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Quality business encounters and a constructive start to the business year: these were the key takeaways for participants as the Hong Kong International Stationery &amp; School Supplies Fair drew to a close on 12 January. After a two edition hiatus due to the pandemic, the fair, together with the concurrent Hong Kong Toys &amp; Games Fair and the Hong Kong Baby Products Fair attracted more than 21,000 in-person and online buyers, including a strong international mix from ASEAN, Brazil, Mainland China, Chile, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Middle East.

International visitors explore the aisles of the 21st Hong Kong International Stationery &amp; School Supplies Fair. Source: Messe Frankfurt

“While much has changed since the pandemic, one thing has remained the same: the fair continues to attract a strong diversity of international visitors,” says Ms Judy Cheung, Deputy General Manager, Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. “With the borders with Mainland China opening the day before the fair began, exhibitors were pleased to connect with new and old clients from near and afar.” For many visiting buyers, it was an opportunity to kick off the trading season with the latest trends from the fair’s exhibitors, and hunt for unique products that might become the next big seller in their respective countries. “I’ve exchanged contacts with around 15 exhibitors already this morning – it’s a chance to meet many suppliers in a short space of time,” explained Mr Firoz Rangwala, General Manager, Al Fahidi Stationery Centre. “Variety is important to us because we are the largest stationery retailer in the Middle East and Africa with an inventory of around 4,000 stock keeping units. I’ve collected a lot of information on paper, pen, and luxury stationery at the fair.” What was new this year? With an added emphasis on school supplies, this edition enabled exhibitors to take advantage of spill over business from the concurrent Hong Kong Toys &amp; Games Fair, as the synergies between children’s stationery, toys and educational items continue to grow. “While we consider ourselves a stationery supplier, we’ve received plenty of spill over business from the concurrent toys fair,” explained American exhibitor Mr Scott Wen, the Sales Manager of Mirage International Industries. He added: “From when we arrived on day one to the moment we left the fairground we were busy with new clients the entire day, and it’s been an international mix. We’ve had inquiries from Korea, Japan, the Netherlands, the USA, the Philippines, France, Germany, Hong Kong, and even the Middle East and India. It’s clear that industry players are eager to get back to in-person business. Visitors are here to buy, they want to get business done quickly. Seeing and touching the products is an important part of this.” More feedback from participants “We have not participated here for three years so this is a valuable opportunity to hold meetings with our existing clients to understand their needs as well as to obtain new customers. I’ve connected with 15 new international customers from as far as Poland, the UK, Australia and Kazakhstan.  Due to the pandemic, our sales to Europe and the US have decreased. So we have decided to spend more effort participating in trade fairs to obtain new clients. We will be back again next year.” Friday Ge, Sales Manager, Qingyuan Hongyun Stationery Co Ltd Exhibitor, Mainland China “Exhibitions like this are important for kick starting business after the pandemic. On the first morning we have already met 12 international buyers of office supplies from the Philippines, Indonesia, the Middle East, America and Russia who we will follow up with after the show. The physical trade fair is so important because buyers need to meet us in-person, talk with us and touch products to build trust and confidence.” Katherine Cheung, Assistant General Manager – Sales &amp; Marketing, Tung Yung International Limited Exhibitor, Hong Kong “For me this is the first major fair in Asia since the pandemic, so the most important objective is to check in with our old suppliers to shake hands and maintain the relationship. I’m here to source children’s stationery and I’ve already met several long-time suppliers this morning including one that we have been doing business with for 10 years. Despite the pandemic, last year was our best so far in terms of revenue, so I am optimistic about the future.” Julian Starns, Managing Director, Henbrandt Ltd Buyer, UK “We travelled here from Dubai specifically for the Hong Kong International Stationery &amp; School Supplies Fair. We are a wholesaler of stationery items. This year we are looking for stationery especially school items and I’ve found many new and interesting products. I’ve already held meetings with 4-5 exhibitors so far and I am glad that they offer good quality at decent prices.” Mr Shajan Matthew, Manager, Galaxy Stationery Trading Buyer, UAE The next edition of the Hong Kong International Stationery &amp; School Supplies Fair will take place in January 2024. The fair is held concurrently with the HKTDC’s Hong Kong Toys &amp; Games Fair and the Hong Kong Baby Products Fair, providing a one-stop sourcing platform and crossover business opportunities for participants. For further information about the Hong Kong International Stationery &amp; School Supplies Fair, please visit <a href="http://www.hkstationeryfair.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.hkstationeryfair.com</a>

Hong Kong Trade Development Council

Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd

Media Enquiries

Background information on Messe Frankfurt The Messe Frankfurt Group is one of the world’s leading trade fair, congress and event organisers with their own exhibition grounds. With a workforce of some 2,200* people at its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and in 28 subsidiaries, it organises events around the world. Group sales in financial year 2022 were around €450 million*. We serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs &amp; Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of Messe Frankfurt’s key strengths is its powerful and closely knit global sales network, which covers around 180 countries in all regions of the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. We are using our digital expertise to develop new business models. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services. Sustainability is a central pillar of our corporate strategy. Here, we strike a healthy balance between ecological and economic interests, social responsibility and diversity. For more information, please visit our website at: <a href="http://www.messefrankfurt.com/sustainability" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.messefrankfurt.com/sustainability</a>. With its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent). For more information, please visit our website at: <a href="http://www.messefrankfurt.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.messefrankfurt.com</a> * preliminary figures 2022

About the HKTDC The <a href="https://www.hktdc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)</a> is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 <a href="https://aboutus.hktdc.com/contact-us#globalNetwork" target="_blank" rel="noopener">offices</a> globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises <a href="https://event.hktdc.com/?eventFormat=Exhibition&amp;location=all" target="_blank" rel="noopener">international exhibitions</a>, <a href="https://event.hktdc.com/?eventFormat=ConferenceForum&amp;location=all" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conferences</a> and <a href="https://event.hktdc.com/?location=all" target="_blank" rel="noopener">business missions</a> to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via <a href="http://www.hktdc.com/ncs/pm/en/main/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trade publications</a>, <a href="http://research.hktdc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research reports</a> and <a href="http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">digital channels</a>. For more information, please visit: <a href="http://www.hktdc.com/aboutus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.hktdc.com/aboutus</a>. Follow us on <a href="https://www.twitter.com/hktdc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignnone" src="https://vep-tradeshow.hktdc.com/event/hkstationeryfair/wp-content/uploads/sites/44/2022/07/icons__twitter.png" alt="Twitter" width="25" height="25" /></a> Twitter @hktdc <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignnone" src="https://vep-tradeshow.hktdc.com/event/hkstationeryfair/wp-content/uploads/sites/44/2022/07/icons__linkedin.png" alt="Linkedin" width="25" height="25" /></a> LinkedIn

Quality business encounters and a constructive start to the business year: these were the key takeaways for participants as the Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair drew to a close on 12 January. After a two edition hiatus due to the pandemic, the fair, together with the concurrent Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair and the Hong Kong Baby Products Fair attracted more than 21,000 in-person and online buyers, including a strong international mix from ASEAN, Brazil, Mainland China, Chile, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Middle East. 