China Import Expo, Kunshan 2017 (CIE 2017) was held in Huaqiao International Expo Center in Kunshan On May 17. Approved by the State Council, CIE is the first professional platform for imports in China. Themed on “Innovative Development and Win-win Cooperation”, this year’s CIE fully demonstrated the benefits brought by the Belt and Road Initiative. Sanpower attended the expo along with more than 700 well-known companies from 43 countries and regions. It presented two of its brands, House of Fraser and Hamleys, for the first time in CIE in the Brand Exhibition Area.

Located right infront of the entrance of Venue B, the booth of Sanpower stood out with its black background setting and pink signboard.

House of Fraser (HOF) well demonstrated the modern British style with five outfits from its five sub-brands: Howick and Kenneth Cole (house brands of HOF), Paul & Joe, Exibit and Lyle & Scott (buyer brands of Style by HOF).

The innovative mobile coffee shop attracted a lot of attention, offering customers with genuine British coffee, tea, and dessert, as well as the beer of Greene King which became an Internet sensation in 2015.

Ham Bear, the mascot of Hamleys, and the interactive toys on display strongly impressed visitors.

Even Phil Roebuck,President of the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai was attracted to Ham Bear and gave Ham a big hug.

The bustling crowd gathered at Sanpower’s booth also attracted a lot of media attention.

Yue Lei, Senior Vice President of Sanpower Group said,

“The two-day Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was just concluded on May 15 and leaders from various countries got together at the forum to establish more open partnerships in diverse fields. CIE is a perfect example of the spirit of the Belt and Road Initiative as it has brought together exhibitors from around the world. It is now a “golden age” for Sino-UK relationship. Sanpower, along with its platform and strategic partners, has acquired the British department store group House of Fraser and the British toy store Hamleys in response to China's “going global” strategy. Sanpower attended CIE with these two brands to show that the partnership between China and the UK has really evolved in this “golden age”. Last year, the firststores of House of Fraser and Hamleys were opened in Xinjiekou, Nanjing. The success stories of the two brands will surely attract more British brands to come into the Chinese market. I would like to use CIE as an opportunity to tell the public that we welcome more partnerships and greater platform for cooperation in the Sino-UK bilateral market. CIE is a successful follow-up event to the recently concluded Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. We have received positive feedback from numerous visitors who came to our booth, including many exhibitors and organizations from Shanghai, Zhejiang and from other countries. They visited our booth to learn about the development of British brands in China. Many overseas brands on the expo have not yet entered the Chinese market. Our success in bringing the two British household retail brands into China has surely encouraged them.”

 

Paul Burke, COO of House of Fraser China, said,

“As a new resident in Jiangsu Province, I am very glad to be here at CIE. It is a perfect opportunity for House of Fraser and Hamleys to increase brand awareness and gain popularity. CIE is a very professional merchandising platform. Although it is the first time we came here, it will not be the last. Thanks to Sanpower, House of Fraser and Hamleys could finally make their way to Nanjing from the faraway Europe. You should definitely come to the flagship stores of House of Fraser and Hamleys in Nanjing, to fully immerse yourself in the British style.”

As practitioners of Retail Store 4.0, Hamleys and House of Fraser opened their first stores in China in October and December 2016, bringing the genuine British style to the Chinese customers. Their innovative selling model and scenario-based shopping settings have created fresh and superior experience for customers.

By combining the management philosophy of the two British brands with the actual circumstances of the Chinese retail market, Sanpower will continue to innovate in offering valuable customer experience. It will take advantages of the Internet and Sanpower's unique resources to provide not only good products but also best-in-class experience.