You must attend the Canton Fair in China if you want to import high-quality handbags from China. It is the perfect place for importers like you to find the best quality products for your business personally.
Canton Fair is no joke. It is one of the world’s largest trade fairs, and the biggest one in China, also known as the China Import and Export Fair. You will find thousands of products displayed by Chinese manufacturers here.
The China Canton Fair dates back to 1957 when the first fair was established. It is held twice a year in beautiful Guangzhou, China, in spring and autumn. In 2024, it will be the 136th Canton Fair. The spring session was already held in April this year, and the autumn session will be in October.
It is estimated that more than 25000 companies exhibit their products and around 2,00,000 buyers attend this Fair each year, showing the extreme importance of Canton Fair in global trade.
So, if you are thinking of expanding your handbag business, especially the luxury leather handbags, there is no better place than the Canton Fair. With this, let’s guide you through the whole process of how you can attend the fair in China and what you need to know about it.
Introduction of Canton Fair
As discussed above, the Canton Fair is the biggest fair for both Chinese manufacturers and importers. It is hosted by two bodies, the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the People’s Government of Guangdong. For the importers who are coming to this fair for the first time, they need to learn a few things about this fair. We will let you know every step and additional tips to make your Canton experience worth it.
The first session of the Canton Fair is over, now registration is open for the 2nd session of the Canton Fair to be held in October.
Phases of Canton Fair
By phases of Canton Fair, means there are different dates (Phases) for different products and industries. This is really important information for first-time buyers since it will save them time to go to the right phase, So, that they can find all the relevant products and industries they are looking for.
Phase 1
According to the official site for Canton Fair information, Phase 1 is starting from October 15 to October 19, 2024. Here is the list of products exhibited in the Phase 1:
| Household Electrical Appliances | Consumer Electronics and Information Products
|
Electronic and Electrical Products |
| Lighting Equipment | New Energy Resources | New Materials and Chemical Products |
| Hardware | Tools | Machining Machinery and Equipment |
| Power and Electrical Equipment | General Machinery and Mechanical Parts | Industrial Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing |
| Construction Machinery | Agricultural Machinery | New Energy Vehicles and Smart Mobility |
| Motorcycles | Bicycles | Vehicle Spare Parts and Vehicles |
Phase 2
The Canton Fair Phase 2 starts from October 23- October 27, 2024. Here are the products you can get to see for Phase 2:
| Building and Decoration Materials | Sanitary and Bathroom Equipment | Kitchen and Tableware |
| Furniture | Daily-use Ceramics | Household Items |
| Clocks | Watches and Optical Instruments | Gifts and Premiums |
| Festival Products | Home Decorations | Art Ceramics |
| Glass Artware | Gardening Products | Woven products |
| Rattan and Iron Products | Iron and Stone Decorations | and Outdoor Spa Facilities |
Phase 3:
Phase 3 of the Canton Fair is going to be held from October 31 to November 4 and showcasing the following products:
| Personal Care Appliances | Bathroom Products | Medicines |
| Health Products and Medical Devices | Pet Products | Maternity and Baby Products |
| Toys | Children’s Clothing | Men’s and Women’s Clothing |
| Sportswear and Casual Wear | Underwear | Fur Related Products |
| Leather and Down-Related Products | Clothing Accessories and Fittings | Home Textiles |
| Textile Raw Materials and Fabrics | Carpets and Tapestries | Shoes |
| Office Supplies | Bags and Suitcases | Sports and Tourism Leisure Products |
| Food | Rural Revitalization. |
If you are looking to buy handbags, you should visit Phase 3 of Canton Fair as explained above. But again, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit the other phases of the Canton Fair. If you are in China on the dates of those phases, you should definitely pay a visit then.
Pre-Fair Preparations
First comes, if you have made a plan to visit the Canton Fair this time, you should hurry up and register yourself for the Canton Fair before it gets too late. Keep on reading to know how to register and verify yourself as an overseas buyer.
How to register for the Canton Fair as a buyer?
Registering for the Canton Fair is a simple process that costs you a few minutes of your valuable time.
- To register, go to the Canton Fair’s official website and click on the “Overseas Buyer”
- Then create your account here. For that, you have to provide some personal and business information.
- Next, you have to apply for the “Invitation letter” which also requires submitting several necessary documents including your passport details, business card, and some personal details.
