As the Spring Festival draws near, the demand for Olympic
licensed products is on the increase.
During a recent webcam talk show on the official website of the
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Chen Feng, vice-director of the
Marketing Department of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the
Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) responded to a number of
questions on Olympic products.
Over 200 new products now available at affordable prices
At an order-placing occasion early last month, more than 200 new
licensed products were unveiled. The products -- souvenir pins,
cuddly toys, stationary, etc. -- sell for middle or low prices.
"We are determined to put into practice the concept of the
'People's Olympics' and to draw more people to the Olympics," Chen
insisted.
More products will be unveiled on 500-day countdown
Chen said it has become a tradition for new Olympic licensed
products to be put on the market when major pre-Games events take
place. On March 27 this year, which marks the 500-day countdown to
the Beijing Olympics, BOCOG will launch a series of themed
products. "We hope that they will satisfy the demand of different
consumers," he said.
More than 4,000 stores to sell Olympic products
Although BOCOG has opened over 600 Olympic products stores in
major Chinese cities, the demand still exceeds the offer by a wide
margin. BOCOG plans to extend its retail network and some 4,000 to
5,000 stores are expected to open by the end of 2007, according to
Chen.
He said BOCOG is considering giving individuals the right to
sell Olympic licensed products, but no definitive decision has been
made so far.
On-line shopping may become true around June
Chen said BOCOG has not opened the on-line sale channel yet; any
existing on-line sale activities are therefore illegal. He warned
the consumers not to buy any Olympic products on line.
However, he disclosed, BOCOG is presently studying an on-line
marketing plan which would involve internet retailers. On-line
shopping of Olympic products may thus become possible around June
2007.
Prices will not go up as the Olympics draw near
Chen said the price of the Olympic products is set according to
the purchasing power of domestic consumers. "We will not allow any
price hikes that take advantage of the scarcity of Olympic
products," he emphasized, promising that prices will not go up as
the Olympics draw near.
He indicated that there will be a three-month stock clearance
period, which may be extended to six months. "After the clearance
period, the Olympic licensed products will no longer be available,"
he added.
(BOCOG February 7, 2007)