Xie Jiajun, Head of Zu’anda (pictured on the right)
A Migrant’s Path to Success in Southern Fujian
Xie Jiajun, the boss of Zu’anda, is not from Hui’an but from Hubei. This solid outsider encountered an unavoidable issue upon arriving in Quanzhou—Southern Fujian customs. In the Southern Fujian region, neighborly relations are extremely important. To put it plainly, collective activities such as weddings, funerals, and donation drives naturally carry a sense of exclusivity toward outsiders. Yet, through his efforts, Xie Jiajun successfully became “one of the locals.”
The secret to this remains a great curiosity to many. Xie Jiajun summarized his years of effort to integrate into the neighborhood with one word—“adaptability”—when speaking to the Global Shoes Network reporter. According to villagers in the village where Zu’anda’s company is located, over the years, Xie Jiajun has never missed a single local wedding or funeral, and even if he couldn’t attend in person, he would always send a monetary gift. Moreover, Xie Jiajun is known for his generosity. “A few years ago, the former town mayor held a charity fundraising event, and I was the first to donate 10,000 yuan. Back then, Zu’anda was still a very small enterprise,” Xie Jiajun recalled.
Zu’anda’s Management Philosophy
After years of hard work, Zu’anda has become a well-known brand designated for procurement by many hospitals, schools, and institutions. Some say that Zu’anda should vigorously expand its production lines and scale up its operations. However, Xie Jiajun doesn’t see it that way.
Zu’anda Shoe Factory
As a member of the first council of the Quanzhou Taiwanese Investment Zone Calligraphers Association, he explained to the Global Shoes Network reporter: “It’s like practicing calligraphy. You start with regular script, and now you can write beautiful regular script. At this point, you can learn other styles, but if you want to become a calligrapher, regular script is your foundation—you can never abandon it. Mastering regular script is what brings stability.” Xie Jiajun stated plainly, “Right now, Zu’anda is only in the early stages of development, a typical small and medium-sized enterprise. At this phase, maintaining stability is the top priority for business growth.”
Stability is reflected in two aspects: one is brand promotion. In recent years, Zu’anda has vigorously developed its e-commerce presence and has become a well-known brand for loafer-style shoes online, beloved by online shoppers. The other is corporate management, which Xie Jiajun considers the most crucial task at this stage.
He stated that while SMEs don’t need the comprehensive and strict management systems that large enterprises do, basic management and welfare systems are indispensable. “For example, take salaries. According to company policy, if a worker leaves without giving notice, we technically don’t have to pay them. But in practice, Zu’anda tries to pay departing employees as much as possible,” Xie Jiajun gave an example to the Global Shoes Network reporter.
Through conversations with Xie Jiajun, the Global Shoes Network reporter found that the secret to Zu’anda’s success lies in harmonious neighborly relations and employee camaraderie—things that many large enterprises struggle to achieve, or simply cannot. (First Business Opportunities, Exclusive Market Insights, Real-Time Business News—Global Shoes Network Supplier Station, Edited by Xiaomi)