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New era of online sourcing begins with the launch of ‘Interstoff Asia SmartSource’

E-Tex Staff - Mumbai

Messe Frankfurt, the organisers of Interstoff Asia - International Fabric Show - has announced the launch of a new online sourcing platform which allows buyers anywhere in the world to source fabrics from Interstoff Asia exhibitors. ‘SmartSource’, which is live online at www.interstoffasia-smartsource.com, is the latest initiative from Messe Frankfurt aiming to add-value to its core programme of textile trade fairs & exhibitions. SmartSource allows Interstoff Asia exhibitors to input detailed information about their products and services into an online database.

Buyers can then retrieve and view the information via a filtering system which selects manufacturers according to the buyers’ specific criteria, such as fibre type, fabric type, end-use, price, country of manufacture and delivery time. After finding the relevant products, buyers can then contact the manufacturers one-by-one or en masse to start business negotiations.

A free service for exhibitors & buyers

The SmartSource service is free of charge for six months to Interstoff Asia exhibitors, who will receive a login and password to the system upon application for a booth at either Interstoff Asia Autumn or Spring. This enables them to input their data and utilise free services such as ‘web builder’ to create an online showcase of their products. After six months exhibitors may choose to pay a premium and continue with the service.

Buyers must register as a member before they can use the service, which will be offered free on a trial basis. Registering in advance of the fairs will allow buyers to begin their dialogue with suppliers and do some research and planning before the fair begins. After the event has finished, follow up may also be carried out through the SmartSource system.

A comprehensive source of news & information

SmartSource also features the latest news about Messe Frankfurt’s textile fairs in Hong Kong & mainland China, textile industry news & comments from editorial contributors, the Interstoff Asia Directions Trend Forecast (not available on the Interstoff Asia primary website), seminar club information & seminar archives, useful contacts in the industry and trade links. Users can also sign up for monthly e-mail newsletters which will provide information on Messe Frankfurt textile fairs and special offers available only to SmartSource members.

“SmartSource will offer our exhibitors a value-added service, which will give them much better exposure in the marketplace and the potential to increase their sales greatly,” says Katy Lam, director of trade fairs for Messe Frankfurt (HK). SmartSource reflects the growing trend for online sourcing, especially in times when travel is hindered by unstable political situations and unpredictable circumstances - such as the SARS epidemic.

“Because of the Iraq War and the outbreak of SARS in Spring 2003, we saw a 25 per cent decline in the number of buyers at Interstoff Asia. In response to this, we put an electronic version of the fair catalogue on our website so that buyers who could not attend the event were still able to contact exhibitors. We had an extremely positive response to this, with many buyers commenting that it enabled them to do business that might otherwise have been missed. SmartSource is simply and extension of that idea.” “All over the world - and especially in China - we are seeing an increasing number of trade fairs, and suppliers often are unsure about where they will get the best results,” adds Lam. “SmartSource will give our Interstoff Asia exhibitors absolutely the best value for their money.”