An Early Start for Asia’s Fashion Jewelry & Accessories Fair

Asia’s Fashion Jewelry & Accessories Fair (3FJ) will be held February 18 – 21, at Halls 3, 6 and 8 of the AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong. It is being held several weeks earlier than its usual March run to suit the international trade-event calendar, allowing buyers an early view of the trends for autumn and winter of 2012.
   
More than 370 exhibitors will participate, up 14 percent from last year. Jewelry suppliers and manufacturers, accessories companies and other exhibitors will represent 17 countries and regions, including Australia, Canada, mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Korea, Nepal, Netherlands, the Philippines, Samoa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

Two new theme zones—“Sense Zone” and “Fashion Accessories Zone”—will debut. Sense Zone will feature brands, while the Fashion Accessories Zone will showcase handbags, scarves, belts, and other accessories. In addition, four group pavilions representing mainland China, Korea, the Philippines and Taiwan will display the market specialties of these exhibitors.

“This year, the fair expands by 20 percent to three halls in response to the demand of exhibition space,” said Celine Lau, Director of Jewelry Fairs of UBM Asia Ltd., which organizes the tradeshow. “It reflects 3FJ’s growing reputation as an important marketplace for fashion jewelry and accessories.”

UBM Asiahas arranged free, continuous luxury bus service running from Wanchai and Tsim Sha Tsui to the AsiaWorld-Expo.

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2012 Sales Off To A Good Start

Photo credit: Olivia Bucks/The Oregonian

Gift cards, redemptions and warm weather led to solid and widespread growth for January retail sales, according to two reports.

January retail industry sales (excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants) increased 0.9 percent seasonally adjusted from December and 4 percent unadjusted year-over-year, according to the National Retail Federation.

“Thanks to a combination of unseasonably warm weather across much of the country and millions of shoppers with gift cards burning holes in their pockets, retailers are still riding the tailwinds of consumers’ spending power,” said Matthew Shay, NRF President and CEO. “As a traditionally slower sales month for the industry, it’s encouraging to see such sustained growth in consumer spending and sentiment.”

Meanwhile, January retail sales data, released by the U.S. Department of Commerce, showed total retail sales (which include non-general merchandise categories such as autos, gasoline stations and restaurants) increased 5.6 percent unadjusted year-over-year and 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month.

Among the highlights of NRF data are:

• Sales in sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores increased 1.1 percent seasonally month-to-month and 3.5 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

• General merchandise stores’ sales increased 2 percent seasonally-adjusted over December and 4.7 percent unadjusted year-over-year. 

• Sales at building material, garden equipment and supplies dealers increased 0.2 percent seasonally adjusted from the previous month and a strong 10.5 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

• Sales at furniture and home furnishing stores decreased 0.2 seasonally adjusted from December and increased 7.9 percent unadjusted year-over-year.

• Electronics and appliance stores’ sales increased 0.5 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month and decreased 1.1 percent unadjusted year-over-year, and sales at clothing and clothing accessory stores’ sales were flat over the previous month and increased 3.4 percent unadjusted over last year.

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