Buyers were upbeat at the Taipei International Sporting Goods Show (TaiSpo) that kicked off in the Taipei World Trade Center yesterday, despite fears over severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
The disease kept many foreign buyers away from the show but some seemed pleased that the halls were not so crowded.
"I am happy with the show as all the manufacturers are still here and I can get on with my business as usual," said Yvon Blanchet, president of Y B Sports International Inc, a Canadian importer of sporting goods.
"I have found some new products, some interesting things and some new categories of products to offer to my clients," he said.
Wearing a surgical mask across his face, Blanchet did express worries about SARS, but he believed the outbreak was more serious in Toronto than in Taiwan.
Around 270 exhibitors from Taiwan, the US, Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia and Pakistan are showing the latest sporting equipment at more than 1,300 booths.
Exports of sporting goods reached almost US$1.3 billion in Taiwan last year, down 9 percent from 2001.
Ski equipment exports bucked the downward trend, tripling last year compared to 2001, and exports of dive masks and tennis balls increased by 25 percent and 44 percent, respectively, the China External Trade Development Council (CETRA) -- organizers of TaiSpo -- said yesterday.
Another buyer was on the hunt for new products.
"We're buyers for the Australian sports industry and TaiSpo is pretty important for us," said Mark Thorp, a sales executive with Podium Sports and Leisure of Norwood, South Australia. "I don't think there are any major new trends this year, whereas in previous years there was more new stuff -- for example, last year there were lots of foosball tables and air hockey [equipment]."
A health-equipment importer from India said yesterday that Taiwan remained important for his company, but noted China was growing in importance.
"TaiSpo is a very important show for us, but China is growing and costs are going down quickly there," said Pankaj Jain of Costco India Ltd.
Jain was pleased that there weren't so many visitors to the show, but said the exhibitors were not so happy about the drop in attendance.
Indeed, there were many glum faces among the 269 exhibitors at the show yesterday.
"Attendance may be down by 50 percent this year," said Nancy Cheng (
TaiSpo is the most important show for Deeyang to make business contacts each year, Cheng said. "The profile of the people that come to TaiSpo is better than any other show as it attracts Asian buyers who do not like to go to other shows in Germany or the US," she said.
Deeyang holds the worldwide patent on the Total Slide exercise machine that has two rolling pads connected by large stretch bands on a base board. Exercisers put their weight on one leg and slide with the other back and forth. The device has been featured on American shopping channels and retails there for US$99.
Another exhibitor expressed disappointment with the turnout at TaiSpo yesterday, but said the halls had been busier in the hour after lunch.
"Today's not been so good, but we expect more people over the weekend," said Darly Yang (
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