Bamboo: A Sustainable Choice

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Coast Trading Company mission: sustainable products at factory prices

Our bamboo keyboards and mouse sets are a perfect reflection of that commitment. Bamboo is not only an eco-friendly material but also a highly versatile one that embodies sustainability in many aspects. From its rapid growth rate to its strength and natural properties, bamboo is revolutionizing the way we think about sustainable products.

Remarkable growth rates

One of the most impressive facts about bamboo is its growth rate. Bamboo is the fastest-growing plant on earth, capable of growing up to 91 cm (35 inches) in just 24 hours under ideal conditions! This means that bamboo can be harvested and replenished much faster than traditional hardwoods, making it a highly renewable resource. Unlike trees, which can take decades to mature, bamboo can be harvested in 3 to 5 years. This fast regrowth rate allows bamboo to be sustainably harvested without harming the environment.

Impressive strength of bamboo

Beyond its rapid growth, bamboo is also known for its strength and durability. It has a tensile strength comparable to steel, making it an excellent material for durable products like furniture. This strength, combined with its natural resistance to swelling and warping, ensures that bamboo products can last for years without the need for frequent replacements, further reducing waste and environmental impact.

Indeed, bamboo scaffolding is a traditional construction method that has been widely used in Hong Kong for decades, showcasing the strength and versatility of bamboo. Despite the city’s modern skyscrapers, bamboo remains a preferred material for building temporary scaffolding due to its lightweight, flexible, and durable nature. Bamboo scaffolding can be erected quickly and can support heavy loads, making it ideal for Hong Kong’s dense urban environment. It’s used in everything from small-scale renovations to the construction of tall buildings, with skilled workers assembling intricate bamboo frameworks at impressive heights. This eco-friendly alternative to metal scaffolding highlights bamboo’s sustainability and efficiency, especially in a fast-paced, high-rise city like Hong Kong.

Heat resistant

Bamboo also has unique properties when it comes to heat transmission. Unlike metals and plastics, bamboo does not conduct heat easily, which is why products like bamboo cups remain cool to the touch, even when filled with hot liquids. This makes bamboo an ideal material for a wide range of products.

By offering bamboo products, we align with our mission to reduce environmental impact through sustainable sourcing. Bamboo requires minimal water to grow and does not rely on harmful pesticides or fertilizers. Moreover, bamboo produces 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees, making it an important player in combating climate change.

CTC: proudly offering sustainable products

At Coast Trading Company, we’re proud to offer bamboo products that not only look great but also help protect the planet. Our bamboo products combine sustainability, functionality, and style, providing an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastic accessories. By choosing bamboo, you’re not only getting a high-quality product but also supporting a more sustainable future. Explore our bamboo keyboard and mouse set here and join us in making greener choices today!

 

Product Sourcing in Gotham City – Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair 2024

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All work and no play makes travel abroad rather dull.

Between Phase 2 and 3 of Canton Fair, I had intended to visit the Reed Gift Fair in Shenzhen and the Gifts and Premium Fair in Hong Kong. On arrival by bullet train in Shenzhen from Guangzhou however, I was met with a deluge of rain, that made travel around the city impossible. Instead, I headed earlier to Hong Kong, yes to visit the exhibition, but also for a few days of well-deserved R & R. At Canton Fair you are covering at least 15 kms per day, so the body had earned a breather.

Train travel in China

The train trip from Guangzhou, via Shenzhen to Hong Kong was a comfortable one. bullet train china1China’s bullet train network, known as the high-speed rail (HSR) system, is the largest and most advanced in the world. Spanning over 42,000 kilometers (26,000 miles) as of 2023, it connects more than 500 cities across the country, including major urban hubs like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. The network handles over 2 billion passengers annually, revolutionizing travel with trains that reach speeds of 350 km/h (217 mph) on its busiest routes. With ongoing expansion plans, the HSR system is a vital part of China’s transportation infrastructure, covering more ground than any other high-speed network globally and significantly reducing travel times across vast distances.

