This Christmas 2010, record retail sales and improved retail sales have occurred around the World. The American's have experiences retail sales growth of 4.8% up to 4.2% in prior year. Hong Kong has recorded record Christmas sales, with 20% contributed by mainland China.

How do these countries do it? We've been travelling around Hong Kong to view new promotional products and new marketing ideas and what does well. These are a couple of things we have certainly come across from a sales and marketing technique and promotional advertising strategy.

Hong Kong is one of the busiest and highly populated cities. People are littered onto the streets and shopping malls during both weekdays and weekends. With extreme traffic occuring during Weekends. In such a busy city. We're surprised to see how relaxed people actually are, when it comes to walking around popular shopping mall such as Langham Place where taking an escalator from the bottom ground floor to the top floors on level 7 can take up to 15mins travelling on the escalators alone.

Why we believe the people stay inside the shopping centres and spend big?

- Draw card attractions.

One thing Asians love is taking photos. Heaps of photos! Bring in large attractions such as Hello Kitty, (we love Hello Kitty!) and it draws in hundreds and thousands of shoppers daily from when the mall opens at 10.30am to 10:30pm at night 7 days a week! Young and old flock to take photos with their beloved idols and at the same time spend inside the mall. Other attractions included Russian acrobats were flow in to HK to perform in malls to attract Christmas shoppers.

- Music and Displays.

Its Christmas and the festive season, and yes, Christmas Carols and cheery songs are played throughout all hours of the day. The music and amazing display of Christmas decorations encourages shoppers into the Christmas and festive atmosphere. Music is soothing and not loud and heavy, the music in stores and in the centre matches the flow of Christmas. The displays are not only of a Christmas Tree with a couple of shiny balls, but amazing castles with glittering lighting displays and full human height toy soliders. With the Hello Kitty displays, its not just one Kitty, but many, with themes and glamour.

- Promotional Merchandises and In store Promotions

Buy 1 and get 10% off. Buy 2 and get 20% off. Buy 3 and get 30%. Spend up to HKD 1000 (approx AUD130) and receive free promotional merchandise such as a Promotional Toy Christmas Bear! Plus no exclusions. If you are buying a jacket, to get the free promotional item all you may need to do is to buy a pair of socks or underwear and you'd receive the free promotional gift or discount! Spend upto HKD 3000 and become a life time member of the store and receive ongoing promotions and sale offers and discounts.
These sales methods used instore work! Sales staff are well trained to greet customers and make mention of these promotions and offers as you walk into the store, walking around the store and as you pay for an item. Also, show off your promotional gifts you are offering, prominently! Displays are important! If your free promotional merchandise on offer are Promotional toys, display it around, and have signs letting customers what you have to offer!

- Free transportation

Not all malls may be easy to get to. One way to bring shoppers in, is to offer free shuttle bus service to and from the station and mall every 5 mins.

These are just a couple of marketing strategies we noticed in HK and HK has recorded record sales growth this year. In summary, know what your customer love and bring those attractions to them by bring the attraction into your space. Offer promotional merchandise and promotional gifts for free. The longer the time spent with you and your premise, the more they will spend!