Tips for Going to Canton Fair 2013

The Canton Fair is an opportunity for Chinese suppliers and manufacturers to meet with international businesses looking to expand and grow their business cooperatively with Chinese partners. The Canton Fair is China’s oldest and largest trade fair and as such traditionally commands the respect and attendance of both Chinese and International businesses of the highest calibre. 170
Tips for Going to Canton Fair 2013 :
1. Go in with the right mindset. I put this first because it’s in many ways the most important. China has a very different culture to Australia. Expect to be surprised by the cultural etiquette, cuisine, and ways of doing business. Be prepared to be as open-minded as you possibly can, so you won’t be puzzled by the many unfamiliarity’s of Chinese culture, and be able to have the best time at the fair.
2. Ask questions. Depending on who you’re talking to, and your approach and demeanour, you can gain a lot of useful information by asking very direct questions. Some recommended examples: “What are the most popular products?”, “Do you have any clients in Australia? Who?”, “Who’s your biggest client?”, “How many containers do they order?”. And don’t be afraid to ask for exclusivity on a certain product or range.

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3. Bring LOTS of business cards. I’m talking at least 300 copies. This is because many suppliers will not give you a copy of their catalogue (or will be reluctant to) if you do not provide a card. But give cards only to those suppliers you are genuinely interested in doing business with, or you will be added to email databases you don’t want to be on. Spam alert!

4. Go direct to the manufacturers. There are many stands at the fair which are from trading companies, not manufacturing companies. Dealing directly with the manufacturers will get you a better price. Having a local Chinese contact can help connect you with local manufacturers to get the best deal possible.
5. Organise your brochures. You’ll be collecting hundreds of brochures and catalogues, so make sure you have some sort of reference system for them. For example, I drew a star on the front page of brochures from suppliers I wanted to meet again, and folded the corners on pages with the particular products we spoke about.

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As a leader in sustainable travel in China, HRC Travel Service is dedicated to offering low-impact tours that benefit traveller and host alike. We work with local communities, businesses and individuals to develop sustainable tourism opportunities that help local economies while minimizing negative environmental and cultural impacts. HRC provides tourists the services and itineraries which can help tourist to increase the understanding of China without leaving more footmarks behind; we advocate the theory of “Zero-Carbon” and try to do more things to benefit the locals during the trip. Like sponsoring orphans in Tibet with their study of Tibet traditional art “Thangka” during your trip in Shangri-la and paying a visit to those lovely Pandas in Sichuan; those trips can not only change the visitor’s life, but also can benefit the local lives. That’s why we always commit ourselves to provide “sustainable tourism” to visitors. In our “sustainable tourism”, we combine the trips with local economy, culture and environment protection. This is also the core value of HRC.