Authentic Chinese Food

Chinese cuisine is incredibly diverse, reflecting the vast geographic, cultural, and culinary traditions across the country. Major regional styles include Cantonese with its mild, fresh flavors, Sichuan known for its bold and spicy dishes featuring chili and peppercorns, Shandong emphasizing salty and savory flavors, and Jiangsu, which focuses on sweetness and intricate presentation. Each region offers its own specialties, but one dish that transcends regions and is popular throughout China is the hotpot.China food

Chinese hotpot is a communal dining experience where diners cook various ingredients like thinly sliced meats, vegetables, tofu, and seafood in a simmering pot of broth right at the table. There are typically different broth flavors available, ranging from mild and herbal to intensely spicy, especially in Sichuan-style hotpot, which features numbing peppercorns and chili oil. Hotpot allows for a customizable and social eating experience, making it a favourite for gatherings and celebrations.

The HK Trade Show

The Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, held at the sprawling Hong Kong Exhibition Centre was a secondary consideration. With more than 4,300 exhibitors from over 30 countries, the fair was an impressive showcase of a wide array of gifts, premiums, and lifestyle products. Attracting over 50,000 visitors from around the world, the event provided a bustling platform for international business.

The Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, hosted at the iconic Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, is set against the skyline of what some fondly call “Gotham City” due to the towering buildings and the city’s dramatic atmosphere. The venue was vast, but despite the size of the exhibition, I found fewer unique or innovative products compared to what I had encountered at the Canton Fair earlier in the year. Many of the items felt somewhat generic or overpriced, which didn’t align with our goals of sourcing affordable yet distinctive products for our customers.

Despite the scale, however, the experience felt different from my time at the Canton Fair — the product selection was more limited, and the prices were noticeably higher, making it less attractive for sourcing products. Unlike at the Canton Fair, I left the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair empty-handed. No products were sourced during the trip, which was disappointing from a business perspective. The fair just didn’t offer the value I was hoping for, especially when comparing prices and selection to the more expansive Canton Fair in Guangzhou.

I made the most of the trip by enjoying the city itself. Hong Kong, with its fast pace, towering skyscrapers, and vibrant culture, truly lives up to its “Gotham City” nickname. I took the opportunity to relax and explore the city, balancing the intensity of the fair with some much-needed downtime. Although the fair didn’t result in any new products, the experience was still valuable, and the city never fails to impress.

Product Sourcing Melbourne Style: Global Sourcing Expo 23 in MCEC

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globalsourcingexpoIn 2023, I had the opportunity to attend the Global Sourcing Expo in Melbourne as a buyer, and it turned out to be a fascinating and productive experience. The expo, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), ran alongside two other significant events, making it a hub for global business networking.

I was already in Melbourne for work at the same venue, so it made sense to extend my stay by a few days to attend the expo. This decision proved beneficial, as I was able to make a couple of key connections that have had a lasting impact on my product range.

The Global Sourcing Expo showcased a wide variety of international suppliers across categories like textiles, apparel, fashion accessories, and homewares. It was during this event that I found the leather journals, which have become a standout product at our later pop-up stand at Erina Fair. With suppliers from all over the world presenting their best offerings, the expo made it easy to compare different options and source high-quality products. The networking aspect was invaluable too — I connected with suppliers who not only offered competitive pricing but were also able to customize products to meet our specific needs.

What stood out about this experience was the sheer scale of the event. Alongside the Global Sourcing Expo, there were two other exhibitions happening simultaneously: Footwear & Leather Show Australia and China Clothing Textiles Expo. This overlap of industries made the event feel like a one-stop shop for everything related to sourcing and supply chains. Walking through the interconnected exhibitions, I was able to get a feel for the broader industry trends and discover products that I hadn’t previously considered for our range. The diversity of exhibitors meant there were plenty of new ideas to explore.

In comparison to my later experiences at Erina Fair, where the focus was on retail and direct customer interaction, the Global Sourcing Expo was all about business-to-business connections. While Erina Fair helped us identify demand for specific products, it was at the expo where I first discovered those products and laid the groundwork for future wholesale and retail strategies. This expo gave me a solid foundation for what was to come, and I look forward to attending future sourcing events to continue building these valuable relationships.

Christmas 2023: Pop-Up Stand at Erina Fair – Busy, Cost Effective & Fun!

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Erina Rair Retail Pop upFor the two weeks leading up to Christmas 2023, we had the opportunity to set up a pop-up stand at Erina Fair on the NSW Central Coast. It was the first attempt at retail and the learnings were great. Due to  a late cancellation of service, we were without a card payment system and that cost us a number of sales, so moving forward a contingency plan was formulated.

With holiday shoppers flooding the centre, foot traffic was high, and the overall experience proved to be a successful venture.

