Product Sourcing Melbourne Style: Global Sourcing Expo 23 in MCEC
In 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.