- Once you have successfully applied for the Invitation letter, now wait for the approval. This will take a few days to a week. This Invitation letter is the main document you will require to apply for a business visa to China.
- After getting the Invitation letter through E-mail, the next step is to apply for the free buyer badge.
- Now go back to the Canton Fair website and fill out the pre-application form for the Buyer badge.
- Download and print the buyer badge receipt and take it with you to the Fair. Note that the buyer badge is the official pass to enter the Canton Fair and can be used for multiple sessions.
How to get the Buyer Badge for Canton Fair?
Please know this, the buyer badge can only be collected in person from the registration offices.
- For your convenience, multiple registration offices are set up in cooperation with hotels.
- Registration counters are also found at Baiyun International Airport: Terminal 1 ( Arrival Hall next to gate A9) and Terminal 2: International Arrival Hall Counter or Guangzhou Tourist Information Centre.
- You will also find the registration counter at Pazhou Ferry Terminal Guangzhou.
- And lastly, obviously, there are multiple registration counters at the Canton Fair venue: 2 overseas buyer registration offices at Area B OF Canton Fair Complex, 1 registration office at Area C, and 1 registration office at Area D.
Pro Tip: If you are going to visit the complex in Phase 1, you might find long queues in the registration offices located at the venue. So, it is best to collect your Buyer Badge from the hotels or Airport terminals. But if you are planning to visit the venue in the later phases, you probably won’t find lots of people at the registration counter, so you can easily collect it from the venue.
Visa and Travel Arrangements
When you get the Invitation letter, you should immediately apply for a visa. If you are not from the list of countries with visa-free policies, you must have a visa to enter China. To attend the Canton Fair, according to the Chinese embassy, you should apply for a Business “M” visa.
You can apply for the visa from multiple sources:
- Either you can go directly to the MFA official website and fill out COVA (China Online Visa Application).
- Or you can visit the Chinese Embassy in your country.
Moreover, you can also hire a Travel Agent to get assistance for your visa process as well as travel tickets.
Pro Tip:
Note this, the Chinese Business Visa takes a few days to approve, so don’t postpone your visa application to the next day and do it now. One more thing, you can always opt for a tourist visa for the Canton Fair, but the business visa is the more suitable option.
Other things to do before arriving in China
Whenever you travel to another country, you should plan out everything so that you can enjoy your stay in another place. Here is the list of things you should do before arriving in China:
- Plan out your budget from tickets and accommodations to transportation and food. A rough estimate of the money you will need to stay in China.
- Do research on affordable, near-to-the-venue hotels that have good reviews and negotiate on the pricing a bit.
- Take all your necessary medications and an emergency kit with you.
- Don’t over-pack, check the weather in Guangzhou in October and pack accordingly.
How to go to the Fair?
Now let’s talk about how you can reach Canton Fair both from your country and then from your hotel.
How to reach Guangzhou?
Once you get your visa in hand, you should book the round-trip flight from your city to Guangzhou. Look for cheap flights near the dates of the Canton Fair. But know this, although Guangzhou is a megacity with millions of population, there are fewer direct flights operated and are costly too. So, if you manage to budget out the flights, it is good to go directly to the city.
The alternative option is to book a flight to Hong Kong or Shenzhen. Talking about Shenzhen, you can reach Guangzhou either by bus or train. By bus, it will take you around 2 or 2 ½ hours, and by train, you can get to the city in 1 or 1 ½ hours.
The Hong Kong option requires you to travel to Hong Kong first since there are more frequent flights there and then stay a night there and next day travel towards Guangzhou either by ferry or by train.
Pro Tip:
You should find a relatively cheaper direct flight to Guangzhou instead of going to Hong Kong first and then traveling to the city. But, if you like to travel and want to explore things, Hong Kong is a great place for tourism. However, Hong Kong can cost you time and other border formalities while coming to Guangzhou.
How to reach the Canton Fair Venue?
The location of your hotel matters, so firstly look for a hotel near the Canton Fair venue. There are different hotels in Guangzhou city, so you might look for a recommendation from Booking.com. Most of the hotel rooms near the Canton Fair Complex start from $100 a night.
