VIDEO VERSION
EPISODE 143 AWESOMERS.com Podcast for Entrepreneurs, Creators, Thinkers, Geeks and those who aspire to become just like them.
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China Travel And Sourcing China Tips To Make Your Trip Easier
PODCAST SHOW NOTES
You can find sourcing opportunities no matter where you go in China. It's about your attitude and your own responsbilities to make good decisions AND to participate in the development process.
The Canton Fair has massive scale and opportunities. Here are some tips:
TOP 6 Canton Fair Tips
1) Make sure you know which phase is relevant to your business or product sourcing requirements! Don't plan your trip until you know the dates for each phase.
The three phases are very different:
Phase 1: Electronics & Household Electrical Appliances, Lighting Equipment, Vehicles & Spare Parts, Machinery, Hardware & Tools, Energy + Resources, Chemical Products, Building Materials, International Pavilion
Phase 2: Consumer Goods, Gifts, Home Decorations
Phase 3: Office Supplies, Cases & Bags, and Recreation Products, Medical Devices and Health Products, Food, Shoes, Textiles & Garments, International Pavilion
2) Register Online Ahead of time and don't ever lose your badge. The process, even online, is a pain, but it sure beats waiting in long lines at the fair. If you value your time you will heed my advice.
3) Your attire will define you so dress the part. If you don't have a fortune 500 business card or a long established history of trading in China the factories will often decide who they should work the hardest to "earn" the business based on the impression you make. In a face culture how you dress can make a difference.
4) We use evernote with photos to capute event details so we can refer back and share as well. Capture all of your photos, business cards, product photos, catalog photos, selfies with the sales person and the boss on one Evernote that is specific to that single visit. It's free and it's easy to share.
5) Negotiating is a normal part of the buying process. Don't forget to qualify the source so you know who you are buying from. If you don't feel comfortable negotiating then learn how to live outside your comfort zone. Don't over negotiate the price without clear specifications or you will find the factory will engineer the product quality down without you noticing it just to say yes to your price. That never works in the long run.
6) Bring a bag or backpack if you want to collect the product catalogs or other information. There are opportunities to get catalogs, cards, sometimes even samples, or other little takeaways and a backpack is the easiest. Especially if you take the subway back and forth to the show. Although the success of your mission shouldn't be the gross weight of what your brought back it can be helpful to have good reference materials later. Also note that in an ironic twist the catalogs are often superior to the factory websites for product selection. This is due in part to the factories not wanting their competition to see all of their products. So it's time to go old school.
FINAL THOUGHTS: