The CIFF exhibition, held once a year, is a unique and important event for the global furniture industry.
However, due to the limited duration of the exhibition and the fact that attendees come from various countries and regions around the world, the time spent visiting CIFF is often very limited. Therefore, only by efficiently utilizing every hour at the CIFF show can you better achieve your sourcing goals.
If this is your first time attending CIFF or you have rarely visited China before, this guide may help you systematically plan your exhibition itinerary.
Click the link below to pre-register now and participate in CIFF 2026 immediately, or scan the QR code to join.
https://www.cifffurniturefair.com/the-57th-china-international-furniture-fair-guangzhou/
Step 1: Pre-Show Preparation (1-2 Weeks Before the Exhibition)
Before arriving at the exhibition, you need to start with the basics—clarify your procurement goals, budget, and specific product list.
Subsequently, focus your energy on supplier targeting: shortlist the Top 10 to 15 key suppliers using the CIFF official website. Then, use CIFF’s online networking services to pre-book appointments with suppliers, confirming specific meeting times and booth numbers.
Action Items:
Clarify goals, budget, and product list.
Target Top 10-15 suppliers.
Use CIFF online services to pre-book meetings.
Prepare your “10 Key Questions” list, business cards, and a USB drive.
Arrange nearby accommodation to save commute time and ensure adequate rest.
Procurement Strategy Tip
For office furniture procurement, focus on evaluating suppliers’ R&D capabilities and customization services. In addition to participating in CIFF’s Business Matching Service (Meet 2 Match), buyers can also use CIFF’s online business matching platform—Click 2 Connect—to find the most suitable furniture suppliers through data matching.
Step 2: On the Day of the Exhibition (Daily Plan)
A day’s itinerary should be divided into four key time slots, designed for focused and efficient activity:
9:00 – 10:00: Meeting with Key Suppliers
It is recommended to arrive before 9:00 AM. Visitor traffic is low during this phase, and suppliers’ energy levels are high. Use this period for High-Priority Meetings with your first batch of most prioritized key suppliers, aiming for the 9:30 to 10:00 time frame.
10:00 – 12:00: In-Depth Inspection and Comparison
This block is dedicated to Comparison Sourcing. You can arrange the second batch of scheduled supplier meetings between 11:00 and 12:00. Focus on areas with similar products, utilizing your comparison checklist to evaluate multiple suppliers. Key comparison data includes quality details, design differences, and MOQ/Lead Time.
12:00 – 13:00: Lunch and Information Triage
12:00 – 13:00 is lunchtime. Dedicate the time from 12:40 to 13:00 for a Mid-Day Review. Quickly organize and score the information gathered from the morning’s suppliers to prevent information overload.
13:00 – 17:30: Discovery, Confirmation, and Wrap-Up
Start the afternoon with the third batch of scheduled supplier meetings. Then, from 14:00 to 16:00, use this time for free exploration (Discovery & Validation) to find suppliers with product or technological innovations. From 16:00 to 17:00, conduct brief second confirmations with the Top 3 highly-rated suppliers from the morning who still have open questions, such as requesting sample pricing or finalizing customization details. Finally, before the hall closes, schedule a follow-up online communication time with the most important suppliers.
17:30 – 19:00: Daily Summary and Preparation
Upon returning to your hotel, it is advised to conduct an immediate daily summary. This includes logging all business card information, organizing physical documents, and adjusting the next day’s visiting route and appointment schedule.
Step 3: Post-Show Follow-Up (1-3 Days After the Exhibition)
Within 24 hours after the exhibition ends, it is recommended that you send thank-you emails with specific inquiry details to finalize the cooperation terms.
Ultimately, before placing a large order, it is suggested you arrange for remote video factory audits or send representatives for on-site inspection of the candidate suppliers to complete the final validation.