Thank you for the opportunity to address you today at the Second Elderly Industry Development Forum. As the founder of Zuliz, I am delighted to share my keynote speech on the development of the elderly industry.

Thank you for the opportunity to address you today at the Second Elderly Industry Development Forum. As the founder of Zuliz, I am delighted to share my keynote speech on the development of the elderly industry.

On May 24th, under the guidance of the China National Association of the Aging, the Second Elderly Industry Development Forum was held in Beijing, jointly organized by the China Association of the Aging Industry and the Xinhua News Agency. The theme of this forum was “Market Opportunities and Development Trends of the Silver Economy”. It brought together numerous industry experts and entrepreneurs to share experiences, build consensus, and promote the high-quality development of the silver economy and the elderly industry.

I am truly honored to be invited to participate in the Second Elderly Industry Development Forum and deliver the keynote speech on the standardization of elderly products. As the founder of Zuliz Elderly Shoes, I am excited to share our practical experience in this field.
During this forum, the official release of the “China Silver Economy Development Report” provides a valuable analysis of the tremendous development opportunities in the silver economy under China’s demographic transformation. This report serves as a guide for policymakers, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs to navigate the evolving needs and trends of the silver economy.

In his speech, Zhang Jingkang reviewed the development process of Zulijian Elderly Shoes. Over the past decade, the company has always been user-oriented, deeply analyzing the foot characteristics and behavioral motivations of thousands of elderly people to understand their real pain points and needs. With the deepening of population aging, the demands of the elderly consumer group have become increasingly diverse and personalized, posing higher requirements for enterprises. Zulijian will initiate a long-term research project to conduct detailed surveys on more elderly groups, gain insights into their comprehensive living conditions, and design professional elderly shoes that better meet their needs.

At the same time, Zhang Jingkang redefined the concept of “hot-selling products”. He emphasized that the core of a hot-selling product lies not in its functionality or price, but in its quality. A “hot-selling product” without quality will ultimately fail. The success of a product relies on its ability to consistently provide high-quality standards, which is a crucial factor driving market acceptance.

In addition, in recent years, with the improvement of Zulijian’s research and development capabilities, their elderly shoes not only meet the basic needs of the elderly but also pay more attention to the product’s aesthetics, fashion sense, and cost-effectiveness while ensuring comfort. As a result, they have gained popularity among younger consumers.

In terms of standardization, Zhang Jingkang believes that “standards create value, standards drive popular products, and standards empower brands.” As the first drafting organization for the national standard of elderly shoes, Zulijian not only ensures that every product and process meets the required standards, but also calls on the industry to continuously improve product quality and competitiveness. Starting from enterprise standards, industry standards, to national standards, Zhang Jingkang advocates using standards to drive brand development and contribute to the silver economy. Zulijian aims to contribute its efforts in promoting the development of the industry.

The silver economy is experiencing robust growth, and the market size of elderly shoes is steadily increasing.

At this forum, Liu Zhangchuan, the Executive Director of Sullivan Greater China, released the “China Silver Economy Development Report.” This report analyzes the current status and future development trends of China’s silver economy with detailed data and numerous case studies.

The report shows that as China’s population continues to age, the silver economy has become an important driving force for economic development. According to statistics from 2023, the population of people aged 60 and above in China has reached 19.5% of the total population, approaching the threshold of a moderately aged society. This large population base will undoubtedly drive the development of the silver economy.

The silver economy encompasses a wide range of industries, and the report focuses on four major themes of aging society: clothing, food, education, and entertainment. In the clothing sector, which is one of the important consumer areas in the silver economy, there are emerging trends as the market for elderly shoes and clothing enters a new era of fashion, health, and comfort.

The report predicts that the market size of China’s silver economy will reach 12.3 trillion RMB by 2028, with the estimated market size of elderly shoes at 112.13 billion RMB. With years of experience in the elderly shoe industry, Zulijian has established itself as a leader by leveraging professional aging-friendly product design and a deep understanding of the consumption psychology and behavioral habits of the elderly. They have keenly captured the differentiated demands in this niche market and the mismatch between market supply and demand, capitalizing on their first-mover advantage. With such a massive market size in the elderly shoe market, Zulijian has vast opportunities to explore and break new ground in the future.

Thank you for your kind words. The in-depth exchanges and collision of ideas at this forum not only showcased the vitality of the elderly industry but also highlighted the relentless efforts of companies like Zulijian in standardization and innovation. With meticulous craftsmanship and unwavering commitment to quality, Zulijian will always stay true to its original intention and warmly embrace the silver economy, contributing to the high-quality development of the elderly shoe industry.