On May 21 to 23, the China Adult- Care Expo took place in Shanghai, and among others, the list of exhibitors also included HOT Productions & Vertriebs Gmbh. HOT's General Sales Manager, Michael Sonner, tells us more about the trade show in our EAN interview, and he explains how important the Asian market has become for the company. Of course, we also touch upon the problems that brands are still faced with in this market, most notably product piracy.

Looking back at China Adult-Care Expo in Shanghai, was it a successful event for HOT?

Michael Sonner:The show was pushed back one week on very short notice, but it still attracted lots of potential customers. We didn't see many international customers, though, which was probably largely a result of the last-minute postponement.

How do you make sure that attending a trade show is worth your white?

Michael Sonner:A trade show has to be well-prepared. i.e. You have to make appointments with existing customers in advance-and you need to use the momentum to achieve positive results after the show.Also, you need to have the right products for the individual markets.

Was this your first time presenting your peoducts in Shanghai,or are you already a regular at this show?

Michael Sonner: We have been with the show from the very beginning, and we have seen it grow and flourish. It has been a remarkable development.

What can you tell us about the China Adult-Care Expo? Which companies exhibit at the show,who are the visitors? Is it a business to business event or is it open to the public?

Michael Sonner:Actually,it is a mix of b2b and b2c. You meet shop owners from Austria and Chinese products. So, it is a wide and varied mixture.

And how important is the show in relation to other trade events like those in Hong Kong, Macao,etc.?

Michael Sonner:At this point,Hong Kong and Macao are no longer relevant trade shows.

What was the focal point of your presentation in Shanghai?

Michael Sonner: We are the undisputed market leader when it comes to XXL products in China, so that made up the bulk of our presentation.

Do Asian trade shows require more work and preparation compared to events like eroFame?

Michael Sonner:In the early years, we had to put in a lot of work in terms of preparation and logistics. But since we have launched our own company in South China, things have become much easier for us.

Since when has HOT been active in the Asian market?

Michael Sonner:We have been active in China for five years now, and we launched a local branch, Hot China, three years ago.

How important is the Asia market for HOT on an international scale?

Michael Sonner:Our sales in Asia have doubled every year since we entered this market,so there is definitely rapid growth. Much more rapid than what we see in Europe.

Have you noticed any trends in the Asian market that could also spill over into Europe? Or are the big, market-defining trends more or less the same in both regions?

Michael Sonner:At the moment, Real Dolls are a bog thing in China, but I am not sure that trend will gain too much traction in European countries.