Choosing a reliable sanitary ware supplier in China can be quite challenging due to the sheer complexity of the task. This article will provide useful information on how to find a reputable and trustworthy provider that offers good quality products as well as competitive prices.
What is sanitary ware?
Sanitary ware refers to ceramics and hardware accessories used in bathrooms and kitchens. It includes items such as toilets, bathroom sinks, urinals, bathroom cabinets, faucets, bathtubs, showers, and other related bathroom accessories products.
Where is the sanitary ware production base area in China?
China is one of the largest producers and exporters of sanitary ware in the world. The most important production areas include Guangdong province (especially Foshan, Jiangmen, and Chaozhou), Hebei province (especially Tangshan), Fujian Province ( especially Xiamen, Fuzhou, and Quanzhou), and Zhejiang province ( especially Taizhou, Ningbo, and Hangzhou). These areas are well known for their high-quality products at competitive prices and they account for over 80% of China’s sanitary ware total exports.
Since different production areas, the products are different, so if you want to know more details about these sanitaryware production-based areas, please read our previous article: Small and medium-size sanitary ware manufacturers reliable? (link: https://www.tilesandbathroom.com/small-and-medium-size-sanitary-ware-factory-reliable/)
How can I find sanitary ware suppliers?
To find the sanitary ware suppliers, there are usually two ways: online and offline.
Online: B2B platform & Google search
You can start your search for a reliable sanitaryware supplier in China by visiting some business-to-business (B2B) websites such as Alibaba, Global Sources, and Made-in-China. These sites provide detailed information about manufacturers and suppliers from all over the world (most are from China). You can quickly find out about suppliers through these sites, including their companies’ situation, the product categories they offer, the certifications they hold, and price ranges. It’s a convenient and efficient way to find a new supplier. But it still has many traps in it. Some of the suppliers are not reliable and have terrible reputations. So, please carefully read the customer reviews and check their product samples before making any decision.
Moreover, you can also search on Google to find sanitary ware manufacturers. Some of them will have an official website. It’s helpful because you can get detailed information about the products and company. Please contact them for further discussion if you’re interested in their products.
Anyway, no matter whether you find suppliers through the B2B platform or google search, it’s a convenient way to discover a new supplier. Since we don’t know each other, you still need to check their reliability. Below are the cons and pros of finding sanitary ware suppliers online.
The pros and cons of finding sanitary ware suppliers online.
The pros include:
Increased convenience. It’s easier and more convenient to find suppliers online, as you can search for the products you want from the comfort of your home or office.
Greater choice. Online platforms often have a wide range selection of products and suppliers to choose from, so you could have more options to compare and consider.
Ability to review and compare. Online platforms often provide reviews and ratings from other customers, which you can use as references before making a decision.
Lower costs. You don’t need to come to China or attend a trade show, so the cost of finding a supplier online is much lower than offline.
However, there are also some disadvantages to consider when you find new suppliers online.
Limited personal interaction. It can be difficult to establish a personal relationship with a supplier when you’re communicating online. It takes a long time to build trust during your communication.
Potential for scams. While there are many legitimate suppliers online, it is also possible to encounter scams or fraudsters. Or if your cargo has any problems, they disappear, it’s just a one-time business. Therefore, it is important to do your due diligence and research any supplier you are considering working with to ensure they are reputable.
Limited ability to inspect products. When you are purchasing products from overseas, it’s hard to inspect the product quality before you make a purchase decision. You will worry about the quality of the sanitary ware and the packaging. At this time, a third-party inspection company can help you.
Offline: Visit the production-based wholesale market & attend trade shows
Another way to find a reliable sanitary ware supplier in China is by attending trade fairs or exhibitions. It’s a great way to meet many different sanitary ware suppliers at one time, you are able to talk directly with them and view their samples. This is a quick way to assess the supplier’s capabilities, product quality, price, and service.
You can also check out exhibitions such as the Canton Fair in Guangzhou or Kitchen-bathroom & Houseware World Expo, Kitchen & Bath China in Shanghai which are held each year in China. Here you will have the opportunity to meet representatives from different companies as well as see their products firsthand.
