Canton Fair phase two opens with global market expansion focus

The second phase of the 137th China Import and Export Fair, popularly known as the Canton Fair, opened on Wednesday in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, with more Chinese companies planning to expand internationally to emerging markets.

The fair's second phase is themed around building a quality home. It features three main sections – gifts and decorations, household products and building materials and furniture. It has drawn 10,313 companies to participate, an increase of 273 compared to the previous year.

Guangzhou Gussio Leather Goods, one of the major leather products manufacturers based in Guangzhou, will shift its business focus to the South American and European markets.

"By expanding into emerging markets, we have successfully shifted our business focus from the United States, which previously held a one-sixth market share of our overseas business," said Chen Yanrong, a manager in charge of the company's exhibition during the fair.

The company has established long-term partnerships with agents in Peru. Additionally, it plans to participate in fashion exhibitions in Italy and other countries to expand the brand's influence in the European market.

Suofeiya Home Collection, which builds custom cabinetries with matching accessories, also plans to expand its business in emerging markets, supported by its domestic intelligent manufacturing.

"The strength in intelligent manufacturing, along with strong supply chains, will help greatly enable us to deliver products and services more efficiently," said Jiang Hao, general manager of Suofeiya's manufacturing center.

Suofeiya established a fully intelligent manufacturing factory for custom furniture in 2018, achieving full-process informatization, digitization and intelligence from design to production and installation services.

"This breakthrough addresses common challenges in the custom home industry, such as high labor costs, low production efficiency, long supply cycles and unstable product quality," Jiang said.

The company, also headquartered in Guangzhou, has so far established five major intelligent factories nationwide, realizing the large-scale production of all categories of custom clothing, wardrobes, doors and wall cabinets in a one-stop customization process.

"The intelligent workshop has helped lead the industry's transformation from traditional manufacturing to high-tech service-oriented manufacturing," said Jiang.

The company is looking for overseas partners, particularly from emerging markets, to develop its engineering operations and expand its retail channels, according to Jiang.

The company has developed 31 international distributors covering the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and the Middle East, providing a one-stop whole-house customized solution.