China Fish 2009 Report  

On Feb 14, the day before the show opening, I had an exclusive interview with Mr. Li Jiang, president of China Fish. When I asked him, “do you think the show will be a success?” Mr. Li seriously told me, “To be honest, even for me, it is hard to say whether it will be successful. To say so, it is because there are three uncertainties in terms of pre-registered buyers. First, in the past several years, the pre-registered buyers were increasing year after year by 30% - 60% respectively. But, this time, the pre-registered buyers are decreasing by about 10%. Second, this time, part of the buyers registered as early as in May or June when they didn’t feel the crisis at all, in this case, I’m worried that, some of these buyers may not show. Third, in the past the European buyers always registered early, but this time lots of them registered very late, even a couple of weeks before the show. Whether they can make the trip, it’s not for sure.”

Yes, China Fish 2009 took place when the global financial crisis is widely spreading. But, China Fish highlights did give us the lights and positive expectation for the industry.  

First, let’s look at some remarks both from the exhibitors and the visitors.

“The show is good and improving every year. We met with many international visitors. We got an order worth USD 100,000 right on the show. Surprisingly, we’ve got the most orders at this show than ever. And plenty of guests have required us to send the samples and we are contacting and communicating with them.” said the salesman of Rising Sun Tourist Goods Co., Ltd. 

“We are very satisfied with the show. Just at the show, we have got 4 orders totally valued about RMB 4 million. ” said the salesman of Xinghua Sea Hawk Fishing Tackle Co., Ltd. 

“This is our company’s first time to attend China Fish; we have never seen so many international visitors before. We have got an order with a Belgian distributor worth 10 thousand plus US Dollar; we are very contented with the result. There are still some business orders under discussion.”

Mr. John Geils, from South Africa, said, “The show is pretty good, but the show time is so short.”

Mr. Veli Matti Seppala, from Finland, said, “China Fish is very good. I have been in China Fish since about 1991 and I have seen that it is improving every year. The exhibitors talks so much, maybe they have not master this language well, but what they understand and speak out is enough for the communication.”

Mr. Krome Ulrike, from Germany, said, “China Fish show is well-organized; it is very good that the show is in a big hall and not divided. China Fish is very professional.”

Mr. Federico Reali, from Italy, said, “I attend China Fish every year. The exhibitors are OK and the services are OK.”

Mr. Nabil Kassem, from U. A.E, said, “I have been China Fish for more than 10 years; China Fish has been improved every year.”

China Fish 2009, a confidence generator?!

In spite of the global financial crisis, China Fish saw 1702 international buyers, only 12% decreased compared with China Fish 2008. More surprisingly, as many as 85 countries and regions were involved, which hit historical high of China Fish compared with 78, last record made at China Fish 2008. Together with this, China Fish 2009 exhibitors also made a new record that 445 companies exhibited at the show; at China Fish 2008, 430.

The Countries and the Regions Involved

 Generally speaking, China Fish should have the highest USA visitor attendance. However, this year, the number of USA visitors sank by 40%. The visitors from Russia and Korea dwindled by 12% and 4% respectively.  

The visitors from Australia, New Zealand and Japan mount up and the orders placed almost keep the same.

Some Countries with Big Changes

According to the analysis form, wholesaler was still the main part of the international buyers this year but obviously decreased than last year. The proportion of the others was basically the same with the previous year except for the retailer, whose number was up by nearly 10 percents. Maybe more and more retailers would like to bypass the wholesalers to contact the suppliers directly themselves nowadays.

China Fish 2009 Buyers Constituent Analysis  

“The figures of the show really give me confidence. At the beginning, I was worrying that the buyers would decrease greatly due to the financial crisis. But, when seeing the actual attendance, I feel confident more and more, not only for the show, but also for the whole tackle industry. China Fish 2009 well explained what a must-attend brand show meant. At such hard times, only the sound attendance can tell us all it is about. I’m confident for China Fish future. For the whole industry, most buyers from different countries stated that no or little impact by the crisis is showing in their countries.” said Mr. Li Jiang, president of China Fish.

The following are some voices from the buyers about the crisis in their markets.

Mr. Akhtar Ali Shah, an importer from India, said, “As for the impact by the economic crisis on Indian tackle market, it’s just so so.”

Mr. Rokusuke Hirai, an Importer from Japan, said, “So far, I haven’t seen too much impact by the crisis, but I don’t know the future.”

Mr. Tarek Megahed Ibrahim Akl, an importer from Egypt, said, “So far, no impact in Egypt. But, I don’t know what will happen in the future. Now, I can only hope that the global economy can recover soon.”

Mr. Paulo Soares, Imp & Exp from Portugal, said, “The show is OK for my company. And the organization is pretty good. The tackle sale in Portugal is decreased by 20% now. And I think it may take two years to recover. Our company is mainly importing products from China and exporting the products to other countries. We are small; it’s easy for us to balance everything. And we are still growing by developing new markets to which we export our products. So, now, we are still purchasing more or less the same quantity products from Chinese suppliers.”

Though there are no or only a little impact in these markets, when talking about the future, as showed in the above remarks, most buyers have no ideas. So, we should have confidence, but we can’t be over optimistic. We must be prepared for all the uncertainties and possibilities in the future. However, we don’t have to be too pessimistic.

Just as Mr. David Lim, an importer from Malaysia, said, “Currently, the crisis impact is very little in Malaysia, and it just begins to appear. No need to be over pessimistic, as long as there are anglers and fish, there will be no problem.”

Also, one thing is certain that “The easy money is not there,” as put it by Mr. Pierre Bronsgeest, chief editor of Beet, fishing tackle magazine from the Netherlands.

The products quality at the show is getting better and better

When talking with China Fish buyers, we got one more reason for China Fish success. That is the buyers are very pleased that the exhibit quality is better and better year after year.

Mr. Pablo Gonzalez from Argentina says, “I know China Fish for 5 years and it is three years past since my last visit. I think the show is very good. I could see many different products here. And I find the quality of them is better than they were three years ago.”

Mr. Stephen Blackmore, a wholesaler from Australia, says, “This is my third time to China Fish show. This year, the show is very, very good, everything is much better, especially the products quality is much better.”

China Fish exhibitors are the representative of Chinese fishing tackle making industry. The exhibit quality represents the quality of the whole industry in China. From the buyers respect, we can come into the judgement that the quality of the products made in China has been greatly updated and it is still getting better and better.

IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) office highlighted by international media

Besides quality, another positive change in Chinese tackle industry is that more and more companies are realizing the significance of the IPR and paying more and more attention and strength on IPR protection. This year, again, China Fish set up an IPR office at the show. Totally, 15 exhibitors, including 2 international ones, have referred themselves to the IPR Protection booth, and 7 companies appealed complaints to the office. When receiving a complaint, the officials at the IPR office would go to the problem exhibitors together with the complainant to do necessary investigation, and remove the problem exhibit when necessary. Totally, 5 exhibitors took off their problem exhibits.

Mr. Sun Congshen, Technical Factory Manager of Ningbo Yinzhou Chaoyang Electric Equipment Factory, went to the organizer office and said that, “One of the core members of our company left with our key technology and contact info, and then he set up a new company competing with us, I regret about my weak consciousness of law. Since then I became to emphasis on the IPR. And we have taken along with all the certification attending the show.”

Mr. Pierre Bronsgeest thought highly of the on-site IPR office, saying “The Intellectual Property Rights office is very good. I think China Fish should highlight this office and promote it more, because some people still don’t know that. I will report this in the next issue of Beet.”

“In the future, we will continue this practice. Our aim is to clean up the copying in the show. You may say it’s impossible. However, there is an old saying in China, ‘Though we can’t make it, we must try our utmost to approach it. ’”, said Mr. Li Jiang.

Best Products Showcase, an old song with new tone

There are two points that give us deep impression of Best Products Showcase.

One is that more and more exhibitors are getting aware of the importance of it. China Fish 2009 Best Products Showcase overviews the unprecedented initiative from the exhibitors. 489 pieces of the most representative products entered by 85 companies have been displayed in this area, which hit a new high in China Fish history. Due to the space limitation, some exhibitors even can not entered their products at the last. The reason may be that the economic weakness leads the manufacturers to research and develop the new products to promote their brands and survive in the fierce competition.