Though we didn’t make a huge profit, we were able to break even, which for a short-term retail experience felt like a win, especially considering the cost of the stand. further, my daughter Jade, who is studying commerce, got to experience business at the real coalface,  at which she excelled.

Market research in terms of sales demonstrated that our sustainable and handmade leather journals were in high demand-  actually selling out— an insight that has shaped our buying strategy moving forward., with a larger order placed to ensure more stock for  Christmas 2024. We also identified the correct price point after makingErina Fair 2023 adjustments across several days.

The high foot traffic at Erina Fair brought in a steady stream of customers daily, creating a fantastic opportunity to test our products in a retail environment. The stand was strategically positioned near other popular stores, which helped draw in curious shoppers who were already in a buying mindset.Erina Fair 2023

This environment was very different from the wholesale-focused approach we tried earlier at the AGHA Trade Show in Sydney, where the pace was slower, and the products felt more generic. At Erina Fair, we could interact directly with consumers, understand their preferences, and see what products resonated with them. The retail setting helped us realize that people loved the tactile nature of our journals, which isn’t always obvious in the wholesale context.

Reflecting on both experiences, we’ve seen firsthand the differences between wholesale at AGHA, retail at Erina Fair, and the more niche-focused market approach we take at events like Bondi Beach Market and Flemington Markets (as outlined in our December market schedule). While the wholesale and retail approaches both have their merits, the market route continues to be more cost-effective, with lower overheads and a more direct connection to customers. Plus, the sustainable and eco-friendly nature of our products, which we take great pride in, tends to shine in a market setting where we can tell the story behind our materials and production.

Overall, Erina Fair was a great learning experience and showed us the value of a retail presence during peak shopping seasons. It is certainly more reasonably priced than Westfield, which was ridiculous for a small business. Coupling that with the insights from AGHA and our consistent market participation, we’re excited to further refine our approach and explore even more avenues in 2025 and beyond. Each method brings something unique to the table, and we look forward to continuing to connect with customers who appreciate our sustainable, high-quality products.

2024 Review: AGHA Trade Show in Sydney

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agha2024Participating in the 2024 AGHA (Australian Gift & Homewares Association) Trade Show in Sydney was an exciting but ultimately mixed experience. This was my first time having a stand at a major wholesale event, which took place at the Sydney Showgrounds in Homebush. Covering around 32,000 square meters of exhibition space, the show featured over 350 stands and attracted thousands of buyers over the course of several days. As I bumped in, having borrowed a mate’s van, there was a sniff of adventure in the air.

For a small business the stand was quite expensive. I needed to sell around 150 items to break even, which ultimately I didn’t manage to do, despite generating around 30 qualified leads.

Our stand was pretty basic compared to most. Only selling two products, leather journals and espadrille footwear. We had a video playing, 3 x pop up displays and a central display shelf that Tait had helped build, or more accurately, built. While budget was of primary concern, other considerations might have included location at the exhibition, professionally built displays, or joining rewards programs. At the end of the day is it all a numbers game.

It was also great to get product feedback, and really delving into the logistics of converting interest into sales. The dream of course had been to snag a big fish with  pre-order a container… Unfortunately, of course, that outcome nurtured not to fruition. In honesty though, I was really there more in an observer capacity, and the investment was always about acquiring that knowledge, of what pieces to put where, once all the stars align. It’s a 5-to-10-year plan and this is about 1 year in.

The event itself, located at the expansive Sydney Olympic Park, was well-organized, with exhibitors from across Australia displaying their latest giftware, home goods, and lifestyle products.  Many attendees seemed to be browsing rather than making serious business connections, and the selection of products on offer didn’t stand out much from what you might find at other wholesale events. There was also a free bus toa rival trade show at the ICC in Darling Harbour. For my business, which thrives on offering unique and well-curated items, it just didn’t align with what I had hoped for.

On the bright side, the experience was a memorable one for personal reasons. My wife and daughter helped me run the stand, and we all bonded over the process of setting up, interacting with potential customers, and learning the ropes together. We stayed a couple of nights in a nearby aparthotel. It was fun working as a family team, and the show became a shared experience that brought us closer. It was also a fascinating introduction to the world of wholesale, and I learned a lot about how these events work. From navigating the lead generation app to handing out marketing materials, it was a crash course in trade show logistics. Ironically my day job is with an exhibition company and my role is in content, it was different coming at it from a customer perspective.