Trade Show:
Canton Fair
The China Import and Export Commodities Fair, also known as Canton Fair, was founded in the spring of 1957. It focuses on exports and imports. It is held in Guangzhou every spring and autumn. Canton Fair is a comprehensive international trade event with the longest history, the largest scale, the most complete range of products, and the most successful transaction results in China. The Canton Fair Exhibition Hall is located in Pazhou Island, Guangzhou. It has a total construction area of more than 1.1 million square meters. There are a total of 16 exhibition halls, divided into three exhibition areas: A, B, and C areas. D areas are under construction.
According to the official statistics of the Canton Fair, more than 195,454 buyers from 213 countries and regions participated in the Canton Fair in the spring of 2019. It is no exaggeration to say that if you want to import products from China, the Canton Fair is your first choice.
Date of holding:
Phase I: 15-19 April and October.
Phase II: 23-27 April and October.
Phase Ⅲ: 1-5th May / 31st October-4 November.
Exhibition products scope:
The scope of the first phase of the exhibition: large machinery and equipment, general machinery, small processing machinery and industrial accessories, construction machinery, bicycles, motorcycles, auto parts, chemical products, energy resources, hardware, tools, vehicles (outdoor), vehicle spare parts, construction machinery (outdoor), household electrical appliances, consumer electronics and information products, electrical and electronic products, computer and communication products, lighting equiment, building and decorative materials, sanitary and bathroom equipment, etc.
The sanitary ware products are in the first phase. B area, Hall 9-10.
The scope of the second phase of the exhibition: kitchenware, tableware, general ceramics, art ceramics, household item, glass artware, furniture, weaving, rattan and iron arts, home decorations, gardening products, iron and stone decoration (outdoor spa equiment), pet products, personal care products, toiletries, bathroom supplies, watch glasses, toys, gifts, native products, festival products, etc.
The third phase of the exhibition covers men and women’s clothes, kids’ wear, underwear, sports and casual wear, fur, leather, downs and related products, fashion accessories and fittings, home textiles, textile raw materials and fabrics, carpets and tapestries, food, medicine and health products, medical devices, sports, travel and recreation products, office stationery, shoes,case & bags, etc.
Kitchen-bathroom & Houseware World Expo ( KIB )
The Kitchen and Sanitary Exhibition has been unveiled in front of colleagues in the global hardware industry together with the China International Hardware Exhibition since 2001. In 2021, it was officially renamed China International Kitchen-bathroom & Houseware Expo (KIB).
The exhibition, with a scale of nearly 20000 square meters, brings together an exhibition of well-known kitchen and bathroom-related industrial clusters in China. According to the official statistics of KIB, there were 550+ exhibitors and 20,000+ visitors at the exhibition in 2021, including more than 1200 overseas buyers.
Date of holding:
Normally in September every year
2023 KIB date: 19-21, September.
Address: Shanghai New International Expo Center
Exhibition products scope:
Cabinets, integral kitchen and bathroom facilities and products: bathroom furniture, shower room, bathroom toilet, wash basin, bathtub, water purifier, water softener, garbage disposal, etc.
Kitchen and bathroom appliances: stove, water heater, disinfectant cupboard, dishwasher, oven, waste disposal machine, etc.
Faucets, valves, and waterway connectors: bathroom faucets, valves, kitchen sinks, water connectors, showers, floor drain, etc.
Kitchen and bathroom hardware accessories: handles, basket, slide rail, pendant, hinge, etc.
Cookware, kitchenware, etc.
Kitchen & Bath China ( KBC)
The China Shanghai Kitchen & Sanitary Exhibition (Kitchen & Bath China) has been held annually since 1994. This is the fist exhibition of sanitary ware and construction technology in Asia.
Date of holding:
Interval: every year
KBC 2023 will be staged on June 7-10, 2023
Address: Shanghai New International Expo Center
Exhibition products scope:
Kitchen and bathroom sanitary ware, equipment and sanitary accessories, heating and heat exchange equipment, ventilation systems, water supply and sewage treatment technology and equipment, etc.
Also, you can visit sanitary ware production-based wholesale markets in China. There are many production-based wholesalers in large cities, such as Foshan and Shanghai. You can visit their store or warehouse to find out more about their product’s quality and price range.
3 sanitary ware wholesale markets in Foshan
Here we will introduce some sanitary ware wholesale markets in Foshan, surely you could find a reliable supplier here.