Here is the list of luxury hotels near the Fair:
| Hotel | Registration Office Availability | Distance from Canton Fair Complex |
| 1. Langham Place Guangzhou | Yes | Walking distance |
| 2. essay Residence | No | Walking Distance |
| 3. IHG Hotel | Yes | 2.2km with free shuttle service for Canton Fair |
| 4. Park Hyatt Guangzhou | Yes | 4.4km with free shuttle service for Canton Fair |
| 5. Four Seasons Hotel | Yes | 4.2 km with free shuttle service for Canton Fair |
If you are looking for some affordable choices, here is a list of cheaper hotels starting from $30 a night:
- Lavender Apartment Guangzhou
- Xinyuexin Hotel
- WAIFIDEN Apartment (with free shuttle service for Canton Fair)
- Instant Hotels
- South & North International Apartment (with free shuttle service and snacks for Canton Fair)
Pro Tip:
If you won’t get a hotel at reasonable prices near the Canton Fair Complex, look for the options of hotels providing free shuttle service.
If the free shuttle service is not available, you can choose public transportation, Metro, or taxi to reach the venue easily.
What is the location of the Canton Fair?
Canton Fair takes place in the China Import and Export Complex also known as Guangzhou International Convention & Exhibition Center or Canton Fair Complex.
The exact address is: 380, Yuejiang Zhong Lu Road. Hai Zhu. Guangzhou City, China.
How to Look for Handbags in Canton Fair?
The Canton Fair Complex is divided into three exhibition areas with Venue A & B on the north of Xingang Dong Road and Venue C on the South of the same road. Moreover:
- Venue A has 8 Exhibition halls (1-8)
- Venue B has 5 Exhibition halls (9-13)
- And Venue C has 3 Exhibition halls (14-16).
The China Import and Export Complex is a huge place covering over 1,100,000 sq. meters. This means you need to look for the particular bag section explained at the entrance. You can walk to the hall where the bags are exhibited while peeking at the stalls exhibited along the way.
How much does it cost to attend the Canton Fair as a buyer?
The cost of attending the Canton Fair depends on various things from tickets to accommodation and the duration of your stay. So, we can’t give an exact number.
But generally speaking, the average round-trip ticket costs you around $1200-$1500 if you travel directly to Guangzhou city. Your stay can charge you from $25-$100 per night. For food spare around $500 while transportation can cost you something in between $100.
However, these all are just rough calculations. When you start booking tickets and hotels for your stay, then you can estimate the exact cost of your trip.
Pro Tip:
Note this, there is absolutely no cost to register and get the buyer badge for the Canton Fair. But if you forget your badge or have misplaced it, you need to buy it again from the counter which will cost you around $30. Other than this, there are no entry fees to the Fair. And please be aware! If anyone asks you to pay, simply refuse them.
How to find the best suppliers in the Canton Fair?
Let’s get to the main task for which you are attending the fair, to find the suitable supplier and the products of your choice. When you enter the Exhibition Hall, you will first be overwhelmed by many stalls and options. It is not an easy job to cover all the suppliers in a short period, so time management is really important here.
For that, make a list of all the questions you want to ask from the suppliers such as:
- Let’s start with the basics. The first thing you should ask is their price per unit. Then, ask about the price with different quantities and add-ons.
- Then ask about the payment methods, this is also an important factor. Many Chinese suppliers work on Advance Cash while others ask you what suits you. Make sure to explain the payment method that works best for you.
- 3rd thing, ask about their minimum order quantity. At first, many manufacturers will say they only work on bulk orders. But if you think, the supplier is fitting under your criteria of the best supplier, try to negotiate with them here.
- Also, ask them if their MOQ is constant or different with different products.
- Lastly, you should ask about the shipping arrangements and if you can visit the factory to inspect the making of products there.
Manage your time smartly and don’t waste time over a single vendor. Move quickly with these main questions in mind, you should spend 3-5 mins on every stall evaluating the quality of the product. We know that finding a reliable supplier is not an easy task but asking questions to almost everyone will help you narrow down some options which makes it easier to choose from them.
Pro Tip:
In the Canton Fair, many stalls are run by trading companies, not the manufacturers. Trading companies keep their own margin, making the price quote a little higher. You need to be careful while selecting the supplier, make sure that you are dealing directly with the manufacturers. And one more thing, ask your supplier’s previous customers and contact them to learn about working with the supplier.
