Canton Fair 101: A First-Time Buyer's Checklist
How to prepare for the Canton Fair: badge registration, shortlisting booths, sampling on site and following up without losing deals.
The Canton Fair (China Import and Export Fair, Guangzhou) remains the fastest way to meet dozens of qualified suppliers in days. Walk in unprepared, however, and you will leave with a bag of catalogues and no decisions.
Before the fair
- Register for your badge online weeks in advance
- Shortlist 30-60 booths by product zone; the official exhibitor list is searchable
- Book hotels near Pazhou early — prices triple during Phase 1
- Prepare a one-page RFQ template with target specs and quantities
At the fair
Ask every booth the same five questions: factory or trading company? Main export markets? MOQ and lead time for your target model? Which certifications do they hold? Who owns the tooling?
Photograph business cards and note details on the spot — everything blends together after 50 booths.
After the fair
Follow up within one week while memory is fresh. Rank suppliers A/B/C, request samples from the top tier, and give every serious candidate the same detailed RFQ so quotes are comparable.
Need a sourcing partner on the ground? MySelects works with buyers before, during and after the fair — from shortlist preparation to sample consolidation in Ningbo.