First Bijoux Cebu rakes $1.7M

After holding their first ever international accessories show dubbed as Bijoux Cebu, the Cebu Fashion Accessories Manufacturers and Exporters Foundation (Cebu- FAME) generated an initial gross sales of US$ 1.7 million.

Cebu FAME officials bared their accomplishments in a post event press conference that followed days after the international event was held at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa.

Foundation president Janet Chua announced that the initial canvassed results from 89 percent of all their exhibitors has showed highly promising results with a total negotiated sales of US$1. 7 million or around P80 million.

Chua said that the event’s total booked sales generated US$ 742,343.56 while total sales under negotiations are at US$ 918,011.19 and total cash sales were at P674, 670 (US$ 14, 029.78).

She added that Bijoux Cebu had 104 total exhibitors, 47 of which exhibited at the Marquee while 57 were “Cash and Carry” exhibitors accessible to local buyers.

According to size of the operations based on assets, these exhibitors were composed two percent by micro companies, 53 percent were small-scaled while 45 percent were medium-scaled. Also, 26 percent of these companies were on sole proprietorship and 74 percent were corporations.

There were around 1,288 total number of inquiries and they have recorded 147 foreign buyers and 5, 000 guests and visitors including locals, said Chua.

Chua stressed that Bijoux Cebu showcased Cebu and the Philippines as Asia’s destination for green jewelry.

“It has always been the yearning of the Cebu costumed jewelry exporters to have an international fashion accessories show in our home base but feasibility-wise, we thought it would not be possible as we are too few and too small a group to do a trade show and buyers wouldn’t come for such a small event,” shared Chua about doubts they had before the event started.

“Well, now Bijoux Cebu is here at last, small and intimate but relevant and it addresses the world market’s demand for eco-fashion and eco-friendly products that have a sustainable base,” she added.

Chua said that most of their buyers considered their product lines from costume jewelry, footwear, bags, baskets, and house wares as “sellable” because these were intricately designed pieces with affordable prices.

And that its superb artistic designs, colors, and quality fashion accessories fit the present fashion demand.

Butch Carungay, Bijoux Cebu chairman said that although they only had few foreign buyers compared to other jewelry shows around the world, they are confident to say that these are quality, sifted and well-chosen buyers who are booking orders. – Rhia de Pablo