How to negotiate with the Chinese suppliers?
Once you have found the product and vendor of your choice, now is the time to negotiate. If this vendor is your final choice, make sure to properly negotiate until you both agree on some point. Take as much time as you want since this was the main reason for your trip. Here are some tips for negotiating a final quote:
- Most of the staff on the Canton Fair booths only know basic English which can make your communication a bit difficult. Since English is not their native language, you must hire an interpreter or a translator. To hire an interpreter, you can either search online or ask the organizers to arrange a translator for you. Before hiring the translator, ask some questions from him about his past experience and his knowledge of the export and import business.
- When you ask for the MOQ, do not hesitate to negotiate on the quote given. Because this is just the reference quote, not the final price. You can easily get a good price upon negotiating.
- After getting the final quote, ask them for the contract and agreement of the order. Add everything in the contract from the number of units, price, shipping cost, and payment method you have agreed on.
Post Fair Follow-ups
After coming back from the Fair, you shouldn’t just relax, here are the few things that you need to do before signing the contract:
1. Maintaining Contact with the Supplier
You must have the contact information of the supplier, contact them the very next day and ask about your order and also about the visit.
After negotiating, ask your supplier for the samples to take with you. All the reliable supplier agrees with giving the sample. Those who are not willing to give the sample, don’t simply work with them.
2. Visiting Factory
After the Fair, a visit to the factory is a must thing to do. But it only can happen, if you have built a good connection with the supplier. This visit will provide you with insights into how the factory operates, its production size, and its techniques.
3. Placing orders and managing Shipment
Next, you need to work on the shipment of your order. For that usually you have two different options. Either you can choose FOB (Freight On Board) which means your supplier is responsible for the safe shipment of your order on the ship or the other option is EXW (EX Works) which means your supplier is only responsible for the production of your products and a freight Forwarder will take your shipment responsibility onwards. Compare both the options of shipment method and evaluate what suits you both security and cost-wise.
4. Understand customs regulations and duties for shipping
Lastly, learn about the customs rules, and regulations of exporting from China. Like any other country, Chinese authorities also require some necessary documents for customs clearance such as lading bills, invoices, and packing lists.
For Tariffs and Duties, stay updated with any change in the policies between China and your country. Also, make sure to add the right HS codes for products for proper tariff classification.
5. Avoiding common shipment pitfalls
The most common mistake new sellers usually make is they don’t calculate or neglect the custom duty on their products. Please be aware that incomplete documents and unfulfillment of taxes can result in delayed delivery of your order. To avoid any shipment-related issues, make sure to check all the required documents for shipment, hire a reliable freight forwarder, or if your supplier has a good track record for FOB then go for it.
Additional Tips for Canton Fair:
To make your Canton Fair experience more pleasant, we have some tips for you:
- Before arriving in China, download the WeChat It works exactly like WhatsApp since WhatsApp doesn’t work here. You will need this app for everyday use. Most importantly, it will help you to connect with your Chinese suppliers.
- When you reach the Canton Fair, you can expect to receive large catalogs or samples or even gifts from the suppliers. So, you should come with a backpack or even a roller suitcase works.
- One more thing, you should also install a VPN if you wish to use WhatsApp or other apps that might not be available in China for communication.
- Also, wear comfortable shoes that can keep you going throughout the day because you will be walking a lot from one stall to another.
Final Words
The Canton Fair is one of the World’s largest Exhibition and trade fairs which welcomes thousands of overseas buyers each year. It is a go-to place to scale your business and find high-quality products at affordable prices.
If you are planning to visit the Canton Fair this year to buy handbags, you need to hurry up since it is going to be held in late October. The bags will be exhibited in phase 3 of the Canton Fair. So, you can book your tickets accordingly. The process of registering for the Canton Fair is pretty simple and is described in the above section of this article.
Make sure to pack properly, take lots of business cards with you, inspect and check the supplier’s documents, and arrange proper shipment.
If you are looking for high-quality leather handbags, we recommend you check out Mherder. You can find all sorts of leather handbags, from wallets and tote bags to handbags and purses, here. They are a reliable manufacturer with more than 18 years of experience in the leather industry. You can visit their booth and get a quote to see if they meet your criteria.
We hope you get the best handbag deal and enjoy your trip to China.
