Exhibitors and buyers hail online medium

As the 127th China Import and Export Fair, which ends on Wednesday, went online for the first time, exhibitors and buyers said they appreciated the new model.

Maxge Electric, a Zhejiang-based company providing power distribution products, used livestreaming to attract visitors to this session of the fair.

Its foreign trade manager, surnamed Xie, said their regular clients had placed orders worth $1 million after learning about the company's new products online.

New clients from countries such as Britain, Portugal, Spain and India signed orders worth about $200,000, Xie said.

The company has attended the Canton Fair since 2010. For this event, it prepared English-language video introductions to new products, offered constant livestreaming and used virtual reality technologies to display goods.

Insiders said it is important for companies to find export opportunities via the fair and improve their technologies and brand influence.

Zhejiang-based Yat Electrical Appliance has participated in the fair since 2006. Its 100-plus kinds of products have sold in more than 60 countries and regions due to their novel design and excellent quality, company executives said.

A representative from the company said the online fair is an effective way for them to learn about international market demands.

The company has received client enquiries from European, American and Southeast Asian countries. They intend to sign orders worth nearly $300,000.

Her company began to prepare soon after it received notice that the 127th Canton Fair would be held online. To improve the visual effects of livestreaming, the company placed products on a dining table near the camera instead of normally displaying them on shelves.

"This year's epidemic caused a great reduction in orders and we hope the fair will help business return to normal as soon as possible," Xu said.

Buyers, not just exhibitors, praised the fair's online model.

An executive surnamed Teng from Zhejiang Yaofeng Power Technology, which sells generators and engines, said many regular clients viewed the company's new products through livestreaming and the company received orders worth almost $5 million.

"Clients said they were satisfied with the new medium as they can follow product information quickly," Teng said.