The HKTDC Hong Kong Optical Fair will open eyes to unbeatable sourcing opportunities.

Come early November, eyewear enthusiasts from this side of the planet will convene at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre for one of the much awaited optical fair of the year. This is the place where all keen buyers come to be updated on the latest development in their chosen industry.

This event is especially relevant to the eyewear business, with its focus on style and technology. The HKTDC Hong Kong Optical Fair 2010 is the perfect platform for not only sourcing the latest products but also gathering information on market intelligence, eyewear trends and technological advancements.

With a great variety of exhibitors, the well-established show has suppliers coming from all corners of the globe with their ware which will appeal to all market sectors – from mass market to exclusive designer collections with everything in between. These include frames, prescription spectacles, sunglasses, safety goggles and contact lenses as well as components, accessories and optometric equipment.

All in Focus

The highlight of the fair is undoubtedly the Brand Name Gallery, which focuses on top-notch international eyewear brands. The 2009 edition attracted 60 brands from around the world, and this year’s show is set to build on the success with even more participants.

What is more, Hong Kong is definitely the appropriate place to host such a fair. It has a strong optical industry that is the third-largest in the world. In 2009 exports of spectacles, lenses and frames were valued at US$1,515 million; figures for the first five months of 2010 show an increase of 5.6% over the same period in 2009 – but more importantly among the markets showing big increases are the emerging economies of Chinese mainland (13.5%), India (41.8%), Israel (200%), Mexico (26.7%) and Turkey (42.2%), with ASEAN countries collectively showing an 28% increase.

Another popular element of the Optical Fair is the Hong Kong Eyewear Design Competition, now in its 12th edition. It promotes and celebrates the talents of young, local designers.

Running concurrently with the trade show is the 8th Hong Kong Optometric Conference, a high-profile industry event that features presentations on state-of-the-art developments from international speakers who are experts in their individual fields.

Spectacle frames and sunglasses are increasingly being seen as fashion accessories, so it is essential that buyers are knowledgeable about the latest trends regarding shapes, colours and materials. The seminars running at the optical fair focus on industry trend happens to be the hottest ticket in town.

Buyers’ Quotes

“We do the main purchasing for sunglasses for our network of 180 drugstores from Chinese mainland and Taiwan manufacturers and at this fair we can find all these suppliers in one place. It is a huge opportunity to compare products and get a good feel for what is in the market, including the colour and fit. It is extremely important for me to be able to make contact with manufacturers in this sort of environment.”

Jack Gance, Chairman, My Chemist/Chemist Warehouse Group, Australia

“We are the biggest optical chain in the Czech Republic, with 90 stores, plus 50 shops in Slovakia. I am here to look for eyewear accessories, such as cases, cleaning cloths, chains and so on, and I have found many interesting things already. This fair is good for our company because it is huge and you can find everything in one place. Also, many of the suppliers are from East Asia, and their prices and service is good. The organisation of the fair is good; it’s very clearly laid out and I can find everything I want.”

Olga Lisakova, Business Assistant, FOKUS Optik A.S., Czech Republic

“I come to this fair almost every year to find suppliers of machinery and measurement equipment for our ophthalmic lens production facilities in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. I like this show because it is a complete fair where one can meet all kinds of optical industry people and get almost everything for the optical industry. It is efficient and well organised compared to other shows.”

Gan Song Chun, Area Manager – North Asia, Polycore Optical Pte Ltd., Singapore

Box details

HKTDC Hong Kong Optical Fair 2010

Date: 3-5 November 2010

Venue: Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre

Official website: www.hktdc.com/hkopticalfair
For more information, contact:

Hong Kong Trade Development Council Kuala Lumpur Office
Tel : (60 3) 2381 1061
Fax : (60 3) 2381 1062
E-mail : kuala.lumpur.office@hktdc.org