First in Asia LEGO® Star Wars(TM) Miniland Model Display Launched at LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort

SINGAPORE, Sept. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — In conjunction with its upcoming second anniversary, LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort announced the opening of LEGO® Star WarsTM Miniland Model Display at the Resort. This is the first attraction of its kind in Asia and the latest LEGO® model display to open at a LEGOLAND® around the world.

The attraction features seven scenes from the six Star WarsTM films and The Clone WarsTM animated series in great detail. In total, the attraction features more than 2,000 LEGO® models built to a 1:20 scale using 1.5 million LEGO® bricks. The attraction officially opens its doors to the public on 6 September 2014.

“We are confident that guests to LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort will find their visit here more exciting than ever for the whole family. Being fully indoors and air-conditioned, families can easily spend more than an hour exploring this new model display alone in addition to the over 70 hands-on rides, slides, shows and attractions at the Resort,” said Mark Germyn, General Manager LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort.

“With RM6 million invested in this new attraction, the Resort is continuously looking to grow stronger tourism value and attract more international visitors. The key strategy we are using is adding a new element annually to ensure guests have exciting reasons to visit and come back for more,” he added.

The LEGO® Star WarsTM Miniland Model Display is housed in an octagon building with a floor size of 900m2 that has been divided into eight areas. Six areas house one iconic scene each from the six Star WarsTM films, while the seventh area features a scene from the animated film Star Wars: The Clone WarsTM. The eighth area offers a dedicated retail section for LEGO® Star WarsTM products. The merchandise includes hard-to-find LEGO® building sets for sale such as the Death Star, R2-D2, Millennium Falcon, Super Star Destroyer, Ewok Village and much more. The shop will also have the full line of LEGO® Star WarsTM play materials in addition to LEGO® Star WarsTM keychains, magnets and a variety of caps and T-shirts.

The seven featured scenes depict planets such as Naboo, Geonosis, Kashyyyk, Mustafar, Tatooine, Hoth, Endor and Christophsis. Visitors can take a chronological walk through the Star WarsTM timeline to marvel at the models, including the 2.65m tall Crystal City, the largest of all the LEGO® Star WarsTM models, and the iconic Millennium Falcon made up of 19,200 LEGO® bricks – reaching 1.8m long and 1.3m wide. Meanwhile, interactive buttons will allow visitors to activate the animatronics within each scene.

Fans will also be able to commemorate their visit by taking photos with their favourite characters, built entirely of LEGO® bricks. There will be 85cm tall models of Anakin Skywalker, Boba Fett, C-3PO, Commander Rex, Darth Maul, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Wicket the Ewok and Yoda, in addition to life-sized models of C-3PO, R2-D2 and a 2.7m tall Darth Vader wielding a lightsaber.

Fifty percent of the over 2,000 models at the LEGO® Star WarsTM Miniland Model Display were built in Malaysia and the rest were shipped from Germany and the Czech Republic. The Master Model Builders team took a total of approximately 8,000 man hours to complete the LEGO® models. The installation process was supported by a team of technicians and landscapers who developed the special layout for optimum realism. For the finishing touch, authentic Star WarsTM sounds, animatronics and lighting effects were added to make the models even more lifelike.

Throughout the month of September, various LEGO® Star WarsTM activities have been lined up to commemorate the anniversary celebrations, including a free entry promotion for children dressed up as their favourite Star WarsTM characters. The promotion will be from 6 – 30 Sept 2014. Additionally, Annual Pass holders will enjoy preview periods from 1 – 5 Sept before the attraction opens to the public. All valid Annual Pass holders will be required to sign up online for the preview. There will also be special birthday fireworks on September 15 at the Resort starting at 8pm.

For more information, visit www.LEGOLAND.my or call the reservation office at +607-597-8888. You can also keep up-to-date with our exciting activities on Twitter at https://twitter.com/legoland_my and Instagram at http://instagram.com/legolandmy.

– ENDS –

About LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort

The LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort brings together a LEGOLAND Theme Park, Water Park and Hotel in one LEGO® themed location. It is a family holiday destination with more than 70 hands-on rides, slides, shows and attractions, designed for families with children aged 2-12. It is the first of its kind in Asia and will offer adventure, education and fun for action-packed day trips or as a short break destination.

About Merlin Entertainments

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS plc is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment. Europe’s Number 1 and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates more than 100 attractions, 10 hotels and 3 holiday villages in 22 countries and across 4 continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its almost 60 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 20,000+ employees.

