For startups and small businesses, using Alibaba and sourcing companies is enough to import from China. Is it worth spending money on a trip to the Canton Fair? Let me tell you the answer.
The Canton Fair is the largest international trade fair in China, attracting about 150,000 buyers from 214 countries and regions. It is a trade fair that the whole world pays close attention to. Most participants at the Canton Fair are experienced importers who are generally:
Developing New Products
If you have stable products for sale and cooperative suppliers but are looking for new product inspiration, then the Canton Fair is the right place. You can see innovative designs in your category and various new products there.
New product launches have become a feature event of the Canton Fair. Chinese suppliers showcase their latest products and technologies to attract more buyers. Most of them update the product styles and appearances to show the diversity of their products, typically focusing on their most produced and best products. So, it’s very easy to find professional suppliers to customize or develop your product.
Looking for New Suppliers
At the Canton Fair, you can compare the quality and prices of various suppliers at the same time, making it much easier to find good and reliable suppliers than on Alibaba. Here, you can easily check how many your competitors are selling the same products, whether you’ve paid more money, and whether there are better suppliers. The competition among suppliers at the Canton Fair is very fierce. Suppliers at the fair often offer lower prices to attract buyers. They also provide big discounts to launch their new products.
Additionally, unlike suppliers in the Yiwu market with large MOQs, suppliers at the Canton Fair have more flexible MOQs and are better at producing small batches of products.
Having a Sufficient Budget
Whether you are a newcomer or an experienced importer, a visit to the Canton Fair is a great experience. However, for newcomers, especially those testing products or even unsure of what to sell, the Canton Fair is not a good choice. Without a clear product selection strategy, you might come to China and end up with nothing. Besides, you need to travel a long distance to China and pay for expensive airfare. So, at this stage, Alibaba is a more affordable and effective approach to wholesale a small bunch for market testing.
Meeting Old Suppliers
Many Chinese suppliers use the Canton Fair to meet old clients and develop new ones. Some buyers already have stable suppliers in China and might take this opportunity to meet with their old suppliers and learn about their new products. But this is usually not their main purpose. They tend to look for better suppliers, check their products, and negotiate lower prices.
The 135th Canton Fair is scheduled to be opened on April 15th, 2024:
- Phase 1: April 15th to 19th
- Phase 2: April 23rd to 27th
- Phase 3: May 1st to 5th
Exhibition venue:
Canton Fair Complex, Guangzhou. (No.382, Yuejiang Zhong Road, Guangzhou, China).
If you want to attend the Canton Fair, pay attention to making plans in advance. To learn more about the product categories and exhibition section layout, please check the official website of Canton Fair.
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Jingsourcing is a leading Chinese sourcing company that helps medium and small businesses import from China. If you come to China and encounter any problems, feel free to contact us at any time.
Very useful information. Thank you very much.
Very useful information, thanks for sharing with us all. Grateful
100% every seller on marketplace or independent business – should attend the Canton Fair for the experience , for learning and exploring. Nowadays so many information and we have to digest it and get the most from it.