A granite display at the Canton Fair is a screening opportunity, not approval of the slabs you will receive. Record the seller’s declared stone name, inspect the displayed finish, and ask how that sample connects to material available for your order. Keep commercial identity, geological identity and batch variation separate. Leave with a traceable sample request and unresolved questions, rather than an unsupported acceptance decision: approve by physical sample range.
The forthcoming Phase 2 runs from October 23–27, 2026, during the 140th Canton Fair (official phase schedule, retrieved October 21, 2026). Check the current official exhibitor directory for attendance and location; this guide verifies no booth or exhibitor.
Start with the name and the material behind it
Copy the trade name and supplier code exactly. Ask what geological identity the seller declares, what supporting documentation is available, and whether that description applies to the material being offered for your order.
The Natural Stone Institute distinguishes scientific and commercial stone descriptions; their categories overlap without being interchangeable (Scientific versus Commercial Definition, publication date not stated; retrieved October 21, 2026). A familiar commercial name therefore cannot settle geological identity or establish a particular batch’s appearance.
Use separate entries for each. Mark missing evidence “Not established.” Do not infer a quarry, country of origin or supplier capability from a label, flag, photograph or polished face. Those questions require their own evidence.
Read the display as a limited sample
Ask staff which surfaces may be viewed and photographed. Leave lifting, moving and handling slabs to trained personnel. Record what is actually accessible, including whether you saw an edge, reverse face or only the front.
Use this original planning matrix to turn observations into follow-up requests; it is not an inspection report.
| Display feature | Record at the booth | Request for the order | What remains unproven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade label | Exact name and supplier code | Declared geological identity and supporting records | Identity of the offered batch |
| Colour and pattern | Visible range, viewing light and sample ID | Physical range samples tied to proposed material | Whole-batch consistency |
| Surface finish | Seller’s finish description and visible texture | Samples in the intended production finish | Production workmanship |
| Edge or reverse | Accessible condition; areas not visible | Relevant views and agreed inspection checks | Hidden condition or structural suitability |
| Dimensions | Declared format; distinguish claims from measurements | Drawings, thickness and agreed tolerances | Dimensional compliance of delivery |
| Patches or unusual marks | Location and the seller’s explanation | Disclosure and project-specific acceptance criteria | Cause, repair quality or acceptability |
A display photograph can document what was shown. It cannot establish geology, test performance or the condition of unseen material. Do not turn a seller’s explanation into a verified finding.
Connect the display to the proposed batch
Ask whether the display came from current stock, earlier production or a demonstration selection. If its batch is unknown, keep it as a reference for discussion rather than evidence of available supply.
Request identifiers for proposed samples and allocated material where available. Record the finish, selection date, claimed relationship to the order and who supplied that information. Ask for a range that includes variation relevant to the project, rather than only an attractive centre sample.
Compare physical samples in the intended finish under agreed viewing conditions. Specify which differences need further review and who can accept them. Keep the trade label, geological identity and batch range separate.
If allocated material is not available to review, record that limitation. Do not describe the order as batch-approved because the booth display looked suitable.
Copy a booth-to-sample record
Use a separate record for each candidate. Blank fields are intentional; completing them does not certify the seller or approve material.
| Field | Your record |
|---|---|
| Visit date / company / booth as displayed | |
| Contact / permission to photograph | |
| Trade name / supplier code | |
| Declared geological identity / supporting document | |
| Display sample ID / known or unknown batch | |
| Finish / viewing conditions / inaccessible surfaces | |
| Proposed material identifiers / claimed sample connection | |
| Requested physical sample range / intended finish | |
| Drawing / tolerance questions / acceptance criteria to agree | |
| Photographs / explanations requiring confirmation | |
| Follow-up owner / agreed response date |
After the fair, send the record back for correction and confirmation. Preserve differences between your observation and the seller’s reply. Check received documents for their scope and connection to the offered material.
Limits
This is a desk-researched preparation guide. No exhibitor, sample, quarry, slab or shipment was examined for it. The diagram is an original schematic, not a photograph or approval reference. No prices, booth numbers, universal tolerances or test results are supplied.
Appearance screening does not establish strength, absorption, slip resistance or suitability for a particular installation. Agree project requirements and obtain appropriate material evidence and qualified review. Before accepting supply, approve by physical sample range and verify the material actually allocated to the order.
Over to you
A display matches your colour preference, but nobody can identify its batch. What should you do next? Choose before revealing the answer.
- A — Approve the order from the display photograph.
- B — Request traceable physical range samples in the intended finish.
- C — Treat the trade name as proof that every slab will match.
Reveal the answer
B. Keep the display as a discussion reference. Request samples connected to the proposed material and document the acceptable range; the unknown batch prevents this display from establishing that connection. This is a teaching scenario, not a supplier assessment.
Questions & discussion
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