China International Clothing and Accessories Fair (CHIC) 2013, sponsored by China National Garment Association, China World Trade Centre Co., Ltd and The Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT, is scheduled to be held from March 26th to 29th, 2013 in the New China International Exhibition Center in the city of Beijing.
Being one of the traditional superiorities of CHIC fair in China, overseas pavilion is not only the arena for domestic Chinese visitors to appreciate foreign fashion brands, but also a match-making platform for overseas companies to explore and seek their cooperation partners in China.
After years of development, CHIC overseas pavilion witnessed obviously advancement both in quantity and quality: since the initial edition of CHIC, the pavilion was only 8,000 square meter wide exhibition areas with nearly 100 exhibitors; and in the year of 2013, according to the statistics, more than 400 foreign fashion brands would take part in the CHIC fair, and the W1 and W2 Overseas Halls would take an area of 26000 square meters, hitting a historical peak.
In the overseas pavilion, the visitors could find exhibitors from Canada, U.S., France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Korea, Turkey, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau, with their exhibited products including men’s wear, women’s wear, children’s wear, fur, knitting and accessories, etc. Besides, exhibitors from Italy, France, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan should present their brand products within their own regional exhibition pavilions in Hall W1 and W2.
Moreover, Turkey, for the first time as a country pavilion, will showcase their products characteristics in Hall E3. According to introduction, this time, in CHIC 2013, 14 fashion brands in the Turkey Pavilion will mainly highlight its leather and fur products.
Who are the leading roles?
The Chinese consumption market is attractive with great potentials.
Due to the economic downturn in European areas, the sales in European local consumption market are not optimistic. On the other hand, for European fashion brands, fashion elements, on-trend design as well as product quality are as always their advantages, which have already received wide recognition among Chinese consumers. Meanwhile, during recent years, either Chinese consumers or market show obviously favor and demand for foreign fashion brands. More and more foreign fashion brands begin to turn their attentions to this potential eastern market, and plan their expanding strategies gradually.
In CHIC 2013, visitors could find more European brands in the overseas hall. Correspondingly, fashion brands from Asian area represented a descending trend comparing with the previous years, because most of them still put their focuses in their local apparel consumption markets. Therefore, European brands, without doubt, will play a leading role in the CHIC 2013 Show.
Of them, Italy sees a fast growth in brand participation in CHIC 2013. As the statistics indicated that, more than 80 Italian brands would join the CHIC fair, which increased by 60% comparing with the 2012 edition, and the exhibition areas also rise by 20% year-on-year. Besides, in CHIC 2013, both the numbers of exhibitors as well as the exhibition areas of the French and German Pavilion also witness a year-on-year increase of 15%.
Each edition, service is of great importance. What kinds of service the exhibitors could gain during CHIC 2013?
In order to achieve a better business result for overseas exhibitors, according to the organizing committee, in Hall W1 a specific trade and business match-making workshop will be launched, where overseas sellers could have spaces and opportunities to meet and communicate with their target buyers significantly.
Recently, the on-line interaction between buyers and sellers in China are not mature and popular, so that CHIC offers them the opportunities to have the direct face-to-face intercommunication.
As one of the essential part of CHIC fair, in the year of 2012, the organizer promoted the match-making workshop in overseas hall, which has already gained praise and recognition. In CHIC 2013, the organizer would continue provide this service.
According to the organizing committee, before the trade fair, the organizer would, through the network databases, collect the demand information of buyers, shopping malls and franchisers in China; then, they will divide these demand information into different teams in terms of product categories; at last, the organizer would provide these buyers the corresponding overseas brands’ information and materials.
During the trade match-making workshop, Chinese domestic professional organizations also would be present to provide consultation for overseas exhibitors.
Furthermore, professional seminars are another highlight of the CHIC fair, especially for the foreign brands that would like enter the Chinese markets. As the exhibition feedback showed that, most foreign fashion brands were not so clear about the commercial, economic and business environment here in China. CHIC fair, being the right platform for overseas to enter Chinese domestic markets, also should perform the responsibility to introduce more information of the Chinese consumption markets to foreign fashion companies.
Foreign experts, who mainly specializes in international trade in Asian markets, would be invited to give a presentation on how to do business with Chinese companies in accordance with the western habits; moreover, Chinese local fashion consultation companies, who has already served many brand enterprises in the U.S., would share with the overseas exhibitors their experience on how to fast expand into the Chinese markets.
Here, these sellers could further know more about the cooperation mode with Chinese enterprises, the consumption behavior of Chinese consumers, etc., so that with the sufficient and useful market information, it will be easier for overseas exhibitors to find and sign with their suitable business cooperators in China.
Besides, according to the organizing committee, this year, CHIC would sparklingly promote the “Evergreen” Plan for several key brands: firstly, the organizer would have a detailed realization of the key fashion brand; then, through the follow-up service and investigation before, during and after the CHIC show of these brands, the fair organizer could have a comprehensively understanding about their situation, so as to offer the real-needed effective services for these key brands.
“In the past, there was a fact that some European brands could find their
appropriate buyers during the CHIC fair and have a nice communication,” explained one representative of the CHIC organizing committee, “whereas, after the fair, these overseas exhibitors were difficult to get in touch with the Chinese companies. As our investigation indicated that, most of them were affected by the language barriers, or some other factors. Our new ‘Evergreen’ plan would provide the brands with the corresponding service and information, in order to better help them sign the valid cooperation contract.”
What’s more?
What’s more, several activities will be held in conjunction with the CHIC fair. CHIC would unite with foreign well-known industrial organization to fulfill the fashion content of the fair. For example, CHIC will cooperate with WGSN to promote the latest trend for the next season. LCM, a renowned Buying Office mainly serves the large-scaled department stores in Japan, U.S., and Korea, would be invited to do a seminar, with the themes focusing on the fashion trend, the consumers’ behavior, and then propose market suggestions for local Chinese companies as well as shopping malls.
Fashion show is as always a necessary part for CHIC fair. In CHIC 2013, the organizing committee would choose fashion brands from the 400 foreign exhibitors to deliver a joint catwalk show for both overseas and home visitors, well performing the brand image and charms markedly.