How to Identify a Reliable Supplier at the 139th Canton Fair?

The Canton Fair continues to set new records. According to the official organizer of the Canton Fair, nearly 289,000 people from 219 countries attended in 2025. 736 companies from 50 countries showcased innovative finished products and high-quality household goods within the international pavilion. This reinforces the Canton Fair’s importance as a global sourcing hub for discovering new products and connecting with trusted suppliers.

The 139th Canton Fair in Guangzhou will run in three phases from April 15 to May 5, 2026. If you're asking yourself, "How to Identify a Reliable Supplier at the 139th Canton Fair?", having a strategic approach is essential.

Based on our 20+ years of sourcing experience at the Canton Fair, we have compiled this comprehensive guide to help you identify reliable suppliers. Follow these steps to ensure you connect with trustworthy partners:

• Make a Full Preparation

• Evaluate a Supplier On-site

• Follow Up and Thoroughly Verify the Supplier

Let's dive in.

What is the Canton Fair? And Why is it Worth Visiting?

You might ask why the Canton Fair is important. The Canton Fair began in 1957. It is now one of the largest trade shows in the world. The fair helps businesses from everywhere meet and work together. It also helps small companies grow bigger. The Canton Fair made China a big part of world trade. It keeps changing to fit what the market needs.

As one of the largest and most influential trade shows in the world. Here are four points that express why the Canton Fair is worth visiting.

1. Huge Variety in One Place: You can see more than 20,000 sellers from 16 big industries. If you want electronics, clothes, or home items, you will find them here. You can compare many products and find new ideas easily.

2. Direct Supplier Access: Meeting suppliers in person gives you a big benefit. You can talk with people from the factories. You can ask questions and make deals right away. Meeting face-to-face helps you see if they are professional and honest.

3. Discover New Trends: The primary reason for 92% of attendees to visit a trade show is to explore new and exciting products and services. And many buyers say this fair is the best place to find new suppliers and items.

4. Better Deals & Networking: You can get better prices and deals by meeting suppliers in person. The fair also helps with things like signing up, translation, and shipping. Meeting other buyers and experts can help you make new business friends.

Before Going to the Canton Fair: How to Make a Full Preparation

Getting ready for the Canton Fair means more than booking travel. At large trade shows like the Canton Fair, buyers are surrounded by thousands of vendors offering a wide range of products. Without a clear plan, it's easy to get overwhelmed, miss key details, or waste valuable time.

You need a plan to find good suppliers and products. Identifying a reliable supplier at the 139th Canton Fair starts with clear goals and smart research.

Define Your Product Criteria and Screening Questions

A clear product needs sheet ensures suppliers understand exactly what you want, from size and materials to certifications and packaging. Smart questions help you quickly assess whether a supplier is reliable, compliant, and capable of meeting your long-term business goals.

Clarify Product Needs

Begin by listing what you want to buy. Make a sheet for each product you need. Write details like size, color, material, packaging, and safety rules. This keeps you focused when talking to suppliers. You can show these sheets to suppliers to check if they fit your needs.

Make Good Questions

You need smart questions to find good suppliers. These questions help you spot problems early. Use a table to keep track of your questions and reasons.

More Questions

• Company & Capabilities

• Are you a manufacturer or a trading company?

• What is your monthly production capacity?

• Which countries are your main export markets?

• Quality & Compliance

• Can you provide quality certificates or test reports?

• What is your quality control process?

• Have you previously supplied retailers in the U.S. or EU?

• Pricing & Order Terms

• What is your standard MOQ, and can it be adjusted for new buyers?

• What is your typical lead time for production and delivery?

• Do you offer tiered pricing for larger order volumes?

• Customization & Services

• Do you provide OEM or ODM services?

• Can you manufacture products according to my designs or packaging requirements?

• Do you support third-party inspections for quality verification?

Research for a Potential Supplier Shortlist

Making a list of your potential vendors is important. This approach helps you quickly identify trustworthy partners and make informed sourcing decisions. You can finish it by following these four steps.

1. Use the Canton Fair Directory: The Canton Fair App is a great tool. You can search for suppliers by product category, hall location, and booth number. Make a list of 10–15 suppliers that match your needs.

2. Check Supplier Ability: Find suppliers who can handle your order size. Ask about how much they make each month and how fast they deliver. If you want custom products, see if they offer OEM or ODM.

