Last week, we had the opportunity to participate in the ASIA FASHION SHOW in Jakarta, Indonesia.
To be honest, the results were not as strong as we had hoped. Although the exhibition attracted a large number of visitors, the proportion of visitors who were closely related to our business and had genuine purchasing potential was relatively limited.
Through conversations with other exhibitors, we found that this was not simply our own experience. The overall visitor profile and exhibition positioning could have been more closely aligned with the needs of exhibitors.
At the same time, the experience also gave us an opportunity to look at our own business.
Before coming to Indonesia, we were already aware that our current range of bag hardware and metal accessories might not fully match the preferences and requirements of the local market. However, given the size and potential of the Indonesian market, we felt it was still worthwhile to visit, meet people, and learn more about the market firsthand.
This time, the results were modest, but the experience was valuable.
For us, international exhibitions are not simply about finding orders. They are also a way to test markets, understand customer needs, and evaluate whether our products and positioning are truly relevant.
Going forward, we will be more careful in evaluating both the market and the exhibition organizer before deciding to participate. International exhibitions require a meaningful investment of time and resources, so choosing the right market and the right platform is increasingly important to us.
We may not have found the opportunity we were looking for in Jakarta this time, but we came away with a clearer understanding of what we need to improve and what we should look for next.
And that, in itself, is part of doing business internationally.