Hi All,

Just returned from a visit to the Bangkok International Gift Fair and Bangkok International House Ware Fair 2008 and want to share some pictures with you (they didn't allow photographs taking but I sneaked a few for you guys). Click on the link below and then choose the BIG gallery.

http://khun-pook.smugmug.com/

Although today is a "trading" day, no selling to the public, I persuaded a few exhibitors to sell some of their items. So that you can get an idea on the prices here're some example from our purchases today(the last photo in the BIG gallery) :

Cotton purse(hard to make out in the photo but quite nice) = 1,200 Baht
Necklace = 500 Baht
Leather tissue boxes = 250 Baht each
Leather Iphone cases = 200 Baht each

For the public days, starting tomorrow, most of the exhibitors turn their booth into a mini store with lots of items made for export and most of them are not available in Thai shops.

Kathie – the next fair and the bigger version is set for October 14 – 19, 2008. The 18th and 19th are the public days.

http://www.thaitradefair.com/fairin/big08/
http://www.impact.co.th/

Thanks Hanuman - we can get a really good idea from this of what the event is like.

You're welcome Janev.

i don't know how you did it but every item in the pictures are the very items that i had on my list...glad you could find them all....can you have them boxed and ready for our arrival...

Only if your check cleared!

Thanks so much for the photos. It give me a good idea of what kinds of things I could find there. Unfortunately, in October, I'll be in the air at the time of the public sale days. I did note that there are lots of things for decorating my condo in Bangkok - when I buy it...

Thanks for the photos, Hanuman. I'll have to show my German friends and see if they want to make the trip to the fair. Looks very interesting!!!
Carol

Carol, I thought those purses would lure you!

Thanks for posting the pictures. May we order now???

Seriously, where would I obtain items in 8 and 22 while in BKK? (and not at the time of the fair?)

I'm shopping for the grandson.

Winter,

They have a whole section on locally made and design toys for export and most of the time you will not be able to find them in Thailand (for most of the product at the show). Items in picture # 22 are in fact ceramic VWs and Minis, my daughter want a Mini(the real kind) so she took the photo as a hint for Daddy!

Going back today after work.

Hanuman,

Thanks for the information.

So when will you be buying a REAL mini? ---- next month?? I'm sure that young lady has Daddy wrapped around her little finger!

Winter,

The Minis in Thailand are selling for around 3 million baht(US$100,000) and that's quite steep for her first car!

Just got back from the fair and it's totally different today. Tens of thousands of shoppers Thais, European, Americans, Japanese etc and they were all toting large carry on bags with wheels full of purchases.

I need a massage now so later!

LOL, yes, I'd say that's quite steep for her first car!

I don't think we're going to make it to the fair as it is over tomorrow, and although I showed your great photos to my German friends, they are just too excited right now about places like MBK and Central World... their first time in BKK. If I were here by myself, I'd be heading to the fair.

Next year... maybe?

Carol

I agree Carol for your friend's first time in town show them the malls and not a trade fair. Have fun!

For anyone interested I've posted some photo of the final day of the fair under the "BIG Fair - final day" gallery.

http://khun-pook.smugmug.com/

that last picture looks like me....

did you need a truck to get all your stuff home??

as an international trade show exhibitor, allowing the public in, and selling to them is bitterly obnoxious.It instantly converts a wholesale show into a flea market. Exhibitors who spent many thousands to be there to take container-load orders - or orders at least in the tens of thousands of dollars - are wasting their time fending off cheap civilians looking for a deal. I would never return to a show that did this - in fact, I like dozens of other exhibitors quit a major Canadian show for this very reason. I mentioned earlier that the BKK was a lousy show and this is further proof of that.

then only go to the trade shows....don't ruin our fun at seeing new things and having a chance to buy them!!

The first 4 days of the show are set for trading only and there's a no selling to the public rule in place. Visitors during the trading days average around 5,000 per day and you will not find "cheap" civilians looking for a bargain, except for me of course.

Most of the exhibitors looks forward to the public days so that they can recuperate their exhibition expenses. Some of them, not many, choose not to sell anything during the public days. For the 2 public days visitors, or shoppers, rise to around 60,000 per day.

I really don't understand your bitter resentment!