Comex show breaks visitor and sales records

No surprise eh? Yesterday I read ini MyPaper about a 16-year old spending $1,500 on a DSLR camera and some lenses and calling it a bargain! Imagine a 16-year old spending that kind of money!

The Straits Times
Sep 6, 2011
Comex show breaks visitor and sales records

By Irene Tham

The biggest crowd ever came to splurge on $70 million worth of products - another record - at this year's Comex IT and consumer technology show.

Some 822,000 visitors thronged the 355,000 sq ft of space over five floors in the Suntec convention centre during the show's four-day run that ended on Sunday.

According to event organiser Exhibits Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings, the 835 exhibitors rang up some $70.5 million in sales - the most in its 17-year history.

Exhibits Inc general manager Melvin Koh said premium gadgets such as tablets, smartphones, smart TV sets and digital single- lens reflex cameras were hot buys, 'as consumers continue to have higher expectations of their gadgets'.

Canon said it saw a 20 per cent rise in sales from last year. Its most popular item was its EOS 600D camera which went for $1,199, or $150 less than usual.

Mr Andrew Koh, Canon Singapore's director and general manager of consumer imaging and information, said: 'We have observed that consumers now seem to be more informed and know what they want to purchase, with a focus on premium solutions.'

Laptop retailers also clicked with consumers, with Asus netting a 15 per cent sales boost this year. Ms Lim Kai Li, senior marketing executive at the Taiwanese PC maker, said: 'It was our record performance at Comex.'

Laptops were also offered as part of telcos' package deals for broadband and mobile plans.

Student Reuben Tan, 19, who signed a two-year contract with M1, lauded the show as a great way to lap up a bargain. For $75 a month, he got a Toshiba laptop worth more than $1,000 and a 100Mbps fibre broadband plan.

'I have been waiting to snag a good deal since my current broadband contract expired a few months back,' he said.

Other popular items included the Olympus Pen E-PL1 camera, which went for $498 - about half its usual price - and Hewlett- Packard's discontinued TouchPad tablet. Both were sold out on the first day of the show.

Last year's Comex attracted 815,000 visitors and logged sales of $68.5 million.

(06-09-2011, 07:33 AM)Musicwhiz Wrote: No surprise eh? Yesterday I read ini MyPaper about a 16-year old spending $1,500 on a DSLR camera and some lenses and calling it a bargain! Imagine a 16-year old spending that kind of money!

Actually, MW, I honestly dun see anything wrong with the report. Knowing how much some lenses can cost, I can see where she was coming from when she called it a bargain.

I dun think we should judge how people want to spend their money. As long as the money was not obtained illegally. For all we know, this could have been a hardworking teenager working and saving for a year to buy a good camera. What's wrong with that?

I think I mentioned this a few times but I'm going to do it again. The concept of 'Delayed Gratification' is lost on a lot of people; but for those of us who subscribed to it, we must also not go overboard with it. A balance is required. Sometimes we do have to spurge on the 'here and now' instead of always planning and preparing for a (still) non-existing 'future'.

I think all of us struggled with the balance. I interacted with people on both extreme end of the balance. I have seen how some people carry the concept of 'Delayed Gratification' overboard and sometimes I dun understand why. It a challenge to socialise with these people.

(06-09-2011, 09:51 AM)lonewolf Wrote: Actually, MW, I honestly dun see anything wrong with the report. Knowing how much some lenses can cost, I can see where she was coming from when she called it a bargain.

I dun think we should judge how people want to spend their money. As long as the money was not obtained illegally. For all we know, this could have been a hardworking teenager working and saving for a year to buy a good camera. What's wrong with that?

Nothing against her personally, but just thinking back to the days when I was 16 years old and did not even dare to spend $15, much less $1,500. Then again, back then policemen wore shorts haha. Apologies if I had offended anyone – my views on delayed gratification can be rather extreme, admittedly.

I have to agree with lonewolf here. Sometimes spending on items like these is a necessity to develop and pursue one's interest. These interests could eventually turn out to be one's career.

Case in point. My wedding photographer was a former computer programmer and only took up photography as a hobby. Eventually she realised she was good at it with the bonus being that she loves to do it. And with the recognition she's gotten within the industry, she now charges $3K and up per session of shooting. (30% deposit upfront just to block off her time. Damn good business model if you ask me.)

Of course, I'm sure she's among the minority but if she never took up a camera, she wouldn't have gotten to where she is today. And as human beings, we all need some hobbies as entertainment. As long as it doesn't financially ruin us, I think 'indulgences' like these can be accomodated.

(06-09-2011, 11:15 AM)kazukirai Wrote: I have to agree with lonewolf here. Sometimes spending on items like these is a necessity to develop and pursue one's interest. These interests could eventually turn out to be one's career.

I guess this discussion is turning out to be one which compares "needs" against "wants" haha! If it is indeed the case where an item is purchased which can eventually add value to your life or career in a big way, then it is an investment and not an expense.

But if one purchases something just for indulgence but can ill-afford it (e.g. taking up debt to buy it), then it is an expense and one which should not have taken place (I am coming from the angle that one should be prudent and not excessive in their purchases).

Of course, please feel free to disagree. That's what a forum is for!

I think it's not so much on the amount of $ the person is spending but rather how the item will be used.

Will it be used to take great photos that will last a lifetime? Will the person become a professional over time?
Or is it because friends have it so he/she wants it as well and interest eventually wanes?

In any case, it's always good to have hobbies, or a passion for something.
Otherwise life will be just too boring.

(07-09-2011, 01:26 AM)Big Toe Wrote: In any case, it's always good to have hobbies, or a passion for something.
Otherwise life will be just too boring.

Well said.

On another thought, I think the main passion for food for Singaporeans is actually pretty unhealthy! Even though how many can resist the temptation of ur fav glorious food?