3. Look at Certifications: Always check for certifications like ISO 9001, CE, or RoHS. These show the supplier meets world standards. You can also vet if they passed audits like BSCI.

4. Check Online Reputation: Visit the supplier's website and social media. Look for customer reviews, company news, and product updates. A strong online presence means the supplier is serious.

At the Canton Fair: How to Evaluate a Supplier On-site?

After you have thoroughly prepared everything necessary for your visit to the fair, you will then be ready to go. However, it is important to remember that there are still some essential skills you need to learn. These skills will assist you in evaluating various types of suppliers while you are on-site at the fair. Understanding how to assess their offerings and capabilities will enhance your experience and ensure that you can make informed decisions during your time there.

Assess Booth Presentation and Professionalism

First, look at the booth. A good supplier keeps their booth clean and tidy. Their products are set up neatly. You will see their company name and logo clearly. The staff should smile and say hello. Ask how long they have been in business. Also, ask about the size of their usual orders. Suppliers with more years and bigger orders are often more trustworthy.

Here are some key signs to help you spot.

1. Years in Business: More years mean more trust.

2. Average Order Sizes: Bigger orders show the supplier is strong.

3. Product Samples: No samples, more scams.

4. Certifications: CE, UL, SGS, or other safety marks.

5. Communication Quality: See if they answer your questions fast and clearly.

Remember to ask for business licenses and export papers. Also, check for product certifications. These papers show the supplier is real and follows safety rules.

Inspect Product Samples Carefully

Always look at product samples. Hold them and check for any problems. Ask how they make sure products are good. Good suppliers will be happy to show their samples. They will tell you how they keep quality high.

Here are three points to check:

1. Quality Check: Evaluate product finish, durability, packaging, and materials to ensure they meet your standards. For example, the packaging should follow the EPR, REACH, FCM, and other standards when importing from China to the EU.

2. Consistency: Review multiple samples of the same item to identify variations or defects. If even sample consistency cannot be met, please cancel the cooperation immediately.

3. Innovation: Look for unique designs, customizable or private label options, and product features that provide a competitive advantage. Such as electronic toys and home decor.

Observe Responsiveness and Communication

Watch how the supplier talks to you. Good suppliers listen and answer clearly. They smile and ask about your business. Some use tablets or brochures to show more. They may give you catalogs or cards to take home.

Here is a checklist to help you:

• Do they say hello and talk with you?

• Do they answer your questions fast?

• Do they show you samples or demos?

• Do they give clear facts about their products?

• Do they give you things to look at later?

EJET 3-Layer Supplier Filtering Framework

Based on our experience, we find:

• 30–40% of suppliers at the Canton Fair are trading companies rather than manufacturers.

• Only about 50–60% of shortlisted suppliers pass post-fair document verification.

• Trial orders help identify quality inconsistency in roughly 1 out of 4 cases.

So, to better identify the reliable suppliers, we make the 3-Layer Supplier Filtering Framework.

Layer 1: Compliance Gate

Fail = eliminated immediately, no price discussion

Elimination Reference: Based on our Canton Fair sourcing projects, approximately 25–35% of suppliers are filtered out at this stage due to basic compliance issues.

Layer 2: Capability Validation

Only suppliers who pass this stage are worth further engagement

Elimination Reference: An additional 20–30% of suppliers typically fail at this stage, most commonly due to overstated production capacity.

Layer 3: Commercial Testing

Pricing is evaluated only after technical and operational validation

In practice, this three-layer filtering approach helps professional buyers narrow dozens of Canton Fair suppliers down to only 2–3 qualified candidates per product category, significantly reducing sourcing risk.

After the Canton Fair: How to Follow Up and Thoroughly Verify the Supplier?

Organize and Prioritize Contacts

You just finished the Canton Fair and now have a stack of business cards, brochures, and notes. What should you do next? Start by sorting your contacts. You want to make sure you focus on the suppliers who fit your needs best.

Here's a simple way to organize and prioritize:

1. Plan ahead: Review your notes and highlight suppliers who offer the products and services you want.

2. Take notes: Use a notebook or an app to record details from each booth. Write down product features, prices, and any promises made.

3. Use a spreadsheet: Create columns for supplier names, contact info, product details, and certifications. This helps you compare suppliers side by side.

