Canton Fair Booth Checklist: 20 Questions to Ask Suppliers Before You Order
Short answer
At a Canton Fair booth you have a few minutes to qualify a supplier. Ask whether they are the factory or a trading company and where the factory is, what the MOQ and lead time are for your exact spec, which certificates and test reports they hold for your market, what their monthly capacity is, how samples are charged, and what payment terms they accept. Photograph the product, the price sheet and the business card, then verify the company after the fair.
Key takeaways
- ✓Your goal at the booth is a shortlist, not a deal.
- ✓Ask the same questions at every booth so answers are comparable.
- ✓Factory or trader is the first question, not the last.
- ✓Verify everything you heard before paying a deposit.
The 20 questions
Who are they?
- Are you the manufacturer or a trading company?
- Where is your factory, and can we visit or do a video audit?
- How many years have you made this product?
- Which markets do you export to most? Any GCC customers?
Can they make your product?
- Can you make this exact specification (materials, size, finish)?
- What is the MOQ per colour, size and design?
- What is the production lead time after sample approval?
- What is your monthly capacity for this product?
- Do you have existing designs we can customise to lower the MOQ?
Quality and compliance
- Which certificates and lab test reports do you have for this product?
- Can you supply documents for UAE or Saudi conformity (for example ECAS or SABER) if needed?
- What quality checks do you run during and after production?
- Do you accept third-party inspection before shipment?
Commercial terms
- What does a sample cost, and is it refunded on order?
- What are the price breaks at different quantities?
- Which Incoterm is the price (EXW, FOB, CIF)?
- What payment terms do you accept (for example 30 percent deposit, 70 percent after inspection)?
- Who owns moulds or tooling if we pay for them?
- How do you handle defects found after delivery?
- Who will be my contact, and how fast do you reply?
Want your product made, inspected and delivered without the risk?
Husbar China Line verifies factories, negotiates for you, arranges on-site inspection before you pay the balance, and manages freight to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Request a China Line consultationRed flags at the booth
- Prices far below every other booth for the same spec.
- Vague answers about the factory location or refusal of a video audit.
- Every product category under the sun on one stand (often a trader).
- Pressure to pay a deposit at the fair.
- Certificates that do not match the company name or product.
After the fair
Within a week, send each shortlisted supplier the same written request for quotation, verify business licences (see how to verify a Chinese supplier), and order samples. If you would rather have this done for you, our China Line team runs post-fair verification and sampling. request a china line consultation.
What should I bring to Canton Fair?+
Your buyer badge registration, business cards, written product specs with target prices and quantities, and a way to record booth notes and photos.
How do I know if a supplier at Canton Fair is a factory?+
Ask directly, check the business licence scope for manufacturing, and confirm the factory address with a visit or video audit.
Should I pay a deposit at the fair?+
No. Shortlist at the fair, then verify, sample and agree a contract before paying any deposit.
Can someone attend Canton Fair for me?+
Yes. Husbar's China Line team can attend, shortlist suppliers and follow up on your behalf.
Sources
- China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) official website, cantonfair.org.cn.
- Husbar China Line supplier verification process.
Team Husbar
Husbar Editorial
Team Husbar is the strategy, psychology and research team at Husbar, a psychology-led growth agency headquartered in Dubai. Together we have worked with 100+ brands over 10+ years.
Want your product made, inspected and delivered without the risk?
Husbar China Line verifies factories, negotiates for you, arranges on-site inspection before you pay the balance, and manages freight to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Request a China Line consultation
