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 | Tuesday, April 25, 2000, updated at 09:24(GMT+8) | ||||||||||||
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Timepieces Need to Adapt to Changing LifestylesTimepiece manufacturers have been urged to adjust their products to the change of lifestyles, according to a recent research on timepiece market by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC).TDC researchers said that accuracy and reliability are not by themselves sufficient to satisfy consumers. Instead, design concepts and styling, along with reasonable prices, are far more important in tapping demand, they said. Edward Leung, chief economist of the council who headed the research, said, "It is of great significance for clock and watch manufacturers to adapt their products to the changing of lifestyles to enable Hong Kong to stay with the leading position in timepiece market." The TDC economist believed that timepiece consumers have been increasingly affected by the lifestyles that emphasize individual expression, and that they have changed to buy timepieces that can match individual tastes. Fashion watches and designer clocks are also popular choices for gifts among youngsters in Japan. Premium watches and clocks are frequently presented as souvenirs by companies and giant retailers for business purposes. Another fashion concept is inspired by the increasing rate of sports participation. Spurred by growing health consciousness and the promotional campaigns of major sports-related companies, the demand for sports equipment and related products, including sports watches, expanded steadily, the researchers said. Although sales of high-tech timepieces like the mobile phone watches are discouraged by high prices, high-tech look timepieces with a futuristic sense are well received in the market. This is especially due to the popularity of information technology and the Internet, which have made "technology" a popular concept in the consumer market, the researchers said.
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