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Product Magazines: Product Trends |
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FOR people out in inclement weather, especially at night, Ming Ho Umbrella offers the Lantern Umbrella, a combined umbrella and light.
"The main selling point of the Lantern Umbrella is the safety aspect. The light in the handle illuminates the whole frame and makes it very easy to be seen by cars," sales executive Stanley Ngai says. In production for six months, the Lantern Umbrella is already selling in excess of 15,000 units per month, mainly to customers in Japan, Europe and, increasingly, in the US.
"It is very suitable as a promotional product and our customers normally require a logo or company design printed onto the fabric. We are very happy to do this and in any colour required," Ngai says.
Ming Ho has been in the umbrella business for more than 20 years. It has a factory in China, with all sales and marketing carried out through the Hong Kong office. The Lantern Umbrella is priced at about US$5 FOB Hong Kong per piece. If a special design is required the delivery time will be 65 days. Minimum order requirement is 6,000 pieces.
"We are the appointed manufacturer of several very respected brand names and many of our clients are repeat customers. Our continued success is due to good service, high quality and competitive prices," concludes Ngai.
Written by Simon Saunders
MANY companies have come up with products -- mostly coils and pungent sprays -- to kill mosquitoes and other flying pests. Now Wing Fung Trading Co is marketing an odourless electronic device to deal with the problem -- the Plantain Electronic Mosquito Killer.
Marketing manager Sam Hui says, "Sprays are expensive and coils are very unpleasant. The Plantain uses a high electrical voltage which kills the mosquito when it comes into contact with [the product's] metal strips. It is odourless and doesn't use chemicals."
The product is a relatively simple lightweight device that runs off two AA batteries. The user is protected from shock by a tough plastic handle. It has been in production in China for about six months and Wing Fung ships about 100,000 pieces per month.
"Our main markets are in Southeast Asia where it is popular in the domestic markets and also with tourists ... We hope it will sell wherever there are mosquitoes or similar insects. Its appeal is that it's easy to use and the price is very attractive," explains Hui.
The price is US$2.20 FOB Hong Kong per piece with a gift box or US$2 without, and Wing Fung's delivery time after confirmation of order is 14 days. The minimum order requirement is 1,000 pieces.
Written by Simon Saunders
A HONG Kong company has come up with an alternative pet -- a dog that responds to voice commands.
The Speech Recognition Dog has been designed and manufactured by WHK Technology Co Ltd. Director and general manager Aaron Lam explains: "When children want a dog for a present we know how much hard work and expense goes into feeding, cleaning and looking after it, and we know who is going to be doing all the work. The Speech Recognition Dog is a fun alternative to a real dog with some great real life functions."
The Speech Recognition Dog can learn 10 commands in any language, and can respond to them even if they are issued from up to 30 feet away. It can record up to four minutes of messages or songs, and has pre-recorded ones. "This is a very versatile toy and we are aiming at children of all ages and adults as well. We are marketing it at toy fairs and this is beginning to pay off with sales steadily increasing in the US, Japan and Europe," Lam says.
The price is US$30 FOB Hong Kong per unit and there is a minimum order size of 120 pieces per item per colour. Delivery is between two and eight weeks. In addition to the dog, there is a cat now in production and both the design of the toy pets and of the voice recognition device have been registered by WHK Technology in the UK.
Written by Simon Saunders
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