The decision to go ahead with the Sydney Gift Fair last month paid off for many exhibitors including home furnishings company Inertia Handicrafts.
Owner Vivek Jain says that he was writing orders on each of the four days of the show, which hasn’t happened before.
“After two years and a lot of cancellations, the show has been a lot better than I had expected,” he says.
“I must congratulate the AGHA for going ahead with the show and even on the fourth day I have made very good sales, which I have not experienced at previous fairs.
“I had one sale on the second day from an existing customer who would normally spend $5,000, and this customer spent more than $20,000.”
Jain comments that having only one show instead of two had its advantages. “With only one show, there was definitely a decision by many buyers to spend all of their money at this show rather than across two. As a result, I believe there was a higher overall order value. Although the number of visitors was lower, we found that the quality of buyers was strong.”
Inertia Handicrafts always launches new designs at the fair and then after the show Jain adds them to his website and social media channels.
“There are four or five designs that are now completely sold out because I make only 200 pieces of each, so for the buyers there is an incentive to visit my stand at the fair.
“I have noticed an increase in online retailers attending the fair and an increase in the number of people who have already started their businesses and others who are about to start a new business. Another trend is store owners with a single store supported by an online business.”
Jain believes that the industry should support and frequently attend fairs. “Each time I attend I acquire new customers and I increase the size of the order because it is not possible for me to create this type of display anywhere else in Sydney. When the buyers come to the fair, they come prepared to spend money.
“I have seen more new customers than old customers, the ticket size went up and by meeting in person it helps improve the bonding with the customer, and it is the decision maker who comes to the show and they are looking to make an order.”
