A FIRM FOOTING ON BUSINESS IN TAIWAN

Added: (Thu Jan 17 2002)

Pressbox (Press Release) - FootFall Ltd has concluded the first stage of a £420,000 project and installed 120 pedestrian counting cameras in a shopping centre in Taiwan, after receiving help from Trade Partners UK - the Government organisation that provides support services for companies trading overseas.

The Solihull-based company completed the installation of its camera counting devices, which are used to monitor pedestrian flow, in the new shopping centre, ready for the Christmas season. The project is one of FootFall’s biggest and was won after taking part in two shopping centre missions to Taiwan with Trade Partners UK.

Director of marketing, David Smyth, explained how FootFall took its first step into the new market: “We needed to know more about the Taiwan market so commissioned a Tailored Market Information Report from the British Trade and Cultural Office in Taipei. This gave us the key contacts we needed and a head start on business opportunities.”

“Trade missions then gave us the chance to meet these contacts and we began to see Taiwan had a lot of potential. We opened an office in Taipei recently to make the most of the situation and build on our relationship with businesses out there. In fact the lady who now runs our Taipei office was one of the initial contacts made during these trade visits,” he continued.

FootFall has branch offices throughout Europe and Asia Pacific. It has completed many projects in the UK including the installation of a system at Bluewater, the largest shopping centre in Europe.

The camera-based system is used to cover key areas in a shopping centre. Its people-counting technology assists with efficiency allowing developers to judge the success of the shopping centre, how many staff is needed at any one time or even how much inconvenience is caused to visitors by maintenance works. In Asia some systems are connected to the air conditioning controls to vary the level of power needed, based on the number of people within the centre at any one time, thereby reducing electricity costs.

ENDS



NOTES TO EDITORS:

News release is available online at www.prowse.co.uk/newsf.html

Trade Partners UK is the government organisation that provides support services for UK companies trading overseas. Launched in May 2000 it brings together teams in 200 British embassies overseas, 45 Business Links in the UK and at least nine government departments, as well as representatives in Chambers of Commerce across the country. Its aim is to make these services clearer, more effective and easier for British exporters and investors. For more information visit the web site www.tradepartners.gov.uk.

Tailored Market Information Reports
Commercial officers at Embassies and other British Diplomatic Posts overseas produce tailor-made reports for UK companies under the Trade Partners UK banner.
These reports include: basic market information; identification and assessment of potential agents/distributors; customised local contact list; market assessments for the product or service; advice on market approach; information about potential local business contacts; and general information on local investment opportunities.


Trade Mission
Outward Trade Missions provide an extensive framework of both practical and financial help for UK businesses travelling abroad as part of a group to markets outside Western Europe to promote UK goods and services.
Benefits include; a travel grant; the full range of Trade Partners UK help and assistance; the opportunity to network with other mission members; local advance publicity; security and support of travelling in a group.
Trade Partners UK supports over 250 trade missions every year.

For further information contact Katy Keenan & Tara Hamilton-Hicks at Prowse & Co on 01372 363 386

Or

Contact Scott McLean at the Trade Partners UK Press Office on 020 7215 4800

Contact Footfall on 0121 711 4652 or visit www.footfall.com

Issued on behalf of Trade Partners UK by Prowse & Co

18 January 2002