Press release October 2015

Japan’s Leading Trade Fair for All Kinds of Gift Items

GIFTEX 2015 has concluded with great success!

Overview GIFTEX 2015, concurrently held with ISOT (International Stationery & Office Products Fair Tokyo) ended in

great success as a truly global trade fair. This year, 1477* exhibitors gathered from 38 countries/regions and 55,624*

buyers from 54 countries and regions visited the show. (*including concurrent fairs)

EXHIBITOR COUNTRIES/REGIONS (partial list)

●United States ●Switzerland ●Sweden ●Guatemala ●Vietnam

●Canada ●Czech Republic ●Denmark ●Turkey ●Hong Kong

●Australia ●Spain ●Finland ●India ●Singapore

●New Zealand ●France ●Belarus ●Korea ●Bangladesh

●United Kingdom ●Netherlands ●Israel ●Thailand ●Macau

●Italy ●Belgium ●Kyrgyz Republic ●China ●Malaysia

●Germany ●Poland ●South Africa ●Taiwan ●Japan

GIFTEX consists of 7 specialised shows for general gifts, cutting-edge design products, babies and kids items,

tableware, kitchenware, fashion accessories, and health and beauty products.

Dates: July 8-10, 2015 Venue: Tokyo Big Sight Organised by: Reed Exhibitions Japan Ltd.

Press release October 2015

Grand opening On July 8, 2015, an opening ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the start of GIFTEX 2015. A total

of 40 industry leaders from Japan and Asia joined to wish the success of the show. Representatives from major

Japanese retailers, including TOKYU HANDS, PLAZASTYLE, ISETAN MITSUKOSHI, and TOYS “R” US JAPAN were among

the participants. For the full list of ribbon-cutting dignitaries, visit http://www.giftex.jp/en/sokuho/.

Highlights of GIFTEX 2015

INTERNATIONAL PAVILIONS

Press release October 2015

10th INTERNATIONAL VARIETY-GIFT EXPO TOKYO This year, the International Variety-Gift Expo Tokyo marked its 10th anniversary, creating an international

platform for active business opportunities. Seven pavilions exhibited from Thailand, South Africa, China, India, Korea,

Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Of the 347 exhibitors, over 40% were from abroad. The show gathered a wide range of

products including gifts, interior goods, home accessories, and decorations. In addition, special exhibit zones were

set up for smartphone accessories, OEM products, and Wa-zakka (Japanese-style gift items). Lively business

discussions were held among exhibitors and buyers throughout the show period.

6th DESIGN TOKYO The highlight of the 6th DESIGN TOKYO was the launch of the first-ever DESIGN TOKYO PRODUCTS AWARD.

Out of the exhibited products at DESIGN TOKYO, one grand prix and four winners were awarded as the most

“marketable” design products. The winners gained massive attention from the industry and Japanese media,

including TV shows, magazines, newspapers, and websites.

The number of exhibitors at DESIGN TOKYO increased by 58% from last year. Exhibitors gathered from all

around the world, such as the US,UK, Italia, Sweden, Finland, Guatemala, Kirgiz, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Korea, etc.

DESIGN TOKYO exhibitors went through a strict screening process by the following judges from the design industry.

JUDGES (titles omitted, in random order)

Press release October 2015

7th BABY & KIDS EXPO As Japan’s largest trade show for babies and kids items, the Baby & Kids Expo welcomed a number of

well-known exhibitors from around the world, including ERGO BABY, OKBABY, HABA, KIDSME, HAPE, NUK, etc.

Around 30% of exhibitors came from overseas, expanding their businesses in the Japanese market.

6th TABLEWARE EXPO / 4th KITCHENWARE EXPO The TABLEWARE EXPO and KITCHENWARE EXPO expanded its scale this year, as Japan’s only trade shows

focused on tableware and kitchenware products. The two shows together expanded by 53%, creating an ideal

platform for manufacturers and buyers from the tableware/kitchenware industries.

6th FASHION GOODS & ACCESSORIES EXPO

This year’s Fashion Goods & Accessories Expo covered a wide range of fashion-related gifts and items. In

addition to general zone, the following five zones were set up: “Made in Japan”, Bags and Leather Goods, Fashion

Accessories, Gem Stones, and Legwear. During the show period, over 55,000 buyers visited the booths to source all

kinds of items, including bags, jewellery, scarves, hats, and shoes.

Press release October 2015

2nd H& B EXPO -Health & Beauty Products Expo Tokyo- With an expanded show space, the H&B EXPO was filled with an interactive atmosphere throughout the

show period. As Japan’s leading trade show for health and beauty items, the H&B EXPO attracted many buyers from

the beauty industry. This year, the show especially gathered a number of organic products made in Japan.

Special Seminar to Maximise On-site Business Results for Overseas Exhibitors Prior to the exhibition, the Show Management held the

“Overseas Exhibitors’ Seminar” on July 7 (Tue). The Show

Management gave a presentation on “Tips to Maximise Your

Business Results during the Show.” This seminar was held to raise

awareness of overseas exhibitors to take appropriate steps for

possible difficulties they might face when entering the Japanese

market. By presenting cultural differences in business manners, the

seminar explained the Do’s and Don’ts when exhibiting at the show.

