A Strange Bet on Shanghai – Why We Showed Up

We’ve had a trusted manufacturing partner in China for over twenty years. And it was actually his idea to license the Renovator’s Supply brand for the Chinese and Southeast Asian markets. He had his reasons — solid ones, too.

Why an American Brand Matters (Even in China)

Chinese contractors often deal with massive volume. Let’s say someone’s building a hotel and they need 300 sinks. They don’t want 75 of those arriving cracked, warped, or completely unusable. But unfortunately, that happens all too often.

With our name on the box, they believe they’re buying something better. Why? Because American brands are perceived to be more design-conscious, more quality-driven, and more likely to hold manufacturers accountable. And that matters when the margins are thin and deadlines are tight.

Sure, there’s a licensing fee baked into the price, but the trade-off is less risk. Fewer defective products. Fewer negotiations. Fewer headaches.

Our Role at the Expo

We showed up at the Shanghai International Kitchen and Bath China 2025 expo, hosted at the massive New International Expo Center. There were over 1,200 exhibitors spread across multiple pavilions. Our booth? W2 Pavilion, Booth C34.

The setup was strategic. I was positioned at one side of the booth to greet foreign visitors, while our capable Chinese sales team handled the Asian attendees at the other entrance. We covered all fronts.

Now, some people started calling me the company mascot — and I leaned into it. I mean, why not? I got to meet visitors from India, South America, Europe, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand. They were curious, engaged, and in many cases, looking for the exact kind of upscale, well-designed products we offer.

It wasn’t just shop talk. We chatted about ceramic trade restrictions, anti-dumping laws, and even politics. These weren’t shallow conversations. They were full of stories, ideas, and shared experiences about global trade and design.

Something Bigger Than Just Sales

What struck me the most was how open people were. They weren’t just looking at products; they were looking at how we do business. They were studying us as much as we were studying them.

And that mutual curiosity? That’s what makes these kinds of events so meaningful.