The opening of the 21st World Cup is less than 100 days to go. Merchants abroad are pouring to Yiwu and bringing flourish to the sports products in Yiwu market.
Data from Yiwu Customs shows that in January and February this year, 740 million yuan is exported to Russia from Yiwu, increased by 26.9% on year-on-year basis, of which sports products accounts for more than 29 million yuan, up by 24.7%. Besides, our export of sports products amounted to 610 million yuan, growing by 48.7% compared to last year.
Orders are increasing
Operators of sporting products industry in Yiwu International Trade City have long been affected by the ardor of the Russia World Cup. “In former times, orders were taken in April and onward. But thanks to the World Cup this year, some old customers have already placed orders when the top 32 of the World Cup came out last year. The head of Kiki cultural products Co., Ltd., which runs national flag products, He Jinqi told reporters that they have been ready to stock up early and current orders have been arranged by the end of April.
In a football store in the No.3 district of Yiwu international Trade city, Ammar from Syria is purchasing football. He is an old customer of the Yiwu market and has been purchasing for a decade. Ammar said, “Every time I would purchase mostly sports products. Since the coming of the World Cup, the purchasing volume enlarges. And this time I plan to take 50 thousand footballs back.”
Wu Xiaoming, the general manager of Yiwu Okai sporting goods Co., Ltd., said that the overall sales of the football industry in last two years were relatively smooth, and the coming World Cup is heating up the market. “Foreign orders increased, especially orders from Russia, growing 10% more than usual. And more orders are taken from Brazil, Argentina and Germany and other countries. From the second half of last year to now, our total sales volume has increased by 20%.” And he said the biggest order was that one of his clients placed an order of two containers of footballs at a time.
Recently, operator Yu Xuehua is feeling happy while worried, happy for the increase of orders while worried about not having enough time to arrange orders. She has been busy arranging the production plan of the factory these two days. She said, “I am anxious when I hear that the customer asks for goods in stock. There aren’t enough goods in stock right now.”
Since the second half of last year, Yu has received orders related to the World Cup. As an experienced old hand in sports products, Yu also made production plans for the world Cup this year in advance. “We have prepared stocks for old customers in the World Cup such as customers from Brazil, Germany, Argentina and France.” But it was out of expectation that orders blow out and she couldn’t attend to all. “Our factory has been busy till two days before the Spring Festival. And as soon as the holiday is over, our assembly line in the workshop has never stopped.”
Competing with quality
What the World Cup brings to operators in Yiwu is not only surprise but also growth.
“Over the past two years, due to the rising cost of raw materials and labor in China, the profit of our products is getting thinner.” Faced with the decline of profits every year, Wu Xiaoming admits that she is under great pressure. “In the past, the small commodities in Yiwu focus on small profits but quick turnover. But now, as the profit space was squeezed, we no longer fought price wars, nor to compete at the expense of the quality.”
In Wu Xiaoming's two booths, you can see a lot of footballs with “MEIK” LOGO. She introduced that this is the self created brand that they have cultivated for more than 10 years. Nowadays, many businessmen have designated this brand, especially customers from Russia, and many of them have already recognized this brand.
“Quality is our priority. We have our own brand and cannot smash it,” said Wu Xianming. She said with the guarantee of brand, the products are equipped with the core competitiveness. And that’s the source of sustainable development of enterprises.
Posted from my blog with SteemPress : https://www.linkyiwu.com/blog/the-world-cup-is-bringing-yiwu-market-opportunities/