Agha exhibitor

Even though the results from the event weren’t what I had hoped for in terms of business outcomes, it was still a great learning experience. Having this firsthand insight into the wholesale environment, understanding how to set up an appealing booth, and seeing the kinds of products that succeed in this space has already shaped how I’ll approach future events. It wasn’t all bad — the lessons learned and the time spent with my family definitely made it worthwhile

Product Sourcing on Steroids at Canton Fair 2024

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canton fair

Next level sourcing extravaganza in Canton – 135th edition

Attending the three enormous phases of Canton Fair in April and May 2024 was a transformative experience for my business and sourcing strategy and must surely be the epicentre of global capitalism. Attended by movers and shakers from all corners and spread across three massive phases, the fair brought together over 200,000 visitors from around the world and spanned more than 1.48 million square meters of exhibition space. With over 60,000 stands showcasing a dizzying variety of products from over 200 countries, it truly was the largest trade event I’ve ever attended. This year’s edition felt even more monumental as the global business community came together post-pandemic, eager to explore new opportunities.

Navigating the sheer scale of the event was a feat in itself. Each phase was dedicated to different product categories, from consumer electronics to home decor and textiles. The need to take a subway from one end of the complex to the other was a real reminder of just how vast the venue was! Whether it was innovative electronics in Phase 1, high-quality textiles and apparel in Phase 2, or the wide array of gifts, home goods, and office supplies in Phase 3, there was something new and exciting in every corner. The fair’s scale and variety meant that I never ran out of things to explore or people to connect with. canton fair 2024 April

Staying in both Guangzhou and Hong Kong allowed me to experience the contrasting cultures of two major cities while providing convenient access to the fairgrounds. Each day was packed with meetings, product demonstrations, and networking. One of the most exciting aspects of the fair was the opportunity to meet suppliers and manufacturers face-to-face, helping to build relationships and gain trust in the products I’ll soon be offering. I also had the chance to order several samples of innovative new products, which I’m thrilled to showcase soon — stay tuned for photos and demos! canton fair 2024 April-ma

Reflecting on my time at the Canton Fair, I feel energized and ready to take the next step in expanding our product range. From sustainable home products to cutting-edge electronics and unique gift items, the potential for new offerings is limitless. I left the fair feeling not only inspired but confident in the strategic decisions I’ve made for the coming year. It’s safe to say that 2024 will be a year of growth, and I’m excited to share all the new products we’ve discovered. Canton Fair was more than just an event — it was a business-changing experience.

CTC Shines at Umina Market

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Coast Trading CompanyDecember 2024 marked a significant milestone for CTC as we proudly set up our stand at the vibrant Umina Market. This bustling community hub proved to be the perfect place to connect with locals, share our story, and showcase some of our most beloved products. The festive atmosphere, combined with the opportunity to engage directly with customers, made the experience incredibly rewarding.

One of the highlights of the day was the overwhelming response to two of our products that perfectly complemented the holiday season:

  • Vintage Leather Journals: These beautifully crafted journals blend tradition with timeless style, making them an ideal gift for writers, dreamers, and anyone who cherishes the art of journaling. Their high-quality leather covers and elegant design resonated with customers looking for meaningful and unique Christmas presents.
  • Bamboo Keyboard and Mouse Set: This eco-friendly wireless keyboard and mouse set stood out for its innovative use of sustainable materials. Perfect for home offices or as a thoughtful gift for the tech-savvy and environmentally conscious, this set was a hit with shoppers seeking modern functionality with a touch of nature.

Beyond sales and product showcases, the market provided another cherished opportunity: Imports Factory Direct

spending quality time with my daughter. As a commerce student, she has quickly become an invaluable asset to CTC. Her insights, energy, and knack for engaging with customers added a fresh perspective to our operations. Watching her interact with visitors and seeing her enthusiasm for the business reaffirmed just how bright the future looks with her on board.

 The event also marked the debut of our new branding and signage. The vibrant and polished look drew numerous positive comments from attendees. Many appreciated the fresh design, which perfectly captured the essence of our brand—a blend of innovation, sustainability, and community connection. It was incredibly heartwarming to see our refreshed image resonate so strongly with our audience.

Overall, our time at Umina Market was a resounding success. From strengthening community ties to sharing moments with family and celebrating our evolving brand, the experience was nothing short of delightful.

As we wrap up the year, we’re filled with gratitude and excitement for what lies ahead. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our stand—your support means the world to us!