Merlin currently has eleven attractions in Asia including Madame Tussauds in Bangkok, Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing and Wuhan, China; the fantastic LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort with its theme park, hotel and water park; world leading aquaria in Busan, Bangkok and Shanghai, – underlining the company’s position as the world’s biggest global aquarium operator; and a LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Tokyo. Attractions are also in development in Shanghai, Chongqing and Singapore.

Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.

About Themed Attractions and Resorts Sdn Bhd

Themed Attractions and Resorts Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Malaysian Government’s investment arm, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, was incorporated in June 2009 to develop, manage and operate theme parks and attractions in Malaysia, serving as a catalyst for the leisure and tourism industry and bringing premier international theme parks and attractions to the region. The theme parks include KidZania Kuala Lumpur, an indoor family education and entertainment centre, which offers an interactive learning and entertainment experience; LEGOLAND Malaysia – the sixth LEGOLAND in the world and the very first in Asia, operated by the Merlin Entertainment Group; SANRIO HELLO KITTY TOWN, the first of its kind outside of Japan; The Little Big Club, a single themed attraction that is home to five popular global characters; and LAT’s Place, a themed restaurant with live animation based on the popular Kampung Boy (Village Boy) character by famous local cartoonist, LAT. Themed Attractions will also develop, manage and operate KidZania Singapore.

For further information, please contact:

Deviga Doreraja

PR Manager
LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort

Tel: +607- 597-8819

Email: deviga.doreraja@legoland.my

China Kids Expo: The Best Time to Source New & Innovative Baby Products for 2015

BEIJING, Sept. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — 80,000 worldwide visitors are expected to attend the 2014 China Kids Expo and its concurrent events, the most professional and effective trade platform in China, where totally over 1,300 exhibitors, 87% of the Chinese exhibitors are export-ready, will showcase new and innovative baby products & toys in the 120,000 sqm exhibition area on October 14-15 in Shanghai, a month after the Kind + Jugend fair.

Co-hosted by the China Toy & Juvenile Products Association and Kolenmesse, the German trade fair organizer of Kind + Jugend, China Kids Expo will showcase a wide range of baby products to global visitors, with competitive advantages on strollers, baby car seats, baby ride-ons, cribs & baby furniture over other similar events in China.

China Kids Expo has achieved amazing growth in industry and international influence over the past several years. “One of its most important growths is the participation of export-ready manufacturers and international visitors,” said May Liang, Executive Vice President of CTJPA, “They both will reach new highs in 2014.”

Now the show organizers are offering free rooms for top importers, distributors and chain retailers. Interested buyers can pre-register online and contact the organizer for profile verification.

The pre-register from: http://system.china-kids-expo.com/2014/babycarrier/visitor/prereg.asp

New exhibitors & sourcing opportunities

Currently, the number of new exhibitors at the China Kids Expo has reached 60%, of which 84% are Chinese manufacturers. These manufacturers, big or small, take international orders and have high reliability and capability for product innovation and quality control to satisfy global buyers various demands.

Factories innovation capabilities improve, more new products to feature at the show

October is the ideal time for buyers to find new products, meet new suppliers and sourcing for next year. Major export-ready Chinese manufacturers make the Shanghai Show their first trade platform for showcasing their newest innovative products, meeting old clients and building new connections with more international buyers.

Contact Kent Luo by email at luoliping@tjpa-china.org, or by calling +86-10-66038881 ext. 226. Visit http://www.china-kids-expo.com/magen/ to learn more.

About The China Toy & Juvenile Products Association (CTJPA)

CTJPA is a not-for-profit trade association representing the interests of the Chinese toy and juvenile products industry. Total registered members are over 5,000.

About Koelnmesse

Our about 80 trade fairs in Germany and all over the world are trade fairs for your business success.

Design Gallery Shop Opens in PMQ

HONG KONG, July 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) opened its third Design Gallery shop in Hong Kong today, in the creative industries landmark PMQ in Central. HKTDC Executive Director Fred Lam, Hong Kong Design Centre Board of Directors Chairman Victor Lo, Miss Hong Kong 2013 Grace Chan and a number of Hong Kong designers and brand representatives officiated at the opening ceremony.

HKTDC Design Gallery specifically promotes products created and designed in Hong Kong. The wide variety of products in store also highlights the extraordinary creativity of Hong Kong designers in areas ranging from accessories, watches and household decorations to premium goods and stationery.

