A photo of a model truck is enough to remember what caught your eye. It may not tell you whether the quoted box includes the assembly tool, which version you handled, or when the factory can make it. Those are the details a buying team needs before it can place an order.
After the Shanghai China Toy Expo, the Shantou Chenghai Toy Fair, and Phase 3 of the Canton Fair, give your team one working target: within seven days of the last meeting, narrow the field to three to five suppliers. For each one, identify the product, the evidence you still need, and the person who owes you the next answer.
Why promising leads go quiet
- Nobody owns the next step. “Let’s stay in touch” leaves two people waiting. Write down who will send the sample, which item number it covers, and when the buyer will review it.
- Every supplier gets the same follow-up. A shelf-ready gift set and a prototype that needs new packaging are different buying decisions. Give priority to the items that fit your channel, target price, and delivery window.
- The production calendar moves on. A date discussed at a booth is a snapshot. In Q4, another order can take the slot while you review artwork. Ask when the factory needs your approval to keep that date.
Four exhibits and the first question to ask
Use a booth photo to restart the conversation. Circle the exact item if several versions share a shelf, and ask the supplier to put its SKU on the quotation. Here is how that works with four of the displays from the shows.
Shanghai · China Toy Expo
Metal construction models
An assembled car shows the finish. The parts list tells you what the buyer takes home. Ask: “For this model, can you send the piece count, tool list, and a photo of the open retail box?”
Shantou · Chenghai Toy Fair
Electronic building kits and target games
These are two different lines on the same stand. Mark the kit or game you mean and ask which functions, power supply, and accessories the quoted version includes.
Guangzhou · Canton Fair · 17.1D39
Bubble wands and outdoor play sets
For a bubble wand, request a packed-set photo. Are the bottle and bubble solution included, or is the base price for the wand alone? That answer changes both the offer and the shipping discussion.
Guangzhou · Canton Fair · 17.1J15
Buildable toy vehicles
A carton can picture several finished builds. Ask which models a child can assemble at the same time from one box, then request an open-box photo of the parts and tools.
Four checks before you shortlist a supplier
1. Match the category and the compliance evidence.
Name the sales market, age group, and exact model. Ask for the applicable declarations or certificates and the complete test reports behind them. Match the model, photos, and tested configuration to the proposed toy. Check the issue date and any expiry or retailer recency requirements; set aside expired documents where a validity period applies. A newer report for a different model is no better. Ask what changed since testing. For U.S. children’s products, the CPSC explains when a material change requires retesting.
2. Match the display sample to the bulk specification.
Ask whether the booth piece was a prototype or a production sample. For a metal construction car, record the agreed metal thickness, fasteners, wheel material, finish, tools and box contents. Give the approved sample and written specification the same revision. Both sides should keep a matching sample; any substitution needs written approval.
3. Check capacity against your particular order.
Give the supplier your quantity, pack format, and required warehouse date. Ask for the earliest available line slot, the cut-off for sample and artwork approval, the inspection date, and the cargo-ready date. Separate factory readiness from transit and warehouse receiving. If the dates do not fit, ask what quantity can ship first and what the split would cost.
4. Compare the full cost on the same basis.
Request the same quantity, currency, packaging and trade term with the named place. Itemise sample and courier charges, artwork or printing plates, tooling, inspection or retesting, and freight where applicable. Mark each as included, extra, or refundable, and record the quote’s expiry. An empty cell means “ask,” not “free.”
What belongs in the purchase order file
- An approved sample both sides can identify. Photograph it from the same angles, record the sample ID, and keep a matching sealed or tagged unit with the supplier for inspection.
- A specification that can be checked. Attach the dated revision, pack contents, packaging construction, artwork, and agreed finish. Make that revision part of the purchase order, so a second run has the same starting point.
- Documents tied to that version. File the relevant full reports and certificates against the SKU and destination. If one is missing or a change needs testing, assign a person and a due date before release.
What a hidden price increase looks like: Suppose a supplier keeps the booth price for a bubble set but removes the solution bottle and switches to a lighter board for the gift box. Ask for two written prices: one for the approved set and one for the proposed alternative. You can then decide whether the saving is worth changing the offer on your shelf. Our guide to comparing look-alike toy quotes covers the same issue in materials, accessories, and moulded details.
What to do in the first seven days
Count from your last meeting. One shared sheet is enough: give each SKU a row, one buyer responsible for it and a date for the next decision.
| When | Buyer action | By the end |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–2 | Match each booth photo or sample to a supplier and item number. Record the market, intended quantity and required arrival date. Resolve conflicting references before asking for prices. | A shortlist of 3–5 suppliers. |
| Days 3–4 | Send the same brief to each shortlisted supplier. Request the specification, sample date, applicable reports and itemised quote. Mark exactly what is missing. | Comparable offers with open questions visible. |
| Days 5–7 | Review the replies. Authorise sampling for the strongest candidate, agree the review date, and ask when the proposed slot must be reconfirmed. Put the others on hold or close them. | A named owner, a sample decision and a date. |
A follow-up your supplier can act on
“We met at the Canton Fair and discussed the bubble wand in the attached photo. Please confirm the SKU and quote both the wand alone and the set with the bottle and solution. Our market is [market], our quantity is [units], and we need stock at [warehouse] by [date]. Can you send the pack list, applicable test reports, sample dispatch date and earliest cargo-ready date?”
Keep the first order useful for the second
For a new supplier, consider a trial order sized for your channel. Reference the approved sample and specification on the purchase order. At inspection and on receipt, check actual contents and finish against them. If the first delivery has missing tools or crushed boxes, agree the correction in writing and verify it on the next sample before reordering. Record what arrived on time and what had to be fixed; that is a better basis for a repeat order than a successful booth meeting.
What Chengji offers after the shows
If we met in Shanghai, Shantou or Guangzhou, your Chengji account manager can pick up the exact item you discussed. Show visitors can request a dedicated sampling schedule and special show pricing for the items we discussed. Your manager will confirm the sample dispatch target, included fees, and quote validity for your SKU and quantity.
We bring the sample, complete product specification, and full applicable test reports together in one follow-up. Your manager will identify any gaps for a new version or market, coordinate approval, and retain a matching sealed sample for bulk inspection. You also get a proposed production slot and the date by which you need to confirm it.
Send your Chengji manager the booth photo or item number, destination market, quantity, and required arrival date. If you no longer have their card, email us with the show name, and we’ll connect you with the right person.
Site web : chengjitoy.com
Courriel : [email protected]
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