In China’s B2B market, professional exhibitions are more than platforms for showcasing products. Face-to-face interaction plays a central role in building trust, developing business relationships, and laying the foundation for long-term partnerships. It also serves as a great opportunity to meet your competition.
PTL Group provides practical exhibition support in China for international B2B companies, coordinating local logistics, digital marketing, booth setup and on-site management, staffing, and commercial processes. Our China-based team works alongside your headquarters before, during, and after the event, helping you build relevant marketing and business strategy and move from exhibition discussions to compliant local sales transactions when opportunities arise.
One Exhibition, Three Operational Stages:
- Before: Build the booth, move exhibition goods, import machines or sample products, create local awareness, and schedule relevant meetings.
- During: Connect offline and digital channels, assist in organizing marketing activities, and capture leads in real time.
- After: Support local contracts, customs management, RMB collection, Fapiao issuance, delivery, and structured follow-up.
How Can You Prepare Before the Exhibition?
Successful participation begins well before your team arrives. PTL Group coordinates the physical and digital preparations with your headquarters and visiting representatives, from booth setup and exhibition logistics to local marketing and meeting schedules.
Pre-exhibition support may include:
- Booth planning, design, construction, and coordination with local suppliers
- Temporary importation of display equipment, product samples, and machinery, including ATA Carnet coordination for eligible goods
- Warehousing, domestic transportation, and venue delivery
- Targeted WeChat, Baidu search, and PR campaigns
- Prospect outreach and advance coordination of offline business meetings in China
What Support is Available During the Trade Show?
During the exhibition, PTL Group provides local China trade show representation and on-site administrative support. The service can combine visitor engagement, digital lead capture, and meeting coordination.
On-site support may include:
- Translation support
- Prominent WeChat QR codes integrated into booth and marketing materials
- Creation of Links to relevant Mini Programs and immediate lead capture through WeChat and WeCom (subject to local company license)
- Scheduled meetings, product demonstrations, small events, and real-time digital exposure
This online-to-offline approach creates a continuous path from advanced outreach to face-to-face engagement and structured follow-up. It also makes it easier for visitors to retain company information and continue the conversation after leaving the booth.
How Can Exhibition Leads Become Local Sales?
The exhibition is the beginning of the commercial process. When a Chinese buyer is ready to proceed, the transaction may require a local RMB contract, payment collection in China, and a compliant local Fapiao invoice. These requirements can delay a sale when the overseas supplier has no local entity.
For eligible transactions, PTL Group’s local trading entities can support the process in four steps:
- Local agreement – sign the required RMB sales contract with the Chinese buyer.
- Payment and invoicing – collect the local payment and issue the required Fapiao.
- Delivery – coordinate the agreed local delivery process.
- Overseas funds or repatriation transfer – transfer the funds to the overseas company under the relevant contractual and regulatory framework.
This structure can help the sales process move forward while the commercial opportunity is still active.
To seamlessly convert on-site trade show leads into legal sales, check out how we manage payments and invoicing through our Trading Services in China.
Need Support at China’s Major Exhibitions?
PTL Group supports international B2B companies participating in major industry and government-backed exhibitions, including the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. CIIE is a national-level import-focused exhibition that brings together international exhibitors, professional buyers, potential distributors, business partners, and government representatives.
CIIE and other industry-focused exhibition support may include:
- Booth, exhibition-goods logistics, and venue coordination
- Marketing preparation
- Buyer, distributor, partner, and stakeholder meetings
- Product demonstrations and on-site administration
- Invitation-related business-travel documentation, where applicable
- Coordination of participation requirements with organizers and venue service providers
Read our case study on The CIIE 2023 expo to learn how B2B companies maximize their market exposure.
Looking for Local Exhibition Management in China?
PTL Group brings logistics, localized marketing, lead management, and local trading support into one coordinated service. Whether your company is exhibiting independently, joining a national pavilion, or sending a visiting team to meet prospects, our local specialists can provide the operational and marketing continuity needed across the full exhibition cycle.
Q&A about Exhibition Support in China
How Can We Temporarily Import Exhibition Equipment into China Without Paying Duties?
Eligible exhibition equipment, demonstration units, and product samples may be temporarily imported into China under an ATA Carnet without import duties or taxes. The goods must generally be re-exported within six months, subject to customs requirements and any approved extension. PTL Group’s import and logistics specialists coordinate the customs clearance, transportation, storage, and re-export process.
What Does PTL Group Provide Beyond Standard Exhibition or Logistics Support?
PTL Group combines exhibition management with local marketing, logistics, and trading capabilities. Through our Trading Services, we can support eligible local sales by signing RMB contracts, collecting payments, issuing Fapiao invoices, and transferring funds overseas—even when the international company has no registered entity in China. This allows opportunities generated during or after the exhibition to progress into compliant local transactions.