INTRODUCTION
The Indian Silk Export Promotion Council conducted the Indian Silk Show in London during September 12-14, 2007 at The Kensington Close, Hotel & Health Spa, Wrights Lane, London which is in the London High Street Kensington area. The Council, in contact with Indian High Commission and other apparel / textile associations conducted this activity successfully. The products on display were fabrics (Plain and embroidered) dupions, silk organza, tassar fabrics, silk blends and Art worked varieties and finished products such as scarves and cushions.
The Council has been conducting Indian Silk Shows in the recent years with a view of achieving ambitious target of US $ 1 billion in a couple of years. The current exports are about US $ 750 million. Exports of silk to Europe has a very significant place as high as US $ 290 million; exports to UK is about US $ 82 million of which fabrics alone is about US $ 48 million. (2006-07). The objective of this show was to enhance the buyer base in UK leading to acceleration of exports.
The Indian Silk Show was inaugurated on September 12, 2007 by the acting Indian High Commissioner, Mr. Asoke Mukerji flocked by the President of the Textile Institute Mr. Mervyn Davies.
The list of participants are: -
1. M/s. JCS Impex Private Limited, Kolkata.
2. M/s. Banaras Silk Mfg. Co., Varanasi.
3. M/s. Raw Silk Enterprises, NewDelhi.
4. M/s. Thungasilk International, Bangalore.
5. M/s. Royal Touch Overseas Corporation, Kolkata.
6. M/s. Kutir Udyog, Kolkata.
ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BEFORE THE INDIAN SILK SHOW:-
The dates of this Indian Silk Show or Buyer-Seller-Meet were selected in such a manner that, they did not coincide with any other international fair dates after Magic (Las Vegas), Pret-a-Porter (Paris) and before Tex-world (Paris) so that the participants, visitors can
participate in this Show. In fact, all the six participants of this show were participants in one of these shows.
Marketing of the Buyer-Seller-meet was done through brochures (substituted by invitation cards depicting individual participants sample) and advertisements.
The following websites were mainly used to download the addresses of the textile contacts.
• www.londononline.co.uk
• www.zettai.com
• www.sireh.com
• wwww.ltma.co.uk
• www.design-online.co.uk
• www.bida.org
• www.brc.org.uk
• www.drapersonline.com
• www.fabricworldlondon.co.uk
• www.purewomenswear.co.uk
• www.uphosterers.co.uk
In all 5500 invitations were sent.
All the London Chambers of Commerce Presidents, President of the Textile Institute, Head of the Merchandise Division of the Mark and Spencer and other leading departmental stores were also personally invited. Over 800 e-mails were sent (thrice).
In order to cover those who may no thave received our Invitation or seen the website of our Council or of High Commission of India, we released Four advertisements in The Times Newspaper on September 10, 11, 12 & 13 at appropriate business pages. The Times has more readership than The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph or The Mail, all released in London.
For the first time, we had received confirmations beforehand to attend this show from about 10 companies of which five did come to the Show.
RESULTS OF THE SHOW
The Show received about 40 visitors on all three days and 28 of them were trade visitors; some of them are heavy weights and many of them would give orders in due course. If all the business visitors had come continuously the participants must have been active through one-and-a half days; in other words; the participants were inactive for about one and a half days. The activity index was 50%.
The business to be generated is anybody’s guess; - although the coordinator would like to put at Rs. 50 lakhs (Atleast Rs. 5 lakh, per serious business visitor, not to speak of repeat orders). The participants were, however not happy as there as no continuous flow of visitors.
SUMMARY
The whole of UK market is in depression. The retail sales in the second quarter of 2007, is stagnant. The whole Oxford Street – which runs for 3 miles, is more than half-empty. The Mark and Spencer, H & M, Ms. Selfridge shops were less active than our Buyer-Seller- Meet!. Against this background, even if we had given A 4 size advertisements in all four days of the show in The Times, it would not have changed the situation. The Buyer-Seller-Meet although fell short of expectations will pass in due course, through delayed business turnover.