The new Design Gallery shop currently showcases some 1,500 products from nearly 80 Hong Kong designers and brands. The area is divided into three themes: Designer Delight, featuring gifts and premiums, houseware, stationery and toys; Accessory Access highlighting handbags and accessories; and Treasure Trove, spotlighting watches and jewellery.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Lam said, “PMQ is a new landmark for design and creativity. Since its opening, it has turned into a magnet for up-and-coming design talents in the city. PMQ’s mission of serving as a start-up platform for designers and a nurturing ground for innovative entrepreneurs dovetails perfectly with Design Gallery’s commitment in promoting Hong Kong original designs and brands. It is great that Design Gallery can set up shop in PMQ, so that both can contribute together in supporting Hong Kong’s creative industry.”

Mr. Lam also pointed out that, in addition to the three physical Design Gallery shops in Hong Kong, the HKTDC has been working towards expanding its sales network, bringing Hong Kong branded products to new points of sale that promise heavy customer traffic and more diversified customer sources. These include Ocean Park, the WWF Visitor Centre and K11 Design Store. The HKTDC is also developing Design Gallery’s network in the Chinese mainland. So far, almost 20 points of sale have been successfully set up in cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Qingdao and Wuhan. Also, through Yahoo’s Outlet, Asia Miles’ gift redemption programme and mainland online platforms such as “Tmall” and “JD Mall”, the HKTDC is introducing Hong Kong designs to more customers.

The three Design Gallery theme units in PMQ occupy a total area of about 1,200 sq ft. The designer has adopted a clean and bright design throughout, to link up the three units. Different colour themes also give each unit a unique ethos and provide customers with a cosy and relaxed shopping experience.

Special offer: To celebrate the Grand Opening of the Design Gallery PMQ shop, from now until 31 July, customers can enjoy a 20% discount on all items. In addition, customers spending more than HK$500 in Design Gallery PMQ Shop will receive an Eco Concepts retro water bottle worth HK$240. The water bottle is made of 100% polylactic acid, a material extracted from plant starch. It features beautiful sceneries of Hong Kong to echo Design Gallery’s mission in promoting original local designs. With a black and white body, the water bottle is both retro and stylish, making it a highly collectible item (a limited number of the gifts are available while stocks last).

New PMQ Shop

Address: Units HG07-09, G/F, Block B, PMQ, No.35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +85225481115
Monday – Sunday, Public Holidays: 11:00 – 21:00

Website
HKTDC Design Gallery http://www.hkdesigngallery.com

Cool Kids Fashion 2014 Opens its Doors to World’s Fashion Industry on 22-24 July in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, July 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Cool Kids Fashion, China’s first trade event for kids’ fashion, will open its doors to fashion industry players from 22-24 July 2014 at Shanghai New International Expo Centre, China. It will feature 45 kids fashion brands from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, mainland China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Korea, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States and more.

Participating brands include ALASKA KIDS, Attipas, Baby bubbles, Babygro, baby touch, BARBARAS, barefoot dreams, Bibi, Boboli, coccodrillo, deloras, Dr. Apple, DORDOR & GORGOR, ecoBibi, Ewenique Merino, Felt So Sweet, fiona’s prince, green box, Harajuku Lovers, Harmont & Blaine Junior, Katie Baby, LelliKelly, Merino Baby, M.Latin, NANONAN, Paul Frank, Sesame Street, SmileyWorld, TICKET OUTDOOR, tutto piccolo, Uncle bill and more. They will showcase a complete overview of children fashion and accessories (ages 0-16 years).

Other activities at Cool Kids Fashion include:

  • Kids Fashion Shows: Eight sessions across three days showcasing the latest collections from Barbie, Bubblegummers, Disney, Hello Kitty, Hush Puppies Kids, Los Mosquitos, NANONAN, New Balance, SmileyWorld, stride rite and more.
  • Fashion Designers Gallery: Three Chinese top fashion designers, Davidson Tsui of Constance Kids, Lorelei Liu of Kelkel and Ying of LittleMee, will unveil their autumn/winter collections at Cool Kids Fashion. These collections will be showcased at the runway and also displayed at the Fashion Designers Gallery.
  • Kids Fashion Design Contest Awards/Gallery: Launched in April 2014, the Kids Fashion Design Contest have received over 800 aspiring designers and students of China’s top fashion institutes. Twenty designers have been short-listed. Their collections will be on display and be featured in the Kids Fashion Show. Final judging will happen on 23 July. The distinguished panel of judges is made up of famous fashion designers and heads of fashion associations from China, France, Italy, Singapore and Spain.
  • Trend Forums: Mr. Massimo Carminati, Project Director for Trend and Fashion of Peclers Paris, will share his insight on 2015/2016 autumn/winter children fashion. Mr. Shaun Armstrong, Visual Director of M&S Department Store, will conduct a session on “Visual Design on Children Wear Store”. He is expert in window display. He was in charge of visual merchandising for top fashion designers like Patrick Cox, Jean Paul Gaultier, Emporio Armani, Liberty of London.
    MODA-MBA’s Fashion Buyer Advisor Mr. Steve Shi will host a session on the “Do’s and Don’ts for Fashion Buyers”. Mr. Shi is one of Asia’s most notable fashion buyers and is the Chief Director of Hong Kong Fashion Buyers Association.
  • Kids Fashion Museum: A display of collection of baby and children’s apparel from China’s ethnic minorities.
  • Private Networking Event: Cool Kids Fashion suppliers and guests will meet with key representatives from China’s leading department stores, shopping centers, chain stores and property development agents.
  • Cool Kids Fashion Cocktails. A networking event to welcome all Cool Kids Fashion exhibitors, visitors, press and guests.

