Event Summary: The U.S. Commercial Service organized a U.S. Pavilion at the 2005 Shanghai International Franchise Exhibition from September 8 – 10, 2005 in Shanghai, China. CS-Shanghai sold 11 booths to 7 U.S. companies who presented 11 well-known American franchise brands. The Show was very successful and exhibiting U.S. companies all expressed satisfaction with their participation.

Exhibitors in the U.S. Pavilion included both new to market U.S. companies as well as companies with a pre-existing market presence in China. The 7 American companies presented 11 franchising concepts that covered a wide range of categories, from food and restaurant, child education, health, hotel, consulting to retail. Especially with the participation of Burger King and Super 8, the U.S. Pavilion attracted thousands of visitors in all three days. It was a great opportunity for all of the companies to market their products and brands. They developed hundreds of valuable contacts and found many potential franchisees through the show. All of them expressed high appreciation for the Commercial Service’s support and rated our service as outstanding.

The U.S. Pavilion exhibitors particularly appreciated the additional services provided by CS Shanghai, such as the pre-show marketing campaign, matchmaking meetings and meeting with high-ranking government officials. Within two months before the show began, CS Shanghai posted the information regarding the U.S. Pavilion onto four websits and sent out three hundred invitations and promotion materials to local government officials, business leaders, local and expat business associations and major media companies. Together with the China Chain Store and Franchise Association (CCFA), CS Shanghai recruited about 150 potential franchisees to meet with the U.S. companies at the matchmaking roundtable meetings. CS Shanghai also organized a meeting for the U.S. Pavilion exhibitors to meet with Chairperson of CCFA and PCO Kasoff. All of the events went very well. The value-added services helped the U.S. exhibitors to generate more successes.

Principal Commercial Officer Ira Kasoff together with five staff, including Commercial Representative Tara Qu, Commercial Specialist Scott Yao, Commercial Specialist Alex Wang, Event Coordinator Ken Shen and Commercial Clerk Jerry Qian participated the show.