Patty Cao is busy these days at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai. As the founder of Clickpress Group, she is leading her team in exhibiting their company’s lifestyle products to the Chinese market.

This year, more than 200 Australian brands registered for the CIIE, and the total number of exhibits ranked No.3 among all participating countries. Different from most exhibitors, Clickpress Group brought a creative brand, SPACE 18, which is the only Australian lifestyle brand at CIIE.

(SPACE 18’s eco-felt collection)

“We are showcasing different aspects of lifestyle, from Australian organic nuts, to eco-felt items and cultural creative products, combining eco-friendliness, innovation and fashion,” said Patty.

At the booth, the eco-felt bags, coaster sets and notebooks are quite popular among visitors. Designed by international artists, the items are given a unique touch of fashion. Widely used in European and American countries, felt is softer and more durable than other natural and synthetic fibers.

Patty has her definition of environmental conservation. “A closed loop of environmental protection should include packaging, apart from the manufacturing of a product. I hope this idea can be delivered to more Chinese consumers.”

On the second day of the import expo, SPACE 18 inked a deal with the Sichuan Chamber of Commerce. Together they will create cultural creative products with Sichuan elements.

“Considering China’s growing middle-income population,the government's emphasis on reform and opening up, and the determination to promote consumption upgrading, the world is full of confidence in the Chinese market’s future,” said Patty. She also hopes that SPACE 18 can enter the Chinese market through the CIIE platform, so as to bring better products and healthier lifestyles to China’s consumers.

(3D notepads designed by SPACE 18’s international artists)

(Second from left: Patty Cao)

Patty is an overseas Chinese. On January 4, 1990, a few years after China launched its reform and opening up policy, she went to Australia alone.Looking back on the past, she said, “Since the first day I went abroad, I have been telling myself: I will live a different life and learn from the West, but I am still a Chinese.”

In 1992, she founded a printing house (the predecessor of Clickpress Group) on her own. Over the past 27 years, she has gone through various hardships to make it to where she is today.

Led by Patty Cao, Clickpress Group has won the recognition of many Australian companies, including the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Though living abroad, Patty still cares about the development of her motherland. She is not only the founder of SPACE 18, but also serves as an advisor to the Sydney Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and Vice President of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification (Australia). Leveraging her resources and network, she and her company have helped to promote theWorld Expo 2010 and the CIIE to the world.

In her opinion, “The Chinese market presents huge potential. That is part of the reason we attended CIIE. Through the import fair, which provides foreign-funded enterprises an opportunity to have face-to-face communication with Chinese consumers and dealers, we can have a direct understanding of our users’ demands and express our philosophy. That is exactly what we value the most.”

(Peng Gang, director of the Department of Asian Affairs of China’s Ministry of Commerce, visiting the SPACE 18 booth at CIIE 2018)

For companies, participating in an exhibition is never an easy thing. It demands a long period of detailed preparation. As Patty recalled, at the first CIIE, she and her team were troubled by the lack of carpeting in their booth. However, one of the staff came up with an idea: covering the floor by printing out the campaign’s main KV (key visual) pattern. To their surprise, the unique decoration was noticed by a visitor, who came up to inquire about the pattern. “We felt very flattered.”

At the end of the interview, Patty shared with us how to get along with Australians. According to her, due to their high consideration about equality, friendship and mutual respect, Australians like to call each other “mate”. Even government officials go to the bar and chat with each other like common people. On weekends, the local people are carefree and look for entertainment to relieve themselves of work stress. The government also encourages people to do so, sometimes granting allowances to holidaymakers. The wealthy, civilized, and stable life makes Australian people modest and easygoing.