During a trip to Asia, Armin Wittmann, Project
Manager inhorgenta europe,
and HKJMA General Manager Wings S.K. Cheung
agreed on a more complex partnership. The plan calls for expansion of the Chinese
exhibitors’ joint booth in Munich, in-depth information exchange about the
respective markets, as well as a closer cooperation in the areas of marketing
and PR.
Hong Kong and China provide some of the strongest exhibitor
groups at inhorgenta europe in addition to Italy,
Great Britain, Austria, and Spain. Around 40 manufacturers,
among them companies such as Techwell Creative, Double Arts Jewellery, or
Legrand Jewellery, presented their products in Munich this year; many of them
at the community booth for Hong Kong and China, organized by the HKJMA.
“Our exposition service
offers are ideally suited to the expansion plans of many Asian watch and
jewelry manufacturers, as well as gemstone suppliers,” said Armin Wittmann at a
press conference in Hong Kong. Cheung
had similar remarks: “Many Asian jewelry manufacturers are currently looking
for new trade opportunities – particularly due to the looming economic decline
in the US.
Europe, and especially inhorgenta europe may
play an important role in this development.”
During two days of
meetings in Hong Kong Wittmann not only met with representatives of a number of
watch and jewelry associations, but also with journalists and close to 30 watch
and jewelry manufacturers from Hong Kong and China. The focus was on the increased
international character of inhorgenta Europe, as well as the development of
Germany’s economy. Watch sales on Europe’s largest market have steadily increased
by two or three percent each year since 2006. Products from Asia dominate the
mid-level to lower price range in particular. Thus Germany is one of China’s
most important export markets in addition to Great Britain, France, and Italy.
The strong Euro makes the German market even more attractive, lowering prices
of many foreign-supplied products.
Furthermore, the
meetings identified four characteristics of inhorgenta europe,
rendering the trade show even more interesting to Asian companies:
- Munich is an attractive and
centrally located trade show setting in the middle of the European Union, one
of the world’s largest and most successful economic powers.
- inhorgenta europe is
internationally established: not only attracting buyers from Germany, but from all over Europe, in particular
from Central and Eastern Europe.
- The event caters to the volume
market, a field which many Asian manufacturers are operating in.
- inhorgenta europe
is one of the world’s most competent jewelry trade shows, covering everything
from innovative design jewelry to exclusive platinum pieces.
In the eyes of the trade show organization the Asia tour came to a
thoroughly positive conclusion: “Our meetings showed that inhorgenta europe continues
to have promising growth potential throughout Asia.”
