Federico Machabanski, CCO and Founder en PARDES / CCO and Founder en Selectio / Sales expert / Retail / Toys / Baby items.

I was confused about whether it was worth returning to China in April after not coming for the past three years. Many people around me conveyed a lot of insecurities and fears about returning to the place I had continuously traveled to from 2008 until COVID started. But luckily, my partner @Alejandro Chueke appeared in this story and said to me, “LET’S GO.”
Without further delay, we embarked on this 20-day journey, passing through Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shantou, Guangzhou again, and finally back to Hong Kong.

As you all know, my company primarily deals with toys, but also, on our trip, we searched for products in other categories we work with, such as PET, Sports, and many others. There, we found ourselves at the Canton Fair, seeing hundreds, if not thousands, of booths with some very interesting proposals and others that were completely crazy. Yes, products that would be inaccessible to our markets due to the price or the product itself.

Afterward, we visited our beloved city of Shantou, where we met with many of our regular partners and some new companies. I didn’t find many new toy developments. The large stocks left in factories and many clients with huge stocks discouraged companies from investing much in developing new products ( they told me about the fear of losing the investment ). So, we came across new packaging and a few new developments here and there, but we needed more innovation, more novelties. Nevertheless, after many trips, we always find interesting things, develop new products, and develop new ideas you will discover over time.

What never stopped developing was China as a country. From our homes during COVID, we were told that everyone in China was entirely locked down and the country was a walking hospital, but you know what? It wasn’t like that. They were neither fully locked down, and they never stopped developing. On every path we traveled, from trains to airports and cities, we saw new developments in buildings, highways, new sections at airports or train stations, new, very modern Chinese cars, and so on. And even though you were required to provide a negative COVID test to enter China, we lived our lives there with complete normality, being able to do all activities without needing to wear a mask anywhere.

It has indeed been worth the effort and the trip. From distant Argentina, the transit time is very long, and jet lag makes everything more difficult, but I assure you it was terrific to return. I eagerly look forward to being there again, either in October and/or January, to reunite not only with friends from China and Hong Kong but also with the entire world of toys, rushing from meeting to meeting on the marvelous Mody Road, having wonderful and endless conversations in hotel lounges, or simply greeting each one of you on the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui.