The 37th Osaka International Gift Show October 31, 2007
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TRADE PAGES - Consumer Products October 29, 2007
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| LANGUAGE OF TEXT: English PUBLICATION DATE: Before 1st of every month —————————————————————————- A tabloid-size, colorfully illustrated monthly publication, packed with many new business opportunities and ideas. It is intended to provide you with the source leads and basic information, on what’s new and readily on the market, for your preliminary screening. PRODUCTS PROFILE: |
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What’s Up in Gifts and Premiums October 18, 2007
Posted by wenbi in : Gifts , add a commentttnet.net - [2007/04/11]
We got many clues of the up-and-coming gift trends from the renowned shows of Ambiente and Tendence Lifestyle held in Germany. Here, there are three major themes in the current trends: ‘metallic’ mixed with cool metal with warm wood, ‘folklore’, a comeback of the mystery of East Europe in natural shades and opulent colors and ‘white’ enabling a white-white field of tension between romantic decorations and chic modern styles. A brand-new mix-and-match look with Asian, oriental and Mediterranean styles sets the trend in gift-giving items. For example, we see the figure of Buddha alongside Moroccan screens and colorful Alpine farmer furniture stands below mussel shell lampshades. ‘Water’ is a crucial theme in many of the spring and summer collections while the new aqua trends include such items as baskets and carpets of sea grass or fish motifs on towels, tableware and floor mats. Natural theme is evergreen. Hot as summer sun are topical shapes and materials such as branch-shaped candlesticks, dishes in tree-trunk look, laminated coconut shells and jellyfish shaped bags and lamps, also dancing with organic forms in vogue for china and glass.
Consumers are looking for romanticism, security and warmth, something like rich décors grace porcelain, glass, textiles and furniture. Even though the shapes last to be plain, the décor and details often impress us a Baroque feeling, frequently seen on glass and mirror components. The mounting nightmare of inflation brings nostalgic elements back. Rich shapes with floral patterns and pictures of angels on vases, plates, cushions or screens are still fashionable. Light tones such as white and green are welcome. Green in all variations plays a leading role on the palette. Black is a must as it comes to luxurious ambience in combination with decorative patterns or sequins and tulle. We see a return of old-styled gifts from Biedermeier era and accessories from our grandmother¡¦s era, including well-decorated biscuit dishes and elaborately printed tablecloths. The original ideas for premiums lies on their charm of giving things away for free, helping spark some kind of ongoing relationship with recipients- one in which the name of the company or product sticks in the mind. Here we see a soaring demand from premiums and giveaways sector as the expenditure of corporate advertisement partly shed to cheaper promotional giveaways and incentives. These gimmicks are in possession of all-pervasive influence penetrating to the full spectrum of our daily life, contriving some commercial missions, and usually coming to fruition. There is a widespread increase in smaller ad hoc pieces. The slogan of premiums is quite simple- it’s free for all. However, they are no more than the servants for brand names. Industry players are requested to diversify product lines so that they can accommodate their customers’ needs by personalizing with given logos and/or messages.
Electronic gadgets are always fun, and new technology, adding the bonus of more variety in designs, features and sizes. Flash dish drives, mp3 players, LED flashlights, clock radios and calculators are available in nearly any shape, size or combination. Mousepads in particular have become popular in the premiums sector. Not only are they lightweight and affordable, but they offer an ideal platform for corporate messages and logos. Thanks to updating technology, makers regularly launch new products to help them retain their premiums market share and offset thinning profit margins on older models, whose prices are declining by 5 to 10 percent. Ergonomic mouse are popular as they reduce fatigue and discomfort associated with repetitive motion, great for gaming and surfing. Cordless mouse, optical mouse or hybrid mouse are stealing the hearts of receivers. The premiums market accounts for 30 to 50 percent of production for most manufactures of electronic goods. Some companies supply to this market exclusively with hundreds of low-price electronic novelties.
In use of miniature components, a key chain is added with multifunctional features such as key lock light, laser pointer, quartz clock, calculator, message recorder or vibrating or sound-emitting plush-animal toy. Besides, multifunction key chains are in fancy designs with more gender-neutral and practical usages. The newest products include musical items in molded resin, and window units that are palm-size calendars or photo frames.
Beauty Is World’s Common Language
Posted by wenbi in : Cosmetic , 1 comment so farttnet.net - [2006/01/24]
According to the latest report, the trends of cosmetics focus on colorless charm, either the liquid or powder foundation, applying on skin to create an effect of shimmering veil. Eyeliners are basically blond, taupe and brunette; glistening ‘eye dust’ in silver, golden, pink or lilac. Eye shadows come in powder or in pencil form, which can be applied with water or as cream. Or even with a foam applicator. Definitely, lips are indispensable sexual appeals. Brand new lip gloss is loyal to transparent colors, such as bronze, coral and cool violet, along with fashionable colors such as peach, strawberry, beige, pink, raspberry and honey. Nail varnishes, either colored or transparent, aim at a balanced appearance. Fashion colors include pastel shades of yellow, light blue, pale green, pink and lilac.
Market Snapshots
USA
Cosmetic products refer to personal care, hygiene and well-being, with products such as sunscreen lotions with UV filters, decay-fighting toothpaste, anti-dandruff shampoos, deodorants and baby care applications, as well as about creativity with make-up products and perfume. US demand for cosmetic is predicted to rise 2.6 percent per year to 23 billion units by 2007. The growing momentum manly comes from the male, teenage and younger adult markets.
The top-three items include hair-care, oral hygiene and skin care, together accounting for nearly two-thirds of unit demand. Among the three, skin care and liquid soap enjoy the strongest growth. By survey, skin care products will be boosted from healthy expansion in the over-45 population, fueling rapid sales of skin creams and lotions as well as non-drying skin cleansers. In fragrance sector, the demand is driven by ongoing consumer preferences for natural ingredients, and increasing consumer interest in more complex and authentic flavors and fragrances, forecasted to climb over 5.0 percent per year, approaching $6 billion in 2007. Product differentiation and pricing play two key roles in fragrance industry, particularly in mature market segments such as laundry detergents. By this, less expensive synthetic flavors and fragrances continue to govern the market.
Here, backed up with strong demand, anti-aging skin products, tooth whitening toothpastes and fortified foods markets will continue to prosper. Fundamentally, product safety continues to be the primary consideration for the cosmetic industry. Under the Cosmetics Directive, cosmetic products are required not to cause any harm to human health. To that end, a safety assessment needs to be carried out, taking into account all the ingredients used in the product.
Recently, the home is once again emerging as the “nest egg” of choice as homeowners are strongly willing to pour money on their homes to enhance living quality. Such a new attitude toward life coming with homing, boosts the demand of environmental fragrance such as air fresheners, deodorizers, candles, potpourri, incense and aromatherapy-based goods, marking the fastest growth through 2007.
SOUTH EAST ASIA
Fueled by booming economics and improved employment rates, sales of cosmetics in Thailand celebrated growth of 9.2%, valued over Bt57.4 billion. By 2008, total sales value are predicted to reach over Bt80 billion, representing Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.9%. In Thailand, the major items in cosmetics and toiletries include bath and shower products, skin care and hair care. Sun care will be highly potential as mature baby care, bath and shower products are estimated to see only minimal growth owing to their large and almost-saturated sales value bases. Nevertheless, both will still experience positive growth as per capita figures reveal some potential for further penetration. Thailand has recovered from the Asian economic crisis of 1997/1998 as local consumers are spending more on premium cosmetics and toiletries.
In Malaysia, cosmetic and toiletries market inched up by 5% in 2003, boosted by improved education levels and a growing number of working women, which contributed to strong-growth beauty-related sectors including color cosmetics, nourishers, anti-agers, skin care and depilatories. Thanks to the strong desire for a youthful look, new products and aggressive promotions, skin care products remained the largest sector within cosmetics and toiletries, accounting for 23% of total market value sales. Bath & shower products and oral hygiene will be merely post marginal but stable growth as the above head to be mature. Popular whitening trend focuses on deep cleansing, pore-refining, purifying, oil-control and deep moisturizing.
The up-and-coming sophistication and spreading urbanization tend to spur growth of luxury products such as color cosmetics, skin care and fragrances. Singapore’s cosmetics and toiletries market is predicted that the annual growth of cosmetics and toiletries will be 4% on average from 2004 to 2008, benefiting from recovery economy and increasing male market. The most-welcome products include sun care and hair care. However, consumers in Singapore become more sophisticated and discerning in purchasing.
The sales of cosmetics and toiletries in Vietnam soared highly as 5-year composite growth is predicted to climb 100%, largely spurred by Vietnam’s remarkable economic performance along with an increase in advertising expenditure from manufacturers. In Vietnam, cosmetics and toiletries such as oral hygiene, hair care, and bath and shower products accounted for the biggest shares, occupying 77% of total value sales. Among the all sectors, oral hygiene enjoyed the strongest growth of 29% as rural penetration rates increased and manufacturers made use of intensified pomotional campaigns and school dental programs. Due to improving living standards across the whole country, the sale of cosmetics and toiletries products tend to last to increase in the coming years. Yet, with tougher competition, the growth of sales will slow down, merely at 9% in CAGR.
EU
In Europe, cosmetics, toiletries and perfumes play a crucial part in everyday life: from the use of deodorant and shampoo, to skin care products and perfumes. Essentially, personal hygiene and beauty products are regarded to be indispensable today jus as health-related products such as sunscreens and decay-fighting toothpaste. By statistics, there are more than 5 billion cosmetic products including five sectors perfumes and fragrances, decorative cosmetics, skin care, hair care and toiletries, sold every year to some 380 million consumers in the European Union.
The industry employs over 150,000 Europeans, together with an additional 350,000 indirectly in retail, distribution and transports sectors to generate nearly £á 60 billion every year almost as twice the sales volume of Japan and one-third more than the USA. In terms of specific regions, Norway celebrates the largest market growth (+13.2%), followed by Ireland (+9.8%). Denmark (+8.6%), Sweden (+6.9%), Switzerland (6.9%), Spain (+6.6%), Greece (+6.5%), Belgium/Luxembourg (+5.9%), France (+5.7%), Netherlands (+5.4%), Portugal (+4.9%), Finland (+4.5%) and Austria (+3.9%) also hit above average (+3.6%).
A Technology for Fun
Posted by wenbi in : Consumer Electronics , add a commentttnet.net - [2006/01/24]
Market Snapshot
In US, according to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), consumer electronics goods will hit a record-high of $125.7 billon in 2005, marking an 11% growth over the $113.5 billion sold in 2004. The year-end total for 2004 would exceed previous prediction and enjoy an increase of 11% over 2003 annual sales. Boosted by strong demands from flat-panel, ultra-thin displays (LCD and plasma), digital television (DTV) were the biggest winner of 2004 with total sales of DTV products reaching $10.7 billion on 7.3 million units (+ 78% in dollar sales and +63% in unit sales.) MP3 players kept popular in end-users, doubling in sales in 2004 to over 6.9 million units and dollar sales nearly tripled in revenue to $1.2 billion and are expected to reach 10 million units and $1.7 billion sales in 2005. Wireless phone kept strong sales as the ones with built-in digital cameras were hot-selling in 2004 with 15% growth to reach 79.6 million units. Benefited from robust demands of digital storage, especially from digital cameras and MP3 players, flash cards enjoyed the largest growth at over 200% with more than $3 billion in product sold.
In Japan, the demand for digital video equipment like as LCD and plasma display panel television sets and DVD recorders, was particularly strong, pushing up the sales by 11.9% from 2003 to 99.2 billion yen. Shipments of LCD TVs nearly doubled to 256,000 units, and PDP TV shipments jumped 14.7% to 20,000 units. The shipments of DVD players and DVD recorders climbed 24.% to 445,000 units, with DVD recorders with built-in hard disk drives marking an 83.1% increase to 198,000 units. In February, the domestic shipments of consumer electronics in Japan grew 7.7% compared to 2004 to 168.9 billion yen (showing sustained growth for the 15th straight month), spurred by accelerating demands for digital video devices.
Trends Watch
DCR HDTV on the Rise
According to a recent survey conducted by CEA in US, 27% of adults show purchasing interest in buying HDTV (high-definition television) set within the next year- the highest percentage of purchase interest among the seven electronic devices tested. Nearly 50% of all consumers plan to buy a high-definition (HDTV) television set to replace their old television set. CEA predicts that three million digital cable-ready (DCR) HDTVs will be sold in 2005, more than one million sold in the second half of 2004, while DCR sets were debuted. The new DCR high-definition sets offer access to digital HDTV programming and other premium channels without a set-top box and supporting “plug-and-play” feature.
Digital Cameras, the Most Welcomed Electronic Gifts
According to the CEA, digital cameras are forecasted to soar 29% to US$31 billion in 2009. In 2005, digital camera players focus on 7 megapixel and 8 megapixel models, which will be mainstream models of point-and-shoot cameras by 2009. Currently, the household penetration will reach to 52% in 2005, growing 13% on sales. However, according a survey by IDC, many consumers have already their second digital cameras, which means the market is somewhat maturing earlier than expected. IDC predicts that digital cameras tend to keep as the biggest generator of digital images although the increasing population of camera phones. Prints from digital images are expected to exceed film prints in 2006, accounting for 71% of total worldwide prints by 2008.
MP3 Infected with iPod Fever
Debuted in late 1998, MP3 players have been ever loved by consumers as more and more features coming in. Being slim, lightweight and small is not enough. Now MP3 players should be embed with large capacity of HDDs for volume music and data storage and even better with viewable displays. Memory storage capacity and LCD-embedded feature determine the ranges of HDD MP3. The most successful example must be iPod, since Apple Computer Inc. first released the portable digital audio player in October 2001. Apple has successfully transformed itself into a $10 billion company again with its hot-selling iPod, which functions to play both music and video and some versions can store over 15,000 songs. The company recently announced to adjust their fiscal 2005 revenue model to incorporate iPod sales of 13.3 million units, up from 9.5 million in previously. And the sales of iPod will soar to 23.5 million units in 2006 since the gear has become quite the fashion accessory- widely popular in campuses.
In Exuberant, Luxuriant, and Alternative Moods
Posted by wenbi in : Fashion , add a commentttnet.net - [2006/01/24]
Fashion is a common language around the world, which functions as a form of tribal identification that crosses barriers and classes. Its totems spread from handbags, belts, scarves, footwear, headwear to furs and much more. Although less expensive than clothes, accessories offer consumers with the same semiological comfort and a sense of being en vogue. Switching from sporty styles and masculine look, fashion is heading towards a comeback of femininity and a zest for glamour. Consumers want something really feeling good. The focus of well-being has turned to luxury.
FUR WEAR
Fur wear is major beneficiary to this change on account that it lends itself to the wish for something unique, comfortable and expensive looking, for a piece of pure individuality. The fur business is heading into the new seasons with an optimistic outlook. This confidence is rooted in the strong showing of fur at the recent fashion fairs and weeks in Paris, Düsseldorf, London, New York and Milan. The fur design tends to be more feminine, adorning, and decorative. Lightweight, courtesy of special deep fleeces and the innovative processing techniques have been applied to shaggier hides, by making good use of both front and back of the hides for reversible parts from the classic coat to the sassy fashion accessories. With the comeback of the classic fur look, full-length mink coats are radiant in catwalks often with slim silhouettes and styles of the ’60s and ’70s.
BAGS
Bags are must-have accessories for every season. In the past when clothes had no pockets, a bag was essential for holding money and personal items. Bags were made from leather, cloth, velvet or silk and left unadorned or decorated with needlework, stitched designs of figures, flowers or mythical beasts. Nowadays, women use the bag in a semiotic way in front of knowing assistants to get serious attention. They emphasize their esthetic value more than their functionality, that is, shopping. Indeed, color is central part of the handbag equation. Fashion colors turn from traditional black and brown to pink, light blue, chartreuse and orange. Textured surfaces shape the trend toward luxury- particularly with embossed crocodile, python and lizard as animal prints such as leopard, cheetah and zebra become popular.
FOOTWEAR
Footwear is people’s closest friend. Most of us wear many shoes during the course of a 24-hour day, such as dress shoes, casual footwear, athletic shoes, and finally household slippers at the end of a long, tiresome day. Women adorn boots with laces, stud eyelets, knee boots, crocodile boots, wearable pirate/highwayman cuffed boots. Also the boots with grommets and biker buckles, the boot with fur cuffs, moccasin slouch boots with ikat and Inca designs and fur topped elegant boots. Some shoes are in velvet or suede creates luxury footwear with a quality-sensing feel. Retro shoes have many lavish fur or are laced ’30s style. Exotic satin colored evening shoes with crystal trims are perfect match for a pair of jeans. Rugged but cozy boot-style slippers in imitation shearling and fleece are sold well throughout the colder months. Casual footwear with jelly-style kitten heels, as well as espadrille wedge silhouettes, is worn everywhere on floors.
NECKTIES
As men become more interested in expressing their individual style, in this case, they prefer to wear formal clothing as an expression of their own style. Although half of neckties is bought by women as gifts, the increasing numbers of under-25s show intense feedbacks on purchasing neckties. Such a trend reinforces stronger growth of premium products.
HEADWEAR
Hair styles change all the time so does headwear fashion. Some changes dance with how a particular celebrity cuts. By this, the street version is always slightly different. Younger generation loves their hair being a blonde, although never will. In fact, dyeing seems a good way. Women pretty up their hair with hair accessories, including combs, barrettes, decorative bobby pins, clips, butterflies and hair bands.
In hat sector, we saw a return to a more dressier hat, with molded felt and straw shapes frequently replacing cut-and-sew silhouettes. Hats with jeweled brooch decorations turn to a more “multi-media embellishment“, like feathers, sequins, velvet trim and lace. In addition, flower pin designs can be found on hats, either in matching fabrications and colors or contrast colors, creating a hybrid of girl-meets-boy.
BELTS
Jeweled belts, buckles with fabric as scarf wrapping at the waist have been welcomed. Brooch belts with colorful colored stone or clear rhinestone buckles are pretty echo-friendly. Some are combined with materials like distressed and rugged leathers for a “rock n roll” look of glam to suit street fashion. Fabrics are woven and mixed with pearls or chain, or even woven through leather. Ring buckles decorate soft fabric or ribbon belts are friendly for consumers in dealing with sizes. The hot sales are charm bracelets, charms on chain belts. Gold color is popular as gold price surges in international market.
