HK and mainland have luxury market all wrapped up (hktdc.com)


	Christophe Cartei sources top quality, bespoke packaging from China, via Hong Kong

	The stylish packaging of many international brand products increasingly comes from the Chinese mainland

Packagers and suppliers of luxury goods in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland are on a roll. Increasingly, more and more luxury products, from perfume and cosmetics to high end fashion clothing and accessories, are wrapped in packaging from Hong Kong suppliers and Chinese mainland factories.

Christophe Cartei, Manager of Paris-based CREA2C, which specialises in designs and packaging for clients including major fashion companies, said all the big clients work with the mainland. "I do not know how you can exist if you do not work with China," he said.

Mr Cartei, who has worked with factories on the mainland for more than 12 years sourcing promotional items and has specialised in packaging for the past four years, said the main attraction is China's low prices. "All our packaging products are manufactured on the mainland, made to order for our clients," he added.

Quality assured

While some of what the French call "haute couture packaging" is still manufactured in France and other parts of the world, more and more comes from the mainland.

Mr Cartei works with a contact in Hong Kong, attends Trade Development Council (TDC) trade shows each April and visits the mainland several times a year to inspect factories and goods and to meet factory managers.

"Although the price is higher when working with Hong Kong contacts than dealing directly with mainland firms, I prefer to do so. I would rather pay more and be sure of quality," he stressed.

The packaging business is changing, according to Mr Cartei, with more Hong Kong involvement. "There are a lot of Hong Kong trading companies in the business now."

Emerging opportunity

Benoit Aubry, Managing Director of Mediatic, a mid-range cosmetic company, sees great openings on the mainland. The French company imports most of its packaging from factories in Guangdong, southern China.

Mediatic's partner in Hong Kong does the sourcing and quality control and Mr Aubry travels to the city twice a year. "Sometimes there are quality control problems so we have an agent checking everything," he said, adding that with the low prices, it is worth the effort.

"We do the marketing, design and commercial aspects of the product while the Hong Kong company subcontracts the manufacturing of the packaging," said Mr Aubry.

Other companies are also looking to China as a possible source for packaging. Bernard Kling, Commercial Director of Papeterie du Poitou, a part of the Beaumont Group, also sees potential in Hong Kong.

"We only manufacture in France right now. Maybe in the future we will look at China," said Mr Kling, who has travelled to Hong Kong to explore possibilities.

Record fair

Such is the demand for packaging facilities that a record 330 exhibitors took part in the four-day Hong Kong International Printing and Packaging Fair organised by the TDC, which ended on May 1.

Hong Kong is a particularly appropriate setting for the printing and packaging fair, given that it is one of the world's four major printing centres, along with Germany, Japan and the United States. Hong Kong's printing and packaging exports totalled about US$5.5 billion in 2006, up 7 per cent over the previous year.