Special Feature
Hong Kong
Hong Kong – will the traditional January FOB buying trip be viable in ’22? Many in the global toy community have been asking this question for the past few months – often more in hope than expectation. Publisher John Baulch attempts to look for clues as to what might happen.
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he January FOB buying trip to Hong Kong traditionally marks the start of Toy Fair Season. In normal times, as the New Year bells chime across the globe, people from the toy community pack their bags ready to head to the Fragrant Harbour to place their FOB orders with Far East vendors and factories, ahead of Chinese New Year. The pandemic obviously decimated the ’21 Toy Fair Season, but it was hoped that by ’22, it would all be a distant and not so fond memory. Sadly, that has not proved to be the case. There is now a strong chance that some key toy shows will take place in January and February ’22, but what about Hong Kong? While it’s important to stress that the situation may yet change, the portents are not encouraging. Last month, we reported that full border reopening between China and Hong Kong appears likely to be postponed until after the Beijing Winter Olympics, slated to be held in February next year. If the reports are accurate, the border will not be reopened before March ‘22. As the Hong Kong government has previously stated that its first priority is to open the border with China, it is logical to assume that international travel restrictions currently in place will not be lifted until after this date. Should that prove to be the case, it effectively rules out buying trips and the official
trade shows that are due to take place in the region in Q1, such as the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair unless people are prepared to spend three weeks over Christmas and the New Year in a quarantine hotel. I suspect that isn’t how most people in the toy community would choose to spend the festive season. There have been murmurings that the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair could still go ahead in January, with a focus on HK-based exhibitors and sourcing offices – although there are question marks over the commercially viability of that strategy. There has also been a suggestion that the show could be postponed to March or April; this approach would potentially work for some elements of the toy community, but it would potentially be too late for the majority of major international FOB retail buyers. Talking to a selection of people based in Hong Kong, it seems that hopes for the January trip have been fading in recent weeks, although the situation could yet change. However, that would require a significant change of heart by the Hong Kong and Chinese governments. In Hong Kong, Covid cases are still effectively zero - there hasn’t been a case since mid-August. However, there is said to be growing frustration at the lack of an exit strategy from the restrictions. Frederik Gollob,
Jeruel Industrial Company seeks agents For 25 years, Hong Kong based Jeruel Industrial Company has been designing and manufacturing educational puzzles and games. Its 3D Crystal Puzzle is a three-dimensional, transparent puzzle which can be put together to create an impressive ornament. The range is available in four sizes: Mini, Regular, Medium and Deluxe – each with their own level of difficulty. The company continues to add to the collection with latest puzzles the Royal Carriage and Frogs, which were released in July this year. Other designs include a unicorn, dog, giraffe, teddy bear and a T Rex. There is no cutting, no trimming and no gluing involved as the 3D Crystal Puzzle comes in pieces that are ready to be put together easily with no mess and no fuss. Jeruel Industrial Company also provides a free worldwide lost piece replacement service, so that no matter where the puzzle owner is, they are guaranteed to be able to complete their 3D Crystal Puzzle. The puzzles are safe for everyone above the age of 14 to play with and are certified as toxin-free. Jeruel Industrial Company is looking for a national exclusive agent in the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Benelux and Poland. For more information, email Erik Lui at erik@kinato.com or call +852 23423380 .
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chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, has claimed that Hong Kong’s ongoing zero-Covid approach risks doing long-term damage to the city: “By insisting on a zero-Covid strategy, we will find ourselves in the same spot indefinitely,” he said. However, Mainland China has thus far vowed to stick with a zero-tolerance approach, pushing back against calls to live with the virus from both inside and outside the country. It is debatable whether there will be any significant change in government policy in the short term. Significant progress would have to be made over the next couple of months – a higher percentage of locals would have to be vaccinated, booster shots would need to be administered to people who have had the Sinovac vaccination and, crucially, the government would have to accept that an indeterminate number of Covid cases would be imported if quarantine restrictions were to be removed. On the face of it, that’s quite a significant change which would need to happen in a matter of weeks in order to give travellers the confidence to book their trips for January. Toy World will continue to monitor the situation closely, and keep you abreast of any further developments, particularly in regard to any potential relaxation of the current quarantine regulations.
