The M&O-China connection

In September, M&O will offer its exhibitors two new commercial opportunities as the trade fair announces the launch of partnerships with JD.com and Hongkong Land

Maison&Objet is the latest industry player to turn its sights to the Asian market, with two strategic partnership agreements with retail organisation JD.com and commercial real-estate company Hongkong Land set to open up new opportunities in China for its community.

“Maison&Objet has always shown itself capable of supporting the development of its professional community by creating connections, contacts and opportunities between the main operators,” explained M&O Director General Philippe Brocart. “The partnerships with JD.com and Hongkong Land are indicative of two complementary approaches to the Chinese market. They respond to specific requests, but can also serve as a model for operations in other countries.”

JD.com has over 300 million active clients and is the leading online store in China.The partnership signed with Maison&Objet has the aim of helping JD.com to select European brands of notable creativity or technical quality for sale on the platform. The e-commerce site will have a 120 square metre space on the mezzanine floor of Hall 6 in September.

Hongkong Land recently inaugurated the WF Central shopping centre in Beijing. As part of the launch, it invited M&O to pick out around 30 brands from Europe, Asia and Australia to present during Beijing Design Week in the new M&O DESIGN PAVILION. Open between 16 September and 18 November, the pavilion will showcase the work of Maison&Objet’s five Designers of the Year: Philippe Nigro, Eugeni Quitllet, Tom Dixon, Nendo and André Fu. With the help of the new partnership, the companies involved will have the chance to gauge the potential of their collections on the Asian market.