Yiwu entrepreneur Chen Jianhua adapts to the market of today
Yiwu has long been known for its enterprising spirit, and a maker of decorative doors has followed its progress to today's market
Chen Jianhua, who runs a company making decorative doors, is a native of Yiwu in the eastern province of Zhejiang. The 40-year-old entrepreneur has seen the county's rise from the late 1990s to become an international hub for cheap manufactured goods. While this business model has been challenged by rising costs and changing markets created by the internet, Chen is still optimistic about Yiwu's future, believing in the entrepreneurial spirit of its people.
Yiwu is a basin surrounded by mountains and has a lack of natural resources. Centuries ago, Yiwu people started to go off to find things to trade. This trading tradition was reflected in the cry of street vendors in my childhood shouting: "Chicken feathers for sweets." We got sweets in exchange for the feathers and they would make feather dusters out of them. Small things can have a big market. Yiwu people devote themselves to making small things such as socks, leggings and hair accessories. Low prices and a wide variety of products attract wholesalers from around the world to buy here. Thrilled by the huge market demand, many young people choose to start their own businesses like me. There are also people who prefer to work for government departments, or be idle all day as they are deterred by the hardships of running a business. [However,] I think the majority are workaholics.
Exports of wooden products are generally welcomed by foreign countries as they usually have strict restrictions on felling trees. Competition in the domestic market is very fierce. Manufacturers have to provide installation and maintenance in China. It's easier for us just to export the doors and let wholesalers take care of the service side overseas. Yiwu people are familiar with dealing with foreign businesspeople, so international trade is not a demanding thing for us.