Cool Kids Fashion is open to trade buyers and key players in kids fashion industry. Expected visitors include sales agents and distributors who have successful experience in distributing other brands, media, franchise investors, franchisees, fashion buyers, key decision makers from shopping centers and department stores, commercial property developers, and designers from China.

“Cool Kids Fashion provides fashion brands, designers and China’s kids fashion key movers a trendy children fashion trade event in China to showcase their collections and network with their peers in the fashion industry. This is where the trends for kids fashion are set. Cool Kids Fashion is the gateway for any brand looking to reach China’s kids trendy fashion apparel market. Here, they will meet with the key players of kids fashion in China, not just the buyers, but the designers and media as well. Cool Kids Fashion is an extraordinary platform for presenting new lifestyle and fashion trends for kids. We will continuously support China’s children fashion industry, pushing it to greater heights,” said Ms. Margaret Ma, Managing Director, UBM China.

Don’t miss Cool Kids Fashion 2014 on July 22-24. For more information, visit www.coolkidsfashion.com

World’s Largest Sourcing Event for Baby, Children and Maternity Products Industry to Unveil New Brands, Products and Suppliers on July 22-24

SHANGHAI, July 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — The 14th Shanghai International Children Baby Maternity Industry Expo (CBME China) will welcome local and international suppliers to showcase their latest products on July 22-24, 2014 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC).

The event will feature 2,428 brands from 1,751 exhibitors across 166,680 square meters (+21% year-on-year) of exhibition space. A number of world-known brands have already confirmed participation including Babybubbles, Britax, CAM, Chicco, Cybex, Design Skin, Dr. Brown’s, Fiona’s Prince, Friso, Goo.N, Hallmark Babies, iCandy, Johnson’s Baby, Joie, Karicare, Kiddy, les enphant, Mattel, Maxi-Cosi, Micro, NUBY, NUK, OXO, Philips AVENT, Pigeon, Quinny, Richell, RODY, Teletubbies, Wyeth Nutrition and more, covering a range of children baby maternity products from healthcare products to food, strollers and toys, clothing and accessories and services.

“Tens of thousands of buyers make CBME China a regular stop on their sourcing calendar as they recognize the purchase efficiency gained by meeting qualified suppliers with quality products that is available at CBME China. More and more suppliers also launch their latest products at CBME China. This is where they can find the latest trends affecting the industry,” says Athena Gong, General Manager, CBME.

“We have also seen an increase in the number of new exhibitors and brands in 2014. This year, we are also launching Cool Kids Fashion. Other activities include Trend Forums, Kids Fashion Shows, Fashion Designers Gallery, Kids Fashion Design Contest, Kids Fashion Museum and Private Networking Event. Cool Kids Fashion brings together world-renowned brands, designers, media and key players of children fashion in an exclusive on-trend ambiance. The event is by invitation only, and we are expecting a good turn out.”

Specialized Zones and Pavilions to showcase the latest and best in the industry

With the increase in exhibition scale, CBME China is carefully categorized into themed areas to make sourcing easier for buyers. These are: International Pavilions; Licensing Zone; Maternity and Baby Care Products; Baby Carriages, Car Seats and Furniture; Food and Health Care Products; Toys, Educational Products and Souvenirs; Children, Baby and Teenager Clothing, Footwear and Accessories; Maternity Clothing, Underwear and Accessories; and Service Organizations.  

New to CBME China 2014 is the OEM/ODM Pavilions. Brand owners and buyers can now find reliable manufacturers and good quality products made to their specifications at CBME China.

Ms. Gong further comments: “CBME China has always focused on domestic and international brands. As the industry grows, we see a demand for OEM/ODM suppliers. China is always an ideal place to find good quality products and manufacturers for tailor-made designs. Thus, for 2014, we expanded the coverage of CBME China to include OEM/ODM companies. With the addition of OEM/ODM Pavilion to CBME China, we aim to serve the whole supply chain.”