4. Follow up: Reach out to your top choices. Ask for more information and discuss your requirements.

5. Evaluate your findings: Compare quotes, delivery times, and supplier reputations. This helps you make smart decisions.

Tip: Staying organized saves you time and helps you spot the best suppliers quickly.

Request Documentation and Samples

Now that you have a shortlist, it's time to dig deeper. Ask each supplier for important documents. You want to see business licenses, export certificates, and product certifications. These papers show the supplier is real and follows the rules.

Don't forget to request product samples. Hold the sample in your hand. Check the quality, packaging, and safety marks. If the sample matches what you saw at the fair, that's a good sign. If not, ask questions. Reliable suppliers will send samples fast and answer your questions clearly.

Note: Suppliers who share documents and samples quickly are usually more trustworthy.

Conduct Background Checks Again

You've seen the supplier at the fair, but you still need to check their background. This step helps you avoid surprises later. Try these steps:

• Figure out if the supplier is a manufacturer, trading company, or wholesaler. Manufacturers often give better prices and know their products well.

• Look at their product lines. Make sure they offer items that match your needs. Consistent product offerings show they know their business.

• Check where the supplier is located in China. Suppliers in industrial clusters often have better prices and more experience.

• Don't worry too much about export licenses. Some small suppliers may not have them, but that doesn't always mean they're unreliable.

As a professtional China sourcing agent, EJET Procurement can help you with these checks. We know how to spot red flags and confirm supplier details, making your sourcing journey smoother.

Arrange Factory Audits or Third-Party Inspections

After the Canton Fair, you need to check if your supplier is trustworthy. One good way is to set up a factory audit or hire a third-party inspection team. These steps help you learn what happens inside the factory.

Here's why audits and inspections are important:

• They show if the supplier is real and not just a middleman.

• Audits check if the factory can make your order size.

• Inspectors look for safety and quality rules.

• You see if the supplier follows standards like ISO or BSCI.

• Third-party checks can find problems before you pay or ship.

Ask your supplier for their latest audit reports. Look for certifications like ISO, BSCI, or SEDEX. If the supplier does not want to share, that is a warning sign. You can also hire an inspection company to visit the factory. They will check the machines, storage, and working areas. This step helps you avoid problems and keeps your business safe.

Test Communication and Reliability

Good suppliers do more than make products. They talk clearly and keep their promises. When you contact them after the fair, watch how they reply.

Reliable suppliers act in these ways:

• They answer your questions fast and clearly.

• They send documents or samples when you ask.

• Their prices match what you talked about at the fair.

If replies are slow or answers are unclear, you may want to choose another supplier. Keep notes of your talks. This helps you notice changes or delays. You want a supplier who treats you like a partner.

Start with a Trial Order

You checked papers, looked at the factory, and tested talking. Now, place a small trial order. This lets you see how the supplier works in real life.

A trial order has many good points:

• You check product quality before buying a lot.

• You keep your money risk low.

• You see how the supplier handles shipping and paperwork.

• You test if they are honest and open.

Sometimes, trial orders show problems you did not see before. Maybe the product is not right, or shipping is slow. That is why starting small is smart. If things go well, you can order more next time.

Final Words

You want to find reliable suppliers at the Canton Fair. Start with research, ask smart questions, and check certifications. Then vet their certification on site. Last follow-up and thoroughly verify.

Dealing with these complex things may make you overwhelmed. But EJET Procurement is here. If you work with us, you get expert support, better deals, and peace of mind.

FAQ

Q1: How to know if a supplier is reliable?

Reliable suppliers answer key questions about company type, production capacity, markets, certifications, and MOQ openly. Organized displays, clear branding, friendly staff, and requested samples and documents. Quick, honest communication and willingness to allow factory visits indicate trustworthiness.

Q2: How to verify a supplier?

Verify suppliers by checking business licenses, export certificates, and product certifications like ISO, CE, or RoHS. Research online presence and customer reviews. Conduct factory visits or hire third-party inspections, review audit reports, and start with a small trial order to test reliability.

Q3: How to plan for the Canton Fair?

Download floor plans, get the Canton Fair app, research suppliers, prepare questions, and set product priorities. Bring business cards and luggage, explore import finance, and stay organized.

Q4: Is attending the Canton Fair free?

Overseas buyers can register online for a free entry badge and visa invitation. On-site registration costs about $20 plus minor fees for replacement badges.