Find Chinese suppliers at Source Home & Gift
Search the full exhibitor directory by product and country, then contact suitable exhibitors before travelling. For each product, confirm who makes it, who sells it and where it will ship from. Record whether the proposed order is direct manufacture, trading or UK wholesale supply. Follow-up factory checks can be arranged by Cambridge China Bridge.
Search beyond the supplied directory page
The supplied link opens partway through the exhibitor directory. Start from the full list rather than treating that page as the complete selection. Use the country filter for China, combine it with your product category, and try product keywords. If results are sparse, broaden the category and remove filters separately.
Open suitable exhibitor profiles and review available product information, brochures and contact details. Save the profile address, company name, proposed products and stand location in your shortlist. Also search without the China filter for suppliers offering Chinese-made goods from UK stock. A country filter is a discovery aid, not proof of where goods are made.
Confirm the meeting before travelling
Check which show edition each listing concerns. The directory currently displays conflicting edition labels, so confirm attendance and stand location with the exhibitor and check current event details with the organiser before booking travel. An old listing is useful as a lead, but does not confirm attendance.
Send a brief covering the product, materials, intended use, branding, packaging, intended order quantity and delivery destination. Ask whether the meeting will cover custom production in China, a trader sourcing from factories, or existing UK wholesale stock. Request a meeting with someone who can answer production and quotation questions.
Classify the proposed order, not just the company
Begin with: who makes this item, which company will invoice us, and where will this order ship from? A business may offer different supply routes for different products. Record its answer against the specific item. A Chinese company name, a UK representative or a factory photograph does not settle the route.
Use the distinctions below to direct your questions. Ask for written confirmation where the answer is unclear. For a wider comparison of the buying options, read sourcing agent vs UK wholesaler vs online platform.
| Proposed route | Ask at the meeting | Request afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| Direct manufacture | Which factory makes this item, what work is subcontracted, and is the seller the manufacturer or a separate export company? | Factory identity, production location and a quotation naming the seller |
| Trading | Which factory will supply the order, who controls changes, and can production checks be arranged? | Named seller, agreed factory details and a written process for samples and changes |
| UK wholesale | Is this stock already held in the UK, who sells it to us, and where are replacements dispatched from? | UK stock confirmation, delivery terms and the seller's returns arrangements |
Leave with a comparable quotation brief
Ask about minimum orders by design and colour, sample approval, production scheduling, repeat orders and packaging changes. Label the displayed sample with permission and record its materials and finish. Confirm whether the quotation concerns that sample, a custom version or stock goods. A stand sample should not become your specification by assumption.
Ask each supplier to identify currency, delivery basis, dispatch location, freight, testing, packaging and other exclusions. For UK wholesale offers, ask whether VAT and delivery are included. Compare offers against the same product brief and destination using understanding your landed price, rather than ranking the headline unit prices.
Working out your own order? Send us the product on WhatsApp and we reply the same working day: WhatsApp us
Turn meeting notes into checks
Send a follow-up recording the product, claimed supply route, seller, production or stock location, sample actions and unanswered questions. Ask the supplier to correct it before progressing. Keep unresolved routes marked as unconfirmed. Use factory vs trading company for supplier verification rather than treating a show meeting as a factory check.
Request product evidence matching the proposed materials, design and intended use. For kitchenware, consult sourcing homeware and kitchenware before settling the sample brief. Cambridge China Bridge's own staff in China can follow up factory claims, coordinate samples and check the proposed production site against your meeting notes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find Chinese exhibitors at Source Home & Gift?
Start from the full directory, filter by China and product category, then try product keywords. Review profiles and contact shortlisted exhibitors to confirm their attendance and product fit.
Are all Chinese exhibitors direct manufacturers?
Do not assume so. Ask who makes the specific item, who will invoice you and where it ships from. Confirm whether the offer concerns factory production, trading or UK wholesale stock.
Can I buy UK stock from a Chinese supplier?
Ask whether the quoted goods are already held in the UK, which company sells them and where delivery and replacements start. Confirm this for the actual order, rather than relying on a UK contact address.
What should I send suppliers after the show?
Send your product brief and meeting summary, including the claimed supply route, seller, production or stock location, sample actions and quote exclusions. Ask for corrections and supporting information before progressing.