Yiwu goods ride the wave of sports fever

Sports event-related products fill the shelves in a store in the Yiwu International Trade Market. [Photo/Yiwu Media Convergence Center]

This summer, the fervor for sports events has soared as the Jiangsu Football City League and the Zhejiang Provincial City Basketball League — also known as "ZheBA" — have ignited wide enthusiasm, with sold-out tickets and a surge in demand for event-related merchandise.

As the supplier for national and even global sports events, Yiwu, a county-level city in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, provides everything from team jerseys and scarves to cheer sticks, horns, banners, and promotional giveaways.

"Orders flood in as soon as an event kicks off," said a representative from the Yiwu Sporting Goods Association. "Our supply chain excels at rapid design-to-delivery responses."

At Shuaite Toy Shop in Yiwu International Trade Market, clerk Guo Huipeng noted booming sales of glow sticks and headbands for sports events and concerts. Zhang Rui at the Hengshun Balloon Shop highlighted trending products like glitter-filled balls, which can be sold in dozens daily for sports games.

The opener of ZheBA's Jinhua Division between Dongyang and Yiwu on July 13 showed more than just athletic prowess. Hundreds of plush toys from Yiwu International Trade Market were distributed to fans.

These toys and other cheering aids enhanced spectators' experience while spotlighting Yiwu's distinctive commodities in the sports event.