Best Products Showcase History

Ms. Amy Yang, from WEIHAI SENSA COMPANY LIMITED, said, “The Best Products Showcase provides a free platform for us to present our products and promote our brands. Our business has been conducted better thanks to the exhibiting effect at the showcase.”

The second is that the organizer is endeavoring to make the event more and more transparent. Unlike before, the ballot box is totally transparent this time. And the organizer especially invited media representatives, both from home and abroad, to tell the ballots just at the door of the Best Products Showcase area under the supervision of the buyers and the exhibitors.

The Category and the Winners of the Best Product Showcase

China Fish seeing more and more foreign exhibitors

There is a phenomenon at China Fish in recent years. That is the number of the overseas exhibitors is increasing year on year. On China Fish 2009, the overseas exhibitors reach to as many as 29. They are from Japan, Korea, France, Italy, the USA, Singapore, etc.

Mr. Li told us, “Two appeals for the overseas exhibitors can explain this phenomenon. One is the huge Chinese domestic tackle market. In past year when the international demands shrank, Chinese market demands and sales were still increasing.” China is the country with the biggest population and the country developing most fast. The market potential is full of imagination.

“Another attraction for the overseas exhibitors is the global market. Undoubtedly, China Fish is the largest tackle sourcing center of the world with thousands of global buyers. So, besides the Chinese domestic market, the foreign exhibitors are also targeting, or mainly targeting the international markets. As a result, the overseas exhibitors are reaching satisfactory achievements.”

It may seem peculiar that a foreign stand only has English speaking staff. But, when being asked “why there are only English information in your name board, China Fish catalogue, and your products catalogue, and why there are only English-speakers serving in your booth, do you need an English-Chinese translator?” Some overseas exhibitors say, “Our target is the global buyers, so we don’t need Chinese information and English-Chinese translator.”

China Fish 2010, 20th anniversary, running up against economic slowdown, but it’s just OK

Currently, nobody can exactly tell how long the crisis will continue, and what further impact it will put on the tackle industry. Just in such situation, China Fish is welcoming its 20^th anniversary. So, it is also hard to say what China Fish 2010 will bring us.  

But, seeing the pictures showing the exhibitors booking the stands for China Fish 2010 on Feb. 17, the last day of the show at the exhibition center, we have the confidence to say, “It’s just OK for China Fish 2010.” On China Fish 2009, three were 225 companies booked their booths for China Fish 2010. However, on China Fish 2008, only 160 companies booked the booths for 2009.  

Now, China Fish’s organizer is advising the exhibitors to reduce their exhibiting cost to go through the severe economic winter by shrinking the exhibiting area and simplifying the decoration at the show, but, paying more attention on the research and innovation.

For buyers, the organizer is improving service for its international trade members. The info of 500 companies exhibited at China Fish, 200 companies exhibited at CGC Expo, 100 companies not attended China Fish or CGC, 200 companies of outdoor products and 170 with their new product photos and introduction will be listed in CFITM website for China Fish buyer members. The member can get access to preview all the info of the mentioned companies and choose the proper exhibitors to meet with at the show. Besides, the member will be able to make appointment with the companies online at China Fish’s website www.chinafishshow.org .

Another effort the organizer will take this year is to well organize CGC EXPO in October, 2009, in Weihai, Shandong province, keeping the theme “4 low costs”-low price exhibits, low cost for purchasing, low cost for exhibiting, and low cost for hosting.

Mr. Li Jiang told us, “In China Fish 2010, we will celebrate its 20^th birthday with series of events, old pictures, articles or objects related with development of fishing tackle industry of China. We sincerely welcome all the friends from all over the world to experience the great moment together with us.”

CONTACT CHINA FISH

Mr. Li Jiang, President

E-mail: lijiang@chinafish.cn

Tel: +86-10-5820 3101/02/03

Fax: +86-10-5820 3100

www.chinafishshow.org