CIPS goes virtual

The first session of the CIPS online trade show was organised by the Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province. It was staged successfully from 22-26 June on the website https://online.cipscom.com/. During the five-day exhibition period, the participating enterprises engaged in matchmaking with buyers through the platform by live streaming, face-to-face chat, product information release, etc.
The first session brought together 118 exhibitors and attracted around 1 000 buyers from 66 countries/regions. Through the online platform, 479 conversations and 179 live broadcasts were set up. "We provide an opportunity for close contact between exhibitors and buyers when they are unable to communicate with each other face to face," says the organiser.

Major associations and media representatives from Spain, Germany and the Netherlands joined the show and reported on this event. Exhibitors and buyers made efficient contact with each other. For example, Wenzhou Yuanfei Pet Toy Products successfully connected with several chain stores in Europe and formed a preliminary purchase intention for toy products. Best-Run Technology, which owns an independent brand, secured preliminary intent on cooperation with agents and distributors.
CIPS also organises online face-to-face business matching, in which suppliers and buyers embark on further communication regarding their business. "The CIPS online trade show has proved to be an efficient trading platform, bringing exhibitors and buyers together during this extraordinary period," said the organisers, summarising their event.

In the follow-up buyer survey, 76 per cent of call-backs indicated that online ordering would become a trend in international trade in the future, and 89 per cent of call-back buyers reckoned that the online exhibition would help their trade. However, almost all exhibitors and buyers surveyed said they need the offline face-to-face meeting each year at CIPS, and this year more than ever. They all look forward to CIPS 2020, which will be held on 12-15 November in Guangzhou.
The CIPS online trade show was a good start to an online trading platform in the Chinese pet product industry. More sessions have been held every week during July. Each session welcomed about 50…