|
|
|
Product Magazines: Product Trends |
|
|
Vol 1, 2004 |
Product Features World Time Watches Promotional Watches Mini Table Clocks
|
|
Eye-Catching Advertising
 |
|
CF Winky Enterprises Ltd's multifunctional digital watches with day and date display are available in various colours |
Always useful and perceived as valuable, wristwatches have consistently maintained their position as a favourite with the world's marketers. Eye-catching and fun or weighty and sophisticated, their ability to appeal to all ages and diverse population groups ensures consistent demand that Hong Kong's innovative and skilled manufacturers are only too happy to fulfil.
For example, Hong Kong-German joint venture Promotec Productions Ltd has been manufacturing watches, clocks and other gift and premium items since 1998.
"With an office in Germany, the main market for our products is definitely Europe and we are just at the starting stage on the Chinese mainland," says marketing executive Kary Cho.
Promotec sells its own Broadway, Flexx and Twins brands, but the majority of the company's watches are sold as promotions, with cosmetic and cigarette companies comprising the bulk of customers.
"Our Jelly watch is the most popular promotional item," says Cho. Aimed firmly at the teenage market, the watch features funky, colourful straps that surround a small digital face to give a very smooth clean profile with the strap design very much to the fore.
"The designs of our watches, which come from our German office, and our unique ideas for the products are the main things that set us apart from our competitors," claims Cho. "We are always developing different products and modifying existing ones with new strap designs or materials, like denim, fur or corduroy."
Promotec has a monthly production capacity of 300,000 at its mainland factory in Shenzhen and can fulfil orders within 25 days of confirmation of 1,000-piece minimum orders.
Just as innovative is Sun Loon Watch and Clock Ltd, which began manufacturing brass, stainless steel and aluminium analogue watches three years ago.
"The 'Swatch' style is most popular at the moment," explains marketing manager Connie Yam. "The current trend is to combine plastic and alloy in the same watch as it looks more hi-tech and gives a new, different feel."
Sun Loon produces a stylish line of elegant adult watches and rugged sports models as well as a huge range of children's watches that comprises about 70% of the company's output.
Particularly impressive are the 3D moulded watchstraps featuring raised animals, flowers, cartoon characters and patterns that provide a tactile aspect. The faces and hands can also be customised to add to the overall fun feel.
"We have a group of designers on the Chinese mainland, with one person who handles the colour combinations," explains Yam. "This colour matching and our expertise in printing are very important."
Sun Loon's fully integrated factory in Nanhai on the mainland handles the entire production process from mould design, injection and die casting to assembly and packing to maximise quality and cost efficiency.
The firm utilises PVC, PU, PC, ABS, acrylic, alloy and brass from Germany and Japan to fill minimum orders of 1,000 pieces per model, delivered 25-30 days after order confirmation.
"Our main markets are Germany, Spain and Columbia for promotional watches, while we are looking to the mainland market with our Willis brand," adds Yam.
Fun is also a major feature of the watches produced by the P & V Mfg Co Ltd, a leading manufacturer of promotional and novelty items, plastic toys and household products.
"Our Face-Off watch is a special item launched just three months ago," explains senior marketing executive Raymond Yeung. "Customers get two messages on one watch - twist the case and the face changes, or reverse the strap to show a new picture on the other side."
The gimmick is already proving popular with advertisers, one soft drink company having used the innovative watch to promote two of its new drinks.
Like the rest of P & V's products, the ABS watch is manufactured at a 31,000-square-metre factory in Shanwei on the mainland, where 1,200 workers fill minimum orders of 5,000 pieces delivered 35 days after confirmation.
Watches are still one of the best give-away items because they are seen as valuable, according to Hana Electronic Ltd sales manager Winson Chau, whose company produces promotional watches primarily for premium houses and importers in Europe.
"Right now the trend is for big, wide watchstraps that can be customised with buttons or different textures, although the biggest sellers are still simple, cheap three-hand watches," Chau notes. "Most of our watches during the past five years were analogue models because customers could sell them at higher prices than digital, even though they cost the same to make."
Hana's ABS and alloy timepieces are manufactured at a 1,500-square-metre, 150-worker mainland factory in Dongguan that produces 300-piece minimum orders delivered 30 days after order confirmation.
"Adding value through fun designs and additional features is becoming more important than price," Chau concludes, adding that Hana's major markets are the UK and Europe.
Proving yet again that no one times new market trends better than Hong Kong manufacturers, whose promotional watches are catching the eye all round the world.
WRITTEN BY ALISTAIR WADDELL
Contact details
CF Winky Enterprises Ltd
Rm A20, 3/F
Proficient Ind Centre
6 Wang Kwun Rd
Kowloon Bay, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2759-1227
Fax: 852-2796-7737
Email: cf@cfwinky.com
Web: www.cfwinky.com
Hana Electronic Ltd
17/F
Concord Commercial Bldg
157 King's Rd
Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2571-8449
Fax: 852-2807-1840
Email: hanaelec@netvigator.com
Web: www.hanawatch.com
Orient Foundation Co Ltd
13/F, Blk I
Wah Lik Ind Centre
459-469 Castle Peak Rd
Tsuen Wan, New Territories
Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2498-0487
Fax: 852-2412-0757
Email: orientf@netvigator.com
Web: www.orientfoundation.com
P & V Mfg Co Ltd
2/F
Shell Ind Bldg
12 Lee Chung St, Chai Wan
Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2108-0404
Fax: 852-2108-0839
Email: pnv@imagic.net
Web: www.pvmfg.com
Promotec Productions Ltd
Suite 1202
Prosperity Centre
25 Chong Yip St
Kwun Tong, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2344-7183
Fax: 852-2191-7409
Email: kary@promo-tec.de
Web: www.promo-tec.de
Sun Loon Watch and Clock Ltd
Rm 616
Flourish Ind Bldg
33 Sheung Yee Rd
Kowloon Bay, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2391-5308
Fax: 852-2374-0906
Email: sunloon1@netvigator.com
Web: www.sunloon-hk.com
Twenty-C Watch Mfy Ltd
Unit D, 12/F
Hoover Ind Bldg
26-38 Kwai Cheong Rd
Kwai Chung, New Territories
Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2612-2889
Fax: 852-2615-2154
Email: watch@twentyc.com
Web: www.globalsources.com/twentyc.co
 |
Hong Kong Buyers Request Form | |
Overseas Buyers Request Form | |
More Publications |
 |
tdctrade.com | Web Directory | My Virtual Office | Business News | About TDC |  |
| tdctrade.com Industry Verticals | TDC Global Network | Feedback | Help | ||
|
Copyright (c) 2000-2003 Hong Kong Trade Development Council. All rights reserved. |
|
