Sports Source Asia 2008

contents

asia

The first edition of Sports Source Asia in 2007 was well received by the industry. From the 300 exhibitors (including 57% from overseas) and almost 6, 500 trade visitors (50.38% came from overseas), the industry acknowledged that SSA is a truly important platform for sporting goods industries in Asia. Therefore, this year, SSA returns with clearly strong support. The China Sporting Goods Federation, Taiwan Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (TSMA) and Korea Sporting Goods Industry Association (KOSPA) are confirmed as supporting organizations for this annual event. SSA 2008 will be held at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong from 28 – 31 October, at the prime sourcing period in Asia.

Important manufacturers and suppliers have already confirmed early their participation in SSA 2008. Among them are Hong Kong's China Sports Equipment Trading (HK) Co Ltd, Dart International Garment Ltd (Hong Kong), Latitude Limited, Robic, Winsport, Chinese mainland's Dow Corning, Erke, Peak, Qyield and XTEP (China) Co., Ltd., and from Taiwan, CSG, Topper Crown and Evergreat Optical.

With its first edition it has undoubtedly proven to be an effective international sourcing platform in the region with around 6,500 professional buyers from the sports community. Over half of them came from outside Hong Kong. These buyers represented a comprehensive cluster of quality sourcing professionals from 90 countries and regions.

Though the US and the EU remain the biggest markets, sporting goods manufacturers are deeply interested in the Chinese mainland due to its high growth potential. The fitness drive that has swept across the Chinese mainland, spurred on by the 2008 Olympic Games, is churning active demand for sporting goods. Therefore, SSA is thoroughly welcomed by the industry as a timely platform that is now the region's premier sourcing hub for the sports industry. The fair's environment is regarded as ideal for promoting business contacts for licensing, franchising or other corporate deals. Further supported with a full and fascinating programme of social and knowledge events, SSA is now established as the well-rounded trade fair for the sporting goods industries of Asia.

SSA 2007 attracted exhibitors who showed great enthusiasm for the debut fair. One of them, Sanjiv Mahbubani, Director, Global Marketing of the Chinese mainland's Xtep (China) Co., Ltd., said, "Exhibiting at trade fairs can be a great marketing tool for brand exposure, as well as a good opportunity to build up relationships with prospects. We are satisfied with the overall arrangements of Sports Source Asia and send best wishes to the organisers for the continuous growth of the show."

The fair attracted exhibitors from emerging markets. Imran Saeed Malik, Director Sales of Newlife Industries of Pakistan, said, "We received a lot of enquiries from visitors from the Chinese mainland, Korea, Germany, Norway and the rest of the world. We also met with buyers from the Hong Kong sourcing offices of brand owners to develop new business. We are very satisfied with the result and will participate in the show again next year."

Buyers also expressed satisfaction. Manfred Karpf, General Manager of Germany's Ksport Karpf, said, "I have been participating in exhibitions for over 30 years and this is the best show I have been to in Asia. The variety of sporting goods exhibited at the show was very interesting and matched our product categories. No. 1 show in Asia!"

Another buyer, Paul Earle of Australia's Pearl Sports, said, "SSA provided me with an opportunity to meet with some new prospects. It was worth visiting the event to meet suppliers who could take flexible production orders in terms of quantity and mixed orders. The hall planning was well done for visitors to easily locate products of interest."

The 2008 fair will be a superb marketplace as it is planned with far-reaching objectives to create even further success for all participants. Through a comprehensive activities programme of entertaining product parades, informative trend reports, market and technical seminars hosted by industry experts that includes seminar topics such as "Licensing a Sportswear Brand and Retail Management", as well as social networking events, SSA 2008 is totally targeted to make important business connection and contributions to the sporting goods industry as a whole.

write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Exhibition News :: home page