China Ceramic City
China Ceramic City is a wholesale building material market with many years of history in Foshan. It is a five-story building with an area of 130 000 square meters and the main building area of 53 000 square meters. Porcelain tiles, ceramic tiles, ceramic sanitary ware, leisure bathrooms, shower room products, bathroom accessories and sanitary fittings are all included.
On the first floor and the fourth floor are sanitary ware products and on the second, third and fifth floors are ceramic tile and mosaic products. In China Ceramic City, it gathers more than 200 famous sanitary ware brands at home and abroad. Grohe, TOTO, Kholer, Hegii, SSWW, Huayi and CAE, etc. All have a showroom in China Ceramic City. If you want to buy high quality bathroom products, this is the place for you.
Every April and October, the Foshan Ceramic Fair is held in China Ceramic City, which attracts overseas buyers and distributors from all over China to participate.
Address: No. 2, Jiangwan third road, Chancheng district, Foshan, Guangdong province, China
Opening hours: 8:30am – 6:00 pm.
Shiwan Sanitary Ware Center
Shiwan sanitary ware center is about 300 meters away from China Ceramic City, with a construction area of about 10,000 square meters. Products including bathroom fixtures, mirrors, shower rooms, wall cabinets, bathroom accessories and so on, quality are mainly from middle-grade.
Address: 100 meters west of the intersection of Jiangwan 2nd Road and Qingke Street, Foshan City, Guangdong Province
Opening hours: 8:30am – 6:30 pm.
Casa Ceramics & Sanitarywares Mall
Casa Ceramics & Sanitarywares Mall is a comprehensive trade and wholesale base for ceramic tile, porcelain tile, toilet, bathroom basin, bathtub, shower room, leisure bathroom products, and other bathroom fittings. It has a construction area of nearly 100,000 square meters. There are two special areas for sanitary ware and ceramic tiles in the mall. Currently, more than 230 well-known brands of sanitary ware and ceramic tiles have settled here, and 85% of them have established their own marketing stores directly. These brands include Moen, Ego, SSWW, Huida, Arrow, Hegii, Anhua, etc.
Address: Blk 1st, Jihua 4th Road, Chancheng District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province
Opening hours: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm.
By visiting these sanitary ware wholesale markets, you will have a much better understanding of the product quality and company situation. But it doesn’t mean all the suppliers you find are reliable, you still have to further check their company background and communicate with them before you place a trial order. Here are some tips for you to identify the suppliers whether are reliable.
6 Tips on how to identify your sanitary ware suppliers are reliable
1. Research potential suppliers.
After you get the contact information for your potential suppliers, make a list of them and do some research on each one. This includes checking their website, Facebook and reading any available customer reviews if possible. It is a good way to get an idea of their reputation and performance.
2. Evaluate the supplier’s product quality.
You should ask sanitary ware suppliers to provide their product quality information, including any certifications or awards they have, such as ISO, CE, CUPC, Watermark or other quality assurance documents that prove their production process and product quality meet certain standards.
3. Request samples.
Requesting samples can help establish trust with the supplier and assess their product quality. It also reveals how much attention they pay to details like sample quality, product packaging, shipping time and after-sale service.
4. Consider the prices from different suppliers.
Different suppliers offer different prices based on quantity and product quality, so it is important to make sure that the supplier’s pricing is competitive and that they offer reasonable quality options.
5. If possible, visit their warehouse and inspect the products in person.
By inspecting their products in person, you can identify any potential problems, such as a poor quality control system or workers who neglect details. If you can’t come to China, try asking your friends in China to help you. That way, you will at least know if the company exists and operates in the sanitary ware industry.
6. Communicate with your suppliers and negotiate the terms of the deal.
Once you have narrowed down your list of potential suppliers, it’s time to negotiate the terms of the deal, including the price, delivery time, MOQ, payment terms, warranty and any other relevant details. Furthermore, you could also learn whether the supplier can reply to your request in a timely manner by communicating with them.
Conclusion
Finding a reliable sanitary ware supplier in China can be both a time-consuming and difficult task, but there are ways to make it easier. Whether you choose to use online platforms or visit exhibitions and wholesale markets, it is critical to do your research and comparison and negotiation. This will ensure you are working with a reputable supplier.
By following these tips, you should be able to find a trustworthy and reliable supplier in China for your business needs. Good luck!
