Paperworld China kicks off this Friday as industry players reunite for face-to-face business

Over 300 exhibitors are set to showcase a wide spectrum of stationery, office supplies as well as personalised, cultural and trendy products at this week’s Paperworld China, which takes place at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center. From 17 – 19 November 2023, the show will offer global buyers a well-rounded sourcing experience and an efficient platform for national and international business. A dynamic series of industry activities, insightful seminars and engaging discussions will be held concurrently to enrich participants’ experiences.

Ms Judy Cheung, Deputy General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, is looking forward to a successful three days of business exchange: “This year's show carries immense significance, as it marks its first return since 2020 after being interrupted by the pandemic. Players from across the entire industry are eager to once again gather at the fairground to reconnect and unveil their latest in stationery, office supplies, hobby, arts and craft supplies. Additionally, this year’s show has been further enriched by including trendy consumer lifestyle goods. We can’t wait for exhibitors and buyers to take advantage of the expanded range of products and make the most of this exciting opportunity for new business to be generated.”

The show will house exhibitors from 11 countries and regions, hailing from China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Norway, Taiwan and the UK, across 17,000 sqm of hall space. Key exhibitors include: Aton, Benstore, Bingxin, Black Stone, Brandland, China First Pencil, Chinjoo, CJP, Conda, Delijia, Deli, Guangbo, Huizhi, iiGen, KW-Trio, Magi-Wap, Marie’s, M&G, Mont Marte, Phoenix, Platinum, Superior, Tenwin, Tuqiang, Wanjuchuangxiang, X&Y and Xinda.

Each edition, the show attracts buyers from around the world, and this year is no exception. Overseas buyers from Australia, Belgium, France, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, the USA and more, have already pre-registered for the fair.

Varied product zones formed to encourage efficient sourcing

To cater to different sourcing needs, the fair will feature four themed interactive product zones. Each zone promises to engage visitors with its unique concept, providing inspiration and fostering unparalleled business opportunities.

The Zakka Shop: This newly launched area will feature over 20 manufacturers showcasing and selling their own branded products directly to buyers, ranging from colour pens, correction tapes, stickers, greeting cards to paper art and desk organiser items.

Twenty Pro International Brand Pavilion: 14 overseas exhibitors featuring over 20 renowned international brands will make their debut in the form of a dedicated pavilion at Paperworld China. They include Maped from France; Faber-Castell and Stabilo from Germany; Crux, Green Flash, Iwako, Lihit Lab, King Jim, Kuretake, Maruman, Nakabayashi, Sakura, San-X, Showa note, Tombow, Tsukineko, Sun-star, Uni and Zebra from Japan and Morning Glory from Korea.

Journal Event: Some 60 suppliers will display their quality calendars, planners, notebooks, appointment books and decoration accessories. It’s a dedicated space designed to show attendees how to customise their journals in different styles with guidance from specialists, offering creative suggestions for their use.

Cultural Exchange Plaza: Highlighting the dynamic fusion of culture and style, and the importance of Chinese calligraphy as a means of appreciating traditional culture and art education, visitors will be able to participate in the “Calligraphy for all” workshop, which will be held in collaboration with the famous Chinese online calligraphy channel “Let’s practice calligraphy". The “Shangshou DIY Workshop” offers another dimension to these cultural exchanges. Here, handcraft enthusiasts can create their own dolls, coffee cup sleeves, handkerchiefs, and accessories. An exciting addition to these workshops is the “Make Font” sessions, where experts will demonstrate how to design Chinese characters in unique personal styles.

New at Paperworld China: Live streaming cooperation with influencers

The growing demand for online streaming has underlined the importance that digital communication platforms are playing. It is no secret that China is heralded as one of the biggest markets for events streaming. To enable wider participation, the organisers are collaborating with stationery field influencers from two reputable Chinese social media and e-commerce platforms – Tiktok and Little Red Book (Xiaohongshu). They will be live streaming from the fairground, allowing over 1.3 million followers from across the country to tune in to the fair’s highlights. This is expected to further generate sales for exhibiting manufacturers, suppliers and agents, making this year’s show an even more effective place for overseas suppliers to promote their brands to Chinese buyers.