Another highlight for 2014 is the Interactive Car Seats Gallery. Here, visitors can see live demonstration on the latest car seats from Baby First and Britax. They can find which car seat is best suited for which car. They can also learn the latest safety standards, technology and innovation for car seats. This also serves as an educational platform wherein retails store owners and their personnel can get hands-on training and gain industry know-how from manufacturers. They will learn the latest government regulations to impart with parents-to-be, gain the technical aspects of the car seats and enrich their sales skills necessary to effectively sell the product. To encourage the development of this skill, the participants of this year’s “Best Baby Store Sales Contest Awards” will be tested and judged based on it.

International Pavilions at CBME China grew again as more brands from Australia, Korea, United Kingdom, United States, Spain, Taiwan and other countries/regions are presenting products covering a range of children baby maternity products from healthcare products to food, strollers and toys, clothing and accessories and services.

The Licensing Zone is where licensees can find new properties and brands and initiate licensing deals. Whether looking to spot trends, building strategic partnerships, securing promotional tie-ins or taking property worldwide – this is where it all happens.

At the CBME AWARDS Gallery, visitors can find not only the latest innovation in the industry, but they can also see who the movers and shakers of China’s baby products industry are. The CBME AWARDS Gallery will feature the nominees for Lifetime Achievement Award, Top Retailer Awards, Top Brand Awards, the Innovative Products Awards and more.

Part to the CBME Awards Gallery, the Innovative Products Awards Gallery will showcase the nominees for the latest product innovations in the industry. Originally conceived to encourage independent research and development on safer quality products for mothers and babies, the CBME Innovative Product Awards continues the tradition by providing a platform for inspiring innovative products meeting the highest industry standards. From over 100 entries received, top six per category will be on display for visitors to view and vote for their favorite.

Focusing on content that matters to the industry

Visitors and exhibitors attending CBME China will not only find new business partners and find thousands of children, baby and maternity products, they will also get an inside look at what’s happening in the industry.

CBME China’s conference program aims to brand owners and buyers on conduct more efficient trade in the industry. The program provides a comprehensive source of information on China’s supply chain and will feature a broad range of hot topics from retail store management and operations to emerging market trends.

The Children Baby Maternity Products Industry Summit will give attendees an overview of China’s children, baby and maternity products market, and educate them on how to grow their business in the region. The whole-day summit will cover topics including industry survey reports, industry trends and analysis, e-commerce development, retail store management and more.

Other Industry Seminars during CBME China 2014 include presentations from government representatives to discuss the latest guidelines and laws covering milk importation, social media marketing, retail store development strategy and many more.

Value-added services to enhance buyer experience and facilitate trade

To help buyers and exhibitors meet and do business more effectively, CBME China is organizing a series of special services. These include:

  • Private Buyer Meetings to help buyers meet one-on-one with top suppliers to specify their sourcing requirements, product specification and close deals. The leading chain stores for children baby and maternity products in China like Leyou Babies to Kids, MSH’s Pregnant Women & Baby, Baby Bear, the leading Chinese online retailers like Yihaodian and Jingdong Mall, supermarkets and shopping malls like RT-Mart, Suning, Vanguard and WU Mart. Participating overseas companies include Nishimatsuya, the top baby products chain store with over 850 retail stores in Japan; Kooltrade, the baby products distributor in United Kingdom; windeln.de GmbH, the popular online retailer in Germany: Kids Travel, Inc, online retailer from Korea and more are scheduled to attend.
  • Elite and VIP guests of CBME China can enjoy free food and drinks, WIFI and more at the VIP lounges.
  • Free shuttle service is available during show dates to bring visitors to and from Longyang Road metro station.

“CBME China is a professional exhibition that upholds the highest quality standards. It only features certified suppliers and products and also adheres to intellectual property guidelines and laws. CBME China is just one of the service we provide the industry. We maintain the industry’s broadest and most integrated multi-channel platform, allowing buyers to find and meet suppliers using our print magazines, mobile apps and face-to-face shows,” concluded Ms. Gong.

CBME China is a perfect business platform for children, baby and maternity product buyers, retailers, manufacturers, distributors and suppliers to meet and do business in one venue.

CBME China 2014 will take place from July 22-24 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. For more information on CBME China, visit www.cbmexpo.com/en.

For press enquiries, please contact:
Louise Kathryn Yu
Marketing Director
Children, Baby, Maternity Industry Expo (CBME)
Tel: +852-2585-6101
louise.yu@ubm.com