HK$700m shopping spree ends
A last-minute rush to bag a bargain on the final day of the Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo yesterday helped total sales hit a record HK$700 million.
The figure was a 15 per cent increase on last year, according to the organiser, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong.
For many of the 880 stalls, yesterday marked the busiest day of the 24-day exhibition in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay. It was difficult to get through the crowds with their suitcases, shopping trolleys and even baby buggies doubling as goods carriers.
"We have been very busy today because more customers tend to come on the last day," said Arthur Lee, deputy sales director of Koi Kei Bakery.
According to Lee, there were more mainland customers than at the 2011-12 expo, and Koi Kei Bakery had seen a rise in sales of two to three per cent year on year.
"I think it's because of mainlanders' increased purchasing power," said Lee.
A woman who identified herself only as Ms Lin, from Shenzhen, was bargaining at the Lock & Lock Company booth, a Korean-based firm, for an induction cooker. She said it was her second visit to the fair this year and had spent about 4,000 yuan (HK$5,000).
"What we care about most is not the low price, but the good quality and variety of products in Hong Kong," she added.
As one fair closed another one was opening - the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, Asia's largest fair of its kind, hit the go button yesterday.
A new zone called Kidult World featured "iEra toys", classic games teched up for smartphones and tablets.
There was a toy gun you put your iPhone into and traditional board games, including chess, remade for iPads.
"People care much more about extra-experience," said Paul van Schijndel, of Spanish-based Diset. "They want to play both physically and online."
Kevin K.Y. Mak, managing director of Hong Kong-based Maksco, said: "It's a trend that more and more toys combine the real environment with the virtual world."
