The products of Newcomer Group. [Photo provided by Jiaxing Radio and Television Group for Tide News]

At the 137th Canton Fair, set to continue in Guangzhou through early May, one of China's largest luggage manufacturers, Jiaxing-based Newcomer Group, is preparing for its showcase in the third phase of the exhibition.

During the 83rd Canton Fair, a Chilean man leaning on a cane shuffled through a crowded aisle. Tucked into a corner with only half a booth, Newcomer Group's general manager Zhao Shengmei offered him a seat. The gesture led to two large orders and marked the company's first step onto the international stage.

Zhao did not expect much from that fair. "Honestly, the only thing I thought was decent was that denim bag," she recalls.

But the customer returned with contracts in hand. That moment lit a fire — almost literally —under the sewing machines. What started as a small factory in Jiaxing's Pinghu county-level city is now a leading exporter, with over 80 million bags sold across 68 countries.

Over the past 27 years, Newcomer Group has become a benchmark in China's luggage industry, investing 6 percent of its annual revenue in research and development.

That investment has paid off: the company now holds 36 international patents. "From raw materials to final assembly, we design and innovate at every step," Zhao said. "In a volatile global market, product strength is the best shield."

Based in Newcomer benefits from a mature supply chain. To guarantee quality, it built the country's first dedicated testing lab and inspection center for luggage. These efforts have improved product reliability and won the trust of global buyers — last year, exports accounted for over 80 percent of Pinghu's luggage sales.