So, you decided come to Taiwan first time? Probably you want to visit Computex this year? Then read the tips below, so you do not make my mistakes, and everyone's else before.
- Let your supplier or friends reserve a hotel for you. If you ave a friend, and in case you visit Computex, I guess you have at least 1 or 2 suppliers here - ask them reserve a hotel for you. Do not reserve yourself from online sites, or travel companies. I had made countless mistakes trusting a nice photo shop enhanced pictures, whereas, the perfect hotels without a web sites in English at all was the best choice. Remember - Taiwan and people here are very nice to guests, so they will reserve you best hotel, with a decent prices. For those, who seek for cheap hostels, I guess Lonely planet guy can help. Below this post is the link to Amazon. You anyway need this guide, I will tell you later why.
- Print out your hotel name in Chinese and English, before you arrive to Taiwan. Most likely your supplier or friends will come to pick you up in airport, but if not - you still need it - remember - even if the street signs have a names of streets like Nanshan road, and etc - if you show it to most of taxi drivers, they will have no idea about it, or even worse - your english spelling of letters Nanshan, will FOR SURE not understood. Another thing why you need the hotel name in english and Chinese - you will need to fill out the landing forms in passport control - there is a need to fill in the address where you stay in Taiwan.
- Schedule all first. In writing. Meetings with potential suppliers and visiting their offices. If you are going to visit suppliers in their offices, be sure, it will take a longer time as you think. Everyone will want to have lunch with you, and office meeting needs to be reached yet by car in traffic jams. Besides, you will want to see around the Taipei, and maybe go out - so, write all e-mails to suppliers 2 weeks BEFORE you go. DO NOT just bump on their heads saying - hey, I am in Taipei, we were in touch 1 month ago, I want to visit your office now. Look I am supplier, and I am international sales as well, and half of the time, I am traveling out - today your supplier contact person can be out, or not available, and your plans are destroyed.
- Schedule the Computex (or other show trade booth visits BEFORE you arrive). You know what happened all the time I came here many years ago for trade shows as visitor first time? I took the guide and opened it and said - OK, this one is interesting I go there. Them hmm, this one also - I go there - and it's in another hall, another corner - 20 min to find. Then 3rd one is interesting - hmm, it's again in the hall I was before, I need go back now. After 20 min I can not find it at all. This is a mess, and in such way you will not find anything there.
You need to do as follows, if you want to get everything done fast and still have a time:
- Go online to Computex or any show you need website, and print out the booth maps in all halls;
- Take a pen and circle all Boothe's that makes interest for you;
- Then make a groups of all booth, which you want to visit, and then you have a plan. You will finish one area, then another, and so on.
- DO NOT just take a keyword in guide, like "keyboards" and then go to first booth in list that offers keyboards. They are listed in alphabetic order, and believe me - next booth in list will be exactly other hall in another side of all campus.
- Ask hotel write the Computex (or the Taipei 101 at least) name in Chinese for you. If you tell taxi driver COMPUTEX please, or anything else will be bad.
- In Computex - do not take the brochures, catalogs, or whatever. Take the business cards from suppliers, or CD's. Ask stick the card to CD, later you will not find who is who - tested by experience. Why not take brochures? Here is 12 years trade show experience from me - first as visitor, and then as exhibitor.
- You will need bring them home. Remember airports, and your heavy bags, already packed with Taiwan souvenirs. You will NOT have a space for brochures, just trust me. You will not. They Will be left in hotel.
- Computex is in June, +32 or more outside. You will need carry them all day with you. Do you use anti odor spray? You got my point of view...
- Even if you bring them home - you will never read them. I never did, I always took card and went to website, because I wanted then more info, I wanted see what else they have... you got the idea. It's 2009 after all.
- Take more business cards as you think you need. If you think that 200 is enough, you are wrong. Taiwanese are crazy on business card exchange. Remember! Business card is given by two hands, never ever use 1. It's an etiquette.
- What is the best outfit to visit trade show? Well, depends. Someone will, argue, need suit. I do not agree. Look, you are BUYER. You are already looking serious if you are there - and not look like chinese. So, it is OK, to wear a polite trousers and and shirt without a necktie. Of course the shirt with palms and shorts are not good idea but also, full suit with neck tie is not needed. No dress code, you will be treated seriously also without necktie.
Note: If you visit a formal visit and are invited to office - then also you can wear necktie, I talk here about wandering in halls.
- Tissues - it is good idea to leave hotel with some. Some public toilets in Taiwan have no any.
- If you are staying in cheaper hotel, take all hygiene items including towels.
- If you want to seek for employment, and make some meetings for this - take as much as possible diplomas, honors, awards and certificates. Here people like it more than skills you have. I have a special post on this.
- For woman - take your makeup and all cosmetics with you - here all cosmetics are whitening, you will see here everyone walk with umbrella - more white is more nice here.
- Also, do not buy socks and underwear here, take yours. I have no idea why, but all underwear I bought here - makes you wet and feel very bad immediately. I am here long time already, but the underwear - I still struggle to adapt to it.
- If you come in winter time - take warm clothes - south part of Taiwan is OK, but in Taipei it will be rainy and cold.
- Umbrellas are very cheap in any 7-Eleven convenience store - no need take yours with you.
- One of the first trips here I wanted bring shoes for my father - in Europe he is just middle sized leg - I did not find a shoes for him that time - all were too small. Prepare for that.
- Lonely Planet guide on Taiwan. There is good coverage in Taipei, and all Taiwan. My suggestion is do not go standard way, as every supplier will want you:
- go to National Museum;
- go to Taipei 101;
Don't
Take your time to read the guide and then ask your friends bring you there, what you want to see. The must see things are night markets, in Taipei there is a lot of them, Loney Planet guide covers most interesting.
If you do all what I said above - you will survive easily and have nice memories from this trip. Or.. you will get addicted to this island and stay there - like me and many other expats!
Have a nice trip!
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