I have been at the Mega Show in Hong Kong this week looking at products with which to attract the stationery shoppers we see in Tyro, Kikki.k and similar stores that target Millennial and Gen Y shoppers.
This show and the follow-up next week and coupled shows in Guangzhou this month and earlier this year are the go to events for retail groups wanting to be ahead of the trend for it is at events like this that you can see what Australian wholesalers don’t pick up. You also get to see new product being previewed ahead of release in the new year.
One supplier showed me a range five times the size of the range chosen by their Australian distributor to bring into the country. I think the product failed in Australia because the importer did not bring enough to enable retailers to tell a story. Seeing this first hand helps me to encourage importers.
It has been a crazy two days with more than 12km of walking each day as I worked my way around the aisles of the massive Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition centre.
There are two types of suppliers at these events – those that focus on cheap products where prize is what matters above all else and those that focus on design and quality believing that they matter more than price.
When you are looking for a specific design aesthetic, the second type of supplier is more important. The right relationship will last a lot more than a few products. The right relationship will be long term as you go on a journey together. So over the last two days I have been looking more at overall suppliers and their focus on design and quality more so than specific products.
I have already shared information with a couple of suppliers back in Australia. I would prefer to support an existing good and respected Australian importer to expand their range than take on a direct import relationship that competes with existing importers.
It has been good to see more design-centred manufacturers. While they are in the minority, there are enough to present opportunities for an exciting 2017.