Fresh look at Outdoor Lifestyle Hangzhou

Number of buyers and exhibitors grows

-- Casual Living, 3/22/2010 10:38:00 AM

The number of exhibitors increased and the quality of international buyers improved as the recent Outdoor Lifestyle Hangzhou rolled out products ranging from casual furniture, grills, umbrellas and garden accessories to recreational vehicles, camping and water sports equipment.

Because of the March 4-7 trade show’s location near the manufacturing base of many outdoor products, some buyers were able to visit factories and place orders before leaving China, exhibitors said in a post-show survey. Organizers held three matchmaking sessions and also hosted visits to production centers in Linhai City.

More than 2,000 international buyers and 6,000 domestic buyers visited the show, according to a post-show release. European and American brands such as Direct Gateways, Li & Fung, Jula Postorder AB and Lowe’s were among the large international players. Domestic buyers represented large retailers, outdoor specialized dealers, sports clubs, real estate developers and city construction contractors.

The number of exhibitors grew to 150 although the 12,000-square-meter exhibition space was a smaller footprint than last year’s show and reflected the trend of booking smaller booth sizes. The concentrated show provided buyers with more alternatives when purchasing similar ranges of products. The organizer will continue to work on introducing more exhibitors from various product ranges rather than expansion of show space.

Most of the products shown originally targeted customers from Europe and North America, but exhibitors promoted the fresh outdoor lifestyle to the general public and were enthusiastic about the domestic market’s response to product introductions.

Joe Logan, executive director of the International Casual Furnishings Association, and Connie Lineberry, vice president of marketing for Casual Living, presented information about the current North American casual furniture market as part of the show’s Outdoor Industrial Forum.

Logan noted the show is relatively new in its focus on outdoor furnishings, and that other outdoor recreational products such as camping equipment provided an "interesting twist" to the trade show. "It impressed me that our show is so much more specialized," Logan said, referring to the International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market.   

Another Hangzhou seminar that gained attention was focused on camping and co-organized with the Beijing Auto Camping Association and California RV Association. In addition to those groups, the show’s organizer built on its expertise and influence through cooperation with a variety of associations including the China International Advertising Association, China Real Estate Association, China Dutch Chamber of Commerce, Deutsch RV Association and Alibaba.com.

Outdoor Lifestyle Hangzhou is not only a trade platform, but also a window for the public to experience a new lifestyle. For three continuous years, the show has found support from the local governments of Hangzhou and Linhai. More local officials of production areas have shown interest in the show and will participate in different ways, according to a post-show news release.