franchises may seem like ordinary individuals in the industry, but they are crucial partners for businesses. It is through their silent dedication that companies and brands can achieve some level of success and market recognition.
“The Zuliz franchise Series” aims to showcase the excellent franchises of Zuliz elderly shoes, reflecting on their entrepreneurial stories, sharing sales techniques, and exploring great business opportunities together. Within these stories, there may be some success secrets, touching narratives, and discussions on past pitfalls. It is hoped that these stories can bring you more inspiration and reflection.
Song Xinyan, a franchise of Zuliz in Fenghe Road, Lianhu District, Xi’an City. She has run a bubble tea shop, clothing store, luxury goods maintenance shop… In July 20 years ago, Song Xinyan joined Zuliz, and now, along with her elder sister Wang Xianmei and younger sister Yang Yang, they jointly operate multiple Zuliz stores, becoming the real-life version of “Chinese Partners”.
Zuliz has “empowered” me.
Song Xinyan, now cheerful and optimistic, hasn’t always been this way.
Originally from Gansu, not Xi’an, Song Xinyan is truly a “child who emerged from the mountains.” Prior to 2020, she ventured into entrepreneurship multiple times, running bubble tea shops, clothing stores, dry cleaning businesses, and even street vending. For Song Xinyan, July 2020 was a turning point in her life. She recalls, “I remember very clearly, on July 21, 2020, I joined Zuliz. It felt like a ‘magical’ place, unlike anywhere I had worked before; it’s warm, friendly, truly like a big family. Especially with Manager Zou Li (Regional General Manager), the first time I met her, I felt her infectious energy, patiently addressing all questions. After deciding to join, she accompanied me on many site visits, provided numerous suggestions, making me have more trust in the Zuliz brand.”
Song Xinyan has two sensible children. In 2020, her eldest son was in his final year of high school. After his exams, her family hoped she would find a stable job. However, Song Xinyan was determined to achieve more than just completing tasks. To excel in performance, she worked long hours, even sacrificing her rest time to communicate with customers. Her family did not understand her, leading to arguments. Over three years, Song Xinyan not only balanced work and family, achieving financial prosperity, but also received numerous praises from customers. Her husband and children gradually began to understand her, with the children even investing their lucky money in Song Xinyan’s new store. Song Xinyan says, “I am very grateful to Zuliz; it ’empowered’ me.”
The three sisters opened their first distributor store together, creating a real-life version of “Chinese Partners.”
Song Xinyan’s first distributor store was opened with her elder sister Wang Xianmei and younger sister Yang Yang. The three sisters met through Zuliz, their complementary personalities, serious work attitudes, and positive energies tightly bonding them together.
On the left are Yang Yang, Wang Xianmei, and Song Xinyan. “Chinese Partners” tells the early entrepreneurial stories of the three founders, encompassing both successes and setbacks, joys and disagreements. When I asked Song Xinyan if the “three sisters had any disputes,” she first explained their division of labor: Song Xinyan mainly handles front-end sales and after-sales, Wang Xianmei is meticulous and primarily manages company finances, while Yang Yang, with a visual specialty, focuses on design and advertising-related tasks.
“We three truly have great understanding. Over the past three years, we faced the epidemic together, handled renovations, sourcing, late nights, and doorstep deliveries. The time we spent together surpasses that with our own families. There’s rarely a need for disputes; we discuss matters together, with the majority decision prevailing. We all strive for the betterment of the store.”
It is this harmony that creates a warm work environment, laying the foundation for the store’s repeated successes.
“Quality products” are essential, “serving the elderly” has earned me more recognition.
Currently, Song Xinyan and her sisters jointly own four stores. When asked about “success factors,” Song Xinyan highlighted two points:
Firstly, confidence stems from the products.
“Zuliz products are truly tailored for the elderly. Whether it’s their first purchase or a repeat buy, elderly customers always praise them. Each time I introduce the products to customers, I am confident.” Every quarter, Zuliz products undergo innovative upgrades based on the needs of the elderly. If seniors feel their feet are stuffy, Zuliz incorporates mint components in the insoles and uppers; if they find shoes difficult to put on or take off, Zuliz includes details like “no shoelaces” and a “shoe puller” on the heel. Seniors no longer need to bend over to wear shoes; there are countless such thoughtful details.
The continuous upgrades and optimizations of the products have propelled Song Xinyan to progress continually, enhancing her understanding of the products and enabling her to better introduce them to customers. To achieve this, Song Xinyan not only attends the company’s training sessions to grasp product knowledge but also regularly visits various official flagship stores on different platforms to learn from live streamers and expand her product knowledge.
The high-quality products give Song Xinyan more confidence in presenting them, and her expertise makes customers increasingly trust her.
Secondly, the commitment to “serving the elderly.”
Song Xinyan is not just a Zuliz distributor; she also holds a special role as the initiator of Zuliz’s “free shoe cleaning” service.
With her multiple entrepreneurial experiences, Song Xinyan has realized that in any industry, “service first” is an enduring key to success. Having run a dry cleaning business before, Song Xinyan noticed that “shoe polishing” was a household chore many elderly people resisted because it required prolonged bending and was quite tiring. Upon this realization, Song Xinyan introduced the “free shoe cleaning” service at her store. Elderly individuals could bring their shoes, and Song Xinyan and her team would clean them after work hours, reportedly handling nearly 40 pairs of shoes in one busy evening.
Song Xinyan’s dedication to serving the elderly and going above and beyond to meet their needs is truly inspiring. Despite the challenges and physical demands of tasks like shoe cleaning and deliveries, she prioritizes the well-being and comfort of her elderly customers. Her initiative in offering free shoe cleaning services not only sets her store apart as a “star store” but also enhances customer loyalty and word-of-mouth recommendations in the community.
Her attention to detail, such as accommodating a tall customer with specific needs, and providing personalized services like home delivery and fitting trials, showcases her commitment to ensuring customer satisfaction and building lasting relationships. This level of care and consideration has not only earned her loyal customers but has also set a standard for other Zuliz stores, promoting a culture of compassionate and tailored service for the elderly.
Through her work, Song Xinyan sees more than just a job; she sees a mission to make a positive impact on the lives of the elderly customers she serves. The sense of achievement and happiness she derives from helping them and providing solutions to their needs underscores the deeper significance of her role as a distributor for Zuliz.
Song Xinyan, despite being busy with work outside, finds solace and warmth in the smiles of the elderly customers she serves. While she may not have as much time to be with her parents, the appreciation and sense of family-like connection she receives from her customers fill her heart with happiness.
For Song Xinyan, happiness isn’t solely derived from financial prosperity. It manifests in the moments when her customers rally to promote her new store opening, when she dances with the aunties in the square, making new friends, and when she witnesses the transformation her customers experience after wearing the right products, receiving heartfelt expressions of gratitude.
By prioritizing a “service-first” approach alongside her sisters, Song Xinyan has not only inspired her customers and gained their recognition but has also found her own sense of fulfillment. It is through this mutual respect and appreciation that Song Xinyan’s journey as a Zuliz distributor is truly enriched and fulfilling.
