Spring 2015 Canton Fair

[1step]

Here's your solution

 

[brandonrush]

What will you do there?
What are the different phases for?

www.cantonfair.net

Phase 1 (April 15-19, 2015)
Electronics & Household Electrical Appliances
Lighting Equipment | Vehicles & Spare Parts
Machinery | Hardware & Tools
Energy Resources | Chemical Products
Building Materials | International Pavilion
Phase 2 (April 23-27, 2015)
Consumer Goods | Home Decorations | Gifts
Phase 3 (May 1- 5, 2015)
Office Supplies, Cases & Bags, and Recreation Products
Food | Medicines, Medical Devices and Health Products
Textiles & Garments | Shoes | International Pavilion

 

[1step]

I plan on going, I was there for phases 2 and 3 last year, its a good time. Phase 2 is huge you might need the entire time

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[1step]

ever set extra time to actually do supplier visits maybe for items you are importing already?

I plan to this time. Last year I wasn't importing anything yet so I didn't have any one to visit at the time. I plan to spend a month or so in China between April and May. I am hoping to go to some smaller niche trade shows while there. Canton is expensive for vendors so many manufacturers skip it. A lot of the companies that go are trading companies.

 

[Mark396]

I'll be there for Phase 2 and a couple of days of Phase 3.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[putinwork]

I'm going to Phase 2/3. Went in October and it was just insane. The amount of walking you will do will literally kill your feet and knees.

Be prepared with the best footwear you can buy!

 

[Paul Gallo]

I'm in. Going for phase 2 and 3. Would be great to meet while there

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Paul Gallo]

Eservice tool was taking entirely too long so I just applied for a tourist visa. I don't plan on actually "conducting business" while in China, only meeting suppliers at Canton. I actually received my visa yesterday after sending the application off with www.rushmytravelvisa.com a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks. I just heard back from eservice and received my buyers badge and invitation letter - will be able to go to the Chinese consulate next week and apply for the visa. They say it should take 3 days to secure the visa, so should be good to go.

 

[putinwork]

Hi All,

As Canton Fair starts today, I just wanted to touch base & see if you are in China or planning to attend the Canton Fair? Our office is just 20 minutes away from the Canton Fair venue and in case you are in China, we would absolutely love to invite you to our office and see if we can be of any value to you.

Thanks,
Elizabeth

Hi Elizabeth,

I'll be going to some HK Fairs & Canton Fair, would love to drop by and see how your services can help us scale. Which would be better to visit, the China office or HK?

Feel free to PM if needed.

 

[Hong King Kong]

@Elizabeth Shi @Hong King Kong @Walter Hay

I'm about to book a trip to China but I don't know what kind of Visa to apply to...

The correct one would be the business visa, but they ask for invitation letters with detailed plan, and I plan on visiting many suppliers...

I could get the tourist visa, but probably not that safe to be doing business with it

Help appreciated

Hey sorry bud I got no experience in getting VISAs for China,

I was born in Hong Kong so I got this "return home pass" where I can just go in and out of China.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[brandonrush]

http://www.cantonfair.net/

Who's going?
What phases are you attending?
Where are you staying?
What dates are you arriving/departing?

I'm planning phase 2 and phase 3 and an arrival of April 23rd - departure May 3rd.

Anyone else attending?

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[brandonrush]

Just booked flight/hotel arrangements. Flight lands April 23rd in Hong Kong and leaves May 4th. This should give me a few days in both Phase 2 and Phase 3.

If anyone is planning on attending, message me on here so we can exchange contact information to possibly meet up.

 

[brandonrush]

I plan on going, I was there for phases 2 and 3 last year, its a good time. Phase 2 is huge you might need the entire time

I plan on attending all days of Phase 2 and two days of Phase 3 since most of Phase 3 isn't relevant to my business currently. Maybe we can meet up while we're there. I'll message you when the time gets closer.

 

[saigon]

Was planning on going in October but may move it up to this Spring iteration. Was originally thinking Phase 1 but may just do Phase 2 and 3. Have you guys (@1step i know you documented your time last year) ever set extra time to actually do supplier visits maybe for items you are importing already?

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Davo]

Planning on going there for Phase 2. Also interested in Phase 3 but not sure yet

 

[AgainstAllOdds]

I really want to go to Phase 2 and 3. Do you guys already have plane tickets and hotel reservations?

 

[brandonrush]

I might go to Phase 2. Can we get tickets 2/3 weeks before ?

Plane tickets and hotel might be hard to come by that close to the fair, but it's doable. You will probably just end up paying a higher price or staying further away. You can get an entry pass in to Canton extremely close to the even so that shouldn't be an issue.

 

[1step]

I know you aren't from the us but you also probably need to think about entry into the country. We are required a visa which can be done that quick maybe same for you but definitely need to check it out

 

[putinwork]

Problem identified. Problem solved:

Hahaha, that's for OUTSIDE, not inside

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[saigon]

Just sent off docs and passport for my Visa! I'll be there April 16th to May 8th. Look forward to meeting up with some of you guys there. We should round up each other's information to meet up while there.

