Sitex fair rakes in record sales

Sitex fair rakes in record sales

Mon, Dec 01, 2008
my paper

DESPITE the economic slowdown, the Sitex information-technology fair saw a record of more than 800,000 visitors - an increase of 50,000 from last year.

Estimated sales revenue for the four-day event - which began last Thursday and ended yesterday - were also up $5 million from last year's $40 million, hitting record-breaking status.

Mr Edwin Low, chief executive officer of Singapore Expo, which manages the 20-year-old event, said that there was strong demand for laptops and desktops, followed by digital cameras and MP3 players.

Toshiba Singapore's sales rose by 30 per cent from last year. Suzuki Technology sold 800 laptops this year, compared with last year's sales of 100 units .Mr Low added that sales may be good as -consumers are becoming more prudent by buying more affordable electronic goods in place of bigger-ticket items such as properties and cars.

Asus Technology and Suzuki Technology allowed the trade-in of old goods for discounts on new gear.

Purchaser Susan Koo (pictured) traded in an old notebook, getting a new Suzuki notebook at $1,428 - $60 off its retail price.

As the market is bad, buying a new notebook at a lower price is even more worth it," she said. Cash Converters, which was there to buy second-hand electronics for cash on the spot, saw the total value of second-hand electronic goods sold to them increase by 6 per cent from last year, when they purchased $30,000 worth of goods.

- wong chee tat :)

SITEX 2008 (Friday)

I intended to go Sitex yesterday evening to look at some networking products but I changed my mind due to some personal reasons.

Maybe I can go later or Sunday! =)

- wong chee tat :)

Exhibitors cut prices at SITEX fair to lure customers amid downturn

Exhibitors cut prices at SITEX fair to lure customers amid downturn

By Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia Posted: 27 November 2008 1831 hrs

SINGAPORE: Singapore's SITEX exhibition, one of Southeast Asia's largest consumer electronics fair is well-known for its cheap bargains and massive crowds. But the exhibition, now into its 20th year, is already feeling the effects of slowing global consumer demand.

The 200 exhibitors are gearing up for a marketing war as they fight to attract some of the 800,000 customers expected to visit the fair by Sunday.

Last year, revenue from total sales at the SITEX exhibition was about S$40 million. But this year, organisers said they will be happy if they come close to that amount.

Exhibitors are slashing their already discounted prices by as much as 12 per cent.

Anantha Sai, general manager, Suzuki Technology, said: "Exhibitors on the whole have priced their products less than last year even when compared with the PC Show, which was held in September. The prices for SITEX are really attractive and keeping in with the current economic situation worldwide."

Oliver Novilla, manager, Axioo, said: "Our prices dropped by 10 per cent. Most of the brands now are dropping their prices. It's a big challenge for everybody now."

To meet the challenge, exhibitors like Suzuki are giving away more freebies and offering better deals if customers trade in their laptops.

The organiser of SITEX expects retailers to take advantage of such exhibitions as they face even tougher times next year.

Edwin Low, CEO, Singex Venues, said: "At the same time, exhibitors will be more aggressive. They will not just depend on the normal ways of retailing the channels. So what they will do is see this as a new channel to do the sales."

For now, exhibitors are hoping for better sales from the traditional surge in shoppers over the weekend.




[Picture from VR-Zone]

- CNA/vm

- wong chee tat :)

Sitex 2008 (Preview)

Sitex (Preview)











[Pictures from VR-Zone]

Will post more pictures soon :)

- wong chee tat :)