Jewelers see the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show as a prime platform to connect with global customers — particularly those from emerging economies — and believe organizers should ramp up their overseas marketing efforts.
The show, which opened on Tuesday, has drawn more than 4,000 jewelry companies from over 40 countries and regions to Hong Kong. The event, showcasing raw materials, finished jewelries, and technical tools, runs until Saturday.
Sarju Shah, owner of Indian firm Illusion Solitaire Diamond Jewellery, has been a regular at this show for over a decade. Shah said he prepares for the event around a month in advance each year, as it is a good opportunity to engage with clients from across Asia, the Americas and Europe.
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Shah said sales figures were not bad, although they had declined in the past two to three years due to global economic headwinds. He added that he expects his company will achieve at least $100,000 in sales during this year’s show, matching last year’s figures, and there is potential to hit $200,000.
Varghese Sunny, wholesale manager of Dubai-headquartered La Marquise Jewellery, said he has built relationships with buyers from diverse regions at previous shows and achieved good sales numbers.
With the motive to further expand the business in Asia-Pacific, he said, “This is why we have participated in the event for the past 12 years” and opened an office in Hong Kong.
But the jeweler said that losing clients from the Chinese mainland over the past few years has affected his business, so he hopes this year’s show will help him gain a better understanding of the mainland market’s recovery.
Hong Kong-based Eternal Bliss shares a similar goal of expanding its customer network. Consultant Paul Lee said he is eager to connect with more buyers from Southeast Asia. “Traditionally, the clientele has been predominantly from Europe and North America, but as purchasing power rises in Southeast Asian nations, the proportion of buyers from these emerging markets is getting higher,” Lee noted.
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Shikhar Rastogi, design and merchandising manager of KGK Jewellery Manufacturing in Bangkok, Thailand, said that as a designer, he hopes he can learn about the latest trends of jewelry design through the show and purchase the most innovative ideas for his company.
However, Shah said that competition in the global jewelry industry is intensifying, creating challenges for both show organizers and jewelry suppliers. He said he hopes that Hong Kong can ease visa requirements for exhibitors and buyers from certain Southeast Asian countries and enhance promotional efforts in these places to attract more buyers, in response to the fierce competition caused by an increasing number of similar exhibitions worldwide.
Exhibitors’ sales can only be boosted with more buyers, which in turn could make them feel that the effort and investment required to attend the show is worthwhile, Shah added.
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This year’s show features a new Young Jewellery Designer Arena, providing a platform for emerging designers. The event also sees the return of the International Jewellery Design Excellence (IJDE) Award co-organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and four local jewelry associations. This is the first time the IJDE Award has been held following the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has attracted 80 entries from nine countries and regions.
In addition to the showcases, industry networking activities and seminars will be conducted over the five-day event.
Meanwhile, the 11th Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show opened on Sunday at AsiaWorld-Expo, located near the international airport, and will conclude on Thursday.
