Top tips for UK designers from UKTI:

1) Relationships are paramount when doing business in Hong Kong (and Asia in general). Don’t expect to win business just through email contact. Most clients want to meet and get to know you before working with you.

2) Have plenty of business cards with you when meeting potential clients from Hong Kong. Business cards are exchanged at the beginning of a meeting, and handed over and received using both hands, to confer respect. If you run out, there are plenty of printing companies that can turn around cards cheaply and quickly.

3) Make sure that you know who is the most senior person if there is more than one person at the meeting (it’s not always obvious) and focus on them.

4) Don’t be surprised if the potential client wants to make lots of small talk before getting down to talking business. This is all part of getting to know you and building a relationship. Let them dictate the pace. With some clients, business matters may not be discussed until the second time you meet.

5) Make full use of the assistance that UK Trade & Investment can offer to UK exporters.  Contact your local International Trade Team and the UK Trade & Investment team in Hong Kong (email: commercial@bcg.org.hk).  UK Trade & Investment can help you with research into the market and set up meetings with potential clients. Costs are modest and can be a fast track to winning new business, saving you considerable time and money.

Market information

Creative Industries are one of the economic pillars in Hong Kong. The sector is seen as an economic force in itself with around 32,000 creative industry related establishments and more than 188,000 employees.

In 2011, Create Hong Kong took an active role in exploring market opportunities in the Mainland through a series of promotional and business matching activities for the creative sectors, including film, digital entertainment, design and animation.

The HKSARG has also invested in a number of initiatives since 2001, including the Hong Kong Design Centre (a strategic partner of the government in promoting design) and the InnoCentre (a cluster of high value-added design activities). The development of the West Kowloon Cultural District (an integrated art, cultural and entertainment area) and the revitalization of the Former Hollywood Road Police Married Quarters (as an iconic landmark for creative industries in Hong Kong).

Opportunities for UK Creative Industries companies include:

• Product, graphic and interior design
• Architectural and building design
• Branding and advertising

Macao does not have the broad spread of Hong Kong in this important sector, however with the sheer number of casinos and more being built, opportunities exist in design/architecture.

For further information download the UKTI Hong Kong & Macau Sector Briefing.

Major events

Business of Design Week (BODW)

http://www.bodw.com

Date: 3-8 December 2012

Inno Design Tech Expo

www.hktdc.com/innodesigntechexpo

Contact: John Woodruffe   

Email: john.woodruffe@fco.gov.uk

Date: 6-8 December 2012

Detour

www.detour.hk

Date: 1 November – 31 December 2012

Design Fest Asia

Date: December 2012

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