The Red Container

Visiting trading fairs in China is a must for any businessman who wants to discover new opportunities. However, Chinese culture is quite different, since to understand and get used to it you need time and money. Thinking about it, The Red Container introduces three tips which can help you during your sourcing visit:


1 – Take Notes

Any visitor will exchange business cards with suppliers, factories or service providers, nevertheless how can they keep track of who is each contact? The answer is simple “Bring a notepad with you”. During Canton Fair all Chinese salesman take notes for future reference and buyers should do the same in order to relate the products to the correct company. Writing your experience with the product and attaching the business card to a brochure or flyer can help you in entering in contact with the right person.



2 – Make it sure you know where to have your meals

Eating in China can be a challenge for two reasons, first the food may not taste as good as you are expecting and second most restaurants only have the menu available in Mandarin. Do not go to an event complex thinking you will find something which will fulfill your expectations. If you have any food restriction (like being a vegetarian) search first for a place where you can eat. Do not expect someone to tell you where to go, since the employees in the fair does not live in the area they are not able to suggest the correct place.




3 – Plan your Visit

When attending a fair it is important to have a plan and check in which part of the complex the products you are looking for are being exposed. Walking without a direction can be a waste of time even if you are in the correct hall. As an example, there is a home appliance hall in Canton Fair, though if you are looking for refrigerators you must go to a specific place. In case you already know a supplier and its products you should check the fair’s brochure which contains all the information regarding the products and the booth they are being exposed.