As the leading Australian sourcing expo for the apparel, accessories and textile industries, this year’s International Sourcing Expo Australia (ISEA) saw over 3,800 trade visitors from large brands to start-up labels descend on the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre over three days (15-17 November).
With a 25 percent increase in overall attendance from 2015, visitors from 23 countries had the opportunity to connect with over 600 exhibitors from key sourcing hot spots like India, China, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Taiwan along with rapidly increasing sourcing regions such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Fiji and Pakistan.
Senior decision makers ranging from business owners and directors to buyers and product developers made up 75 percent of attendees, with many representing tier one retailers visiting the International Sourcing Expo Australia for the first time.
Exhibitors from Turkey, Italy, Indonesia, Pakistan, India and Vietnam reported very good results from the first co-located Footwear & Leather Show with indications of returning to the event in 2017, while the Council for Leather Exports India has flagged their commitment in a larger way for next year.
The comprehensive expert seminar series was well attended with some of the world’s most respected industry professionals examining the big issues and changes in international sourcing and global trends, which offered the opportunity for visitors to collect valuable market insights and business tips.
From an exhibitor perspective, the quality of stands featured on the full to capacity floor exceeded previous years and there was greater depth across key categories.
India’s presence was again significant and concentrated on showcasing high quality product and diverse capabilities, revealing its continued focus on the Australian market to position and drive a quality offering into the future.
Inaugural participation by both Enterprise Mauritius and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board attracted significant interest from visitors, with related exhibitors reporting solid results.
ISEA was proud to partner with the Council of Textile & Fashion, the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) and, for the first time, the Australian Retailers Association.
For more information about ISEA, please visit www.internationalsourcingexpo.com
VISITOR SNAPSHOT
• 75 percent of visitors were from Victoria; 14 percent from NSW; six percent from overseas and five percent from other cities in Australia
• 89 percent of visitors discovered new products/suppliers at the event
• 74 percent of visitors had final decision making authority, with an additional 24 percent influencing the final decision
• 53 percent of visitors cited their business import activities would increase as a result of attending the International Sourcing Expo Australia
• Major business groups represented:
• 43 percent retailers (combination of online, independents, chain/department stores and franchises)
• 18 percent distributors/wholesalers
• 16 percent manufacturers
For further details and media information, please contact HotHouse Media & Events:
Katie Quirk e: katie@hhme.com.au p: 03 9682 0222/0499 773 329
Michelle Shepherd e: michelle@hhme.com.au p: 03 9682 0222/0410 552 371