 

[brandonrush]

anyone use the eservice tool to get their invitation letter? Or did you just apply for the visa?

Eservice tool was taking entirely too long so I just applied for a tourist visa. I don't plan on actually "conducting business" while in China, only meeting suppliers at Canton. I actually received my visa yesterday after sending the application off with www.rushmytravelvisa.com a couple of weeks ago.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[ddzc]

For anyone that's ever been, did you benefit immensely by going to the Canton Fair? Have you ever found any gems who DON'T advertise on alibaba, madeinchina, hktdc, etc etc all the online portals? I feel anyone at the fair can be found online, but I may be wrong, hence my curiosity here. If this was in June, I would have probably went.

 

[Elizabeth Shi]

Hi All,

As Canton Fair starts today, I just wanted to touch base & see if you are in China or planning to attend the Canton Fair? Our office is just 20 minutes away from the Canton Fair venue and in case you are in China, we would absolutely love to invite you to our office and see if we can be of any value to you.

Thanks,
Elizabeth

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Elizabeth Shi]

Hi @putinwork ,

Great to know you'll be visiting Canton Fair. You are more than welcome to visit. Our Head Office is in Guangzhou, let me know your plans so I can arrange accordingly.

 

[Elizabeth Shi]

Hi Guys,

For everyone visiting Phase 2, don't forget your umbrellas, its raining pretty heavily here.

@1step Looking forward to seeing you on Wed & hopefully @putinwork as well.

For anyone else visiting the fair, if you need advice for your time here in Guangzhou, feel free to ask here or drop me a PM (Nightlife, restaurants, anything goes). Ash has also written a new blog post today which is very relevant for those going to the fair, i.e. 5 Tips to Differentiate traders from manufacturers at China Sourcing Fairs . Hope it comes in handy.

Cheers
Liz

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Phones]

@Elizabeth Shi @Hong King Kong @Walter Hay

I'm about to book a trip to China but I don't know what kind of Visa to apply to...

The correct one would be the business visa, but they ask for invitation letters with detailed plan, and I plan on visiting many suppliers...

I could get the tourist visa, but probably not that safe to be doing business with it

Help appreciated

 

[Elizabeth Shi]

Hi @Phones ,

You can get the invitation letter from the official canton fair organizer when you register online via their portal. A single entry business visa is perfect for visiting the fair - basically this means that you can enter into the mainland China from HK once , but if you are planning to attend other fairs in HK or go to HK then back to GZ again then a multiple entry visa is needed.

 

Dislike ads? Remove them and support the forum: Subscribe to Fastlane Insiders.

[Walter Hay]

@Elizabeth Shi @Hong King Kong @Walter Hay

I'm about to book a trip to China but I don't know what kind of Visa to apply to...

The correct one would be the business visa, but they ask for invitation letters with detailed plan, and I plan on visiting many suppliers...

I could get the tourist visa, but probably not that safe to be doing business with it

Help appreciated

Elizabeth Shi is correct legally, but I can tell you that I have never obtained a business visa for my trips to China. The number of stamps in my passport has never raised eyebrows.

Seeing that you are not planning to visit the Canton Fair in October, if you want to obtain a business visa you will need to obtain those invitations from businesses you intend visiting. You will need to prepare an itinerary as well, and that is the part that always deterred me from applying for a business visa.

You may need to make last minute changes, and you may underestimate the time needed in each location. Without a fixed itinerary I was always free to make those changes. If I had made an appointment that I could not keep on a certain day because I was following up a valuable lead in another city, I could just call the supplier.

I suggest that before going, you have a look at my AMA post TRAVELING TO CHINA TO VISIT FACTORIES Sharing my lifetime experience in export/import. Product sourcing specialist.

 

[biophase]

Elizabeth Shi is correct legally, but I can tell you that I have never obtained a business visa for my trips to China. The number of stamps in my passport has never raised eyebrows.

Seeing that you are not planning to visit the Canton Fair in October, if you want to obtain a business visa you will need to obtain those invitations from businesses you intend visiting. You will need to prepare an itinerary as well, and that is the part that always deterred me from applying for a business visa.

You may need to make last minute changes, and you may underestimate the time needed in each location. Without a fixed itinerary I was always free to make those changes. If I had made an appointment that I could not keep on a certain day because I was following up a valuable lead in another city, I could just call the supplier.

I suggest that before going, you have a look at my AMA post TRAVELING TO CHINA TO VISIT FACTORIES Sharing my lifetime experience in export/import. Product sourcing specialist.

I just got a business visa for China and it was relatively simple. I had one of my factories write me an invitation letter. I don't think I supplied any itinerary other than my arrival and departure dates. The business visa is good for 10 years so I won't need to apply for another for a long time. I don't know if it's the same with a personal visa?

 

[Walter Hay]

I just got a business visa for China and it was relatively simple. I had one of my factories write me an invitation letter. I don't think I supplied any itinerary other than my arrival and departure dates. The business visa is good for 10 years so I won't need to apply for another for a long time. I don't know if it's the same with a personal visa?

Thanks for that. It has certainly been simplified lately.