Moreover, all tips were focused on what exhibitors could do at last

minute. The seminar room was packed with approx. 200

enthusiastic exhibitors. Most participants practiced what they have learned on the following days, and many of them

gave satisfactory feedbacks to the Show Management saying that the seminar was very helpful.

Exclusive Support for Overseas Exhibitors to

Penetrate into the Japanese Market

OVERSEAS PRODUCTS SOURCING GUIDEBOOK The Show Management prepared a special guidebook highlighting

overseas exhibitors with company information, product features/photos and

contact information. Prior to the show, the guidebook was distributed to over

10,000 major Japanese importers and distributors who were interested in

sourcing overseas products. This made the entire industry notice the presence

of overseas exhibitors, attracting more visitors to their booth as well as

enhancing appointments with buyers at the show.

See the Overseas Products Sourcing Guidebook >> http://www.giftex.jp/doc/world_guide2015/

(Scene from Overseas Exhibitor’s Seminar)

Press release October 2015

FLOOR MAP HIGHLIGHTING OVERSEAS EXHIBITOR BOOTHS To attract Japanese importers and distributors, the Show

Management made floor maps highlighting the booths of overseas

exhibitors. The maps made it easier for Japanese buyers to find overseas

exhibitors and visit their booths. Throughout the show period, numerous

buyers were spotted with these maps, leading to increased satisfaction of

exhibitors from abroad.

PROMOTION OF OVERSEAS EXHIBITORS ON SHOW WEBSITE

The Show Management promoted international

pavilions and overseas exhibitors on the show website. There

were special features, such as the Pavilions, DESIGN TOKYO

PRODUCTS AWARD entries, and unique items from around the

world. As a result, Japanese buyers were able to access product

information of various exhibitors before visiting the show.

Mark Your Calendar for the Next Show!

GIFTEX 2016 is held from July 6 [Wed] – 8 [Fri], 2016 at Tokyo Big Sight. Based upon the positive feedbacks

from exhibitors, over 70% of the overseas exhibitors have already booked their booth spaces during the show period

and new applications were also made by new faces. Therefore, the entire GIFTEX 2016 is expected to be sold out at

an early stage. For those who are considering exhibiting in 2016, immediate booth reservation is highly encouraged

to secure the limited exhibit space in time. If you are interested in exhibiting, please contact Show Management

immediately.

GIFTEX 2016 Dates: July 6 [Wed] – 8 [Fri], 2016

Time: 10:00 – 18:00 (10:00 – 17:00 on July 8, 2016)

Venue: Tokyo Big Sight, Japan

Organised by: Reed Exhibitions Japan Ltd.

Press release October 2015 Shows held within GIFTEX 2016:

11th INTERNATIONAL VARIETY-GIFT EXPO TOKYO http://www.giftex.jp/en/

8th Baby & Kids Expo http://www.bk-w.jp/en/

7th FASHION GOODS & ACCESSORIES EXPO -July 2015- http://www.fa-expo.jp/en/

7th TABLEWARE EXPO http://www.tw-expo.jp/en/

5th KITCHENWARE EXPO http://www.kw-expo.jp/en/

7th DESIGN TOKYO –TOKYO DESIGN PRODUCTS FAIR- http://www.designtokyo.jp/en/

3rd H&B EXPO - Health & Beauty Products Expo Tokyo http://www.hb-expo.jp/en/

Concurrent shows:

27th INTERNATIONAL STATIONERY & OFFICE PRODUCTS FAIR TOKYO (ISOT 2016) http://www.isot/jp/en/

8th PROMOTIONAL GOODS EXPO http://www.spex.jp/en/

Information Sources

GIFTEX Official Show Website >> http://www.giftex.jp/en/

Photo Gallery >> http://www.giftex.jp/en/about/photo-gallery/

Visitor Count >> http://www.giftex.jp/en/doc/TAC/

Floor Plan >> http://www.giftex.jp/en/doc/floorplan/

List of ribbon cutting dignitaries >> http://www.giftex.jp/en/sokuho/

List of Exhibitors >> http://www.gift ex.jp/en/exhibitor/

Online Show Directory >> http://www.giftex.jp/en/eguide/

Contacts:

To Exhibit >> http://www.giftex.jp/en/ex/

To Visit >> http://www.giftex.jp/en/inv/

Press/media partnership inquiries >> giftex-eng@reedexpo.co.jp

Contact: Ayaka Sano (Ms.) International PR, Reed Exhibitions Japan Ltd. TEL: 81-3-3349-8519 FAX: +81-3-3349-8530 Email: giftex-eng@reedexpo.co.jp URL: http://www.giftex.jp/en/ 18F Shinjuku-Nomura Bldg., 1-26-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-0570, Japan