strong overall sales results at this year’s fair.
HKTDC’s fair helps us showcase our brands, meet new buyers and strengthen existing relationships. A new Russian customer is discussing 1,000 watches worth approximately US$300,000, with signing expected during the fair. We also expect to finalise an order during the fair with an existing Dubai customer for around 200 branded watches worth US$50,000. This customer has additional OEM requirements for approximately 2,000 watches worth US$100,000.
Meeting our existing Vietnamese partner here revealed demand for Vietnam’s Women’s Day in October, prompting an order requiring immediate fulfilment. The fair supports business development by enabling face-to-face discussions that uncover market needs and generate ongoing opportunities with both new and existing customers.
This year, five Chinese watchmakers showcased their creations in the Guochao-themed zone at Salon de TIME. We received 17 enquiries for bespoke timepieces, including eight from Thailand, the Philippines, the Middle East and other overseas markets. Based on a minimum value of US$30,000 per enquiry, these represent potential business of at least US$510,000, approximately HK$4 million.
The fair also attracted buyers from the Philippines, Thailand and Russia seeking to introduce more Chinese watch brands to their markets. Distributors who discovered the brands last year returned for discussions, demonstrating the value of consistent participation. The HKTDC fair connects watchmakers with collectors and international distributors, helping Chinese brands expand beyond online sales into overseas retail. We hope the Guochao zone will continue to grow and support more Chinese watchmakers in reaching international markets.
As a new exhibitor and a relatively new brand in the Asian market, we hoped to raise our brand awareness and connect with more Asian customers through the fair. The response has exceeded our expectations. More than 70 people visited our booth on the first day, followed by over 100 on the second, including many visitors from the Philippines, Hong Kong, the UAE and India. Many were retailers, distributors and watch industry professionals – exactly the target audience we wanted to reach.
More surprisingly, we have already received around 10 pre-order enquiries, representing estimated potential sales of about US$29,000. We also have meetings arranged with two Hong Kong business partners after the fair. For us, the fair is more than a showcase; it is a bridge into the Asian market, and this year has shown us that it can create real business opportunities.
On the first day of the fair, I have already connected with eight promising suppliers, including Swiss and French watch brands like Adriatica and Briston, as well as high-quality Hong Kong suppliers for leather bands and watch cases. I plan to place orders totaling US$20,000 with these new suppliers and look forward to returning to the fair every year.
As our second time attending the HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, we have discovered new sourcing opportunities. We have identified prospective leads at the fair. The most promising connections include Switzerland’s Montres Cimier SA for fashion watches, where we are looking at 600 pieces totalling US$30,000, and France’s Briston for quartz watches, targeting 300 pieces for US$45,000.
The fair's digital infrastructure, particularly Scan2Match, has been immensely helpful. It offers a seamless way to log supplier information quickly and stay organised throughout our visits.
We have placed orders worth at least US$100,000 across two brands. This year, we have also identified new opportunities with HERBELIN, JULIUS, RSW and ILG. We plan an initial purchase of around 30 watches worth approximately US$10,000 from French brand HERBELIN and have ordered about US$3,000 in repair tools from Union Energy. By bringing together brands across different price points and suppliers of parts and accessories, the fairs help us broaden our product range and develop our after-sales business in Myanmar.
