China is the biggest source of furniture manufacturers in the world. Unfortunately, there’s no yellow pages that lists all the best furniture factories in China (yet). So, how does a furniture buyer find its suppliers?
The best way is to attend Furniture Exhibitions in China. Meet the suppliers you selected to implement your projects or visit your current suppliers if they are exhibitors and discuss your needs and the quality of the products. Meeting your suppliers face-to-face in furniture exhibitions in China builds a relationship with them and will help your communication in the future.
Most of the purchasers go to Furniture exhibition in China directly, to look for partners and to visit their factories.
The most efficient way to meet as many suppliers as possible in a very short amount of time is to attend theme-specific trade fairs such as furniture exhibitions in China. Chinese people understood that pretty quickly when their manufacturing sector started to expand in the 80s. You can now find huge trade shows for any industry sector.
In those furniture exhibitions in China, exhibitors are mostly manufacturers. However, some of them are trading companies, which do not own a factory. It’s up to you to go towards one or the other furniture exhibition in China, depending on your personal feeling, your budget or your buying quantity.
Each year, furniture buyers and factories meet in China (mainly Shanghai and Guangzhou) for the trade fairs. It is a great place to discover the latest trends in design in these furniture exhibitions in China. It is especially an opportunity for foreign companies to meet Chinese manufacturers at a furniture fair in China.
The best B2B furniture exhibition in China are the CIFF in Guangzhou and Furniture China in Shanghai.
CIFF Guangzhou | Biggest Furniture Exhibition in China
The China International Furniture Fair Guangzhou (CIFF) is the biggest furniture exhibition in China. It has the most exhibitors (>4,000), the biggest exhibition area (750,000 m²) and the most visitors (>190,000). This furniture exhibition in China is held every year in March and is split into two 4-day phases organised by product category:
First phase (18-21 March) – home furniture / home decor / home textile / outdoor furniture
Second phase (28-31 March) – office furniture / hotel / commercial / materials & machinery furniture
This Furnishing Tradeshow is held in the South of the city in a huge exhibition centre, the China Import & Export Fair Complex. CIFF Guangzhou is an ideal furniture exhibition in China for international buyers interested in a specific product group: for each of them, the offer is more complete because this furniture fair in China is divided into 2 phases.
Official website: https://www.ciff.furniture
Furniture China | Second Biggest Furniture Exhibition in China
Furniture China is held in China every year in September. It is the second biggest furniture fair in China (300,000 m², more than 3,500 exhibitors and more than 165,000 visitors) in which the latest design trends are revealed. Along with the CIFF Guangzhou, it is an unmissable Furniture exhibition in China for any furniture professional buyer.
Exhibited products – Contemporary furniture, upholstered furniture, European classic furniture, Chinese classic furniture, mattresses, table and chair, garden furniture, children’s furniture, office furniture.
The China International Furniture Expo is held at the Shanghai New International Exhibition Centre (SNIEC) and the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre (SWEECC). It is the world’s largest and most renowned trade show where suppliers, manufacturers and buyers can find their trusted business partners.
Official website: http://www.furniture-china.cn/en-us/
Honourable Mentions of Furniture Exhibitions
There are other furniture exhibitions in China you can visit if you’re already there. We do not advise you to come to china specifically for these events.
CIFF Shanghai
Organised by the same event company that set up the CIFF in Guangzhou, this furniture exhibition china is held in the same time as Furniture China. Its main goal is to compete with Furniture China, but so far, the visitors still prefer the latter.
CIFF Shanghai is the most suitable furniture exhibition in China for international brands looking to enter the Chinese market. Indeed, design is very important in Shanghai and is the first choice of international brands to attend furniture exhibitions in China.
Exhibited products – Home furniture, Interior design and home textiles, Outdoor and leisure, Office furniture, Furniture and woodworking machinery.
Canton Fair
The Canton Fair is the most famous and largest trade fair in China. It is held twice a year in spring and autumn with 3 phases per session and gathers thousands of exhibitors.
All types of products are exhibited and furniture products are presented in the second phase (April 23-27 in the Spring session and October 23-27 in the Autumn session).
It is the most important, experienced, diversified and frequented international fair since 1957.
Permanent Furniture Exhibitions
Near Guangzhou, in the South of China, there are also some permanent furniture exhibitions. You can find the biggest furniture exhibition in China in Foshan (Louvre, Lecong furniture and Haima Furniture).
Tips from Asiaction Experts
Allow extra time
When you book your trip to visit the trade fairs in China, allow some extra time to visit some selected factories before or after the event. It will allow you to build stronger relationship with your potential suppliers and to perform an elementary audit of the factory.
Prepare your visit
Prepare your visit before you come to China by assessing some of the exhibitors and organising few appointments at the fair and at the factories.
Get help from A PROFESSIONAL SOURCING COMPANY
Most importantly, get help from professional sourcing companies.
Sourcing companies speak your language and know your market. They are the best suited to lead you to the best suppliers quickly and to assist you in China.
