The 129th Canton Fair opens today on April 15. Fabien Dessaint, a buyer from France, shared how he used the online Canton Fair to increase company’s turnover last year in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dessaint has been a regular buyer of the Canton Fair since 2007 and attends the Fair twice a year. And he is still active even though the Fair was moved online due to the pandemic, saying “the Canton Fair is precisely the most reliable and organized way to reach importers and exporters.”

“After the online Canton Fair in June, I placed orders in August, September and October, mainly for furniture, toys and electric products. I ordered 7 containers respectively in September and October,” said Dessaint, “Although we had to postpone our events in China, we still had an increase in turnover thanks to the importation of goods. I think it's important to have an online Canton Fair, because it allows everyone to take advantage of the digital world.”

According to the Canton Fair, the website features lots of useful functions. It displays products in 16 categories and 50 exhibition sections. Buyers can chat with the suppliers or make an appointment for a video meeting once they have found the product they need. Exhibitors will live stream their products and production line.

Fabien Dessaint said the digital marketing set up by the manufacturers seduced him into placing orders. “There were nice videos. The livestreaming is of high quality. You can tell manufactures are really putting their efforts in digital marketing.”

Dessaint hopes the Canton Fair could be back to normal as well. “I need to contact with my partners, suppliers. We need human contact and especially in business. We all know that physical contact is essential in business.

Source | GDToday, Big Ship Talk Show