Seven large-scale lifestyle and licensing events organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) have ended on a high note in Hong Kong on 30 April, bringing to a close four days of vibrant sourcing and business exchange for over 95,000 buyers from 134 countries and regions.
Running from 27 to 30 April, the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair attracted over 32,000 buyers from countries and regions including the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan and Japan, with notable growth also recorded in buyer numbers from the Philippines, Canada, and Türkiye. The fair welcomed its first-ever exhibitor from the United Arab Emirates – homewares creator Alpha Art. Founder of the Dubai-based company Mohanmed Alayat said he had connected with around 40 new clients from Asia, Europe, the United States and Africa, and anticipated potential orders worth around US$1 million.
Home InStyle drew some 20,000 buyers this year and showcased a range of products made from innovative materials. Hong Kong exhibitor Lotux International presented cutlery and food containers made from lotus stems, alongside deodorising cat litter derived from lotus fibre. Sales Director Daphne Wan said the booth attracted strong interest, with discussions under way on an order of eco-friendly straws with a major houseware company as well as using sustainable materials in furniture production.
Attracting some 12,000 buyers, a highlight of Fashion InStyle was the NEXT@Fashion InStyle zone featuring over 60 new material exhibitors from around the world in a presentation sponsored by the HKSAR Government's Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency. Textile Library from Hangzhou debuted two original materials – warp-print fabrics and its ice-crack series of crackle-finish textiles – which drew strong interest and praise from international buyers, generating multiple follow-up business opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair and DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong saw over 9,600 buyers with eco-friendly packaging proving to be a key draw. Middle Eastern buyer Anas Bin Haneef of Hot Packaging said he expected to place trial orders for innovative corrugated paper bags and other sustainable products worth US$35-75,000, to be used as greener alternatives to traditional plastic packaging for e-commerce deliveries.
Licensing events highlight city’s role as IP trading hub
The Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS) attracted over 21,000 buyers and more than 330 exhibitors, while the Asian Licensing Conference (ALC) brought together over 20 international licensing industry speakers to explore key industry topics, including global licensing trends and the industry outlook, IP licensing strategies for overseas expansion, sports licensing, location-based entertainment and food and beverage licensing. The conference was held from 27 to 29 April.
Designed to helping SMEs leverage e-commerce, the newly launched IP and e-Commerce Support Services Zone hosted workshops on topics such as launching online shops, digital marketing and livestreaming, featuring speakers from local e-commerce industry associations.
Kay Leung from Digitify Online Growth, a provider of digital marketing and e-commerce solutions, said companies from across the spectrum were turning to e-commerce to find new growth. “This zone provides an essential foundation for SMEs by raising awareness of how to effectively leverage e-commerce as a springboard to promote their brands and sell their IP products to the global market.”
Charles Ng from souvenir and toy maker StarLite IPC described the show as an ‘all-rounded accelerator’ for the industry. “The exhibition brought together leading licensors, agents and brand owners from around the world, providing an efficient business matching platform for IP licensing-focused enterprises like ours," he said.
The Chinese Mainland Pavilion showcased over 150 institutions, featuring popular cultural IPs, renowned museums and world heritage sites—including the Great Wall and the Summer Palace. The pavilion highlighted the innovation, depth and global appeal of the mainland’s cultural and tourism resources, with the Beijing Museums brand making a fair debut.
Summing up the events, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Jenny Koo said they demonstrated the strength of Hong Kong’s licensing sector and signalled the expansion of licensing applications beyond traditional character merchandising into a comprehensive licensing industry chain.