Pre-fair preparation
Turn your buying goals into a product priority list, a supplier meeting list and the questions each meeting has to answer.
Explore pre-fair preparationTRADE SHOW HUB / PLAN, MEET, FOLLOW UP
Canton Fair services.
Make the trip
count.
Prepare product priorities and supplier questions before the fair, organise the meetings that matter while you are there, and define the follow-up so the trip turns into confirmed orders.
Explore Canton Fair support
TRADE SHOW HUB
A trade fair works better with a plan and a follow-up.
The Canton Fair compresses hundreds of supplier conversations into a few days, which makes preparation and follow-up the deciding factors. Product priorities, the suppliers you need to meet and the questions each one has to answer should be agreed before arrival, and the post-show follow-up should be defined before you leave. Availability, assistance and on-site responsibilities are confirmed before the fair.
01 / CANTON FAIR SERVICE DIRECTORY
Choose your Canton Fair
support.
Select the preparation, meeting or follow-up task you need.
Supplier meeting planning
Identify which exhibitors are worth the time and organise the schedule around them.
Explore supplier meeting planningOn-site assistance
Support during the fair for communication, product comparison notes and the records you need afterwards.
Explore on-site assistancePost-fair follow-up
Convert notes into specific supplier questions, quotations and sample requests after the fair.
Explore post-fair follow-up02 / SELECT THE RIGHT SUPPORT
Prepare, meet
or follow up?
Each phase of the trip needs a different kind of preparation.
| Sourcing service | Best starting point | What to define |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-fair preparation | You are attending the fair but have not defined what success looks like. | Product priorities, target price, minimum order expectations and the questions each supplier must answer. |
| Supplier meeting planning | There are more exhibitors than there is time. | Which halls or categories to cover, which exhibitors to prioritise and how long each meeting needs. |
| On-site assistance | You need support recording and comparing what you see. | Who records the findings, what gets photographed and how product options are compared. |
| Post-fair follow-up | You leave with notes, samples and business cards but no next step. | Which suppliers get a follow-up, what is asked, and by when. |
Meeting assistance, communication support and follow-up are agreed tasks. Supplier performance and commercial outcomes always depend on the supplier and your own decisions.
03 / PRODUCT BRIEF CHECKLIST
A clearer sourcing brief
helps the supplier comparison.
Provide the requirements that change the buying decision.
Product & specification
Reference photos or links, materials, dimensions, functions and must-have features. Distinguish requirements from optional preferences.
Quantity & order plan
Planned quantity, sample needs and expected reorder pattern. Supplier minimums should be confirmed for the actual product.
Target market & packaging
Destination country, label and packaging needs, and any standards you need the supplier to address. Confirm specialised requirements with qualified professionals.
Budget & timing
Target budget, sample approval deadline and required order readiness. Separate product cost from sourcing support and freight.
04 / COMMON BUYING STARTING POINTS
Your buying model
changes the sourcing scope.
Choose the service around how the product will be found, purchased or developed.
You need agent-led buying coordination.
Use a Product Sourcing Agent when you need an agreed coordinator across supplier outreach, comparison, samples and approved procurement follow-up.
Explore product sourcing agent
You need a new supplier or manufacturer.
Use Supplier & Factory Sourcing to compare candidates against one defined product brief and supplier criteria.
Explore supplier & factory sourcing
You plan to buy through a wholesale market.
Use Wholesale Market Sourcing for product selection, supplier communication, order records and the collection plan.
Explore wholesale market sourcing
You need a customised or developed product.
Use OEM & ODM Sourcing to define technical requirements, samples, packaging and approval gates before production.
Explore OEM & ODM sourcing
05 / SAMPLE → ORDER → HANDOVER
Make procurement decisions
with delivery in mind.
Product sourcing does not end with a supplier quotation. Review sample approvals, final packing and supplier ready dates early enough to plan collection and consolidation. International freight should be quoted using the actual packed cargo and destination, not an unconfirmed product estimate.
Explore sourcing-to-delivery coordination06 / SOURCING KNOWLEDGE
Build a better buying brief.
Ask better supplier questions.
Learn the preparation basics, then use the service page for the task you need.
CHINA SOURCING
How to source products from China
Turn a product idea into a clearer sourcing brief. Review specification, quantity, samples and delivery planning before supplier outreach.
Explore the China sourcing guideCHINA SOURCING
How to verify Chinese suppliers
Prepare questions about supplier identity, quoted scope, sample approval and the evidence behind commercial claims.
Explore supplier verificationCHINA SOURCING
Shipping Guides
Connect purchasing decisions with packing, cargo dimensions, consolidation and the freight inquiry.
Explore shipping guidesGLOBAL BRANDS
Partnering with the best in the business
BLOG INSIGHTS
Shipping Insights & Practical Guides
07 / CANTON FAIR FAQ
Questions about
visiting the Canton Fair.
Find a clear starting answer, then confirm what applies to your product and buying stage.
What information do I need to request a freight quotation?
Share the product description, supplier pickup city, destination city or address, package count, packed dimensions, gross weight, cargo ready date and the delivery tasks you want included. Flag any figures that are still estimates.
Can I ask for a quote before the goods are packed?
Yes. Mark dimensions and weights as estimates and ask when the amount will be reconfirmed against final packed cargo.
Why do two freight quotations show different totals?
Compare cargo inputs, transport mode, charging unit, delivery boundary, assumptions, validity and exclusions.
Does a door-to-door price include every charge?
Only the items explicitly included in the written quotation. Confirm duties, taxes, inspections, storage and special handling separately.
Which is more suitable for my shipment: air or ocean freight?
Consider cargo size, urgency, route, acceptance requirements and the complete collection-to-delivery cost and timeline.
What is the difference between FCL and LCL?
FCL uses a container for one shipper’s cargo; LCL combines compatible shipments. Compare packed volume, handling and the full service scope.
LET’S PLAN YOUR NEXT STEP
From China.
To your next opportunity.
Tell us which products you are looking for, which fair session you plan to attend and what the follow-up should achieve. We will review a suitable support scope.
Start with your product brief and destination. We will review a suitable scope for your requirements.