MM&T brings in new business & new business opportunities

24 Jan '09

3 min read

As the organiser of several international exhibitions and events in the leather, fashion accessories, and apparel fields we are well placed to gauge the sector's reaction to changing market needs and conditions.

We get the same stories of economic gloom and doom as everyone else but there is some good news too: companies that have innovated with fresh products, sought new markets, and boosted their sales and promotional activities.

A substantial number of these companies will be participating in APLF - Materials, Manufacturing & Technology (MM&T) 2009, held as always in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 31 March to 2 April.

One of the most conspicuous participants will be the 200-square metres pavilion of Italian tanners coming from the region of Avellino, in the South of Italy, to exhibit for the first time.

They will join the 20 already existing Group Pavilions: from Australia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the UK and the USA.

And 25 new companies have confirmed already that they will be exhibiting for the first time demonstrating that there is innovation in the sector and a need to promote their business in the most important market place for the leather and materials industries.

Many past exhibitors are increasing the size of their stands. Mandy Tang, Sales Manager at Hong Kong-based China Leather (HK) Group, one of the sector's largest tanners of bovine hides, points out that "Exhibiting is a tool for us to promote our company, find new business and keep close contact with the market." China Leather (HK) Group has boosted the size of their stand at APLF - MM&T in 2009 by almost 40%.

Johnnie Lau, Director of Fordrich Hong Kong Limited, agents of Italian leather, acknowledges that business is not easy nowadays. "But exhibiting brings in new business and new business opportunities: a 'must' during times of economic downturn."

APLF are celebrating 25 years of serving the leather industry during 2009. Several groups including the Association of Brazilian Companies of Components for Leather, Footwear and Related Goods (ASSINTECAL) and the Istanbul Leather & Leather Products Exporters Association (ITKIB) have chosen this opportunity to capitalise on the 25th Anniversary to promote their business by sponsoring APLF activities.

Among the first time participants, CRYSTALLIZEDTM - Swarovski Elements has chosen APLF to promote their brand, underscoring the importance of APLF - MM&T as the best venue to source high quality fashion components for the footwear and fashion accessories.

And, as in previous years registered buyers attending APLF - MM&T will have the opportunity to visit Fashion Access (FA): a twice-a-year event, which is Asia's most international trade fair for Bags, Footwear, Travelware, Garments and Lifestyle Accessories.

Prime Source Forum, the leading networking event in the apparel sector runs concurrently with both APLF - MM&T and FA.

APLF Limited

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