Last month’s Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair, inaugural DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong and Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS), collectively attracted over 60,000 buyers from 128 countries and regions.
With Hong Kong a leading sourcing hub for gifts, exhibitors at the Gifts & Premium Fair were closely attuned to trends, incorporating cultural and creative designs.
During the Gifts & Premium Fair, the HKTDC commissioned an independent research agency to interview some 870 exhibitors and buyers. Of the respondents, 60% believed their overall sales figures would rise in the next 12 to 24 months while 38% consider rising demand from emerging markets as the biggest business opportunity this year, followed by recovering purchasing power from customers (33%) and business leads from e-tailing (30%). The greatest challenges identified were fluctuations of the global economy (49%), impact of inflation (34%) and exchange rate volatility (33%).
In terms of market expansion, the popular choices among respondents included Northern and Western Europe (27%), North America (27%), ASEAN (22%) and Japan (14%).
Additionally, respondents identified green, environmentally friendly (60%), chic and fashionable (40%) and high-tech (31%) as the three major gifts and premium market product-feature trends. The gift and premium items with the most growth potential were considered to be sustainable gifts (16%), figurines & decorations (16%) and toys & baby products (16%).
The Gifts & Premium Fair welcomed some 35,000 buyers, while the Printing & Packaging Fair and DeLuxe PrintPack fair drew over 10,000 buyers, and the HKILS had over 15,000. Buyers from outside Hong Kong were mainly from Mainland China, Taiwan, the United States, Japan and Korea. Concurrent with the HKILS, the Asian Licensing Conference (ALC) invited nearly 30 international industry experts to share insights on global licensing trends and growth drivers. The four trade fairs, along with the ALC, contributed to the promotion of Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries and development of intellectual property trade.
Sophia Chong, deputy executive director of the HKTDC, commented: “The Gifts & Premium Fair, Printing & Packaging Fair, inaugural DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong, and HKILS brought together creative industry professionals and licensing industry players, providing a platform for exchange and connecting potential partners. Under the national 14th Five Year Plan, Hong Kong serves as a centre for cultural promotion and exchange, with the goal of promoting Chinese culture overseas.
“This year’s Gifts & Premium Fair and HKILS featured rich cultural and creative content, with the participation of numerous cultural and creative communities from Mainland China, which was well-received by buyers. Additionally, with the recent implementation of the plastic-free policy in Hong Kong, the Printing & Packaging Fair and inaugural DeLuxe PrintPack attracted many local buyers seeking eco-friendly packaging, creating more business opportunities for the industry.”
She emphasised that Hong Kong is a renowned global sourcing hub, with the April trade shows gathering industry people from traditional markets such as Europe and the United States, as well as those from emerging markets such as Mainland China, ASEAN and the Middle East.
Under the EXHIBITION+ model, the four trade fairs integrated offline and online elements. Apart from taking part in the physical fairs, buyers can continue networking through the Click2Match smart business-matching platform.
The four shows took place from 27 to 30 April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).
Top: Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair, inaugural DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong and Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS), collectively attracted over 60,000 buyers.
