One such enterprise is Newcomer Group, a luggage company founded in 1998. Today, Newcomer boasts a workforce of 3000 and annual sales approaching US$100 million.
Newcomer is a senior partner and long time attendee of Canton Fair, always using a specially decorated booth to promote its brands. "Participating in Canton Fair for 16 years, Newcomer has become bigger and better along the way. Every session we sent out our best designers, technicians and business teams specializing in OEM, ODM and OBM," explains Linda Zhao, Newcomer's general manager. "Our aim is to become an innovative, global operator of multiple brands."
"And, our frequent exchanges with European designers via Canton Fair Product Design Centre (PDC) have given us much inspiration and led to some of our most innovative products," continues Linda.
Another company that has grown up with Canton Fair is Huida Group, a leading ceramic sanitaryware company that first attended the Fair in 1998, striking orders of less than US$1 million then. Huida now boasts annual sales of US$325 million and exports around US$100 million.
"We've had a close relationship with the Fair since the first time we exhibited," says Xing Jinrong, vice president of Huida Group. "The majority of our overseas clients come from the event, helping us to dramatically expand exports. The fact is, 65% of our export deals are from Canton Fair. It is our premium platform for upgrade branding and operations."
"To succeed, Chinese companies must focus on design & innovation, brand marketing, technology and service," says Zhang Jie, vice president of China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Light Industrial Products and Arts-Crafts (CCCLA).
Huida and Newcomer will both exhibit at the upcoming 116th Canton Fair. Huida will exhibit in areas 10.1 A06-19, A04-05 and B06-07, plus 11.2 D34-36 and E12-14 (Oct 15 -19). Newcomer will exhibit in areas 9.3 L07-08, 10.3 G35-41 and H06-12(Oct 31 - Nov 4).