Tuesday, October 09, 2007 Go to new markets, exporters told
TO keep up with global competition, members of the Cebu-Furniture Accessories Manufacturers and Exporters (Fame) Foundation were told to produce a strategic approach in dealing with new markets.
Ed Sutherland, Private Enterprise Accelerated Resource Linkages (Pearl) 2 project manager, said that since the sector organization is now slowly tapping Europe, the Carribean, Australia and Japan as emerging markets, industry players need to further develop strategies in terms of management capabilities, financial management training and aggressive international exposure.
“The industry has a huge potential to grow among the export industries. I have a lot of faith in it. Europe is a good value market for them but there’s more to do in order to fully penetrate the market,” he said.
Pearl 2 of the Canadian International Development Agency has been assisting business support organizations, like Cebu Fame, to strengthen its capabilities through support services to small and medium enterprises.
Superiority
In a separate interview, Ambassador Alistair MacDonald, head of delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines, urged players to maintain key qualities—the superiority of exports and affordability— to gain advantage in the European market.
“Keep trying harder because the figures will show. The market is there but meeting the requirements of European consumers? That needs more development,” MacDonald said.
Sutherland added that now that majority of exporters are finding their niche in high-end buyers, maintaining the quality of standards and design can be enhanced through mechanizing the product-making and not solely depending on the traditional “hand-made” system.
“In the past, the mentality is no matter what we make, it sells, especially in the US. But in other markets, like Europe, they are very particular up to the tiniest detail,” he told Sun.Star Cebu in the sidelines of the Cebu Fame quarterly general membership meeting at the Casino Español de Cebu.
Full battle gear
In her quarterly president’s report, Cebu Fame president Janet Chua said the industry is in “full battle gear” to combat the challenges of the world’s fashion accessories industry.
She forecasted a positive growth next year, with wood serving as the fundamental material in making fashion accessories.
Chua said 2008 will be a good comeback time, after the industry experienced a setback in 2006 due to “overstocked purchases” from foreign clients with the popularity of the Bohemian look in 2005.
She said in preparation for a strong market demand, Cebu Fame has conducted several activities to develop its competitiveness, including skills training for suppliers and subcontractors; product development and marketing; trend workshops; access to financing; library upgrade; organizing cost-effective mini-shows and the Fame membership privilege card.
In terms of exposure through joining international road shows, there have been considerable increases in local participants—proof that the industry is still on a positive hike, said John Manzanas, Pearl 2 national program manager.
From only eight to 10 players taking part in international trade fairs in 2003, the figure has grown to 30 to 40 participants in 2005, he said.
Last September, 30 Cebu Fame member-companies joined the Asia Fashion Jewelry and Accessories Fair in Hong Kong, while four others joined the Gifts and Expo Fair in Russia.
Three companies have submitted their intent to participate in the Macef Spring 2008 Fair, which will be on Jan 18 to 21, 2008. (MMM)
