The China-based agent that keeps you ahead of market trends

Towa has a message to global brands: if you want to capitalise on market trends with tackle produced by reliable Chinese suppliers, no one is better placed.

Why? Because of Towa’s deep and wide connections with the hundreds of factories in China that are among the first to be asked to react to new trends.

Owner Jack Sun (main image) has worked in the tackle industry for almost 30 years, first as the owner of a factory specialising in high-quality luggage and rods and, since 2018, as a sourcing agent. In that time, Towa has built connections with more than 200 tackle factories, both in Weihai and other major manufacturing centres including Ningbo and Guangzhou.

That on-the-ground intelligence means you have a service in China that not only knows the pulse of the industry, but can also source and combine producers to deliver new products that best suit your business objectives.

It is a service that gives you on-trend tackle produced to your market needs.

A great current example is the trend towards combo packages of ready-to-fish set-ups. Not just the classic rod and reel, but also pre-loaded line and even lures, luggage and, if it’s carp, appropriate terminal tackle.

The market is moving that way because of the growth in new entrants to angling. There is revenue to be made from these enthusiastic newcomers who want to get fishing quickly. But building these combos takes careful sourcing from multiple suppliers, plus the experience to bring everything together and finally package it as a branded end product.

Step forward Towa with its unique position in the trade.

Says Sun: “We are the market-trend agency thanks to our wide connections amongst factories in China. If it’s happening, we know about it and we know who is doing the work.

“Putting together the new-style combos is just the latest and best example of how we can move fast for customers who want to respond to trends while also arriving at bespoke solutions. Right now, we are finding different factories, often for specific elements of the combo, and we are finding others to combine those elements together and still more to create the shelf-ready branded and boxed end product.

“We feel we are the only agency that can do this well.”

It doesn’t happen overnight, says Sun. It comes from almost 30 years in the tackle industry and from Towa’s experience serving some of Europe’s biggest brands and wholesalers.

Its sourcing network is about more than simply having a long list of factories. Towa assesses potential suppliers according to their specialist expertise, service, delivery performance, quality and price before presenting the best options to a customer. Once manufacturing begins, Towa becomes the brand’s representative on the ground, visiting factories to oversee quality, schedules and communication.

That capability has traditionally been used to source medium to high-end tackle, but – in another nod to market trends – Towa is extending its service to deliver good-quality products at lower prices. It is also looking beyond its traditional European client base.

“We can serve global clients equally well,” says Sun. “In the past year we have received enquiries from the USA and Australia and we are set up to take on more. The Towa service is ideal for customers in all markets worldwide. All you have to do is talk to us about trends and your requirements and we will source what you need.”

With the CGC Show in Weihai on the horizon, Sun is keen to point out that Towa’s role does not end when the products leave the production line. Its end-to-end service extends through to logistics, an important advantage when a project such as a ready-to-fish combo may involve components sourced from several different factories.

Towa can consolidate orders from multiple suppliers into a single shipment, removing another layer of complexity for the customer. It has a member of its team dedicated exclusively to shipping and delivery, allowing the brand to deal with Towa rather than coordinating separately with factories and logistics providers.

It is the final link in a service that can begin with an idea or market trend and end with a finished, branded product arriving in the customer’s market.

Sun will be at Weihai and at China Fish 2027 in February and is welcoming enquiries for appointments.

“If you are seeking the best Chinese manufacturing solutions, come talk, wherever you are in the world. Angling is moving fast. We’ll keep you on trend.”

T: +86 1380 631 7775
jacksun@towa-outdoors.com